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Roberts making immediate impact after lengthy layoff
By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com
CHICAGO -- Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts found himself in an unusual spot in the order for Thursday's series finale against the White Sox, hitting sixth for just the fifth time in his 13-year career.
"I like the idea of Brian anywhere," manager Buck Showalter said of Roberts, who moved up from the ninth spot with catcher Matt Wieters getting the day off. "I like him in the lineup. So, some things will fluctuate. We are not married to [the batting order]."
Roberts, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list on Sunday, hasn't missed a beat since rejoining the Orioles following right hamstring surgery. Despite a lengthy layoff, Roberts has been playing solid defense at second base and delivered his first homer since 2011 in Tuesday's game.
"Some people kind of go through rehab assignments and stuff, like it's just something they got to go through to satisfy everybody. Brian knows the level that he's got to be ready to play at to help," Showalter said. "And his intensity level with his rehab assignment made us feel real confident that he was going to come back whole. ... From experience, a lot of guys know that, 'I'm coming up, I got to get through this and stay healthy.' Brian wanted to push himself and make sure everything was going to hold up."
Showalter was tempted to put Roberts at designated hitter for Thursday's series finale, but said that the way the 35-year-old has felt physically encouraged him to put him back at second base. While Roberts will likely get a half-day off during the team's upcoming series in New York, he's been rejuvenated in being on the active roster again for the first time since April.
"I don't think he takes anything for granted," Showalter said of Roberts, who hasn't played a full season since 2009 and is in the final year of a four-year contract. "Every time I've asked him, something about where he's going to hit or where he's going to play or whatever, he just says, 'Whatever the team needs. You got it. I'm in.' [Wednesday] night, I didn't think twice about putting the bunt [signal] down. Nothing is beneath Brian. He knows I trust him, and he trusts me."
Chen set to return to O's after final rehab start
CHICAGO -- Pitcher Wei-Yin Chen will make his second rehab start for Double-A Bowie on Thursday night and, assuming that goes well, he will drive to New York after that to meet the Orioles for their weekend series against the Yankees.
Chen, on the disabled list with a left oblique strain, will take his workday over the weekend and could start Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rangers, with the start determined by Bowie's weather issues.
"We built in a rain day if he has to pitch tomorrow, there [instead]," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Chen's final rehab start with Bowie. "We would make it work either way. See where we are with Zach [Britton], see where we are with a lot of guys after we get through today."
The plan is for Chen to get around 90 pitches and go at least five innings before rejoining the team's rotation. The Orioles' most consistent starter the past two seasons, Chen is 3-3 with a 3.04 ERA in eight games in 2013, including May 12's outing in Minnesota in which he exited early with the injury.
Brittany Ghiroli is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, and follow her on Twitter @britt_ghiroli. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: By Crystal Morey Additional Photos By Hiro Hata I recently had the opportunity to go out to Horiren's studio in Saitama. Self-taught tebori (hand-poke) artist and student of legendary Ozuma Kaname. Horiren discusses the disappearing art of Shamisen Bori. I love going out to Horiren's, her studio is standard for a traditional Japanese tebori artist, a secluded house with no street signs, traditional tatami mats and a low kotatsu table. Her client today was an older gentleman with an amazing black and grey koi backpiece, laid out on the mats in fundoshi, the diaper-like attire seen in photos… Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


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Low-graphic news index |
Mobile site
Monday, November 5, 2012 - Page updated at 05:00 a.m.
The People's Pharmacy
People's Pharmacy: Listerine mouthwash — for shingles pain?
By JOE GRAEDON and TERESA GRAEDON
Syndicated columnists
Q: Three weeks after a shingles attack, I was suffering excruciating nerve pain across the right side of my scalp and behind my ear. Acetaminophen with codeine was not working.
At PeoplesPharmacy.com, I discovered that several people recommended applying amber Listerine mouthwash directly to the affected areas.
I was skeptical but desperate, so I went to the bathroom, soaked my washcloth in Listerine and rubbed it gently into my scalp. Wow! Within three minutes, I felt relief, and for the first time in weeks, I slept with the right side of my head on the pillow. It was wonderful to feel pain-free, even for a few hours.
A: Antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or valaciclovir can speed healing if taken at the first sign of shingles (a painful rash or blisters on one side of the body). The pain can be excruciating and may last a long time.
Some readers report temporary relief with topical Listerine, and others say that oral L-lysine aids recovery. For those wishing to avoid shingles and the risk of lingering pain, a shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is available.
Q: I have high blood pressure, but my medicine raises my uric-acid levels and triggers gout flare-ups. I've heard the DASH diet could bring my blood pressure down and might be good against gout, too. What is this?
A: DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The first scientific study of this approach (a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and low in fat and meat) was published 15 years ago (New England Journal of Medicine, April 17, 1997). It lowers blood pressure nearly as well as medication, and also helps reduce uric acid (Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, December 2010).
Q: Eight weeks ago, I was given a steroid shot in my right hip. For weeks afterward, I had severe pain in the back of my head, my vision was blurry, and my whole body hurt so much I had to cancel a business trip.
I am back to normal, but now I am worried I might get meningitis. What should I do?
A: Contact your doctor immediately to find out whether the shot you received came from a contaminated batch. Although the likelihood of meningitis is low because the shot was not into your spine, there have been some other complications when tainted steroid was injected into joints.
Q: Last year, my doctor prescribed metformin to control my appetite. I lost 20 pounds, but the drug gave me five bowel movements a day as well as gas.
My doctor suggested half a pill plus probiotics and digestive enzymes. I still have the same problems. I do not have diabetes, but I am still about 20 pounds overweight. What else can I do?
A: Metformin is a diabetes drug not approved for weight control. Unlike other pills for type 2 diabetes, it doesn't lead to weight gain, but it can cause significant digestive distress. You might benefit more from a "health coach" who specializes in eating behaviors and exercise programs.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them c/o King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th floor, New York, NY 10019, or via their website: www.peoplespharmacy.org
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
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KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
Comprised of LA-based brothers Andrew and Daniel Aged, inc. debut with an intoxicating, seductive set of contemporary electronic/R&B/soul that aligns itself closely to How To Dress Well's intimate, trendsetting sound with lush, smoky, cinematic beats and emotive, falsetto vocals, distinctly enhanced by nuanced, expressive guitar work. Super sexy stuff. 2/15/2013 - Alex


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As President Barack Obama began touring the country in an attempt to sell his new $447 billion jobs bill, the head of the National School Boards Association applauded those provisions within the proposal aimed at strengthening the nation's public schools.
The jobs bill, which the president forcefully encouraged Congress to pass "right away," proposes $140 billion for modernizing schools. Exactly what that would entail is still unclear.
Mountain View education officials said they were encouraged by Obama's words.
Barry Groves, superintendent of the Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District said that he was eager to see what the president's plan could do to support teachers and staff at his campuses and around the country.
"It would certainly be short-sighted if we continue cutting school funding," Groves said. "As a nation we need to invest in education."
Craig Goldman, superintendent of the Mountain View Whisman district, said he hoped that if and when federal assistance arrives that it does not come with a slew of restrictive caveats. Goldman said that the federal government should learn a lesson from the No Child Left Behind Act -- a program, he said, whose rules and regulations have overshadowed the accomplishments he believes his campuses have made.
"We appreciate the administration's support for education and the desire to ensure a quality education for all children," Goldman said. "At the same time, federal money often comes with strings attached that don't respect the integrity of local school boards and the school administrators. I hope that the (Obama) administration will acknowledge that local communities are in the best position to determine the needs of their students and give broad authority for the use of any funds."
The No Child Left Behind Act has been a particular burden for Goldman's district recently, he said. Under the law, schools primarily composed of low-income students are punished with unfavorable "Program Improvement" designations even when they show progress year over year, Goldman said.
The Mountain View Whisman superintendent said it was good for Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to publicly acknowledge that NCLB is flawed, but so far, he said there has been little done other than to admit the system is broken.
"It's too bad that schools have to continue to abide by directives that the government acknowledges are flawed," he said.
Both Groves and Goldman's districts have been hit by state and federal cuts. Retiring staff members have not been replaced, extra-curricular activities have been pared back and teachers on one-year contracts have not been rehired.
Some very optimistic words on the president's education plan came from Anne L. Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association.
"In the face of massive budget shortfalls and education layoffs at school districts across the country, this new funding would provide necessary aid to America's schools," Bryant said in a press release. "Our school children deserve a quality education and that cannot happen when their teachers are getting laid off and their school buildings are in need of repairs and upgrades that keep getting postponed due to budget cuts."


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Children's Center has introduced a new level of care for visiting children and their supportive families. Longtime supporter, Betty Folmsbee, has joined the Center's volunteer team with her trained Greeter Dog, Lena, to help provide a calm influence for families during appointments. The pilot program started in June of 2015 and the welcoming poodle quickly became a comforting and playful... Full story »
As a seven-year-old victim of child abuse, Sarah Buell helped launch an investigation that ultimately revealed dozens of other victims at the hands of a trusted family friend. Today, Sarah is on a quest to ensure all adults step up to do their part to keep kids safe when it comes to child abuse intervention and prevention. In a direct... Full story »
Children's Center has launched a child sex abuse prevention program in Clackamas County. The goal is to provide Darkness to Light's child sex abuse prevention training, entitled 'Stewards of Children,' to 5% of the adult population in rural parts of Clackamas County. 'Stewards of Children' is a 2.5-hour training aimed at parents, teachers, and those who care for children. Children's... Full story »
Community members throughout the region stepped up as leaders on behalf of abused and neglected children during Children's Center's 9th- annual Champions for Children Luncheon Wednesday, May 13th, at The Oregon Golf Club (25700 SW Petes Mountain Road in West Linn). The signature event began with a reception and raffle giving guests the opportunity to win items such as a... Full story »
Children's Center will host its 9th annual Champions for Children Luncheon on Wednesday, May 13th, at The Oregon Golf Club (25700 SW Petes Mountain Road in West Linn). This signature Children's Center event allows community members throughout the region to unite on behalf of abused and neglected children. A reception and raffle will take place between 11 a.m. and 12... Full story »
Children's Center received a grant of $105,000 from The Ford Family Foundation, with the goal of providing Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children training to 5% of the adult population in rural parts of Clackamas County (1,600 individuals). Stewards of Children is a 2-hour child sex abuse prevention training aimed at parents, teachers, and those who care for children. Children's... Full story »
Children's Center, the only organization providing medical assessments and family support services to suspected victims of child abuse in Clackamas County, has recently added to its Board of Directors. The Board is pleased to welcome three new members: Shari Anderson (of Oregon City), Clackamas County Treasurer. Shari has served as the Treasurer for Clackamas County for more than 15 years... Full story »
Children's Center has been awarded accreditation by National Children's Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children's Alliance and denotes excellence in responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and put the needs of child victims of abuse first. As Clackamas County's sole... Full story »
Twenty-five years of pain and destruction could have been prevented, according to one Oregon family, if only a child abuse intervention center like Children's Center existed when they needed it. Now the family is working to make sure Children's Center remains ready to help families now. Carl Sandeen and his daughter, Karen, are sharing their story on behalf of Children's... Full story »
Children's Center raised critical funding and educated hundreds of guests when it hosted its third-annual Healing Garden Gala on Thursday, September 18th. The Gala, held at Children's Center, drew a crowd of more than 200 people and raised more than $250,000 to support the Center's services for abused and neglected children. Airstream Adventures Northwest was the Platinum Level sponsor. Guests... Full story »


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Cambrian Clash: Fossils and Molecular Clocks Disagree
by Brian Thomas, M.S. *
In a recent issue of the journal BioScience, ecologist Jeffrey Levinton of Stony Brook University, New York, offered a well-written review of the current status of the "Cambrian Explosion" hypothesis and presented at least two enigmas in evolutionary thinking.1
First, Levinton noted that the sudden appearance of a vast array of fully-functional life forms in "Cambrian" rock strata is not the result of any known evolutionary process, though he provided several possible evolutionary scenarios using the words "might," "perhaps," "may," and "speculate." Second, he also bravely admitted that the designated evolutionary time of arrival for the first animal life grossly conflicts with the extrapolated times given by "molecular clock" analyses, which use assumptions about DNA or protein sequence similarities between kinds to determine age.
Evolutionary geologists have "dated" Cambrian rock at 542 million years. According to their model, which exclusively selects long ages and rejects otherwise legitimate young ages for rocks,2 the most radical diversification of life forms occurred within a "geological" blink of an eye near the lowermost sedimentary strata. After a review of the fossil and molecular data, Levinton said, "The presence of genomic complexity, right at the dawn of bilaterian animal life [i.e., animals with bilateral symmetry], is inescapable."3
He summarized the contrasting molecular clock ages: "All major studies consistently produce a date of divergence [emergence of animal life]…considerably before the beginning of the Cambrian."4 How long before? The estimates range from 586 to over 1200 million years!5 Either the molecular clocks are wrong, the rock dates are inaccurate, or both.
The sheer width of this range of dates justifies the author's conclusion that "it is likely that the assumptions of the models of molecular evolution may influence the outcomes too strongly to allow any significant confidence in estimates of molecular dates for the divergence of the Bilateria."5 Whereas Levinton suggests that the biological dates should defer to the authority of the geological dates, creation scientists would suggest that assumptions of evolution may influence both of them too strongly to allow any confidence in either.
How might the mainstream evolutionary model find harmony? According to Levinton, "We can only hope that better evidence will emerge."6 Despite the fossil record's lack of supporting evidence, and despite the disparity between the fossil data and molecular clock analyses, many scientists nonetheless cling to evolutionary explanations.
The creation model, on the whole, is not in a desperate need of "better evidence." The sudden appearance of fully-formed fossilized creatures is consistent with the creation of all animals during one week—not over millions of years. Further, the appearance of fossil sea creatures at the bottom of an earth-encompassing set of sedimentary rocks must, in most locations, correspond with the onset of the Genesis Flood. Third, both the internal and external inconsistencies of widely-varying molecular clock ages lead us to agree with Levinton's skeptical attitude toward those dates. These all combine to give us great confidence in the accuracy and authority of the biblical record, complete with its young-earth dates.
- Levinton, J. S. 2008. The Cambrian Explosion: How Do We Use the Evidence. BioScience. 58 (9): 862.
- Humphreys, D. R. 2003. New RATE Data Support a Young World. Acts & Facts. 32 (12).
- Levinton, The Cambrian Explosion, 860.
- Ibid, 857.
- Ibid, 858.
- Ibid, 862.
* Mr. Thomas is Science Writer.
Article posted on October 20, 2008.
Evidence for Creation › Evidence from Science › Evidence from the Earth Sciences › Fossils Reflect Life's Original Diversity › Fossils Show Stasis and No Transitional Forms
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Winter Warm Up – Monday
The day began with the announcement that the Cards had
signed Yadier Molina to a 4-year-deal, and this was met by big cheers from the
crowd. I saw a lot of big name players
signing autographs: Albert Pujols
(rarely smiling but sporting a lot of bling – huge watch, diamond-studded
wedding ring, and the World Series ring), Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Mark
Mulder, Lou Brock, Danny Cox, Ken Reitz, and Rick Ankiel. Some autographs from lesser known players
like Ken Reitz were free, but most required a donation – the biggest charge
being $175 for the privilege of meeting Pujols. That's a bit too rich for my blood.
On the main stage, Bill DeWitt III spoke about the ballpark
village plans. Centene Corp had made a deal
to open up an office as part of the complex and other plans called for a
variety of shops and restaurants and 250 condos in Phase I. DeWitt hoped there would be significant
progress in time for the 2009 All Star Game and that some of the parties could
be held under tents in the village. The
$650 million project will cost more than the stadium, so it's gonna take a while.
Mark Mulder spoke about making some progress in his recovery
from surgery, but he would make no promises as to a return date. It sure would be great to have a healthy
Mulder back in the rotation, but I won't get my hopes up.
New GM John Mozeliak talked with Mike Shannon. He talked about his excitement over the
Molina deal and defended the Matt Clement deal, which he felt had a low
financial risk and a huge upside if Clement is truly back to form. Clement was supposed to attend that day, but
his flight was canceled. Vince Coleman didn't show up either but no
explanation was given – I suspect a killer tarp is involved.
Tony La Russa took the stage to lukewarm applause. There's always been some mistrust of Tony,
and I get the feeling Cardinal fans are feeling wounded by the departure of so
many fan favorites – Edmonds, Eckstein, Rolen – and unsure of what the team will achieve this year. Tony said he looked for strong competition in
the division from the Reds and the Brewers, but that he was confident this
young Cardinal team would surprise some people. Inexplicably, Tony lambasted Adam Kennedy, stating that he was "really
upset" that Adam had not bothered to attend the Warm Up and say thank you to
the fans. Tony said Adam had a lot to prove in Spring Training and just might
lose his starting spot at 2nd Base if he doesn't prove it. This outburst annoyed me and made me feel
like Tony just needs drama in his life, and now that Rolen is gone, he's got to
be startin' somethin' with another player. Tony said he expected big things from Colby Rasmus this Spring and he
would not be surprised if Rasmus stepped up and made the team, just the way
Pujols did in 2001. He said he expects
PJ Walters will start the season in the minors, but that he too could make the
team with a strong showing in Jupiter.
I grabbed some lunch (ballpark type food) and bought a
"Smooch Your Pooch" cap for a friend. The cap had been signed by La Russa and
was being sold to benefit his ARF foundation. ARF also sponsored a benefit concert this weekend.
This was the 12th annual Winter Warm Up, and it
was the first one I attended. I had a great time and plan to be back next
year. If you're a big Cardinal fan, you
should definitely check it out next year. Three days of fun for $40 is a great
bargain, and you'll be supporting a good cause too – the Cardinals Care
Check out my photo album for lots more Winter Warm Up pics.


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Two of our favorite trends right now are spikes and neon, and we're trying to incorporate them into our everyday looks as much as possible. And we have so many cool new neon supplies in our store that we knew it was time for a neon DIY. With our favorite cone spikes and some awesome neon nailheads, we created this edgy, trendy headband that will brighten up any look this fall. Check out our tutorial below, and stop by our store to find more neon and spike selections!
1. Make sure your leather trim is trimmed so it will fit perfectly around the headband. Then lay it flat, and draw a thin line of glue along one side.
2. Begin adding a line of neon nailheads on top of the glue. Hold each one down for a few seconds as it dries, and make sure there are no gaps in between the nailheads.
3. Continue to add lines of glue, and then nailheads on top, until you have neon nailheads running down an entire side of the leather trim. Then use the same process to add a line of nailheads to the other side.
4. Unscrew each of the cone spikes, as you will not be needing the screws.
5. Evenly line up the spikes on the strip of leather to make sure you have the correct placement. They should be about an inch apart. Then gently glue each one in place.
6. After the glue has dried and the spikes are firmly in place, draw a thin line of glue all along the metal headband.
7. Gently place the leather trim onto the metal headband, making sure it is even and symmetrical. Hold it in place while the glue dries. Once everything is dry, you're all done!


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MORE VILLANOVA: VUSports.com
Four-star small forward Josh Hart announced his intention to attend Villanova during a press conference at his school Wednesday afternoon.
The 6-foot-5 senior from Washington (D.C.) Sidwell Friends said that he liked what the Wildcats offered in terms of playing style and he feels as if Jay Wright and his staff can develop him off the floor.
"I think they fit my playing style," Hart told Rivals.com. "I think they are also going to help me grow more as a man. That's one of the biggest reasons why I picked them."
A rugged wing player who doesn't back down from a physical test, Hart is a true team player. Some players say they'll do the little things, but Hart has proven again and again that he will and he feels like that's what will help him in college.
"I think being able to go out there and do whatever the coach wants me to do will be big," Hart said. "That's diving on the floor for loose balls, taking charges and guarding their best offensive players. Offensively driving the basket and drawing contact and finishing through it."
A capable slasher and finisher, Hart has worked hard on his jumper and feels there's still a few areas of his game that he needs to address.
"I think my ballhandling and my lateral quickness," Hart responded when asked what needs the most work. "I think those two things are the biggest things for me right now."
Ranked No. 87 in the class of 2013, Hart said that he's excited to be joining another D.C. area four-star in combo forward Kris Jenkins. He thinks it will be nice to have a familiar face joining him and he's also excited to focus on his senior year without the stress of a college decision.
"I'm definitely relieved to get it over with," Hart said. "Going to a school like Sidwell, a lot of the other seniors are stressing about going to college and getting accepted. It's nice to just worry about grades, senior season and winning the conference title."
Click Here to view this Link.


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Ellis hits for cycle vs. Sox
Tenth-inning single gives A's second baseman rare feat
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com
Just another memorable moment in the week of Ellis' life. Last Friday his wife, Sarah, gave birth to the couple's first child, and since Briggs William Ellis entered the world, Daddy is 8-for-12 with five extra-base hits.
"I'm gonna go home and try to have another one," Elllis cracked after the A's beat the visiting Red Sox, 5-4, in 11 innings. "It's been an exciting week."
Ellis, who hit a two-run triple in the second inning, a solo homer in the fourth and a double in the sixth, grounded into a fielder's choice in the eighth -- much to the chagrin of a McAfee Coliseum crowd on its collective feet in anticipation.
But when Boston tied the game with two runs in the top of the ninth inning, then turned back a bases-loaded, nobody-out threat by the A's in the bottom of the frame, Ellis got the at-bat he needed.
With the crowd again buzzing, Ellis, facing lefty J.C. Romero with one out in the bottom of the 10th, doinked his fourth hit of the night just beyond the reach of Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
"I had a pretty good idea it was gonna drop," Ellis said.
It was the 17th cycle in franchise history, the first since Eric Byrnes did it against the Giants in San Francisco on June 29, 2003, and only the second at McAfee Coliseum.
"You don't see the cycle very often, and what's interesting is he got the hardest part out of the way first," said A's manager Bob Geren. "Mark just had a great night, and I'm so happy for him. He's got a new baby, he's swinging the bat great.
"He's flying high right now, and it couldn't happen to a finer man. You can't say enough good things about Mark Ellis."
Mychael Urban is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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* Prices may differ from that shownMore Offers
As soon as I saw our latest Peugeot I knew it was the one for us. It has a great look on the outside and the inside isn't far behind. Plenty of space for the driver and a generous area for at least three childrens's seats. With this model there is the option of fitting an extra two seats but for the time being we are sticking with the standard five. The boot area can be covered or as in our case uncovered when the dogs are joining us. The Panaramic roof adds a touch of class with the side and rear tinted windows very useful for the kids on a sunny day. As always with all our Peugeot's they have great road handling and generally good reliability. What has let us down deeply on this model however has been the air-con, in winter its excellent, in summer and especially hot days it is non-existent. The failure of the multi-change cd player appears to be a common problem on this model, sadly we only found this out after we purchased the vehicle!
Our 307SW was one of the best we ever owned in terms of comfort. However, it was THE worst we ever owned in terms of reliability. Firstly, the Panoramic Glass Roof was brilliant, something that is sorely missed in the current family car. The sunshade was handy if the sun got too bright, but the car would bake like an oven if you left it open on a sunny day. The seats were very comfortable, offering plenty of support, but the fabric could've been better - easily snagged by various things. Slightly soft-touch plastics made the upper dashboard pleasant to the touch, but the lower dashboard features hard, scratchy, unappealing plastics, whilst the leather steering wheel wore badly, possibly due to the sun. It was very practical, but the seats were slightly fiddly to remove, and heavy once you'd managed to get them out! Reliability problems began a year into ownership (and it was only 12 months old when we bought it), with the clutch that failed. Then there were plenty electrical problems to follow, coupled with numerous trips to Mr Peugeot. The receptionists there were always quite helpful, the technicians not so much, but customer care was never as bad as it was made out in the motoring press. The diesel engine wasn't particularly economical or punchy, but it was quiet on-board and the ride quality was good. Handling was poor however, with a spoon-in-porridge-like gearbox, lifeless steering and plentiful body roll. In the end, it was time to say goodbye, and the family wagon was replaced by something slightly sportier and better quality!
I previously owned the Peugeot 307 1.4 diesel estate for around 18 months. Fuel consumption wise this car was quite good and £12-£15 worth of diesel (on last years prices) was lasting me around 5 days which incorporated going to and from work on a daily basis and the odd shopping trip in between. I had also travelled to various places up and down the country in the car and a round trip of about 260 miles was costing around the £30 mark.
Inside my particular model was quite basic with no mod cons like air conditioning etc however it did have electric windows, PAS, rear heated windscreen and cassette player. The windscreen spray and wipers are quite powerful and of all the cars I've had, I would say it is definitely the best for getting a clean screen! Seats are quite comfortable with adjustable driver's seat height and folding rear seats, which lie flat making the already spacious boots space, increase in size quite significantly. Legroom wise the car offers a good amount and even the tallest of drivers would be able to have a passenger sat behind them.
From the outside the car is nothing particularly special to look at and I felt from the back you'd fail to recognise that it was a 307, just purely because of the flat boot shape, however I think if you can find one which has good body work they really do look well for their age.
We did opt to sell the car however and the reasons for this were due to the amount of money we had spent on it since buying it but this could have purely been down to bad with the car we had. Such things as it requiring a new exhaust, which was quite awkward to come by as the 1.4 diesel version does not feature in some car books so some garages said they could not fix it. In the one's that did there was confusion over some technical details, which meant that this version was manufactured in two different ways. In addition, as there is quite a lot of computer-based technology in the car if a fault shows up on the dashboard a diagnostic report would be required. When the temperature dropped below freezing two faults would come on the car which basically meant it couldn't be driven (as this would cause damage to the engine) until temperatures had risen, which was often by the afternoon. A full diagnostic report would be required to find the cause but this could only be done when the fault was still showing but as you could not drive it you couldn't get it to the garage in the first place to be tested!
Aside from these things, I do feel that this particular model was quite a good car for us and with regards to fuel consumption, it was one of the better one's, however for us in the end the cons started to outweigh the pros.
i found out i was expecting twins and already having a child realised we wouldnt be able to get everyone in our VW polo(2 adults and 3 kids) i must have looked at dozens of cars trying to fit in 3 large 0-4years car seats and thought i would have to just except the fact we would have to buy one of those big people carrier things where there's seats in the boot but then i faced the issue of where the huge double buggy would go as the people carriers seemed to have tiny boots when the back seats are in use, plus i'm really short 4 feet 11 inches and i couldnt seem to reach the pedals comfortably in these. then just out of luck i stumbled on this car and thought i'd give the car seats a go and they fitted. its a snug fit but they do and the boot is huge! i get my double buggy in there and at least 5 bags full of shopping. a real find i think, i would check your seats fit in before taking the plunge and buying one as all car seats vary in size but mine are quite bulky. hope this helps
I have owned my Peugeot 307 SW 2.0 hdi diesel car for just over 3 years.It is a 2004 model, china blue in colour with silver roof rails and door handles.It is the S spec with electric windows,air con radio /cd and best of all a near full length glass panaromic sunroof which has an internal electronic cover.This is great for those summer days or clear starry nights.
I have the additional 2 rear seats which are exactly the same as the back passenger seats and can be removed quite easily but are quite heavy and storing them can be a problem in the house,although they do fold in half.These are not really suitable for adults due to the limited amount of legroom and I would say that are only really suitable for a child up to eleven years old.
The interior is okay but sometimes quite rattly from the dashboard,it comes and goes.The trip computer is useful giving average mpg,real time mpg,distance travelled and distance remaining on your fuel tank.I have calculated that the average mpg reading is actually five mpg lower than the true mpg.
The ride is very poor on bumpy uneven roads but on motorways it goes like a dream.
The best mpg I have had is about 53 mpg on a long trip to France but on my usual usage I get about 45.Tax is £120 a year.
Servicing at a normal garage costs me about £115 for a interim service oil and filter and usual checks and £160 for a full oil, air fuel filters etc.
Oil consumption is nil I have never topped it up once, it never uses any.
You either love or hate this car .me I would not really recommend it unless you want a cheap 7 seater without going along the box type route eg Galaxy, Zafiras.I have had no major issues with this car or breakdowns so the reliabilty factor is good
I bought a peugeot 307 sw outdoor in july 2008 and have now just done 2000 miles in it, so thought I'd share my views.
I bought the 1.6hdi diesel version, as in these days of rising fuel costs, I thought I may save some money. I filled her up a couple of weeks ago, at a cost of 43.00 (diesei around 1.25 a liter that day) and i have now refilled after doing approx 520 miles. That seems a lot better than my clio ( petrol) that took about £33.00, for approx 340 miles.
The car has a computer display which shows you how many miles an hour, how many miles travelled and average fuel consumption. For mainly around town, mine is about 49 miles per gallon.
I have never owned a peugeot before, but husband had and he persuaded me. What a great move. It really is a lovely car to own and drive. It has got buckets of room, and the back seats fold flat, without all the messing around of taking bits out.
The panoramic roof is great making the car feel like and bright inside.
It is a very sturdy, safe feeling car, that takes corners brilliantly
The interior is very stylish with leather/fabric sports seats, and they really are very comfie, even on long journeys with my bad back.
I think the only thing i have to watch is I'm cruising along, and look at the speedo, and its 90 plus mph, so it moves, without feeling you're doing that speed.
I don't like the position of the drinks holder, as it is positioned behind the handbrake, and as I'm always drinking, its quite hard to grab it easily when driving. Has a tiny glove compartment, which is a little frustrating, as I generally have a ton of stuff to put in it. Nice feature of a fire extuingiuser, hazzard triangle, and camera for accidents, included in a case, that has velcro, which holds it in place in the boot. I really liked that.
Also because electric windows for rear windows is next to the ones for front seats, I find myself opening them without realising, then getting out of the car and seeing the back windows open, which is a bit annoying.
i chose the top of the range model ( that's a first) and it cost around £14,500 from peugeot main dealer.
Overall though I really love this car, and hope i have years of trouble free driving
I had this car as a hire car in June and covered close to 2000miles in that week alone so am quite well placed to write a review on it.
Being a foreign car it was spec'd differently to the UK but had Automatic Climate Control, Full Electrics, Panoramic Glass Roof, front foglights and trip computer. I do know a bit about these cars in the UK and know most of them do come with these anyway. We chose the car to ferry myself, three passengers and all our luggage for a 2 week holiday driving around france and spain and we couldn't have had a more practical car for what we wanted.
Firstly the space, how do they get so much space from a small family estate. The do market it as a mini mpv but in reality it's a 7 seater estate car but the space inside is immense! It was comfortable inside and had room for 4 suitcases, 4 rucksacks and a wheelchair in the boot alone! Everyone was impressed with this! The glass roof also helped make it feel even more airy that it actually was. There were masses of cubby holes to put things in, cup holders in the fold down table in the back and a lockable air conditioned glovebox which was good when we were camping in spain for our valuables.
Although spacious the car was a little dated inside. You can tell it was in need of the replacement which has just come out, the 308 SW. However it is hard wearing and functional and not a disgrace by any means. If you were buying one second hand it would not put you off at all providing you expect a few rattles and squeeks after a few miles.
The engine was lovely to use. It was smooth and powerful and never struggled even with our full car. It was the 110bhp Diesel engine and the torque pulled is and all our stuff with ease. It was also pretty economical giving us 45mpg and had a range of over 600 miles per tank. I'm sure with a normal lesser load and less agressive driving it would easily get us over 50mpg.
The handling was adequate though typical peugeot, smooth and quiet but not much fun around the bends. It's not meant to be a sporty car and it's not but is safe and holds the road quite well even with a heavy load.
After a fortnight with this car I can say it is an extremely practical family car that will be cheap to run and cheap to buy as well with some very reasonable new and used prices. If you've got 2 or 3 children and need something to take you and your luggage on days out and holidays very little will do it better for the same money with the same standard equipment. Well worth a look if that's what you need!


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get bibby out of here... he has done nothin for use since last year
get bibby out of here... he has done nothin for use since last year
Another Smith thread!
Good to have the fire power, concerned about signing a head case.
That simple. If he causes any distractions, he should be roasted for it. This team is on its way up with Melo returning. Don't need any ghetto swag on a team ready to ascend.
It's Official guys!!!!!!!
@AlexKennedyNBA: I just spoke to J.R. Smith. He confirmed that he's nearing a deal with the New York Knicks.
Signature created by AmareforPresident
How would he interact with our locker room. How would he handle not getting his touches? Now, you can't judge how he'll be by just his appearance and I never heard anything negative about him. From teamates or anyone. So maybe it's a non issue.
Last edited by jzero29; Feb 16, 2012 at 22:18.
Let's...Go...Lottery! Let's...Go...Lottery!!! Say it with me Knicks fans!
Tyson Chandler has been our leader majority of the season, I feel like he can fuel a fire with Mr. Smith.
Per 36, Smith averages 19 ppg 4 rebs, 3 assist, 1.5 steals
At the price we get him for, this deal is a STEAL.
Amare and Melo can have off nights and now well have Lin and Smith to rely on just in case.
The depth on this roster is something special.


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Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies I-X' started by Flying Spaghetti Monster, Apr 17, 2009.
Generations: Soran confronting Kirk for the first time.
"That suits me, I just bought a boat."
Scotty in the beginning of TUC in the briefing.
"I would not presume to debate you."
Kirk. ST II
"What's your degree in, dentistry?"
The Mercy Hospital surgeon to McCoy in TVH.
"You can count on us, sir."
the phrase is familiar but i just can't place it and refuse to cheat. you have stumped me, as i'm sure you have others since no one has given the answer as of yet.
I think it could be from The Search for Spock when Kirk and the gang steal Enterprise out of spacedock.
From Insurrection when Picard is trying to make a quiet get away from Enterprise to assit the Bak'u.
As I'm not sure if I'm right with either of them, I'll wait for comformation before I post my own quote.
I was going for Sulu's comment to Kirk in TSFS when the latter decides to go against Admiral Morrow's orders and rescue Spock anyways. But I'm glad I stumped some people!
Then the next one is yours.
LINE: "Really?"
stumped again. no clue.
Kirk did say it to Harriman in GEN when Harriman confessed to studying his missions in grade school
I'm on a roll.
I have to enjoy this.
"Garbled communications."
Kirk to Spock in TWOK referencing the problem at Regula One.
"Well, we don't..."
Kirk to Gillian in 1986 when she jokingly asks if humans don't use money in the 23rd century(TVH).
"But where?"
I think that's Gillian in 1986 asking Kirk (when they're in the car) where exactly it is she'll be able to find him once she's thought about his offering to rescure the whales.
"There she is!"
Khan when he first sees the Enterprise orbiting Regula in TWOK.
"Don't worry, Doctor...we're on our way!!"
Terrell to Marcus in TWOK
"Who's the breather?"
I've literally racked my brain on this one... it's not from the new movie, is it?
EDIT: I thought it was from V when all the ambassadors meet in Nimbus III, but I can't put my finger on that line being in that scene... or the deleted scenes.
it is from the new movie. I thought it would be fair game.
It's Uhura speaking to her roomate
Separate names with a comma.


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Episode 1
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Sookie and Lafayette struggle with what to do about Tara
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Sookie Stackhouse and her supernatural cohorts have a disturbing new political power play to deal with in Season 5--a growing war between the Vampire Authority and 'vampire fundamentalists'--and the outcome could decide the fate of human existence.
Suitable only for adults
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Sookie and Lafayette struggle with what to do about Tara
Authority Always Wins
Tara resurfaces in Bon Temps.
Whatever I Am, You Made Me
Bill and Eric barter for their lives with the Authority Chancellors
We'll Meet Again
Eric and Bill have doubts they will survive the search for Russell
Let's Boot and Rally
With time running short, Bill and Eric enlist Sookie to help find Russell
The aftermath at the asylum leaves Sookie with an eerie sense of foreboding.
In the Beginning
Salome reveals her true allegiances while
Somebody That I Used to Know
The Chancellors revel in the afterglow of Lilith-induced carnage
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
As the Authority proceeds with Lilith's plan, Eric plots his escape
Gone, Gone, Gone
With vampire-on-human attacks rising, the Authority attempts to ease the public
Slipping further into religious fervor, Bill gives Jessica a compromising task
Save Yourself
Eric embarks on a final, desperate mission to overthrow the Authority
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Hi! I have thought of making a math library with some different kind of variable types.
The meaning is to keep the values exact, so I will have one class for integers, using a vector to store the digits, making the integer able to reach unlimited length. And when two integers is divided by each other a fraction is obtained, hence a new class will have to be used. The fraction class shall contains to integers. Irrational numbers is skipped since you'll need to have an expression for them, and I haven't planed to make an expression handler at the time. Also a decimal number class is going to be needed, cause decimal numbers is pretty common and can easily be written to the screen without using a fraction, just a decimal point. A real number is any of the three mentioned before. Then I shal have imaginary number class, which can contain any of the two classes mentioned before, the only difference is that when you ad an imaginary number with a real number for example, you get a complex number. This is what gives the fifth class, complex numbers. An operation can give different type of outputs, depending on the type of input it gets, and what values the contain. For example, every result that can be expressed as an integer shal be returned as an integer. Any decimal number times integer number 0 shall give integer number zero, but if you multiply it by integer number 1, it'll give the same decimal number back. And two integer divided by each other will return a fraction if necessary, possibly NAN (not a number) when dividing by 0, else an integer number shall be returned.
This is somewhat like PHP's variable type. You can't define it to be either an integer or a float, or even a string. PHP converts wildely between the different type of variables. Does anyone know how it works? Is it a good idea to imitate PHP's way of storing the variables or is there some better way?
I have thought of having a container, which contains a unary with the number in it, and one variable to tell which kind of number it is. Then every operation or function applied to the content shall always return a container, so the type can be choosen from within the function (for example the function real, which takes the real part from any number, maybe an integer or complex, and returns any real number necessary to represent the real part of the number).


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Price list of Chevrolet Beat Diesel in Kasargod. Find below the Chevrolet Beat Diesel prices across Kasargod.
Chevrolet Beat Diesel price in Kasargod
For a loan of ₹ 5,26,850 @ 12% over 60 months
Also see :Chevrolet Beat Diesel Kasargod dealers
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|Chevrolet Beat Diesel 1.0 LS TCDi
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I have a pretty awesome restaurant supply store in my area that has used Hobart mixers but all the ones I've seen so far seem a little bulky for my kitchen.
I was very fortunate that my mom (who is 88 years old and who I care for on a daily basis) volunteered to buy me a new Hobart N50. This isn't an option for everyone (way too expensive)--I know I wouldn't have purchased it without some help--but if you can find a good used one, it might be something to think about. Just be very careful if you find one on eBay. The first one I bought on eBay was disaster but eBay Buyer Protection took care of it as it was SIGNIFICANTLY misrepresented.
Hi Genie,According to the manufacturer, the N50 should be serviced twice a year. But this depends of the job the N50 does : using a N50 for whipping eggs will be less wearing than kneading heavy dough ; in the same way, a N50 used few times a week will require less attention that a N50 used relentlessly (as this machine is for professional use, and is build to run severals hours a day).In practical terms, you have to remove periodically the drip cup and then clean it with the internal gear(in order to prevent a start of corrosion at this place).You also have to check for 4 points of lubrication :- the internal gear and its satellite pinion (this requires the removing of the planetary)- the 2 slideways for the bowl support- the rear rotor bearing (this requires the removing of the end cover ; this bearing is lubricated with oil via a wick)Then, you have to replace all the grease inside the transmission gear when this grease is out of date (according to the requirements given by the supplier of the grease). This is the most difficult task, which requires the complete opening of the mixer the dismantling of all the gearing.Finally, you also have to watch for the gearing clearance each time the N50 is powered on : each unusual noise may indicate that some adjustments of the gearing are disturbed and need to be rightly set again (this occurs especially if the N50 is used intensively)


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Re: US Starting To Open Bird Trade Again
Posted by Jerry on 6/12/04
On 6/10/04, Tim wrote:
> On 6/08/04, Andrew Doan wrote:
>> I've just recently visit a pet shop here Southern
>> California and talk to the owner about softbills bird. He
>> mention that the US will open up the bird trade again.
> Just
>> wonder if anyone here know if this is true or not.
> I sure hope not!!! We have already done enough damage to
> the wild populations.
The bird trade was never closed! What gave you that idea?
Softbills and finches have always been coming in. It is only
the parrots that were generally banned, and not even all of
those. Only CITES species of PArrots (most species) and CITES
species of Softbills (very few)were banned, and you can still
import the banned ones with a Coop permit.
Furthermore, the bird trade has not done damage to most of the
wild populations. Those populations that are in trouble are
there because of habitat destruction.


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It's a great word. Make people learn!
I went for URI::Find::Delimited [cpan.org] in the end, since Windle [compsoc.net] pointed out that RFC 2396 [faqs.org] appendix E uses "delimited". But you're right; it is a good word. Janet [greenend.org.uk] gave it to me.
You know, the icky thing about journals is that because the initial post in this thread was a couple of weeks ago, you're the only person who's going to notice I've written all this, and that only if you've got notification turned on.
Luckily, I have. I guess LiveJournal spoilt me.


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They don't seem to be releasing the cars at the regulated intervals," shouted Maggie Hayes, the sprightly woman who would become our guide on the 1,800-mile race across some of the planet's roughest, most challenging terrain.
It was gibberish to me. "What?" This became a frequent question that I would throw back at Maggie.
The sleek, brightly colored vehicles drove under the banner and between the temporary barriers that marked the beginning of the race in the State Square of humid Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
At the starting line for the 2011 World Solar Challenge, I was fumbling with a headless tripod (in what I imagined would be the perfect vantage point). Anxiously waiting for my partner, Marcin Szczepanski, the College of Engineering's Multimedia Content Producer, to emerge from the bramble of spectators. This bulky thing was useless without a camera or its photog.
The sleek, brightly colored vehicles drove under the banner and between the temporary barriers that marked the beginning of the race in the State Square of humid Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It was Sunday, October 16th – the season of Spring Down Under.
"They're supposed to be spaced one minute apart at the start." Maggie was at a full sprint. "Keys! Let's go."
"I got them," I was juggling the tripod, two beverages, an iPhone, mobile WiFi (had to be ready to tweet at a moment's notice)...did I even have the damn keys? Oh, right, I was the driver for first leg; I had to have them.
Was there time for a quick tweet? After all, the race was officially underway. And what if I didn't update Michigan Engineering's Facebook status, would this thing even really be happening?
As the official embedded social media manager it was my responsibility to alert the—
"Get the truck." She waved me off. "Bring it over this way. I'll find Marcin."
I glanced at my watch/GPS. Maggie was right (as I would find out, she usually was). I realized the solar vehicles were heading out of the gate closer to 15 seconds apart.
The keys. Attached to my belt.
I downed my hot cappuccino (in Oz they know how to brew killer coffee drinks but they take their time), chased it with bottled water. We were heading into the Outback; I had to be hydrated and alert because things were already getting out of hand. Still confounded by the tripod. Glanced over my shoulder and there went the University of Michigan Solar Car Team's entry. It looked like a low flying UFO.
I'd met the team's business director, Chris Hilger, at the Wilson Center back on the University of Michigan's North Campus eight months earlier, in February of 2011. It was snowing, dark and cold. Winter in Michigan.
When I was introduced to Hilger and Rachel Kramer, the race manager, they showed me the new car called "Quantum." It was a prototype in hideous disarray. It looked a lot like a giant toy model that could sit downstairs on the ping-pong table, lonely and gathering the dust of ambitious but forgotten intent.
There was much ado about the whole weight thing. Looking to shave off weight, Hilger was pleased to report that they'd taken apart Infinium, the storied predecessor to Quantum, and weighed each and every piece. This vehicle would be much lighter and therefore much more efficient. When you're dealing with a battery-powered car that draws its energy from the sun, strength-to-weight ratios are everything.
We talked about the team's major league sponsors like Roush and Ricardo. Racing legends along with giants like Ford, Chrysler and GM. These two students were buttoned-up; Rachel and Chris were swimming in deep water from the beginning. And it suited them.
Rachel Kramer is, I'm convinced, a set of twins, if not triplets, posing as one unique project executioner. Trump would love her. Hilger radiates cavalier confidence with inspiring grins. He persuasively looks titans of industry straight in the eyes and they respond by sharing the resources of funding, facility and wisdom.
However, it was Quantum's light weight that became one of the ironic little problems that would plague the team from before the starting line. It would give them pause during early testing in Oz when a road train, the heaviest commercial road-hauling vehicle in the world, nearly blew Quantum off the road.
It was their first encounter with the great white shark of the Stuart Highway. Quantum's lightweight design did not fare well.
On a mock race around Michigan, when they hit a bump outside of Traverse City, they cracked part of Quantum's carbon-fiber frame. According to computer modeling, it was a bump that the frame lay-up should have handled.
What they learned from those early misadventures will inform commercially durable, lightweight automotive design. Their mistakes will impact the future of automotive engineering in ways that will resonate with novel solutions to today's energy problems.
That's why this type of event is so important and why the participants are so passionate. You cannot escape one simple truth: A solar powered car is feasible. Not only is it valid, it's outgrown itself and the race. It makes a mockery of oil and illustrates what happens when teams of bright minds are given adequate funding.
The Quantum that was racing into the streets of Darwin was not even the same car I saw in pieces months earlier. It was a second car altogether – a secret weapon of sorts.
They ran the first Quantum around Michigan for the mock race, showcased it at events, tested it in the Outback a month before the World Solar Challenge, and used it for qualifying. But this car, making its way through the city, was what they were calling "spare parts."
It was the best of everything they had in one build. All of their hopes rested on it. It was in fact, Quantum 2.
By the time I'd tucked the tripod under my arm, Marcin emerged from the crowd. He had been shadowing Quantum since it began its roll to the starting line and beyond sight.
"Okay, I'm ready." He was drenched in sweat. Had he run a marathon? He chugged right past me toward the SUV. Marcin has endurance that should be studied and bottled for wholesale distribution.
The next few moments were the most exciting of the race. Subsequently, they were also a blur. I was driving our diesel-fueled pig of an SUV. Maggie navigated. Poking his cameras out the windows, probing for the shots that were escaping everyone else, Marcin careened back and forth in the rear seat.
I spotted the car that, the day before during time trials at the Hidden Valley Race Way, had taken the pole position. Its now notorious qualifying run was captured on video when it took a hairy turn on only two wheels. Then it seemed like a potential wild card in the race. Now, there it sat like a small, bright red, beached whale. "Is that the Twente team's car? Great Caesar's ghost!" Maggie confirmed.
Before setting foot in Australia, we speculated about who the main competition would be and we were right.
We saw signs of another team that had apparently taken a wrong turn. Their pilot would have to return to the start or risk disqualification. No diverging from the course would be tolerated. I was flooring it and we still weren't quite keeping pace with the rest of the media circus. There was a lot of action on the road. Once I knew we were on the Stuart Highway it was pretty much a straight shot for the next 1,800 miles. To catch up to the leaders we'd have to get out in front quickly. We needed momentum and slick moves.
The mayhem gave Marcin a chance to shoot a lot of the other entries in this insane race. Only seven of over 30 cars actually finished. Many teams wouldn't be making it much farther than this.
Something about it felt surreal, like an inversion of a Conrad novel. People were parked in campers alongside one of the world's most dangerous highways, a broad concrete river cutting into the heart of a vast sun-baked dessert. And they were just...observing.
Entire families were perched on RVs waving, holding up their babies, snapping photos, smiling… didn't these people understand that yes, an exciting race was underway, but that this (including the solar cars and their petrol-powered entourages) also entailed a mad dash of steel, glass and heavy plastics charging in a southerly, downhill direction?
The Dutch
Before setting foot in Australia, we speculated about who the main competition would be and we were right. In 2009, the Tokai team from Japan won 1st place. Nuon from the Netherlands took second and Michigan took third in the world.
There's something of a burgeoning clash between the Dutch and Michigan. Most mornings, before that day's leg of the race would begin, the Michigan team was treated to some of Nuon's library of über loud, jingoistic American rock, or even "Amerika" from Germany's Rammstein. It was half camaraderie and half psychological warfare. It's a friendly rivalry if ever there was one. But it's a rivalry nonetheless.
After getting out of the knot of the early field contenders we were looking for indications that we were getting close to the leaders. The first sign just happened to be the Nuon support truck. We needed to get past them.
We called it in on the CB and let them know we were going to overtake. This would become ritual, apparently something only our crew of three did with any regularity. It was good form. We had that going for us.
Passing the Dutch… this was a good sign.
We only had about 80 miles to the first control stop. Twice a day, by rule, drivers were rotated and the car charged for 30 minutes.
After all, sleep-deprived drivers are dangerous drivers. Watching the solar cars on the road, you know the pilots are doing a physically and mentally athletic task. In Australia, particularly on this stretch of road, falling asleep (or more likely losing focus) at the wheel is a major problem.
Further, checking for stress on the car is important; these are hand-made vehicles. Stress on the structure comes into play as much as energy drain or wind drag.
Once we passed the Dutch and their Nuna6 car we caught site of the Michigan squad. We punched it and made a couple of passes. Marcin fired away with an array of lenses and equipment. We charged past the Michigan caravan again. Marcin picked a spot up ahead. We parked and he piled out. Armed to the gills with well-selected equipment, he muttered a few things and took off on foot. He made for high ground.
Marcin shot Quantum coming at us. Shot the Dutch coming at us, Jumped back in the car. We would catch them again at the first control stop.
The Japanese
When we got to the first control stop, things were still fresh and weird. There was the fact that Michigan was slightly ahead of the Dutch and only about 10 minutes behind the Japanese. Fukushima's nuclear shadow loomed large and drove the purpose behind the team from Tokyo's Tokai University. Their Challenger car was quick from the takeoff.
Acceleration is a major hurdle for electric vehicles and the Japanese team seemed to have an answer to the lag problem. The Challenger kept finding seconds that turned into minutes. And they found a lot of them by getting out of the control stops faster than anyone else.
After leaving that control stop we noticed the trees were getting shorter and further apart. Our vessel was finally leaving the bush and rumbling into the Outback. The race was getting real and everyone was settling into the challenge.
About an hour after the second control stop of the day, Michigan set up camp just past the Dutch and Japanese teams – ahead in distance but still third in time. We felt further ahead, at least in one dimension.
It was as remote a spot as I'd been in my life. You could see stars that you had no idea existed. And spiders that looked like Boston blue crabs. It was beautiful and quiet and colorful and a little scary.
Sounds I'd never heard from birds that I didn't know existed and I wondered why they didn't care that it was night. They kept the student mechanics company. We never slept more than a couple of hours the rest of the race.
Wauchope and Brushfires
The second day of the World Solar Challenge 2011 was infamous. It started with Michigan watching the first and second competitors pass into the Outback. Quantum settled in behind them. It was a nice, clear day. Everyone felt good and the pack was having fun competing.
But they stopped us at Wauchope. The place is surreal. Somewhere in the center of nowhere. "Brushfires." Maggie shrugged as she trotted back.
I swore. "What?"
"Arsonists," she explained.
"Who goes around burning this nothing?" I stopped puzzling about it immediately. Wasn't worth getting inside the head of a person that demented. That was it and I knew it. Besides, I had bigger fish to fry: This was tweetable material and we had a military-grade satellite up-link.
Time to get word out to the world. We would stay in Wauchope for the night.
We hadn't even made it to the day's first controlled stop, but if the authorities in Australia think something in the Outback is dangerous enough to shut down the only road in the area, I guarantee you it will kill you.
As soon as it was confirmed, there came a bit of good news. At the premature conclusion of the second day, Michigan was behind the Dutch by less than 10 minutes. The team was confident that they could handle the challenges of the coming day.
But the start of day three was confounding. Michigan took off toward the sedated, smoldering brushfire. The valiant driver was wearing only a surgeon's mask, in lieu of an in-cabin filter. When he was waved over to the shoulder, upon approaching the smoke, the white-masked pilot complied with the beckoning police officer. Maggie pulled over; Marcin was out and moving before our SUV was even parked.
I watched helplessly as the Dutch passed by us and kept right on going into the murk, straight down the Stuart Highway and into second place.
There was a conversation with the police officer. The team handled the whole thing with poise. Poised or not, they lost precious minutes and felt sucker-punched. Those were hard won minutes, time that they would not get back. While this was going down, the Japanese and Dutch teams were gaining ground.
The cop was eventually persuaded that sitting in the smoke alongside the Stuart Highway was more dangerous than moving forward, as Michigan had been told to do by race officials. The Michigan team was permitted to proceed.
Marcin, loaded down with gear and some nifty shots of Hilger smoke jumping, hopped back in the SUV. I was right behind him. Maggie, at the wheel, gritted her teeth. "That was ridiculous." I hadn't seen her angry yet. "Why would they stop just us?" It didn't seem right. In the fight for second place, just like that, the edge went to the Dutch.
The night was quiet, a little electric buzz in the air. Michigan and the Dutch team holed up at the Kulgera Roadhouse. Planning... It was a longshot – the Michigan team knew it was still possible, with an aggressive strategy to overtake the Japanese inspite of the fact that they were more than 30 minutes ahead.
Windowed Fairings
En route to Coober Pedy, a world-renowned opal-mining town, the first control stop of day four… it really hit the fan for Michigan. At first, I had no idea what I was seeing.
I imagine war must be a bit like this. You're cruising along, half asleep, half in conversation. You have your eyes on your caravan, out there in the shimmering distance as you traverse a dangerous, empty stretch of desert. There isn't much to see and you're beginning to miss home. Bored and not all that interested in the fact you're on the other side of the world from where you grew up and then WHAM!
The team was quick to get the car together and on the road again.
Of course we weren't in any mortal danger. We just came upon the Michigan caravan on the side of the road. It was a mental explosion. Was anyone hurt? How could this be happening? Why was Quantum on the side of the road?
The casual body language of Chris Hilger indicated that no one was injured. Good. Santosh Kumar, the team strategist, paced nervously. Not good.
Marcin got into position and started taking photos, shooting videos and capturing everything as it was happening. It was obvious that something key was missing from the side of Quantum, and without total technical understanding I knew what it was. It was the back-breaker.
By the time the semi arrived with a spare windowed fairing, a lot of time had been lost. Too much time. But Quantum couldn't continue the race unless it was intact.
The windowed fairings cover the two front wheels on the three-wheeled Quantum. When the wheel is turned sharply, for example, when a driver compensates for a mean crosswind while piloting a light car - the fairings are designed to open slightly to accommodate the wheel's turning radius.
The fairings are part of the reason that the car is one of the most aerodynamic designs on the planet. Unfortunately, they also proved to be a liability. Quantum is challenged when confronted with a strong crosswind. Add to that a thundering road train coming head-on, and that creates enough force to rip the fairing clean off.
The team was quick to get the car together and on the road again. The chase vehicle carried spare windowed fairings now - and wouldn't have to wait for a semi, even if the improbable happened again. Yet, it wouldn't be long before it did happen again. The second time a fairing was ripped off, it was torn free by two massive oncoming road trains in a row. Their wash was added to the same nasty crosswinds. Winds that buffeted our heavy SUV. I don't know how the drivers did it. Sure, youth has the benefit of bravery, but these guys had ice-packed nerves. Even without the road trains, the crosswinds were murder. But the drivers weren't daunted.
Incident at Glendambo
From this team I saw but a single expression of emotion that you could characterize as negative. They were already resigned to the fate of numbers, another likely third place win, and already holding themselves responsible for their perceived failures.
There was no coaching to be done. This team has no coach. It really doesn't need one. No speech would have changed anything. Bo Schembechler himself could not have inspired them to win, because it came down to math. Immutable, physical, numbers…
I spoke with the Head Strategist Santosh Kumar and asked what he thought the chances were. He had all the answers, knew the numbers.
"We'll get third." He said this with some authority.
"Again? And the Dutch get second?" I didn't care for that idea.
I like the Nuon team a lot. The Dutch were nothing but fun and generous. But you want to win, even if you race a beloved sibling.
"Not even a chance?" I had to ask. Maybe he had another secret weapon, like the second Quantum, hidden up his sleeve.
"Not unless something happens," he said. We both looked at the red, South Australian dirt. Providence had just seen Michigan through a rough day. No way Santosh, I or any other Wolverine wanted something unfortunate to happen to another team. It struck me that he actually seemed relaxed for the first time. I imagine true engineers find comfort when it's the laws of the universe that have bested them.
I saw the heart.
The heart was also there when two engineering students took one of the rescued windowed fairings and taped it to the trailer wall with duct tape. One took up a Sharpie and wrote: "Do not use window fairings! Ever!"
Another joined in and they quietly took out their frustration on their own creation because it had failed them. That is the closest thing to negative emotions I saw from this team. That's as destructive as they got.
And what they wrote was a note to the future. They wanted it to be clear that they weren't giving up. They just had to let go of this idea of winning the 2011 World Solar Challenge. They were pissed. They wanted better for themselves and for future team members.
Their third place win wasn't yet cemented but they were already planning the next design. Inevitably, the results played out the way Santosh had predicted. Michigan became the highest-placing American team in the global event by taking third. A final result just like 2009: the Japanese team took first and the Dutch took second.
But there's always 2013.


text:
Heard you here on Tastemaker and instantly became a fan. We hit up your other social media sites as well. Thanks for the great music!
Much love
Outstanding sound and mix on "Now" Cody!
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