text:
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Reviews and Ratings
Mega Cab SLT 4WD T-Diesel
Expert Reviews
For full-size pickup buyers, these are the good old days. Never before have trucks been more capable for hauling and towing nor more competent at coddling passengers. Moreover, today's trucks make bold styling statements. There is no mistaking a Ford F-150 for a Nissan Titan or a Toyota Tundra, nor even confusing a Chevy Silverado with a GMC Sierra. Any one of them would be a good choice from a consumer's point of view.
But it was the Ram that started the high-style-truck trend back in 1994 when Dodge took a risk with a bold, retro big-rig design. That truck transformed Ram from a bit player with staid styling to a big-stage event. The Dodge Ram has run with the big boys ever since, sometimes leading, sometimes trailing, but always solidly on the bill. Whether the '08 Ram is merely as good as the trucks listed above, or somewhat better, is more a matter of personal preference than anything else.
The Dodge Ram 1500 light-duty pickups are smooth and refined. Their cabs are comfortable and convenient, among the roomiest in their respective classes. The Quad Cab is handy for hauling friends and family but even the Regular Cab is roomy.
Arguably, the Ram is the best-looking truck on the market. Its styling is bold and handsome, even more so in its latest incarnation.
Ram was extensively re-engineered for 2006, with a new hydroformed frame that's boxed its full length; plus new suspension and body mounts that improved ride, handling, and quietness. That same year, Ram was modestly restyled inside and out.
The 2008 model year brings new life to the 4.7-liter V8, with horsepower up 31 percent to 310 hp and torque up 10 percent to 330 pound-feet. Other updates to the 2008 Dodge Ram lineup include simpler maintenance intervals, trailer sway control added to the optional stability system, available tire pressure monitors, new steering hardware for 4WDs, dark maple woodgrain trim on Laramie, and two new colors right out of the muscle car age: Sunburst Orange and Detonator Yellow.
Ram's optional Hemi engine delivers power and efficiency. The Hemi features Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System, which shuts down four of the eight cylinders when they are not needed. The switchover is seamless, and fuel economy is improved by as much as 20 percent, says Dodge. Step on the gas, however, and the cylinders reawaken, ready to deliver the 345 peak ponies that make the Hemi-powered Ram one of the most exciting light-duty pickups on the market. Adding to the Hemi's responsiveness is a five-speed automatic.
The 2008 Dodge Ram is available as a Regular Cab or four-door Quad Cab. (Dodge also offers a Mega Cab 500, which is built on a heavy-duty chassis and reviewed by New Car Test Drive with the Ram heavy-duty models).
Two bed lengths are available: a 6-foot, 3-inch short-bed and an 8-foot long-bed. Several engines are offered: A 3.7-liter overhead-cam V6, 4.7-liter V8, and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard with the 3.7-liter V6 and 4.7 V8 and the 5.7 V8s use a five-speed automatic; a four-speed auto for the V6 and five-speed auto for the 4.7 are available. Several trim levels are offered:
ST is the base model with vinyl upholstery and wind-up windows. ST comes standard with air conditioning, tilt steering, variable intermittent wipers, 40/20/40 vinyl seat, AM/FM/CD stereo, rear-wheel ABS, 17-inch steel wheels and a full-size spare tire, and a V8 and electric-shift transfer case on 4WD. Options include a bed liner, trailer tow mirrors, cruise control, four-wheel ABS, side-curtain airbags, power adjustable pedals, 17-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, and a power sliding rear window for the Quad Cab.
SXT is essentially an ST with cloth upholstery, active turn signals (touch once for 3 blinks) and remote keyless entry. Options parallel those on the ST, although the STX is the trim level for the TRX4 Off-Road package.
SLT comes standard with the 4.7-liter flex-fuel V8, six-disc CD changer, carpeting, power windows/door locks/heated mirrors, overhead console with mini-trip computer and compass, cruise control, and 17-inch painted aluminum wheels. Options include a navigation system, Sirius Satellite Radio, UConnect Bluetooth hands-free wireless communication, 5.7 V8, on-demand 4WD, bucket seats, six-way power driver seat and 20-inch aluminum wheels. A power sunroof and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system are available for SLT Quad Cabs.
The Sport group for the SLT comes with the Hemi engine and five-speed automatic transmission, unique cloth-faced bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, body-color grille and bumper fascia, fog lamps, and 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. Options are the same as for the SLT.
Laramie is the luxury trim level, offered only as Quad Cab automatic. It comes standard with dual-zone climate control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, four-wheel ABS, security alarm, and 20-inch wheels on 2WD models. Leather seats are standard, with a heated, split 40/20/40 bench up front and power adjustment for the driver. Options include navigation, power sunroof, adjustable pedals, and electronic upgrades.
Safety features include optional side-curtain airbags designed to provide head protection in a side impact or rollover. We recommend getting them; head injuries are the leading cause of death in side impacts. The Ram was awarded the highest possible rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's offset frontal crash test. Three-point shoulder belts are provided at all locations, including the rear center seat; wear them, because seat belts are your first line of defense in a crash. An electronic stability program (ESP) is optional.
The 2008 Dodge Ram presents a bold, distinctive appearance with its big horse-collar grille and Freightliner fenders. The concept dates back a dozen years, but it received a major redesign for 2002 and a makeover for 2006. The headlamps cut back deeper into the fenders, and a flattened front bumper on Sport and Laramie emphasizes Ram's big-rig image. A slot in the front bumper aids engine cooling and air conditioner performance.
Ram's trademark front grille remains one of the most instantly recognizable front ends on the road. A thick band of chrome surrounds the grille on ST, SLT and Laramie; the band is body color on Sport models. The broad, sloping hood has a pronounced crown that falls over the sides to the prominent front fenders, helpful for clearance, less so for seeing edges in tight quarters.
A fast, raked-back windshield enhances aerodynamics and water management, while gracefully blending modern sleekness with Ram's retro lower body. The leading edge of the front door overlaps the A-pillar, creating a smooth transition from the front of the cab to the side. Everything is smooth and integrated. The big side mirrors, great for visibility, are mounted on platforms to minimize wind noise, and a channel has been specially designed to keep water off of the mirrors. A small spoiler at the top of the tailgate, new last year, is said to improve fuel efficiency.
Rams sit relatively high off the ground, particularly the four-wheel-drive models. Tailgate load height is 35 inches on four-wheel-drive models, and a little over 33-1/2 inches with two-wheel-drive. That seems high when trying to heave heavy gear aboard. All beds are fitted with boat cleats designed to handle 1,000 pounds each.
Ordering the long bed adds 20 inches to the wheelbase of a Dodge Ram. And a Quad Cab wheelbase is 20 inches longer than a Regular Cab. So a Quad Cab long bed has 40 more inches of wheelbase than a Regular Cab short bed. Long-bed Rams also get a bigger fuel tank, 35 gallons in place of the standard 26 gallons; some of the latter offer a 34-gallon option.
The Dodge Ram is among the roomiest of the full-size pickups, and its cab is a pleasant place to be. It sacrifices a few inches of bed space for interior space.
Regular Cab and Quad Cab versions offer identical roominess in the front seats. Standard front seating in the Ram is a bench split 40/20/40. The narrow center section features a large fold-down armrest with a compartment big enough to hold a laptop.
We've found both the cloth and the leather seats comfortable. The driving position is good, with good visibility in all directions, though the aerodynamic front end makes it impossible to see the front corners. Big mirrors on the Ram make it easy to see what's behind.
We found the bucket seats in the Sport version comfortable and supportive and the sporty fabric looks durable. The latest fabrics, first introduced with the 2007 models, are designed to be more stain and odor-resistant than before, while also reducing static cling. Laramie models get silver trim adorning the door panels and instrument bezels. Laramie comes with distinctive leather trim, with higher-contrast color seat inserts.
The Ram interior shows attention to details that add utility and convenience. The big fold-down center armrest/console comes with adjustable dividers and a power outlet. A hook on the passenger-side floor well is provided for securing a plastic grocery bag or anything else with suitable handles.
Premium amenities such as the full-screen GPS navigation radio and Bluetooth hands-free communications are available, along with a rear-seat DVD system for Quad Cabs. We found the navigation radio to be a nice design and relatively easy to operate; these systems are getting better all the time and the latest Chrysler Group's systems work quite well.
Overall, the center dash is a paradigm of convenience. Large heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) buttons can be operated while wearing gloves. A textured fabric is used for trim around the audio and HVAC controls that gives the center dash a nice look and feel. Just below the heating controls is a slot lined with a rubber mat that's perfect for a wallet. A big panel below that folds down with adjustable cup holders. Overhead is a console with an effective pair of map lights, a trip computer, a compartment for sunglasses, and a compass, perhaps redundant on navigation-equipped models.
The design of the standard audio system could be improved for ease of use. Sometimes you have to search for the right button to press. Since preset buttons store more than one station in memory, setting a preset for a station requires pressing a separate Set button, rather than just holding the preset button down. Small, sliding bass and treble controls are harder to adjust than knobs when bouncing around in a pickup truck. Steering wheel audio controls improve this situation with brilliantly designed buttons behind the steering wheel that are easy to use, at least until you have an awkward driving moment and grip the wheel and crank up the volume by mistake. Likewise, cruise controls on the steering wheel are easy to operate and come packaged with a tilt steering column.
The interior materials appear to be of good quality. The available faux wood surface on the center stack looks okay, though it's clearly not wood, partly because of the way it's molded around the nooks and crannies. White-faced instruments with turquoise numbers look sporty and trendy, but don't offer the legibility of traditional white-on-black designs, particularly at dusk. The top brow of the instrument panel provides glare protection in bright sunlight. At night, the instruments are nicely illuminated in green.
Power adjustable pedals let shorter drivers adjust their seating position better so they aren't sitting so close to the airbag. This improves comfort, safety, and drivability. Power adjustable pedals are a good choice for two-driver families because they allow shorter drivers to move farther away from the airbag-armed steering wheel, reducing the chance of airbag injuries.
Regular Cab models come fitted with a tray behind the seats big enough to hold a large bucket. Dodge even supplies the bucket, and a tray designed to carry tools and such. Big hooks behind the seats are handy for hanging dry cleaning or plastic shopping bags.
The Quad Cab features a roomy rear seat, with enough rake to the seatback to make it comfortable for two adults, though there isn't a lot of legroom. The size of the rear bench makes it suitable for child safety seats, and all three rear seating positions are fitted with tether anchors. With one hand you can flip the Quad Cab's rear seat down. An optional metal frame then folds into place to create a rigid platform designed to support 500 pounds, useful for carrying cargo. The rear doors open 85 degrees, making it easy to get in or load gear, and the rear windows glide all the way down. Overall, the Quad Cab is a friendly, practical design for hauling people and gear; it features four conventional doors. If you need even more room, take a look at the Mega Cab.
The Dodge Ram rides nicely, even when empty, but it rides better with some weight in the bed. The Ram's rigid chassis minimizes road vibration. Rack-and-pinion steering contributes to sharp handling. The result overall is that the Ram offers responsive handling, a comfortable ride, and a general feeling of tightness.
The Ram is a big truck and on narrow roads it feels big and tall, with broad fenders that seem to fill small country roads. The ride height of the Ram adds to this sensation. It's sometimes difficult to be sure exactly where your fenders are because you can't see them.
Quad Cab models add 20 inches to the wheelbase and a long bed adds another 20 inches, so a Quad Cab long bed is a long truck, riding on a 160.5-inch wheelbase. Like others in its class, it is long on roominess and utility, but not the easiest to turn around.
That said, the Ram handles reasonably well and powers through or over just about anything, even when the tires aren't always precisely where you intended to place them.
All Rams come standard with big four-wheel disc brakes that are smooth and easy to modulate.
The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is the most popular engine choice. Fire up the Hemi, let it idle, and it burbles like a good old American V8, though there's nothing old or outdated about this engine. Although technically a traditional pushrod design with its camshaft in the block, the Hemi's head geometry is more like that of a multiple-overhead-cam engine and features twin spark plugs, direct ignition, and electronic throttle control. It's a thoroughly modern engine. The Hemi features Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System, which can deactivate four of the eight cylinders when cruising for as much as a 20 percent gain in fuel economy. The switch from eight cylinders to four is usually undetectable to the driver, but since the Ram is heavier and less aerodynamic than Hemi sedans and wagons, don't expect the same percentage increase in economy.
The Hemi's peak power and torque ratings are 345 horsepower at 5400 rpm and 375 pound-feet of at 4200. It comes with a modern five-speed automatic transmission that adds to its responsiveness and flexibility. Punch it and you know you've got a Hemi under the hood. A properly equipped Hemi increases the Ram's towing capacity to 9,100 pounds yet it's rated 14/18 mpg with 2WD.
The smaller, 4.7-liter V8 has been thoroughly revised for 2008 with more than 30 percent more power. Now at 310 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, ratings just 35 and 45, respectively, behind the Hemi, and the 4.7 is more efficient, has a wider powerband, runs on regular unleaded (mid-grade is recommended for the Hemi) and is smoother yet than the Hemi. Unike the Hemi it can be mated to a manual transmission, and the automatic is the same five-speed unit the Hemi uses. The 4.7-liter V8 is available in most states with Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) capability, meaning it can run on gasoline or up to E85 Ethanol.
The 3.7-liter overhead-cam V6 is smooth and works well with the manual six-speed gearbox. If you don't tow more than the occasional tent or personal watercraft, or live in the mountains where long grades and high altitudes conspire against you, then it may offer enough power in a light-duty truck. The V6 develops 215 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, and is rated 16/21 mpg with manual transmission, 15/21 mpg with automatic.
Trailer towing capacities range from 2,900 pounds to 9,100 pounds depending on engine, transmission, axle ratio, cab style, wheelbase, trim, and wheels; consult Dodge towing guidelines for particulars. The available 20-inch wheels typically reduce towing capacity by 1,000 pounds. Payloads range from about half a ton to almost a ton. In short, if you tow or haul, compare these capacities before selecting a model. On automatic Rams, a Tow/Haul mode for the transmission provides crisper shifts and reduces gear searching for reduced heat buildup when towing.
Four-wheel-drive models use a part-time transfer case that can be shifted electrically from two-wheel drive without stopping. Shifting into 4WD High locks the center differential. Shifting down to low range provides superior traction in extreme conditions. The front axle driveshaft is automatically disengaged when operating in two-wheel drive. This minimizes the front-drive system's energy consumption and improves fuel economy.
A full-time four-wheel-drive system is also available. Under normal driving conditions, the full-time system delivers 48 percent of the torque to the front wheels and 52 percent to the rear wheels. It's an excellent choice for icy conditions, gravel roads, or any situation that presents inconsistent grip. This system includes a locking transfer case that features 4WD High and Low modes.
A limited-slip rear differential is available and we recommend it for drivers who intend to go off road. A Protection Group includes tow hooks plus skid plates for the front suspension and transfer case. Automatics are available with a 3.55:1 axle ratio, or a 3.92:1 ratio, the latter better for towing and off-road driving. Some manual transmission models come with a 3.21:1 ratio for maximum highway economy.
The Dodge Ram offers big power and big capabilities. It's responsive and comfortable as an everyday driver and it's ready to do some serious work when called upon. Ram's distinctive styling makes it stand out in a rapidly improving field. Ram Quad Cab models offer a brilliant combination of comfort and utility. Even Regular Cabs are generously roomy and are thoughtfully set up to accommodate gear behind the seat. The new 4.7-liter V8 delivers good acceleration and is paired well with the smooth, responsive five-speed automatic. The 5.7-liter Hemi delivers stronger acceleration performance and is an excellent choice for the heaviest trailers.
NewCarTestDrive.com editor Mitch McCullough reported from Los Angeles, with Sam Moses in San Antonio, John Katz in Pennsylvania, and G.R. Whale in Los Angeles.
The current generation of Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickups has been with us for a few years now. Last redesigned for 2003, the Dodge Ram 2500 and Dodge Ram 3500 models aren't nearly as new as the latest from Ford and General Motors. However, they do benefit from some recent freshening such as the diesel and six-speed automatic that were added last year.
For 2008, Dodge Ram heavy-duty line gets a new model, the SXT which slots between the ST and SLT lines. Also updated are woodgrain trim (dark maple burl), electric-switch 4WD on SLT and higher trim, tire pressure monitors on single-rear wheel models, and a slight increase in maximum weight for the largest models.
The Dodge Ram Mega Cab was launched as a 2006 model. Mega Cab is built on the Heavy Duty chassis and comes fitted with the Hemi engine. The extra-large Mega cab was created by re-proportioning the relationship between cab and bed on a long wheelbase truck, adding 20 inches to the cab and shortening the bed to 6 feet, three inches.
The result is acres of cab space, with six seats and plenty of head, shoulder, leg and hip room. The Mega Cab is aptly named. The back seats are roomy and comfortable with reclining seatbacks, separate rear heating and air conditioning outlets, reading lights and a center armrest with cup holders, and available DVD entertainment. there's space behind the back seats for cargo. Folding down the back seats reveals a huge cargo area (more than 70 cubic feet) with a flat load floor. The rear doors open big and wide, making it easy to load stuff inside. Covered bins are provided back there for storing gear and smaller items, and hooks are provided for hanging things.
The Ram Mega Cab rides and drives like a heavy duty pickup, regardless of the 1500, 2500, or 3500 rating, and it doesn't make sense unless you're towing heavy loads or have a big work crew.
We found the Dodge Ram Cummins turbo diesel quiet, powerful and responsive. The exhaust brake provides engine braking down long highway grades, thereby leaving the brakes cool, fade-free, and ready for stopping. The diesel's power and fuel economy make it an excellent choice for owners who tow heavy trailers long distances.
The Ram Heavy Duty models are equally at home serving solo contractors, landscape crews or families with heavy toys, and everyone in between. Despite a reputation for being the most truck-like, the heavy-duty Rams are civilized and make trucking enjoyable.
The 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 versions come in four trim levels, ST, SXT, SLT and Laramie, and three cabs (regular, Quad, Mega) with a range of engine choices, payloads and towing capacities. A TRX4 (mild off-road) is available for 2500 and 3500 while the Power Wagon (more severe off-road) is 2500-series only.
The Mega Cab 1500 is the light-duty configuration, but still has the heavy parts underneath and can haul payloads of up to 2,430 pounds and trailers of up to 8,750 pounds when equipped with 4.10:1 axle gears. The Mega Cab 1500 comes with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission, and prices range from SLT 4x2 ($32,735) to the Laramie 4x4 ($40,325).
The 2500 ($26,140-$42,410) comes standard with the Hemi V8 with six-speed manual or available five-speed automatic, optional with the Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel (about $7,100) and a six speed manual or six-speed automatic. The Power Wagon is $37,950-$41,185 depending on cab, and 4WD adds about $3,000 to any standard 2500-series.
The 3500 ($28,345-$49,920) may appear pricey because the Cummins diesel is often standard equipment, especially on dual rear wheel models. Engine and transmissions are similar to 2500 models, though the Hemi doesn't rev as much and is detuned to 330 hp.
For adding your own box or work platform, Chassis Cab models are offered in regular and Quad cab versions of 2500 and 3500-series trucks, starting at $21,940.
ST models are workhorses, with standard vinyl floor and upholstery, although they do include chrome bumpers and grille outline, air conditioning, ABS, CD player, intermittent wipers, sliding sun visors, a full-size spare, and tinted glass. Options are limited to powertrain and chassis equipment, side curtain airbags, and a few cosmetic upgrades.
SXT adds a bit more bright trim and chrome, including the wheels, power mirrors/windows/locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry, carpet, and cloth upholstery. A TRX4 Off-Road package may be added, consisting of aluminum wheels and more aggressive tires, limited-slip differential, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps, and unique shocks.
SLT, the standard trim on Mega Cabs, includes an overhead console, speed control, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, and power mirrors. Options for SLT include a power-sliding rear window, a bed liner, powered trailer tow mirrors, sun roof, power adjustable pedals and driver seat, AM/FM/6CD/MP3 with Infinity speaker, navigation, Sirius satellite radio, DVD rear-seat entertainment system, UConnect Bluetooth hands-free wireless communication system, bucket seats, YES Essentials stain-repellent cloth upholstery, and 17-inch forged aluminum wheels. A part-time electric shift transfer case is available on 4WD models.
Laramie models add leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated front seats, security alarm, auto-dimming rearview mirror, chrome moldings and Sentry Key engine immobilizer. Options on the Laramie package include an entertainment system, sun roof, bucket seats, Bluetooth, and the navigation radio.
The 2500 Power Wagon comes with the Hemi only, electric-locking front and rear differentials, disconnecting front sway bar, Warn 12,000-lb winch, and 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road tires. It can be outfitted with leather, sunroof, DVD entertainment, and towing mirrors, among other items.
Safety features include dual front multi-stage airbags, three-point belts in all seating positions with constant-force retractors, LATCH child-seat anchors, child-protection rear door locks, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. Side-curtain airbags for front and rear seats are optional ($490).
The Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab offers a striking presence, taking the Big Rig look to another level. From the front, a more refined crosshair grille with strong, full-chrome collar remains instantly recognizable as a strong Dodge Ram signature. With the front-end restyled last year and a dual-rear wheel option added after introduction, the tail now gets attention with new taillight styling similar to the Dodge Durango and Dakota.
From the side, the Mega Cab makes an even more dramatic impression. Very wide rear doors are unique to the immense Mega Cab, with a very large proportion of window glass to door. The dark glass rear doors and wide pillar suggest a limousine, and interior volume reinforces the impression. Behind this huge cab, the bed looks small, but it remains significantly large: 6 feet, 3 inches in length and 51 inches wide between the wheel wells. There is no factory long-bed Mega Cab so use a sliding hitch for your fifth-wheel.
Long-bed Ram dually models have fender flares that look tacked on but are often cheaper to repair after impact, compared with the more integrated designs from Chevy, GMC, and Ford.
All Dodge Ram pickups offer wide, roomy cabs with lots of storage.
Mega Cab and Quad Cab interior space is nearly identical with the exception of rear legroom. The Mega Cab adds some 22 inches of cab length to the already-wide interior, taking second-row spaciousness beyond any previous production pickup. The Mega Cab's rear seats offer 44.2 inches of legroom, compared with 36.7 inches for a Quad Cab. And there is room for the rear seats to recline, tilting up to 37-degrees for added comfort. The rear seats also have their own reading lights and a center armrest with cup holders, plus separate rear air conditioning and heat outlets.
DVD entertainment for rear seat passengers is available, with wireless headsets and integrated game ports. Behind the passengers is a power sliding rear window for flow-through ventilation. Because of the added length of the second-row seating area, the air bag system had to be redesigned with larger side curtain air bags. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to trigger the air bag on the side where impact occurs.
From the driver's seat, the view is of a wide center stack with large knobs and buttons, precisely finished with consistent angles and cut lines throughout. The instrument panel cluster is located under a prominent dash brow to reduce glare and improve visibility of six white-faced gauges, the latter numbered on diesel-engine models. A substantial four-spoke steering wheel houses cruise control buttons and available stereo controls. Rectangular, slat-type air vents close flush.
Interior trim is markedly different among the trim levels. In ST trim, the dash is textured plastic with synthetic-look inserts on the SLT. The Laramie package makes extensive use of woodgrain trim inside, with less plastic, for a more distinctive appearance.
The seats are generously padded and we found them to be comfortable, especially the six-way driver's seat in the Laramie, which can be shifted around as any particular position becomes tiresome on long trips. The leather upholstery adds a rich appearance to the interior of Laramie models. With the optional front bucket seats, a new center console extends from the dashboard. Bench seat models still have a shallow floor console which may not be comfortable for the center rider.
Everything about the Ram is full size. Even those of us used to operating domestic pickups and tow vehicles are aware of the Ram's imposing size and stance. Inside the cabin, it is a long reach to hand something across the console to a passenger, and there would be no hope of leaning across to open the passenger door, or grab something from the opposite door pocket. Interior door handles are large and heavily built, consistent with the large size of the Ram doors.
The cabin is loaded with nicely sized trays, slots and pockets. It seemed there was always a safe place to put something down, yet keep it within easy reach. The armrest opens in two parts and center console is big enough for a laptop, and is designed with fold-down dividers.
The navigation screen, measuring 5.8 inches, is surrounded by buttons and knobs; perhaps a bit on the small side but located up high for good viewing. With the standard front bench seat, a very wide center console flips up to allow makeshift center seating. There is additional storage under the front seat.
Power outlets are provided for the front seats. The dash power outlet is ignition switched, while the cigar lighter is always on, so we used it to charge a cell phone. A third outlet is available in the center console.
Testing the rear seat was a defining moment. One passenger, six-feet, three-inches tall, had no problem stretching out completely with the rear seats reclined. A rear-seat passenger spent an entire day with us, and declined to move up front at the halfway point. It takes a while to cool on hot days as the rear AC vents are just above floor level; adding heavier tint may be wise in sunny climes.
Getting in a 4WD Mega Cab requires a big step up, but the rear doors swing open almost 90 degrees and there's a convenient grab handle on the door pillar, so access is easier for people or cargo. Behind the rear seats is even more storage, in the form of bins that are designed to accommodate tools or sports equipment.
We found the optional seven-speaker, 384-watt Infinity sound system to be remarkably good for a truck of any kind, and especially a pickup. Our suspicion is that this is at least partly due to superior sound deadening and wind noise control (Mega Cabs have laminated front door glass), providing an environment in which the sound system can really be appreciated.
The Dodge Ram Mega Cab feels like a big, heavy duty pickup because it is a big, heavy duty pickup. All Rams are wide: eight feet on duallies. On small, rural roads oncoming traffic sometimes required us to edge away from the center line to create comfortable passing for both parties. Fold-out mirrors demarcate width well: The rear fenders should pass through any tight places the mirrors fit.
Parking a truck as big as a Mega Cab requires some care and attention. We found it necessary to execute three-point turns into most parking spaces and sometimes to get out and look to check our final position. This, even with a very quick 2.75-turn steering ratio that helps maneuvering at low speeds, and you'll maneuver often with 50 feet needed for a U-turn, a condition not unique to the Ram.
The steering has been improved on all Rams. The 2WD Mega Cab comes with rack-and-pinion steering, while 4WD models come with a recirculating ball system. We found a minimum of bump steer and relatively precise tracking, not easy to engineer on a tall 4x4.
We noticed right away that the use of laminated front window glass and re-designed door seals has cut down on wind noise, inherent in big pickups with wide mirrors. The interior is remarkably quiet, even as we ran the air conditioning, which offers minimal fan noise on the lower settings. With any pickup, especially a 4x4, a certain amount of noise and vibration is to be expected.
We were quite comfortable in an all-day drive in a Laramie model through Virginia. With the heavier spring package that comes on dual-wheel 3500 models, we noticed some vibration leaking through to the cabin as we passed over rough railroad tracks and bridged creek crossings, but overall, found the chassis to be well damped, with a nice balance between the opposing priorities of comfort, control, and load-bearing capability. As a general rule, the more weight a heavy-duty pickup carries, the more the ride improves.
The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is EPA-rated at 13/17 mpg City/Highway in the 1500 (2500-and-higher models are not rated) and any real-world mileage in the teens is doing well. The Hemi is an overhead-valve, pushrod V8, with a cast-iron block and hemispherical combustion chambers. It develops 345 horsepower at 5400 rpm and like any good truck engine, it makes more torque than horsepower, delivering 375 pound-feet at 4200 rpm.
The vaunted Cummins Turbo Diesel was enlarged to 6.7 liters for 2007, meets 2010 emissions requirements and has an exhaust brake as standard. The option price is listed at $6,100 but it requires an Ultra Clean Diesel charge of $995, making it about the same price as Ford and GM diesel options. Unlike the GM the Cummins comes with a six-speed manual, and unlike Ford the new automatic is a six-speed unit. Neither Ford nor GM offer the exhaust brake that makes intermountain towing stress free by delivering up to 190 braking horsepower (bhp) to control descent speed, thereby leaving the service brakes cool and free for more immediate stopping.
The Cummins is an inline six-cylinder built like a tractor-trailer engine, with exceptional longevity and low-end grunt, and it's frequently used in trucks and motorhomes that carry 2-10 times what a Ram pickup will. With the latest injection system, it is very clean (the tailpipe won't even go dark), much quieter (you won't hear it with the stereo on), more responsive, and more powerful. With either transmission it makes 350 hp at 3000 rpm, in the same neighborhood as Ford (350) and GM (365). Torque with the standard manual gearbox is 610 lb-ft at just 1400 rpm; with the automatic it rises to 650 lb-ft at 1500 rpm. Torque is what gets a load in motion, and with the Cummins making as much torque when you let the clutch out as the Hemi does at 4,000 rpm, it is the obvious choice. Many RVers report better fuel mileage towing 10,000 pounds with their Cummins than a Hemi gets in an empty truck.
Top tow rating with the Hemi is in the mid-11,000 pounds range, on a 2500 series regular cab. Adding a larger cab or 4WD will lower the rating. Since Mega Cabs are the heaviest models they do not carry the highest payload or tow ratings, but this example still rates 2,681 pounds of carrying capacity. The highest payload for a new Ram HD is more than 5,000 pounds, the maximum tow rating above 16,000 pounds.
The Dodge Ram HD Mega Cab is designed to be the flagship of the heavy haulers. The Ram Quad Cab may be big, but the Mega Cab is bigger. It has the power and weight to tow heavy loads for long distances. And there is comfort for passengers in the process. For better ride and handling, the 2WD 1500 Mega Cab will be the choice. For best control handling heavy loads, the 3500 dually 2WD with Cummins would do the job. For heavy hauling, and accessing rough terrain when you get there, the 4x4 regular or Quad Cab 3500 single-rear wheel would be just the ticket.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent John Stewart filed this report from Manassas, Virginia. NCTD.com editor Mitch McCullough and correspondent G.R. Whale contributed to this report.


text:
by Tyler Peck, sports information graduate assistant
MARTINEZ, Ga. - Senior forward Antoinette Reames (Orlando, Fla.) of the Georgia College & State University women's basketball team (17-6, 10-3 PBC) was named Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Player of the Week today (Feb. 15). This is the first such honor for Reames and the third for Georgia College this season.
Reames put her name in the PBC record books on Thursday (Feb. 11) with only the third triple-double in conference history, part of a week that saw the senior average 11.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.0 blocks per game. Reames had 10 points, 10 rebounds and a school-record 10 blocks in GCSU's overtime win at Augsuta State 56-52, the first triple-double since ASU's Deo Ngulela did it in 2007 and is the only PBC player to do it with 10 blocks. Reames followed that up with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots as the Bobcats downed USC Aiken 57-54. With her performance, she is now second in the PBC in blocked shots and moved into fourth in rebounding and 15th in scoring.
Georgia College hits the hardwood Wednesday, Feb. 17 on the road against Georgia Southwestern at 5:30 p.m.
The GCSU Department of Athletics, winners of the 2008-09 PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at Twitter.com username GCSUSID for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Cheesecake Factory
Shrimp Creole
Serves 2
1 Tbs vegetable oil
4 oz. red and yellow peppers, diced 1/2″
2 oz. yellow onions, diced 1/4″
1 oz. celery, minced
1/2 oz. green bell Peppers, 1/4″ chopped
2 tsps garlic, minced
10 oz. shrimp (medium), deveined, tail-off
1 tsp Cajun spice blend*
2 tsps rice flour
4 oz. roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded, diced 1/2″
8 oz. spicy broth*
4 oz. tasso sauce* (optional)
1 oz. green onions, chopped 1/4″
8 oz. steamed white rice
2 tsps parsley, fresh, chopped
*Recipes for these ingredients are readily available in cookbooks, magazines and on the Internet. Spicy broth may be prepared with either chicken or shrimp stock. Tasso broth is best without any added cream in the recipe selected.
Place the shrimp into a small mixing bowl. Sprinkle the blackening spice and rice flour over the shrimp, tossing together until the shrimp are evenly coated with the spicy flour. Cover the bowl and set aside under refrigeration until needed. Heat the vegetable oil in a non-stick sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables into the pan and cook until the vegetables are tender and well caramelized. Add the garlic to the pan, stirring quickly to avoid burning. Add the shrimp and tomatoes into the pan. Stir the ingredients together until evenly combined. Ladle the spicy broth and tasso sauce into the pan, gently stirring and tossing to incorporate. Continue to cook for approximately 2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly and all of the ingredients are heated through. Toss together once or twice while cooking so that all of the ingredients cook evenly. Add the green onions into the pan, stirring gently together until evenly combined. Continue to cook the ingredients for another 5-10 seconds or until the shrimp are done. Pour the shrimp creole into the serving bowls. Place the white rice into the center area of the bowl on top of the shrimp creole. Garnish each bowl of shrimp creole with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.


text:
Vince Camuto Carlotte Women's Heels Tabby Gry Toast Taup Size 11 MAIWEIYi Womens Relia Black Lace Up Stiletto High Heels Dress Tassel Peep Toe Ankle Boots Brown
Jennifer Fast is a published travel, landscape and lifestyle photographer from the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. She is passionate about inspiring others to expand their horizons and explore as much of our beautiful world as possible. She loves the adventure that comes with finding unique photography locations, AIWEIYi Womens Thigh High Boots Chunky High Heels Knee High Riding Boots BlackAIWEIYi Womens Round Print Wedge High Heel Stiletto Pumps shoes blueeoften hiking or travelling many miles to explore more remote territory. She is dedicated to experiencing as much natural beauty as possible and hopes that her unique imagery can help to instill a heart for exploration in others.
Influencer marketing & campaigns
Lifestyle, product & travel photography
Tourism & Destination journalism
Blog posts & reviews
Content creation for brands & DMOs
Brand Ambassadorships
Film productionJust Cavalli Womens Pump Dress Pump10 Crosby Women's Celeste Boot
FAM & Media trips
Do you have a story you'd like to tell?
Images you need produced to show your brand in just the right light?
Enzo Angiolini Steffo Womens US Size 9 Nude Textile Espadrilles shoesThalia Sodi Womens Marissa Open Toe Platform Pumps
Photo by Jeanne Menjoulet / CC BY ND 2.0 Paris is the number one destination for so many people, and it's...
The trail to Floe Lake in Kootenay National Park is a 21-km roundtrip hike to a stunning alpine lake with massive...
Big Sur Hotels, Campgrounds, Glamping and Cabins There are so many Big Sur hotels to choose from! Well, I'm here to...
Known throughout much of history as a sort of "middle ground" between the eastern and western culture, Istanbul has always been...
"There are risks and costs to action, but they are far less than the long-range risk of comfortable inaction." – John...
Disclaimer: This blog post was sponsored by Mark's. However, as always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I will...
"Jenn partnered with us at The Phoenician, a luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, to stay at our property and capture the experience of the 'guest point of view' through her creative content, writing and social media marketing. She was an absolute gem to work with and very easy-going – it was a breath of fresh air to see someone who gladly worked alongside our associates and was able to act as a teammate with us. Her communication style pre-arrival, during the trip and afterward was crystal clear, efficient and very helpful. We were thrilled with the outcome of her work, providing beautiful photos, social media coverage and more for our resort.
I highly recommend Jenn for her ability to engage in a harmonious partnership, create high-quality digital media content and her cheerful, 'ray of sunshine' attitude."
– Hayley Burns, PR & Marketing Coordinator
Client: Phoenician Scottsdale
See Jenn's blog post & photography for this client
"I reached out to Jennifer a couple months ago to collaborate on an upcoming social media campaign, and my experience working with her was great! She partnered with the company I work for to RHFDVGDS autumn winter boots High heel platform boots round head with warm wool boots casual fashion Lady shoes, and the content we received back was amazing. Not only did we receive a plethora of content to choose from, Jenn was responsive, kind and a pleasure to work with in terms of meeting deadlines and accommodating any requests. I would be thrilled to partner with Jenn on any future collaborations."
– Kristin Kerr, Communications Coordinator at Mark's
See Jenn's blog post & photography for this clientSan hojas Elegant Ladies Heeled Sandals Ankle Boot SummerPatricia Green Women's Haley Slippers
"We were looking for reputable influencers to help us expand awareness for an international brand our company manages. As soon as we came across Jennifer's website and content, we knew we wanted to work with her. The entire process from beginning to end was smooth. She is down to earth, friendly and extremely pleasant to work with. And let's not forget the quality of her work! We were blown away with what she delivered. It has been a pleasure to work with Jennifer and we would hire her again in a heartbeat."
– Andrea Orozco, Partner at Kik Brand Marketing
Client: Celestial Seasonings
"I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer as a travel influencer partner. Jennifer worked with one of the destination clients that I represent in early 2018. Jennifer has a strong understanding of the media landscape and told the story of the destination through her beautiful photography and content. She understands what it is to be a partner. I would work with her again in a heartbeat."
– Ashley Brune, PR Director at The Abbi Agency
Client: Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea
See Jenn's blog post & photography for this clientDream-Zone Aqua shoes for Women Swimming Sunscreen shoes Summer Surf Non-Slip Yoga Unisex Beach Skin Water shoesFanxu Flip-Flops, Women's Summer Slippers, Wedges, Flip-Flops, Non-Slip Slippers (3 colors, 6 Yards) (color Black, Size 37)
"I asked Jennifer for an Instagram collaboration in which Jennifer was an influencer for a client's campaign. In all sincerity, she's exactly the type of influencer with which it's easy and pleasant to work. She respects deadlines, and creates quality content according to guidelines. We will definitely work with her in the future. I definitely recommend her."
– Karolane Rondeau, Social Media Content at Carl Inc
Client: Activia Canada
"Jennifer was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her level of professionalism and attention to detail on content requirements for the Pizza Hut Canada campaign was exceptional. Was not disappointed with her execution whatsoever and highly recommend to work with! I'll certainly be working with Jennifer again."
– Tristan Rahman, Founder / CEO at Rizer Social
Client: Pizza Hut Canada
"I've worked with Jennifer on a number of occasions for high-profile clients such as Ford of Canada. Her work as an influencer and content creator always hit above expectations and with stunning results. Her ability for storytelling and authentically engaging with her audiences is what I commend the most. Jenn is an excellent communicator and is always professional in all our interactions. She makes my job easy and is a pleasure to work with – I highly recommend Jennifer."
– Angela Cabucos, Senior Account Manager at Brookline Public Relations Inc.
Client: Ford of Canada
Vaneel Womens vucxir Fashion Leather Pointed-Toe 6CM Mid-Heel Slip-on Belt Buckle Rhinestone Mule Slippers shoesGIY Women's Peep Toe High Chunky Block Heel Sandals Glitter Ankle Strap Buckle Comfort Platform Heel Sandals
"Jennifer is wonderful to work with, and I highly recommend her. We recently collaborated on creating some beautiful content for Hotel Wailea (Relais & Châteaux) in Maui, HI. She and her partner were incredibly professional and our communication from start to finish was refreshingly easy! I am thrilled with the quality of her photography and was overwhelmed by the quantity. We will be sharing their beautiful images for many months to come. Warm aloha from all of us at Hotel Wailea!"
– Christy Stetsky, Director of Marketing & Communications, Private Label Collection
Client: Relais & Châteaux – Hotel Wailea
Here, you can find a handful of my most recently published travel writing and photography.
Interested in partnering with me on a project or collaboration? I'd love to chat! Please fill out the following information and I'll be in touch shortly.
Follow along with my adventures on Instagram!


text:
BALTIMORE – UMBC softball's doubleheader versus UMES originally scheduled for Friday, March 7 at the UMBC Softball Stadium has been moved to Saturday, March 8 at Hawks Field. First pitch for game one is set for 2 p.m.
The Retrievers and Hawks are also set to do battle on Sunday, March 9. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Hawks Field.
UMBC (9-3) continues its best start to a season since 2010 when it opened the year with a 10-2 overall mark. The Retrievers have won seven of their last eight contests, including three-of-four last weekend at the Spartan Classic. UMBC batted .317 for the weekend and drilled seven long balls in the tournament.
Junior Taylor Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) earned America East Player of the Week honors for the second straight week, while freshman Jessica Holte (Ashland, Va./Atlee) helped the Retrievers sweep the conference honors, garnering her second straight AEC Pitcher of the Week and adding AEC Rookie of the Week on Tuesday. Hall hit at a .438 clip and batted in a team-best eight runs on the weekend. She leads the team with eight extra-base hits and 14 RBI on the season. Holte extended her record in the circle to a perfect 6-0, becoming the first UMBC freshman to start her career with six victories in her first six decisions, with two wins at the Spartan Classic. Holte is posting a 2.12 ERA in six complete games. The rookie has walked just two batters in 43.0 innings of work.
Sophomore Danielle O'Neill (Lothian, Md./Southern) leads six batters hitting above .300 on the year (.395) and is posting a team-best .521 on-base percentage thus far this season, with 15 hits and 10 walks. O'Neill has gone for five extra-base hits, including a team-high three home runs.
UMES (2-12) lost five in a row at the Coastal Carolina Invitational last weekend and has dropped seven of its last eight matchups. The Hawks have three batters hitting above .300, including a team-best .424 from sophomore Trenece Nash. Junior Morgan King is leading the team with 16 hits, 12 runs scored and 14 runs batted in. Sophomore Abria Tinsley has seen seven starts in nine appearances for 32.2 innings of work in the circle.


text:
Pictured: Shannon
Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography
HAYWARD, Calif.- March Madness knows no borders. This time of year sees a handful of underdogs pull off an incredible feat, stunning the favorite team. The Harvard women's water polo team accomplished just that as it unleashed its potent offense to conquer its first ranked opponent of the season. The Crimson upset No. 19 Cal State East Bay, 15-11, Friday afternoon.
Harvard jumped out to an early 3-1 lead before the Pioneers drew close as the Crimson held onto a 5-4 lead after just eight minutes of action. Harvard extended its lead to two goals by outscoring Cal State East Bay 3-2 in the second quarter, as the team enjoyed an 8-6 advantage at the half. The Pioneers stormed back into the game by cutting the deficit to a single goal with Harvard still leading 10-9 after three periods of play. In the fourth stanza, the Crimson erupted for five goals and limited Cal State East Bay to just two scores. Harvard walked away with its 10th victory of the campaign, a 15-12 decision, to boost its record to 10-7. The Pioneers fall to 17-8, halting their five-game win streak.
A triumvirate of players scored hat-tricks for the Crimson in the match. Devan Kennifer, Patricia Smith and Monica Zdrojewski all buried three markers. Aisha Price and Shannon Purcell chipped in two scores apiece while Kristina Bergquist and Ita Barton-Kettleborough both tallied a goal. Laurel McCarthy made four saves between the posts.
Harvard will take on Pacific and Cal State Monterey Bay, March 20, in the final leg of its West Coast expedition.


text:
Big 2.5 is an original Viwawa variation of the popular card shedding game, Big Two (also known as "Choa Dai Di" in Cantonese, "Da Lao Er" in Mandarin Chinese).
For Big 2.5, the classic rules of Big Two have been preserved, you can play Big 2.5 like you would normally play Big Two. We've taken Big Two and gave it a whole new spin by introducing special moves into the game, a domain usually reserved for "Gambling Gods" (Chow Yun Fatt, Stephen Chow) popularly known in East Asian gambling flicks.
In Big 2.5, you will not only need to consider your usual card playing strategy, but also the strategy involved in dishing out those special moves at the right time. When played wisely, a special move can even reverse your fortunes despite you having been dealt a poor deck initially.
Big 2.5 - it's Big Two yet so much more. Grab a chair, join a table and play with other players now!


text:
The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee today ordered reported H.R. 6377—a bill that would permit a plan sponsor to elect to apply alternative minimum funding standards to single-employer community newspaper plans that meet certain requirements.
H.R. 6377 [PDF 160 KB] would amend both the tax code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Read a Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) description of the bill and a JCT description of an amendment in the nature of a substitute
The approved bill will be reported to the House floor. The Senate has not yet scheduled action on the legislation.
The KPMG logo and name are trademarks of KPMG International. KPMG International is a Swiss cooperative that serves as a coordinating entity for a network of independent member firms. KPMG International provides no audit or other client services. Such services are provided solely by member firms in their respective geographic areas. KPMG International and its member firms are legally distinct and separate entities. They are not and nothing contained herein shall be construed to place these entities in the relationship of parents, subsidiaries, agents, partners, or joint venturers. No member firm has any authority (actual, apparent, implied or otherwise) to obligate or bind KPMG International or any member firm in any manner whatsoever. The information contained in herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation. For more information, contact KPMG's Federal Tax Legislative and Regulatory Services Group at: + 1 202 533 4366, 1801 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
Request for proposal


text:
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Mostly Wordless Wednesday ~ My Office Artwork
My little friend decided to paint me some pictures to brighten up the bat cave. Everyday I see this and it makes me smile. It does brighten up my day!
18 comments:
oh, I LOVE that spider picture...those are great!ReplyDelete
Funny how there is so much sweetness in an office where just yesterday you cussed me out. lolReplyDelete
Awe she's really good actually. I can't say I'd paint a palm tree that nice!ReplyDelete
very sweet artwork.ReplyDelete
Love the pictures!!ReplyDelete
How nice of your little friend! She is a good artistReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 23, 2011 at 11:31 AM
Seriously love the art work! Definitely makes an office more cheery :)ReplyDelete
She did a great job.ReplyDelete
That's so sweet! :)ReplyDelete
How sweet of her!ReplyDelete
Beautiful! I need to put up some of the kids artwork.ReplyDelete
those are some cheery drawings, you can slip away into a warm dream by gazing at them.ReplyDelete
You've got a very talented artist on your hands!ReplyDelete
Aww, how sweet! I bet she cherishes your friendship and looks forward to seeing you too! :)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 24, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Those would make me smile too.ReplyDelete
That is great artwork. Very cute!ReplyDelete
So sweet! (:ReplyDelete


text:
When a funny Stan Lee cameo is the highlight, it�s clear your superhero movie is in trouble. But it could be worse. It could be �Hulk.� Still, there�s not nearly enough to marvel at in Marvel�s �Captain America: The Winter Soldier,� the sequel to 2011�s vastly superior �The First Avenger.� It�s lumbering, generic and gasping for fresh air. Then there�s Chris Evans, the hunky, uncharismatic star of this fish-out-of-water contraption in which writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely lamely attempt to turn genetically enhanced super-soldier Steve Rogers into a kick-butt Edward Snowden. Evans certainly possesses the physical heft, but struggles to add emotional bulk to the Cap�s latest adventure in which the freeze-dried World War II relic is labeled a traitor after discovering a nefarious attempt by S.H.I.E.L.D. to infiltrate our privacy � and worse.
The homeland spying is for the good of the people, agency head Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assures Cap, who isn�t so sure about that or his boss�s new fleet of drone-like killing machines. He thinks it�s an attempt to rule by fear, not laws.
And before you can say NSA, every government black op is looking to put a cap in Cap�s arse. It�s a rote �trust-no-one� shtick that�s as old as �The Parallax View� and �Three Days of the Condor,� the latter a film directing brothers Anthony and Joe Russo (TV�s �Community�) delusionally believe they are emanating.
In truth, the only thing their forgettable popcorn flick has in common with �Condor� is the presence of Robert Redford, who sleepwalks through his first trek into superhero terrain. As shady S.H.I.E.L.D. bigwig Alexander Pierce, Redford speaks every line in a staid monotone, rendering Pierce the most vanilla villain in the Marvel universe. The novelty of seeing Redford cross over into the comics genre is intriguing as far as it goes, especially watching him and Jackson debate the fate of the world. But by the time the fire-and-brimstone finale arrives, that bridge is thoroughly burned. And not even a sight gag in which Redford keeps a jar of Newman�s Own spaghetti sauce in his fridge is going to redeem him.
Besides, there�s a far more appetizing sauce around in the saucy Scarlett Johansson, reprising her role as the sexy, venerable Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff. Her character is about as Russian as a sheleighly, but provides plenty of punch as the Cap�s acrobatic sidekick. In fact, the movie doesn�t register a pulse until the two connect about an hour in and join forces with Cap�s new best friend, Sam Wilson (a terrific Anthony Mackie) aka The Falcon, to right what�s wrong with S.H.I.E.L.D. But first they�ll need to get through Cap�s old best friend, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who it turns out didn�t die in that fall from the train in �First Avenger.� He was somehow revived, brainwashed and fitted with a powerful metal arm. He�s also apparently been granted eternal youth because like Cap, the newly minted Winter Soldier shows zero signs of mileage on his chassis despite being in his 90s.
He and Cap have several violent, bullet-filled encounters over the course of the movie, but none of them have the firepower of the action scenes the now-departed director Joe Johnston brought to the original �Captain America,� which, with a few exceptions, kept things relatively realistic. In the sequel, it�s purely cartoon violence, the proverbial weakness of most superhero movies. There are spectacular freeway crashes, multiple explosions and enough mindless dialogue to make you think they mixed up some �Fast and Furious� footage during editing. The fight scenes are even worse, with the Russo brothers shooting everything with handheld cameras so shaky you can never be sure who is fighting whom.
Yet, despite all the flaws, �The Winter Soldier� is never less than marginally watchable, even occasionally exciting. But you crave a more vibrant sense of humor. Superhero movies are supposed to be fun. This one is largely dour and severely lacking in heart. The only real emotion comes when Cap pays a visit to old flame Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), who he�s somewhat shocked to learn is now a ninety-something invalid confined to a hospital bed. There�s also a nice moment when the Winter Soldier begins to remember his old buddy Steve Rogers and takes mercy on him.
The film�s chief asset, though, is the Cap-Black Widow dynamic. They make the most of their love-hate relationship, emitting loads of sexual energy that they thankfully never act upon. Better to let it simmer for future installments, which I look forward to seeing. I also can�t get enough of those Stan Lee cameos, here bringing down the house as a museum guard who fires off a hilarious one-liner after discovering the Cap�s original red-white-and-blue uniform stolen. But the rest of what goes on is the same old same old we�ve come to expect from comic- book movies. That�s particularly disappointing for �Captain America,� which takes a sizable step down from the original, which featured a more cohesive story and made terrific use of its period WWII trappings. Where that film was like a credible Indiana Jones knockoff, �The Winter Soldier� feels more like a ruse to hold our attention until the writers devise something profound to propel �Captain America 3.� Here�s hoping they do.
(PG-13 for intense sequence of violence, gunplay and action throughout.) Cast includes Chris Evans, Robert Redford, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Grade: C+


text:
Cranes are our specialty
Great News! We are back in the Crane Business.Jones and associates -with the experience, crane knowledge and integrity you have come to expect! ~Wally Jones~
As ACC returns to the crane business, it has switched its focus some from the old days, putting a few new twists into the familiar name. The New ACC is a dealer for Manitex cranes and has access to many leading brands. Today, ACC also can "handle any need when it comes to crawler cranes, offering the purchase of new and used cranes including multiple financing options and providing full service on any crane," according to Jones. The company also provides parts and service for all manufacturers of cranes and heavy equipment.


text:
Original Trinity Hymnal, #610
At thy feet, our God and Father,
Who hast blessed us all our days,
We with grateful hearts would gather,
To begin the year with praise:
Praise for light so brightly shining
On our steps from heav'n above;
Praise for mercies daily twining
Round us golden cords of love.
Jesus, for thy love most tender,
On the cross for sinners shown,
We would praise thee, and surrender
All our hearts to be thine own:
With so blest a friend provided,
We upon our way would go,
Sure of being safely guided,
Guarded well from ev'ry foe.
Ev'ry day will be the brighter
When thy gracious face we see;
Ev'ry burden will be lighter
When we know it comes from thee.
Spread thy love's broad banner o'er us,
Give us strength to serve and wait,
Till the glory breaks before us
Through the city's open gate.
Page number: Blue 610, Right-Click Here to Download MIDI File
|© 2019 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


text:
#calligraphy #typography #video
An Incredible Hand-Painted Letterform Demonstration by Glen Weisgerber
Self-taught artist Glen Weisgerber is a master pinstriper who has been in business since the early 1970s painting all matter of truck lettering, race cars, logo designs, guitars and bike customizations. This summer Airbrush Action Magazine filmed Weisgerber doing a number of different hand lettering tutorials including single stroke lettering, and chrome lettering. It's almost a miracle to see each letterform leave his paintbrush so fully formed and perfect. If I was asked to make a list of 100 guesses of what this man was about to demonstrate based on his looks alone, I don't think pinstriping would have crossed my mind.


text:
AURORA, Colorado - Batman star Christian Bale is in Colorado visiting victims of the shooting at a theater showing "The Dark Knight Rises."
A Warner Bros. spokeswoman told The Denver Post on Tuesday that Bale is representing himself, not the movie studio.
Carey Rottman, one of the 58 people injured in Friday's shooting, posted two photos of himself with Bale on his Facebook page. Hospital staff also posted a Facebook photo of Bale with some staff members.
There's been an online campaign urging Bale to visit the victims of the shooting, which also killed 12 people.
Some of the survivors also have received hospital visits from President Barack Obama and members of the Denver Broncos football team.


text:
Hostelling International partners with SANDEMANs NEW Europe to offer you the real hostel experience! Save 25% on city walking tours SANDEMANs NEW Europe is the world's largest promoter of city walking tours, offering over 80 different tours in 18 cities
The HI blog is your resource for the real hostel experience. Find travel tips, advice from fellow travellers, and great news stories and articles from our blog authors.
Read more>
find us on
Don't miss out on great deals, discounts and travel tips. Create an account today and
sign up for the monthly HI Newsletter.
Create an account


text:
I note that we just had a poll about who hates to service Lennox. That is odd since according to THIS poll, more dealers carry Lennox than any other brand.
As of 2-22-2012 at 6:30 PM.
View Poll Results: Which brand(s) of ducted residential HVAC Equipment do you currently carry
Multiple Choice Poll.
Results 27 to 39 of 339


text:
After playing this for a few i thought i might leave some tips i found quite useful. They may or might not be spoilers so i'll just hide them anyways have fun and i hope they help you.
When I had around 395 energy and all of the heathens where in the broken village at the end. I found it very helpful to have 1 or 2 people trained in devotion to stand near it then cast bees. This would scatter every one then i would quickly train the blue masks this allowed me to convert 2 of them then get 400 energy for the fog.
I hope this helps
Does anyone know how many earthquakes it takes to convert the orange and red heathens? I have a big collection of orange and red heathens and a few blues that I've been unable to separate from the oranges and reds (they all congregate in that spot north of the lake). I've solved all of the puzzles, have 90 population, but still have a few artifacts to collect. I've used the earthquake power 8 or 9 times, and not a single heathen has converted. Is this some kind of bug, or is there something else I'm not doing right?
I have a problem....all my stuff is built besides the Mausoleum. I have 3 Adept builders my 1 master builder died Ive been dropping my Adept builders on the huts to fix them hoping that eventually they would become masters but the bars arent moving and I need to take down the Blocker Totem and beat the build challenge, any suggestions would be appreciated.
EarthAngel, I had the same problem--I couldn't get my Adept Builders to become Masters. I set them all on fixing the huts and left the game on fast overnight. By morning, they were all masters. It seemed like the bar wouldn't go up while I had the game open--it only worked when I closed the game and let it run by itself. Not sure if this would work for you, but you could try it.
I have been having a really hard time getting a master builder to complete some of the other tasks. I started out with a girl who was already pretty adept in building, then had her complete all of the building tasks alone. She continues to build, but she is staying stuck at about 60% ability. Is there a way to help her become a master? Are there any other building tasks other than the statue, the love shack, and the extra building?
What does it mean by once you've converted the heathen farmer the chief had a daughter. What's the next bit?!?!?! It's so annoying and the tip about the order in which to buy the tech could you make more prominent
Ps is there any way that you can indefinite tech, godly powers and food for iPhone
Also my tech points go from348 to2751 in a matter of minutes. Is this a glitch? Not that I'm complaining it's just weird
And my " rascal" is called kaka. I didnt change it I can't I'm on iPhone
Hey, I noticed that when the villagers die, their skeletons end up by the mausoleum. But I've had three die but only the most recent two skeletons are there. One my older characters is my most important one and I'm worried that I won't get the revive or youth power in time and that her skeleton will disappear. Is there a way to prevent this? Can the revive power still revive someone if their skeleton isn't there?
For the Hungry Totem,
I personally made the guard right by the totem be on the right edge of the bees' white circle. I didn't bother putting the red guard in the area of effect because I noticed he was too far away to scare my villagers. Then I piled them all on (another reason to make the bee circle a bit more precise--to leave room by the statue and not get the villagers stung) and it got taken down really quickly.
Here are a couple of things that increase godly power levels: making babies and finding relics. Sometimes having the map on helps you see when relics pop up. However, I can't figure out what builds devotion skills after everyone's converted except for the hardcore masks (red and yellow). Polishing the statue seems to increase building skills, not devotion.
Okay so I'm trying to build a structure. Every time one of my villagers go to get firewood, there are guards everywhere. Is there any possible way to get those two yellow masked heathens to stop guarding the firewood permanently?
[As you progress, the heathens will move to other areas so keep persevering! Try butterflies or lightning to distract them temporarily until you get what you need done. -Jay]
Having trouble with the builders statue...only have one master builder?
You can do it with only 1 Master Builder. It just takes a little patience. While your builder is tearing it down have a child or mother keep pulling away any orange guys away by putting the villager in front of them for them to chase. Each time when they get close to villager move villager farther away, until they are quite aways from totem. Keep doing this until totem is destroyed. The orange guys will start repairing totem until you destroy it if allowed to get close. It took me just few minutes to do this.
For puzzle five you need a master scientist and some builders, drop your master scientist on the acueduct so that they will direct the work then place your builders, you will also need level 2 construction.
Your godly points will disapear if some of your villagers die, or if your villagers are losing faith. You can increase divine energy by finding new relics as well.
I believe you can increase faith by using godly powers like the Hand of Bloom.
You can convert the purple masked heathens by completing puzzles 1, 5, 9, and 13
If you build the hand statue the yellow masked heathens guarding the firewood will leave.
You can have a master devotee teach in the school to increase devotion skill in your children
I can't find the answer to this anywhere....WHAT is that narrow jagged hole in the ground with a beat-up board partially covering it? It's south of where the fire and food are. Sometimes my villagers are curious about it, but nothing happens when I drop a villager on top of it. It seems like something that could be significant? ANY ideas???
I have finished the game weeks ago but am continuously playing it to complete my trophies. I think I am down to my last one and that is to have 10 villagers who have mastered all six skills. I have more than 10 who are almost there, I just need to increase their parenting skills. My population is 105 (sometimes 106 when there are twins born). So " going indoors" isn't possible anymore. Does teaching in the nursery help? Please advise. Thanks
Hmmm. Triggering earthquakes on the heathen village caused them to think, but hardly ever convert. However, triggering one on center of the once hidden grove caused them to convert one by one. Even if they were thinking at the time. Once all the heathens are converted, the entire population converges on the ruined village of the heathens and turns it into a pretty, flowery paradise.
I need some help with the devotee people have been talking about checking devotion in their skills? How do you do this on the iPhone app and make them honor instead of saying confused. I have about 30 something people and only 380 something divine points and can't figure out how to get more so that I can fill up the lake and do the heathen master builder challenge because I can't get those powers. Please someone help??
Hi there! I'm working on converting my orange and red heathens using earthquakes and was checking the trophy list while I wait for the power bar to fill back up when I noticed that there was one for resetting a project with an earthquake....How exactly do we do that? Is there a project that you should avoid resetting?
Ok so I figured out my checking problem the only thing I need help on now is raising the villagers devotee points. If they don't have any experience then they won't honor at the statue. Please I need help. I'm trying to get the 10 jack of all trades trophies completed but I can't figure out how to start raisng the devotion tab.
Umm yea, I just downloaded the game from Big Fish Games and everything was just fine until I closed the game while it was in windowed mode. Apparently my screen isn't big enough to fit the whole playing window and now I can't get it to shrink so I can get to the menu to change the setting back to full screen. I was going to ask the Big Fish techies, but I can't through the site. Any thoughts?
[Can you increase the resolution of your display? That may help fit the whole window on screen. -Jay]
I'm curious about a couple places on the map if they might be an extra puzzle or just for looks. There's these broken wood planks over an empty pit by the food bin and I've gotten to the point where the heathens are converted and cleaned up the area by the lake but now it has flowers and some dirt mound that doesn't get used. I keep thinking I'm supposed to do something with them??
Some a few things that I have noticed that have helped me:
If any of you are having issues building, collecting food, relics, etc. because Rascal keeps "chasing away intruders," use the Butterflies divine power on a spot away from all the activity- all heathen children, believer children, and even Rascal will go to the butterflies and play, allowing you to complete your mission with success.
Also, I've heard people saying that changing the clock on ones computer can mess up the game, but I have been doing this with a certain technique and have not encountered any issues. This is what I do:
While in gameplay I place villagers wherever they are needed, for example I'll place several in the research area. I'll then go to the menu, Alt+tab to the desktop view and change time ahead...let's go with 2 hours ahead. I'll exit out of the clock control area and Alt+tab back to the game, press Play from the menu and PRESTO! There are quite a few tech points/food/energy.
This is where I believe many people encounter issues- trying to change the time on their computer to the correct time without undoing/messing up the game itself. In order to do this, I PAUSE the game while in gameplay, go to the menu, Alt+tab, change to correct time, Alt+tab, press Play from the Menu, and everything is working just fine. I still have all the food/tech/etc. that I collected during the sped up 2 hours, and nothing is glitchy or messing up.
I used the grant youth power on a pregnant 60 year old (who get pregnant after her task was set to parenting - so she went around embracing younger guys - since see already mastered all useful skills except devotion)
and then she became a 5 year old carrying a baby around with her. She does all normal kids action like play tag, going to the nursery, but she can't pick mushrooms or collectibles. Another old woman was also made pregnant while she was getting younger (halfway during which the spell was taking effect on her)
Bees wont chase away the red guards by the hungry pole. Even covered in bees they stay.I had to wait till they were on one side. An hour and 66% later they split up (one on each side) so I cant do anything and the bees dont even touch them but go on the bushes insted, what am i doing wrong? its hard to live on mushrooms :(
So at the very very beginning, I had an orange notice saying I had a convert already, so my tribe too him in, of course. Turns out he was the purple master builder heathen guy. I'm not very far in the game, but, from the looks of this walkthrough, I'm worried about how it'll workout in the end. Help?
Ok so I have the lite version of vv5 and I just can't take down that hollow totem. I've filled the lake and all but I keep on converting some of their ppl so it's harder to do! All of my kids grew up and another thing... Why won't some of the heathens die? I mean really! The rascal was there when my oldest person started out and now that she's dead, I figured he should at least be an adult. And what's up with ppl saying that the heathen builder got a kid? Someone said they made the heathen builder got a kid by dropping one of his or her villagers on her. That just confuses me


text:
Phish Poster Archive
Discussion Board
Old News
Search Ebay
|Wall Posters
Phish CDs
| WELCOME to the newly reconstituted Phish Poster Archive,
the original Phish poster resource for fans and collectors of Phish posters, Phish prints, Phish handbills, Phish artwork, and Phish concert flyers.
4-8-11 A new Jim Pollock Mardi Gras poster benefitting the
1-29-06 Well, it has been almost three years since I posted to this site, and while much has changed in the Phish poster world, much has stayed the same. Should make for some interesting posts. I'll probably start posting to this site regularly from here on out, so you may want to check back every couple weeks or so.3-27-03 "It" tickets went on sale today, "a 2-day festival held at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine on August 2 + 3, 2003". I expect to see quite a few poster artists there, as the official description of the event includes references to "art installations created by talented teams of artists and performers". Should be very interesting to see what kind of art comes out of this festival.
3-25-03 Phish announced summer tour dates today. See the list here.
3-19-03 While everyone is trying to fill in their collections with posters from this latest tour, a few real rarities have been offered for sale privately by longtime collectors and on Ebay. I know of a Walking Fish, a UIC '98 and a Europe '96 all by Pollock that are up for sale. All are in the $4000-$7000 range.
Tom Davis has put up a nice stats page based on Phish poster info he has collected from Ebay and other sources. He seems to have also figured out how to build a good trading board, which is accessible after you create an account. The site can be a little confusing to navigate, but overall its well worth checking out
Check out the latest addition to the Pollock art collection. This is one I've never seen before, circa 1993.
2-26-03 A real nice image of the Pollock UIC '98 poster was emailed to me. Thanks go to Todd at Robot Went for the image. This poster recently was up for bid on ebay, and closed at $5555. This about the same price as what the Pollock Great Wents were going for during the Hiatus. It would be curious to see what the Went prints would sell for in today's market.
The Search at Ebay function has been expanded to include other Phish memorabilia like Phish shorts, hats, stubs, etc. as well as Phish venues and specific posters. Bugs in the navigation section at the top of each page have also been fixed.
2-9-03 A new Jim Pollock archive has been added which includes his non-phish prints. Behind each thumbnail is a high-res image. I will be adding the Hemp prints and others shortly..
2-1-03 A new Search at Ebay page is online. My goal over the next few weeks is to have dozens of Phish and poster related search terms in one page so that users can thoroughly search the Ebay database without doing a lot of typing.
1-27-03 There are still quite a few sets of Phish's Pollock Holiday cards. They come 8 to a box for a mere $12 plus shipping. Considering what Pollock posters are selling for, I'm amazed that they are still around. While the lady from Dry Goods said it looked like there were over 600 sets left, she sis not have access from her computer to the precise number left. I would estimate that 1000-1500 sets were printed. Get them while you still can at Phish Dry Goods.
There is also a new set of Ryan Kerrigan prints. You can order them by emailing the artist. Here is an image of his latest set of 10 which cost $100/set or $15 each.
1-26-03 I hope you like our new front page layout. In addition to all the old features, a new section has been added for your convenience. You may now select from a list of predefined Phish Poster searches at Ebay. This should save you some time when searching for rare posters to buy.
1-23-03 A few new images were added to the archive. Click on years with a "*" to see the latest ones.
1-18-03 I finally received two of the three Hamptons from this latest run. I absolutely love the color schemes and images portrayed. The first print seems to symbolize the act of flying into the New Year with the angelic flying Phishes. The second has clear political overtones with the all- seeing eye placed in the center of the pyramid rather than at the top as on a normal US dollar. For me, the butterfly in the third print symbolizes our hope for better times ahead as we move through this unsettling period in history. Of course, your mileage may vary.
With all due respect, though, I wish Mr. Pollock would make at least a few Phish prints the old way, perhaps a run of 100 or 250. The fact that he printed his earlier works with his own hands gave each one a unique character. I have some with Jim's fingerprints on the back, some with off-center registration, and some with other pleasing "defects" that seem to add to the general beauty and simplicity of this modern day folk art. Just like antique quilts, carvings, and folk paintings, the subjects in these prints are personal interpretations of the hopes and dreams of the artist as well as those of the intended audience. Being handmade with tender loving care and devotion, they also show the artists skill and experience at his/her craft. Something seems to be missing from these prints which are printed by a machine at a third party.
Jim has stated to me in the past that doing a full run of Phish prints manually was no less than exhausting, and obviously a labor of love. But isn't that what art is all about? I would think that great artists like Da Vinci, and Michelangelo were both mentally and physically exhausted after they completed a work.
Yet I can't put my finger on exactly why I'm not as thrilled as I usually am with these new prints. Looking at my White Tape on the wall, I see that the color registration is good, and the ink is very, very thick. My Gorge #423 is also very thick, yet the colors are slightly off center and it has that handmade look. My Hamptons are perfect, except for the fact that the ink was a little thin. The 1/3/03 prints all seem to be very light in the middle, but perhaps this is part of the design. In any case, I suspect I will warm up to these prints, as I love the images and color schemes.
A discussion on Posterpeople is raging about whether to start a database of known prints. This is probably only worth doing for the two Great Went prints from 1997, and perhaps the UIC '98 print. For this reason I have started compiling the list of Known Great Went Prints . To verify each entry, I will need a photograph of the complete print which clearly shows the signature and serial number. Alternatively you can email me the number in which case I will list it as unconfirmed. When I am on tour this summer, I will offer free certificates of authenticity and (maybe) appraisals for anyone wishing to bring their prints to my hotel room. Hopefully this may work for the folks wishing to get insurance on their valuable prints.
Regarding my previous column, my fellow web developer Matt was released from the hospital yesterday, and it seems that he will be making a full recovery. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.
1-12-03 Please say a prayer for one of our web site developers who was involved in a terrible car wreck this morning about 4:00am EST. He has not regained conciousness yet and is on life support. Matt McKeon is just 18 and due to constant exposure to Phish's music as we drove in to work together, he was quickly becoming a big fan. In fact, he bought his first Phish poster (Hampton 1/2/03) from Dry Goods this past Friday. Come on Matt, you need to hang in there so you can actually see the band in concert.
1-11-03 A few dozen NYE and Hampton prints went up for sale on Friday. Lucky early callers were able to buy one NYE plus one each of the first two nights at Hampton. Keep that in mind the next time the band comes off tour.
1-7-03 Some fake (reproduction) '89 prints have surfaced on Ebay. Both of these "posters" were printed from computer images that were taken from the Mike Rowe poster collection. A few years back he told me that these were actually "colored" versions of his original 1989 black and white prints. Buyer beware.
Over the years, we saved higher resolution images of certain posters, and during the hiatus, we upgraded our internet connection to a full T1. Now that our connection has been upgraded, we will be adding these images to the archive as time permits. Enjoy!
1-5-03 The oldest phish poster yet documented has been added to the new 1986 page. While not the most attractive poster ever, it is from Phish's bar band days and advertises a gig at Hunts in Burligton on 10/15/86. Here is the full size image. Thanks to the kind brother who sent me a photo of it during the hiatus. BTW, we still need "flat" images of all four 2003 posters. If you have them , please email them to me.
1/4/03 Posters for all four of Phish's Post-Hiatus gigs were created. As stated in my delayed column published on 12/16/02, the Pollocks were at Hampton. I have not seen any images except of the NYE print which was done by Scott Campbell in a limited editon of 1000. The Pollock prints are rumored to be editions of 750. Details and pics to follow.
Also, the first Phish Poster Convention happened on 1/2/02 in Hampton, VA. If anyone has any reports from this event, I'd be interested in hearing about it. Here is a copy fo the invite I received, albeit too late for pre-show publication.
by year
'86-'88 (2*)
1989 (8)
1990 (8)
1991 (6)
1992 (7)
1993 (8)
1994 (18)
1995 (9)
1996 (11)
1997 (20)
1998 (23)
1999 (25)
2000 (22)
2003 (5)
Other (8)
Pollock (7)
Great Went Page
* denotes posters have been recently added to this section
Please send missing descriptions or images to email@example.com.
Phish Drygoods


text:
Artist description:
One of my earlier draws with some changes;) Dedicated to my dear Kat; sorry!! I didn't mean to be so slow...again!! *begging for forgiveness* to much on my mind lately..also In memory of my dog of 12 yrs who died a few days ago.I'll ♥ u 4ever;)
Java Draw Created May 05, 2011 470 x 338px Unless noted Copyright 2011 Equilibrium.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
so lovely puppy.. sad.. but i love your drawings.. specially this one.
I feel so sorry for your puppy. 5h and faves (cries).
Excellent work!
amazing ..looks so realistic...5big hearts for this cute puppy:)
im so sorry to hear about your dog :( this is a wonderful drawing! 5/5
So cute. *U*
ok this is toooooooooooooooo cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute!!!!!!!!!!!adorable eyes....gorgeous emotion.5/5
I am so moved by this...incredibly rendered, and terribly sad, ,too. My sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one with fur. :( 5HC


text:
Stop me if you've heard this one before. The Pirates had strong starting pitching but failed in numerous opportunities to score some runs and lost the game late. Lather, rinse, repeat. Try to do better tonight.
I will add this before I move on: Pedro Alvarez looked good last night. He was patient and working the zone. Totally different from when I saw him this spring.
Elsewhere: Josh Bell, the Pirates' second round draft choice last July, "tweaked his knee" earlier in the week and had meniscus surgury yesterday. He is expected to return later this season.
Filed under: baseball, Pirates | Tagged: baseball, Josh Bell, Pedro Alvarez, Pirates | Leave a comment »


text:
We start the week by introducing Primula, a fresh floral letterpress invitation from our oh-so-affordable Coral collection.
What's different about Coral, our latest collection of letterpress invitations? As a green-certified business with a longstanding commitment to sustainable printing, we set out to design a new line of invitations that was stylish, eco-friendly, and above all, affordable. We carefully researched materials and printing techniques to stretch your dollars and our capabilities without compromising one kilowatt of quality or design.
Coral designs are sold as sets which means we're efficient with time and resources. The end result is a stunning letterpress wedding invitation at a price that fits your budget.


text:
Warm and varied lunches
at your office
WeLunch serves a variation of warm office lunches from the best local caterers. Deliciously warm meals, crunchy 'n fresh salads, and crispy bread. Different day to day. Delivered to your office – all you have to do is take a seat. Try us now with a trial week at 20% discount.
Trial Lunch
The fine line between professional and private life is ever fading. We work long hours, and our international colleagues remind us of the sad reality of our bland lunch on a daily basis. And as everyone knows: what you eat has a great impact on your health and performance.
Keen companies are continuously beginning to realize that people deserve better than our lacklustre, sandwich-fixated lunch. A diverse, warm lunch is the new bread and butter. WeLunch endeavours to feed this innovation in Rijswijk. Read more about our lunches.
We work closely together with you to put together the ideal lunch for your business. Whether you like healthy, vegetarian, want 3 or 5 meals a week, or really want sushi on friday – we will make sure you get the best.
These office lunches are prepared daily with love by the best local caterers, for a fixed price per month.
One less worry on your mind; one more thing to look forward to. And should you be open to something new, switching caterers is as easy as pie. Check how it works.
How It Works
With our 25% discount Trial Week/Lunch. We understand that you don't want to blindly follow our enthousiasm. That's why we want to do a trial run: a week of tasting and trying at 25% off. Let us know which week, how many people, and what you like; we will set the table at 12:00 sharp with a delicious, fresh lunch.
Enjoy our deliciously fresh daily lunch now in Delft, Den Haag, Leiden and Zoetermeer.
Let's do lunch!
Send us a message as we would love look into the possibilities of providing you with delicious, diverse, and warm lunches.


text:
Syrian troops capture famed Crusader castle
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops captured a famed Crusader castle near the border with Lebanon on Thursday, running the two-starred government flag high above the stone ramparts of the 12th century fortress after days of intense clashes with rebel fighters.
Lebanese private broadcaster Al-Mayadeen TV aired footage of Syrian soldiers walking unopposed into the Crac des Chevaliers, the towering hilltop citadel. The loud crackle of celebratory gunfire could be heard as troops explored the sprawling castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The military's push into the Crac des Chevaliers marked the latest in a string of battlefield gains for President Bashar Assad's forces. Government troops have seized at least four towns and villages in the past two weeks near the border with Lebanon as the army tries to sever opposition supply lines across the rugged, mountainous frontier.
This Wednesday, March. 19, 2014 photo provided by the anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Syrians inspect the rubble of destroyed buildings following a Syrian government airstrike in Aleppo, Syria. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)
The sharpest blow to the rebels came with the fall of their stronghold of Yabroud near Lebanon's eastern border on Sunday. But the government capture of the Crac des Chevaliers, which dominates the surrounding valley and terraced hills below, marked another painful setback, for symbolic reasons as much as strategic. Rebels had controlled the castle since 2012.
"Our efforts, those of the Syrian Arab Army and the National Defense Forces, were crowned today by raising the Syrian flag on the Crac des Chevaliers," an unnamed Syrian army colonel told Al-Mayadeen. "The battle had been going on for more than a month during which several nearby villages were liberated."
Syrian state television said troops "wiped out terrorists who were entrenched in the castle." Syrian authorities refer to opposition fighters as terrorists.
An activist based in the nearby city of Homs said the citadel fell into the hands of government troops earlier Thursday, a day after rebels and the government agreed that opposition fighters be given safe passage to Lebanon. The activist, who goes with the name of Beibares Tellawi, told The Associated Press that troops captured Hosn, the town at the foot of the castle, after an intense bombardment by the Syrian air force.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting around Hosn killed 12 fighters Thursday. The dead included the local leader of the Jund al-Sham Islamic group. Lebanese television stations identified the dead commander as Abu Suleiman Dandashi, a Lebanese national.
Syria's state news agency said "a number of terrorists were killed" as they tried to flee Hosn toward Lebanon. An activist in Homs who goes by the name of Samer al-Homsi said people fleeing Hosn were ambushed near the Lebanon border and many were feared dead.
The Crac des Chevaliers is considered one of the world's best-preserved castles from the era of the Crusades. But, like nearly all of Syria's rich archaeological and cultural heritage sites, the current conflict has taken a terrible toll on the citadel. Over the past 18 months, amateur videos posted online have shown shelling and airstrikes hitting the thick stone ramparts.
In the footage broadcast Thursday, the fortress looked fairly intact from the outside.
Still, damage to the Crac des Chevaliers and Syria's other cultural gems prompted the United Nations last week to warn that ancient Christian and Muslim sites in the country are under attack and to demand an immediate halt to the destruction of the country's cultural heritage.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the joint U.N.-Arab League mediator on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, issued a joint statement citing "alarming reports" that Syrian historical sites are being deliberately targeted for ideological reasons.
Six sites in Syria have been designated as World Heritage sites by UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural and educational agency, and the officials said some have suffered "considerable and sometimes irreversible damage." They listed the Crac des Chevaliers as one of them.
Also Thursday, a senior humanitarian official said the first convoy carrying desperately needed aid supplies via Turkey crossed the border into Syria.
U.N. regional Humanitarian Coordinator Nigel Fisher said that eight trucks carrying food supplies, blankets, mattresses, family kits and medical supplies began unloading Thursday night in the Syrian city of Qamishli. He said the convoy is made up of 79 trucks total.
Fisher said in a statement that the delivery marks the first time in three years that the U.N. has been able to deliver aid to Syria from Turkey.
Previously, the Syrian government has refused to allow U.N. aid in through Turkey, which is a staunch supporter of the rebellion against Assad.
The aid delivery comes almost a month after the U.N. Security Council unanimously demanded immediate access everywhere in Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to millions of people in need. The resolution doesn't threaten sanctions, but it does express the council's intention to take "further steps" if the resolution isn't implemented.
Despite the cross-border delivery, questions linger about the government's willingness to allow in aid to all areas in need. The first shipment will be limited to the Hassakeh governorate in the northeast, which is primarily controlled by Kurdish militias although the government retains some security outposts.
Meanwhile, the joint mission by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to rid Syria of it chemical weapons said another batch of chemical agents was removed from the country Thursday, raising the total amount taken out of the country to nearly 50 percent.
Associated Press writer Ryan Lucas contributed to this report.
This Tuesday, March. 18, 2014 photo provided by the anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows a Syrian man helping a wounded man from the scene after a government airstrike in Aleppo, Syria. Activists said Syrian warplanes and helicopter gunships carried out several air raids in the northern province of Aleppo on Tuesday killing and wounding a number of people. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center AMC)
This Tuesday, March. 18, 2014 photo provided by the anti-government activist group Aleppo Media Center (AMC), which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, a Syrian man, injured by a government airstrike, walks outside a damaged building in Aleppo, Syria. Activists said Syrian warplanes and helicopter gunships carried out several air raids in the northern province of Aleppo on Tuesday killing and wounding a number of people. (AP Photo/Aleppo Media Center, AMC)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.