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The Nuclear Plans of King Abdallah II Provoke Discontent
In 2007, King Abdallah II had already announced the introduction of nuclear technology to his country. In accordance with plans by the King and the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) under the direction of former energy minister Khaled Toukan, nuclear energy should provide one third of the country's electricity needs by 2020. A total of four reactors are to be constructed. The first reactor was initially to be built in the vicinity of the port city of Aqaba on the Red Sea, but after seismic studies found the region unsuitable, the reactor is now planned for Mafrac, only some 40 kilometres northeast of the capital Amman.
The estimated cost of the total project remain vague. Cost proposals envisage a 30 percent contribution by the country and 70 percent credit financing by investors. While JAEC Chairman Toukan has quoted a price of around five billion dollars, critics expect double that amount and fear a further increase in costs of up to ten billion dollars. This would drive the already highly indebted country into an even deeper spiral of debt.
JAEC was originally supposed to announce last November the consortium chosen to construct and operate the 1000 watt third generation light water reactor. Competing for the multi-billion contract are three consortiums – Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), the Russian Atomstroy, and a Japanese-French joint bid by Areva and Mitsubishi HeavyIndustries. The decision, however, has been repeatedly postponed and is now scheduled to be taken in March. It remains to be seen if this will actually take place, as the first anniversary of the reactor catastrophe in Fukushima is a particularly sensitive date for such an important decision.
Unusually lively and critical debate
In the wake of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan and the start of the Arab Spring, many Jordanians are no longer prepared simply to accept King Abdallah's nuclear plans. The nuclear programme has provoked considerable criticism from scientists, parliamentarians, environmentalists, and the media. For critics such as the well known environmental activist Basil Burgan from the organization Friends of the Environment, the case is absolutely clear. "If we take into account the consequences for the environment, the health of the population, and the cost of the project, it makes no sense whatsoever."
An unusually lively and critical debate has been raging in the country's Arabic and English-language media. Even in newspapers close to the government, such as the Jordan Times, nuclear critics are often given a voice. The plans have also proved controversial in Parliament. In January, a parliamentarian cast doubt on the costs as projected by the JAEC. In 2011, a total of 64 parliamentarians from the 120 seat house took a stand against the nuclear power plant. Parliament, however, enjoys a rather limited political influence.
There has been growing resistance to the plans among the general population, too. In Amman, voluntary Greenpeace activists have founded a group. In the Arab world, Greenpeace groups can otherwise only be found in the relative freedom of Lebanon. "After the reactor catastrophe in Fukushima, I was shocked to hear that a nuclear power plant is to be built in Jordan," says Safaa al-Jayoussi. The 25-year-old initiated the new Greenpeace group.
The country's Greenpeace activists would rather not get involved in the Kingdom's political business. They are primarily concerned with publicising Jordan's need to secure a sustainable energy supply for the future.
A call mercy by the protestors
Residents in the city of Mafraq have set up a loose coalition called Irhamouna (Arabic for "Have Mercy on Us"), which includes opponents of nuclear power, lawyers, geologists, and representatives of the Beni Hassan tribe. Together with Greenpeace, Irhamouna has been drawing attention to its concerns through sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Energy, displaying protest banners at central squares in Amman, and organizing information events.
Activists wearing white radiation protection suits have laid themselves down and placed yellow containers in front of the ministry in an effective public relations move aimed to raise the issue of dangerous radioactive waste and to suggest possible energy alternatives. "We want to make the public aware that solar energy is a real alternative for Jordan," says Safaa al-Jayoussi of Greenpeace.
Jordan dependent on energy imports
In contrast to its oil-rich neighbours, Jordan is a country poor in resources. It has no oil reserves, suffers from an extreme lack of water, and depends on foreign aid, in particular from the USA and Saudi Arabia. At present, Jordan is almost completely dependent on energy imports, which consume around 20 percent of the state budget and also leave the country politically vulnerable.
Over 90 percent of its energy needs are currently met by oil from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as natural gas from Egypt. The JAEC justifies the necessity of the country's nuclear programme with its growing energy requirements, the rising prices for oil and gas, as well as new uranium discoveries in Jordan, which since 2010 have been exploited by the French company Areva. These reserves could be used for the country's energy needs and also for export. Critics question whether the uranium reserves are truly as large as the government claims.
One thing is certain – energy imports are an enormous strain on the country's budget. Since 2001, the costs have tripled and were reported to exceed 4 billion US dollars in 2011. In addition, the insecure political situation has an effect on energy prices. Since the overthrow of Mubarak in February 2011, there have been numerous terrorist attacks on the gas pipeline from Egypt, resulting in disruptions of gas transport. "We have limited options," claimed Professor Kamal Araj, Deputy Chairman of JAEC, at a presentation for the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA.
Renewable energy has not been seriously considered as an option. According to the current energy master plan, renewables will only make up ten percent of total energy production by the end of the decade. This goal is less than ambitious and, in addition, renewable energy projects are not making much headway. Wind parks should generate 600 megawatts by 2020 and 30 percent of private homes should get their warm water from solar energy. At this rate, the 2020 goal can hardly be met.
In Fujeij, located between Kerak and Maan, the first wind park generating 90 megawatts is planned to come on line in 2014. The wind power facility in Kamsheh should already have been operating years ago, but, according to the Jordan Times, work has been hampered by conflicts between the Ministry of Energy and the operating company. Energy efficiency is an issue not addressed, even though the Arab world together with Sub-Saharan Africa is regarded as the least energy efficient region in the world.
Social climate change in Jordan
The political transformations in the Middle East have also altered the social climate in Jordan. The king has only reacted by introducing marginal changes, but he has allowed more scope for criticism than previously. Time and again, demonstrators have been permitted to march through the centre of Amman relatively unhindered in their protests for more citizen's rights and an end to corruption.
The actual unemployment figure in Jordan hovers around 30 percent and there are too few opportunities for young, often well-educated Jordanians. Rising rents and the cost of fuel only add to this explosive mix. Corruption and self-enrichment by the political class is rampant, but, in contrast to only a couple of years ago, the problem is addressed openly.
The tiny anti-nuclear movement is also a sign that young people in particular are demanding a greater participation in the decision-making process. The protest against a dubious mega-project is an expression of this demand and the authorities will not be able to simply nip it in the bud. If the government continues to push through its nuclear programme without a wider consensus in the population, as currently seems to be the case, then dissatisfaction will certainly grow.
Claudia Mende
© Qantara.de 2012
Translated from the German by John Bergeron
Editor: Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de


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I haven't been here in a while because I've been finishing up my sci-fi/horror novel, "Xmas Carol". Now, don't cringe. There are no witches or goblins or spells in "Xmas Carol". I don't believe in nonsense. It's about something that may soon come our way, if some scientists are right.
The book is what I call a "stealth atheist novel". Every character is an atheist and the story is one big slap in the face of Christianity. But make no mistake -- it's a fascinating horror story based on a very creepy idea. The slap is just a bonus.
I wrote "Xmas Carol" because it's the book I wanted to read. It's a warm-hearted story with a cast of appealing atheist characters. The book stakes an atheist claim on the Xmas holiday. It ain't just for Christians anymore, as I'm sure you know. I thought it was time to let the world in on this secret.
Bill O'Reilly and his ilk are always saying there's a war on Christmas, only no one can see it no matter where they look. I suspect he'll see "Xmas Carol" as the first act in an actual war on Christmas. It isn't, but religious folks are going to hate this book.
I'm hoping that (at least some) atheists will come to treasure "Xmas Carol" in the years ahead. To my mind, it's what's been missing from the Christmas landscape all these years. If you'd like to read it, it's only $2.99 (which I see as a fair price for an ebook). If you don't want to fork over the cash, I'll gift a copy to the first five people who comment on this post and ask for a copy.
It's a deal though: if I give you the book, you agree to review it at Amazon. Reviews are the single most effective way to sell books. Please understand that I'm not asking for a positive review. Just be honest. (The odd fact is that negative and positive reviews both sell books. Go figure.)
The book is available in Kindle format at Amazon, and in all other ebook formats at Smashwords. If you'd like to be one of the five people who is gifted a copy, comment on this post and tell me whether you'd like it in mobi (Amazon's format), ePub (most other readers' format), or PDF (to read on your computer). I think I may need your email address to gift it (I haven't done this before). If you'd rather not post that here, go to my blog and write me at the contact address listed on the bottom.
I hope you like it. I wrote it for all of us. By the way, the book begins with Halloween, so this is the perfect time to pick up a copy. And if you suspect I might be nuts, check out my blog. I'm a daily atheist blogger, like many of you.
It's time for "Xmas Carol". It really is.
Views: 291
Good to hear you've begun to read it. The most fun a writer can have is when a reader shares his reactions. You've got my email. If something hits you and you want to tell me about it, I'm all ears. I hope you keep reading. I think you'll find it's a satisfying tale on many levels.
I guess I'm old-school, Keith - no smart phone, but I get along with Adobe Reader just fine.
I've only had a chance to scan the prologue, which was a bit of a kick in the teeth for a starter. I'll be intrigued to see what comes of the rest of it.
Yay. Two takers. Any more out there? I've still got three free copies. Loren, yours is in the mail. But as I've told both Alan and Loren in email, PDFs are hard to read. The column width is too wide. If you have an iPhone or iPad, go for the ePub. I found it a joy to read on an iPhone. Thanks to both of you (and whoever else joins in).
Okay, I'm intrigued ... and I'm also interested in how this could become a new classic! [chuckle!] If you would, send mine to email@example.com. Oh, a PDF file would be good for me, too.
BTW, insofar as a Christmas story starting at Halloween ... have you seen the stores lately? I walked into BJ's Club yesterday and was confronted with inflatable snowmen and Christmas trees! [grin!]
I sent the book, Alan. Check your email.
I am ALWAYS interested in fiction with a skeptical/secular/atheist message. I have yet to see a movie or read a book which shows atheists in a positive light or chronicles the demise of religion. If I am one of the Chosen Five, I'd like a .pdf file (sent to firstname.lastname@example.com). I promise to write a review on amazon. Thanks and good luck with it.
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Writing Country Songs Plain and Simple
Country music prides itself on being the heartbeat of the working class. The common messages and plain language ("Write it like you talk it" is a popular saying among country songwriters) of its song lyrics have been the benchmark of a form that started in the rural south and spread like a wildfire to all points North, East, and West. Nashville, Tennessee, has been this genre's launching pad since the 1930s and is now Music City to practically all types of music. This category breaks down into two primary types:
- Traditional country includes hillbilly, country and western, and blue grass music.
- Pop country, also known as new country, is where pop rock arranging meets the more traditional style of country.
If you live and breathe traditional country and it feels as comfortable as a broken-in pair of cowboy boots, then by all means, follow that old dusty road, no matter where you hail from. But if you don't really feel natural or are just trying to "cash in," you'd better know that no one can spot a wooden nickel quicker than country folk.
Traditional country
If you want to write country songs, it's good to know your roots — the flowers of today come from seeds of yesterday. The following segments will fill you in on the parts (or seeds) that can help you create your country song. Find some of the songs by the people or groups we mention and pick them apart to see what made them so successful.
Traditional country's appeal lies in its simplicity. It can be clever and intelligent, but it never aims over the head of the common man — nor does it talk down to him.
Traditional country music originally came from the Appalachian Mountains where people sang and played fiddles (violins), guitars, autoharps, and banjos. During the 1960s, Johnny Cash became a superstar followed by Willie Nelson, and George Jones is considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, traditional country singer around. One of the most popular traditional country artists today is singer/songwriter Alan Jackson. In 2002, he won three Academy of Country Music awards including Top Male Vocalist of the Year, and his song "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" won Song of the Year and Single of the Year.
There are two types of traditional country:
- Country and western: Western music came about when country musicians, many from Oklahoma and Texas, started using western themes (cowboys, life on the range, horses and cattle, and of course, the girl that waits back home) in their music and began wearing colorful western clothes. The biggest stars were Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Country music grew dramatically in the 1940s. In order to market both country and western music in the same genre, the record industry came up with the name "country and western" to include both genres.
- Bluegrass: This type of music is acoustic (meaning they use no electronically amplified instruments). Typical instruments used are the upright bass fiddle, acoustic guitar, Dobro (the metal-bodied guitar-like instrument usually played with a metal or glass slide), banjo, fiddle (violin), and mandolin (the small-bodied instrument comprised of four pairs of strings). With a continued up-shift in popularity of bluegrass music, you may want to consider songwriting in that genre. In order to become successful, it's necessary to immerse yourself in the music, especially in its roots. There are fine anthology CD sets available for Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers and that's a good place to start. Then familiarize yourself with current artists, especially Allison Krauss who finds herself regularly on the country charts, Ricky Skaggs, ex-Stanley brother Ralph Stanley, and the "new grass" sensation Nickel Creek — three talented songwriters/performers from California.
The bluegrass soundtrack for the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou won the Best Album of the Year Grammy award in 2002, to the shock, surprise, and delight of many in the industry.
Pop country or new country
Pop country is a wayward cousin of country who came to visit for the weekend and somehow became a permanent member of the household. In doing so, some of the rough edges of country were knocked off and substituted with some of the slick chord changes and production values of pop and rock.
Pop country is quite a different genre than traditional country. In traditional country, the songs were simple, using three-chords, and dealt with real-world issues. Pop country songs, on the other hand, are often simple pop songs with a country feel and usually use more chords than the typical three-chord traditional song (like using the 2, 6, and 3 chords more frequently and even other more tantalizing chords such as the diminished, half-diminished, and sustained forth chords). The hit song "Amazed" (written by Marv Green, Chris Lindsey, and Aimee Mayo; performedby Lonestar) that crossed over into the pop charts actually uses three separate keys: one for the verses, one for the pre-chorus, and another for the chorus.
The fact is that there is little difference in the structure of many pop country ballads and those sung by "boy-band" groups such as the Backstreet Boys and N Sync. The song "I Can Love You Like That" (written by Steve Diamond, Maribeth Derry, and Jennifer Kimball) and "I Swear" (written by Gary Baker and Frank Myers) were both number one country hits for John Michael Montgomery as well as hits on the Top-40 when they were sung by the group All-4-One. The song "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You" (written by Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers) was recorded not only by N Sync (reaching number eight on the pop charts), but by the country group Alabama (featuring N Sync), which hit the country charts, as well.
When you're writing for the new country marketplace, remember that songs with a negative theme will have trouble finding a home. Also blatant "lost my baby and I'm gonna drown my sorrows in Jack Daniels" weepers go in and out of style — refer to today's music charts for reference.
Arrangement-wise, many stylistic elements have been added in country's quest to cross over to the general populace. In the mix, there are now rock electric guitars (more distorted and hotter in the blend) and nontraditional elements like strings (Chet Atkins turned the country world on its head when he started adding string sections to county songs in the 1950s), synthesizers, and even drum loops like the ones found on urban tracks. You can even hear the gimmick of misusing the pitch correcting devices to create the robotic vocal effect heard on Cher's hit, "Believe" (written by P. Barry, M. Gray, B. Higgins, S. McLennan, T. Powell, and S. Torch). Certain elements from traditional country are often added to put in the "down home" elements listeners are accustomed to hearing, such as fiddle and pedal steel (that's the unit that sits on four legs in front of the player and is picked with finger picks, chorded with a steel bar, and pitch-shifted by manipulating levers with your knees — it supplies the "crying guitar" sound you hear on many country songs). Also incorporated are the banjo, dobro (the steel bellied guitars you see on the cover of the Brothers in Arms album by those English hillbillies, Dire Straits) and harmonica.
Sometimes a song can straddle more than a single genre by changing the arrangements, instrumentation, and vocal style. Producers can sometimes change a song from pop to new country with the addition of certain key Nashville instruments like pedal steel and fiddle. "I Swear" (written by Gary Baker and Frank Myers) was not only an R&B hit for All-4-One but a country hit for John Michael Montgomery, as well.


text:
Travel can make it hard to keep your blood sugar within your target
range because of changes in time zones, meal schedules, and types of foods
Whenever you need to see a doctor away from home, let
him or her know you have
diabetes. And always wear medical
identification. In an emergency, medical identification lets people know that
you have diabetes so they can care for you appropriately if you are unable to
When you are traveling:
When you are traveling by car:
When you are flying:
When you are traveling to other countries:
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September 26, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Jennifer Hone, MD - Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
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To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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Just when everyone thought non-fuel cell battery technology was stagnant, scientists at the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory found a way to increase battery life by up to twice as much. Sparing you to boring technical details, essentially what they did was find a new composite structure material to place inside batteries, giving the charge-store capacity a 250 mAh/g, which is about twice as much as what you're using now.
So, not only will this improve battery life in your laptops, it'll bulk up a bunch of consumer electronics and hybrid vehicles as well. Score one for scientists. And score another for that horrible Photoshop.
Scientists double the capacity of rechargeable lithium batteries [TGDaily via Slashgear]


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Face It and Fix It: A Three-Step Plan to Break Free from Denial and Discover the Life You Deserve
NOOK Book(eBook)
Available on Compatible NOOK Devices and the free NOOK Apps.
World-renowned interventionist Ken Seeley, one of the hosts of A&E's hit television series Intervention, has spent the past twenty years helping people and their families deal with and overcome life-threatening addictions. His clients have ranged from the homeless to multimillionaires, each needing professional help with every problem imaginable, including alcoholism, drug dependency, excessive gambling, sexual addiction, abusive behavior, and mental disorders. A few years into his career, Ken realized that the one common characteristic with each of his clients was denial. He has since built his success on a proven program for pinpointing and dealing with this core issue.
Whether coping with a severe or a soft addiction, a life-threatening situation, or just an impediment to true happiness, we're all in denial about something.
It might be small and seemingly innocent, such as the fact that you're not trying to excel in your job as much as you could or should be. Or it could be much larger and even potentially lethal, such as a full-blown addiction that at this very moment is destroying your life. The truth is, no matter who you are, no matter how small or large your problems may seem, denial is holding you back from living your life to the fullest.
Denial is the number one symptom of addiction. It's the mask that lets addicts ignore and avoid the consequences of their actions. But what most people don't know is that denial is also the fuel that creates an addiction in the first place—as well as nearly every other disorder, behavior, and habit that can negatively affect your life. In Face It and Fix It, Seeley leads readers through a three-step process to remove life-damaging denial in order to live balanced and healthy lives. He helps readers first to identify life-damaging behaviors; next he gives the tools necessary to break down the walls that denial builds up over time; and finally he shows how to maintain balanced lives and relationships.
Whether you're looking for help for someone you love or struggling with an addiction of your own, Face It and Fix It will leave you with a greater sense of self-awareness and the skills you need to both improve your relationships and to live the life you deserve.
Product Details
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About the Author
Ken Seeley, a featured expert on A&E's hit show Intervention, has remained involved, professionally and personally, in recovery since 1989. Seeley saves lives every day as the founder and CEO of Intervention911.com. His organization is one of the most prominent and successful private intervention services in the country. His knowledge and unique perspective have also made him an addiction and intervention expert for the media, where he's a regular contributor for CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, and many other stations. Seeley, BRI II, is also certified by the National Association of Drug and Alcohol Interventionists and is a preferred interventionist for the Betty Ford Center.
What People are Saying About This
"The show Intervention on A&E has allowed us as Interventionist to become a household name. It has been a joy to put a face and a healing heart on the disease of addiction and Ken Seeley has been a very special part of that journey."
"FACE IT & FIX IT is a must read for anyone dealing with addiction's affliction. Ken provides insight and clarity on some of addictions toughest hurdles."
"This is a practical and effective guide for breaking down denial and facing the void with which so many struggle. Highly recommended."
"Ken Seeley has devoted his life and expertise in guiding and helping families save the lives of their loves ones. Ken's compassion, love and courage are the foundation of his continuous commitment to helping others. He truly cares."
"Ken Seeley is a nationally recognized, respected and skilled practitioner in the field of recovery. He is a trusted colleague and I highly recommend his latest work."
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text:
BALLETTO BIS - Frilled Buffalo Leather Tote Bag
Exterior: Approx. 13"H x 16"W x 6"D
Interior: Approx. 11"H x "13.5W at the opening x 5"D
These Caterina Lucchi handbags have been meticulously aged to make them look like they have been rediscovered from an old attick. They capture varying personalities ranging from bold and edgy to retro-chic.
[ No Reviews yet. | Write a review! ]
(Item: IT-CL-HC10)
Please note:Espresso is SOLD OUT.
With the BALLETTO BIS, Caterina Lucchi took the fan-favored BALLETTO frilled leather tote bag, made it with buffalo leather, and distressed it to create a soft yet edgy handbag. Like Caterina herself, it's the ultimate mash-up of feminine beauty and strength.
Please note that the "aging" process that give these bags the distinct, worn-out look also results in one-of-a-kind bags. No two bags will be exactly alike, and the bag you receive will have tonality/distressing patterns that are different from the ones photographed here.Features:
- Handmade in Italy with soft buffalo leather
- Eye-catching layers of pleated, frilled leather with zipper edging all around the front and sides of the bag
- Cotton-lined main compartment with top-zip closure and Caterina Lucchi's signature tassel zipper pull
- One zippered pocket (approx 8.5"W x 6.5"H) and two open accessory pockets on the interior
- Double leather handles with an approximate 7" handle drop
- Adjustable and removable leather strap
- Caterina Lucchi logo stitched near the top of the bag
- Comes with a Caterina Lucchi leather tag and accessory clip
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2013 Pickup Truck Of The Year
The bionic Ram vs. the supreme Taco
For over 24 years we've put the latest 4x4 pickups available in our head-to-head battle that is Pickup Truck of the Year. To participate in the late-model truck showdown, the pickup has to be all-new or significantly revised from the previous model year (new cup holders don't count), have a two-speed transfer case, a production run of at least 1,500 vehicles available in the U.S., and be on sale by January 15, 2013. For this year's Pickup Truck of the Year (PTOTY) we had a head-to-head battle between two formidable contenders—the Ram 1500 Crew Cab Outdoorsman and the Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Access Cab. While Ford and GM had eligible trucks, the two manufacturers declined to participate in this year's competition.
PTOTY isn't a tow-off or an off-road drag race, but rather a weeklong on- and off-road adventure that places the pickups in a variety of scenarios. From tricky rock sections to curvy canyon roads, to win PTOTY the truck truly has to be jack-of-all trades. We began this year's competition by crawling under the rigs and gathering the trucks RTI (ramp travel index) scores at Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California. Off Road Evolution's 30-degree RTI ramp made for a great measuring stick to see which of the pickups could flex and tuck the best. It also provided a window into what potential low hanging pieces may get bashed or beaten off-road.
Once we had taken a good look underneath, we drove the pickups to the old El Toro Marine Base in Orange County, California. The abandoned air field is home to the History channels' Top Gear television show and made for a safe and controlled environment for us to perform braking and acceleration tests. Those performance numbers reflect what the manufacturers estimated horsepower numbers really mean and what affect the modern technology has on the trucks.
After we left the tarmac, we set off on our 1,000-mile weeklong journey. Using the rugged desert terrain and mountains of Southern California we peeled away from the highway and into rocky, loose, sandy, and very hilly situations. It's not uncommon for one truck to perform extremely well in one arena of wheeling, but fall short in another. For our test we took each truck over the same lines and trail conditions, so there are no excuses and comparisons are as accurate as they come.
Getting to and from all of our different Southern California testing destinations was a feat in itself. Our wheeling destinations often pitch us through twisty canyon roads and long stretches of desert highway. Here wind noise, exhaust drone, ride quality, and interior comfort all become absorbed into the testers logbook.
2nd Place Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Baja
For those of you keeping track, technically the Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Series truck was eligible for last year's PTOTY test, but Toyota was unable to get us a tester in time. This gave the company the ability to slide into this year's competition. The Tacoma TRD (Toyota Racing Development) T|X (Toyota Xtreme) Baja Series is billed as a desert-ready truck that gives you all of the standard features of the Tacoma TRD, with more suspension travel and off-road prowess. As is the theme with many of the modern off-road packages these days, the Tacoma has some real function to go with its form. The TRD T|X Baja is fitted with a selectable rear locker, a torquey V-6, and specially-valved front and rear Bilstein shocks which net the truck 9.25 inches of front and 10 inches of rear suspension travel.
Couple this travel with a set of 265/70/R16 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs on stylish 16-inch aluminum wheels, and it starts to paint the picture of truck that has much more to it than an over-top sticker package. Our Access Cab tester was what's considered a pre-production test vehicle. This meant some of the small details were in the final stages, but the vehicle was otherwise how you will get it off of the dealer lot.
The 16-year-old kid in all of us was pretty excited over the appearance and stance of the Tacoma. The tire and wheel package is spot-on, the stance is aggressive, and the dimensions seemed just right. The sticker package was a hot topic, with most of the judges not digging the size, look, and placement. Fortunately, it's just a sticker, which makes it easy to remove for those so inclined.
The front of the Tacoma may be getting a little long in the tooth, but we're still excited that it offers a fair amount of clearance. Two front tow points, along with a rear receiver gave the truck recovery options and the ability to tow 6,500 pounds. The bed of the truck was very fitting in both size and attachment points, but some of the judges felt the bed liner might not handle long term abuse like hauling heavy axles and parts. The bed organizer and tie-down points makes it very usable. Overall, Toyota hit it out of the park visually.
Toyota has been known for its dependability and well-engineered pickup platforms for decades. And while the powertrain engineers seem to be doing a great job, the interior designers seem to be falling a little behind. When you step into the Tacoma it looks and feels a bit dated. It's almost so dated and simple that it makes you feel nostalgic about older trucks and you sort of like it. We're all for classic and Spartan styling, but when it's fitted with a modern price tag, it needs to be done well.
A set of Baja-inspired racing seats would go a long way into getting this truck up to date and carrying the off-road theme inside of the truck. Storage was pretty good for such a small pickup and the ability to fold the rear seats out of the way makes the access portion of the Access Cab very usable. Overall comfort and quality was a little less that we would have liked to have seen for a 2013 model truck. Surprisingly, it's not out of the question that you could take four adults in the truck, though you'll likely grow tired of the rear passengers breathing heavily onto the back of your neck.
The Tacoma gives you the sense that you are driving a well-tuned modified 4x4 on the street. Power and acceleration is excellent, as the V-6 engine produces solid low-end torque and rowing through the six-speed manual transmission made cruising the canyons and countryside more enjoyable. The truck never feels too big, so navigating the city is very stress free. While the Tacoma stopped just fine, judges did notice that the brake pedal felt firm and required more effort to engage than expected.
One element that bugged some judges, but didn't bother others was the TRD Performance exhaust. It is the type of exhaust that is just loud enough to get on your nerves if you notice it, but not annoying enough where your neighbors will think that you are part of some import street racing gang. It's always a challenge to get a good rumble out of a V-6 and Toyota did a decent job of matching the sound and performance.
There was also a bit of cabin noise in the form of squeaks, A/C fan flutters, and rattles. The sounds were intermittent, but annoying on rough roads. Overall, for a truck that is meant to blaze quickly down desert trails, it handles surprisingly sporty on the road. We hate when "trendy" magazines like to compare the handling of a truck to a sports car, so we'll just say that it feels stable enough on twisting roads that you could probably drive it faster than you should.
With Baja plastered onto the side of the bed, the off-road performance expectations (especially at speed) were high for the Tacoma. The truck was built to go fast, and the faster you go over desert roads, the more it rewards you. The slower you go however, the harsher the suspension felt. To get the most out of the pickup you sometimes had to white knuckle it through the large whoop sections. Fast is fun, but it can be very dangerous.
The underbelly clearance was great for most of the Southern California trails we encountered, and we rarely scraped or banged the underpinnings. Although a lower crawl ratio would have helped in the rockcrawling and hillclimb sections. The Tacoma's size and visibility continued to make it an easy wheeler. Fitted with a selectable rear locker, we found that traction wasn't a huge concern and the A-Trac front differential assistance proved effective the majority of the time.
The Bilstein shocks are designed to give the Baja version of the Tacoma not only more travel, but more controlled wheeltravel. This travel helped to keep the truck planted in most twisty and speed-derived scenarios. We did manage to bottom out the suspension a few times at speed and feel a touch more valving to firm up the overall suspension wouldn't be a bad thing. The interior noises were extremely obnoxious off-road. The faster you went, the more the inside sounded as though it was shaking loose around you.
The two biggest performance complaints was the very invasive traction control system and slow to actuate four-wheel drive engagement. If you want to let loose with the Tacoma in the sand or hold it sideways over the dirt, 4-Lo was the only way to defeat the electronic nannies and let you have fun. You could trick it into letting you have a good time in 2WD, but you won't be able to lock up the rear axle, and once you got too loose it would shut you down. For most of our testing 4-Hi wasn't the place to be. We don't like comparing this truck to the Ford Raptor, because the two are worlds different, but if it had the same electronic nanny delete feature that the Raptor does, it would be an absolute animal off-road. For a truck with such extreme looks and off-road attributes we just expected more.
Lasting Impressions
One thing we all agreed on was that the Tacoma would be an absolute dream ride for those in their younger years. It looks cool, it's fun to drive, and it's capable enough to where you don't have to spend a ton (or any) money to make it a formidable wheeling machine. Sure, the interior is a bit dated, but it's completely livable, and almost welcomed in today's overly complex digital displays. It feels like a mini-truck, acts like a mini-truck, and is fun to drive both on- and off-road. Spend a little time muffling the interior creaks and you'll find yourself with a truck fun to pilot around town, on the highway, and in the dirt on the weekend.
What's hot: Desert-tuned suspension, torquey engine, rear locker, six-speed manual, awesome styling, fun to drive
What's not: Outdated interior, noisy cabin, invasive electronics, graphic package, poor four-wheel drive engagement
Our take: One awesome taco with plenty of fixin's
Logbook quotes:
"Fun to drive, but noisy"
"Great looking exterior, but needs an interior update"
"Excellent power and gear selection"
Winner Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4
For 2013 the Ram 1500 is virtually all-new from the ground up. This includes a lighter and stronger frame, body panels, and a host of technology upgrades. For our test we took the reins of the Outdoorsman 4x4 Crew Cab. The Outdoorsman edition is designed to accommodate fisherman, hunters, and general outdoor hobby enthusiasts. Some of the highlights of the Outdoorsman package include a limited-slip differential, Hemi V-8, class IV hitch, and beefy all-terrain tires.
For 2013 our test Ram was also fitted with some class-exclusive features. A part of that exclusivity is the multilink rear suspension, which when fitted with the optional and new Active-Level 4-Corner air suspension as our tester was, equates to a truck with automatic load-leveling capabilities. This feature is a major plus for those constantly hauling trailers and toting heavy loads.
Another area that Ram is bidding for exclusivity in is mpg. To achieve the fuel economy goals, Ram has removed power-robbing components such as the power steering pump and replaced it with an all-electric power steering system. Another fuel saving feature Ram has worked in with models equipped with the optional air suspension, is an aero mode that causes the truck to lower its stance at highways speeds. These are just two of the many cues built into to the '13 model year to claim the best mpg numbers in its class.
When we first set eyes on the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman a few of us thought there was a mix-up. With its heavily blacked-out styling and minimal badges, we thought we had received some sort of NASCAR Truck edition. It didn't help that when the air suspension is in entry/exit mode it makes the truck appear that much lower. For a truck with Outdoorsman in the title, we half expected a deer head silhouette or some sort of Mossy Oak trim.
The more we studied the truck though, the more we began to appreciate the understated, but very clever attributes of it. Where the Tacoma Baja screams "hey, look at me", the Ram subtly states, "get out of my way, I have work to do." Beefy all-terrain tires and a simple click of the truck into Off-Road mode provides the truck with a stance better fitted with its name. While the approach angle isn't terrible, a removable lower bumper face would do wonders for keeping things out of harm's way off-road.
With our test truck fitted with the optional cargo management system known as RamBox it became the go-to truck for putting away items that we didn't want to place inside of the pickup (i.e., tools, tow straps, recovery gear). We especially liked that you could lock and unlock the RamBoxes wirelessly via the same key fob that engages the door locks. Overall, the Ram still has a very brand specific look and style that we like, and front and rear tow points to get us out when we get into trouble.
Inside the Ram the new for '13 cloth seats provided great support and had plenty of adjustment to accommodate a variety of drivers. And seating in the rear was adequate for a grown man. If there was one area that was a little overwhelming, it's the new dash. Even after spending a 1,000 miles behind the wheel, we were still finding new read outs and features on the vehicle information center.
What makes the razzle-dazzle of the dash stand out even more was the extremely odd and clumsy radio fitted with the truck. The optional in-dash navigation unit would have been great, but our as-equipped truck radio was fitted with knobs that looked better suited for a Fisher-Price toy than a modern-day pickup. Fortunately, the Ram has enough interior storage compartments that you could hide the hideous radio easily in one of the many easily accessible compartments. Inside the cab is extremely well insulated and everything about the truck feels solid and securely fastened-something easy to appreciate after exiting the Tacoma.
The excitement of a rumbling V-8 under the hood of a 1/2-ton is apart of what gives this genre of truck its appeal The Ram's 5.7L is a strong engine, but after a week of testing, , some of the judges felt as thought it lacked lo-end grunt. When you wanted power, it was there, but you had to seriously engage the pedal to get things moving. And while the six-speed auto shifts fine, we would have liked to have tested the new optional eight-speed transmission.
The ride of the truck was very smooth for a 1/2-ton, partly thanks to its air ride and multilink rear suspension. The electronic steering feels strong and on-point, but the turning radius was wider than expected. This equated to an already large truck feeling that much bigger when navigation the city. Although the visibility is great, this Ram is better left to roam the open highway.
From a brand that brought us such off-road sensations like the Power Wagon; we had high hopes for what the Outdoorsman would bring to the table. Sure, we go off-road appointments, but admittedly we were hoping for more. What we found over the course of our test though, was while we wanted more, we didn't really need more.
On hillclimbs the long wheelbase truck was sure-footed and stable. And while it felt like a bit of a land-yacht at times over the tight and rocky trails, it had the ground clearance to keep us from tumbling rocks under the chassis. Yes, we will always want from and rear lockers, but the limited-slip was very effective in the Ram platform. And since the multilink rear allows the solid-axle to flex more easily off-road, we rarely lifted a tire.
As is the case with most modern trucks, the electronic nannies were plenty invasive- especially when blasting through the sand or hanging it out in the desert. Speaking of the desert, this is one spot that proved to be too much for the trucks air suspension. It often felt too soft and some judges even experienced a suspension overheating warning light. Ultimately, the truck performed well in our entire off-road test. it wasn't perfect, but it always got the job done with little fuss.
Lasting Impressions The new Ram line is all about working smarting, not harder. And the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4 we tested was a shining example of this from top to bottom. Time will tell if living with the modern technology will be pricey (out of warranty) experience, but for now, it all works and performs in a seamless harmony. The Ram consistently did everything we asked and was always ready for more. At the core, the Ram is more workhouse, than a subtle sheep. Again, and again the Ram surprised and impressed us, which is why it went onto receive our coveted award for Pickup Truck of the Year. Look for more PTOTY champs as we'll add quarterly reviews of the 2013 winner over the course of the year.
What's hot: Fuel-saving technology, great storage, limited-slip differential, complex, but wel working suspension, all-terrain tires
What's not: Electronic invasions, cosmetically challenged radio, Outdoor namesake, without a lot of outdoor flare
Our take: A modern Ram for a modern world.
Logbook quotes:
"Where are the special features?"
"Smooth ride and great power when you need it."
"More utilitarian than off-road toy."
"Solid truck, inside and out."
How We Score 'Em
The scoring parameters for Pickup Truck of the Year is based off of a 100-percent scale and divided into five categories. As you would expect, Trail Performance absorbs the largest chunk at 30 percent. Next on the list is Empirical (price, payload, mpg, ground clearance, etc.), which takes a 25 percent share. Since we know that the pavement is where a large majority will spend their time, the On Pavement portion grabs 20 percent. The Interior section sees 15 percent, and the final 10 percent goes to judging the sometimes very subjective exterior.
Staff Picks
John Cappa, Editor
I really enjoyed the sporty feel, nimble handling, and high-speed off-road capability of the Toyota Tacoma Baja, but at the end of the day I need a work truck more than I need a toy. The Ram 1500 fills those needs much better with more cargo area and towing capacity. Plus, the Ram interior is a nicer place to call home for those long, cross-country drives.
Ken Brubaker, Senior Editor
I thought the Tacoma was a blast. Its smaller overall size helped to make it nimble and fun on the trail. The beauty is that it also has decent cargo and towing capacities so it can still be used as a real truck. From a styling perspective, I think Toyota hit a homerun due to the lack of nose-down rake, eye-catching graphics, and cool wheels.
Ali Mansour, Technical Editor
The Tacoma had my attention from the second it rolled up. Minus the graphics on the side, the exterior of the truck simply looks great. If the Tacoma only carried that same wow factor to the inside, it would be my number one pick. I still believe the Tacoma's a solid truck, but the Ram simply offered more in the way of comfort, power, and function. Sure, the Tacoma was more fun and nimble off-road, but the Ram felt sure-footed just about everywhere it was. The Ram's air suspension is one gimmick that I am not a huge fan of, but I could see it being especially useful for towing and eking out those precious fuel economy numbers. The 16-year-old me still wants the Tacoma, but the grown-up me say's take the Ram home.
Jason Gonderman, Web Editor
Both of the trucks on this year's test were excellent vehicles, but if I had to choose one of them to put in my driveway it would have to be the Ram 1500. The Tacoma Baja is a blast in desert washes, but for my needs the payload, towing capacity, seating, and overall versatility of the Ram make it the truck that I would choose.
Steve VonSeggern, Publisher
I can appreciate the effort that Toyota and Bilstein went to in order to create this niche version of the Tacoma, and I think they did an admirable job. But the development of half-ton pickups has gone so far as to eclipse the performance, economy, and livability of its smaller cousins. The Taco is lots of fun, but is getting very long in the tooth. It feels exactly like it is, which is a very old truck by today's standards. By contrast, the Ram feels fresh, new, high tech, super high quality, and tightly screwed together. For that reason I'd happily drive the Ram home.
Specifications As Tested
|Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4
|Toyota Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Access Cab
|Base price
|Price as tested
|Options as tested
|Customer Preferred Package 25T ($2,195), Comfort group ($395), Premium Cloth 40/20/40 bench ($250) 5.7L V-8 Hemi MDS VVT engine ($850), Power Heated T-Tow Mirrors w/ Puddle & Signal Lamps ($100), Active-Level 4-Corner Air Suspension System ($1,595), ParkSense Rear Park Assist System ($250), ParkView Rear Back-Up Camera ($200), RamBox Cargo Management System ($1,295), Trailer Brake Control ($230), Spray-in Bedliner ($475), Destination charge ($995)
|TRD Off-Road Package ($3,570), Baja Series Package ($4,365), Destination charge ($810)
|Pushrod-operated overhead valves, 16-valve, V-8, variable valve timing, hydraulic lifters with roller followers
|DOHC 24-valve VVT-I V-6
|Displacement (ci/liter)
|Bore x stroke (in)
|3.92 x 3.58
|3.70 x 3.74
|Compression ratio (:1)
|Naturally aspirated/sequential, multi-port, electronic
|Naturally aspirated/electronic
|Mfg.'s power rating @ rpm (hp)
|395 @ 5,600
|236 @ 5,200
|Mfg.'s torque rating @ rpm (lb-ft)
|407 @ 3,950
|266 @ 4,000
|Mfg.'s suggested fuel type
|Mid-grade unleaded suggested, regular unleaded accepted
|Regular unleaded
|65RFE 6-spd automatic
|RA60F 6-spd automatic
|Ratios (:1):
|1st: 3.00, 2nd: 1.67, 3rd: 1.50, 4th: 1.00, 5th: 0.75, 6th: 0.67, Reverse: 3.00
|1st: 4.17, 2nd: 2.19, 3rd: 1.49, 4th: 1.19, 5th: 1.00, 6th: 0.85, Reverse: 3.61
|Axle ratio (:1)
|Transfer case
|BW 44-45 part-time, 2-spd, electric-shift
|VF2BM electric-shift, part-time, 2-spd
|Low-range ratio (:1)
|Crawl ratio (:1)
|Steel ladder-type
|Fully-boxed with eight crossmembers
|Steel cab, double-wall steel pickup box
|A-arms, air-springs, stabilizer bar/IFS ZF 8.5-inch
|Coil-spring double wishbone and stabilizer bar w/60mm Bilstein shocks/8-inch IFS differential
|Five-link with track bar, air-springs, and stabilizer bar/solid axle 9.3-inch with limited-slip
|Leaf spring with staggered outboard-mounted 50mm Bilstein reservoir shocks/8.25-inch solid axle with factory TRD E-locker
|Electric-power, rack-and-pinion
|Power rack-and-pinion
|Turns (lock-to-lock)
|13.2 x 1.1-inch vented discs, two-piston pin-slider calipers
|12.56-inch vented discs
|13.8 x 0.87-inch disc, single-piston pin-slider calipers
|10-inch leading-trailing drums
|Wheels (in)
|17 x 7 painted cast aluminum
|16 x 7 cast aluminum
|265/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor Pro Grade
|265/70R16 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO
|Fuel Economy
|EPA city/highway
|Observed city/highway/trail
|Weight (lb)
|Wheelbase (in)
|Overall length (in)
|Overall width (in)
|Height (in)
|74.9 (entry/exit mode), 77.0 (normal), 77.9 (Off-Road 1), 79.0 (Off-Road 2)
|Track f/r (in)
|Minimum ground clearance (in)
|Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft)
|Approach/departure angles (deg)
|15.2 (entry/exit), 19.7 (normal), 21.8 (Off-Road 1), 22.9 (Off-Road 2)/ 18.7 (entry/exit), 20.6 (normal), 21.4 (Off-Road 1), 22.9 (Off-Road 2)
|Breakover angle (deg)
|12.7 (entry/exit), 15.9 (normal), 17.6 (Off-Road 1), 19.2 (Off-Road 2)
|GVWR (lb)
|Payload (lb)
|Maximum towing capacity (lb)
|Fuel capacity (gal)
|0-60 mph (sec)
|Quarter-mile (sec @ mph)
|17.0 @ 79.4
|16.4 @ 83.8
|Braking 60-0 mph (ft)
|Ramp Travel Index (30-deg, points)
|194 (Off-Road 2)


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Three University of Oregon School of Journalism Professors to Lead Associations
Three University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication faculty members have been named heads of leading academic associations in the same year.
Dr. Janet Wasko, professor and Knight chair in communication research, is the new president of the International Association for Media and Communication Research. Wasko, whose term as IAMCR president runs from July 2012 through July 2016, has been at the University of Oregon since 1986. In addition to research, her teaching areas include the political economy of media and media studies. Wasko is author, co-author or editor of 19 books.
Dr. Kim Sheehan, professor and director of the master's program in strategic communication, is president-elect of the American Academy of Advertising. Sheehan joined the University of Oregon in 1998 and teaches courses in advertising and brand planning, media, research methodology and a graduate class in teaching and professional life. She also directs the strategic communication program and the SOJC undergraduate honors program. Her research involves consumers, culture and new technology, and she has published extensively about social media, online privacy, green advertising, advertising ethics, and direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. Sheehan serves as president-elect through the end of this year and begins her term as president of the on Jan. 1, 2013.
Dr. Kyu Youm, professor and Jonathan Marshall First Amendment chair, is president of the Association for Journalism and Mass Communication. Youm joined the School of Journalism and Communication in 2002 as the inaugural holder of the Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair. As a prolific communication law scholar, he has published a number of book chapters and research articles in a wide range of leading journalism and law journals.
"To have three UO SOJC faculty leading three major academic organizations in the same year highlights the school's national and international leadership. Our faculty is deeply engaged in the research, teaching and service that are defining the future of journalism and communication," said Tim Gleason, Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication. "The leadership of Kyu, Kim and Janet is one very special example of that involvement."


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Community Notes: 4-23-13
Parents who would like to visit Summit County Preschool for summer and fall enrollment are invited to an enrollment open house from 10 a.m. to noon and 3-5 p.m. on Thursday. Stop in during those times to visit classrooms, meet teachers and complete paperwork for enrollment. Refreshments will be provided and questions will be answered. Summit County Preschool is located at 70 W. Main St. in Frisco and can be reached by phone at (970) 668-5508 or online at http://www.summitcountypreschool.com.
Are you looking for service opportunities in Summit County? Domus Pacis Family Respite is a local nonprofit that provides respites or getaways to families dealing with all stages of cancer. Domus Pacis is looking for new volunteers to help bake and prepare meals for families who are visiting Summit County and taking a break from their day-to-day dealings with cancer. If you are interested in cooking, helping out in the office, or if you have another special talent you would like to share with us, please contact Meredith Long at email@example.com or (970) 547-4745.
The Summit County Wildfire Council invites Summit County property owners to learn more about the 2013 Hazardous Fuels Reduction Grant Program. This grant program provides assistance to eligible homeowner groups, allowing residents to conduct hazardous-fuels reduction (for example, tree-removal projects) in their neighborhoods. Effective fuels-reduction projects help protect Summit County communities and watersheds from the threat of wildfire. Interested community members can download a grant application from Summit County's Colorado State University Extension page, http://www.co.summit.co.us/extension. Grant applications will be accepted through Friday. Please call Dan Schroder at (970) 668-4140 for more information.
Open Arms Childcare and Preschool has a limited number of openings in both the infant and preschool rooms. Parents are welcome to visit our center, located at Christ Lutheran Church, 16072 Hwy. 9, Farmers Korner. For more information please call (970) 237-3229, visit our website at http://www.OpenArmsChildcareAndPreschool.com, or follow us on Facebook.
Summit County Mountain Mentors is a community-based mentoring program that matches caring adult volunteers with youths ages 8-16. Their mission is "to positively influence the youth of Summit County to lead healthy lifestyles through a consistent one-on-one relationship with an adult." The group is looking for volunteers to spend eight hours each month with one of the 48 youth waiting for a mentor. Call (970) 668-9184 or visit http://www.summitcares.org.
The Alliance for Historical Preservation is seeking local crafters for a July 4 show in Frisco. Booth spaces are available for $150 for a two- or three-day show. Call (970) 370-5726 or email firstname.lastname@example.com for further information.
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A wonderful wicker basket with a variety of five delicious treats including dark chocolate covered bridge mix, caramel, viennese crunch, fruit slice jellies, mixed fruit and nuts.
Brent and Sam's cookies,dark chocolate,honey,herbal tea,pareve gift platters of cashews,apricots,pistachios,dried fruit mix,jellybeans,chocolate nonpareils,apple juice and chocolate covered raisins comprise this wonderful kosher gift basket.
For the chocolate lover! Our fabulous dark chocolate platter teeming with chocolate covered delicacies: Viennese Crunch, chocolate pretzels, chocolate wafers, truffles and chocolate patties make this a fabulous decadent platter! Sure to please!
A popular kosher gift basket containing jelly beans, cashews, dried fruit mix, french vanilla dark chocolate truffles, tea, waferrolls, white chocolate. A popular favorite!
A gourmet gift basket containing dark chocolate truffles elegantly wrapped in colored foil, chocolate bridge mix, honey glazed almonds and pecans, marzipan, crispy crackers and premium juice. A stunning kosher gift basket! Order today, we ship throughout the US and deliver locally!
A great gift with something for everyone. Two trays of delicious treats - chocolate and candy tray for the sweet lover and a tray of a healthy mix of fruits and nuts. Beautifully wrapped in cellophane and a bow! FREE SHIPPING!
Favorite chocolates and candies for the sweets lover. This platter will certainly be a great hit.
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Order this platter and you'll be cravin' delectable honey glazed almonds and pecans, viennese crunch bars (dark and/or white chocolate) and yummy dried fruit mix! Sure to satisfy that craving!


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Short guide to buying art prints
You have decorated your house without flaw, yet you are not happy with the blank walls starring back at you. If this is the case, dress them up. The question now is how. Getting art prints on your walls is a great idea. Unlike posters, art prints are created keeping in mind longevity. What is more, they provide an instant colour palette and make rooms appear more finished. There are all kinds of prints offered on the Internet, so there is no way of knowing what you are purchasing. If you want to buy prints from renowned artists like Kristjana S Williams or Anna Marrow, use the following tips. You do not want to end up making a costly mistke.
Choose your vendor
Since you do not have time to go visit stores, you are shopping online. If you are determined to buy art online, make sure to pick a reputable vendor. Google the name of the website that you are interested in and see what results you get. If a great number of people say that the vendor is a fraud, then chances are that the merchant is not reliable. The website should provide you a good indication of the vendor's reliability. If the design of the online platform is a professional one, you can be sure that the vendor is too. Another thing to pay attention to is that some merchants specialise in specific wall art. Everything Begins is not one of them. Yet, they promote independent artists.
Make sure you are not buying a reproduction
Obviously, you do not want to purchase something that is being passed off as being original. What you want is an original art print. Telling the difference between a reproduction and an original is not easy. However, it is not impossible. You do not have to be an expert to identify reproduction. A simple test involves using the magnifying glass. Examine the art print under the magnifying glass. Should the image break into hundreds of small dots, you have a fake. This is the most common type of copying. You may have a busy schedule, but if you want to be sure that you are buying an original work of art, you have to make time for shopping in person.
Choose from small editions
You should avid big editions altogether. Instead, choose limited edition art. Limited edition art prints leave no room for reproduction, so there is a certain control over them. If you want to hold something truly valuable, opt for small editions. They are great for buyers as well as for artists who are able to prevent reproduction and keeping their numbers low. It is important to mention that you will be paying more for a limited-edition art print than for an unlimited-edition one. But even though you will dig deep into your pockets, you will have something you can be proud of. If you have the opportunity to buy Kristjana S Williams limited edition prints, do not miss it.


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A Pops, What-Cha Want Me Ta-Do Ta-Him Again? Oh Yeah, KNOCK HIM OUT!: Father Arranges A Fight After Kid Talks Mess About His Son!
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Orange Black 2 Ply T-shirt Yarn
80% Cotton
20% Other Fibers
Weight: 750 gr
Length: 125 mt
Stretch: 5%
Needles/Hooks: 8-12 mm
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Footprint Laos is packed with practical and detailed advice on how to navigate these breathtaking landscapes, this concise Footprint guide will help you get the most out of your trip without weighing you down.
- Includes Essentials section with practical information
- Get off the beaten track
- Accommodation listings that you can trust, plus where to eat and drink.
- Detailed street maps will help you find your way around.
- Slim enough to fit in your pocket.


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Unlike Calgary's other satellite cities - Cochrane, Canmore, High River, Okotoks and Strathmore - Airdrie doesn't have a traditional downtown Main Street lined with historical buildings that once were (and in some cases still are) shops, banks, hotels, pubs, post office, City Hall and Court House lining the sidewalk.
Rather, Airdrie's downtown Main Street is lined with free surface parking next to the sidewalk. The shops (including a grocery store) and services (City Hall, Library and Medical Centre) are all set back from the sidewalk in suburban, strip mall fashion. It is a bit like International Avenue along 17th Ave SE in Calgary.
If you drive five minutes south (next to the lovely Nose Creek Pathway) or north along Main Street you arrive at two new power centers with the classic mix of big box retailers (restaurants, hardware and grocery stories) to meet resident's everyday needs.
Transit Oriented Development
But, if instead you walk a few blocks west from downtown, over the railway tracks and across Nose Creek environmental area, you arrive at what looks like a future Railtown. Several new low-rise condo buildings sit next to the tracks, while across the street is a power centre with a Sobeys grocery store and other amenities including a Good Earth Cafe. It is just waiting for a train station to be built to take commuters to and from Calgary – yes, 25% of Airdrie's workforce commutes from Calgary.
To help meet commuter needs, Airdrie currently has four very successful bus commuter routes. One that links Airdrie workers to CrossIron Mills and McKnight LRT Station, two that are express routes to/from downtown Calgary (one from the east side and one from the west side) and an Airdrie to Crossfield route. The City is also experimenting with a local transit service.
Adapting To Families
While all the talk these days in the urban planning world is about making cities and new communities more walkable, cycleable and transit oriented, nobody is talking about how to make urban places more driveable. We have walk scores and bike scores that measure a communities proximity to various amenities 5 or 10 minutes away by foot and pedal, but nothing that measures the amenities that are within a 5 or 10 minute drive.
In today's busy world, of two income families with lots of extracurricular activities (parents and kids), walking and cycling is in reality, mostly a recreational activity, not a form of transportation. Walking and/or cycling, as a part of everyday living is just not practical for the average family, no matter how close they are. The automobile is not going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon, no matter what the urban evangelist say.
For Airdrie, it is even more critical that its urban design adapts to the needs of the families with young children - a whopping 24% of the population is under the age of 14 (16% in Calgary).
Having recently driven and walked around Airdrie, it seemed to me everybody lives within a 5-minute drive to one or more major grocery stores, probably the most important amenity to a growing family. It also seemed the Rocky View School Division has been able to locate schools as needed in its new residential communities.
Place to play
Kudos to the City of Airdrie and Rocky View School Division for collaborated along East Lake Boulevard on the city's east side by co-locating the Bert Church High School, Bert Church Theatre and Genesis Recreation Centre (Pool, Gyms, Twin Arenas and Fieldhouse) next to each other so the facilities can be shared. This should be the model for every high school site in every region- also include a public library. In the future, all school sites should be community/ meeting places.
Airdrie boasts an ambitious schedule of annual family festivals - a Santa Claus Parade that attracts over 20,000 people (Calgary doesn't have one), Festival of Lights (older than Calgary's Zoolights), New Year's Eve Fireworks, Canada Day Parade and Spring Music Festival (with over 400 musicians). The Airdrie Pro Rodeo is one of the top 10 pro rodeos in Canada with $146,000 in prize money.
Today, Airdrie boasts 1,200 acres of parks, 104 km of pathways, 63 playgrounds and 5 off-leash dog parks. For those who want to walk or bike, Airdrie has lovely pathways and parks along Nose Creek and the many canal communities in the city. Everybody is just 5 minutes away from a park, playground or a pathway.
The city also a thriving Farmers' Market in Jensen Park, which was the site of the historic Jensen family farm - that's authenticity. Every Wednesday from June to Thanksgiving, from 3:30 to 7pm dozens of vendors sell fresh produce, food trucks serve up good grub and artists entertain, creating a fun, family food festival.
"Airdrie goes beyond the typical chain-only style of many bedroom communities. Certainly there is no shortage of chain restaurants in Airdrie but there are many high-quality independent places too such as Thai Charm, Abe's Restaurant, Sushi Haru and Taj that satisfy a very sophisticated market," says Calgary food and restaurant critic John Gilchrist.
Place to work
While most people think of Airdrie as a bedroom community of Calgary, in reality only about 50% of Airdrites work in Calgary. Airdrie has over 20 companies that employ over 100 employees - Propak Systems Ltd. being the largest with 1,000 employees.
One of the biggest employment sectors is the grocery industry (I counted 6 major grocery stores with another under construction - I may have missed one or two) currently employ over 2,500 people.
As well, Airdrie has 1,300 home businesses (out of 21,000 homes) partly as a result of an innovative program that proactively encourages the development of home-based businesses. It consists of an online course for starting, running and growing a home business, as well as a mentorship program with an existing business leader.
Over that past 10 years, Airdrie's commercial development has been growing as fast as its residential development as the ratio of commercial to residential tax assessment values has maintained its 17% commercial to 83% residential split.
Airdrie is more than just a bedroom city.
Airdrie At A Glance
It's young: The median age group is 30-34 years of age, 83% of the population is under 65 years old with the majority, 64%, under 45 years old. The median age in Airdrie is 32.4 compared to Calgary (36.4) and Canada as a whole (40.2) years.
It's growing very quickly: Airdrie is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada; population growth for the past sixteen years has exceeded 5.5%. Between the census years of 2006 and 2011, the population of Airdrie increased by 47.1%. The City is projected to grow a further 75% by 2030 to reach a population of 90,000.
It's recent: Over half of Airdrie residents have lived in Airdrie for less than 5 years. According to 2014 survey, of those who have been at their residence for less than 1 year, 38% moved from Calgary and 32% from within Airdrie.
It's mobile: Over 90% of Airdrie residents report that their primary mode of travel to work is single vehicle transportation (for Calgary its 72%. While a large number of residents commute to the City of Calgary for employment, 50% work within Airdrie or places other than Calgary.
(Source: Great Places Plan, 2016, City of Airdrie)
Last Word
It is important urban planners adapt their thinking to the needs of the contemporary family life, rather than expecting families to adapt to planner's urban utopian ideals.
Kudos to Airdrie's planners, politicians and business leaders for daring to be different, for embracing "driveability" as the key element to enhancing the quality of life for everyday living for its citizens.
An edited version of this blog appeared in the Fall Edition of Loving Airdrie magazine.
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How to Collect Your E-Mail Marketing Addresses Legally
The CAN-SPAM Act includes regulations on how e-mail marketers, such as yourself, can collect e-mail addresses. The act also mandates that you receive permission from your e-mail list subscribers before you send certain types of content, such as the commercial e-mails you want to send.
Collecting e-mail addresses with affirmative consent in mind
Potentially illegal methods of the collection of e-mail addresses aren't always easy to spot, so the best practice is to make sure that you have explicit permission from everyone on your list to send them e-mail. Some best practices for steering clear of potentially permission-less e-mail addresses include:
Never purchase an e-mail list from a company that allows you to keep the e-mail addresses as a data file. E-mail addresses kept in a data file are easily bought and sold, and e-mail addresses sold in this manner are almost never collected with explicit permission for third-party use.
Never collect e-mail addresses from websites and other online directories. You don't have affirmative consent from the owner if you get addresses this way.
Don't use an e-mail address collection service. Unless the service verifies that it collects confirmed permission for third-party use from every subscriber, don't use it.
Don't borrow an e-mail list from another business or send e-mail to an e-mail list. Those subscribers didn't explicitly opt-in to receive your e-mails.
Don't rent an e-mail list unless you're certain that the list rental company's practices are legally compliant. Most rental companies don't have lists with explicit third-party permission.
Using full disclosure during e-mail address collection
The CAN-SPAM Act encourages you to have affirmative consent with your e-mail list subscribers to send them commercial e-mail, but the most professional practice is to use an extra measure of disclosure when asking for permission. Ways for you to take affirmative consent to a more professional level include:
Everywhere you collect e-mail addresses, ask for explicit permission to send e-mail. Whether you exchange business cards with prospects in person or collect e-mail addresses through a form on your website, make sure you obtain explicit permission as part of the process. It's also a good idea to keep a record of your permission exchanges in case you ever face a legal complaint.
If you use e-mail list check boxes on website forms, keep each check box cleared (deselected) as the default. For example, if you use your website's shipping form to collect e-mail addresses, require your shoppers to select a check box to add themselves to any nontransactional e-mail lists. Make sure that the check box also includes a description of the types of e-mails your shopper is signing up for.
Send a professional welcome letter e-mail to all new e-mail list subscribers that reinforces the permission agreement. Make sure that the welcome letter e-mail arrives within 24 hours of the initial subscription request and also include privacy information and a description of the types and frequency of e-mails that the new subscriber receives. Your E-Mail Marketing Provider can send an automatic e-mail when folks join your e-mail list through an online form. A good welcome letter e-mail looks something like this:Credit: Courtesy of Wonderland Homes and Constant Contact
Send periodic permission reminders to confirm that your e-mail list subscribers are still interested in your e-mails. You can send a periodic business letter or include a few sentences at the top of your e-mails asking your subscribers to confirm their interests.


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Natural Bamboo Ortho Divan Bed Set
Product Code: 444600020
An extra firm mattress; with 2000 responsive pocket springs. Superbly resilient, sumptuous natural fillings of Bamboo, Wool, Alpaca, and Tencel.
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- Finished in the highest quality Belgian fabrics and hand tufted for durability.
- Turnable mattress
Headboard not included – To view the Tulu headboard shown click here
*Please note DHD deliveries are not available in Northern Ireland.
Assembled Dimensions
- Divan Bed Height - 66cm
- Divan Bed Length - 190cm
- Divan Base Height - 36cm
- Divan Bed Width - 120cm
- Mattress Depth - 30cm
Mattress Size Guide
Nothing should get in the way of you enjoying your new bed or mattress. When it comes to finding the perfect mattress, you need to firstly know how big you can go. Here's a basic guide to UK standard mattress and divan bed sizes to help you make the most of your bedroom space:
|Bed Size
|Feet & Inches
|Small Single
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|29.5" x 75"
|75 x 190cm
|3' x 6'3"
|36" x 75"
|90 x 190cm
|Small Double
|4' x 6'3"
|48" x 75"
|120 x 190cm
|4'6" x 6'3"
|54" x 75"
|135 x 190cm
|5' x 6'6"
|60" x 78"
|150 x 200cm
|Super King
|6' x 6'6"
|71" x 78"
|180 x 200cm
Please note
- Metric and imperial sizes are not exact equivalents
- There can be a tolerance of +/-2cm (+/-0.8ins) with all quoted measurements
Need more information on bed sizes? Unsure if your new bed will fit in your bedroom or go up your staircase? Check out our complete Bed and Mattress Size Guide
FREE DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £100 - all beds, mattresses and furniture items are also delivered, not just to your front door, but to any room of your choice. Don't worry, we'll take every care carrying your new bed through your home (but we also recommend that you move valuables such as vases and wall hangings out of the delivery path). You can check out our home measuring guide here for advise on how to measure your home prior to your delivery.
Please be aware that our Standard delivery times are on Monday to Friday between 7am and 6pm depending on your location within the UK. You will receive a call from our Customer Services team to arrange your perferred time slot.
For divan beds, we can also professionally assemble your bed for you. For £20, We will unpack and fully assemble your new divan bed plus assemble and fit your new headboard (if purchased and delivered with your bed). We'll also clear away all unwanted packaging and recycle it to ensure you're ready for a good night's sleep:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your delivery you can call us FREE on 0333 222 6800 or email us on firstname.lastname@example.com.
If you would like assistance with the assembly of your new divan bed, we can professionally assemble your bed and recycle any unwanted packaging for just £20:
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Credit is available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. Steinhoff UK Retail Limited trading as Bensons For Beds acts as a credit broker and not as a lender: registered office is Festival House, Jessop Avenue, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3SH. Credit is provided by Creation Consumer Finance Ltd (6th Floor, Wellington Buildings, 2-4 Wellington Street, Belfast BT1 6HT ), is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Duration of the loan: 6 months
6 x Monthly payments of £100


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d3drm.dll download
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To use a DLL file, you will first need to extract it from an archive. You don't have to use the paid versions of archivers to do that – there are lots of free alternatives.
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Bronson Arroyo pitched the Reds back to Ohio on quite a playoff roll.
Arroyo retired his first 14 batters and delivered a gem a day after 19-game winner Johnny Cueto went down with a back injury, and Cincinnati beat the San Francisco Giants 9-0 on Sunday night to head home with a 2-0 NL division series lead.
A pair of Ryans provided the big hits. Ryan Ludwick homered leading off the second inning for his first career playoff clout and Ryan Hanigan hit a two-run single in the fourth and a later RBI single. Jay Bruce added a two-run double and Joey Votto had three hits.
Former San Francisco skipper Dusty Baker came into his old stomping grounds by the bay and left with two commanding victories 10 years after managing the Giants within six outs of a World Series title before falling short.
The Giants were handed their handed their worst playoff shutout in franchise history.
Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. Homer Bailey (13-10), who pitched a no-hitter Sept. 28 at Pittsburgh, takes the mound as the Reds try to close out the series against Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (14-9).
The Reds won their first playoff game in 17 years by taking Game 1 without their ace Saturday night, and now they're going back home looking for their own sweep after the Phillies eliminated them in a frustrating three-game first round two years ago.
The Reds will try for their first postseason sweep since beating the Dodgers in the first round in 1995. Cincinnati got swept in the NL championship series that year by Atlanta to start what became a seven-game postseason losing streak before Saturday's win.
The shaggy-haired Arroyo, the right-hander with that high leg kick slightly resembling the familiar motion of Giants Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, went untouched before Brandon Belt's two-out single to the gap in right-center with two out in the fifth. San Francisco didn't get another hit until Pablo Sandoval lined a double off the right-field arcade with two outs in the ninth.
The 35-year-old Arroyo worked ahead and had four straight strikeouts during one stretch to baffle the Giants.
Arroyo's seven innings marked his longest postseason outing in five starts and 13 appearances — and he couldn't have picked a better moment to do it.
Cueto threw all of eight pitches in Saturday's 5-2 win before leaving with back spasms, and Mat Latos and a patchwork pitching staff handled the rest.
Baker said he picked Arroyo for Game 2 here in part because the righty is susceptible to giving up home runs after he allowed 26 this year.
Arroyo thoroughly outpitched Madison Bumgarner to beat the Giants for the first time since 2008. He had gone 0-2 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts since, getting two no-decisions facing San Francisco this season.
And he took the hard-luck loss in Game 2 against the Phillies in 2010 as the victim of a blown save.
Boy did he give the bullpen a break with this masterpiece.
Cincinnati beat San Francisco's two best pitchers on their home field. Matt Cain lost Game 1.
Bumgarner had pitched a one-hitter June 28 against the Reds at home, but was nothing close to that dominant this time.
The last time Baker managed in a playoff setup like this season — with the higher seed opening on the road for the first two games — he was on the other end. In 1997, while managing the favored Giants, San Francisco lost the first two games in Florida and the Marlins completed a three-game sweep of the NL division series at Candlestick Park en route to the World Series title.
Baker has felt good about these Reds all along, even more so after recently watching from the hospital recovering from a mini-stroke when they clinched the NL Central.
He is getting contributions from throughout his lineup and a ready-for-anything pitching staff.
On Saturday, it was Brandon Phillips with three hits and a two-run homer and Bruce with a solo shot. The Reds added on late in Game 2 against the Giants' typically reliable bullpen with Bruce's eighth-inning double, a run-scoring triple from Drew Stubbs and an RBI single by Phillips.
Ludwick, who came in just 1 for 16 lifetime against Bumgarner, silenced the orange towel-waving sellout crowd of 43,505 AT&T Park in a hurry when he sent the first pitch of the second inning over the center-field wall.
The Reds sure made the Giants' pitcher friendly ballpark feel longball friendly the way they hit in these two games.
Many of the fans quickly made for the exits after the Reds went ahead 6-0 on Bruce's two-run double in the eighth.
Tim Lincecum entered in relief for the Giants in the top of the sixth trailing 4-0. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, whose rocky season kept him out of the playoff rotation, pumped his fist after striking out Hanigan to end the sixth before a scoreless seventh.
Lincecum pitched the Giants' Game 5 World Series clincher two years ago at Texas as the franchise won its first championship since moving West from New York in 1958.
Bumgarner had his own postseason milestones to lean on as he came into another playoffs.
The left-hander was the Game 4 World Series winner against the Rangers on Halloween 2010. But when Bumgarner earlier beat the Braves in Game 4 of the division series, he became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to win a postseason game at 21 years, 71 days old.
And at home this year, he had gone 9-3 with a 2.33 ERA in 14 outings, winning 14 of last 17 decisions.
NOTES: Arroyo had never gone six innings in the postseason before Sunday. ... San Francisco was shut out six times during the regular season, tied for second-fewest in the NL with Philadelphia. ... Cueto returned to Cincinnati along with Bailey. ... 2010 World Series MVP Edgar Renteria threw out the ceremonial first pitch and stopped by the clubhouse. "I'm very touched," he said. "The fans, they remember and appreciate everything. I'm never going to forget this time. They still remember what we did in 2010. It's unbelievable." ... 49ers Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana also was in the stands, along with actor Charlie Sheen — who received big boos as a Reds fan.


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The top section holds a sandwich, cut and stamped with the panda piece to the CuteZcute cutter set. There are also two mini silicone bento cups with crunchy treats: peanut butter panda puffs cereal and a couple Hello Panda cookies.
The bottom section is a mix of fruit and veggies: grapes, strawberry, cucumber wedges, carrots, and half a kiwi. There's a cute little panda pick tucked in there too.
This is packed in a two-tier bento box, in one of our beloved Kotobuki boxes.
I adore our Kotobuki boxes to the point that I am afraid to send them to school with the kids. That's silly and ridiculous and I need to get over it. I'm working on it. I'm setting a goal to use them more often. Gulp!
Supplies used to make this lunch: