text:
Changed My Mind and Went With the Enkei Performance Series Falcon
When it came time to purchase wheels for my new vehicle, I thought I had my mind made up. After my research, I was ready to buy the 17x8" 45 ET gunmetal with machined lip Enkei Tuning Series Tenjin. It met all my requirements as far as function, style and finish. However, deep down, I knew my gut was telling me to go with a brighter finish and look for something different. While the Enkei Tenjin is a great wheel, I knew that it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. As we all know, wheels are about personal preference!
After I changed my mind, I went ahead and purchased the hyper silver with machined lip 17x7" 45 ET Enkei Performance Series Falcon (the Falcon is also available in 16", 18" and 20" rim diameters). I think they're a perfect complement to my vehicle and I like how the sharp edges of the wheel flows with the Civic Si's angular lines.
One change I did make was switching the center cap to one from Honda. It's not a perfect fit but my original Honda center cap can be squeezed in. In the near future, I will mill down the perimeter of the Honda caps for a better fit.
When the time comes for you to make your next wheel purchase, take a look at the wide range of styles from around the world we offer.
Replacement Tires for Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Earlier this year, I went to my niece's high school graduation. Unfortunately, after I left to come back home, my brother experienced a tire issue. On Sunday afternoon, he found himself dealing with the problems you can see in the photos below:
Tire Puncture
Inner Tire Wear
Inner Tire Wear
My sister-in-law's 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport already has 25,000 miles on it. And since there was a small diameter wound in the center of the tread, this puncture could be repaired if it didn't have abnormal wear. As you can see, there's excessive wear on the inner shoulder exposing the belt edge strip and sidewall plies. The inner wear could be a pattern with the vehicle's chassis or the alignment is off and running too much negative camber. My brother or sister-in-law should have their dealer check the alignment. If they get the vehicle aligned, the paper will clearly point out what alignment specification was corrected.
I told him that the punctured tire needed to be replaced because of the risk of tread separation at the excessive wear point. It was also advised that he have the other tires checked. He checked and found the same excessive wear on the inside of the other tires. The tires may not have even been rotated and should have been rotated every 5,000 miles.
Of course he emailed me asking what tires he should use to replace his current set. I provided him with the following two options:
- Purchase four 275/40ZR20 Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires at $356* each plus shipping. He could rotate the symmetrical non-directional Latitude Tour HPs every 5,000 miles in the X-Pattern. Treadwear will vary with driving style, road conditions and other factors, however my sister-in-law should be able to get more lift from the Latitude Tour HP's all-season compound.
- The second option suggested was a set of Yokohama Parada Spec-X tires for $192* plus shipping. It combines impressive looks and confident handling with year-round traction in a wide range of weather conditions, including light snow.
Shop by vehicle to view all the recommendations for your application.
*Prices subject to change
235/40R19 XL Studless Ice & Snow Dunlop Graspic DS-3 for Your Audi
Are you a snowbelt driver with a new Audi Quattro A5, S5 or RS5 with Original Equipment 255/35R19 XL (Extra Load) summer tires? This winter will you encounter your fair share of packed snow and ice on your daily commute? Your best solution is a set of dedicated Studless Ice & Snow tires. Compared to Performance Winter / Snow tires, you'll give up some dry road handling to achieve outstanding grip in the worst winter conditions.
Your Original Equipment 255/35R19 tires have a 26" overall diameter. In a perfect tire world we'd want winter / snow tires with a comparable diameter. This winter season, take a look at Dunlop's 235/40R19 Graspic DS-3 (26.3"). This size will fit on your O.E. Audi 19x8.5" wheels or you can build a Winter Wheel & Tire Package to get the exact look you want.
Many of you may wonder what the "XL" on your tires stand for. Extra Load (XL) means a tire has reinforced construction allowing it to carry more weight than a Standard Load tire of the same size. For instance, the 235/40R19 XL Dunlop Graspic DS-3 and 235/40R19 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 N-Spec, both have the same air volume, however Dunlop's XL construction allows it to carry a max load of 1,565 lbs. per tire compared to Michelin's max load of 1,389 lbs.
Many Audi's are equipped with XL tires as Original Equipment, so it's critical that your winter / snow tires meet or surpass factory load carrying requirements.
Which Winter Performance Category Is Right for You?
Are you in the blue? Then it's time to find the winter / snow tire that works best for your vehicle. In order to purchase the correct snow tire, you should decide which performance category works best for your driving style and the winter weather you experience. There are three winter performance categories: Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow and Performance Winter / Snow.
Studless Ice & Snow
Tires from this category give you optimum ice and packed snow grip, but are less responsive on dry roads. The tires trade a little handling for excellent ice and snow traction. On dry roads, your vehicle will not respond as crisply or quickly to steering inputs. Studless Ice & Snow tires are available in higher profile sizes and include the following:
- Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
- Michelin X-Ice Xi3
- Continental ExtremeWinterContact
- Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT
- Dunlop Graspic DS-3
- Dunlop Winter Maxx
If you go with a Studless Ice & Snow tire, you should consider going with a narrower tire as it cuts through deeper snow better. This is especially true for a lighter car like the MINI Cooper.
Studdable Winter / Snow
Studdable Winter / Snow tires can be run studded or unstudded. When studded, they'll give good ice and packed snow grip, but will be less responsive on dry roads. When unstudded, they'll perform well in moderate and deep snow. It's important to note that the use of studded tires may be prohibited or restricted in your area, be sure to check with local authorities to confirm legality. If you're looking for the traditional security of winter tire studs for enhanced traction on ice, consider the following Studdable Winter / Snow options:
The AltiMAX Arctic is slightly better on ice and packed snow and quieter than the the Winterforce. Winterforce tires will provide more effectiveness in deeper snow.
Performance Winter / Snow
These tires will exhibit the above dry road deficiencies to a much lesser degree. If your vehicle came with summer performance tires, the Performance Winter / Snow tires will be more comparable in steering response, acceleration, grip, braking and cornering grip. They will give up some ice and packed snow grip. Tires in this category will wear slightly better compared to Studless Ice & Snow tires, especially during the early and late winter days when temperatures are a little warmer. All winter / snow tires will have more tread noise and this will vary from tire to tire. Performance Winter / Snow tires do tend to be quieter than the other performance categories.
Available in lower profile sizes, the following Performance Winter / Snow tires are great options:
- Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
- Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D
- Pirelli Winter Snowsport
- Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60
- Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32
Is a Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow or a Performance Winter / Snow tire right for your vehicle? It depends on your car, where you live, how you drive on dry roads and how you want to balance the above compromises. For example, my brother lives in Marion, Indiana, which is about an hour northeast of Indianapolis. He got the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60 Studless Ice & Snow tire in 235/40R18 on Sport Edition A7 wheels for his 2008 BMW M3. He chose this tire because central Indiana is more apt to get ice storms and there's the potential for heavier snow that wouldn't be quickly cleared from the country roads between his offices. He's willing to drive slower on dry roads.
Compare my brother's driving situation with another driver from Louisville with the same car but a heavier foot, he would be better served with the Performance Winter / Snow Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D tires in 235/40R18 front and 255/40R18 rear. Louisville's milder weather allows him to emphasize dry road performance, but still have emergency snow capability.
Let it snow.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport vs Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
In between owning my BRZ and Civic Si, I thought about purchasing a Volkswagen MK6 Golf 2.5. Yes, the MK7 is right around the corner, but newer isn't always better. Naturally I started to wonder what 225/45R17 Max Performance Summer tires would be a good choice for my hypothetical MK6?
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport would still be my first choice for its crisp, immediate and linear response. I'd also look at the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 as a great value option, as it's currently on special.
225/45R17 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2
225/45R17 Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Both tires tested well with the Michelin coming in first overall. The Goodyear option had impressive traction and was especially strong in the wet. If you drive your vehicle to its full potential, then the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the tire for you. If you take it a little easier but want a great tire, you can't beat the value of the Goodyear option. Many MK6 2.5 drivers will be happy with this tire for its combination of value and steering response.
Shop by vehicle to view all options available for your Volkswagen MK6.
*Prices subject to change
Michelin Takes the Pilot Sport A/S Plus and Makes it Better With the Pilot Sport A/S 3
Have you been tempted by great test results and feedback of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, but need light snow traction, longer treadwear and more emphasis on lower tread noise? Sounds like you're looking for the Ultra High Performance All-Season version of the Pilot Super Sport -- the new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3.
Michelin's internal testing shows marked improvement in dry and wet grip compared to its predecessor, the Pilot Sport A/S Plus. We've just completed our comprehensive comparison testing of the tire and the consensus is the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 beat its three main rivals, the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position, Continental ExtremeContact DWS and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical All-Season. For a complete recap of our test, read "Testing the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 - Can It Set a New Performance Benchmark for All-Season Tires?"
What about the tire's snow traction? Michelin engineers have added biting edges in the grooves to improve snow grip and used their Helio compound to keep the compound more malleable at cold temperatures. For most drivers, especially those with milder winters, the new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 is the optimal Ultra High Performance All-Season choice.
Michelin has gone from a directional (V-shaped) tread pattern in the Pilot Sport A/S Plus to a non-directional asymmetrical (bigger outside shoulder) tread design with the Pilot Sport A/S 3. Their engineers use a varying number of longitudinal grooves to create a tread design that will resist hydroplaning and allow for cross-rotation, leading to more even wear. 205 or narrower tires have four ribs (rows of tread blocks), 205-255 width tires have five ribs and 295-265 width tires have six ribs. In the photo below, you can see some examples of the tread design differences. Pictured from left to right are 195/55R16, 235/45R17 and 275/35R20.
What are the Best Tire Brands?
With millions of vehicles sold in the United States last year ranging from FIAT 500s to Ford F-150s, drivers have a myriad of choices. Shouldn't they also be able to have their tires their way, too? In a perfect tire world, every tire manufacturer would engineer the optimal tire for every car and driver. However, the market is very large and competitive, and instead of a few brands dominating all segments, there are all-stars that excel in their niches.
Even though Michelin was the first tire company to commercialize the radial tire back in 1948, all major tire manufacturers have the same core technology, such as radial ply construction, steel belts, etc. They often use the same or similar materials with some noteworthy exceptions, for example polyamide. As you research tires, judge a tire by how well it's been engineered for your specific needs.
Taking a look at the hypothetical case of Maria from Burnsville, Minnesota, she drives 16,000 miles per year in her 2009 Honda Civic EX Sedan which came with the 205/55R16 Original Equipment size. Her daily commute consists of two miles of suburban roads before hopping on the interstate for 25 miles of highway driving to reach work. She normally drives about five miles above the posted speed limit and has never received a speeding ticket.
What does Maria need in her tires?
- Snow grip - It's Minnesota! Running dedicate winter / snow tires during the winter is the best choice for her during the colder months.
- Wet grip - Spring showers will cause her to need adequate wet grip to brake, corner and accelerate properly in the rain.
- Treadwear - Since Maria drives quite a bit, she's needs a tire that combines good treadwear and has enough grip to stop quickly.
- Low tread noise and a good ride - She's in her car over one hour each day, she needs a tire with low tread noise and the ability to ride well over bumps. Tire noise is heavily dependent on vehicle design and ride compliance will inherently be challenged in short wheelbase cars.
- Relative efficiency - One reason she got the Civic was because of its fuel efficiency. It would be helpful to have a tire that's engineered for efficiency even though tire choice is only a partial factor of fuel economy with speed, air pressure and other things coming into play.
What tire is best for Maria? Based on our summer and winter testing, I would recommend the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422. To find the tire that's best for you car, shop by vehicle.
Great Grip at Great Pricing - Closeout Pricing on Hankook Ventus R-S3
Although Extreme Performance Summer tires have stepped up their game, the old stalwarts of the category still provide great dry grip for your fun car. Like all Extreme Performance Summer tires, the Hankook R-S3 emphasizes dry grip and steering response at the expense of wear, ride compliance and tread noise. It's a great tire for spirited drivers. The R-S3 has always provided a great mix of dry performance and value. Now, closeout pricing in select sizes has made a great deal even better.
Do you have a PCA lapping day coming up for your 911? 285/35ZR18 tires have been marked down to $159*, 235/35ZR19s to $182 and 305/30ZR19s to $229*. Did you just pick up a Nissan 370Z? The 225/40ZR19 is currently available for $149* and the 245/40ZR19 for $159*.
You may also notice that some R-S3 tire specs show a 140 UTQG Treadwear rating, where others are now 200 rated. When the Ventus R-S3 was introduced in the spring of 2009, Hankook assigned the 140 rating to match the UTQG Treadwear rating required by existing competition rules. However, subsequent Hankook wear data revealed the tire line provided equivalent wear to its predecessor (Ventus R-S2) and earned the same 200 Treadwear rating. This has also been supported by Tire Rack survey results and customer feedback that indicate Ventus R-S3 tires provide equivalent wear to other tires already featuring similar UTQG Treadwear ratings. Where there was no change in compound or internal construction, some of the 140 rated tires are now discounted a little to help clear them out.
*Prices subject to change
Great Extreme Performance Summer Tires
Ranking the top three quarterback in the NFL is tough. Is Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady the best? Answers may vary across the country, but even neutral observers will be hard pressed to say who's the best.
That's how I felt after finishing our widely anticipated Extreme Performance Summer test. They're all great across the board and it's pretty hard to declare a clear number one.
BFGoodrich g-Force
Dunlop Direzza
Yokohama ADVAN Neova
The BFGoodrich g-Force Rival, Dunlop Direzza ZII and Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 R were the top three tires and all provided crisp, immediate and linear steering response that really performed well through the five-cone slalom section of our test. Compared to these three, the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A's steering response wasn't quite as crisp. Our opinions varied, however I like the predictability of both the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival and Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 R.
Our test writer had the difficult task of sorting through subjective assessments and data to anoint a winner. Our official results show the g-Force Rival taking first, the Dunlop Direzza ZII in second and Yokohama's AD08 R finishing third. Amongst those three, it's a photo finish when it comes to overall dry lap times as .22 seconds separated them.
If the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival isn't made in your vehicle's size, the Dunlop Direzza ZII and Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 R are both more than capable. The RE-11A is a worthy competitor that could use a little more dry traction, but overall it's a great Extreme Performance Sumer tire.
For complete test results, read "Testing Extreme Performance Summer Tires: The Boys of Summer Are Here."
What Are the Best Wheels for a 2013 Polished Metal Metallic Honda Civic Si Sedan?
Great handling, fast enough to get to work on time, a dipstick, sunroof and the ability to run 225/45R17 tires as a natural size, that's what I wanted in my next car that was replacing my BRZ.
I just got back from Cocoa, Florida in my new 2013 polished metal metallic Honda Civic Si Sedan, so everything is good to go with my new Honda, right? Not quite, as I'm not a huge fan of the 17x7 45mm offset Original Equipment wheels. I also have a set of 225/45ZR17 Michelin Pilot Super Sports in my basement, which leaves me halfway to the set-up I desire. How do I know when I've found the right wheel? It's the option that provides a combination of function, style and finish.
In a perfect world, I'd want the same offset as the Original Equipment, because in theory, a lower offset wheel will add torque steer to a front-wheel drive Civic Si. I prefer a 45mm offset wheel, however it'll knock me out of the stock autocross class (those heading to Nationals in Lincoln are no doubt relieved). A wider wheel will enhance steering response. Lighter wheels will effect braking and acceleration. With respect to function, I want a lightweight, 45mm offset wheel.
Wheel preference is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, therefore I need to pick a style I like. If I had to pick a few words to describe the overall styling theme of the 2013 Honda Civic Si, they'd be: angular, edgy and sharp. Wheels with rounded, organic styling that might look great on an Audi TT won't work on my Civic Si.
The polished metal metallic Civic is essentially a medium shade of metallic grey. My vehicle's color will play a major factor in the wheel I ultimately end up choosing.
Potential Choice:
As of right now, I'm leaning towards the 17x8 45ET Enkei Tuning Series Tenjin with a gunmetal with machined lip finish. It's wider, has the same offset as the Original Equipment and doesn't weigh more than the wheel currently on the vehicle. The spoke's edges are squared, not rounded. Its gunmetal finished center almost matches the color of my Honda. Also, the wheel gives me the function, style and finish I'm looking for!
Wheel Options for Your 2013 Ford Focus ST
We know the Focus ST has enough power to be fast, but can it use a style infusion?
My colleague Joe recently picked up a tangerine scream Ford Focus ST. It's a great color for the car, but Joe wasn't equally thrilled with the Original Equipment wheels from day one. After scanning his options in our Upgrade Garage, he narrowed down is choices to the following 18x8 5-108 45ET options:
- Hyper Silver Bremmer Kraft BR09
- Matte Graphite Silver Sparco Assetto Gara
- Matte Grey MSW Type 25
- Black Painted Sparco Assetto Gara
They're all good options, however Joe decided on the Sparco Assetto Gara with a matte graphite silver finish. The wheel provides the perfect contrast to the car's bright tangerine scream finish while matching up with the vehicle's black trim. Joe now has the combination of speed and style he was truly looking for.
2013 Ford Focus ST FAQ:
1. What's the width and offset of my Original Equipment Focus ST wheels? The wheels are 18x8 with a 55mm offset (ET).
2. How do I add a new set of tires to my wheel purchase? Create a Tire & Wheel Package. First, pick the wheels you would like for your Focus ST. Next, you will be given tires that are a match for your vehicle. It's that simple! Also, mounting, balancing and any required hardware are included at no additional cost.
3. Will my Focus ST automatically recognize my new TPMS sensors? We offer O.E. TPMS sensors, however you'll need to initialize them since each sensor has a unique serial number. You can either have your dealer do this (labor charges may apply), or use the FORDTRIGGER tool.
Are Your Chrome Wheels Leaking? Replace Them with Affordable Custom Wheels
Buy your vehicle and hold onto it for as long as possible. That's typically the best way to get the most out of your car and budget. Obviously, you'll need to maintain and take care of it as best you can.
If your vehicle originally came with chrome wheels and you live in snow country, one challenge you'll probably face is peeling chrome. Eventually this peeling chrome will prevent your wheels from properly sealing against the tire beads. One way of fixing this is by having an installer clean the wheel and use a bead sealant to reduce or eliminate the air loss.
If leaks persist to the point you're still adding air to your tires every morning, then it's time to replace your wheels. A great option to consider is a set of Sport Edition F7 wheels. This five-spoke wheel is available in both a 16" and 17" rim diameter. Sport Edition wheels combine quality, style and price to offer an exceptional value. Using the latest production standards, Sport Edition wheels complement the appearance of many popular vehicles.
Not only could new wheels fix your leaking problem, but your vehicle will look better, too!
Go with 275/45R20 Tires on 20" Wheels for Your Audi Q7
An Audi Q7 with Audi's quattro® all-wheel drive should have zero problems in the snow, right? Not if your Q7 came with 21" Original Equipment wheels and 295/35R21 summer tires. Unfortunately, none of the major tire manufacturers make an all-season in this size and there's not a good alternative 21" tire.
If you live in an area outside the Snowbelt, you may not need a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. However, the summer tires currently on your vehicle aren't going to be much help once the temperature begins to drop. The solution? Downsize to 275/45ZR20 Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires on 20" Andros Spec P wheels.
The ExtremeContact DWS features Tuned Performance Indicators -- visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of their tire's performance levels. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry and wet roads only. After the "W" and "S" have worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has proper tread depth for dry conditions only.
20x10 Andros Spec P
275/45ZR20 Continental ExtremeContact DWS
275/45R20 has the same overall diameter as the 295/35R21 and is 1/2" narrower. The 275/45R20 is an Original Equipment size that Audi uses on certain Q7 trim levels and is compatible. Since your Q7 uses the Indirect ABS-based TPMS system, there are no direct TPMS sensors to purchase. We'll include our free mount and balance, therefore your Tire & Wheel Package ($1156* plus shipping) will arrive ready to install.
*Prices subject to change
Can't Find Tires for Your Scion xD? Expand your Choices with the 205/55R16 Alternative Size
In the Scion family, the FR-S gets the most buzz, the xB evokes the most polarizing opinions, the iQ draws the most attention and the tC typically sells the best. The Scion xD gets overlooked as it provides practicality, dependability and efficiency, while simply getting the job done.
If you drive an xD, I'm sure you've been happy with its reliability, efficiency and ease of maintenance. The only area where things get a little tough is in choosing replacement tires. Scion has equipped the xD with the rare 195/60-16 size as Original Equipment. There are only six options available, with two of them being winter / snow tires. This severely limits your chances of finding the tire you may be looking for.
No worries, you can run the 205/55R16 alternate size instead. It fits on your original wheels, doesn't rub on the wheel wells, has a comparable overall diameter and won't affect overall performance. In the 205/55R16 size, you'll find 166 choices to choose from.
Search by size and find the best tire for how and where you drive your xD.
Don't Get Mad at Phil: Get Ready for Next Winter by Saving on Closeout Michelin Winter / Snow Tires
Was there a misrepresentation of an early spring? Yes, the world's most famous weather predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has been charged with that heinous act.
We all know the rule, if Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, then we can look forward to an early spring. On Groundhog Day, Phil saw no shadow, yet we saw plenty of snow on the first day of spring.
Even though most of us our wanting warmer weather, winter conditions are going to appear later this year and we need to be prepared. Why not get ready now by taking advantage of some great closeout savings on Michelin winter / snow tires available in select sizes?
There are a few great Michelin tires available with closeout pricing, including select sizes of the Primacy Alpin PA3, Latitude Alpin and Pilot Alpin PA3; however, I particularly like the X-Ice Xi2 for its ability to combine good snow grip with decent handling. We were fortunate to receive the X-Ice Xi2 in a wide variety of sizes:
What should you do with all the money you've saved? The Punxsutawney Phil Legal Defense Fund might be a worthy cause.
*Prices subject to change, limited stock
Sign your Teen Driver Up for a Tire Rack Street Survival Class
This past Saturday, I watched my niece play in her youth basketball league. I ended up running the scoreboard and used my close proximity to the court to offer words of wisdom, such as "use the backboard" and "shoot it." Kids, you got to love them!
Inevitably these kids will get bigger, their jump shots will start falling and they'll be teenagers driving themselves to practice. When that time comes, preparing them to be the best drivers they can be will be extremely important. One of the ways to do that is to take your teen driver to a one-day Tire Rack Street Survival class.
Classes are held at our headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, as well as locations across the country. Tire Rack Street Survival classes allow your teen to learn how to properly control his/her car so they don't panic during an emergency, along with helping improve their overall driving skills.
In addition to proper training, teenagers (and all drivers) need the safest tires. If you're in a snowbelt region, then dedicated winter / snow tires are the way to go. If you live in a warmer climate, an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire could work best because of how unpredictable weather can be. For example, in Dallas, Texas, it's not uncommon to receive some light snow, and the all-season option will come in handy compared to a summer tire.
View more information on the Tire Rack Street Survival program and find a class for your teen driver!
Find Better Tire Choices for Your Volvo XC70 AWD in the Alternative Size of 225/60R16
If your family hauler is a second-generation (2001-2007) Volvo XC70 AWD, you probably bought it for the safety it provides. Safety also requires focused driving and equipping your Volvo with the best tires for the conditions. Does tire choice make that much of a difference? Yes, consider the difference in wet braking distance between the top tires and the fourth place tire observed in this Grand Touring All-Season comparison test.
Choosing the right tires for your Volvo XC70 can be tricky. Most second-generation Volvo XC70 vehicles came with the relatively obscure 215/65R16 size. If wet braking is important to you, and it should be, you may want to consider one of the top three tires referenced above (Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus, Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology, Michelin Primacy MXV4). The problem is that they're not made in your size, therefore you'll need to look at the 225/60R16 alternate size. 225/60R16 is about 1/2" wider, 3/10" smaller in diameter and fits the Original Equipment 7" wide rim without rubbing.
Now that you know what size to look at, what tire should you purchase? Obviously, if you live in a dry area like Phoenix, Arizona, you'll want to choose your tire based on variables such as dry braking and steering response. With these parameters in mind, I'd recommend choosing between the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus, Michelin Primacy MXV4 and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus.
225/60R16 Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus
225/60R16 Michelin Primacy MXV4
225/60R16 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
The Turanza Serenity Plus provides good wet grip, decent road manners and relatively long treadwear. Michelin's Primacy MXV4 shares theses traits, however the Serenity Plus offers a little more wet grip capability. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus' strengths of crisp steering response and better dry grip make it appropriate for faster drivers.
The Return of the King? Introducing the Extreme Performance Summer BFGoodrich g-Force Rival
Recently, we received our first batch of Extreme Performance Summer BFGoodrich g-Force Rival tires. The first shipment from BFGoodrich's Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant consisted of the 225/45R17 and 245/40R18 sizes, with 13 additional sizes to come. Unfortunately, it's too cold here at our Indiana headquarters to test the tire, however based on current data, it looks like this BFGoodrich tire will rise to the top.
BFGoodrich's internal testing and their launch comparison indicate mission accomplished. The g-Force Rival excels when driven side-by-side with traditional Extreme Performance Summer leaders.
Our test drivers were particularly impressed with the g-Force Rival's combination of consistent, extreme grip with a high degree of predictability. Instead of "peaky" grip levels which leave the driver wondering what their tire and car are doing, BFGoodrich has endowed the Rival with more progressive grip levels. This allows for better control because the driver has no doubt what's happening with his/her car and tires.
The NOLA Motorsports Park launch test featured some good competitors, but how will the g-Force Rival do against the newest rivals in its class? Dunlop has launched the new Direzza ZII. Bridgestone's rolling out the new Potenza RE-11A. Yokohama has the ADVAN Neova AD08. Who's the king of that group? With all due apologies to Dennis Green, we won't crown it now. We'll crown the champ in early June after completing our comprehensive in-house test.
Clearance Closeout Tire & Wheel Packages for Your Second-Generation 4-108 Ford Focus
By all accounts, the 2013 Ford Focus ST has been a universal hit. It goes fast, handles well and doesn't break the bank. Much of the current Focus' success is due to groundwork done by earlier models.
The previous generation Focus combined affordability, decent handling and efficiency, so it's not surprising that many second-generation Focus drivers are staying with their current Focus. Are you happy with your Focus but want to freshen it up? Why not take advantage of some extraordinary savings on clearance 4-108 wheels and special buy Fuzion tires to create a Tire and Wheel Package for less than $600?*
Building your Tire and Wheel Package is quick and easy. Simply click on the wheel you like, add it to your cart, add tires, review TPMS options and receive the tires and wheels ready to install!
Are you looking for more options? View more closeout options and a complete list in our Upgrade Garage.
Ford Focus Tire & Wheel Package FAQ:
1. I'd rather have more emphasis on grip and steering response instead of focusing on wear and ride compliance, can I choose a different tire?
Yes. Take a look at all 205/50R16 options or consider 17" wheels with 205/45R17 tires.
2. What torque setting should I use on my new wheels?
Use the same as factory, 100 ft-lbs. See complete installation instructions here.
*Prices subject to change, limited stock
If First You Don't Succeed...Why Your BRZ or FR-S Needs Better Tires
Thumbing through the March round of car magazines, I came across an interesting comparison between C7 launch articles. Sweet car, by the way, that C7. The comparison test? My Subaru BRZ versus another favorite of mind, the 2013 Ford Focus ST.
A lightweight rear-wheel drive junior Cayman against a roomy, practical and powerful front-wheel drive hatch? Kind of an odd couple to test with their only real commonality being their $25,000-$30,000 price point. Both cars tested well, but at the end of the day, the BRZ was about a second slower than the Focus ST on a 1.6-mile road course.
Did I buy the wrong car? No, not at all. I bought the right car that happens to be sold with the wrong tires. The BRZ and FR-S come equipped with 215/45R17 Michelin Primacy HP tires, while the Focus ST has the 235/40R18 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2. It's true the Focus ST boasts a huge power advantage, however stickier rubber would allow the BRZ to maximize its cornering grip. I suspect a simple swap to either a Max Performance Summer or Extreme Performance Summer tire would easily close that gap.
For those interested, before I got my BRZ, I had a set of Extreme Performance Summer tires in mind. After getting my new car, I was leaning towards the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11. After about 1,600 miles on my Original Equipment tires, I decided on the Michelin Pilot Super Sport in 225/45R17 on 17x7 48ET Sport Tuning T8 wheels. Michelin's Pilot Super Sport provides great wet grip and I wanted to avoid the harder ride of the Extreme Performance Summer tire. I noticed improvements across the board with the tires with no significant difference in ride or tread noise.


text:
Olympus PEN E-PL2 digital camera (preview)
We spend some time with the Olympus PEN E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds digital camera: Is this the perfect compact camera for shooting video?
We spend some time with the Olympus PEN E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds digital camera: Is this the perfect compact camera for shooting video?
App development teams in companies are unable to keep up the updates rolled out by device vendors, according to a survey conducted by Vanson Bourne, and commissioned by Borland, a Micro Focus company.
Micro Focus has adapted its SilkPerformer platform for testing of mobile web applications, in a effort to help users improve performance, the company said on Thursday.
Micro Focus on Thursday announced it is extending its Cobol platform to Java and the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud platform, with the launch of Micro Focus Visual Cobol R3.
Micro Focus has updated its developer platform for the Cobol programming language, adding the ability to run Cobol applications on Microsoft's Azure cloud service.
Micro Focus International raised its offer for Borland Software to $US1.50 per share on Tuesday, up from $1 in early May, to counter a rival offer from a mystery bidder. It's the second time Micro Focus has had to raise its offer. Another bidder drop...
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Visit our shop for the best deals on hot products
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you go to http://www.arstechnica.com/ with IE 5.5, the links on the left have a specific underline color that is different from the actual text color (or link color to be more specific)....is this aCSS trick? and if it is, how is it accomplished?
Printable View
If you go to http://www.arstechnica.com/ with IE 5.5, the links on the left have a specific underline color that is different from the actual text color (or link color to be more specific)....is this aCSS trick? and if it is, how is it accomplished?
This is acheived with CSS.
(Everything in blue is code)
[1] This is how Ars Technica did it:
<LINK REL=STYLESHEET HREF="/includes/masterstyle.css" TYPE="text/css">
Buyer's Guide
masterstyle.css is a plain text file with the following line of code:
.mlink { font-family: verdana, helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 11pt; color: #FFFFFF; }
Simply add the line of code into notepad and save the file with a '.css' extension.
[2] Or you can do it this way:
Using the ... from [1], repace the link line with:
Buyer's Guide
[3] Option [1] and [2] allow you to call the masterstyle.css file from every page, but you could do this too. Replace the ... from [1] with:


text:
Lloyds Pharmacy
This listing is about Lloyds Pharmacy in Stranraer, Wigtownshire.
[ report an error ] Business details
Lloyds Pharmacy
- 48 Hanover Street
- Stranraer
- Wigtownshire
- Tel: 01776 702201
- Fax: 01776 702201
[ report an error ] About the company
Lloyds Pharmacy is a dispensing chemist located at 48 Hanover Street in the Wigtownshire town of Stranraer. Lloyds Pharmacy can be contacted on 01776 702201.
Additional links
Please note Bizwiki is neither affiliated with the authors of external sites nor responsible for their content.
There are currently no links for Lloyds Pharmacy.


text:
At this point I don't think Jesus could save this season. #sfgiants #2013 #jesussaves #dodgersworshipsatan (at New Parking Lot, Still Depressed)
San Louis Obispo - I am all up in yo' hood!!!! #whatever #worldtraveler #Imissmywifeandson (at Madonna Inn Pool Bar & Cafe)
from a Tofugu article on Sadaharu Oh:
…Randy Bass is probably one of the most accomplished American players to play in the NPL. Many people credit him for turning the Hanshin Tigers around and winning the 1985 Japan Series. Bass holds the highest Japanese batting average of .389, winner of…
This is definitely the most dangerous selfie ever taken.
Tampa Bay Rays reporter in the Green Monster seats during batting practice.
The Netherlands Celebrates Koninginnedag
Browse more Koninginnedag photos under the hashtags #koninginnedag, #troonswisseling and #queensday, and browse the Leidseplein, Dam, and Museumplein location pages.
This year's Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) is a special one for the Netherlands. Revelers have celebrated Queen Juliana and her successor Queen Beatrix on April 30 every year since 1948 with orange costumes, parties, concerts and local gatherings like flea markets. This year, however, will mark the last Koninginnedag for a while, as Queen Beatrix celebrated the holiday by abdicating her throne and ceding it to her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. Today, Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne, and next year the holiday will be renamed Koningsdag (King's Day) and celebrated on his birthday, April 27.
Festivities began last night with Koninginnenach (Queen's Night) and the Queen's national farewell address beneath Rembrandt van Rijn's "Night Watch" at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This morning, Beatrix signed official papers at Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam to enact the change of royal titles. More than a million people are expected in Amsterdam for the celebration, including royal guests from 18 countries.
The Dutch rule. I am happy to be one of them.
still my favorite picture/dekstop
Rodney Dangerfield (November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004)
Ha ha ha … Love this dude, forever.


text:
As new fashion trends go, the off-shoulder look has some history.
Tag archive for "Katy Perry"
Celebrity Style, Fashion, Music, Style, Trends
As new fashion trends go, the off-shoulder look has some history.
In today's latest celeb news, pop singer Katy Perry recently told Britain's Star magazine that she used telepathy to get bad boy comedian Russell Brand to propose to her.
Celebrity News, Celebrity Style, Denim, Designer Brands, Fashion News, Music
Diesel and Katy Perry have teamed up on her forthcoming "California Gurls" music video, to unveil the hottest custom made daisy-dukes the golden coast has ever seen!
Actors, Actresses, Celebrity Sightings, Celebrity Style, Fashion, Style, Trends
The big news on the Red Carpet outside Sunday night's MTV Video Movie Awards was legs!
The Grammy Red Carpet is probably one of the most trying things to try to dress for. Sure, everyone wants to look good, but with an edge. Straight up "Old Hollywood" glamour is a little out of place here, but it's also easy for stars to get carried away and end up looking ridiculous.
The man known for wearing women on each arm like so many cheesy bachelor pinkie rings plans to forsake all the others in 2010 and marry pop superstar Katy Perry.
Celebrity Style, Designer Brands, Designers, Fashion, Fashion Designers
Fun, cute, with a definite element of the unexpected. Those are words that describe clothing from designer Pencey. This young and hip label is often found on the likes of Leighton Meester, Katy Perry, Lindsay Lohan, and Amanda Bynes.
© 2010 Couture in the City. Powered by Wordpress.
Design and Theme Modification by Nick Piela & Optimized by Promotion Expert


text:
Advice On Making A Guest Room Special?
Good Questions
Sent by TiffanyWe've got all the necessary pieces of the puzzle so far: bed with crisp linens, empty wardrobe with drawers, armchair with lamp and a variety of reading materials, carafe of water, assortment of toiletries and a portable TV as we know our guest enjoys watching some very strange programs that are on at odd hours. Have you got any tips or advice on how we can make the room extra special?
Editor - Share your advice below!
Other similar posts:
- No Guest Bedroom, now what?
- How To...Make a Couch, Bed, and Guest Room Fit In a Small Space
- How To Be a Good House Guest
(Image: Gregory Han/House Tour: Kelly's Craftsman Comfort)
25 Comments
I like to take a cue from my favorite boutique hotels and leave a small basket of fruit and some high end snacks (roasted almonds, wasabi peas etc) for guests to snack on so they don't have to travel down to the kitchen if they get peckish.
I know that I value a desk (even if tiny) and a chair to use my laptop when travelling. WiFi access would be great if you already have it. Also make sure that there are enough empty outlets to charge laptop, cell phone, or any other gadget the guest may bring along. I find that the best combination of the above advice is a small desk with a chair near a wall outlet, and a 6 outlet surge protector either mounted to the top of the desk with 2 sided sticky tape, or just laid flat (if it will stay that way.) Your guest, of course, may not have need for any of the above, but its always a nice tough to accommodate the business travelling family member. Good Luck!
A clock. On the wall, or an alarm/radio, either way, I personally am not a watch wearer and I dislike having to fish my phone out every time I want to know what time it is. I like an easy glance.
A night light! :) My mom is my most honest house guest and after my parents stayed in my new guest room for the first time, her only request was a night light so she could find the facilities easier. Also, extra blankets - my mother tends to be cold-blooded so I have learned to always keep a few extra quilts in the closet just for her.
Fresh flowers, of course. And a few travel-sized toiletries (like a tooth brush and paste) can come in handy for visitors.
i really like that black mirror!
That room is really charming, I love it.
In my imaginary guest room, there is a carafe on the nightstand with fresh water, some magazines to flip through (something my mom has loved when she visits), extra hand-knit afghans, fresh flowers from the garden (when I go home in the summer, my mother always puts lilacs in my bedroom, and it is heavenly), and a lightly scented candle.
No one would be visiting me with the intent of working while they're here, so providing comfort and relaxation to my guests are of utmost importance to me.
I keep seeing that bed frame!!! SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHERE I CAN FIND IT!!! *begs*
I second the snacks idea - there is nothing worse than waking up starving in the middle of the night and not knowing where food is, what you should eat, etc... (A family friend has a story about resorting to eating sweet-n-low in the middle of the night - not too pleasant!)
I never bitch about re-posts, but I feel that this subject has been pretty exhausted in the last 4-5 months, especially around the holiday season. These are all excellent suggestions above, but I don't see anything that hasn't been already suggested in comments responding to prior (and pretty recent) posts. Maybe I'm being too whiny... just strikes me as a really frequent theme.
Only my two cents.
Snacks and water have made for our FAVORITE stays in guest rooms. Pick up a few neat bottles of water...not just your average Dannon bottles. There are some cool ones on the market. Just to make your guest smile, ya know?
Also, maybe a couple of magazines or a neat fact book or something interesting.
And definitely somewhere to put a suitcase or dufflebag rather than on the floor.
Wow, I'm lucky if I get a bed when I'm staying with people.
Ideally, a bed and pillows!
Extra blankets nearby (learned this the hard way during a long summer night in Illinois sleeping next to the open living room windows; it gets so cold there at night!).
A safe place to set my glasses (before I got lasik anyway!).
A tv so I can watch while I fall asleep.
Somewhere to charge my cell phone.
Food is a good idea cuz guests don't always feel comfortable searching the kitchen when they are hungry.
And I'll say it, some extra tampons never hurt (just in case).
If you have dogs, a lint roller please!
snacks, which are extra good if its a friend who is an expat, they will be so so excited to see their favorite home snacks!
protogarrett, it looks like the city block bed from CB2. I don't see it on their website anymore though, but it was covered here on AT.
oh yeah, a full length mirror would be great!
I love the dash of yellow!
I'm with you TrueTex, all I get is a bed and a towel when I'm a visitor.
I would like to second the post by home body & suggest you spend a night in your guest digs yourself. To that end-and I know this seems needless to mention-please make sure you are providing adequate sleep space and comfort for the number, size and needs of your guests.
For example...
I recently stayed with a relative who made up a bed for me on their loveseat. The challenges of such an arrangement were as follows:
1. Even though I am barely over 5 feet tall, it was waaay to short for me (I was also at least 7 months pregnant which made it all the more uncomfortable).
2. I know it was a pullout sofa (I helped them pick it out) so...why wasn't it pulled out?
3. Just next to the loveseat was quite a large empty space, enough to easily fit 2 queensized air mattresses. Lying there wide awake at 2am, I pondered giving them one as a thank you gift, then decided against it.
I can only chalk it up to their being inexperienced hosts-they did do all kinds of other things to make me feel welcome, like keeping snacks & my morning coffee on hand. But I really do believe that trying the accommodations for yourself is priceless-I learned by doing this that my own guest room was way to bright, and so hung blackout drapes so my guests can sleep in if they like.
a QUIET clock! (no wind-ups please!)
-a clock
-a bedside table and lamp
-fresh water
-towels and toiletries
-good curtains that block out the light
-a phone
-reading material
-a tv is nice
-extra blankets or varying weights
-nothing scented that can't be removed from the room or put away if the guest is sensitive to scents
-call me crazy, but if it's a couple visiting, then maybe some condoms in the drawer jusssst in case. Oh come ON, you yourself told them to "make themsleves at home", right?
my wife likes to put out a some framed pics of us with our guests from a previous vacation or a night out with them.
holy cannoli, margo. 7 mo pregnant, you need just the smallest of courtesy, not to mention the most obvious ones! they must be a bit dense.
I've read good advice to sleep in the guest room for a few nights to make sure everything is in place!
Wowsa - such deluxe ideas!
I'm an extremely easygoing houseguest. The ONE thing I absolutely love but rarely see is a lamp next to the bed. I.e. I can turn off the overheard light, but comfy in bed and then switch off the light within arm's length.
I *hate* having to stumble between the lightswitch and the bed in a strange place. My .02. :^)
1. Two flat pillows for stomach sleepers and two thick pillows for side sleepers. My neck often hurts when sleeping at someone else's house from not having a good support pillow for my side sleeping, and my husband often ends up not using a pillow at hotels because their thick pillows aren't great for stomach sleepers.
2. I'm not going the TV route, but perhaps a radio or ipod with speakers or something to make some background noise. I feel so awkward staying at someone's house with my husband and feeling like we can be heard by everyone. A little music or something can be fun and take the edge off of them feeling like they can't talk to each other without everyone else hearing.
3. And definitely a talk with the guests before they come, if possible. Are they flying? If so, are they trying to bring only a carry on? Maybe offer to provide some toiletries so they don't have to try to pack them, then find out what are their favorites. Little things like that you'd just never know without asking, and will make their stay so much more comfortable. If these are cousins or people you don't know too well, then this would also be a good opportunity to talk about food allergies/pickiness if you'll be feeding them or allergies to pets if you have pets.
4. The pet-thing made me think that a plastic matress cover is a necessity in our guest room. We bought a used matress so covered it with a plastic matress cover so my sister could visit. She's super allergic to everything, so this helps make sure there's not something in the matress bothering her allergies.


text:
During 2012 the OTSH produced two reports for the period January – August.Nonetheless, they are classified and only available internally. So, at the presentmoment we have only data of 2011. The 2011 Annual Report on Trafficking inHuman Beings was published and is available online: www.otsh.mai.gov.pt.
National Strategy/National Action Plan
Portugal adopted its second Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (2010-2013) in 2010.
The National Action Plan has a total of 45 measures and focuses on four main areas:
- Acknowledgement, Awareness and Prevention;
- Education and training;
- Protection and Support;
- Criminal investigation and Cooperation.
One of the outcomes of the National Action Plan is the consolidation of the national monitoring system from the responsible of the Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings (OTSH), under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Its mission is to contribute to analysis of, knowledge of and intervention in trafficking in human beings and other forms of gender violence.
During 2010 there were a total of 84 potential victims of trafficking. 10 of the victims confirmed were cases signalized during 2009. From those, and until March 2011:
28 victims were considered as victims of other criminal offences (not as trafficking in human beings) - mainly involvement in smuggling, pimping, pimping and dmestic violence, illegal permanence in Portuguese territory. Some cases have been stoppend due to absence of proves/evidence. There are still 35 cases of potential victims.
Types of exploitation
14 of the potential victims were for sexual exploitation, 6 were for labour exploitation and 2 for sexual and laboutr exploitation. The main cause is a promised job, and the mechanisms of control of the victims are direct menaces, movement control and appropriation of documents, (for signalized victims) and direct threats in the case of confirmed victims.
Criminal data
N. of criminal proceedings initiated n grounds of THB:
- 2008 - 43 cases
- 2009 - 39 cases
- 2010 - 28 cases
Since 2008, Portugal has a monitoring system that collects desegregated data on (potential and identified) victims of THB from several data providers such as law enforcement agencies and NGO's.
Although data concerning 2011 is still under evaluation – and thus the current statistics are still provisory – here is brief overlook of the registered cases between 2008 and 2011:
- 466 victims flagged by law enforcement agencies and by NGO's;
From this:
- 108 victims identified/confirmed as VoT by law enforcement
agencies (according to the police investigation outcome);
- 260 flagged victims not confirmed as VoT by law enforcement agencies (according to the police investigation outcome). The basis for non-confirmation were as follows:
- Illegal immigration: 82 registers;
- Sexual exploitation: 54 registers. In 2 out of these 54, this crime accumulated with domestic violence and with kidnapping;
- Smuggling: 6 registers;
- Kidnapping: 5 registers;
- Slavery: 4 registers;
- Inexistence of crime: 34 registers;
- Lack of victims and/or evidences: 28 registers;
- Other crimes: 15 registers (includes crimes such as rape and
criminal association);
- Unknown: 32 registers;
- 98 victims registers from law enforcement agencies are still pending (either police investigations still in course or from NGO's flagging that did not developed into police investigations);
- 108 victims identified/confirmed as VoT by law enforcement
Brief analysis of Identified/Confirmed Victims:
- Sex: 61% female (n=66); 38% male (n=41); 1% data unknown (n=1);
- Civil status: 70% single (n=76); 8% married (n=9); 4% divorced (n=4); 18% data unknown (n=19);
- Age (data unknown in 9 registers):Average: 29 years (set deviation 11,3); Minimum age: 1 year old Maximum age: 58 years old
- Nationalities:
- 35% Portuguese (n=38);
- 25% Brazilian (n=27);
- 16% Romanian (n=17);
- 15% Mozambican (n=16);
- 2% Bulgarian (n=2);
- 1% Nigerian (n=1);
- 1% Chinese (n=1);
- 1% Ukrainian (n=1);
- 1% Senegalese(n=1);
- 3% unknown (n=4);
- Type of Exploitation:
- 47% for sexual exploitation (n=51);
- 46% for labor exploitation (n=50);
- 3% for adoption (n=3);
- 1% sexual and labor exploitation (n=1);
- 3% data unknown (n=3).
(Note: This analysis refers to data extracted on the 27 of January 2012).
All forms of trafficking in human beings are criminal offences in Portugal. Until 2007, the Penal Code of 1982 criminalised only trafficking for sexual exploitation (Article 217). This law was amended in 2007 to include trafficking for forced labour, removal of organs and other forms of trafficking.
The law prescribes penalties of three to ten years' imprisonment, which are commensurate with those for other serious crimes. The same penalty is applied to cases when the victim of trafficking is a child. The penalty is increased to a maximum of twelve years' imprisonment if the crime is conducted as a professional act with the intention to profit.
In 2007, Portugal transposed the Council Directive 2004/81/EC (on the residence permit issued to third-country nationals who are victims of trafficking in human beings orwho have been the subjects of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, who cooperatewith the competent authorities). According to the Portuguese Immigration Law (Articles 109-112), victims of trafficking are granted a reflection period of a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60 days. During this period, the victim is accommodated in the state reception centre and has to decide whether s/he wants to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities.
Residence permits are granted on a case by case basis for a period of one year, and are renewable under specific conditions.
The Law Decree nº 368/2007 allows for the granting of the residence permit even if the victim does not cooperate with the authorities, on the basis of security (of the victim and/or their relatives), health, family situation and other situations of vulnerability.
National Strategy/National Action Plan
Portugal adopted its first National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (2007-2010) in 2007.
The National Action Plan has a total of 63 measures and focuses on four main areas:
- Acknowledgement and diffusion of information;
- Prevention, awareness raising and training;
- Protection, support and integration of victims;
- Criminal investigation and prosecution of trafficking.
One of the outcomes of the National Action Plan is the creation of the Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings (OTSH), under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Its mission is to contribute to analysis of, knowledge of and intervention in trafficking in human beings and other forms of gender violence.
Portugal has approved the Second National Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (2011-2013)
There are four strategic intervention areas:
- Knowledge, Awareness-raising and Prevention;
- Education and training;
- Protection and Support
- Criminal investigation and Co-operation
The second PNCTSH seeks to consolidate the national strategy in this domain, by strengthening the respective interventions areas. The second PNCTSH is based on the following strategic guidelines:
- To continue the fight against gender stereotypes emphasizing the primacy of human rights;
- To privilege the construction of an "acquis" on operational measures in the different strategic areas with clear and precise objectives, so as to facilitate their execution;
- To promote reflection on different themes and realities characterizing human trafficking, notably referring to trafficking for sexual exploitation, and trafficking for labour exploitation, ina perspective of country of destination, of transit and country of origin.
Coordination of anti-trafficking actions at a national level
A National Coordinator was appointed in January 2008 under the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
The Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality is responsible for coordinating activities in the National Action Plan. It is supported by a Technical Commission, involving the presidency of the Council of Ministers and other competent ministries.
The National Coordinator has the following responsibilities:
- Draft the annual reports on the level of execution of the National Action Plan and report accordingly to the overseeing Government members;
- Follow up and supervise the execution of the National Action Plan and responsible entities regarding their level of execution;
- Promote research projects that may contribute towards a better understanding of the field of action;
- Provide information, when requested, on legislative measures concerning the fight against human trafficking and the protection of victims of trafficking;
- Develop an institutional contact network involving civil society, allowing for an individual follow-up of the known trafficking phenomena and the identification of their victims;
- Establish contact with foreign and international peer entities regarding human trafficking;
- Promote and participate in developing national and international information networks and structures;
- Ensure the final assessment of the Plan's execution by an external entity.
The Technical Plan Coordination Support Commission set up to implement the first National Action Plan against human trafficking involved competent ministries (Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, Ministry for Foreign Affairs).
National Rapporteur or equivalent mechanisms
A National Rapporteur was nominated in January 2008, in accordance with the National Action Plan. The National Rapporteur is also exercising the role of a National Coordinator.
The National Rapporteur can propose new legislative measures for combating trafficking in human beings as well as measures to protect victims of trafficking. In addition to the National Rapporteur, the Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings is mandated to produce, collect, analyse and disseminate information on trafficking in persons and other kinds of gender violence. The main tasks include:
- To produce and collect information on human trafficking and other forms of gender violence,
- To promote the development of software applications to support information gathering and treatment,
- To support political decisions in its intervention areas when requested.
The OTSH is also the responsible entity for the national monitoring system. Its goals are:
- To collect quantitative and qualitative data from different entities with activities related to trafficking in human beings (of a criminal, judicial, prevention and support nature);
- To retrospectively and prospectively analyze data, in order to generate knowledge on the phenomenon and of its criminal and social dynamics and trends;
- To make the results easily accessible to all interested parties: namely law enforcement agencies and NGOs;
- To improve policies, plans and control measures of the phenomenon.
The most important challenge at national level
The most important challenge at the present moment is to consolidate the national referral mechanism, improving channels of communication between public entities and also with NGO, and to adequate the response (because it is an area in costant change) with the data collection (monitoring system) that Portugal has implemented. Prevention and training are also important tools that will be in the frontline reagarding the Portuguese strategies for the next years.
In 2010, the OTHS, jointly with the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality and the Authority for Labour Inspection, provided professional training to labour inspectors on trafficking for labour exploitation. The main objective was to improve their professional skills in relation to the detection of possible cases of labour exploitation and provide an overview as far as legislation is concerned.
OTHS launched a national website on trafficking in human beings on the 18th October 2009.
Since 2008 the Portuguese government took several preventive measures to combat human trafficking. These included awareness-raising campaigns, such as:
- The National Campaign against Trafficking in Human Beings was launched to raise awareness among victims of sexual or labour exploitation. In this framework, in order to encourage the reporting of trafficking, a telephone-hotline was established and multilingual brochures were developed and widely distributed. The theme of the campaign was Wake up to Reality: Don't Ignore It – Report It.
- The government promoted an awareness campaign in a northern Portuguese town to prevent the exploitation of Romanian immigrant farm workers.
- A campaign called "You're not for sale" was launched by Immigration and Border Control Service in order to alert students and hospital staff all over the country to the problem of human trafficking.
- An awareness raising campaign was implemented within the CAIM project, whereby flyers for regional newspapers and 50.000 notebooks were distributed to security forces agents.
Assistance and support provided to victims
A number of government-funded non-governmental organisations provide assistance to trafficking victims. A temporary shelter was created specifically for victims of trafficking in June 2008. Between the opening and December 2010, it received more than 20 victims protected under the shelter. The victims were from Romania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Mozambique, and Portugal. All measures regarding protection, health care, legal assistance, translation and psychological support were undertaken by the shelter.
Moreover, the government has employed a standardised method for collecting information on victims and informing those victims about available assistance. The government also works closely with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to ensure that victims return safely to their country of origin.
Residence permit
According to the Portuguese Immigration Law, victims of trafficking are granted a reflection period of a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60 days. During this period the victim is accommodated in the state reception centre and has to decide whether s/he wants to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities.
Residence permits are granted on a case by case basis for a period of one year, and are renewable under specific conditions. The government reported granting six permanent residency permits to victims of trafficking in 2009.
Between 2008 and 2010, more than 20 victims were permitted a 30 to 60 day reflection period during which to decide whether they wished to participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution of their traffickers.
Other latest initiatives/activities related to antitrafficking policy
In these last month's several training were developed for strategic agents in the area of trafficking. During the European day against trafficking in human beings (18 October) there were some initiatives related to the theme of trafficking in human beings: In Coimbra, with the presence of the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Equality, a colloquium was held that was attended by the various agents that are working in this area. In Porto, an event was held to mark the day which was hosted by Family Planning Association in collaboration with the City Hall of Porto. The Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings (Observatory), has signed 2 Protocols and 12 morandums of Understanding with several governmental and non-governmental bodies, in order to promote the development of studies in the field of trafficking in persons and specially to formalize data collection activities with a more structured network of data providers to the new database -"Dynamic Application"-. The Observatory carried out several training moments with the new data providers. Submission of a proposal for the development of an European project (ISEC funding),named "Towards a Pan-European Monitoring of Trafficking in Human Beings". The main aim is the creation of a common European Monitoring Model (methodology and technology). Other participant countries are: Cyprus, Bulgaria, Austria and Greece. The project also foresees an Advisory Board with a group of experts from organizations such as: Europol, IOM/Lisbon, ICMPD, OSCE, and the Austrian Institute for International Affairs.
- New Submission on the 24th of February: Other Interested Countries can still join.
Conclusion of the revision of the Portuguese version of the restricted modules of the UNODC Anti-Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners. This project (public and restricted modules) aims to a large scale training:
- Training of Portuguese experts in Vienna/UNODC – national dissemination (done April 2011);
- Training of Experts form Portuguese Speaking Countries in Lisbon.
Project submitted.
In cooperation with the Centre for Judiciary Studies (Ministry of Justice), the Observatory is promoting, on the 2nd and 3rd February, the Seminar Illegal Immigration and Trafficking in Human Beings: Investigation, vidence, Legal Framework and Sanctions. Also in cooperation with the Centre for Judicial Studies (Ministry of Justice) the Observatory is concluding a publication: The Main National, European and International legislation on trafficking in human beings, including Jurisprudence and Political Documents.
Itinerary Exhibition on trafficking in human beings travelling through the main Portuguese municipalities, with small conferences aimed at the local population and students.
UNODC's campaign "Blue Heart" was launched in Portugal in the spring of 2012, and is for this occasion being reinforced in media, namely in telvision.
Portugal is in process to implement the RAPVT – Network for Supporting and Protection of Victims of trafficking. A first meeting, held in Lisbon in September, was organized bythe Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) and involved all the NGOs that work in the field of trafficking in human beings. The main objective of the RAPVT is to implement a more proactive approach from stakeholders and to implement links between public services and NGOs.
Translation, adaptation and dissemination to all Portuguese speaking countries of the 25 modules (public and reserved). UNODC Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners - The OTSH, with the financial support of Portuguese Institute for Devolvement Support and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) organized the first training week for criminal justice practitioners for CPLP countries, after a similar training occurred for national experts 2011 in Vienna. This course took place in Lisbon, from 17th to 21st of September and received more than 20 trainees from Portuguese speaking countries.
On the 18th of September 2012, was held a Conference on Domestic Servitude and Forces Begging: Invisible Forms of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation. On the 18th Of October 2012, Portugal re-launched the campaign of UNODC and held a Seminar regarding trafficking in human beings.
During that Seminar, a Compendium Trafficking in Human Beings: All the relevant National, European and International legislation and Jurisprudence - the compendium was widely disseminated among prosecutors and law enforcement agents. It was also launched a signaling card of Victims of Trafficking (VoT) for NGOs.
National Referral Mechanism
A model of Signalization-Identification-Integration of victims of trafficking is at present being applied. This model encompasses an integrated, comprehensive and continuous support for Victims of Trafficking. This is possible due to structured approaches creating empathy with the victims, providing a shelter for their safety and promoting their reintegration in society and in the labour markets. The principal objectives of this model are:
- to make available a network response based on research about fighting trafficking and its victims support;
- to give special support to the victims, coordinated with different levels of intervention (legal, psychological, medical, social, training, among others);
- to promote the victims personal development (knowledge, abilities, competences), to prevent them to fall again into victimization.
The most important challenge at the present moment is to consolidate the National Referral Mechanism, improving channels of communication between public entities and also with NGOs, and to adequate the responses (because it is a area in constant change) with the data collection (monitoring system) that Portugal has implemented.
In Portugal, some of the main examples of international cooperation to combat human trafficking are with third countries. Portugal has developed especially close ties with Brazil, which are preserved in a number of bilateral Declarations. With regard to cooperation with third countries, it is also important to mention the campaign on human trafficking You're not for sale (Não estás à venda), which was implemented in Portugal, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea-Bissau and Brazil.
During the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, the first EU-Africa Summit took place, resulting in the establishment of an EU-Africa "Partnership on Migration, Mobility and Employment". One of the priorities of this partnership was to implement the EU-Africa Plan of Action on Trafficking of Human Beings. Also during this period an International Conference Trafficking in Human Beings and Gender was organised in Oporto, in October 2007. The Porto Declaration was presented in October 2007 in Brussels and was part of the Council Conclusions on Trafficking in Human Beings.
Portugal has also participated in the "Development of a transnational referral mechanism for victims of trafficking between countries of origin and destination (TRM-EU)" Program, co-funded by the European Commission. The project was coordinated by Italy and ICMPD. This project ended in February 2010, and its main purpose was the production of guidelines for a Transnational Referral Mechanism for trafficked persons. Other countries involved were Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The overall objective of "Promoting Transnational Partnerships – Preventing and Responding to Trafficking in Human Beings from Brazil to EU Members States" was to counter anti-trafficking efforts by reducing the numbers of victims from Brazil to the EU, particularly Portugal. The project started in July 2009 and will last for 24 months.
"Trafficking in Human Beings: System of Collection of Data and Harmonised Information Management Project" (Projecto Tráfico de Seres Humanos: Sistema de Recolha de Dados e Gestão de Informações Harmonizadas): the project started in October 2008 and lasted for eighteen months. One of the main purposes was to define common criteria of data collection and information on victims, traffickers and judicial decisions. Other participants include Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, ICMPD, the National Rapporteur in the Netherlands, the Association "On the Road" and NEXUS.
Future plans in terms of implemetation of the directive 2011/36/EU
Portugal, regarding the implementation of this Directive, is in the frontline concerning the measures included in this Directive.
This crime is not dependent on reporting or accusation by a victim. 10 years of imprisonment (in case of minor 12 years), liability of legal persons, seizure and confiscation, legal counseling and assistance and protection for VoT, special measures for children (such as a guardian o a a representative for a child victim), compensation to victims of violent crimes (VoT).
The II National Plan has measures for begging; a special Area is dedicated to cooperation with countries from PALOP; there is also a special area for prevention. It has also a perspective of gender.
So, regarding the implementation of the Directive 2011/36/EU, Portugal has a set of measures that are already in accordance with this Directive.
Given that Article 22 of this Directive, states that "Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 6 April 2013", Portugal is currently conducting a preliminary work in order to assess the legislative needs. However, taking into account that the prevention and combating of trafficking in human beings has received special attention by the Portuguese government in the last few years, namely, by incorporating in Portuguese law the obligations under international instruments to which Portugal is bound, including those whose standards and principles underpinning the drafting of this Directive, mainly the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, are not reasonably expected significant difficulties and any legislative changes will be minimal and surgical.
The Ministry of Justice, as the entity responsible for transposing the Directive, has already started the process of needs assessment laws, to ensure compliance with the obligations that derive from here to Portugal. It is involved in an EU informal working group and participated in the meeting on the 22th October 2012.
5.1. Legislation
- Law no 23/2007 of July 4: Art.109-112 Approves the legal system for entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from national territory. (in Portuguese) (Lei nº 23/2007, de 4 de Julho, Art.109-112 Regime jurídico de entrada, permanência, saída e afastamento de estrangeiros do território nacional.)
- Law no 59/2007 of September 4: Art. 160 Traffic in persons. (in Portuguese) (Lei nº 59/2007 de 4 de Setembro: Art. 160 Tráfico de Pessoas.)
- Decree law no. 368/2007 of November 5 establishing the authorization of residence permits of foreigners who are victims of human trafficking. (in Portuguese) (Decreto-Lei nº368/2007 de 5 de Novembro que estabelece as Autorização de Residência de Estrangeiros a Vítimas de Crime de Tráfico de Pessoas.)
5.2 National Action Plans
5.3 Reports
5.3.1 National reports on implementation
5.3.2 Other reports and publications
- Child-trafficking-09-Portugal_en.pdf
- ICMPD Study on the assessment of extent of different types of trafficking in EU countries_en.pdf
- UNODC 2009 Global report on trafficking in persons_en.pdf
- US Trafficking in Persons Report 2010_en.pdf
- US Trafficking in Persons Report 2011_Portugal_en
- US Trafficking in Persons 2012 Portugal_en.pdf
- InHuman_Trafficking_en.pdf
- 5.3.1 National reports on implementation
5.4 Links
Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (in Portuguese)
Portuguese Observatory on Human Trafficking
Cooperation-Action-Research-worldview (Project) (in Portuguese)
5.5 Contacts
National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Human Beings
Manuel Albano
Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality
Rua Ferreira Borges, 69 – 2ºC, 4050- 253 Porto
Telephone: +351 222074370
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.cig.gov.pt (in Portuguese)
Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings
Director of the Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings
Joana Daniel-Wrabetz
Av. D. Carlos I, nº134, 6º, 1249-104 Lisbon
Telephone: +351 21 391 33 11
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.otsh.mai.gov.pt/?lg=uk
Associação "O Ninho"
Rua Luciano Cordeiro nº 59 4º, 1150-212 Lisboa
Telephone: +351 213 530 273
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.oninho.pt (in Portuguese)
APAV - Serviços centrais de Sede
Rua José Estêvão, 135 A, Pisos 1/2
1150-201 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel. 21 358 79 00
Fax 21 887 63 51
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://apav.pt/apav_v2/index.php/pt/
Rua João Villaret nº 9 – 1000-182 Lisboa – Portugal
Tel: (+351) 21 3802160 |
Fax: (+351) 21 3802168 |
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.amcv.org.pt
Centro Anti-Violência Tel: (+351) 21 3802165; Fax: (+351) 21 3802169: email@example.com
OIKOS - Cooperação e Desenvolvimento
Portugal, Lisboa
Rua Visconde Moreira de Rey, nº 37
Linda-a-Pastora 2790-447 Queijas
Telefone: (+351) 218 823 630
Fax: (+351) 218 823 635
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.oikos.pt/
Serviço Jesuíta aos Refugiados
Rua 8 ao Alto do Lumiar, Lote 59 - 1750-342 Lisboa
tel.217 552 790 – mobile: 937 541 620
Website: www.jrsportugal.pt
Saúde em Português
Av. Elísio de Moura nº 417, 1º. E
3030-183 Coimbra, Portugal
Tel: +351 239 702 723
Telm: +351 960092989
Fax: +351 239 705 186
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/saude.em.portugues
Website: http://www.saudeportugues.org/index.php
Sede Central MDM
Av. Almirante Reis, 90, 7º A
1150-022 Lisboa
Tel.: 218 153398
Fax.: 218 138137
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.mdm.org.pt
Associação ComuniDária
Association ComuniDária NIPC 508438330
City of Horta 14B Street, Room 8 - 1000-102 Lisbon - Portugal
Website: http://www.comunidaria.org/index.php
Comissão Nacional de Justiça e Paz - CAVITP – Comissão de Apoio à Vítima de Tráfico de Pessoas
Quinta do Cabeço, Porta D, 1885-076 Moscavide
Secretário: Fernando Santos José
Tel: 218 855 480
Fax: 218 855 475
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.ecclesia.pt/cnjp/
Conferência dos Institutos Religiosos de Portugal
Avenida 5 de Qoutubro, 156
1050-062 Lisboa
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.cirp.pt/
5.6 Acronyms
CAIM Cooperation, Action, Research and World Vision CIG Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality CPLP Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries IOM Organisation for Migration MAI Ministry of Internal Affairs MJ Ministry of Justice MTSS Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity MNE Ministry for Foreign Affairs PCM Presidency of the Council of Ministers OTSH Observatory on Trafficking in Human Beings SACTAP Southern African Counter Trafficking Assistance Programme UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- 5.1. Legislation
Table of Contents
Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs
- Global launch of the project: Rights of Migrants in Action Dates: 02/10/2014 - 02/10/2014
- Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Organ Removal Dates: 21/11/2014 - 21/11/2014
- People as a commodity: Trafficking in Human Beings in Europe Dates: 09/12/2014 - 09/12/2014
- more+ »


text:
Promoting Your Blog
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007
The Animation Blogspot is a convenient, centralized destination for the animation blogging community. Here you will get the kind of exposure you simply can't get elsewhere.
The surest way to garner an audience is to post to your blog consistently and regularly. Your content will then have a chance to show up on the Animation Blogspot's portal homepage for all to see.
Bloggers and blog posts are able to be found through a simple search query — whether you're looking for a particular person, or bloggers in a certain geographic location, or posts related to certain subjects.
Another way to find blogs is through the Communities section (located in the right column). Bloggers can categorize themselves into which communities best represent the theme of their blogging. Right now, these are the communities currently set up for the Animation Blogspot, but we will be expanding and reworking these communities as more bloggers sign up and give us their input/feedback.
Lastly, every blogger benefits from free publicity across the Animation Blogspot and across the entire Animation World Network. You can learn more about promoting your blog here.
As the Animation Blogspot grows, we will set up new categorization and navigation that will help bloggers to be found — such as a section promoting newly registered users, or an alphabetical listing of all current users, and so on.
From VFXWorld.com
From The AWN Showcase
Raoul Servais
Raoul Servais was the founder of Europe's first department for animation. Here ...[more]


text:
That'd do it. Congratz!!!
That'd do it. Congratz!!!
Monday (6-24)
Comments: Had a pretty lazy week last week, think I'm still recovering from the effects of Montezuma's Revenge. Diet has been pretty bad, and lifting has been even worse. I'm back in the gym today. I'm excited about getting to lift, but I'm afraid I'm going to be a little bit weak.
Regualr Chest/Back routine today. We see what happens.
Back again, things have been pretty busy around here, but I'm planning to get things back in order. Diet is back on track today, and I'm going to lift this afternoon. I've probably gained some wieght over the past couple weeks, but I will get in the groove of things again. My wife and I just bought a house last week, so I've been running around dealing with that, but I think I've reached a point where I can breath now.
M1: (7:30) 2 Cups Raisin Bran, 2 Cup Milk
M2: (11:00) 8 oz. Yogurt
M3: (1:00) Taco Soup
M4: (4:00) 44g Whey, 2 Cups Milk
M5: (8:00) 2 Chicken Breasts
Totals: 2148/226/23.3/195
I'm thinking of switching up my routine a little. I'm still doing chest and back today, but I'm thinking of doing a lot with dumbells today. In our new home there is an upstairs bonus room that would be perfect for a wieght room. I'm thinking of getting a set of db's and a bench and doing some work from home. We'll see if the wife lets me spend that kind of money.
Tuesday (7-9)
Comments: Had a very good workout yesterday, but I was extremely exhausted afterwards. I guess that's okay though. Changed up my normal routine by doing all exercises with dumbells. It's definitely different, but I think I can deal with it. Didn't wiegh in yesterday, I'm really scared of what I will wiegh.
M1: (7:00) 2 Cups Milk, 2 Cups Raisin Bran
M2: (10:00) 8oz. Yogurt
M3: (1:00) Taco Soup
M4: (5:00) 32oz. Gatorade
M5: (8:00) 2 Chicken Breasts
Totals: 1948/165/20/219
Hitting softballs today!
hey blustring!
long time no talk to.....congrats ont he wedding bro! good to see you still going strong too! great work.
A little learning is a dangerous thing...
Live Dangerously! Learn a Little!
Dude, did Doogie Howser just steal my fucking car?
Well, I haven't been going to strong the past couple weeks. Life has been kind of busy, and finding the time and energy to lift and diet has been almost impossible. I've been very good this week. I ate a little too much yesterday afternoon, but only went over my daily caloric intake by about 40 kcals. No big deal. I was just hungry I guess. Anyway, hit softballs for about an hour yesterday, it was hot, and when we finished I was tired, so I know I did something. In the 4 weeks its been since I dieted I've put on some pounds, but I don't know how many. I've been scared to step on a scale. Probably about 6 or 7 pounds, but it shouldn't be a probelm to shed them again. I got under 220 for the first time on my honeymoon, but not because I was dieting. I got sick in Mexico, and lost about 5 pounds in 2 days. Not pleasant! I'm extremely sore from lifting on Monday, but I guess that's normal since I really haven't lifted in about 4 weeks. I felt really weak.
Today's Menu Includes
M1: (7:00) 2 Cups Raisin Bran, 2 Cups Milk
M2: (10:00) 8oz. Yogurt
M3: (1:00) 1 Chicken Breast, BBQ Sauce
M4: (4:00) 44g Whey, 2 Cups Milk
M5: (8:00) Don't Know Yet
Shoulders and Triceps today!
Thursday (7-11)
Comments: Workout went really well yesterday. Had to drop down in some weight, but all sets were finished. Diet was pretty good yesterday. Strayed a little, but not too much.
Today's Diet:
M1: (7:00) 1 Cup Raisin Bran, 2 Cups Milk, 1 Slice Turkey
M2: (10:00) 8oz. Yogurt
M3: (1:00) 2 PB&J Sandwiches
M4: (8:00) Don't Know Yet
Today's is kind of slack. Don't really have everything planned out. We are in the process of moving, so we don't have a lot of food in the house.
Hello All,
I've decided to give this online journal thing another try. It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been lurking in the shadows for the past couple of weeks. This board continues to provide me with an abundance of useful information. I guess the main reason I'm going to start keeping my journal here again is to get feedback. I have continued to read as many articles on health and fitness as I can get my hands on, but I still keep finding my self coming back to these boards to get my questions answered. That and to be entertained by the many personalities who frequent the forum.
For those interested I started on the boards early last year in an attempt to change my lifestyle. I set goals and with the help of Tryska, Callahan, and so many others I was able to get into much better shape. I was actually starting to be satisfied with my body. By the time my goal date (wedding date) arrived I was probably in the best shape of my life. I was no where near perfect, but I had gone from a chunky 252lbs to a much more muscular 218lbs. Like I said, no where near perfect, but the best shape I've been in since high school.
After the wedding I got slack, as many people do. I stopped counting cals, and didnt' work out nearly enough, not even twice a week. But now I'm back. I've been lifting regularly for a month, and counting cals. I haven't seen any major gains (muscle) or losses (fat) but I feel a lot better. The amazing thing is, I didn't lose much muscle during my layoff. I just insulated it with some unneeded flab. I have set new goals, but I'm not putting so much emphasis on getting it off fast. I know now that it takes time and patience to shape your body. I am and will probably always be a work in progress.
I will be posting my routines here at least 3 times per week. I am using WBB1 routine right now, and so far am really enjoying it. I feel that it allows me to lift heavier than my last routine, and also feel like I'm acomplishing more. I know that my routine needs some work, maybe a few exercises or sets added or removed, but that's what I'm here for. Also, I am keeping my diet journal at fitday.com. I will post the link for those of you who can help me with my nutrition goals.
Now for the goals: My goal is to change my body into something I'm proud of. I have muscles, but you can't see them clearly. Basically I want to tone, and lose fat.
Height: 6'
Weight: 238lbs
I'm not going to set any weight goals, because then I will put way to much into losing weight and not looking for gains in the gym, and with the measuring tape.
Nutritional Goals:
Cals: 2500
Pro: 250
Fat: 56
Carbs: 186
As I said, I'm using WBB1 Routing. I lift on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. When my schedule allows, I play racquetball on Monday and Wednesday. I eat 5-6 small meals per day including a protein shake about 2 hours before my workout. The only problem I have is on the weekends. I have a hard time sticking to my nutritional goals on the weekends because of my overwhelming love of beer. I have cut out all alcoholic beverages from my weekly meals, but can't deny myself on the weekends. I have given up this battle.
As usual any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. I'm still learning, so criticism is greatly needed.
Routine: (1-26)
BB Bench Press:
Warm Up 135X10
Incline DB Press:
2 sets of 8
Bent Over Rows:
Close-Grip Lat Pulldowns:
Routine (1-28)
Leg Curls:
Calf Raises:
180 (4 sets of 10)
4 sets of 10
That gets me caught up through today. Once again, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by blustring; 01-29-2003 at 08:21 AM.
good to see ya back, amigo
well hot damn.
guess who's back?
hee ehe...welcome back man...how's wedded bliss going?
A little learning is a dangerous thing...
Live Dangerously! Learn a Little!
Dude, did Doogie Howser just steal my fucking car?
Good to be back Cal, just hoping to stay motivated this go round. It sucks to have to start all over after all the hard work.
Married life is grand. We bought a house in Monroe, a little closer to the ATL, and we are loving it.
Still chugging along in school, but as you know UGA kicked major ass in football this season. Still ridin' high on that.
Other than that, it's life as usual.
Last edited by blustring; 01-29-2003 at 08:48 AM.
yeah UGA did...good to hear everything else is going well. real good to see you back.
A little learning is a dangerous thing...
Live Dangerously! Learn a Little!
Dude, did Doogie Howser just steal my fucking car?
I was trying to figure out how you got 13 pages and I couldn't remember reading this journal! It doesn't seem like your starting ALL over again. You've been a bit slack but all that trainign will likely come back very quickly and your starting point is closer then the last time. Anyway, good luck.
Last edited by rookiebldr; 01-29-2003 at 09:04 AM.
Me /pwn1ng by Xian Rookie's journal Rookie's Picture Thread
Damn right you will be! We don't mess around down here. Liquor and Steel, that's what we're all about -Casey
ROFL, oh man - I usually wait until I'm on the freeway to do that. What an idiot! -teufy doing what he does best.
You aren't strong enough or pretty enough to train in the evenings with us...better stick to noon workouts with the rest of the geriatrics. - pup
Yeah. I'm a dork. - Teufy
Better yet, "why should anyone's interpretation of divinity govern modern society?" - Twilo
Thanks for the support. I agree, I am starting in a lot better position than I was last year. The main thing for me is burning fat. I'm lifting heavier this time in hopes that I will build muscle and burn fat. Last time I was so hung up on fat loss that I think I might have lost focus. This time I'm planning on not being such a weight nazi. I'm planning on focusing on my gains in the gym as much as my losses on the scale.
Thanks again,
Last edited by blustring; 01-29-2003 at 10:31 AM.
from what I recall, the best thing you could do would be to get a solid grip on your diet, blu
I'm planning a hard cut at the end of the spring, with the goal of single digit bodyfat. Wanna join me?
I agree with you, my diet is what needs the most help. My wife is lifting again, and I'm trying my best to get her to diet with me, but she doesn't think she needs to. That's what makes it hard. When I get home in the evening and she is cooking something that is not what I need to be eating, or wants to go out. She really doesn't need to diet, but we could all stand to eat a little healthier. I think it would help a ton if I had someone to encourage and push me everyday. Tell me about your hard cut diet. I can't imagine single digit body fat.
it's not designed yet but I plan to enlist chigs and other experts here to build it
I haven't decided if it's going to be a ketosis style diet or a pure caloric-deficit balanced-macro kind of thing but either way it will run from mid-April to mid-June and my general goal is to cut hard and get as lean as possible with a view to both be in beach shape for the summer and to get myself to a BF% range I'm comfortable with.
I already eat separate meals from my wife and although she plans to cut during this period as well I'm not going to pin my hopes/goals on someone else. I think this is probably going to be your biggest challenge... you may very well need to start eating completely separate things from your wife and be strict about it. Sara and I have some overlap and when either of us cooks now it's with an awareness of what the other can/will eat. For instance the other night we both had the same grilled vegetables and steamed rice, but she had some chicken breasts and I had a half kilo of baked yellowfin tuna in teriyaki sauce. Didn't take any longer to prepare, just required me to put her chicken on the stove at the same time as I put my fish in the oven.
Sounds good,
I'm going on a cruise in early June for my anniversary, so it would be really nice to be in better shape by then, I'm not hanging my hopes on being in perfect shape by then, but I know I can improve by then. What's your diet like right now?
basically clean although I don't obsess..
typical day:
breakfast: 1 egg, 5 egg whites, some oatmeal
meal2: 2 slices of wheatless bread and 4oz or so of fish/lean meat
meal3: preworkout shake
meal4: postworkout shake w/ creatine
meal5, midafternoon: 4oz meat/fish and some salad/veggies
meal 6, snack: some fruit
meal 7: medium size yam, some veggies (broccoli, collard greens, etc.), 8oz of meat/fish
meal 8, before bed: small handful of raw almonds and a shooter of flaxseed oil
overall when I miss on the diet it's usually not eating enough; I also frequently sub stuff in and out as my ability to find/get food varies but I'm pretty consistent
for instance, I didn't manage to bring meat to work today but I had some skim milk and some hemp granola instead. Basically the same (carb/protein, lowfat).
Last edited by Relentless; 01-29-2003 at 11:16 AM.
How many calories are you ingesting daily? Also, what your macro breakdown look like?
the day posted above is something like 3000 cals, at a 35P 35F 30C ratio, give or take.
Nothing special, no magic. Just sensible and clean food choices.
Note that I'm currently ~215lbs, ~18%BF and generally aiming for a slow bulk as I'm trying HST at the moment.
Last edited by Relentless; 01-29-2003 at 12:55 PM.
I know my BF% is much higher than that, but I'm working on it. I feel really good today, so I'm looking forward to a good workout this afternoon. Do you do cardio on the days between your lifts? Right now I'm just taking those days off and practicing up on my Playstation 2 skills lol.
right now I'm not doing cardio; I don't even know if I'll do it during the cut as the focus will be on calories in, not calories out
I'll be doing some running-training in the spring for rugby/football though
Should I be doing any cardio? Now, at most I take my dog for a walk when the weather permits.


text:
Joe Cocker
We Are Stars: What The Artists Got Paid At Woodstock
The Woodstock Music & Art Festival will be remembered for peace, love, great music and some "brown acid" the over half million in attendance were warned about. But something you might not have known is how much the performers were paid to appear at Woodstock.
Summer Tour Guide
Summer's here, which means the time is right for dancing in the seats (or on the lawn, if you're on a tight budget) under the stars. As the temperature rises, rock, pop and country tours tend to leave arenas to give fans the experience of hearing their favorite performers live under the stars (or under the rain, if you're unlucky). Here's a roundup of some of this summer's top shed and stadium tours.
Rock Flashback: Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country"
Today is [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bob Dylan[/lastfm]'s 70th birthday. At an age, and with a bankroll, that would permit him to hole up on an island to be served grapes by scantily-clad female devotees, Dylan continues to […]
Rock Flashback: Beyond "Brown Sugar"
As we noted earlier this week, "Brown Sugar" by [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]the Rolling Stones[/lastfm] hit the Billboard Hot 100 forty years ago. It was the highest-debuting song of the week. A couple of the other new songs […]
Rolling Stones To Cover Bob Dylan On "Sixth Stone" Tribute
A British piano player has put together a tribute album to [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Iain Stewart[/lastfm], the "sixth Stone," and the original five [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rolling Stones[/lastfm] will play a part, covering a [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bob Dylan[/lastfm] classic!
Epic Cover Album: Carlos Santana is El Fuego
Absolutely no guitarist but Carlos Santana has that combo of having played vintage Woodstock and having those much envied magical latin fingers. Santana got to work and play gigs with some of the world's most treasured older musicians […]