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2010 Ford Taurus
The Taurus and MKS share the D3 platform with the Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT and upcoming 2011 Ford Explorer. That is 5 vehicles, one plant. And the platform originally came from Volvo, so if there is any economy of scale/reuse in the platform the advantage goes to the Taurus
All of those cars together probably don't have the volume of Camry and its offshoots Venza and Avalon.
You can get a nicely equipped Taurus for around $27K so stop throwing around the $40K figure
I've been talking 30's not $40K. 40K is more like the SHO which is a low volume car.
I'm not putting down Ford products, just pointing to their apparent ineptitude at initial marketing and pricing. Seems to me they went through this same episode with the Edge when it first came out. I think Ford is making good progress on product, but marketing and pricing still lags. Their other challenge is the UAW/CAW. If they don't get the same concessions as GM, and adding the BK advantages GM got, I can see Studebaker all over again down the road. The union killed that company. Shorter term though, Ford looks strong.0
Granted. The Taurus is a big car- perhaps too big to be a volume seller like the Fusion. But it goes down the freeway better than any comparably priced sedan. i chose it because I like its looks, color (cinnamon metallic) , comfort, quiet, and general refinement. It's no hot rod and a Fusion is certainly more agile, but not nearly as good for a trip, In a few years, large, heavy cars like the Taurus will be gone. In the meantime, I will polish mine and enjoy it.0
So basically everyone is complaining that they can't buy a new Taurus for the same rock bottom, huge rebate, fleet queen pricing as the 2005 Taurus.
In other words, you're looking for a bargain and Taurus ain't it. Too bad. Ford won't get profitable giving away cars. If you want a bargain go buy a Kia.
The Taurus looks to be the best car Ford has produced in a long time. It's not perfect but the complaints are minor at best. It is priced in line with similar vehicles from other manufacturers - period. They don't need to sell 200K a year either. Ford would rather have 4 vehicles on shared platforms that sell 100K than one that sells 400K. That's what got them into this mess - relying on one or two high volume models and ignoring the rest.
I'm sure Ford would rather sell 50K Tauri at a small profit than 200K at a loss.0
etcarroll Posts: 87Mods -
Can the SHO get its own thread, it would clear up some confusion in this thread. I don't think some folks understand when you throw out the $40k figure you're talking the SHO variation of the Taurus.
Then, you get trolls who intentionally blur the difference between reg. Taurus and SHO version.0
Please explain to me how the Taurus is overpriced when it's cheaper and better than the Avalon?
that's an easy one - despite that the current Av is coming up on 5 years old, there is still no Ford product that is even in the same state as the Av, never mind the same zip code. It all starts under the hood and goes from there. Your 'better' contention is typical Ford fanboy PR garbage. The 2010 Taurus is a nicely restyled 09 Taurus (which couldn't have been any worse) with nothing more than a crappy substandard engine that they had to turbo so that they could put too many HP where it doesn't belong..
Other than that, they're getting better, I suppose. Not difficult when you've been down so long ....0
27 k for a Taurus. I wouldn't spend that. You can buy a Camray SE V6 at that price. :shades: No Fix Or Repair Daily for me.
Ford is doing well in Europe,but won't send their best cars over here. :lemon:0
thesis, anti thesis, equal synthesis,but you are a :shades: under grad wanting to pay 40 k for a ford0
...is that I might well be driving a 2010 Taurus soon. I like the car. It's roomy, attractive and has more than adequate power.
The rarefied air that Ford is attempting to broach in one fell swoop is very tough in today's market. The game plan looked pretty good two years ago. Today it is a nearly impossible sell in most of the U.S. and that's not likely to change in the next 6 to 12 months.
There are Ford dealerships near me with Taurus Limiteds priced at $36K-$37K and SHOs at $42K-$43K. That is a sedan league Ford has NEVER been in and they're trying to get in under the worst possible economic conditions.
Personal preference notwithstanding - a very nice SEL is available for $28K but that's the low end of the range. Most new Taurus models fall between $30K-$34K MSRP as they sit today. The car may well be worth it but times are tough and Ford has not proven itself in this price range.
That said, I do expect to be able to locate a low mileage, used SEL next fall for $21K-$22K. At that price I'll be buying.0
That's a good price bruneau - especially with Leather and AWD! Stickers at $31,240 so you're getting $1,500 off sticker AND 0%; you're really buying the car for about $27,000.
Don't give up on the Taurus people! Deals like bruneau's will be available!0
17 city mpg doesn't cut it.
Does it cut it in the Mazda 6? Or the even smaller Chevy Malibu? Its down 2 mpg on the best of the midsize cometition, yet offers more space and a WHOLE lot more power, not to mention AWD. Not nitpicking here, but let's get a little more serious. Both of those are excellent choices, are an entire step down in "class" yet get similar mileage.0
I thought I saw a shadow under that bridge...
I'd like to know what people who say the Taurus is overpriced think the Taurus should be priced near. The old-tech, compact inside big outside Impala? That's a joke.0
gregg_vw Posts: 2,437Allen, I do think you are one of the most informed, intelligent people on these forums. That said, maybe it is possible you are missing the point. Regardless of how the new Taurus, equipped as it is, may be worth the money, Hyundai and Kia have the better idea (as Lexus did years ago): undercut the competition price-wise with a product that measures up, and people will eventually start buying it in numbers.
If Ford is really already offering a $1K rebate on the 2010 Taurus, then all you are saying is beside the point. If this company, in the straits it is in, believes it can offer that sort of discount and still survive, why didn't they cut the list price in the beginning and advertise the hell out of it instead? Rebates are not as cheap as lowering the price in the first place. Ford is learning, but slowly, and this is an example. There is a lot of talk about how expensive the Taurus is. How is that good? How did anyone in sales or marketing think that by restyling the Taurus to be a car that people might actually buy (because it was not so stupidly styled anymore) mean that Ford could now charge close to what competitors with a track record in that strata are charging?
Hyundai had no such fantasies when it introduced a rear wheel drive very quiet V8 sedan that actually gets as good mileage as many V6s. The jury is still out as to whether the Genesis nameplate will grow, but they won't need to begin giving them away any time soon. Meanwhile, Ford is drowning in debt. I give them credit for not taking a government handout, but GM, by admitting they screwed up royally, could actually end up doing them one better. And that sucks. Over the course of history and a dumb as GM has been at times, they usually figure out how to beat Ford. The crappy Impala is an example. But the CTS is a better example.
Ford could clean up if they could build and market the Fusion like they used to do with the Taurus years ago. As good as the Fusion is, they don't have the means to build it in large numbers. There was a brief time when Taurus wasn't the fleet queen, but rather was the best in its category. It's time to get back to that.0
I'd like to know what people who say the Taurus is overpriced think the Taurus should be priced near.
Near a Honda Accord. The Honda offers the same passenger compartment volume as the new Taurus and offers the comfort and convenience features that buyers want for thousands less than the Taurus.
An Accord EX-L with the V6 stickers for $29,800. An equivalent Taurus Limited w/moonroof is $32,890. The Accord is 10% cheaper, 10% lighter and 10% more efficient.
We don't even need to discuss the 4 cylinder Accords because their price, weight and efficiency are so far superior it becomes 21st century vs. 20th century.
I don't know that all this matters much though. The rebates and incentives on the Taurus will likely have the actual transaction prices very, very close to the Accord.
I believe by spring 2010 Ford will have $3,000 rebates on all Taurus models. The Taurus is good but so is the competition. If Ford can get enough butts in their seats, they will turn some heads and make some sales.0
I understand what you're saying Gregg, but that's not what these yahoos are saying. They're saying it's too expensive just because it has a blue oval on it and that's rubbish. My guess is they wouldn't spend $35K on any new vehicle period and they have an axe to grind with Ford.
Anyone who does an objective comparison based on FACTS (like grad) understands that the Taurus is competitively priced. If the market won't support it then Ford will have to make a decision to make but cutting the price probably isn't on the list. They'll either make do with a smaller market share or get rid of it. Cutting the price puts it too close to the Fusion.
I don't think Ford wants to attract bargain hunters because there's no money in it. They're not trying to establish an entire brand like Hyundai. They have a plan to take Ford upmarket and they certainly have the product to do it. If it doesn't work with consumers then it doesn't work but I don't fault Ford for trying.
This is just typical Ford bashing by people who wouldn't buy a new Ford anyway unless it came with a $10K discount. They're probably disgruntled Panther fans.0
Near a Honda Accord.
Oh sure - let's conveniently forget about the Fusion. I don't care if the Accord is borderline on the EPA size chart, it competes with the Fusion and the Camry. You never hear about the Accord competing with the Avalon.0
This is just typical Ford bashing
No, I don't think so. I think it is mostly the opposite. Here Ford stands at a critical juncture to their long term health - they should be pricing aggressively to get people into their showrooms and see the new product in order to change stereotyping of it. Large rebates only serve to cheapen product in the consumers eyes. If you hope for larger margins down the road, you've first got to differentiate and change people's perceptions of the company and its products.0
You never hear about the Accord competing with the Avalon.
What planet do you live on? The Accord does compete with the Avalon.
You need to wake up. Planet earth to kirby. Come in!0
There are hundreds of comparison tests between Accord and Camry. How many can you find comparing Accord to Avalon? I've never seen one. Just like you see Accord and Fusion, not Accord and Taurus.0
Since when is $1000 on a $30K car considered a large rebate? If it was $3K or $4K then that would be a problem.
The new Ford will cut production before they raise incentives to high levels. That is a fundamental change that took place at Ford over the last 2 years. Inventory levels are being managed so that they don't end up with overstock situations where you have to put $5K on the hood just to get rid of excess inventory.
Ford spent the better part of the last decade trying to compete on price and found out there are others that can do it better. They tried selling vehicles to rental fleets and putting huge amounts of cash on the hood just to keep factories open and found out that doesn't yield profits. They tried relying on a few vehicles to generate profit and found out that doesn't work when the market changes.
This is definitely a new move for Ford and it has some risks, but at least now they have the reliability and a decent product and are building the reputation that it takes to pull it off.
I understand that some people still think Ford needs to sell a lot of cars right away or do something drastic with rebates or lowering the price but that would only produce short term results and Ford needs to focus on long term sustainability.
If you think the Taurus is too pricey, don't buy one. But that also means the REAL competition is also too pricey.0
The Genesis is a very good car, but it will never get you up a slippery hill in winter and it rides badly over bumps. I have driven it and was dissapointed.0
wjtinatl Posts: 50While I agree with earlier posts that Avalon is the natural competitor for the new Taurus, I disagree with the assertion that the Avalon is better, top to bottom. I'll grant that the Toyota 3.5L V-6 is a jewel of a motor, easily the smoothest and most efficient, if not a powerful as the Nissan V-6. However that's where Avalon superiority ends. Toyota reliability is not what it used to be and their build quality while consistently good, is not exceptional and is easily equaled by Ford, as well as some GM (Buick) competition. The Avalon chassis, being a stretched Camry (an average driving and handling car at best) is nothing special and I find the Avalon to be spongy, underdamped and suffering in the tire and brakes department. Finally, at least in the Southeast, there have been many Avalon's dumped into rental fleets (mainly Hertz) so their residual resale values are hardly legendary. I do think Ford is stretching the Taurus brand to it's limits with their pricing strategy and question the ability to mine enough equity from the Taurus nameplate to justify the price. The availiability of AWD as well as the high-tech options may appeal to some, but with an AWD Limited near 38k, they're facing some stiff competition from Acura, Infiniti, even corporate sibling (for now) Volvo. I give Ford credit for sticking by the name and greatly improving the product, just hope they haven't reached too far in this economic climate to give a solid product a chance.0
I give Ford credit for sticking by the name and greatly improving the product, just hope they haven't reached too far in this economic climate to give a solid product a chance.
Five years ago this new Taurus looked okay on the drawing board. By the time it got to market, things had changed drastically. A 203" sedan weighing 4,100 pounds and costing over $30K are a tough sell today.
Someone earlier mentioned that Ford would rather sell 50,000 units at a profit than 200,000 units at a loss. I'm sure that's true but I have a relative who is a recently retired VP from Ford and he would quickly explain why 50,000 units won't get the job done.
The $3,000 and $4,000 rebates are coming soon to a Ford store near you. In fact $1,000 rebates, 0% financing and whatever you can get the dealership to knock off the price are available today in my area; that's worth close to $4K now and the Taurus just hit the lots a few weeks ago.0
grega Posts: 31Ford has positioned the new Taurus/SHO upmarket and compares it to cars like the Audi A6 and Lexus LS, NOT the camry or accord, thats fusion territory!
Therefore, by moving up market, the price becomes a better value propositon for ford when compared to more expensive Audi and Lexus... its all about positioning.
Just because the clowns on this forum have no clue and use excuses like its too expensive or too heavy prove they are clueless, especially about marketing!
You won't see Ford compare the Taurus to Camry or Accord, its the WRONG market segment, they are midsize, Taurus is full size.0
Karen_S Posts: 5,092...but please dispense with the name-calling. It is unnecessary and adds nothing to the conversation.
The Accord is now a full-size car.
Think and say what you will, but marketing and manufacturing people know Ford will be discounting the Taurus $4,000 next year so they sell.
If the marketing geniuses at Ford had an understanding of their target market and it's demographics they would sell more cars. Trying to move "up-market" in the 2008-2010 time frame to a different target won't happen.
As it is, Ford is crawling into 2010 on their hands and knees hoping for another "Cash For Clunkers" bail out so they don't have to take the $4,500 hit on their cars. Myself - I realize HUGE discounts are coming soon to a Ford store near you!0
If Ford is really already offering a $1K rebate on the 2010 Taurus,
we won't have to worry about what Ford's MSRP is - folks that would consider buying one EXPECT a big discount and they get it - much like they would if they are buying other D3 cars and/or Korean cars. A 'tradition' those companies can thank themselves for - and the result of selling substandard products for many many years. Avalons and the like didn't have that problem and still sell for a higher price (relative to invoice) than the others do - even in this economy - wonder why? :surprise:0
As it is, Ford is crawling into 2010 on their hands and knees hoping for another "Cash For Clunkers" bail out so they don't have to take the $4,500 hit on their cars. Myself - I realize HUGE discounts are coming soon to a Ford store near you!
I say you're wrong and the new Taurus will sell in reasonable volumes at least where the old model was before last year - around 5k/month. You won't see more than $2K cash on the hood. They'll cut production before they go higher than that.
Guess we'll have to wait and see.
And please just ignore you-know-who and he'll eventually go away.0
...but you may also see indirect $ on top like Ford Credit bonus, loyalty or conquest $.
I think Ford and GM will get to where they can price with Honda and Toyota in the next 5 years or so, but I wish they had been initially more aggressive right now so they could move away from all the promo money and start focusing people on value and quality. Ford and GM got themselves into a hole with some of the crap they did in the past. Now they need to show they have redeemed their ways and that means getting butts into seats. Either approach gets the sales, but incentives and the like degrade the vehicle and emphasize "the deal" instead. Not where they should be going right now in my opinion.0
well, I guess we'll take these one at a time:
Toyota 3.5L V-6 is a jewel of a motor, easily the smoothest and most efficient, ss we'll take these one at a time: - true
Toyota reliability is not what it used to be - the Avalon is CR rated better than average (as it always has been) - no change even from when it really was a stretched Camry (see below)
being a stretched Camry (an average driving and handling car at best) is nothing special and I find the Avalon to be spongy, underdamped
used to be: the 05 Avalon came before the 06 Camry. It was the first application for the 2GR engine and substantially larger (not just stretched) than the Camry at the time. If anything the new Camry is a shrunk Avalon. And yes, Toyotas, in general, are indeed 'soft' - something that Toyota has understood over the years - Americans WANT big comfy highway cruisers. Their sales stats prove it.
and lastly:
their residual resale values are hardly legendary
and this is why the Avalon annuallly leads TCO numbers for ALL vehicles in this class? Don't know about legendary, but surely without peer. and also a function of keeping those sell prices up.
You want to talk about things that the money floods out of when you drive them out of the showroom - let's talk about Ford products :confuse:0
lilengineerboy Posts: 4,116Yes - I learned to read writing my thesis at Yale.
Okay I gotta ask...how did you get into Yale without knowing how to read? :confuse:0


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Store located in Shopping mall/center : Cambridge Centre
Store brand name : Mark's Work Wearhouse
Address & Location : 355 Hespeler Road, Cambridge, Ontario N1R 6B3
State : Ontario
City : Cambridge - Ontario
Phone (Cambridge Centre) : 519-624-9415
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text: Here is the wrist of my SVT-40. Does this look like a crack to you guys? I am thinking so. What would you do with the gun if it were yours? I'm having trouble finding an original replacement stock. There is a guy on ebay who sells new production stocks for $125 but then you lose the originality of the gun when you shoot it. How would a crack like that affect the value of the rifle? It is a reburb with a great bore in nice shape. I love shooting SVT-40s so this kind of sucks.


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Camel Roams Southern California Streets After Escaping Circus
(LOS ANGELES) -- A circus camel roamed the streets of a Southern California city after it escaped from its handlers.
The camel is part of the Ramos Bros. Circus and the incident started during some exercises Friday afternoon.
"Somebody dropped a wrench and one of them got scared," said Douglas Ramos, co-owner of Ramos Bros. Circus.
The camel ran out of its tent and onto Glendale city streets.
"Literally there was 10 people running after this camel, it was craziness on the street, I heard kids yelling and screaming," witness Diana Madison told ABC News Los Angeles station KABC.
The camel ran into a gas station and was lured back to the circus with a carrot, unharmed.
Ramos joked that maybe the camel just wanted to get in some Black Friday shopping.
"You know, we do this every day. This time I guess she just wanted to go shopping or something, I don't know. Black Friday deals," he said.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


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The Wit and Wisdom of Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, is famous for his joke, that he had, once. But did you know that he has told many jokes, in the past?
Friedman uses the power of "humor" to explain complex situations in terms we can all understand. And what we mean by that is he tells crappy old jokes and then tries to make them sound relevant to whatever topic he's simplifying to the third-grade reading level of his corporate audience.
The New Republic's Dylan Matthews actually tracked down all of jokes Friedman has made in his Times columns (it's easy to do, because he prefaces jokes by explaining that he is about to tell a joke), and it is delightful reading.
Here is a joke he told in 1993, about the Arab-Israeli conflict:
"For years I have explained the longevity of the Arab-Israeli conflict with a joke about a very religious Jew named Goldberg who wanted to win the lottery. He would go to synagogue every Sabbath and pray: 'God, I have been such a pious man all of my life. What would be so bad if I won the lottery?' And the lottery would come, and Goldberg would not win. This went on week after week, month after month. Finally, one Sabbath, Goldberg couldn't take it anymore, and said to the Almighty: 'God, I have been so good, so observant. What do I have to do to win the lottery?'
And suddenly the heavens parted and the voice of God boomed out: 'Goldberg, give me a chance. Buy a ticket.'"
Ha ha, get it? It's just like how the Israelis pray for peace but never buy peace tickets. And here is a joke he told this year, about the middle east situation:
"During a telephone interview Tuesday with President Obama about his speech to Arabs and Muslims in Cairo on Thursday, I got to tell the president my favorite Middle East joke. It gave him a good laugh. It goes like this:
There is this very pious Jew named Goldberg who always dreamed of winning the lottery. Every Sabbath, he'd go to synagogue and pray: "God, I have been such a pious Jew all my life. What would be so bad if I won the lottery?' But the lottery would come and Goldberg wouldn't win. Week after week, Goldberg would pray to win the lottery, but the lottery would come and Goldberg wouldn't win. Finally, one Sabbath, Goldberg wails to the heavens and says: 'God, I have been so pious for so long, what do I have to do to win the lottery?'
And the heavens parted and the voice of God came down: 'Goldberg, give me a chance! Buy a ticket!'"
Oh man, it is even better this time! Because of italics!


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A Movement to Make Our Leaders Listen
Much has been made by some news outlets and pundits about the supposed "incoherence" of the Occupy Wall Street protests. "The protesters" don't have a coherent message, we are told. They can't even agree on any solutions. What the heck are they proposing?
This angle is wrong-headed. The strongest and most successful social movements in history have always tapped into multiple concerns that are important to different swaths of society, and often articulated in different ways. It's not typically the responsibility of a broad movement to propose specific policy solutions—at least not at this stage in the process. It's on us to create pressure to move society in a direction. When we do that successfully, windows will open to fight for this or that specific change. The bigger a movement we grow, the more pressure we create, the more substantial and meaningful those windows for measurable gains become.
And historical perspective is not all that's wrong with the "incoherence" frame. There's a pretty damn clear coherence to Americans' anger at Wall Street right now. If it doesn't upset you that the top 1% is still making record-high profits and paying record-low taxes while the rest of us struggle just to survive, then I don't know that I'll be able to explain it to you. But I think most people feel it in their gut. That's why us being here is resonating with so many people. That's why this movement is drawing so much attention, and why I think it's going to continue to gain momentum over time.
The momentum is really starting to spread beyond the "usual suspects." It's important to emphasize and encourage this. For example, while coastal occupation actions have drawn the most media attention so far, actions are also happening all across "Middle America," from Ashland, Kentucky to Dallas, Texas to Ketchum, Idaho.
I just heard a first hand report about four hundred Iowans marching in Des Moines, Iowa as part of the October 15 international day of action. I'm working on the press team here at Occupy Wall Street, and I just got the chance to talk on the phone with Judy Lonning, a 69-year-old retired public school teacher who participated in the Des Moines action today. Here's what she had to say:
People are suffering here in Iowa. Family farmers are struggling, students face mounting debt and fewer good jobs, and household incomes are plummeting. We're not willing to keep suffering for Wall Street's sins. People here are waking up and realizing that we can't just go to the ballot box. We're building a movement to make our leaders listen.
Cheers to that.
Thousands of ordinary people have shown up from all around the country to support #OccupyWallStreet. Who are they?
Is the Occupy movement an opportunity to transform the legal structures that give corporations their power over the rest of us?


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LOGAN, Utah (AP) Karol Gruszecki scored 14 points, Cameron Catlett had 13 points and six assists and Texas-Arlington dropped Utah State 74-68 on Thursday night.
Texas-Arlington (9-8, 4-4 WAC) outscored the Aggies 24-14 inside the paint, shot an even 40 percent from the floor and was 25 of 34 from the free-throw line.
The Aggies hit 10 3-pointers in the contest but committed 17 turnovers. Spencer Butterfield had 23 points, including four 3-pointers, grabbed 11 rebounds and had three assists to lead Utah State (14-4, 5-3). Ben Clifford had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
Greg Gainey had 10 points and eight rebounds for Texas-Arlington. Shaq White-Miller scored 11 points and was 8 for 9 from the free-throw line, and added four assists and three steals.
Texas-Arlington had lost five of its last seven games until the victory over the Aggies.


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I seem to spend half my waking hours cooking up enormous amounts of Chinese food, and the other half blogging about such endeavors. Which was why I was excited to participate in month's Foodbuzz "24 Hours, 24 Meals, 24 Blogs", a live blogging event in which 24 foodies around the world host and blog an amazing meal on the same day. (Foodbuzz also recently officially launched their Featured Publishing Community. Find out more here.)
While many people are learning more about traditional Chinese food, few are aware of the hybrid foods that naturally evolve when the Chinese move overseas. For this event, I wanted to highlight the vibrant new dishes that came out of the Chinese diaspora in the Caribbean. (Many started arriving in the early 1800s, mainly to work on sugar plantations.)
Part of reason is personal. My family's saga from China to the Americas began with an uncle who lived and worked in Cuba until Fidel came into power, then moved to Puerto Rico and started a Chinese restaurant. Other family members then followed, starting up their own restaurants. When I lived in Puerto Rico, between my time in China the US, I was thus introduced to a whole spectrum of foods that merged Chinese techniques with local tropical produce and spices. Wok-fried chicken, seafood Spanish fried rice, and coconut shakes are forever lodged in my mind as an ideal comfort food combo.
The other part of my theme choice is logistical. Chinese-Caribbean food offered much more finger-food potential. And unlike with traditional Chinese banquet food, it was something my guests (5 Americans, 3 Chinese, 2 French, 1 Aussie, 1 Canadian, and 1 German) were unlikely to get living in Beijing. The food I served was by no means strictly Chinese-Caribbean fusion. Part of the menu showcases how Chinese ingredients and techniques became a part of mainstream Caribbean food; the rest made the best of both tropical and local ingredients.
I was originally planning on hosting the event in my (tiny) apartment, but then at the last minute was able to borrow the kitchen at The Hutong, the local cooking school/community center where I teach. It's a renovated courtyard home smack in the middle of one of Beijing's remaining hutongs. I spend a ton of time in this open kitchen that doubles as a dining area, so it seemed natural to bring my friends together in such a community-oriented space. Did I mention that the kitchen, part modern and part rustic, with gorgeous China-focused photography on the walls, gets compliments from guests all the time?
On to the food. One of the most popular creations of the night was a Black Bean, Lime, and Onion Dip. I cooked up dried black beans and processed them with caramelized onions, garlic, and a swing of fresh lime juice. The pita chips I made by baking Chinese pancakes. I also make a large batch of my Chicharrones de Pollo (recipe here). These Puerto Rican fried chicken cracklings, marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and rum, represent for me some of the best of the Chinese influence in Caribbean cooking.
I also had to take advantage of The Hutong's industrial-sized oven, big enough to fit 2 or 3 large pizzas at once. Pizza isn't very Chinese or Caribbean, but chicken wings are. In Jamaica, jerk means dry-rubbing medium to large cuts of meat with with a mixture that includes Scotch bonnet peppers and allspice, then barbequing. Of course, Chinese restaurants in Jamaica (and Chinese-Jamaican spots in the US), serve jerk chicken wings or jerk chicken on chow mein. For "Jerk" Chicken Wings, I adapted a recipe in Food and Wine by Chef Paul Chung. I made my with a spice rub of blended habanero (a common substitute for Scotch bonnet), garlic, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and nutmeg. Baking 30 wings took up half the oven. I had another 30 left, and made Cumin-Rubbed Chicken Wings, a deference to one of the most popular spices in Western Chinese cooking. To round out the meat-heavy selection of appetizers, I also made a Roast Pumpkin and Chickpea Salad with Lime Vinaigrette.
Sweet and sour anything is perhaps the most well-known and loved Cantonese cooking styles to be adapted in the West, and its popularity is no less in the Caribbean. For the main course, I made a Sweet and Sour Shrimp dish with pineapple chunks and a sauce that includes orange juice, mango juice, and white vinegar. For the vegetarians in the group, I added a Sweet and Sour Eggplant; the vegetable is a great sponge for the tangy sauce. And because it would be sacriledge to eat a sweet and sour dish without rice, everyone got a bowl of Special "Hutong Rice", topped with goji berries, pumpkin seeds, and black sesame seeds; no Hutong event would be complete without it.
The night did come with a couple of challenges, common when you're serving 13 people in a kitchen not your own. I wanted to keep dessert rather light and simple. While sprinkling sugar and cinnamon on pineapple for my Baked Cinnamon Pineapple Rings with Vanilla Ice Cream was easy, trying to scoop out helado with no ice cream scoopers or big spoons presented a problem. (I ended up doing so with two rice scoopers. Not recommended.) Jacob, who wanted to counteract my serving a cold dessert on a cold fall day, decided to make chai. We served it in little glass cups on the same plate as the pineapple and vanilla. When the little glass cups ran out, we had to use rice bowls for the chai.
And throughout the evening, Ronan, our French house-guest from Shanghai, helped me serve Hibiscus Mojitos. (Like my hibiscus mint granita, without the freezing part.) Hibiscus may be a popular tisane in China, sometimes drunken for medicinal benefits, but in Jamaica you'll also find it in punch and agua fresca. What better way to combine Chinese and Caribbean cultures than to pair hibiscus tea with Cuba's national cocktail?
And so, with stomachs full, mojito glasses emptied, we toasted Cheers! Salud! Gan Bei! to a fun evening of food, friends, and live blogging.
(A couple recipes below!)
More photos on Flickr.
Black Bean, Lime, and Onion Dip
Makes 2 cups
1/2 red onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons olive oil Two 15-ounce cans of black beans, rinsed and drained well 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground red chili pepper Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons water
In a pan over low heat, cook garlic and onions until onions are caramelized, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a food processor or blender, combine onions, garlic, olive oil, black beans, lime juice, cumin, red chili pepper, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Serve with pita or tortilla chips. Dip can be chilled for up to 3 days.
Notes: Dip is good cold, but much better warmed up. Is also a good accompaniment for the chicharrones de pollo.
Chinese-Caribbean "Jerk" Chicken Wings Adapted from recipe for Jamaican Jerk Chicken by Paul Chung in Food and Wine
Serves 4
1 medium red onion, coarsely chopped 1 habanero pepper, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon five-spice powder 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 20 chicken wings or drummettes.
In a food processor or blender, combine the onion, habaneros, garlic, soy sauce, olive oil five-spice powder, thyme, pepper, nutmeg, and salt. Process into a smooth paste. Coat chicken wings with paste, and marinate at least 6 hours or preferably overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. When ready to roast, arrange wings in a single layer in a shallow baking dish. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes.


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Tybee Island, also known as Savannah Beach, is a vacationer's paradise rich with history, natural beauty, diverse cuisine and excellent attractions. Beautiful Georgian vacation rentals line the Atlantic shoreline – from modern villas and spacious beach rentals to quaint clapboard cottages. Feel the southern heritage overflowing from Savannah, just 20 minutes west.
Tybee beach rentals offer watersports, fishing, sailing and snorkeling right out your back door. Miles of beach and picturesque sights leave travelers in awe of this wonderful oasis. Days on Tybee Island are as active, or lazy, as mood demands. Vacation rentals inland place you in a cultural mecca, with attractions like the Old Savannah Trolley Tours, the famous Tybee Pier, dozens of local shops, boutiques and restaurants, plus trails for hiking.
It's no wonder condo rentals are frequently occupied by celebrities. Paula Deen – Savannah resident and famous southern cuisine chef – has a home for rent here. Browse Tybee's vacation rentals and see first hand why the island was named one of the "Top 10 City Beaches in America.
Museums and historical landmarks surround the vacation rentals on Tybee Island. Spend a day educating the kids in the popular Fort Screven Historic District, home of the century-old Tybee Post Theatre. Walk through the Tybee Museum for close-up views of Revolutionary War-era cannons. The biggest draw is the magnificent 207-year old Tybee Island Light Station. Condo rentals neighboring nearby Cockspur Island offer a historical treat in the Fort Pulaski National Monument from the American Civil War era.
Beach rentals off of famed Tybrisa Street offer the spectacular views from the Tybee Pier and Pavilion that locals and tourists alike have come to adore. Complete with picnic tables, snack bars, public dances and musical performances.
Beach rentals provide aquatic fun for the whole family with watersports like kayaking, paddleboarding and jet skiing. Take a deep sea fishing charter with Captain Mike, watch the dolphins surf the waves off of Captain Derek's vessel or enjoy a romantic evening sunset cruise with Miss Judy. Stay in a condo rental for a few hours and you'll notice the eclectic modes of transportation on the island. Traditional bikers and pedicabs share the roads with dune buggies and eco-friendly, electric "Island Hoppers" and "Tybee Cruisers."
Tybee Island isn't just a beach, either. Kids will enjoy the numerous playgrounds scattered around the suburb, just steps from your vacation rental. The sporty vacationers will love the soccer fields, tennis courts and basketball courts.
Tybee's shopping scene is known for it's authentic local. From gift shops to grocery stores, you won't find any big name brands here. Impress by the décor and furnishings of your condo rental? There's a good chance it was bought at Seaside Sisters, the island's renowned home and lifestyle shop. Hall of Frames is Tybee Island's exquisite fine arts gallery, boasting fun and clever artworks and souvenirs.
Beach rentals and vacation rentals on Tybee Island expose guests to more than 30 privately owned restaurants serving up fresh seafood and southern fair. How about dining next to an alligator pond (fenced, of course) or exotic bird area at the Crab Shack? Enjoy some of the island's best views during dinner at Coco's Sunset Grille, or line up at The Breakfast Club for mouth-watering omelets and southern grits. Grab some local produce and fresh fish for a home-cooked family dinner in your spacious condo rental while the sun sets out the window.
Tybee Island is a magical place, where old history meets new-age entertainment and attractions. Relax in a breezy beach rental as you stroll down the famous Pier, or set up base in one of Tybee's quaint condo rentals near hiking trails, parks and historical monuments. TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals has the best deals and specials on all Tybee Island properties.


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The Ins & Outs: Countdown to the Festival on the Green
a blog about music, visual arts, entertainment and everything in betweenby tamara hilmes, internWith the 31st Annual Festival on the Green taking place just four weeks away on July 12-18, it seems only fitting to spend the remaining weeks that stand between us and the sweet, sweet celebration of both sound and summer by taking a look at a number of the bands and artists that will be featured in this year's festival. By zeroing in on a different group each week, I hope to highlight some of the extraordinary talent that Middlebury will be playing host to and build even more enthusiasm for the event that, according to the Festival's Web site, has been described as "the essence of New England summers." I am also thrilled to point to the great diversity in musical style that the Festival will encompass this year, and I can't wait to give you all a taste of this through samples, links, album reviews, and so much more. That being said, I'd like to kick off this musically-inspired and enhanced series of blog entries withCrooked Still The quintet known as Crooked Still is described as alt-country, bluegrass, and string band that sounds like anything but old hat. Banjo, Cello, Bass, Fiddle and vocals meld into one heck of a solid sound in each of the three albums that this Boston-based band has produced since forming in 2002. The group, which consists of vocalist Aoife O'Donovan, banjo player Dr. Gregory Liszt, bassist Corey DiMario, cellist Tristan Clarridge and fiddler Brittany Haas, is known for its alternative bluegrass-y style.
Their 2004 debut album, Hop High, includes such gems as "Last Fair Deal Gone Down," "Look On and Cry," and "Shady Grove," set off by the haunting, Allison Krauss-like female vocals and bouncing banjo laying a fiddle-fortified foundation.
Shaken by a Low Sound added a bluesier sound to the mix with "Ain't No Grave" and "Can't You Hear Me Callin'," while still maintaining that good-ol'-boys-sittin-on-the-front-porch-steps style bluegrass. The whole album in fact is rather reminiscent of George Clooney in a pair of grimy overalls with one strap undone. If you like the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"soundtrack, you'll love this quality countrified quartet.
The band's latest album, Still Crooked, which was released just last year, relies on the same country/folk roots as their previous two, but takes it to a whole new level by playing around with the fiddle a bit more and highlighting O'Donavan's strong yet mellow vocals to a greater extent than in the past.
More recently, the band has been touring around Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, playing 18 shows in just 20 days in late May and early June. Currently the band is at the Telluride Music Festival, a bluegrass bonanza set up in the mountains of southwest Colorado, and will head back East in July for a Northeast tour including a stop at Middlebury's own Festival on the Green.
Crooked Still is set to perform on Wednesday, July 15 at 8:30. If you simply cannot wait until then to hear their string-infused sound, you can check them out on myspace or pay a visit to their surpringly classy web site. Some of their previous performances can also be viewed on YouTube, like this rendition of "Can't You Hear Me Calling" as performed last June at the 33rd annual Fathers Day Festival presented by the California Bluegrass Association:
The music of Crooked Still is best listened to while "driving up highway 1 between big sur and monterey, drinking copious amounts of honey wine, having a picnic with your shoes off, grilling italian sausages, reading ann landers, backcountry skiing, water-skiing, on a pier by a blue lake with your feet dangling in the water," according to one particularly enthusiastic fan on amazon.com. But he forgot one thing off his list: sitting on a blanket on the town green with a Noonie's sandwich — which is what I plan to be doing while simultaneously bobbing my head to the storm of bluegrass that is Crooked Still.
Online editor's note: Check back next Thursday for another update in the "Countdown to the Festival on the Green" series by Addison Independent intern Tamara Hilmes.


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- Google SoC
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- Security Workshops
As part of this year's Summer of Code, I programmed an extension for the shellcode detection and analysis library libemu. The main goal of the project was to increase the performance when executing shellcode, with the help of a virtualizer. Prior to this extension, libemu made use of a custom emulator, which supported only instructions mostly used in shellcode. With this extension, libemu utilizes a full-blown, completely functioning virtualizer, which executes code presumably the same way a real CPU does. Read more »
Hi all:
I have finished almost all the coding stuff of Project #1, now you can try out the new PHoneyC with shellcode/heapspray detection here:
Please feel free to report any bug or suggestion on shellcode/heapspray detection to me. Read more »
|See <https://www.honeynet.org/gsoc/project1> for
project details.
|Zhijie Chen (Joyan) <[email protected]>
|Jose Nazario
|Mid-term Report on PHoneyC GSoC project 1. This report
describes what I have done on the PHoneyC's libemu integration
for shellcode and heapspray detection during the first half of
the GSoC. Till now, the main ideas on this feature has been
fast-implemented (actually I mean poor coding style) and the
whole flow works well, with some code rewriting and performance
optimization needed in the future.
As libemu had it's second release (0.2.0) lately, I'll try to introduce it to the audience who did not hear about it yet.
libemu is a small library written in c offering basic x86 emulation and shellcode detection using GetPC heuristics.
Intended use is within network intrusion/prevention detections and honeypots.
This post is split into four parts:


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- Articles
- Code
- Reference
- Other
Posts Tagged youtube
Internet comeback of the day
I usually don't repost this sort of stuff, but this is a quality to the ridiculous rant by some UCLA undergrad..
Don't blame me if this gets stuck in your head. Link to video
I love the internet, in all its highly unproductive glory. That and it pays the bills, yeah, thats important
Techno ducky!
If you know me you probably know that I like me some techno when I code. I dunno why, guilty pleasure I suppose, sort of like how I like to listen to hardcore when I drive. Yeah…don't ask, I don't have an answer for you.
Anyway, I like to listen to something on my headphones when I code since I am able to narrow down the number of distractions that way and really concentrate on what I am doing. Which is odd, its like I need one distraction rather than a bunch since I am able to ignore one thing as opposed to multiple. Anyway, again, I heard Ducktoy by Hampenberg, and had to laugh. They/he/she, bases a techno soung around a duck toy squeaker. Its annoying at first, but gets kinda catchy, then become annoying again. I found this YouTube music video for the song, not sure i like the idea of bikini clad women dancing in unison whilst squeezing duck toys, that is sure to give me some funky mental images in the days to come. Oh man, I have had too much coffee today..


text: It's that time again! The weekend has come and gone and now, holy crap, Christmas is almost upon us. Have you made your list and checked it twice? Have you determined who's been naughty or nice? If all the holiday hubbub gets to be a bit too much for you, try lying on your back for a while—sort of like the cat in this video—and soon it will all be over.


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This is my favorite forum game on another site, so i'm bringing it to my other favorite site!
Rate the persons avatar above you from 1-10 and give some feedback! For example:
1- Doesn't make any sense, non-comprehendable
3- Doesn't suit your persona well
5- It's alright, check out some alternatives
7- It looks great, nice style brooooo
9- The only way it could be better is if it was in 3D!
10- It's in freeking 3D.
-And anything in between.
Have fun N00bs. <3 Oak


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Welcome to Pacific magazine online.
We are proud to debut a new design for this website, which serves as a companion to the popular print magazine of Pacific University.
This isn't Pacific magazine's first foray into the digital world. We were on the leading edge of universities exploring online magazines when we launched our initial site back in 2010.
But five years is an eternity on the web, and it was time for a new look.
If these pages look a bit sparse, it's because they are.
We are so bombarded by information and distraction in our modern world. At Pacific, we wanted to create an online reading experience that invites readers to slow down and focus on the stories in front of them.
The text is big — really big. So are the pictures. There are videos embedded in some stories, but that's about it.
The site is optimized for a mobile-first experience. You can, of course, use the site on your desktop or laptop computer, but you will find it is especially easy to read on a tablet or phone.
And, each story features the option to share with your friends via social media.
Don't worry: We have no plans to replace our print edition with the website or to revamp our content to Top 10 lists or crazy cat pictures.
This is just another way to share the stories of Pacific people: people who think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world.
We think of Pacific magazine as an opportunity to deliver a little piece of the Pacific University experience to your home a couple of times a year.
This site, then, is an opportunity to deliver that Pacific experience to your pocket, every day.
We hope you like it.
But whether you love it or hate it, we want to hear your thoughts. Share your feelings on the new site — or any of the magazine content — in the comments below, by email to firstname.lastname@example.com, or give me a call at 503-352-3006.
Happy reading!
Jenni Luckett, Editor
How to Use The Site | Stories are published in date order and tagged by subject and issue. Click on the issue (Winter 2015, Summer 2014, etc.) to find more stories from that print issue. Click on the subject tags at the bottom of a story to find more stories about that topic. Use the search bar to find a story about a particular person. All stories published since the beginning of 2014 are here, and you also can find the current issue, as well as past issues back to 2009, in PDF format.


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Storm surge is a big concern for residents in Pamlico County.
We received word Saturday afternoon that folks who live in low-lying areas are being urged to evacuate.
An emergency shelter opened at 6:00 p.m. Saturday at Pamlico Community College.
People who live in the county can call 252-745-3861 with questions.
Previous Story:
In Lowland on Friday, we spoke with a couple that had major home flooding and damage from Hurricane Irene and they say they are ready for Sandy which is not expected to have a lesser impact.
Audrey Lupton and her husband say they feel like they just got their life back on track after Irene destroyed their home with more than 18 inches of water seeping inside. The Luptons say they are going to take some measures to prepare for Sandy.
"We got two cars and a truck, and were going to take our cars out to Hobuken over just on the other side of the high rise bridge there is an area that is pretty high," said Audrey Lupton.
Everyone we spoke with in Pamlico County Friday said they are riding out the storm.
The storm surge expected during Sandy could be 4-6 feet and could cause significant flooding in Pamlico and other counties on the water, so the National Weather Service says be ready to leave homes that are not elevated.
Hurricane Sandy has forced one Eastern Carolina county to scale back one-stop voting this weekend.
Pamlico County election officials say for the safety of voters and election officials, one-stop voting has been cancelled for Sunday, and will end at 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
The elections board says weather conditions will be closely monitored and additional changes will be announced if warranted.


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Action man Steven Seagal is considering a political run in Arizona.
The Under Siege star has revealed he is in talks with state officials about fighting for the office of governor.
The tough guy told KNXV-TV of his plans while promoting his new TV reality series, Steven Seagal – Lawman: Maricopa County, which is shot in Arizona.
In the show, Seagal, who is an official police deputy, teams up with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his posse of unpaid civilians to crack down on crime in Arizona.
Of his political dreams, Seagal admits a run for Governor was "a kind of joke" at first, but he says, "I suppose I'd remotely consider it."
And he already has a campaign priority – U.S. border control.
He adds, "Any kind of terrorism could come and does come (through open borders) and I think it's a tremendous oversight by the current administration."
Action man Steven Seagal is considering a political run in Arizona.


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Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
Proverbs 16:3
HSLDA www.hslda.org/highschool/resources.asp
Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.
William T. Harris, U.S. Commissioner of Education, 1889
"Perhaps one of the most important accomplishments of my administration has been minding my own business. Government shouldn't play a part in everyday life. Jefferson said that the people should be left to manage their own affairs. His opposition will bear careful analysis, and the country could stand a good deal more of its application. The trouble with us is we talk about Jefferson, but we do not follow him. In this theory that the people should manage their government, and not be managed by it, he was everlastingly right."
~Calvin Coolidge
"In not mentioning God, my public school teachers preached a thundering sermon every day. By implication, they taught that God is not relevant to most areas of life...with every lesson, in every class period, all day every day for twelve years, I was being taught to think like an atheist in the academic realm. And I didn't even know that I was being indoctrinated."
---Christ Schlect, Scriptural Worldview Thinking
Oh Yes, the theory that becoming a victim is somehow morally superior to defending yourself and your family. Makes perfect sense.
1 Chronicles 13-15
view complete list
"Remain at your posts and do your duty
for the glory of God and His Kingdom." C.Colson
Yes, I'm a Christian. Yes I can be the biggest hypocrite ever. I backslide. I stumble. I fall. I stray onto the wrong path. But God is working in me. I may be a mess, but I'm His mess. And He is slowly straightening me out. And the day will come when I will be by His side. His work in me completed. And until that day I will take His hand, and let Him do in me whatever needs to be done, no matter how painful it will be for me. When He is finished, it will all be worth it.
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." — Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
In home schooling their children, more and more American families are choosing to replenish the ancient alter fires of our freedom beside the warming hearths of their own homes. I can think of few activities more hopeful for the future of our democracy.
Dick Armey
Member of Congress
"There are only two possibilities as to how life arose; one is spontaneous generation arising to evolution, the other is a supernatural creative act of God, there is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation that life arose from non-living matter was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others. That leaves us with only one possible conclusion, that life arose as a creative act of God. I will not accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God, therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation arising to evolution."
George Wald~Harvard
"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong." Abraham Lincoln
I believe it would be much better for everyone if children were given their start in education at home. No one understands a child as well as his mother, and children are so different that they need individual training and study. A teacher with a room full of pupils cannot do this. At home, too, they are in their mother's care. She can keep them from learning immoral things from other children. ~Laura Ingles Wilder
There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad day-light of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.
Homeschooling and public schooling are as opposite as two sides of a coin. In a homeschooling environment, the teacher need not be certified, but the child MUST learn. In a public school environment, the teacher MUST be certified, but the child need NOT learn. - Gene Royer
Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but, through you, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment and offering forgiveness. I turn from my sins and receive you as Savior. Amen
— Edmund Burke, 1784
All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13
I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.
Douglas MacArthur
Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.
Beatrix Potter
The group consisting of mother, father and child is the main educational agency of mankind.
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr
Parents give up their rights when they drop the children off at public school.
Texas Federal District Judge Melinda Harmon
Schools have not necessarily much to do with education… they are mainly institutions of control, where basic habits must be inculcated in the young. Education is quite different and has little place in school.
Winston Churchill
Chance that an American adult believes that 'politics and government are too complicated to understand': 1 in 3
Chance that an American who was home-schooled feels this way: 1 in 25
Harpers Magazine May 2004
A love of reading is an acquired taste, not an instinctive preference. The habit of reading is formed in childhood; and a child's taste in reading is formed in the right direction or in the wrong one while he is under the influence of his parents; and they are directly responsible for the shaping and cultivating of that taste. - H. Clay Trumbull,Hints on Child Training (1890)
What is most important and valuable about the home as a base for children's growth into the world is not that it is a better school than the schools, but that it isn't a school at all. - John Holt
We're not trying to do School at Home. We're trying to do homeschool. These are two entirely different propositions. We're not trying to replicate the time, style or content of the classroom. Rather we're trying to cultivate a lifestyle of learning in which learning takes place from morning until bedtime 7 days each week. The formal portion of each teaching day is just the tip of the iceburg. - Steve and Jane Lambert
Should Not Be Redefined.


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MagicCruises by World Travellers is a trading name of The Freedom Travel Group Limited registered in England and Wales with registered number 3816981.
The Freedom Travel Group Limited is part of the Thomas Cook Group.
Head Office: 1st Floor, 1 Tabley Court, Stamford Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1EZ.
Registered Office: The Thomas Cook Business Park, Coningsby Road, Peterborough, PE3 8SB.
Book with Confidence. We are a Member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide financial protection for your money when you buy a package holiday. If you buy other travel arrangements such as accommodation only this protection doesn't apply. ABTA No: J6150 - Click Here To Verify
FINANCIAL PROTECTION: All the package and Flight-Plus holidays we sell come with protection for your money. If you buy a single travel service then this might not apply. Package holidays are protected by the package organiser and we will provide you with their confirmation. Our Flight-Plus holidays are ATOL- protected by the Freedom Travel Group Ltd (under their ATOL 6042). A Flight-Plus is where you purchase through us, at the same time or within a day of each other, a flight plus overseas accommodation and/or car hire from separate suppliers (i.e. not a package holiday). When you buy an ATOL-protected flight or flight-inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. Please note however that we have no liability beyond that for insolvency as set out in the ATOL scheme, because we act as agent of the suppliers.
We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
Money accepted by us from you is held by us on behalf and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust at all times, but subject to our obligation to pay it to the ATOL holder for so long as the ATOL holder does not fail; if the ATOL holder fails, any money held at that time by us, or subsequently accepted from you by us, is and continues to be held by us on behalf of and for the benefit of the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust without any obligation to pay that money to the principal ATOL holder.


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FEMA hosting public meeting on updated floodplain maps
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold a public meeting to discuss its revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) from 2-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. The meeting will be held at the Ford Park Exhibit Hall, 5115 I-10 South.
Representatives from FEMA, along with the city of Beaumont's floodplain administrator, will be on hand to answer questions and offer guidance on the revised maps. Interactive online maps will be available for review.
As a result of these map changes, some structures in the city of Beaumont may, for the first time, be included in a high-risk flood zone, known as the Special Flood Hazard Area. This may result in those homeowners being required to purchase flood insurance. The city is notifying roughly 1,600 property owners that FEMA has put their property in the floodplain. Many of these properties do not have structures on them. Citizens with property already in the floodplain are encouraged to verify that they are still in it, as a number of areas throughout the city have been removed.
FEMA last updated its FIRM in 2002. The current update is part of a larger effort to create a comprehensive, national digitized map. The revised map for Jefferson County is expected to be finalized by this summer.
Flooding is the number one natural disaster in the United States. It is vital that property owners understand their risk and take advantage of tools or programs available to them, including flood insurance. The FIRM and the associated Flood Insurance Study form the basis for floodplain management measures the City of Beaumont is required to have in effect in order to be eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program.
Additional information, including links to the interactive mapping website, can be found at www.txchart.com.


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I received the following questions about beavers within the last month.
Q: I live in central Alabama and have seen two road-killed beavers near wetlands since Christmas. Are beavers moving into this region the way armadillos and coyotes have in recent years?
I received the following questions about beavers within the last month.
Q: I live in central Alabama and have seen two road-killed beavers near wetlands since Christmas. Are beavers moving into this region the way armadillos and coyotes have in recent years?
Q: Five years ago, beavers lived along a small stream on my property near Columbia, S.C., but then disappeared.
Based on fresh cuttings, I deduce that they have returned. Also, I have some relatively large trees with bark missing around half the tree up to three feet above the ground but the cut area is not fresh. Did beavers do this earlier? Do I need to worry about the three dogwood trees I just planted?
A: The geographic range for beavers extends from northern Florida and Mexico to Alaska and Newfoundland. One reason for the appearance of beavers in many areas in the southern part of their geographic range is that their mating season starts in winter. The babies are born in spring and early summer. For most animals, mating season finds them moving around as they seek mates. When large mammals live near highways, road kill is a common by-product.
Beavers are the largest U.S. rodent and one of the most widespread North American mammals. Their numbers were drastically reduced during the period of over trapping from colonial times to the twentieth century, but small populations persisted throughout the country. Today, 6 to 12 million beavers are believed to exist in the wild. This may seem like a lot, but the comparative reduction in numbers is striking. One scientific estimate of beaver numbers in the 1700s was from 60 to 400 million. Beavers now appear to be on the rise in many regions and are continually populating new areas. They are not, however, physically expanding their range like armadillos and coyotes. They are simply becoming more common where they already occur.
A: Beavers eat plants, including tree bark. Old, scarred areas on large trees often indicate a history of interaction between beaver and tree when the tree was much younger. The beaver stood on its hind legs and gnawed the bark of a small tree all the way to the ground. The beaver got a snack, but the tree survived and continued growing. Years later, the chewed-off area of bark has gone no higher, but as the tree grows in diameter, so does the scar tissue. I have seen sweetgum trees more than two feet in diameter with large areas of bark removed by beavers years before.
Whether beavers will eat your trees depends on several variables, including how close the trees are to the water. A friend who lived on a lake told me with pride of her small beaver colony that she watched at dusk each day. Then one night the beavers cut down and carried away six boxwood shrubs she had planted the previous �afternoon. The next night, as if to underscore their impertinence to their previously admiring audience, the beavers expertly felled a flowering pink dogwood tree 50 feet from shore.
Beavers are an environmental conundrum, a mix of positive and negative traits (at least from a human perspective). They are cute and charming up- close. Tame ones can safely be allowed to eat out of your hand. A family of beavers in a lake can delight people who enjoy observing wild animals. They promise a rewarding wildlife experience and are a fine opportunity for parents to show teenagers what the word "industrious" means. But they can also destroy trees and shrubs, eat treated wood (such as that decks are built of) and flood
areas you want to keep dry.
Cute and entertaining, yet potentially destructive, beavers are a good example of the complexity inherent in environmental preservation, with no simple solution as to how to handle the issue. A range of responses are available for dealing with nuisance wildlife. Which solution people choose will depend in part on their environmental conscience.
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