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GMC Safari/Chevy Astro Transmission Problem
GM does not back there products and have the worst warranty in the buisiness. Before buying a Chevy Astro, look at the consumer complaint posts on the National Highway Transportation Safety Board for models 1996 and later. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/index.html
Myself and several other consumers had the exact same same problem. Conveniently, at 48124 miles, just 12000 miles and 5 months after the warranty expired my transmission went out and I was charged 1800 dollars for a new transmission. You will notice a and abrubt gear shift from first to second after about 30-45 minutes of driving. Do you want a vehicle that has a transmission go bad at less than 50000 miles? Maybe, maybe not. But if you do, I bet you sure want the company that sold you this defective product to back it up and pay for the fix. Well, folks, Chevy (GM) will not. After several letters, e-mails and phone calls, I finally got a response. I'm sorry but since the warranty expired there is nothing we can do. Well, I'M SORRY TOO CHEVY, SINCE YOU MANUFACTURER INFERIOR PRODUCTS, YOU HAVE LOST A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE AND GAINED NEGATIVE PR FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
If there are any Chevy managment folks viewing this post, please feel to e-mail me. I will be glad to provide details.
If you are a prospective buyer, I most strongly suggest that you buy a like vehicle from one of the other manufacturers who produces a more reliable product or offers a better warranty than Chevy (Not hard since Chevy has one of the worst).
If you insist on buying a GM product, I strongly urge that you get yourself the extended warranty.
Myself and several other consumers had the exact same same problem. Conveniently, at 48124 miles, just 12000 miles and 5 months after the warranty expired my transmission went out and I was charged 1800 dollars for a new transmission. You will notice a and abrubt gear shift from first to second after about 30-45 minutes of driving. Do you want a vehicle that has a transmission go bad at less than 50000 miles? Maybe, maybe not. But if you do, I bet you sure want the company that sold you this defective product to back it up and pay for the fix. Well, folks, Chevy (GM) will not. After several letters, e-mails and phone calls, I finally got a response. I'm sorry but since the warranty expired there is nothing we can do. Well, I'M SORRY TOO CHEVY, SINCE YOU MANUFACTURER INFERIOR PRODUCTS, YOU HAVE LOST A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE AND GAINED NEGATIVE PR FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
If there are any Chevy managment folks viewing this post, please feel to e-mail me. I will be glad to provide details.
If you are a prospective buyer, I most strongly suggest that you buy a like vehicle from one of the other manufacturers who produces a more reliable product or offers a better warranty than Chevy (Not hard since Chevy has one of the worst).
If you insist on buying a GM product, I strongly urge that you get yourself the extended warranty.
September 23, 2000
Chevrolet Motor Division
Customer Assistance Center
Troy, MI 48007-7047
Dear Sir or Madam:
On August 1, 1997 I bought the above vehicle from you through Bob Stall Chevrolet, La Mesa, California. On September 6, 2000, it developed the serious defect of abruptly shifting from 1st to 2nd gear after approximately 30 minutes or 17 to 20 miles of driving.
Upon, taking it to the dealer, I was informed that I needed a transmission replacement at a cost of an estimated $1800 dollars, which I was forced to pay $1823.99 to get my car back in a drivable condition. Dealer service invoice is attached.
The warranty has recently expired but I believe I am still entitled to a free repair because the existence of such a serious defect in a car, which has only done just over 48,000 miles, indicates it was not of acceptable quality when I bought it. Several independent transmission shops have confirmed this opinion. It is obvious that if the public knew that this vehicle's transmission had a tendency to fail at 48,000 mile, Chevrolet would not be able to sell this Van.
Ordinary wear and tear could not account for this problem so soon in the life of the vehicle. I am a careful and conscientious owner as the general condition of the car shows. I also have ensured that all periodic servicing has taken place as listed in the owner's manual. I have not done anything to the car to cause this defect.
After, returning from the dealer, I did research and found this exact problem had visibility though several different entries on the Department of Transportation's NHTSA web site database, (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/compmmy2.cfm) for both the 1997 Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari. I also have reason to believe that Chevrolet has issued a technical service bulletin on this problem for the installed transmission.
I am a loyal customer of Chevrolet. As a result of this experience, I would definitely not buy a Chevrolet product again unless the company made good on this situation. I definitely will tell people about this matter. I believe that this kind of service will have a negative impact on Chevy's business.
I'm sure that Chevy wishes to correct this situation as quickly as possible, so I am asking for a full refund of $1823.99 for my costs. I will, then, consider this situation fully resolved.
I currently have a Chevy unresolved customer service number of C01642150.0
I have a 1999 GMC Safari with only 3300 miles (not a typo). After coming home last evening from a 1-1/2 hour drive, after a stop sign, the transmission had an abrupt shift from 1-2 gear.
It happened all the way home from off the freeway to driveway (approx 4 miles). Was all prepared to rush it over to GMC dealer this morning, but no symptoms and couldn't repeat problem to dealer when I got there??!!?? Anybody have this similar problem with their Safari/Astros???
Also is your luggage rack missing screws on the cross bars? (front & back, better check)0
We had similar problems on some of our 97 Astros, but usually around 50k - 60k. I mention this because that symptom sets up a soft code (one that disappears when the vehicle is turned off). If this problem recurs, I suggest you drive the van directly to a GMC dealer (do not turn off the engine) and have them experience the "hard shift" and pull the code. That's probably what you will need for GM warranty. (I can't guess at a cause, but your problem is probably related to incorrect internal pressure, causing the transmission to switch into "limp mode." The "hard shift" does not cause damage, but it indicates that there is a problem.) Note: unless the '99 transmission is programmed differently from the '97, you won't have Over Drive while in "limp mode." The cause of the problem is not likely to correct itself, but the problem should be easy to confirm and document via the code and a GM tech experiencing "limp mode" symptoms. It's too bad you have the problem, but you shouldn't have trouble getting GM to address it.
As for the roof rack, it is installed at the dealership. The missing screws are not an uncommon problem, but the service manager should recognize it as inattentive and sloppy work by one of his low-level technicians and take care of it for you.
Good luck.0
Went to have the oil changed on my van today
And found the trans fluid 3/4 qt low
Brake fluid 3/4 reservoir low
1 pint of anti-freeze low
I should've checked it out better since it was a 1999 model still new at dealer in oct00
and mfg date of 11/98
Will take your advice on leaving the van running when I get to the dealer
Was wondering if when the shifting starts to act up if I shut off ignition and restart will the problem go away for that moment.
Hate to take the van on a short trip and it starts up//Don't like being stranded on side of road//Thanks again for your advice
I'll let you know if it starts up again after a short drive like last time0
In Update to messages 71/72
I contacted [email protected]
They have totally ignored my e-mails
So I take it there is a known problem with the
transmissions in these vans. And in not responding to the e-mails, they can use the excuse
"oh, I never got it"
So buy the extended warranty on this van and get ready to use it
I also contacted regional offices but another deaf ears and also
waiting to hear from them (yeah, right)0
Regarding a "known problem" with these transmissions: I'm not sure I can go that far. I own 75 Astros now, and have had more than 100 others. (We routinely run them to 125-150k.) We experienced those "symptoms" in 3 of our 22 '97 Astros, and perhaps one of the '98 Astros. The problem occurred around 55k miles, and only after driving for a minimum of 45 minutes. So your situation is far from identical. However, I think my advice is still relevant. Go to the dealer when the problem is occurring (when you are in "limp mode") and have them pull the code (probably P1830: transmission component slipping) and experience the symptoms. I believe that will initiate a response for you, and I doubt that anything else will. This is a $500-1500 repair, depending on the cause. They won't commit to that based on an e-mail. They'll have to document it in the manner I described.
On the positive side, this won't leave you stranded (it's probably harder to get the symptom to recur). "Limp mode" is a designed response that protects the transmission from damage. The "hard shift" feels bad, but it's not harmful to the transmission. Just the opposite; the slippage that makes the shift smooth is harmful when it is excessive.
So, talk with the service manager about the problem and tell him you will bring it in when it's happening. A friendly, realistic attitude usually works best. After all, it's not his fault that the transmission is giving you trouble. And likewise, the cost of repair isn't coming out of his pocket. His job is to respond effectively to the customer's legitimate complaint, but he needs to document why he authorized the expenditure. That's why having them pull the code and experience the symptoms is so important. If you do this, I really don't think you will have a problem.
My only concern for you is that the 3 year warranty will expire before you can document the problem. That's another reason to be talking with the service manager. If you're getting close to the three years, ask him to document your complaint via an entry into the GM service computer. Remember, the warranty is a contract. 3/36 doesn't mean 4/46. My experience is that they are "a little" generous if it's close and if it's documented. But if it's neither of those, you can save your breath.
Bye-the-way, has the problem ever happened a second time?
In any case, don't be afraid to use the van; and don't resign yourself to a bad outcome. Follow my advice and it will work out o.k. It will be a bit of a hassle, but life's that way.0
mauryr Posts: 3We have an 89 Safari with 215,000 that is running strong except for a curious problem that no one seems able to diagnose. When the van shifts from one gear to the next it has a very noticeable hesitation. It never does this for the first few minutes after it has been started. I've replaced fuel filters, fuel pump, had transmission checked and run a couple of cans of fuel injector cleaner through it. Anyone have any ideas? We're confused!0
stever Posts: 52,462Since no one has posted in here yet, try scanning or reposting in Transmission Traumas? in the Maintenance & Repair Board. Good Luck.
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
roma60 Posts: 1I had been having this problem for the last two years and getting worse . Went to the dealer
and was told it possibly was the switch interlock and the cost of repair would be about $100.
I had learned how to by-pass that switch by starting the engine and slowly turning the ignition key switch a little forward and could shift out of park that way as going to the GMC neutral start procedure was not always working .
I got fed up , got a flash light and located the switch (white plastic) attached to the steering post, this switch has a vacuum hose attached to it .
While pressing on the brake pedal I notice that there should be a pin of some sort which should be released from the switch when the brake pedal stop plate was depressed .
I pulled out the vacuum hose attached to the back of the switch and depressed the pedal again and the switch pin (red plastic ) came out when released by the stop (contact plate). I noticed that the pin was streaked with black and possibly dirty .
I used some electronic cleaning spray fluid in the hose input and on the pin and activated the brake pedal while observing the pin going in and out with no apparent stickiness .
I reconnected the hose and repeated the brake pedal action and all is working well now .
As I had a new brake job done three years ago the brake pedal was high, I surmise that dirt entering the plunger pin made it sticky and could not be released out far enough when the brake was applied , this stickiness combined with a residual vacuum pressure is strong enought to prevent the inner spring from pushing the pin out when the brake is applied .0
wasabi3 Posts: 1Have been reading here about shifting problems with different model years of the Safari vans. I have a 1997 AWD that I have had pretty good luck with until recently. At around 83K I started experiencing a quick shifting thud between 1st and 2nd gear, and to a lesser degree between 2nd and 3rd. This would only happen after the van had been driven for at least an hour. For several days it was happen like clockwork. If I stopped somewhere and shut it off, it would go away for the rest of my ride home. Coincidently, I remember the "service engine soon" light was on, but I paid no attention to it because at other times the light would go on and off for no reason. My mechanic said that the first thing to do would be to do a fluid and filter change, and see what happens. He did that, and the problem went away, until one day after 1 1/2 hours on the highway, it returned, as did the service light. After a few days, before I could call the tranny shop, the light went off and shifting has been ok.I suppose I should take it in and have the codes read, but I was wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone. Other than an intermittent no-start condition after 4k the van has been a keeper.0
danjk2 Posts: 2Sounds very familiar. The exact same thing was happening to my 1997 AWD Astro earlier this year and after a couple of tries by the dealer to "fix" the problem, I ended up paying $2,500 for a new (GM-certified rebuilt) transmission at 78K miles. It seams like a lot of us are stuck in the same boat (pun intended). I've checked out several message boards and always find people who own 1997 Astros and Safaris telling the same story.
Chevrolet's Customer Assistance Center was useless -- saying they couldn't do anything because there was not an official recall or service campaign in effect for the problems. To add insult to injury, a couple of weeks after paying for a new transmission, I received a recall notice because the warning beep for the seat belts was not staying on long enough to meet the Federal standard.
I'm glad somebody is watching out for the big things.0
paulc4 Posts: 1I own a 97 Chevy Astro and have expirenced the same hard shifting between 1st and 2nd gear.
On a trip last spring, the majority of the transmission oil blew out the vent hole while driving down the freeway. This was the first time I realized it had a problem. I too had the fluid/filter changed and the service code reset after that incident. Everything worked fine for about 2 weeks, then the problem re-occurred.
Has anyone seen any posting on other web sites about this problem?0
ej99 Posts: 1This proves my theory that American cars and trucks should have an extended warranty.
I have a 1997 Chevy Astro Van with 45K miles. Just like the other responses posted here, when I get off the freeway, and after a stop sign, the transmission had an adrupt shift from 1-2 gear. This is the clue the tranny starts to go bad. I took my van to the dealer and they confirmed it needed to be replaced with a new(rebuild) one.
Lucky for me, it was under warranty.$2,300 repair.
I like the interior room & overall shape of this vehicle but wish the quality was better.
p.s does anyone know how to disengage the daytime running lights?
Everyone honks at me when I go to
a drive-in movie.0
We've experienced this problem (hard shift from 1st to 2nd) many times on our 97 and 98 Astros (which have interchangeable transmissions). Sadly, we had the same problem on one of our 99's, which are just beginning to reach the 60k range. The bad news is that the problem is very common. The better news is that there is a $350 fix. (I didn't say it was good news, but it's a lot better than the options you mentioned.) I don't know exactly what the "fix" consists of, but I understand it involves drilling and perhaps sleeving the hole that the "shuttle pin" (my word) travels through when the shift solenoid activates. Sorry I can't be more specific. Mike (our head mechanic)would be more eloquent. Perhaps one of the GM techs can provide more detail. But if you want more info from me, please let me know.0
add an external transmission cooler. You can get a good one for less than $50, takes less than an hour to install, and makes a big difference in the life of the tranny, especially when towing.0
The General specifications for the Astro is that it is equipped with heavy duty engine and transmission cooling. They do not offer any additional cooling. I wanted to add an additional tranny cooler but was advised that the transmission needs to reach operating temperature for optimal life and that additional cooling is not a good idea. I don't know, but for now I'm sticking to GM recommendations, other than semi synthetic transmission fluid, and wish that I had used Mobil 1 a full synthetic fluid. The synthetic having a higher breakdown or degradation temperature than the regular Dexron III.
The General does recommend tow in 4th or overdrive to reduce the torque converter heating of the transmission. I assume the 99 has the tow mode button on the transmission, 97 does not have this. But if the transmission is doing a lot of hunting and dropping in and out of lockup then you need to bite the bullet and lock it out by down shifting.
That's all I know or maybe more.0
The external tranny cooler does not take the place of the internal radiator cooler. It is added after the radiator cooler so that the quick warm up is only slightly affected, but additional cooling is available when the engine cooling system is working overtime, such as towing during the summer. When I bought my '95 Safari, the service manager at the dealer suggested adding the external cooler for any vehicle towing in Texas. At the time, they did not sell the coolers, but would show how to put one on for the do-it-yourselfers. I have almost 70K on the van and have had -0- problems with the tranny. Maybe would have been okay regardless, but for $50 I decided that here in central Texas there was a much greater chance of the tranny running hot than cold. y'all have a good weekend.
ahelm Posts: 14JL, Did you plumb the cooler using the short hose section going to the bottom of the radiator? Or cut the hard line from the top? I believe it is recommended to install the cooler downstream of the radiator in the return line, but it appears it is the return line that is all rigid and the supply line with the little section of hose.
Coonhound, just something about transferring loads from grade 8 bolts to spot welds I don't like. BTW the metric grade 10.9 exceeds SAE grade 8.
Thanks again- Andy0
I didn't use the included hose, I used power steering hose instead. Tends to last a LOT longer. Didn't cut any lines, I pushed the hose over the bevel and clamped it down. Used a nipple fitting on the radiator side.
The '95 was the extended with the 190HP engine, the aero nose (well, as aero as it could be) but did not have the new dash configuration. The 190HP was available as an option in '94, possibly earlier. As I have said before, don't run premium in these CPI engines unless you just like replacing injectors...
Jim; After some discussion on this site I visited the local dealer parts department and now think I'm an expert. I looked at the computer parts display and came up with the following. The CPI engine stands for central port injection, and there is an injector at each cylinder, but I believe there is only one poppet valve and it sends fuel to every injector for each firing pulse the same as most systems did in early to mid 90s. The sequential port sends fuel to each cylinder on the intake stroke. The injection still has the central fuel distributor and I don't have a clue as to how the individual distribution is accomplished. Making another assumption, I believe there are 6 poppets in the central port assembly. Modern sequential port injection has a solenoid type injector at each cylinder intake.
I asked the parts man what is the weak link in the system and he said it is the fuel pressure regulator mounted on the central port assembly.
And I believe what you say about premium fuel, I assume it eats up the plastic injectors. I had one injector replaced under warranty just after purchasing the van with some 27000 miles on it. And have read on this post where there are more injector problems with California blended fuels.0
timyak Posts: 2We currently have 32,000 miles on our 2000 Astro and it has had to have the 3rd and 4th gears replaced twice already. We put a lot of highway miles on this vehicle and occasionally tow an 1800 lb pop-up camper. I always use the tow-haul mode and 3rd gear when under 50 miles per hour. Has anyone else out there had problems with the transmissions? Other than alot of little nit noid quality issues (the driver side mirror whistles terribly, needed underside painted due to peeling paint after only 2 months) my wife actually likes the vehicle. We're thinking about trading it in already because of the transmission problems. Would like to hear back. thanks Timyak0
I'm sorry to hear that GM has transmission problems again. I have a 97 Astro before the Tow haul mode, but have not towed my 4500# Award very much but have not had a problem either. My owners manual says to tow in overdrive to prevent torque converter heating, paraphrased.
If GM builds the best automatic then there must be some real junk out there.
You probably have covered this site where this one guy post about a fleet of these things with minimal problems. Two or three transmission problems on 97 models.0
stonewall8 Posts: 4I have a '98 astro 2WD that with 48,200 miles on it started shifting abruptly from 1st to 2nd gear after 30 minutes of driving. It was preceeded by the check engine light coming on. We drove it only on short trips for about 3 weeks and the check engine light had gone off after 2 days. Then, yesterday, we took it on a 85 mile trip and the check engine light came on after we exited the interstate. then it started the abrupt shifting again. Does anybody know if the check engine light is related to the transmission problem? How serious is this transmission problem? I would also like to know how to diagnose the code set by the check engine light. Where is the terminal box located and which terminals do I short together?
I also have another issue with the Astro. There is a clunking noise coming from the front pass. side suspension. During hard braking and turning left I get the noise. The harder the turn, the more different clunking sounds it makes. I took it to the dealer with 35000 miles on it and they said my front shocks were bad with leaks and replaced them but nothing else wrong. Now the noise is much more frequent and louder with 48000 miles on it. Is my ball joint going to come apart, and shouldn't the warranty cover this if it is a problem, since I reported it while still under warranty?0
danjk3 Posts: 2Your problem is not an uncommon one ... and not a good one. You'll see serveral posts earlier on this message board -- as well as other boards -- from people who've had the same problem with hard 1st-to-2nd shifts. In most every one that I recall, people had to replace their transmissions. It seems to be a defect that's mostly on 1997 models -- a few '98s, too. Mine happend at 78K.
For me, it was the most costly in a long line of out-of-warranty repairs on my 1997 AWD Astro. All totaled, I've had more than $5,000 in post-warranty repair bills. Needless to say, I'm not much of an Astro advocate. Good luck.0
nukeboy Posts: 1Hi! I have a 2000 model 2WD Astro which (until now) has run like a top. Just had the transmission fluid changed out, and now the "Service Engine Soon" light stays on all the time (have tried unhooking battery overnight to reset) and I seem to have little or no torque in both forward and reverse from a full stop. No other noticable problems. I've read every message here and in other forums, and have seen peripheral reference to such conditions, but nothing which seems likely to help. I see reference to two TSB's here at Edmond's (01070036 and 010730038, NHSTA #'s 627912 and 628934) which seem to apply, but have no way to find out what they actually say. I tried to get help at the nearest dealer (~75 miles away) but they can't even look at it for over two weeks and want $137 just to hook up the computer and pull the code. Would GREATLY appreciate any insight or direction regarding what seems to be a relatively common ailment. Thanks in advance, Scott0
#1 If you have an Auto Zone in your area they will check the codes for free.
#2 Are your sure the tranny is filled to the proper level?
#3 Did they fill unit with the proper Dexron III?
Disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes or so will reset the code memory. So I am sure that it takes a little while after startup for the code to return.
I always worry about whether or not the replacement filter is completely plugged in and seated.0
I finally broke down and ordered a Hayden 404 transmission oil cooler for my 97
Astro. GM does not offer an aux. cooler for this van and says that it has a heavy duty cooler.????
Most of the duty for the van is to tow a 30' Award travel trailer, and if I am out on a 110 degree day with the air on I probably need some additional cooling. Even with the semi-synthetic transmission fluid.
Windshield wiper recall. Took the dealer about 10 minutes or less to replace the circuit board.
I have Mobil 1 gear lube in the differential.
I agree with info. in post like #356, 357, & 359.0
scotsman93535 Posts: 40This is an informational post.
I have a 2000 Astro van with 48800 miles on it. I would not have expected to have a transmission problem at this year and mileage.
Last week I had a "check engine light' activate. The computer was scanned for codes and it showed P1870. This code indicates the transmission is slipping. After researching the code and problem I found that this is a common code for General Motors 4L60E transmissions. This transmission is used in most if not all Astros and Safari vans. It is also used in many of GMs pickup trucks. I found that most, if not all of the 4L60E transmissions have a problem with a spring-loaded valve located in the valve body, which is inside the transmission housing. This is most likely a defect in the transmission, but GM will not admit it because of an expensive recall that GM would have to pay for.
The spring-loaded valve in the valve body wears in its round hole causing it to stick and causes the transmission to slip and the P1870 code to appear in a computer scan. The valve can be replaced by reaming out the hole and placing a superior after market valve and spring in the new hole. This generally corrects the problem. The cost for this valve replacement is about $400.00. If you take the vehicle to GM they will replace the entire valve body, which contains the same old valve and spring. The cost for this is about $800.00 and you can look forward to the P1870 code in the future.
Well, my transmission was destroyed by this slippage. The transmission shop pulled the pan and the oil was like molasses. It needs a bunch more than a new valve. At this time my van is still in the shop. They will need to pull the entire transmission and rebuild, or possibly replace it. The cost for this can be about $2000.00. Fortunately I purchased an extended warrantee when I purchased the van. Hopefully, all I will need to pay is the $200.00 deductible.
The spring-loaded valve only activates at speeds above 45-50 MPH. If you are climbing a hill above this speed and the valve fails to function, a check engine light is likely.
I hope this will alert others to the problem.0
boxdin Posts: 2Old Van Nut wants to shift..looking for Astro w 4.3 and manual trans... whats out there ??
medinamalibu Posts: 71I don't think the Astro ever came with a manual transmission, but the 4.3 has always been the sole engine available.0


text:
Chinese visitors kick up their heels to celebrate Year of the Horse
The year ended with laughter, music and the soft jingle of bells Thursday evening as visitors from China celebrated their culture's biggest holiday.
Marking the start of the Year of the Horse, as it is known on the Chinese calendar, the Westport Library hosted a group of students from Guang Xi province, who have been visiting with a family in Westport.
They performed traditional dances from the area of southeastern China where their Liu Zhou High School is located
"The new year is a time like your Christmas," said Jenny Chen, an English teacher at the school of 4,500 students, 80 percent of whom board there. "It's the family get-together, so it's the most important festival in China."
Peggy Lovro of Westport formerly lived -- and worked at a school -- in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she first came to know the 10 students and their three chaperones. "So, when I moved here, they followed me," she said, explaining she hopes to establish a relationship with a Connecticut school for future student exchanges.
All 13 visitors are staying at her house. "We're having a big party," she said, in honor of the new year. "We made the dumplings at our house and we're going to celebrate the Chinese New Year together."
"Peggy called and asked if we might have an opportunity to have them perform," said Kelle Ruden, community relations director for the library.
"It's Chinese New Year, so what better timing," she said.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I've been thinking about what we'll be using next year in 4th grade for science lately and I've been tremendously blessed as all the options that I'm considering are in someway or another on their way to me. A generous fellow homeschooler has allowed me to preview her copy of The Elements: Ingredients of the Universe by Ellen McHenry, I purchased a used copy of God's Design for Chemistry: Properties of Atoms and Molecules for less than half the retail price and I have a few books coming from the library via interlibrary loan so I can have all the options side by side and make a decision about our 4th grade studies.
A friend recently asked me about studying biomes, which is what we'll be doing in 5th grade and as I was providing her links and resources it dawned on me that I didn't know what we were going to do! Before I put that thought off thinking it's too soon to develop a plan for 5th-8th studies, I realized that what we do in 5th and up will determine how I need to approach our studies in 4th and even now in 3rd. I don't want 5th grade to be *BAM*, now you're in 5th grade you need to start doing this and that. I want 4th grade to be the bridge between what we're doing now and what we will be doing. A perfect example is science vocabulary, if I expect Camille to write out 5-10 words and their definitions a week in 5th, I want to start her out with 2-3 words a week now in 3rd or 4th.
I looked at all the major curricula available on the homeschool market. I gave everything a chance and I could not find something that covered animals in a way that would be challenging to us that would hold our interest for an entire year and still allow us to read living books or provide enough hands-on, learning through doing type of approach. I decided that I'd make our own and build all the major different habitats in whatever ways we could. I found the book Habitats by Pamela Hickman at www.christianbook.com for $2.99 and decided that would be our real life application. The only thing left to do was to find a spine to use for the nonfiction information. I also decided that I needed to find a new spine for Danny since when Camille is in 5th, he'll be in 1st and we'll being doing our science together.
Sitting on my shelf from a sale purchase I made last year was Animals Alive! An Ecological Guide to Animal Activities by Dennis Holley. Dennis Holley is a biology teacher for grades 4-12 and has won two prestigious awards for his alternative curriculum used in Animals Alive! On the back of the book the story of a court case where a judge ruled that a girl would not be obligated to dissect a frog is presented with the challenge of whether or not the same lessons can be taught without killing animals.
The author warns that this book was not written to be fully integrated with any other subject area or any specific grade level.
Each chapter of the book addresses a major phylum of animal and presents information about :
-phylum's classification
-diversity and distribution (anatomical characteristics and habitats)
-collection of specimens
-maintenance of specimens
-health and safety issues concerning the specimens
-Teaching Strategies which include:
Observation: Observe and investigate the structure, movement, feeding, behavior/response and reproduction/growth of the specimenHolley says that "although some factual background is necessary, try to maximize thinking and minimize memorizing. Let process lead to content when possible. For example, allowing students to first work with live animal (process) and then discussing specific facts about the animal (content) will make the facts more understandable and relevant because students will have seen the animal live, up close, and in action."
a. Under behavior and response, students will explore geotaxis, thermotaxis, galvanotaxis, phototaxis, magnetotaxis, hydrotaxis, thigmotaxis, chemotaxis, rheotaxis
Ecology: investigating the habitat and surroundings of the animal and discover its place in nature.
Integration: Activities to integrate what the student has learned with writing, fine arts, social studies (history and geography), and societal/environmental issues. Math skills are also used when possible including constructing and analyzing data tables and graphes, measuring, calculating, and problem solving.
Chapter questions, activities and challenges are designed to be used in hands-on experiences in which students are actively involved in scientific investigation. When possible, they follow an inquiry-oriented approach designed to develop the following science process skills:
2. Measuring/Graphing: learn to make, record, and display quantitative information
3. Comparing/Contrasting: will learn to identify distinguishing characteristics among objects or events.
4. Sequencing: will learn to put events in order
5. Prediction: will learn how to propose possible outcomes
6. Experimentation: will learn how to design experiments to test their predictions
7. Analyzing/Reasoning: will learn how to explain the meaning and importance of data gathered or facts given.
8. Drawing Conclusions: will learn to make general statements about particulars.
9. Modeling: will learn to construct physical or mental models.
10. Communication: will develop skills for conveying information in oral, written, or pictorial form.
A sample chapter, condensed.
Section One: Lower Invertebrates
2. Sponges
I. Classification is presented as Kingdom, Subkingdom, Phylum, and Classes
II. Diversity and distribution
III. General Phylum Characteristics
IV. Specific Class Characteristics
a. Class CalcareaV. Importance of Sponges
b. Class Sclerospongiae
c. Class Demonspongiae
d. Class Hexactinellia
VI. Collection of Species
VII. Maintenance of Species
VIII. Health and Safety (Teachers, Students, Sponges)
IX. Teaching Activities
X. Habitat
a. Sponge Habitat
b. Sponge Habitat Comparisons
c. Land Sponges
d. Different Forms for Different Folks
e. Walk a Mile in My Shoes: Have students try to put themselves in the sponge's place by having them react orally or in written form to the following questions:
__1. Would you rather be a marine sponge or a freshwater sponge? Why? (Acceptable answer given.)
__2. Would you rather be a sponge with long spicules or one with short spicules? (Acceptable answer given.)
f. Muddy Water=No Sponges
g. Sponge Structure
h. Sponge Size Comparisons
i. Sponge- One or Many?
j. Green Sponges?
k. Sponge Regeneration
l. Sponges Come Together
XI. Feeding
a. Sponge Food
b. How Do Sponges Get Food?
c. Fabulous Filter
d. Is It Food Yet?
e. Attack of the Hungry Encrusters
XII. Reproduction and Development
a. Sponge Reproduction
b. Smoking Sponges
c. Gemmules- Why and Why Not
d. Observe Gemmules
XIII. Integration with other Subject Areas
a. Writing: report in which they explain which sample was the natural sponge and which was synthetic.IXX. Release of Specimen.
b. Fine Arts: Have students paint a picture of a sponge using a natural sponge, or, write a song or poem entitled "I'm Just a Lowly Sponge."
c. Social Studies:
__1. History: Why did it take so long to discover that sponges are animals? (Possible answers provided)
__2. Geography: Where are sponges harvested today? In the past?
d. Societal/Environmental Issues:
__1. Have students respond either orally or in written form to the question, How can studying reaggregation behavior of dissociated sponge cells be useful to humans? (Answer provided.)
__2. Why can sponges be thought of as biological apartment houses (or shopping malls)?
We're not planning on maintaining a sponge specimen at home but this can be overcome by providing videos and I will be tapping into a few of our local resources like the University's aquarium for help. If we can collect a specimen, it will probably be successful due to the help of professionals. Hopefully I will gain a few professional advisors when I complete a Master Naturalist course next Spring through a local college.
Other likely specimens we will be exploring at home are: Planaria (after discussing it with Carolina Biological Supply), Earthworms, Land or Aquatic Snails, Spiders, Crayfish, Sowbugs or Pillbugs, Ants, Butterfly or Moth, Crickets, Mealworm Beetles, Goldfish or Guppies, Toad or Frog, Green Anole, Tortoise (already have one), Zebra Finches (not recommended in book but we already have them), Rodent (hamster, mice, gerbils). Um, the rodent one is the only one that will have to be carefully considered. Smile.
For supplies, of course we'll need habitats to house the critters for observation. It is my plan to only use animals that can be released back to the wild or in the rodent department, back to its original owner. A compound microscope is needed as well unless the activities involving one are skipped. There are so many components to this curriculum that I don't feel as if I've even scratched the surface of the treasures it holds!
I am ecstatic about using Animals Alive! for our 5th grade year, I think it will be an experience that the kids will remember for a long time. Check out Animals Alive! by Dennis Holley from your library or you can purchase a copy at Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.


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63" (1600mm) wide-format laminator with heat assist
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LEICESTER � More than 60 pounds of marijuana labeled with various names, hundreds of pills and lollipops believed to be laced with marijuana were seized in a drug raid on Henshaw Street.
One person was arrested.
Police Chief James Hurley said police believe the lollipops, which appeared to be homemade, are laced with marijuana. The items will be sent to the state police crime lab for testing. The lollipops were a particular concern for the chief.
"Obviously that type of product could potentially attract a younger crowd," Chief Hurley said.
Police also seized a small baggie of different colored mini-sized marshmallows. The marshmallows had injection holes in them. Chief Hurley said it is unclear what the marshmallows were injected with, but those also will be tested.
"That's a new one for me," Chief Hurley said.
Leicester police and members of the Regional Drug and Counter Crime Task Force, with a search warrant, raided 175 Henshaw St. around 5:15 p.m. Friday.
Jason Jaillet, 36, of 175 Henshaw St., was charged with marijuana possession and trafficking along with possession of drug paraphernalia.
The drugs and pills were displayed in the police station Monday, filling three tables. Some of the marijuana was stored in large bins and in vacuum-sealed bags with dryer sheets tucked inside. Dryer sheets are used to mask the odor of marijuana, Chief Hurley said.
The marijuana was labeled with names such as "Mr. Nice," "Purple Diesel" and "Snow White." There were hundreds of pills; the type of pill is to be determined.
Mr. Jaillet allegedly told investigators the pills were a drug used for erectile dysfunction. Two small bottles of anabolic steroids also were seized, along with roughly $8,000 to $10,000 in cash. Chief Hurley said the money is still being counted.
The low-end estimate of the worth of the marijuana was $70,000, police said.
A motorcycle, a car and two pickup trucks were also seized. The car had a suitcase filled with marijuana inside of it, the chief said.
"This is a substantial amount of narcotics for our community and it will make a substantial dent in the ability to gain narcotics in our community and many other surrounding communities," Chief Hurley said. "This gentleman was obviously a larger scale supplier and there were actually customers coming to the house when we were there."
District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.'s office, along with Spencer, West Boylston and state police, assisted in the case. Chief Hurley said the investigation is continuing. He declined to discuss the investigation that led to Friday's arrest.
Contact Scott J. Croteau at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottCroteauTG


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Mizzou's Pressey Named to Cousy Award Final 12 List
COLUMBIA - Mizzou junior guard Phil Pressey was named one of 12 finalists on the watch list for the 2013 Bob Cousy National Point Guard of the Year Award Thursday afternoon.
The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball. An original list of 80 candidates was trimmed down by a nationally based committee to the below watch list of 12 student-athletes. Pressey leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks No. 7 nationally in assists this season (7.2) and is closing in on Missouri's all-time assist record, needing just seven dimes to pass former Tiger great Anthony Peeler (497). The Preseason SEC Player of the Year, Pressey has averaged 8.5 assists over his last 11 games, highlighted by his 19-point, 19-assist game at UCLA on Dec. 28, the top assist effort by a high major conference college basketball player since 2000.
Pressey is currently third on the Mizzou roster in scoring at 12.1 points per game and owns a school record five point-assist double-doubles in his career. He also owns a school-best 12 double-figure assist nights in his tenure.
Beginning Thursday, February 7th at 1pm EST via the Bob Cousy Award's website - www.cousyaward.com -- fans will be able to vote for the top point guard. The player that receives the most fan votes will receive one vote toward the final committee vote. Fan voting will run one month - beginning February 7th and will conclude March 7th.
Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Kemba Walker (Connecticut) and last year's recipient Kendall Marshall (North Carolina). For more information on the 2013 Bob Cousy, log onto www.CousyAward.com.
The current listing of 12 finalists for the 2013 Bob Cousy Award will be narrowed down to 5 players on March 11th. The final five players in contention for the award will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Hall of Fame committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, Sports Information Directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2013 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame's Class Announcement on Championship Monday in Atlanta as part of NCAA Final Four weekend.


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Finding Mary
|Note: This picture is not of my Mary Fearns but a photograph in my collection of another Mary.
Every family historian is familiar with the many beguiling hiding places in which our forebears can lurk to avoid being found. Ancestors artfully concealed themselves behind altered or mis-spelled names and incorrectly recorded birth places. They mysteriously disappeared from census records. They seemingly stowed away on long voyages never to appear on passenger lists. Although we may have one definite record of their existence... we simply do not seem to be able to find a trace of them anywhere else. This is a common and frustrating problem for family historians. I have encountered this predicament on numerous occasions whilst researching my family history but perhaps no research has been so exasperating as that of the search for my missing Mary.
According to her marriage record, my maternal 2 x great grandmother, was named Mary FEARNS. On her marriage certificate issued at the time of her marriage to my 2 x great grandfather, James GIBSON, on December 15, 1862 in Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland, according to the Banns of the Church of Scotland, Mary's parents were named as George FEARNS and Mary Ann COUPLES. Adding confusion to my search, Mary's maiden name on the Baptism records for her four children, was FARNES. It was recorded as FEARNS again on her second and third marriage documents. I did not see this seemingly simple name variation as an impediment to finding Mary....
|Marriage Certificate of Mary Fearns and James Gibson 1862
Mary's age at the time of her marriage in December, 1862 was 18, so I estimated her birth to have occurred in 1843 or 1844. I am usually wary of the accuracy of given ages, especially since I had an eternally youthful great great grandmother who remained at the age of 34 years from her immigration to Australia in 1870 until her third marriage some 25 years later! In Mary's case, however, because she was a minor at the time of her marriage and therefore would have required consent to marry from her parents, it seemed unlikely that her age would be incorrect. Noting that the wedding took place in the Parish of Polmont in the County of Stirling, I began my search for Mary's birth in Stirlingshire, Scotland.
Despite a significant amount of searching, I could not find any evidence of the birth of Mary Fearns/ Farnes, even after extending the range of birth years considerably. After expanding my hunt from Stirlingshire to the whole of Scotland, Mary still remained elusive. Added to this frustration was the fact that I was also unable to locate a marriage for her parents George Fearns and Mary Ann Couples. I searched for George under every variation of the surname Fearns that I could think of. I even had a lady who was tracing her FARNES tree, who popped my Mary on her own family tree convinced that my Mary FEARNS and her missing Mary FARNES were one and the same person. I wasn't so easily persuaded that this was true, especially as she, like myself, had not found a marriage for the parents, and so my search for Mary continued.
Although Mary's marriage to James Gibson occurred in Scotland I extended my search to other places with no sign of a birth of my Mary Fearns. I discovered a Mary Fearns aged 3 years in the 1841 Scottish census living with parents James and Mary in Stirling. The question was raised then as to whether her father's name was wrongly recorded as George on her marriage certificate. Or as happens frequently, did George use several names, or perhaps his middle name? As I followed this particular Mary Fearns through the census records, I realised with disappointment, that she was definitely not my Mary.
On the 1871 Scottish census on the Scotland's People website, I found Mary living with her husband James Gibson and children Margaret 4 years, Robert 2 years and Mary ages 9 months. Mary's age was given as 30 years and her birth place as Camelon, Stirling. This placed her birth around 1841 however, I am well aware that one must be wary of ages on census records. Many an enumerator, rounded ages to the nearest 0 or 5.
|Mary Gibson (Fearns) on the Scottish 1871 census.
The next record of Mary I located, was in 1872, on the birth record of her daughter, Elizabeth Gibson, my great grandmother. Although I found a death for Mary's husband, James Gibson, in 1876, I once again lost the trail of Mary herself. As one does when encountering a stubborn brick wall, I reluctantly left Mary missing for a while, until one day, I had one of those family historian 'hunches' which hit, almost as a revelation.
My great grandmother's youngest 'son', (in truth, her grandson brought up by his grandparents) was named Alexander Gilmour McDade. For many years I had pondered the significance of this middle name Gilmour. My Scottish forebears were quite traditional and had afforded all of their children family surnames as middle names, however, I was at a loss to find anyone with the surname of Gilmour in my ancestry. The Scottish naming patterns are exceedingly useful when tracing family in the past, so I decided to concentrate on the name Gilmour as a possible way of finding Mary. I was well aware of bearing in mind that my grandfather's 'family' middle name of HAMILTON had turned out to be the name of the Doctor who delivered him as a baby and NOT a family member. His parents, with nine children, resorted to naming their son after the doctor, having run out of family surnames! But, with high hopes, I began to think that since I could not find a death for Mary GIBSON (FEARNS), that perhaps, widowed with a young family, she had remarried after her husband James Gibson had died. And perhaps... just perhaps, she had married a man named GILMOUR. As the step father of Mary's children, HE may have been afforded the honour of his surname as a middle name for the a grandchild.
I had previously searched in vain for a second marriage for Mary Fearns, whose parents were George Fearns and Mary Couples. This time I searched for a marriage of Mary FEARNS to a spouse with the surname GILMOUR and there it was! On March 1, 1880, in Denny, Stirling, Mary FEARNs had married John GILMOUR. I had not found the marriage earlier because Mary's mother's name was incorrectly given as Mary BULLOCK instead of COUPLES on the marriage certificate. By now, having traced the ancestry of Mary's first husband, James Gibson, I knew that his mother's maiden name was Bullock and although I am mystified as to how the wrong name appeared on Mary's marriage document, after many years of researching family history, I am well used to surprises!
I now knew that by 1880, my Mary Fearns had become Mary Gilmour. This was a significant discovery as I had been unable to find Mary's children from her first marriage, including my great grandmother Elizabeth Gibson in the 1881 census. In the 1881 Scottish census I found Mary and John Gilmour with Mary's children from her marriage to James Gibson using the surname of GILMOUR. When I had searched for my my great grandmother Elizabeth Gibson and her sister Mary previously I had been unable to find them in the 1881 census because I was searching for the surname of GIBSON.
The 1891 and 1901 censuses show Mary living with her husband John Gilmour and two daughters, Helen and Isabella, half siblings to my great grandmother Elizabeth Gibson, her sisters, Mary and Margaret and brother Robert.
|Mary, her third husband John Gilmour and children from this marriage.
Armed with Mary's surname of GILMOUR, I easily found her death on July 20, 1913 aged 71 years at 58 Pollockshaws, Glasgow. I recognised immediately that this was my Mary, as her daughter Maggie MacKenzie was present at her death and I knew that her daughter Margaret had married a George MacKenzie.
|Elizabeth Gibson McDade, Mary's daughter and my great grandmother.
I now had a paper trail of evidence of Mary's life from her marriage in 1862 to her death in 1913, however, I knew nothing at all of her life before her marriage. Marriage, census and death records for Mary all stated that she was born in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, however, I could find no record of her birth, nor could I find Mary on the 1861 or 1851 census.
I have written an earlier blog post about my search for Mary's mother, Mary Ann COUPLES and her marriage to Mary's father George FEARNS. In summary, after trying many surname variants I eventually found the marriage to George FARRIN, not FEARNS on January 3, 1841, in Falkirk Stirlingshire, which was the place Mary had stated as her birth place on each of the census records. I had always assumed that FARRIN was a mispelling of the name FEARNS. Ah.. perhaps I should have recalled my own earlier blog entitled "Never Assume"!
|Falkirk, Stirlingshire, where I believed Mary to be born.
|The Old Parish Church Falkirk where Mary's parents were married.
Mary had consistently used the maiden surname of FEARNS from the time of her first marriage in 1862 until the birth of her four children when it was recorded as FARNES. The name on her death certificate was FEARNS when Mary died in 1913. I decided that it was time to consider that FARRIN might in fact be the correct surname and the all important clue to finding Mary.
I knew I needed to look for my young Mary from a different perspective. If her mother had married three times, it was possible that the children were cared for by relatives. After being widowed before she was 20 years old, Mary's mother left her first child, and Mary's half sibling, Elizabeth Gray in the care of her maternal grandparents, Alexander and Elizabeth CUPPLES. With a search of name variants I had found 'Betty' Gray with her grandparents aged 3 years in 1841. If Mary's mother had given the care of her first child to her parents then it was entirely possible that Mary had also been left in the care of relatives when her own father died prior to 1846 and when her mother remarried. In the 1851 census Mary was not living with her mother and step father Robert McMurray and three more half siblings, William, Agnes and Elisabeth. Mary would have been aged only between 7 and 9 years in 1851, too young, hopefully, to be in service. I searched the 1851 census for the siblings of Mary's mother but my hopes were dashed when I found that Mary was not living with any of her seven Cupples aunts or uncles.
Just this week, on an impulse, I decided to search the 1851 Scottish census records for everyone with the surname Farrin or similar variants of this name. Determined to find Mary, I googled the surname Farrin and discovered that it was a common Irish surname with variants such as Farrins, Farren, Farrens, Ferron, Fearan, Fearns, Ferren and Ferrens. Patiently I searched Ancestry.com for each of these surnames in the 1851 Scottish census, and suddenly when I entered Mary FERRENS, I found Mary Ferrens aged 9 years, born Stirlingshire, living with her Aunt Margaret (FERRENS) and uncle George Robertson in Denny, Stirlingshire. Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland formerly known as Stirlingshire. Denny is also the birthplace of Mary's own children. This had to be my missing Mary. Also living with this family was Mary FARRENS aged 63, born in Ireland, mother in law of George Robertson and Mary's grandmother. I knew without a doubt that I had found Mary. When I searched the Scotlands People website, I discovered that Mary's surname had been incorrectly transcribed on Ancestry.com as FERRENS and on the original census record was clearly written as FARRENS. Sadly, at the tender age of 9 years, while her mother was living with a third husband and two more children, young Mary was working as a domestic servant.
Discovering that Mary's grandmother and paternal aunt were born in Ireland, explains why I have been unable to find a birth for her father George in Scotland and so in the near future my search for Mary's ancestry will take me on a journey to the Emerald Isle. And I have yet to find a record of Mary's birth.
The discrepancies in Mary's ages recorded on her marriage records and census records make it difficult to pinpoint an exact year of birth for her, however it appears that she was born between 1841 and 1844 in Stirlingshire. I believe that her actual age in 1851 may have been closer to 7 years and was possibly recorded as 9 years because she was in service. Despite searching for her birth under every possible variation of the name Farrin, I have as yet been unable to find a birth record for Mary. Mary. Mary. quite contrary, where and when were you born....
Perseverance has been so far rewarded and so I will continue my quest to find Mary....


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Node.js® Enterprise Support
New comprehensive plans availableLearn More
November 1, 2012Enhanced OS Virtualization for the Cloud - Jerry Jelinek at illumos Day by joyentdeirdre
This presentation at illumos Day focuses on the operating system virtualization capabilities of SmartOS and details the extensive enhancements made to the OS, based on real-world production experience deploying SmartOS in the Joyent cloud.
October 29, 2012Building a Business on illumos by Deirdré Straughan
Rod Boothby, Joyent; Bill Roth, Nexenta; Richard Elling, DEY; moderated by Deirdré Straughan.
September 25, 2012illumos / ZFS Days - and a Party! by joyentlindsay
Back in April, Joyent sponsored and ran a highly successful conference all about DTrace. Which got us thinking that it was time to do the same for another of our favorite technologies, ZFS.
September 18, 2012Node Summit: Walmart: Save Money, Use Node.js by joyentlindsay
James Watters, Group Manager Ecosystem Development at Cloud Foundry, talks with Walmart Vice President of Mobile Architecture Dion Almaer and Vice President of Mobile Engineering Ben Galbraith.
September 5, 2012Node Summit: Everything is a Node: The Rise of M2M and Mobile by joyentlindsay
Most of us carry around mobile "machines" that generate all sorts of data about us and our environment without any human input.
September 4, 2012Node Summit: APIs & Endpoints at Scale by joyentlindsay
Hear about the challenges faced by some of the world's most transactionally busy systems in keeping up with massive scaling requirements while meeting demand for ever faster response times...
August 31, 2012Node Summit: The Importance of Cross Platform by joyentlindsay
Watch a panel of experts expain how a multi-company effort enabled the abstraction of Node.js across platforms...
August 30, 2012Node Summit: The Internet of Things by joyentlindsay
The internet of things has become a reality. We ship more compute and storage capacity per year in "devices" than traditional PCs, and it feels like we have to get offline on purpose rather than online.
August 29, 2012Node Summit: Large Scale Web by joyentlindsay
Hear from the "Big Boys" about the challenges of operating at web scale and how to leverage Node.js to keep up with the ever increasing demand for always on, real-time connectivity.
August 28, 2012Node Summit: Playing for Real – Gaming with Node.js by joyentlindsay
Watch leading edge gaming companies discuss how Node.js, as a real-time technology has become central to their game app, platform and engine development strategies.
August 27, 2012Node Summit: Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) by joyentlindsay
Increasing demands on data centers to integrate IT and Facilities data, and a desire to track everything that goes on in real-time, 24/7 has led to a significant change in how companies think about and implement DCIM.
August 24, 2012Node Summit: Mobile ('nuff said) by joyentlindsay
Enterprise applications have traditionally been used by a few people between the hours of 9 to 5. With the consumerization of IT, and the prevalence of mobile connectivity, many "workers" are accessing applications via a mobile device.
August 23, 2012Node Summit: Machine to Machine by joyentlindsay
Watch Leveraging Node.js to deliver on the promise of real-time machine to machine communications.
August 22, 2012Node Summit: PaaS Services and Tools by joyentlindsay
This panel will feature some of the leading providers of services and tools for companies developing and deploying in the cloud.
August 21, 2012Node Summit: Platform as a Service by joyentlindsay
Hear from some of the leading and emerging PaaS providers about their views on the importance of Node now and in the future, and their efforts to support Node.js.


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A Tire, Wheel, And Suspension Buyers' Guide
The interaction between your car and the road is controlled mainly by the suspension and its contact points on the tarmac, the wheels and tires. All of your car's forward and lateral motion is dictated by the four solitary patches of pavement that the tires roll on, so making the proper choice for your driving needs is essential. Your car's feel, that which is communicated to you as you shift and drift and pump the pedals and saw away at the wheel, is in large part handled with the suspension components that comprise a machine that is pure driving bliss. While wheel style is a vanity, the prudent choice can reduce unsprung weight, resulting in quicker e.t.s or better cornering grip. Ultimately, all of this contributes to driving pleasure.
Coker Tire/Wheel Combos
Do you like the idea of mail-order wheels and tires? Us too. Do you like it even better now that Coker offers mounted tire-and-wheel combos that are balanced and delivered to your door? They are perfect for that just-right attitude and stance for your musclecar or street rod-with no hassles! Many sizes and styles are available, including wheels with custom backspacing. Contact: Coker Tire, Dept. HR07, 1317 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, 800/251-6336, www.coker.com.
Yokohama Avid S/T
Driving your car is what it's all about, and Yokohama's new Avid S/T tires feature all-season performance with looks to match. Three separate tread compounds help deliver smart steering response, stability, and the confidence of all-season traction. Available in 50, 60, 65, and 70 series, with raised white letters. Contact: Yokohama Tire Corporation, Dept. HR07, 601 South Acacia Ave., Fullerton, CA 92831, www.yokohamatire.com.
Mickey Thompson ET Street
Mickey Thompson's popular EZ Street tube-type DOT race tires are available in a dozen popular sizes and in 15-inch and 16-inch diameters. Sticky Mickey ET Streets were on seven of eight NMCA Hot Rod World's Fastest Street Car champions in 1998, including Bruce Kimmen's '69 Camaro, which holds both ends of the Outlaw Street record! Contact: Mickey Thompson performance Tires, Dept. HR07, 4670 Allen Rd., Stow, OH 44224, 330/928-9092.
Give 'Em Hell
Center Line has announced that the Hellcat is now available in a chromed finish. This adds further versatility to the one-piece aluminum wheel, which is also available in a polished and clearcoated finish. The Hellcat was designed specifically for pickups and sport/utility vehicles and is manufactured in 15×7, 15×8, 15×10, and 16×8 sizes for five-, six, and eight-lug applications. Contact Center Line Performance Wheels, Dept. HR07, 13521 Freeway Dr., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, 310/921-9637.
L.G. Motorsports' G2 World Challenge
Your C4 Corvette or fourth-gen GM F-body can benefit from the smooth new look of LG Motorsports' G2 World Challenge Wheel. This one-piece casting is available in either a satin or chrome finish in 17×9 1/2 size and is durable enough to meet OEM specs. Contact: L.G. Motorsports, Dept. HR07, 4314 Action St., Garland, TX 75042, 972/272-7753, www.lgmotorsports.com.
TSW Super Gaboon Viper
TSW has done it again-expanding the boundaries of performance-wheel styling with the Super Gaboon Viper (SGV). This die-cast, lightweight, five-spoke design features a flair all its own, including a diamond-cut lip and titanium bolts. The SGV is available in sizes from 15×7 to 18×8 and is covered by TSW's Limited Lifetime Warranty. Contact: TSW Alloy Wheels, Dept. HR07, 311 E. Alton Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92707, 800/578-4TSW, e-mail email@example.com.
Ford Racing Performance
An aggressive new look for your SN95 Mustang can be yours with these cast-aluminum 17×8-inch rims from Ford Racing Performance Parts. Available in silver-metallic clearcoat paint, this five-spoke design includes a unique Cobra center cap and will clear 13-inch braking systems. Also fits '87-'93 Mustangs with the Motorsport five-lug conversion kit. All FRP parts are subject to Ford's OEM quality standards. Contact: your local Ford Motorsports dealer.
Radir Bullet Spoke
Radir makes 'em big and strong! Radir's Bullet Spoke wheels lend that distinctive classic look to your rod or musclecar and are available in 14×6, 14×7, and 15×4 to 15×14-inch sizes! The Bullet Spoke is race proven and street driven. Contact: Radir Wheels, Dept. HR07, P.O. Box 166, Montville, NJ 07045, 973/334-3470, www.radirwheels.com.
Colorado Custom South Park
Colorado Custom, the new leaders in billet wheels, introduces its "Badass Billets" line of wheels. Fifteen new designs, including the South Park seen here, are now available-all with matching steering wheels. Diameters from 14 to 20 inches, in virtually any off-set and width are available. Contact: Colorado Custom, Dept. HR07, 363 Jefferson St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524, 970/224-5750, www.coloradocustom.com.
Weld Draglite XP
The Weld Draglite is a classic, blending function and good looks. Introducing the Draglite XP, the second-generation forged-aluminum wheel! It's designed for today's late-model performance braking systems, which require more clearance. The wheels are offered in sizes up to 18 inches in diameter for most four-lug, five-lug, and six-lug fitments for cars and trucks. Contact: Weld Racing, Dept. HR07, 933 Mulberry St., Kansas City, MO 64101, 816/421-8040, www.weldracing.com.
Hi-Tech Aluminum Valve Stem Covers
Dress up your wheels with Hi-Tech Aluminum's snazzy screw-on valve-stem covers. Machined from the highest-quality aluminum, they're available in satin, polished, or chrome finish and are available in two lengths. Contact: Hi-Tech Aluminum Products, Dept. HR07, P.O. Box 1609, Cedartown, GA 30125, 800/541-4946.
Performance Trends Roll Center Calculator
Learn what your front suspension is up to. If you're into handling and you have Windows 95/98 on your PC, you'll need Performance Trends' Roll Center Calculator. It lets you input specs on your vehicle; you can then see what happens to roll center, camber, spring compression, and other factors that affect handling and lap times. Choose between MacPherson strut or double-A-arms, adjust shims to see if camber change will help, calculate camber gain, and graph a table of camber versus dive and roll, plus more. Contact: Performance Trends, Dept. HR07, 20056 Shadyside, Livonia, MI 48152, 248/473-9230, www.performancetrends.com.
ARP Wheel Studs
Why use cadmium-plated ARP wheel studs? Maybe your stock studs are too short for your aftermarket wheels. Maybe you've added power or cornering force that can shear the stock ones clean off. ARP's wheel studs are heat-treated to a tensile strength of 190,000 psi, and the threads are rolled on after heat-treating, giving them 1,000-percent better fatigue strength.
Mark Williams Pro Street Axles
Mark Williams Enterprises (MW) has 25 years' experience in each Pro Street Axle it builds. All MW axles are substantially beefier than OEM-style units (flange breakage is virtually eliminated) and are custom made to customer specifications. MW warrants each axle flange for two years when used with its housing ends and Timken bearings. Contact: Mark Williams Enterprises, Dept. HR07, 765 S. Pierce Ave., Louisville, CO 80027, 800/525-1963.
Lakewood 2WD S-10 Traction Bars
Designed for S-10/S-15/Blazer/Jimmy models with two-wheel drive, Lakewood's traction bars reduce wheelhop, resulting in increased traction and better performance. An excellent choice for street or strip or even hauling heavy loads. Polyurethane snubbers and corrosion-resistant black powdercoating are included. Contact: Mr. Gasket, Dept. HR07, 8700 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland, OH 44129, 216/398-8300, www.mrgasket.com.
Kenny's Rod And Kustom Mustang II Spindles
Kenny's Rod and Kustom introduces new one-piece forged-steel Mustang II stock-height spindles. They retain all factory geometry and will accept stock rotors, five-lug conversion kits, and stock bearings, seals, and dust shields. They are the strongest spindles in street rodding, according to Kenny's. Contact: Kenny's Rod and Kustom, Dept. HR07, 17 Milton Blvd., Newton Falls, OH 44444, 330/872-1932.
PSC Dropped Spindles
Lower your GM car with Performance Suspension Components' bolt-on 2-inch dropped spindles. They're an exact replacement for stock factory pieces and maintain the correct factory-alignment specs. They also improve cornering and appearance by lowering the car's center of gravity. Available for Camaro, Nova, GM A-body, fullsize Chevy, and more. Contact: Performance Suspension Components, Dept. HR07, 3001 N. 35th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85017, 602/272-4085.
KYB Shocks
Give your late-model strut-suspension-equipped car the handling advantages of KYB GR2 gas struts. These struts are specially designed to reduce the tendency of hydraulic fluid to foam under the heat generated by enthusiastic driving, which results in better road performance for your car. Contact: KYB America, Dept. HR07, 901 Oak Creek Dr., Lombard, IL 60148, 630/620-5555, www.kyb.com.
Art Morrison Air Spring Plus
Art Morrison Engineering, in collaboration with Firestone engineers, have developed a complete street-rod suspension utilizing state-of-the-art pneumatic technology. The height can be adjusted up to 3 inches from your dashboard, and it provides an exceptionally comfortable ride. Complete subframe assemblies featuring sturdy 2×4 rails (a Morrison exclusive) are available. Contact: Art Morrison Enterprises, Dept. HR07, 5301 8th St. E., Fife, WA 98424, 253/922-7188.
Jamex Lowering Springs
A Jamex Sportspring kit gives your car great stability and the close-to-the-road appearance of a serious sports car. A complete range of lowering springs featuring progressive linear windings are manufactured from chrome-silicon steel. Contact: Jamex, Dept. HR07, 4975 Energy Way, Reno, NV 89523, 888-40-JAMEX.
Tokico Advanced Handling Kit
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your Mustang is with an advanced handling-suspension kit from Tokico. The kit includes four springs and shocks and struts (your choice of Premium or five-way Illumina); the kit will lower the car up to 1 1/2 inches for a more aggressive stance. Contact: Tokico USA, Dept. HR07, 1330 Storm Pkwy., Torrance, CA 90501, 310/534-4934.
Bilstein Street Rod Shocks
Bilstein, a leader in gas-pressure shock absorbers for 40 years, now offers applications for street rods, custom cars, street machines, and hot rods. Seamless one-piece extruded aluminum tubes, aircraft-quality hardened cylinder walls, Teflon-coated piston bands, and powder-metal technology offer exact damping performance and durability. The shocks are available in standard or threaded-body coilover applications. Contact: Bilstein of America, Dept. HR07, 8845 Rehco Rd., San Diego, CA 92121, 800/537-1085, www.bilstein.com.


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While the country isn't in a great financial situation at the moment, its performance in diagnosing and treating coeliac disease is much better. Italian children are screened for coeliac disease at around 6 years of age and the average time time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis for Italians of any age is usually only 2 to 3 weeks. As a result Italy is up there with Australia, Ireland and Finland as the top four countries for diagnosis of coeliac disease.
At the same time you can't presume that everyone in Italy will be aware of coeliac disease and understand what gluten-free means. So a coeliac's best friend in Italy is the restaurant guide on the Italian Coeliac Association (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) website. To get to the guide, click on the menu item ''dieta senza glutine' and then click on 'Project Power Away'. The information is organised by region so you just have to select Tuscany or Sicily or Veneto etc to find somewhere suitable to eat.
I would highly recommend taking an iPhone or device that allows you to look up GF places to eat as you go. When we were in Italy in the middle of this year, we didn't bring a laptop or any sort of portable device with Internet access. This meant traipsing off to Internet cafes to find a GF restaurant instead of being able to look one up on the go or as we were approaching a new destination.
At the same time you can be pleasantly surprised in Italy like the night we arrived in Castiglion Fiorentino, a small hill-top town about half an hour from Arezzo. When I explained my senza glutine needs the waitress went to the kitchen and returned with a packet of GF pasta.
Another great resource is Maria Ann Roglieri's The Gluten-Free Guide to Italy which is available at www.gfguidetoitaly.com. Unfortunately I only discovered this book just before we set off for Italy so I didn't have it with me. It is packed full of GF eating-out options and is a handy back-up when you don't have Internet access. Here are a few of the coeliac-friendly places we found in Rome, Florence, Cortona and Siena.
Osteria del Gallo, Roma
This is a cute little restaurant in one of those typical narrow Roman streets not far from Piazza Navona. While it was a bit windy the night we dined there we persevered in sitting outside as it was fun watching the passing traffic and taking in the atmosphere in Vicolo di Montevecchio.
Perhaps the most delicious part of this meal was the bruschetta served on toasted GF bread. The traditional tomato and garlic bruschetta was nice but the eggplant and zucchini one was sensational.
For the main course I chose one of my favourite sauces - pesto with GF spaghetti.
There were plenty of GF choices for dessert including panna cotta and torta al cioccolato (gf chocolate torte). Osteria del Gallo is at 27 Vicolo di Montevecchio, Roma.
I Quattro Amici and Il Portale Trattoria-Pizzeria, Firenze
In Florence we enjoyed a nice GF meal at I Quattro Amici which is close to the city's main Santa Maria Novella railway station The staff were very knowledgeable and all the GF options were highlighted on the menu. My main course choice was the grilled sea bass with potatoes,olives and red pepper, followed by creme caramel for dessert.
The next night we dined at Il Portale Trattoria-Pizzeria. Around the corner from I Quattro Amici, at 29 Via Luigi Alamanni, it turned out that this restaurant shared the same kitchen. The entree servings of pasta were huge and easily served as a main meal. I enjoyed the spaghetti allárrabbiata with garlic, olive oil, red pepper and tomato.
Osteria Del Teatro, Cortona
On a day out in the hill-top town of Cortona with our friends at Villa Rossi Mattei in Arezzo, we came across Osteria Del Teatro. As well as being a historic town, Cortona is known as the location of the movie Under the Tuscan Sun.
It's a delightful place and it was great to stumble upon a coeliac-friendly restaurant like Osteria Del Teatro.
For lunch I chose the GF gnocchi which was very nice but quite rich, washed down with a chilled white wine. The GF dessert option was oven-roasted pears with cinnamon, drizzled with chocolate. As you can see from the photo, the chocolate was more than a drizzle, which I endeavoured to work off climbing the steep cobble-stoned Cortona streets.
Il Ghibellino Osteria, Siena
On a day trip to Siena with our Villa friends we enjoyed a pleasant lunch at Il Ghigellino Osteria.
About a five-minute walk from the Piazzo del Campo and close to the Duomo, this is a quiet place to escape the tourists. For lunch I had the leek risotto which fuelled me up for exploring Siena.
Villa Rossi Mattei, Arezzo
And during our week at Villa Rossi Mattei I was more than well-catered for by our host Liliana at our two group lunches and dinners with GF risotto, pasta, meats, salads and sweets.
Grazie Italia! Arrivederci.


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Michael Kimmel to Speak at Wabashby Karen Handley • February 21, 2005 Share:
Wabash College invites you to hear speaker, Michael Kimmel, at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 24, in Lovell Lecture Room (room 101) in Baxter Hall. He will talk on "Mars and Venus, or Planet Earth: Women and Men in a New Millennium."
Kimmel is a professor of sociology at SUNY-Stony Brook and is a leading authority on the subject of men and masculinity. His books include Against the Tide: Pro-Feminist Men in the United States, 1776-1990 (1992); Manhood in America: A Cultural History (1996); The Gendered Society (2000); and The Invisible Sex: Masculinity in Contemporary America (forthcoming).
In addition, his work has appeared in dozens of magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals, including The New York Times Book Review, The Harvard Business Review, The Nation, The Village Voice, The Washington Post, and Psychology Today, where he was a contributing editor and columnist on male-female relationships. On the basis of his expertise, Kimmel served as an expert witness for the U.S. Department of Justice in the VMI and Citadel cases.
His lecture is free and open to the public.


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Company to Complement Existing Desktop Publishing Products with Expansion into Dynamic Publishing Technology, Combining Professional Design Expertise with Automated Publishing and Multi-Channel Output
Quark Inc. announced today that it is leveraging its
existing desktop publishing, server and collaborative workflow expertise to
launch a new enterprise solution in the emerging dynamic publishing market.
Called Quark® Dynamic Publishing Solution (DPS), the enterprise-scale publishing
solution combines flexible layout with automated publishing to create and
deliver accurate, relevant, and attractive communications across multiple types
of media, including print, the Web, mobile and electronic devices. Quark's
expansion into dynamic publishing addresses the increasing multi-channel
challenges faced by publishers and complements its desktop publishing software,
Ray Schiavone, Quark CEO, said, "Over the past year I have visited at length
with key customers across Europe, North America and Asia. These customers - some
of the largest and most well-known publishers and creative groups in the world -
confirmed that their publishing requirements are changing dramatically."
Schiavone continued, "We are solving these challenges with Quark Dynamic
Publishing Solution by helping our customers improve automation, create reusable
content, and more efficiently publish to multiple channels. This is the basis of
dynamic publishing, the next revolution in publishing."Defining
Dynamic PublishingDynamic publishing automates the creation and delivery
of information across multiple channels, from print to Web, email and beyond. It
allows users to create reusable components of information that can be combined
to create various types of documents for any audience. Dynamic publishing
automates the page formatting process allowing for the production of print, Web,
and electronic content from a single source of information.Michael
Mendoza, global IT director of Metro International, publisher of the world's
largest international newspapers, said, "As a publisher of daily newspapers
produced for local markets around the world, we understand first-hand the
importance of streamlining our workflow with automated processes. Metro has
worked with Quark to implement both desktop and server technology, and based on
our insight into Quark DPS we consider it a promising solution. We look forward
to working with Quark to leverage dynamic publishing to solve new business
challenges we face as a publisher."Quark Dynamic Publishing
SolutionQuark DPS consists of multiple software components, including
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for:- Professional publishers that produce newspapers, magazines, books,
periodicals, etc.- Publishers that have both print and online titles-
Marketing communications departments and their agencies in manufacturing, retail
and other industries that produce data sheets, white papers, brochures, product
labeling and manuals, and other marketing communications materials
Melissa Webster, program vice president at IDC, comments, "Organisations
need publishing solutions that help them engage their customers with
personalised content and deliver it via the customer's preferred channel -- via
print, Web, e-mail, PDF, SMS messaging, and so on. This need is fuelling the
rapid growth of the dynamic enterprise publishing market." Webster continued,
"Dynamic enterprise publishing solutions let organisations automate the assembly
of new publications via rules, leveraging the content and information assets
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customer experience." What Does Dynamic Publishing Mean for
Designers?Dynamic publishing is built on the foundation of rich design
tools, like QuarkXPress, that designers and creative professionals will continue
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With Quark DPS, designers are able to maintain creative freedom while automating
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and widely-used graphic design and page layout tool in its own right, and will
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alike." Quark is presenting Quark Dynamic Publishing Solution at
AIIM/OnDemand in booth #725. For more information, please visit www.quark.com.
Following AIIM/OnDemand, Quark will host a series of exclusive events to show
Quark DPS in London, Frankfurt, Paris and New York. The events will be by
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firstname.lastname@example.com QuarkQuark Inc. (euro.quark.com/en) provides both desktop
publishing and dynamic publishing software that helps customers design and
publish richly designed communications across a broad spectrum of media. Two
decades ago, our flagship product - QuarkXPress - changed the course of
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A controversial oil sands mining operation proposed for the Book Cliffs northeast of Moab has cleared its final state regulation hurdle, allowing it to become the nation's first such project.
The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining released its decision Friday, Jan. 11, upholding previous state approval for the oil production project by Alberta-based U.S. Oil Sands Inc.
However, the Moab conservation group Living Rivers has filed an appeal of that decision with the Utah Court of Appeals in hopes of blocking development, said Living Rivers Director John Weisheit.
He said an appellate decision could take six months to a year, and that U.S. Oil Sands may proceed with development during that time. Living Rivers contends the PR Spring mine, to be located between Vernal and Moab, would adversely affect air and ground water quality, particularly the Green and Colorado rivers.
Cameron Todd, CEO of U.S. Oil Sands, said he is confident the project will go forward despite the court challenge.
"Essentially, Living Rivers is appealing the competence of state regulators," Todd said. "We have been working with those state regulators for eight years and they are extremely competent people. This project has been reviewed extensively."
In making last week's ruling, the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining board of directors sided with the state Board of Water Quality, which earlier rejected the environmental objections by a 9-2 vote. The Water Quality board's decision affirmed an even earlier ruling by Utah Administrative Law Judge Sandra K. Allen that there is no evidence of shallow ground water in the project area.
Weisheit again criticized that belief Monday, saying, "This is an arbitrary decision. The place is surrounded by springs."
But James T. Jensen, chairman of the Utah Oil, Gas and Mining board, wrote in the decision that U.S. Oil Sands had adequately addressed Living Rivers' concerns about effects on groundwater. Jensen wrote that the company drilled 180 test holes, 55 of which were in the phase one project area, "none of which encountered groundwater."
He also wrote that state Department of Water Quality staff members who went to the area to collect groundwater from seeps "failed to find water in sufficient quantities to sample."
Living Rivers also contended the project should be blocked because only visual inspections of the site will be conducted. That would prevent the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining from detecting contamination to ground water, according to Living Rivers.
The board's decision said that regulations do not require subsurface monitoring. The decision added that the citrus-based solvent, d-limonene, would not harm the environment. D-limonene will be used to separate oil from water and sand, and will be removed after use "even though it would not be harmful to the environment," Todd said.
Last week's Oil, Gas and Mining board decision only applies to a 213-acre parcel that U.S. Oil Sands considers phase one of a potentially much larger development. If further permission is granted by the state of Utah, development could spread across U.S. Oil Sands' 5,900-acre lease site.
Todd said during a telephone interview that PR Spring will use new technology, making it the first oil sands project to operate without a tailings pond.
"This is not going to change the local environment or affect tourism or deface the earth," Todd said. "This is a world-class environmental approach with a very small impact. People don't have to get worried that the sky is falling."
Todd said the initial mine area will be about 20 acres, which he likened to the size of "a large gravel pit" or a Walmart parking lot.
The company anticipates spending $35 million from now until production is estimated to start in 2014. U.S. Oil Sands already has spent that much developing its technology, getting government permits, and doing initial design work, Todd said.
The company is looking for a financial partner to share expenses, which he said is normal for a start-up firm.
Todd estimates the project will create 100 full-time jobs during the construction period and the same number to support the operation while in production. The latter will include truck drivers and heavy equipment operators, and he said local residents will be hired for many of those jobs.
Todd said it is "misleading" to compare the PR Spring project to large oil sand extractions in Alberta, Canada, where about 20 percent of the oil is recovered through surface mining. In contrast, sand removed from the Book Cliffs will be replaced as the project goes along once oil has been extracted, he said.
"We have put up a bond with the state for several million dollars to ensure the land we occupy is adequately covered," Todd said. "We are committed to being responsible citizens."
U.S. Oil Sands officials are excited about the PR Spring project because oil has been found in all but three of 200 test holes that have been drilled, he said.
Todd said he believes attitudes about the oil sands process are changing as technology has advanced.
"As the science of petroleum engineering has progressed, people have come to realize this is just an oil," he said. "It is much more viscous because it doesn't have the elements of some lighter oils.
"It is suitable for processing at a refinery. It can be extracted with clean sand left behind."
ByBy Steve Kadel
staff writer


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Sunday, March 23, 2014
Winning horse: We Miss Artie
Winning jockey: John Velazquez
"I was a little wide going into the first turn but I found a nice spot down the backside. Right at the sixteenth-pole I had to drift away from them so he didn't have to work so hard. Then I was able to get up at the wire."
Winning trainer: Todd Pletcher
"It really was (a great closing run). Very exciting. I wasn't sure he got there but very excited to see that he did."
"It looked like speed was holding up all day. Johnny had him in a good place and it looked like he was finishing steadily, but it was just a matter of whether he would get there."
Regarding the Kentucky Derby:
"I don't think that will be much of a discussion, (given that the owner is) Mr. Ramsey. We were hoping he could get us there and he did."
Winning owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Jeff Ramsey (son of Ken and Sarah Ramsey):
"We really liked him today. He won a Grade I on the Polytrack before and he was training really well. I didn't really think we had it (the photo). It was very exciting. My dad wasn't here when Dean's Kitten won (the Spiral in 2010); he was in Dubai. He is in Florida (today) watching it on TV. Hopefully we'll get a really good trip in the (Kentucky) Derby. He's been training on the dirt and getting better. He didn't like the Fountain of Youth (at Gulfstream). That track's a little different than Churchill."
2nd horse: Harry's Holiday
2nd jockey: Rose Napravnik
"I kind of thought Johnny (Velazquez) had me on the outside. I was afraid he nipped us right at the end. But my horse did a great job. He was totally passed by the gray horse (Coastline) and came back and stuck his nose out in front and ran a great race. It's a speed favoring track and the outside is better and that's where you got to be."
3rd horse: Coastline
3rd trainer: Mark Casse
"He came up six inches short of winning the race but I was very happy. He definitely ran a big effort and we know he likes Churchill and he also likes Keeneland. It looked like we were going to get by."
3rd jockey: Stewart Elliott
"We had a great trip. When we turned for home I thought we were going to win it."
Beaten favorite: Tamarando
Jockey: Russell Baze
"He didn't get a lot of speed. When I asked him to go, he went for a bit at the eighth pole and then quit."
Read more articles in the Turfway category.


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When two Southern guys moved to LA, they found themselves missing real, authentic BBQ. So they opened up a bottle of bourbon, swapped family recipes and came up with a plan to bring their favorite southern-inspired BBQ to the people of Los Angeles.
David Warren
As seen on TV
Stay tuned on our Baby Blues BBQ TV Youtube channel. Many super tasty stories...
David Warren
Food Truck Launches in Philly
After a decade of serving up award-winning food, attracting fans from all over the world, [...]
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USA today. 10 best.
Baby Blues BBQ on USA TODAY 10BEST Homestyle: This classic BBQ joint began as a [...]