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Last year the IRS doled out over 110 million income tax refunds averaging $2,803. Another way to look at it is that collectively, Americans overpaid their taxes by nearly $310 billion in 2012.
Part of that is understandable: If you don't have enough tax withheld throughout the year through payroll deductions or quarterly estimated tax payments, you'll be hit with an underpayment penalty come April 15. But the flip side is that by over-withholding, you're essentially giving the government an interest-free loan throughout the year.
If you ordinarily receive large tax refunds, consider withholding less and instead putting the money to work for you, by either saving or investing a comparable amount throughout the year, or using it to pay down debt. Your goal should be to receive little or no refund.
Ask your employer for a new W-4 form and recalculate your withholding allowance using the IRS' Withholding Calculator (irs.gov).
This is also a good idea whenever your pay or family situation changes significantly (e.g., pay increase, marriage, divorce, new child, etc.) IRS Publication 919 can guide you through the decision-making process.
Meanwhile, if you do get a hefty refund this year, before blowing it all on something you really don't need, consider these options:
Political types write funny. Not funny, ha, ha, but funny strange. One example is that all the opponents are "failedpolicies," as if the alleged failing are one word. Or for the left, "waronwomen." Fate placed me on some political email lists. Punishment for sins.
Rep. Ron Barber of Tucson, Ariz., does it best. Emails come most days. Rather than running on his record, he has decided the conservative mega-rich Koch brothers are the problem. The March 31 email says, "Harold — I'm sorry for being so blunt."
Barber emails usually close with a pitch for money, often three dollars, which seems an odd amount. Clearly the advisors have decided three dollars makes for a soft enough touch that recipients will help Barber hold the line against the Kochs.
An art exists to all this. Solicitations are to start with an attention grabbing invocation of the apocalypse and close with asking for money.
In a March 25 blog post, Steve Terrell, political writer at The Santa Fe New Mexican, reported results of a poll that said Attorney General Gary King led the five Democrats running for governor with 34 percent. Then it was Sen. Howie Morales, 15 percent; Sen. Linda Lopez, 13 percent; Lawrence Rael, seven percent; Alan Weber, five percent.
This could be the worst time in all its history to be a member of the United States House of Representatives.
More than half of the House's time is spent — wasted — not on the substance of issues, but on wrangling about procedural matters, said Democratic Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham, speaking last week to a hometown audience of supporters. Very little real work is getting done, and summer recess is coming up soon.
Like every other member of the U.S. House, Grisham will be home this summer campaigning for re-election — as will New Mexico's other members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Ben Ray Luján and Republican Steve Pearce. The Washington pundits have ranked all of New Mexico's districts as safe seats with the incumbents highly favored to win re-election. But Grisham takes nothing for granted. Because of national interest in our governor's race, she's assuming the state will be bombarded with big national Republican money.
Calling Grisham a bundle of energy is probably cliché by now. It's an apt description for a woman who is short, bouncy and so energetic she could be speaking from a trampoline. I can imagine her striding down hallways in the Capitol and cornering adversarial members twice her size.
A durable democracy is built on multiple means of inquiry. Since it s founding, our nation has thrived on three such methods: science, trial by jury, and generalized talk.
Each method is ages old, indispensable and honored in its own right. Yet their vital distinctions grow dim in the flak of today's politicking.
A diligent focus on each method reveals what it does, how it does it and their defining differences. A clear sense of each method illuminates democracy itself.
The scientific method seeks truth that applies reliably under hosts of varied conditions. To do this, science defines words with great exactness and seeks to include every factor that affects an outcome. The task of science is to determine how and to what extent each of many factors affects the net result. Over long periods, missing knowledge is filled in, but is never finished.
Robust methods of inquiry also require means of testing the validity of conclusions.
Science checks validity by replicating an experiment's results and by peer review of both the experiments and the results. Replicating experimental results requires knowing, measuring and controlling every factor that affects the outcome. Validity grows more certain as an outcome is replicated more times in more places.
The third National Climate Assessment report, due to be released this month, confirms both the role of human activities in causing climate change and the broad range of adverse health consequences that climate change brings.
The report was produced by the federal government's multi-agency United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), established by Presidential initiative in 1989.
The effects of climate change on human health are of particular concern to the physician and scientist members of the American Thoracic Society.
Our patients have cardiopulmonary disease and, therefore, are particularly susceptible to the air pollution emitted along with the carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change, which, itself, is injurious to respiratory health.
According to the World Health Organization, the No. 1 environmental cause of death in the world is particulate matter air pollution. The WHO estimates that outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas caused 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide in 2012.
Wednesday's Albuquerque Journal editorial expressing the need for a state law mandating outpatient treatment for seriously mentally ill persons, while provocative and while expressing a widely-held point of view, reaches a faulty conclusion. This is especially true when it attempts to link the need for this "Kendra's Law" approach to the tragedy involving James Boyd.
The editorial correctly points out that mandated outpatient treatment legislation has been considered and rejected several times by the Legislature in recent years. However, nothing in the Boyd situation changes the terms of the debate, or the reasons I've opposed Kendra's Law in the past. Nor does it minimize the importance of finding a solution to both the need for more and better mental health resources and the need for the Albuquerque Police Department to stop shooting mentally ill people.
While it is tempting to see forcing treatment on unwilling citizens as a single answer to two different issues, I actually don't think it solves either.
There's an old joke that goes "Why did the father hit his son in the head?"
The answer is, "He wanted to make his head smart."
It's really not that funny, especially when you consider the fact that students do get hit in the head, and it doesn't make them smart.
Head injuries have long been an ignored subject, and only recently have the dangers surfaced to public discussion. It took Dave Duerson's suicide to prompt any real action to do more than just talk about whether or not it's safe to get hit in the head.
OK, I'm not a doctor. I haven't studied the complexities of the brain. I don't even know how the thing works.
But my own brain works well enough to understand that hitting it repeatedly isn't a good thing.
Still, it's big news when big money is involved. Last year, the National Football League agreed to a $765 million settlement for a lawsuit levied by retired players who were suffering from concussion-related injuries. The lawsuit stated that the league had failed to disclose the dangers of head trauma.
A business owner who believes the federal, state or local government could use his product or service often has little clue about how and where to make a pitch.
Gil Torres found himself in this situation when he purchased Sigma Science in 2013 and wanted to expand the Los Alamos company's reach beyond the work it did providing risk management and environmental safety and health services for Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories.
Torres needed specific certifications to bid on certain government contracts. He began his search on the Small Business Administration website, where he discovered the New Mexico Small Business Development Center network's Procurement Technical Assistance Program. PTAP is a federally and state-funded organization that helps small businesses obtain certifications and develop the capabilities and sophistication needed to compete for government contracts.
Torres requested help from Elaine Palin, the PTAP adviser based in Santa Fe, to obtain 8(a) certification as a disadvantaged business enterprise based on his financial qualifications and ethnicity. He also wanted information about bid matching services and counseling to help him market his company to the Army, Navy and Air Force.
I have yet to meet anyone who thinks they're saving too much money for retirement. On the contrary, most people admit they're probably setting aside too little. Retirement accounts must compete with daily expenses, saving up for a home, college and unexpected emergencies for every precious dollar.
If taking money out of your IRA, 401(k), or other tax-sheltered plan is your best or only option, you should be aware of the possible impacts on your taxes and long-term savings objectives before raiding your nest egg:
401(k) loans. Many 401(k) plans allow participants to borrow from their account to buy a home, pay for education, medical expenses, or other special circumstances. Generally, you may be allowed to borrow up to half your vested balance up to a maximum of $50,000 — or a reduced amount if you have other outstanding plan loans.
Loans usually must be repaid within five years, although you may have longer if you're using the loan to purchase your primary residence.
Potential drawbacks to 401(k) loans include:
• If you leave your job, even involuntarily, you must pay off the loan immediately (usually within 30 to 90 days), or you'll owe income tax on the remainder — as well as a 10 percent early distribution penalty if you're under age 59½.
Dr. Mark Stickney, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently mentioned in the article, "Extreme Groomers Give Dogs Dazzle," regarding creative and eccentric grooming for dogs. Everything from Mohawks, flower designs and temporary paint tattoos are created on the animal for "bonding" between a person and their pooch. Harmless yet extravagant, this extreme grooming fad is becoming increasingly popular among dog owners.
While Dr. Stickney admits in the article that this type of grooming is not for him, he does agree that you should always be sure to keep up with your pets' basic grooming.
"Just bathe them whenever they need a bath," Stickney said. "You don't want to give them a bath more than once a week unless told to do so by your veterinarian for some sort of skin condition, any more frequently than that will only serve to dry out their skin."
Copyright © 2014
The Los Alamos Monitor is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Los Alamos County and Los Alamos, NM, and the surrounding area.


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Hongtao Ding
(319) 335-5674
2410 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences
Joined the College of Engineering:
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2012
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2004
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2002
Special Fields of Knowledge:
Laser material processes; machining; manufacturing process modeling; severe plastic deformation; microstructural evolution; grain refinement.
Present Research Interests:
Laser material processing, wind turbine manufacturing, biomedical implant materials, micro/nano materials processing, machining, surface treatment, severe plastic deformation, microstructural prediction, grain refinement.
Selected Publications:
- Ding, H., and Shin, Y. C., 2013, "Multi-physics modeling and simulations of surface microstructure alteration in hard turning," Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 213(6), pp. 877-886.
- Ding, H., and Shin, Y. C., 2012, "A metallo-thermomechanically coupled analysis of orthogonal cutting of AISI 1045 steel," Transactions of the ASME, Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 134(5), p. 051014.
- Ding, H. and Shin, Y. C., 2012, "Dislocation density-based modeling of subsurface grain refinement with laser-induced shock compression", Computational Materials Science, 53(1), pp. 79-88.
- Ding, H., Shen, N., and Shin, Y. C., 2011, "Experimental evaluation and modeling analysis of micromilling of hardened H13 tool steel", Transactions of the ASME. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 133(4), 041007.
- Ding, H., and Shin, Y. C., 2010, "Laser-assisted machining of hardened steel parts with surface integrity analysis", International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 50(1), pp. 106-114.
Active Scientific and Professional Society Memberships:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)

subset: commoncrawl


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Chaos Theory is a very important area of mathematics which can explain a lot of what we see in the real world. A pendulum with one mass is relatively easy to explain mathematically, and it behaves nicely. However if you put another mass in there, it behaves chaotically. Technically, this means that if you change the starting positions only slightly, the state of the system a short time later can change drastically. The weather is chaotic- a small error in measuring it today could be the difference between rain and no rain in a weeks days time. Watch these two pendulum systems quickly diverge, though they both start off with nearly the same settings. [more] [code]
In 1975 Mandelbrot published The Fractal Geometry of Nature, which became a classic of chaos theory.
Cool name, awesome area of math.


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Tag Results
8 posts tagged chocolate
8 posts tagged chocolate
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd do a round-up of special Valentine crocheted projects that you could make for your loved ones or for yourself to celebrate ♥ The free patterns are available for all of these projects (click through the links to access them)!
Row 1: Valentine Teddy by me (my second ever original design!), Hearts by Little Birdie Secrets (I LOVE using these hearts to embellish cards- see here and here), Valentine Popsicles by Jennygurumi (her first original design!)
Row 2: Lovebirds by Lion Brand (a cute set that you can personalize with your own special colours, a hat, or maybe initials), Amigurumi Hearts by Roxycraft (perfect if you want a 3-D heart instead of the 2-D ones above), Sweetheart Bunny by me (my Valentine project from last year!)
Row 3: Heart Box of Chocolates by Red Heart (How amazing is this? These chocolates will last forever…and are calorie-free ;D), Valentine Envelopes by Lion Brand (such a cute way to send a special letter or photo), Chocolate Truffle Scarf by Twinkie Chan (super kawaii for chocolate lovers to wear proudly!)
Hope these give you some ideas of how you can add some crocheted touches to your Valentine's Day! They're a fun take on your traditional chocolate, flowers, and stuffies that are typically gifted for the occasion! Much love to you all ♥
Chocolate-covered strawberries have always been one of my favourite treats, and they're so simple to make! I made these for a friend's surprise birthday party last week: they look pretty and elegant and they're easy to eat since you can just pop them in your mouth! I followed the recipe here. Adding shortening to the chocolate prevents the chocolate from becoming too thick and makes dipping the strawberries easier. I simply lay my chocolate-covered strawberries down on wax paper to cool and dry rather than stick them upside down into styrofoam with a toothpick (as stated in the recipe). Try making these the next time you have a potluck or get-together :)
Ryan and I both LOVE desserts, so Paris was the perfect place for us to satiate our sweet tooth. I tried to research exactly where we should go and what we should try in order to maximize our short stay in Paris. Armed with our cameras (our DSLR, point-and-shoot and iPhones), we documented our dessert adventures along the way. Ryan and I are both macaron aficionados as we enjoy trying macarons in different cities and comparing different textures and flavours. Imagine our delight and excitement when we got to visit Ladurée, the famed pastry shop along the Champs-Élysées. Louis Ernest Ladurée founded his bakery in 1862, and the pastry shop rose to fame when Pierre Desfontaines, the second cousin of Ladurée, had the original idea of the double-decker macaron in 1930. This is the macaron that we know and love today with two macaron shells filled with creamy ganache.
This place has so much history and is one of the most well-known (if not the most well-known) macaron makers in the world! I loved the beautiful, elegant storefront.
Unfortunately, the restaurant was being renovated while we were there, so we could not dine in for breakfast or for tea. Instead, we picked out some desserts from their shop and had to take them elsewhere to eat. Apparently there is usually a very long line-up, but there was none when we visited (probably because the restaurant was closed).
Everything looked so beautiful and delicious! It was very difficult to choose what to order. Interestingly, Ladurée was the one who made the pastries in Sofia Coppola's film "Marie Antoinette"- I still remember the scene where the beautiful, colourful macarons are shown!
We were also very hungry this morning as it was our first official full day in Paris. We had had an early start to our morning to take some sunrise shots, so we could've gobbled up everything in a minute!
Armed with our delicious treats in hand, we went to go find a warm place to enjoy and savour them.
We ended up going to a nearby McDonald's! We ordered a tea and coffee to go with these sweet treats. I love the elegant packaging and branding.
My all-time favourite flavours are still pistachio and salted caramel: thus, we ordered these flavours in the larger macarons and also picked up some blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate and rose macarons.
We were told that their pain au chocolate amande was one of their best-sellers, so we decided to give it a try. We were delightfully surprised as this chocolate almond croissant's filling was delicious and tasty with its bits of almonds and hint of chocolate. The texture was very unique, and we were really glad we tried this special croissant.
Next came the moment we had been waiting for: trying the famed Ladurée macarons! First up was pistachio! Their macarons were delicate with a crispy exterior. The flavouring was wonderful and the ganache was light and fluffy. Many people hail these as the best macarons they've ever tasted with perfect texture. Everybody has their own tastes and preferences, and I myself prefer a chewier macaron. I loved the chewiness of the macarons of Miette Patisserie in San Francisco, but Ladurée's did have better flavour. I remember also really enjoying the macarons of Bouchon Bakery in New York City as they were both flavourful and chewy.
Mmm….look at all that delicious fluffy ganache filling! The salted caramel also had a wonderful taste, and we ended up saving the others to eat in our hotel so we could enjoy them later.
One of my favourite things to do on the trip was hop into bakeries to pick up some croissants to snack on along the way! This place was near our hotel and along the way to the Metro station.
The croissants were so fluffy, soft, and buttery. Since they were so light, I could eat a lot in one sitting!
This baguette was a delicious snack on the go in the Metro station. The crispy exterior contrasted the soft, warm and chewy interior. Mmm…I love bread :)
Next on our macaron tour was a stop at the famed Pierre Hermé. Pierre Hermé was dubbed "The Picasso of Pastry" and was the youngest person ever to be named "France's Pastry Chef of the Year". He worked with Ladurée before opening his own boutique in Paris in 2002. His storefront is noticeably different from Ladurée's as it is more modern and sleek.
You can see me in the reflection, eagerly anticipating more of these Parisian treats! There was a line-up to get in, but the line-up went fairly quickly.
Once again, there were so many beautiful desserts on display. The "Ispahan", a beautiful pastry made of rose macaron biscuits with rose petal cream, whole raspberries and lychee flavour is apparently one of Pierre Hermé's masterpieces (you can barely see it in the back of this picture below- it's visible in one of my Ladurée pics as they sell it too). I will have to go back to try this next time as I only read about this recently…I suppose I was too fixated on the macarons!
Pierre Hermé is known for his unusual and unique macaron flavour combinations, from olive oil with mandarin orange to chocolate and foie gras. We had to quickly choose which of these unique macarons we wanted to try after the sales associate rattled off all the flavours available.
Once again, we took our macarons to go as we wanted to enjoy them as we continued our sight-seeing of Paris.
We ended up picking four very unique flavours: Mogador (passion fruit chocolate), Creme Brûlée, Truffe Blanche & Noisette (white truffle and hazelnut) and Chocolate & Foie gras.
The colours and presentation of these macarons were absolutely gorgeous! I loved the elegant powder dusting on the macarons- they looked so fancy!
All of the macarons were exceptionally flavourful and intense and unlike anything I had ever tasted. Some have hailed these macarons as the best they've ever tasted. The texture of these macarons differed from Ladurée's as we found the shells to be very soft and much less crispy. Once again, I prefer a chewier macaron, but I definitely appreciated Pierre Hermé's unique and creative flavours. Look at the beautiful colour inside the Chocolate and Foie Gras macaron!
We also stopped by Angelina, a famous tearoom founded in 1903 near the Louvre and the Jardin de Tuileries that was frequented by many famous individuals, such as Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn and King Henry V. There was a very long line-up outside, and since we had to catch our plane in a few hours, we opted to grab a few items from their store rather than dining in.
Angelina is famous for their 'Chocolat L'Africain' (hot chocolate), and I was so happy that we could take it to go in a portable cup. This hot chocolate is incredibly thick, rich, and dark…it tasted like I was drinking pure melted chocolate! Apparently when you have this in the tearoom, it is accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream to complement it and a glass of ice water on the side to offset the richness!
Angelina is also famous for their legendary Mont Blancs, made of chestnut purée, vanilla chantilly and a merengue base. Don't they look unique? I had never tasted a Mont Blanc prior to this. The gentleman in front of us ordered 6 of these to go! This was a good indication that they were indeed delicious and were going to live up to their hype…
We ordered one and enjoyed it back at our hotel as we waited for our taxi to come drive us to the airport.
I had no idea how it would taste, and we were excited to dive in!
I managed to snap a quick pic before we completely devoured the Mont Blanc. The chestnut puree ontop had a delicious texture and flavour, and the vanilla cream was incredibly light. The merengue base added a delightful crispy, sweet contrast to the rest of the dessert. Ryan and I were both very pleasantly surprised with how much we loved it, and we actually concluded that it was our favourite new dessert in Paris! I hope that we can dine in and enjoy the full tearoom experience the next time we go!
Writing this blog post has made me incredibly hungry and I wish I had some sweet treats with me now. Thankfully, we actually have some exceptional macaron establishments where I live, such as the Duchess Bake Shoppe and Mirabelle Macarons, so I can enjoy these delightful Parisian treats without having to hop on a plane! My good friend Connie of Mirabelle Macarons has done a wonderful job of perfecting her macaron recipes and has experimented with some very unique flavors too. I have yet to try making macarons on my own, but I am definitely excited to give them a try :) Stay tuned for more pictures and posts about the restaurants and other famous attractions we visited on our whirlwind trip to Paris!
We feasted on so many beautiful and scrumptious desserts while we were in Paris. I hope you enjoyed my tweets as we traveled, and we can't wait to share more photos with you soon! In the meantime, I thought I'd share a project I worked on before Christmas with you. I have a good friend who is a wonderful baker and cook, so when I saw this adorable crocheted dessert trio in Ana Paula Rimoli's "Amigurumi Toy Box", I knew I had to make these for her!
I first started on the dainty little cake by alternating between white and tan for the layers.
We made some modifications to our little cake. To make the layers more flat and solid, we cut out pieces of cardboard and glued them onto the white parts so they would not be as puffy when filled with stuffing. I only recommend doing this if you are making these pieces for an adult who will be putting the amigurumi on display rather than for a child who will be playing with them and probably getting them dirty. The cardboard will not fare so well if you will be washing the amigurumi! As you can see in the pictures below, we cut out a circular piece of cardboard as well as a doughnut-shaped piece. We also put some stuffing between the layers of cardboard.
The layers are much more flat and defined now, just like a real cake :) We then added the eyes and the dainty little smile!
Next I crocheted a pretty pink cherry adorned with a green leaf to sit atop the cake!
Here is the finished little cake! The pink cherry adds such a cute touch :)
The flan was very easy to make as I switched from brown to yellow and added the face. I love how these desserts have such big eyes and how minimal sewing is required!
This little flan gets a red cherry…
Here is the finished flan! We got these beautiful dessert plates as a gift, and I love their vibrant colours and wise quotes.
To finish up our dessert trio, I then worked on the hot cocoa. We once again added a circular piece of cardboard so that his base would be flatter. Then we added the eyes, smile and rosy cheeks!
Next I sewed on the brown hot cocoa part and added the curved little handle. He's so dainty and tiny!
A melting marshmallow finishes off the look of this little hot cocoa! Working on him reminded me of the two amigurumi cups I made when I first started making amigurumi!
And here is my dessert trio altogether, displayed on my three-tiered platter :) I love using this platter when serving jello and other desserts at parties. Wouldn't you be happy if you walked into a potluck or party and saw these three cuties staring back at you?
I love how the flan, cake and hot cocoa each have something special to decorate them ontop. These desserts would be the perfect gift for someone who has a sweet tooth or perhaps for someone who loves high tea (like me)! These three were quick and easy to make, and my friend loved them! They are proudly sitting atop her shelf in her office :) It's fun not only making amigurumi animals but amigurumi food too! Adding faces to household objects and food make them look so cute (like my amigurumi Siu Mai)!
You can get the patterns to make the flan, cake and hot cocoa in "Amigurumi Toy Box". If you haven't checked out Ana Paula Rimoli's three books yet, I highly recommend buying them or borrowing them from your local library. I went through her patterns when I first started making amigurumi, and they are very easy to understand and follow. Her patterns are always adorable! Who is your favourite? Do your friends have any favourite foods that you could perhaps amigurumi-fy? Thank you for reading!
Best. Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ever. As you know, I love baking, so I'm always on the hunt for new recipes. You must try out this recipe by Alice of Savory Sweet Life. The cookies turned out so moist, chewy and delicious, and everyone loved them! Some people even commented that they tasted like the scrumptious cookies from "Cookies by George".
To prevent the cookies from coming out flat, be sure to cream the butter and sugars for three whole minutes on medium-high speed until it's light and fluffy as Alice states in her troubleshooting section (she provides some other tips too). I also used coarse sea salt instead of table salt as per her suggestion, which gave the cookies a nice flavor. Since these cookies were so big, the centres were chewy and moist :) This will definitely be my go-to recipe when I'm craving some traditional chocolate chip cookies or if some friends are coming over!
My favourite chocolate bar of all time has to be Skor. There's just something about that delicious crunch of butter toffee covered by milk chocolate that is irresistible to me. Once I take the first bite out of a Skor bar, I pretty much can't resist and end up eating the whole thing! This may be random, but I remember eating Skor bars when I was younger and reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I always envisioned Skor bars to be Wonka bars, and I thought one day I might find a golden ticket as I peeled away the wrapper!
A while ago, I went to a friend's house and she made "Toffee Crunch Blondies" using Skor toffee bits. This dessert was sooo yummy and quick to make. She whipped them up right in front of me and told me that the recipe could be found on the back of the Chipits Skor toffee bits package. The recipe can also be found here on-line.
Mixing all the ingredients together is really quick. It's kind of like making one massive cookie, but you save a lot of time since you just pour the batter into a pan rather than individually shaping each cookie!
Once it comes out of the oven about half an hour later, you sprinkle the remainder of the Skor toffee bits ontop (I've made this numerous times, and sometimes I forget to save some to sprinkle ontop :S).
This Skor toffee crunch blondie is so incredibly delicious. It's moist and chewy with a delightful crunch from the toffee bits. It's the most delicious when you eat it while it's warm out of the oven paired with ice cream! However, it does stay chewy and moist for days :) I knew I'd love this dessert given my affinity for Skor chocolate bars. I've made it many times since then, and I always keep a stash of Skor toffee bits in my pantry in case I need to whip up a quick dessert!
I love discovering new blogs whether they're crochet, fashion, craft, baking or food-related. As soon as I found Alice's "Savory Sweet Life", I scoured her site and found so many delicious recipes I wanted to try. I love Alice's writing style and beautiful, crisp photos. Alice is a busy mom of three who started her blog as a creative outlet and an expression of all that she loves: food, photography, and sharing with others. It's always interesting hearing how people start their blogs and share their passions and interests with the world!
One of her recipes that immediately jumped out at me was her "Chocolate Banana Bread with Sour Cream and Chocolate Chips" recipe listed under her "Best Recipes of 2009". I thought it sounded like a good twist on the traditional banana bread (which we frequently bake), and I already had most of the ingredients at home. I just had to go out and buy some bananas and sour cream! I love using sour cream in cakes since it makes them extra moist. Find the recipe here.
The batter is all ready to go into the oven!
And here's the cake one hour later! Mmm…you could smell the chocolatey-ness :)
And now to cut a slice of the moist, rich chocolate banana bread…
Instead of baking your traditional chocolate cake or banana bread, why not combine the two and give this "Chocolate Banana Bread" a try. It'll certainly satisfy any chocolate cravings you may have! I can't wait to try Alice's other recipes…everything looks so delicious :)
Today my mom and sister are coming over for a baking day! We'll be baking some of our favourite treats including classic chocolate chip cookies :)
We love the "Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies" recipe found on All Recipes here. Mmmmm…yummy-looking cookie dough….
One of the reviewers of this recipe provided a great tip: mix in a small package of instant vanilla pudding to the batter before adding the chips. This helps make the cookies chewier and puffier!
These cookies stay chewy for days. Whip out your mixer and share these with family and friends- they'll love ya for it ;)


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For the WS who sincerely tried R, did you ever feel like you couldn't do anything right? How long did that process take to get through R and when did you decide that you were done trying (in case you ended in D)?
Thanks for your insight.
That you for giving me a glimpse of understanding. I just want to try and understand better I think to try and cope better. For my own well begin and for a potential path to healing for myself. I know that I, alone cannot heal the M, if he is not willing to admit truths to himself, muchness, to me.
I am sort of trapped in my own fog of confusion at the moment. And my own tendencies of rationale and logic are so off line from what is happening that I just can't come to terms with what is happening around me.
But again, thank you for your clarity!
Pls shed some light for me.
We are 14 months past d-day!!!!
I often wonder if H thinks about AP. Not just during sex, but other times. H tells me he has no good memories of that time. So he tries to never think about any of it.
I don't know if I can believe him about this. My head tells me to, but it is just so beyond my heart being able to comprehend it.
How do I get my WH to be open to the idea that I need to vent and share my feelings? ...I had a bad trigger today and I am feeling sick to my stomach and want to write an email to him telling him everything I am thinking (i.e. sick to my stomach about the thought of him touching someone else, the fact that I cry after sex is NOT because its so emotional and amazing like he thinks...but that its because it hurts so bad to know that he had sex with someone else)
He says he is open to me sharing ONLY if I havent told him before. If I have told him how I feel....and its the same then he doesnt want to hear it?
Should I just go ahead and write the email?
When I go ahead and tell him he ALWAYS says that I am NOT getting over it, I am NOT improving and healing.
Please advise.
Thank you.
[This message edited by kmom2662 at 4:11 PM, January 3rd (Friday)]
I am a Wayward Husband, and I do not think about or fantasize about my xAP when I am being intimate with my BW. Or otherwise, when we aren't being intimate.
After the fog lifted, and I began to see xAP as she truly is, and myself as I truly was, the little fantasy charade and sexy mind movies in my head just went...poof! They haven't returned, thankfully.
I hope this helps some. Perhaps other Waywards will weigh in with their experience here.
He came over to where I am living a few weeks after he asked me to leave and had rewritten our marriage. Said I took advantage of him, I changed the day we married and that he was no longer my number one priority.
He cheated on his second wife twice, I found this out after I called his Mom to tell her what had happened, so this is a pattern for him.
He has shown no remorse, he and the other woman have been engaged for several months now, even though we have not even gone through mediation yet. She lives with him now.
I can not understand why he had the affair. I loved this man with all my heart. I don't understand how someone can deceive someone you called your soul mate. I don't understand why actions were taken that tore the family apart.
He says he will never forgive me for turning my son against him, I did nothing but tell my son what he had done. His actions are what turned my son against him.
I am struggling with how to give myself closure to this marriage. How do I make peace with this?
WH says I ask for too much information & it would be impossible to complete. He does talk about the A if I bring it up & answers any direct questions I have.
Things I requested on the timeline were where, when, date, days, actions, time of day, things he did to hide it, location, other people present or used as a cover, when it went from work to personal, EA to PA, money spent, etc. ........ my list of things I wanted on it was quite extensive (25-35 different things)
Did you do a timeline?
Did you do it on your own or at the request of your spouse?
What types of things did you put on it?
How did you or your BS benefit from it?
How much is too much to expect?
Did it help or hurt R?
How long did A last? Did it continue after D-day?
How much time was there between the A ending & the timeline being written?
What's the downside to a timeline?
Married 1995
DDay# 1995
DDAY#2- Jan 9,2012 2yr EA/PA with howorker
2-DD 22/15 and a son 20 (US NAVY)
Was tryin to R but to many false r. lies upon lies and not helping me heal now Seperated.....
I forgive people, but that
[This message edited by bobf at 3:30 PM, January 4th (Saturday)]
Please post respectfully if you want to ask questions in this forum.
"That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt."
Why they he'll can't you tell the whole truth when asked a direct question? Why can't you tell everything as a lie of omission is still a god damn lie (sorry I have been drinking)?
You are correct. Omission is still a lie. In our warped minds, we feel that if we withhold information, we are protecting our BSs. We feel that if they knew the "worst" of it, they would snap, and that any chance of R will be gone. What we don't realize, the worst of it is, we cheated in the first place. The details are the pieces of the puzzle required for healing. When we withhold those, it prevents complete authenticity on the WS part, and ultimately, intimacy between the WS and BS.
I left a detail out for a year and a half. QS asked me a specific question about the A. I never answered. I was in the whole self-preservation mindset. He found the detail when I did a time line a year and a half after Dday. It didn't go over very well.
[This message edited by Aubrie at 4:12 PM, January 4th (Saturday)]
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - J. Wayne
"What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, what if you fly?
Fear. Of the shame. Of losing the BS.
An inability to see beyond our own needs and fears.
Not being able to let go of the outcome.
"The most expensive thing in th world is TRUST, it takes years to earn and just a matter of seconds to lose"


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Commentary: Nest Labs' purchase of Dropcam may signal a future in which parent Google tries to balance licensing technology for and participating in the smart-home market.
Former NSA contractor has a virtual "instruction manual" that could aid in duplication or evasion of NSA surveillance tactics, The Guardian's Glenn Greenwald tells the Associated Press.
Leaked blueprints suggest that the hotly-rumoured iPhone 5S will be joined by a cheaper iPhone Light.
The US State Department has ordered that blueprints showing you how to print off your own weapon be taken offline.
If you own a 3D printer, you can now make your own working firearm, as one group has made the blueprints available online.
Building's motifs seem to include spaciousness, light, and the noncolor white.
A hard-copy leak appears to lend more credence to the rumor of a new iPhone with a 4-inch screen.
A schematic purportedly detailing the next iPhone has leaked, and chimes with earlier evidence of a taller 4-inch display.
Can Netflix's successful business strategy teach the music sector about how to get music consumers excited about joining subscription music services?
CEO Howard Stringer aligns video game and consumer electronics businesses under Kaz Hirai, effectively picking him as successor. That secures Stringer's legacy while maintaining momentum of convergence of devices, entertainment.


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MINNEAPOLIS, MN (LEARFIELD-WSAU) The Wisconsin women's basketball team led for the first 27 minutes at Minnesota last night, before losing to the Gophers 64-to-53. The Badgers were up by six at the break, and Minnesota took its first lead with just over 13 minutes left.
The lead grew to double-digits with 52 seconds to play. Badgers' coach Bobbie Kelsey said her defense allowed Minnesota to get too many layups -- and it's something they'll have to work on. The Gophers out-shot Wisconsin 48-to-37 percent. Minnesota had a slight rebounding edge, at 35-33.
Rachel Banham scored 19 points for the Gophers, who improved to 2-and-4 in the Big Ten and 13-and-7 overall. Morgan Paige led the Badgers with 13. Wisconsin dropped to 2-and-4 in the conference and 9-and-9 overall. They'll host Michigan on Sunday.


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The Audi Quattro Concept revealed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show has, quietly, been trying to get enough traction to make a real run at production. The last we heard about it was April 2011, when the prototype engineers had a running model based on the S5 that was about 500 pounds lighter than an R8. In a poll we ran with that news, nearly 61 percent of you said you'd be interested in buying a production version of the Quattro if it were cheaper than the R8. If a report in German magazine Auto Bild is to be believed, you 61-percenters could be in luck.
Their report presents a coupe that is all kinds of tweener, having a stance "halfway between the Q5 and A5," weight between the A1 and A3, power between the S5 and RS5, and a price between the TT RS and R8. Power's been pegged at 375 horsepower from a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder (the concept we drove in 2010 put out 408 hp from the same engine), moving a four-seater coupe weighing in at around 3,000 pounds(!). As for price, it's supposedly being plotted to fill the gap between the TT RS and R8. We have no idea what to do with that stance prediction, though, since that would take the production car in the opposite direction of the ground-hugging svelteness of the concept, but even if just three out of four prognostications come true, this will be a seriously lusty piece of metal. With those specs, we'd also think the pricing would lean more toward the R8 end of the scale.
Annual sales predictions have come down to 10,000 per year from the 35,000 initially mentioned. As for when we might see any of them, Auto Bild says the car's internal name of Q35 suggests it would be Quattro's 35th anniversary gift to the world, meaning some time around 2015.


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The Lighthouse Blog
Annual 'Hands Across the Border' celebration is no more
Published on Wed, Feb 6, 2013
Read More
The Blaine Chamber of Commerce announced on February 1 that the annual Hands Across the Border celebration would be cancelled due to escalating costs and diminishing donations.
"It is with sadness that we've finally gotten to this point," said John Liebert, vice president of the International Peace Arch Association. "We fought it off as long as we could."
The celebration, held every year on the second Sunday in June, has traditionally been a re-dedication of the International Peace Arch monument and celebrates the longstanding peace between the U.S. and Canada. It has taken place 90 times over the past 94 years, with the only interruptions due to World War II and major construction projects.
At its peak, nearly 15,000 people from both sides of the border came to the event, Liebert said. "Anyone that was in a youth organization was eligible to come," he said. "There were Girl Scouts, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, anyone of scouting age … but there was just no funding and no donations [to keep it going]." The event costs upwards of $10,000 per year to host and is heavily dependent on volunteers.
Pennies, nickels and dimes collected by schoolchildren from both sides of the border in the 1920s paid for the land on which the Peace Arch is constructed. The Peace Arch itself was constructed with volunteer labor and donated materials.
"For years and years there have been people who have come and made this event an important part of their life," Liebert said. "But it has run its course."
For more information, contact the Blaine Visitors Center at 360/332-4544.


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San Antonio had not lost consecutive games with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the lineup since mid-December.
For the Spurs, this was the worst possible time for that streak to end: games 6 and 7 of the NBA Finals.
Tim Duncan played well much of the night, but missed three key shots late. Meanwhile, Tony Parker's performance was awful by his standards, and Manu Ginobili made several fourth-quarter missteps.
Parker (10 points) missed all four of his shots in a scoreless second half.
Ginobili committed four fourth-quarter turnovers.
And Duncan missed two hooks and a tip in the final 2:36.
The Spurs got a huge and needed boost from Kawhi Leonard, who led everybody in rebounds (16), scored 19 points and delivered his usual jolt of energy.
Duncan had twice as many steals in the first half (four) than the previous six games combined. One of them led to the odd sight of a Duncan one-man fast break.
Duncan closed with 24 points and 12 rebounds but missed a hook shot with 2:36 left, another hook with 48 seconds left, and then couldn't follow his own miss with 46 seconds to go. The normally stoic Duncan reacted angrily.
Most of Duncan's damage was under the basket: five of his eight baskets were layups or dunks.
But Chris Bosh, despite foul trouble, played stout defense against Duncan to start the third quarter, forcing misses on two post moves, with one not even hitting the rim. Duncan hit two shots in the quarter but missed a driving scoop shot.
In the fourth quarter, Duncan got a layup off either a miss or pass from Parker (it was recorded as a miss, but might have been a pass), but then missed a turnaround over Bosh, and then missed the three late shots.
Parker, who shot 6 for 23 in Game 6, finished 3 for 12 in Game 7 and wasn't even in the game on San Antonio's critical possession, down four, with 27 seconds left.
Parker entered shooting 50 percent in the first half, just 36 percent in the second.
In Game 7, Parker took only two shot in the third quarter and missed both: a driving layup and pull up jumper. He missed a running jumper in the fourth — the one that looked like it might have been a pass — and then blew another driving layup, his final shot of the night.
Parker is usually very good at finishing in the basket area, but not this night.
He shot 2 for 8 within five feet, and was 0 for 5 on drives. According to ESPN, Parker had shot 50 percent on drives in the first six games.
Mario Chalmers and LeBron James did good work defending him.
"Parker doesn't have the normal bounce to his step," ABC's Jeff Van Gundy said.
Ginobili bounced back, initially, from his nine-point, eight-turnover clunker in Game 6 and played with force and energy, driving to the basket several times.
But he had issues in the fourth, missing two jumpers and committing an offensive foul, fumbling away a simple pass from Parker when he took his eye off the ball and throwing away a pass.
Ginobili did hit a driving layup in the fourth, then a three to pull the Spurs within 85-82.
But he committed a turnover with 23 seconds left, then missed a three a few seconds later.
After holding Danny Green to 1 for 7 shooting in Game 6, the Heat again defended him snugly, holding the Spurs guard to five points on 1 for 12 shooting, including an 0 for 8 start.
San Antonio made 20 of 22 free throws but ultimately couldn't overcome 37.8 percent shooting.
And so the Spurs lost has many road closeout games this week as they had in the previous 11 years, when they were 14-2 in that situation.


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You're leaving Wedding Paper Divas to see the Deal of the Day at our parent site, Tiny Prints.
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"First of all, I am not at all a fan of the standard color scheme. But I loved the retro graphic, so I clicked on it anyway, and the navy blue version is PERFECT! I'm so glad there was a template to follow for what info goes on the card, because this was my first time organizing a bachelorette party. We are doing an all day affair, so I used the back of the card to show the itinerary in a navy blue font. I feel like I got a great value for 15 cards, and to cut corners (pun intended) on price even more I didn't get a corner option and rounded the edges myself with scissors. I wasn't expecting much with the plain white envelopes, but even those were high quality! Very thick and sturdy, took my ink calligraphy pen very well with no bleeding. I will definitely be using WPD for my future wedding stationery! :)"
"We changed the color on the invitations from what they had displayed and designers listened to every special request. We have used Wedding Paper Divas for many of our party needs and they are PERFECT every time!"
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"The invitation was exactly how it presented itself on the computer screen. Great quality of paper and printing. I liked that the product is reviewed and sent to me for a final review. This prevents mistakes."


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We'll replace your lost tickets. Simple as that.
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While the Wells Theatre is a local treasure, it has a limited number of seats. Your membership gives you access to the best seats, when you want to go.
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Firearms in National Parks
The law governing possession of firearms inside a national park changed on February 22, 2010.
Visitors may possess firearms within a national park unit provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws.
The role of the responsible gun owner is to know and obey the federal, state, and local laws appropriate to the park they are visiting.
Please remember that federal law prohibits firearms in certain park facilities and buildings. These places are marked with signs at public entrances.
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Did You Know?
Before the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1792, 57 ships had wrecked in the waters off Cape Henry.


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Route Grade Votings
Total votes cast 4
Adjacent Routes
A good set of pitches which can easily be combined with Klokkern to offer a different way up the face. Start up and right from the Direct Start at the steep gully filled with grass and some loose blocks. Climb this for 55m (either the grassy buttress or water-washed groove on the right - a rope is advisable.) Belay where the angle eases.
We did the Original start the next day after climbing Vestpilaren normal start (rappelled from Storhyllan). The original start felt both nicer and harder... But then again I prefer crack climbing although I'm not that good at it.
I find it way easier then the direct start, but really good to climb. Best is doing both and climb the upper part twice. What a great route.


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With the sun on her face and a boisterous two-year-old daughter under each arm Marcia Cross was enjoying playtime at a park in Santa Monica. The star recently revealed the girls have inherited their mum's love of talking. "They're very verbal girls and I think that comes from me," she admits
Photo: � Rex
Monday April 13, 2009
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Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
Road Test: 2009 Nissan GT-R
This 2009 review is representative of model years 2009 to 2015.
By Aaron Robinson of Car and Driver
Bottom Line:
Prejudged on its specs, the GT-R is winning on appeal.
At first glance, the Nissan GT-R seems a totem for everything wrong with modern sports cars. It's much too big, way too heavy, far too complex, and damnably too expensive for mere wage earners, especially after inevitable gouging precipitated by a global struggle for the annual production run of just 12,000. Were Colin Chapman alive, he'd be on YouTube maniacally machine-gunning a GT-R to "add lightness."
Now that we're on our third or fourth glance, and we've been able to slap on testing gear and hit the track, the GT-R is earning our awe. In seeking to uphold all that is Godzilla, chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno and his crew have built a simply astonishing vehicle. It's still big, heavy, complex, and expensive, but it's also a holy spitfire at the drag strip and a joy to drive in every way that a big, heavy, and complex car has no right to be unless it's way more expensive than the GT-R's advertised base price of $70,475.
This GT-R story is about performance numbers, so we won't dillydally: 60 mph is barbecued in 3.3 seconds, the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds at 124 mph. Braking from 70 mph takes 145 feet, and skidpad runs are 0.99 g. Those are Olympic-qualifying stats. Indeed, with those results, the GT-R would have nuked our last $123,760 Porsche 911 Turbo and felled our last $404,410 Lamborghini LP640 roadster. Still think the GT-R is too expensive? We don't.
If all production cars run like our 3529-mile engineering-mule tester, with its husky midrange torque and smooth ramp-ups to on-boost thrust, buyers will be getting way more than 480 horsepower for their dollars. The GT-R must have more to be haul-assing its 3908 pounds to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. That's what the $321,956 611-hp Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano runs on game day. Unconfirmed reports out of Japan say production GT-Rs are cremating dynos with 480 horsepower at the wheels, which means the twin-turbo, twin-intercooler, twin-intake 3.8-liter V-6 is churning out well over 500 fillies.
And it all goes to ground so effortlessly. The GT-R's launch control requires the dual-clutch auto-manual transmission and the shock absorbers be set to the max-performance "R" setting, the stability control to be off, and feet on both the brake and gas. Do that, and the V-6 leaps to 4500 rpm and dumps the clutch when you lift the brake. There's a brief chirp from the rear rolling pins as they deposit barely an inch of rubber, and the GT-R is gone.
Upshifts with the leather-fringed paddles are rifle-round quick but free of shock. Nissan has sweated its first dual-clutch six-speed, and it shows in the seamless ratio changes and lurch-free clutching. We conducted 15 brutal launches, and the GT-R endured them with grace, sometimes posting 60-mph sprints just 0.01 second apart.
Heavy Yet Nimble
Nissan fits U.S.-market GT-Rs with extra-wide front buckets of perforated leather and anti-slip fabric that support and comfort. Elsewhere in the cockpit, Italian-looking finery is present in taut, top-stitched dash upholstery and a leather-swathed hand brake fit for a Ferrari. The dash design actually seems to be one of no design, characterized by basic rectangles, circles, and squares. The dials, the air vents, the buttons (11 on the steering wheel alone), and the multicolor nav-and-info screen stack haphazardly up a hillside like shanties in a Brazilian favela. But they prove easy to use and will appeal to those who prefer a simple functionality over art-house flourish.
Many of the "gauges" on the 11 driver-selectable info screens are inane if not suicidal to watch while in motion, such as a lateral-g meter and a front-to-rear torque-split enumerator. However, esoteric displays such as graphs showing brake-and-accelerator-pedal movements would be useful to those who in-car-video their lapping sessions.
Lapping? The GT-R's specs describe a luxury grand tourer, and it is one, especially with its shock selector set on comfort and the pavement cracks rolling sedately underneath the huge tires. But turned loose on a track or mountain macaroni, the GT-R flouts its size and mass handicaps.
It cements itself to corner apexes and scribes perfect lines on exit with none of the steering numbness or front-end washout we're trained to expect from all-wheel-drive supercars. The obvious rear torque bias pays its dividends, as does a lightning-quick 15.1:1 rack ratio when it comes time to reel in the fat derrière from the inevitable, entertaining, easily controlled power slides.
Larger, heavier, and less costly than its competition, the GT-R also charges harder and dances with lighter soles. At least so says our experience so far. Comparison tests and dyno pulls to follow. Meanwhile, if you're beginning to think the GT-R defies easy classification—a new-age Mitsubishi 3000GT was our first dismissive thought—we're beginning to agree with you.
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Product Recall: We are voluntarily recalling fewer than 8,000 cases of regular Kraft American Singles Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Productlimited to 4 SKUs on two "Best When Used By" dates of February 20, 2015 and February 21, 2015. Click Here.
COOK and stir celery, green pepper, onion and chorizo in hot oil in large skillet on medium-high heat 5 minutes or until chorizo is cooked through.
ADD tomatoes with their liquid, the water, turkey and seasoning; mix well. Bring to boil.
STIR in rice. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Mix lightly before serving.


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Two people were arrested after a strong-armed robbery yesterday afternoon.
Bismarck police say a 41-year-old Mandan man was traveling south on 19th Street in a car with some acquaintances, when he was assaulted in the car. His cell phone and $60 in cash was taken. The victim was then dumped off in the 500 block of North 14th Street. He called police and a warrant was obtained to enter an apartment on 1008 Portland Avenue.
Jason Antelope, 30, and Theresa Zapata, 31, were arrested for strong-armed robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


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State of Conservation (SOC)
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
- Earthquake
- Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
- Financial resources
- High impact research / monitoring activities
- Housing
- Human resources
- Legal framework
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Solid waste
- Temperature change
- Other Threats:
a) Lack of maintenance; b) Natural factors
Inscription on the Danger List
Threats to the Site:
(cf. Document CLT 82/CH/CONF.015/8)
"[…] they considered that the situation of this property corresponds to the criteria mentioned in the ICOMOS note and, in particular, to criteria (e) (significant loss of historical authenticity) and (f) (important loss of cultural significance) as far as "ascertained danger" is concerned, and to criteria (a) (modification of juridical status of the property diminishing the degree of its protection), (b) (lack of conservation policy) and (d) (threatening effects of town planning) as far as "potential danger" is concerned. […]"
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger ("ascertained danger") or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property's Outstanding Universal Value ("potential danger").
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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All quotes tagged Attractions
(786 quotes found)
"When stocks are attractive, you buy them. Sure, they can go lower. I've bought stocks at $12 that went to $2, but then they later went to $30. You just don't know when you can find the bottom."
"Only the mob and the elite can be attracted by the momentum of totalitarianism itself. The masses have to be won by propaganda."
"The best thing I have is the knife from Fatal Attraction. I hung it in my kitchen. It's my way of saying, Don't mess with me."
"The biggest attraction in Britain is Britain - the whole package. Our heritage is not just a collection of ornaments scattered across the country, it is Britain itself and makes us gloriously distinguishable from any other country."
"I used to go around looking as frumpy as possible because it was inconceivable you could be attractive as well as be smart. It wasn't until I started being myself, the way I like to turn out to meet people, that I started to get any work."
"Many people believe that they are attracted by God, or by Nature, when they are only repelled by man (More Lay Thoughts of a Dean)"
"Many people believe that they are attracted by God or by nature, when they are only repelled by man."


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12 posts tagged with waronterror and alQaeda. (View popular tags)
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What is the logical consequence of noting the fact that the terrorist groups that make a difference on planet Earth—such as Hamas and Hezbollah, the PLO, Colombia's FARC—are extensions of, respectively, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Venezuela? It is the negation of the U.S. government's favorite axiom. It means that when George W. Bush spoke, and when Barack Obama speaks, of America being "at war" against "extremism" or "extremists" they are either being stupid or acting stupid to avoid dealing with the nasty fact that many governments wage indirect warfare.International relations professor Angelo M. Codevilla argues that Osama bin Laden is not quite influential, not quite relevant, and probably dead. (multipage version)


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For games, I spend most of my time on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. I know some things about modding the games, but so far I'm only as good as merging and tweaking files. I definitely want to learn more though, and hopefully I'll be able to make something decent later on.


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Cowboy Fire Pit Rotisserie / Grill
Item # WX2-282386
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Add an additional $40.00 heavy/bulky shipping charge per each.
This item cannot ship via any of our Next Day or Second Day Express delivery methods.
This item cannot ship to Canada.
This item cannot ship internationally.
- Details & Specs
Cowboy Fire Pit Rotisserie / Grill delivers that savory, mmm good BBQ taste. BIG BUCKS OFF!
Mmmm, mouth-watering food right off the grill. Ahh, the smell of sizzling bacon, hashbrowns and fresh eggs cooking over a charcoal fire on a misty morning. This heavy-duty Fire Pit Grill is the perfect size for backyard picnics and grill-outs.
How about a sizzling burger with melted cheese on a toasted bun? The cooking surface is a whopping 730 sq. in., with plenty of room for multiple pans for even the hungriest cowboy! Even has a swivel work table for the coffee pot. Fire it up for a barbecue feast the whole posse will enjoy! A Close-Out boils the usual price down!What's cooking:
- Heavy-gauge, 4mm thick fire bowl for long life
- Double nickel-plated cooking grate is a huge 31" diam.
- Height-adjustable Rotisserie for revolutionary cooking
- Swivel work table
- Adjustable pot hanger hook
- Bottom drain pipe
- 4 heavy-duty legs offer support. Fire bowl: 31 1/2 x 12"h. Overall (with handles and outer ring): 39 1/2 x 46"h., 92 lbs.
Rustle up grub like a true cowboy over an open fire with this full-featured Fire Pit Grill. Order ONLINE Now!
Please Note : This is a Heavy / Bulky item. $40.00 for heavy / bulky shipping and handling will be charged in addition to regular shipping and handling.
!!! Limited Quantities !!!
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Excellent quality, great price.
We love it...highly recommend
This grill/firepit is way beyond our expectations, even though we expect a lot from Sportsman's Guide. It is heavy, well-made, and tall enough to keep the heat from the grass. Great quality for hte price. Thanks.
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LODGE® 10" Seasoned SkilletBuyer's Club $31.49 Non-Members $34.99
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Lodge® Sportsman's GrillBuyer's Club $89.99 Non-Members $99.99


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Enjoy some good one-liners and bits from your favorite late-night comedians.
Jay Leno: "Egypt's President Mubarak finally resigned. When they heard that a Muslim president stepped down, the Tea Party said, 'Obama's leaving?'"
Bill Maher: "This whole revolution was started by a Facebook page. So Mubarak wasn't so much deposed as de-friended."
Conan O'Brien: "Representative Chris Lee was forced to resign after sending a shirtless picture of himself to a woman on Craigslist. On the bright side, he did surprise his wife for Valentine's Day."
Jay Leno: "Keith Olbermann has a new job on Al Gore's Current TV as an investigative reporter. His job will be to find anyone that watches Current TV."


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OFNA 15T Clutch Bell w/Bearings
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- Sam Ash Gift Guides
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The Aguila Octamizer analog octave pedal features independent volume controls for both the Clean and Octave sounds, so dialing in the exact amount of each is a cinch. The two discrete signal paths on this bass octave pedal also have their own tone controls specifically designed to enhance and expand their musical possibilities.
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Aguilar Amplification's DB series of electronics are covered under warranty to the original owner for a period of ten years from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship. AG series electronics, GS series speaker cabinets, and S series speaker cabinets are covered by the warranty for a period of 3 years. Tubes are covered by the warranty for a period of six months.


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Is This High-Growth Healthcare Stock in Trouble?
Bob is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
On Tuesday, Mar. 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new all-time high. The average broke through its previous record from October 2007 on broad economic optimism. One stock that sat out the day's rally and has exhibited poor stock performance recently is Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG). An inquiry from the Food and Drug Administration as well as worrisome death reports have sent investors rushing for the exits. Intuitive Surgical has been a market darling for years, providing huge growth in sales and profits, along with even more impressive share price performance. Would investors be well-advised to join the chorus of worries and dump the stock? Or is riding out the storm a better strategy?
When the FDA comes calling
Shares of Intuitive Surgical have more than doubled since the beginning of 2011 on the strength of superb operating performance over the past several years. The company's total revenue has climbed more than 27% annually since 2009. Meanwhile, diluted earnings per share soared almost 40% annually over the same time period.
Unfortunately, it's well understood that healthcare companies operate under a different and more highly scrutinized risk profile. Companies such as Intuitive Surgical expose themselves to significant litigation risk. When the FDA begins an inquiry into the safety of a healthcare company's product, it's rarely good news for that company's stock. That's exactly what happened when in January, the FDA surveyed surgeons about the potential complications resulting from procedures performed by Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci robots.
Fellow robotic surgical company MAKO Surgical (NASDAQ: MAKO) competes with Intuitive Surgical and could be an alternative, but unfortunately MAKO has its own set of problems. A year ago this time, MAKO reached $45 per share. A myriad of problems resulted in MAKO's shares cascading downward, to its current level of roughly $12 per share. To the company's credit, total revenue more than doubled since 2010, to more than $102 million. Unfortunately, the continuing lack of profitability is an ongoing concern for MAKO. The company has reported a net loss for three consecutive years. In the company's most recent annual report, MAKO lost more than $32 million.
Investors not interested in the wild swings that the surgical robot makers have exhibited in recent years may be better served considering a more stable large-cap healthcare stock such as Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). The company operates a medical device segment, but also holds several well-known consumer brands including Listerine and Band-Aids that provides investors a rock-solid business. JNJ trades for a more attractive price-to-earnings ratio than Intuitive Surgical of 20 times and pays a 3% dividend to shareholders. Johnson & Johnson is a fortress that can offer you less volatility than Intuitive Surgical. J&J holds a market value in excess of $215 billion and has raised its dividend for 50 years in a row.
Where to go from here
As recently as late February, Intuitive Surgical traded for more than 36 times its trailing twelve-month diluted earnings per share. High expectations were baked into the stock price, and a potentially damaging inquiry from the FDA was the catalyst needed to bring the stock's momentum to a grinding halt. On a day in which the broader equity markets rallied 1% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new high, Intuitive Surgical fell another 3% to its recent level of $525 per share.
That being said, Intuitive Surgical is still trading above where it entered 2013 and well above where it was to begin 2012. It remains to be seen whether the FDA inquiry will result in anything meaningful. It's entirely possible that the market is overacting to what are still preliminary reports. The company maintains its robots are extremely safe.
This could blow over, and if that were to occur, then the recent sell-off should be considered a nice buying opportunity. Unfortunately, no one has a crystal ball to foretell exactly how this will play out. Despite the recent hiccup, Intuitive Surgical is still trading for more than 30 times trailing diluted earnings per share. The stock trades for 10 times sales and more than 6 times book value. Intuitive Surgical, while a great growth story these past few years, carries a lofty valuation. While high-growth investors still probably prefer Intuitive Surgical's enticing growth potential, more prudent investors may want to consider a more reliable healthcare stock like Johnson & Johnson that will help you sleep well at night. With regard to Intuitive Surgical, investors would be wise to take a cautious approach and consider waiting for a further pullback before committing capital to the stock.
Robert Ciura has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Intuitive Surgical, Johnson & Johnson, and MAKO Surgical . The Motley Fool owns shares of Intuitive Surgical and Johnson & Johnson. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Family Research Council (FRC) president Tony Perkins has appeared significantly less frequently on CNN and MSNBC in the wake of petitions calling on the networks to stop hosting him. Perkins, whose organization has been labeled an anti-gay "hate group," continues to appear frequently on Fox News.
Rep. Paul Ryan's poverty proposal, which would in part punish impoverished Americans for not getting themselves out of poverty on a specific timeline, is based on the conservative myth pushed by right-wing media that blames poverty on individuals' "spirit" and personal life choices. Experts say poverty is the result of systemic inequality and lack of opportunity.
Fox News host Megyn Kelly misinformed her audience by claiming that that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not issued a travel ban over Ukraine, in order to bash President Obama over Israel. In fact, the FAA has banned commercial travel over Ukraine since April.
A Media Matters analysis finds that the Sunday shows covered climate change more in the first half of 2014 than in the last four years combined, following a push from nine U.S. Senators for increased coverage. Although these shows gave the issue more coverage, at times they used false balance, enshrouding the scientific consensus surrounding climate change.
Fox News has devoted a significant amount of time to finding new ways to baselessly attack the Women's Health Protection Act, a federal bill that would counteract laws that single out and punish abortion providers. The network parroted extreme anti-choice talking points and largely ignored the opinion of leading health organizations that these laws have dangerous consequences for women.
Politico's Roger Simon distorted President Obama's record to claim that his request for emergency funding to deal with the recent flood of unaccompanied minors crossing the border was tantamount to waking "from a deep slumber ... to fight a problem he has ignored for years." In reality, Obama has supported legislation in the past that addressed many of the underlying issues but the legislation has been blocked by the GOP.
The D.C. Circuit is expected to rule soon in Halbig v. Burwell, a lawsuit based on a fringe legal theory that could gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by eliminating federal exchange tax credits that significantly reduce the cost of private health insurance. Although this lawsuit has already been dismissed by legal experts and judges as meritless, right-wing media continue to misrepresent both the law and consequences surrounding Halbig.
The New Hampshire Union Leader rejected the factually accurate claim that the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision would result in gender discrimination while pushing the myth that the forms of contraception discussed in the case were actually abortion-inducing drugs.
A Fox News correspondent blamed the Obama administration's tweaks to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) announcement that it would no longer estimate the total cost of the law, and suggested that the changes may increase deficits. In fact, the CBO and budget experts explained that the CBO routinely stops providing budgetary estimates once a law is implemented, and that the CBO's estimate that the ACA would reduce the deficit remains correct.
Media figures across the board have endorsed right-wing author Dinesh D'Souza's latest film, America: Imagine a World Without Her, despite the fact that the film is based on a book with extreme, racist rhetoric. Here are five media figures who have given D'Souza's works their stamp of approval.
In the second quarter of 2014, women comprised just over one-third of weekday cable news guests invited to discuss issues relating to the American economy. The disparity between men and women still marks an improvement over previously measured trends in gender diversity among cable news outlets.
Right-wing and even mainstream media have eagerly pushed the suggestion that the recent increase in unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is "Obama's Katrina" -- an inane comparison that repeatedly surfaces inside the conservative media echo chamber.
Weekday broadcast and cable evening news coverage of the economy during the past three months focused heavily on policies aimed at spurring job creation and economic growth despite the general lack of input from actual economists. A Media Matters analysis reveals that several topics -- taxes, spending cuts, deficit reduction, economic inequality, minimum wage -- have become highly polarized among major networks.
Fox News hyped a lawsuit by Republican Senator Ron Johnson (WI) against the federal government to revive the long-debunked myth that Congress got exemptions from the Affordable Care Act by receiving the same employer contribution for its insurance that it traditionally received.
Fox News' reporting on Hillary Clinton's upcoming keynote address at a University Of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation fundraiser falsely suggested that university funds will be taken from students to pay for Clinton's fee, which will be donated to charity. But the university's spokespeople have made clear that private donations -- not university funds -- are paying for Clinton to speak.


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A locker room dare turned dangerous at a Bedford County high school, and now a teenager is in the hospital while another student is facing serious charges.
Gavin Evans and his freshman classmates were in the boys locker room getting changed for gym class at Community High School when they decided to play a game they call "tapping out."
Tapping out is a fad where teens put one arm around another's neck and choke the person until they pass out to get a thrill.
"The horseplay just turned, and it got real serious real quick," said Bedford County Sheriff's Capt. Tony Barrett.
In this case, the game escalated.
"The young man that was choked said that he couldn't be choked enough to make him pass out, and that's kind of where it all started," Barrett said.
From that challenge, the other classmate began to choke Gavin.
"But once he was choked, the other young man that was choking thought he had come to, and he let go. When he let go, [Gavin] fell face first and hit his head on the concrete," Barrett said.
Gavin suffered a concussion and was unresponsive on the locker room floor. He had to be flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was placed in intensive care.
Gavin's family has been posting updates on Facebook, asking for prayers.
Investigators say the young man who choked Gavin is now facing aggravated assault charges and has also been suspended from school.
"I hope with what's going on with this charge - that they're going to realize how dangerous it is," Barrett said.
The superintendent has not decided if any other students involved will face disciplinary action.
A recent update from Gavin's family posted to the Facebook page says the young man suffered a subdural hematoma, but is now in stable condition and doing better.
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On January 27, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack announced the USDA's decision to de-regulate Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa, allowing it to be grown anywhere and placing both organic and conventional farmers at risk. "We in the farm sector are dissatisfied but not surprised at the lack of courage from USDA to stop Roundup Ready alfalfa and defend family farmers," said Pat Trask, a conventional alfalfa grower and plaintiff in litigation to prevent planting of GE alfalfa.
Britain's Chief Scientist has come out trumpeting the need for genetically engineered (GE) crops to feed the world, and the UK media is falling all over itself with blaring headlines that echo this badly misinformed sentiment (see Guardian, Telegraph coverage).
The source of all the hullabaloo is the UK's release this week of its mammoth Foresight report, Global Food and Farming Futures. Using the occasion to espouse what seems to be his personal opinion, Sir John Beddington —the Chief Scientist in question — argues that "It is very hard to see how it would be remotely sensible to justify not using new technologies such as GM. Just look at the problems that the world faces: water shortages and salination of existing water supplies, for example. GM crops should be able to deal with that." "Should?" Is that the best you can do, Sir John?
Today Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians, called for the initiation of a new era of U.S.-tribal relations as he delivered the annual State of Indian Nations address. As he addressed tribal and U.S. government leaders in Washington, D.C., Keel noted the significance of the Obama Administration's December 16, 2010 announcement that the U.S. is "lending its support" to the The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. What's important now is implementation.
Imagine if a persistent, toxic chemical was being added to all sorts of products you use everyday: soap, toothpaste, cosmetics, shaving cream, even toys and underwear. Imagine being told that it was put there to keep you safe from disease, when in reality it could end up making you sicker by contributing to antibiotic resistance. Imagine your food was being grown in fertilizer contaminated with this chemical, and that government tests found it in 75% of Americans. Finally, imagine you had an opportunity to do something about it.
Last week the UK-based Independent reported that the clothianidin controversy has sparked a proposal to suspend the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in the UK. This story, which first broke in early December thanks to efforts by PAN, Beyond Pesticides and beekeeper Tom Theobald, has led to grave concerns in the British House of Commons.
Two studies came out in the last couple of weeks that really illustrate the problems associated with "PBT" chemicals: those which are simultaneously persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Persistent substances resist degradation — you can move them around but it's really hard to get rid of them. Bioaccumulation happens when chemicals in food, water, and air end up getting stored in the body of a living thing. Thus, for a bass living in a mercury polluted lake, the mercury levels in the fish may be thousands of times higher than the levels in the water. A cow grazing on PCB-laced feed will store the chemical in her body and excrete it in her milk, and humans too act as sinks for all kinds of chemicals.
Last week, researchers found a host of toxic chemicals in the bodies of pregnant women throughout the U.S. Industry reps quickly trotted out their favorite messages in response: "Chemicals are a fact of modern life," "just because toxins are in your body doesn't mean they'll hurt you," and "the levels are too low to matter - researchers have new tools that can measure extremely low levels."
The fact is, low levels of chemicals in the womb can matter a whole lot. And studies like last week's make the chemical industry very, very nervous.
Several deaths and decades after it should have, Bayer CropScience announced last week that it will stop making pesticides using methyl isocyante (MIC) in the U.S. MIC is the gas that exploded in 1984 in Bhopal, India, killing more than three thousand within weeks and leaving hundreds of thousands injured survivors struggling for justice even today.
Please join me today in urging the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to block approval of GE alfalfa. Things are moving quickly in Washington, and frankly, they aren't looking good. Ignoring rulings from three District courts and the Supreme Court, the demands of over 50 members of Congress and concern expressed by his agency's own scientists (not to mention farmers and the public), Agriculture Secretary Vilsack is apparently refusing to take action to prohibit the planting of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa.
A victory 7 years in the making! Yesterday EPA published its proposed rule on testing pesticides on humans, and it's a giant step forward. The new rule categorically bans testing on pregnant or nursing women and on children. It expands protections for all testing including tests conducted by other governments, private industry and organizations. And it sets stringent criteria to ensure that tests are scientifically credible.
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with Mark Epstein
There is a great deal to learn from the ancient wisdom of Buddhism and the relatively new field of psychotherapy. In this retreat, Mark Epstein, a practicing psychotherapist and Buddhist, looks to synthesize the two in an attempt to cover the pitfalls that we can fall into as a result of following either one dogmatically.
Mark draws from contemporary and traditional stories that bring a fresh perspective to current issues we are facing as Buddhist practitioners in the West, looking especially at how to deal with negative emotions and our tendency to avoid or side-step them in our practice.
3 downloadable MP3s. Length: 4 hrs, 9 min.
All digital downloads are protected by copyright laws and are subject to our Conditions of Use. Please help us in our mission of supporting your spiritual practice by not distributing copies of the dharma talks.
Price: $16.00Product Code: MP3-THERAPY
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Category: Safety on the Road
Tow Ratings Standardization: Now You Will Never Know
April 28, 2013 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Automakers often brag about the towing abilities of their pickups, encouraging shoppers to believe that their vehicles could safely pull almost anything. The towing claims are effective, moving heavy metal in the single most profitable product segment in the auto industry. They are also dubious. In an August 2011 post, I wrote: Have you ever wondered if 10,000 pounds of towing capacity means the same for trucks manufactured by GM, Ford, and Dodge? You will soon know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. One and a half years later, all but one pickup manufacturer refuses to follow standardized towing-capacity tests they all agreed four years ago to adopt for 2013 models—test procedures that would lower the towing capacity ratings they now claim, reports Autonews.com. Instead, automakers follow their own test regimens and advertise claims that could encourage customers to push their vehicles beyond safe limits in terms of stopping and control. The years-long industry effort... [Read more...]
Getting Ready to Head Out? Don't Forget the Final Check on your RV!
March 7, 2013 by Cynthia Baum · 5 Comments
Have you ever forgotten to do the final check on your RV before driving away from your house or campsite? I have an uncle, whom I love dearly, who drove out of his driveway with his RV still plugged into the wall of his house. As a fairly new RV-owner and having felt rushed for time when departing, he enjoys amusing his listeners with the retelling of this story… They were headed to New Mexico from Los Angeles, to visit their son and his family, when it happened. He didn't realize it at first, but he was dragging the long electrical cord and cover from the wall, behind him for some time. At first when he spotted the kids pointing at his RV, he thought smugly to himself: "Yep, they must be impressed with my nice Class-A." Only once he noticed that they were actually laughing and pointing, did he begin to think something must be up. Then it occurred to him to check all of his mirrors to make sure everything was as it should be. This is when he spotted the... [Read more...]
Motorhome Purchased on Craigslist Explodes
February 25, 2013 by Rex Vogel · 3 Comments
In recent posts I reported that four small dogs died and an RV was destroyed in a fire caused by a propane space heater, space heaters destroyed pets and RVs in two separate fires, and six other RV fires resulted in two deaths. Air Force veteran Thomas Graley was driving a newly purchased motorhome through Phoenix when flames started shooting through the floor. "I was coming down the road and the engine just caught on fire," Graley told azfamily.com. "All of the sudden flames just started coming out of the pedals," added Graley's wife, Candy. The Graleys have been down on their luck. Air Force veteran Thomas Graley lost his job when the cellphone company he worked for merged with another company. They bought the motorhome so they would have a place to live as well as a vehicle. "They foreclosed on my house and repoed my car so we bought this so I would have someplace to live," he said with tears in his eyes. Today, the Air Force veteran was able... [Read more...]
More Space Heater Fires Destroy Pets & RVs
January 30, 2013 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Whether camping or just relaxing in your recreational vehicle, fire safety is essential. A fire started by a space heater in a travel trailer spread to a second trailer, a car, and a home just. (Credit: Avra Valley Fire Department) In an earlier post I reported that four small dogs died and an RV was destroyed in a fire caused by a propane space heater. In today's post I report on two RV fires caused by careless use of space heaters. Arizona Fire Started by Space Heater A fire started by a space heater in a travel trailer spread to a second trailer, a car, and a home in Picacho, reports the Arizona Daily Star. When units from the Avra Valley Fire District arrived on scene they found heavy flames and smoke coming from a masonry-built home, Patrick Calhoun, spokesman for the fire district, said in a news release. A car and two travel trailers also were ablaze. It took two engines and two water tenders to extinguish the fires. "The fire was believed to have had started in one of the... [Read more...]
Propane Space Heater Fire Destroys 4 Dogs & RV
January 20, 2013 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Studies show that fires in recreational vehicles, especially older units, tend to be more devastating than those in other forms of residence. A portable space heater started the fire that consumed this RV. (Credit: The Spokesman-Review) Heating and electrical system malfunctions are the leading causes of fire in RVs. Together, they account for one-third of the fires. Four small dogs died and an RV was recently (January 15, 2013) destroyed in a fire blamed on a propane space heater in Spokane, Washington, The Spokesman-Review reported. A man had been staying in an RV parked in a driveway and was inside the house watching television with the homeowner when they heard a noise, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. They found the RV in flames. "He was trying to get the dogs out and was unable to," Clifford said. The man was treated for smoke inhalation. Clifford said the dogs may have knocked the space heater over or knocked something flammable into it. A propane heater also shouldn't... [Read more...]
January 15, 2013 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
When we got our RV from the dealer, they were nice enough to bring it to our campsite where it would be parked. Back then, we didn't have a vehicle to tow it as we had a Venture van. But the following year, out of the blue, the motor on our van burned and we had to shop around for a new vehicle. We knew that since we had to purchase something we wanted to have one that would be able to pull our Rv for long trips. We found a Suburban that was fit to pull it and since then we enjoy going places with the RV. However, as soon as we were able to take the RV with us on trips, we looked for ways to be fuel efficient. While navigating the internet one day, my husband stumbled on the website promoting Airtabs. After he read about Airtabs he was so enthusiastic that we purchased some to install on our RV. What are Airtabs? Well it is a patented shaped vortex generator designed to increase vehicle aerodynamic performance and fuel economy by reducing the aerodynamic pressure... [Read more...]
Got an iPad? Drive a RV? Check out this new GPS app from Rand McNally!
January 10, 2013 by Professor95 · 2 Comments
Rand McNally Launches Industry-first RV Navigation Application for iPad. LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2013 – Nearly two years after introducing the first GPS designed specifically for RVers, Rand McNally today launched the first RV GPS app for the iPad. The RV GPS is being shown for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Rand McNally's RV GPS for iPad is the first iOS application offered that is specifically designed for RV navigation. The new application, available on the App Store(sm), provides RV class-specific routing (and with a quick toggle, over to car routing) based on Rand McNally's proprietary road data and navigation, plus thousands of RV parks and campgrounds, RV-friendly locations, RVer tools and pre-planned trips. The app also includes dynamic weather*, a map overlay feature that helps drivers anticipate conditions such as high wind and precipitation along the route. Also included is a bonus feature of the app: An e-book version of America's... [Read more...]
How to avoid tire blowup while RVing
January 7, 2013 by Canadianladybug · 2 Comments
Having a tire blow up is not fun whether you are rving or not. In both case, you need to change the wheel when it happens. However, I think the worse kind of blowup would be the ones when you pull your RV. It happened to us twice so far. We were driving with the RV behind and then one of the tires on the RV just blew. The first time, we didn't realize it and someone driving pass us kindly inform us of the problem. That tire was on the driver's side. Fortunately, in Ontario the sides of highways is quite large and we were able to have space when we proceeded to change the tire. The second time, we heard the tire when it blew up. We were on our way on one big highway in the state of New York in the US. We knew that we needed to stop and change it. So we parked as best as we could on the side of the highway (which isn't as large as in Ontario by the way). Every time a huge truck or bigger vehicle would pass next to the RV we could see it move. ... [Read more...]
Fall and Winter Warning about Blacklegged Ticks
December 4, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
An earlier post, Top 10 things RVers Should Know about Ticks, stressed the fact that ticks can be active even in the winter. That's right! Adult stage blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) become active every year after the first frost. They're not killed by freezing temperatures, and while other ticks enter a feeding diapause as day-lengths get shorter, deer ticks will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen. This surprises people, especially during a January thaw or early spring day. Remember this fact and hopefully you'll never be caught off-guard. Campers, hikers, and hunters should take special precautions in the woods during fall and winter to avoid this winter-resilient tick that transmits Lyme disease, according the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). "We are trying to make the hunters aware that there are ticks in some of these areas and asking them to check their deer," said Lindsay Rist, wildlife communication... [Read more...]
Stairs: The Hidden Danger In RVs
November 30, 2012 by Cynthia Baum · 4 Comments
The day after Thanksgiving, the full day of eating whatever we want; we set out for a fun weekend of camping at the beach. The beach camp spot my aunt reserved this year was at Leo Carrillo State Beach, a scenic stretch of canyon leading to gorgeous coastline, where the Santa Monica Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. You access it from the Pacific Coast Highway, just south of where we live. My dear aunt was only one day late in reserving our typical spot at Carpinteria State Beach and, lo and behold, there were no spots left! So we settled for second best: Leo Carrillo, where I grew up camping and loving every second of it. Leo Carrillo is just off a narrow, windy stretch of highway along the coast with no bike lane, so bicycling with our kids in tow to the campsite was out of the question (although we did enjoy riding around the campground and over to the beach side)! We packed up our bikes and set off with the RV and a handful of tents for two nights at Leo Carrillo State Beach... [Read more...]