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The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.
I was excited when I saw the DB'rs challenge for this month. Not only was it a savory dish, which is a fun change but it was Italian as well! Hubs was happy too. Not only is lasagna at the top of his most favorite meals but ever since we bought a pasta maker, he loves making pasta. So this challenge was a joint effort this month. We both love making fresh pasta and agree that there's no comparison between fresh pasta and store bought dry pasta.
I've made a very similar lasagna recipe many times. The only difference in this recipe was the spinach pasta. That was a first for me. I usually make a basic pasta dough. I was a little concerned with my dough at first because it seemed really dry. I think I got over zealous in squeezing the spinach dry. I added a couple of teaspoons of water and it came right together. Hubs ran it through the pasta machine and we had perfect sheets of lasagna!
I used my favorite recipe for the ragu. It's from Fine Cooking. (recipe below) It's very similar to the one used in the challenge, but is made with beef and pork only. I can't find veal shoulder at my local market so I opted to make the Fine Cooking ragu. I have to say we loved every bite of this challenge!! Be sure to check out all the other DB'rs lasagnas here!
Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna (Lasagne Verdi al Forno)
(Serves 8 to 10 as a first course, 6 to 8 as a main dish)
Preparation Time: 15 minutes to assemble and 40 minutes cooking time
10 quarts (9 litres) salted water
1 recipe Spinach Pasta cut for lasagna (recipe follows)#1
1 recipe Bechamel Sauce (recipe follows)#2
1 recipe Country Style Ragu (recipe follows)#3
1 cup (4 ounces/125g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Working Ahead:
The ragu and the béchamel sauce can be made up to three days ahead. The ragu can also be frozen for up to one month. The pasta can be rolled out, cut and dried up to 24 hours before cooking. The assembled lasagne can wait at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit) about 1 hour before baking. Do not refrigerate it before baking, as the topping of béchamel and cheese will overcook by the time the center is hot.
Assembling the Ingredients:
Have all the sauces, rewarmed gently over a medium heat, and the pasta at hand. Have a large perforated skimmer and a large bowl of cold water next to the stove. Spread a double thickness of paper towels over a large counter space. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Oil or butter a 3 quart (approx 3 litre) shallow baking dish.
Cooking the Pasta:
Bring the salted water to a boil. Drop about four pieces of pasta in the water at a time. Cook about 2 minutes. If you are using dried pasta, cook about 4 minutes, taste, and cook longer if necessary. The pasta will continue cooking during baking, so make sure it is only barely tender. Lift the lasagne from the water with a skimmer, drain, and then slip into the bowl of cold water to stop cooking. When cool, lift out and dry on the paper towels. Repeat until all the pasta is cooked.
Assembling the Lasagne:
Spread a thin layer of béchamel over the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange a layer of about four overlapping sheets of pasta over the béchamel. Spread a thin layer of béchamel (about 3 or 4 spoonfuls) over the pasta, and then an equally thin layer of the ragu. Sprinkle with about 1&1/2 tablespoons of the béchamel and about 1/3 cup of the cheese. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with béchamel sauce and topping with a generous dusting of cheese.
Baking and Serving the Lasagne:
Cover the baking dish lightly with foil, taking care not to let it touch the top of the lasagne. Bake 40 minutes, or until almost heated through. Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes, or until hot in the center (test by inserting a knife – if it comes out very warm, the dish is ready). Take care not to brown the cheese topping. It should be melted, creamy looking and barely tinged with a little gold. Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and let the lasagne rest for about 10 minutes. Then serve. This is not a solid lasagne, but a moist one that slips a bit when it is cut and served.
#1 Spinach Egg Pasta (Pasta Verde)
Preparation: 45 minutes
Makes enough for 6 to 8 first course servings or 4 to 6 main course servings, equivalent to 1 pound (450g) dried boxed pasta.
2 jumbo eggs (2 ounces/60g or more)
10 ounces (300g) fresh spinach, rinsed dry, and finely chopped; or 6 ounces (170g) frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
3&1/2 cups (14 ounces/400g) all purpose unbleached (plain) flour (organic stone ground preferred)
Working by Hand:
A roomy work surface, 24 to 30 inches deep by 30 to 36 inches (60cm to 77cm deep by 60cm to 92cm). Any smooth surface will do, but marble cools dough slightly, making it less flexible than desired.
A pastry scraper and a small wooden spoon for blending the dough.
A wooden dowel-style rolling pin. In Italy, pasta makers use one about 35 inches long and 2 inches thick (89cm long and 5cm thick). The shorter American-style pin with handles at either end can be used, but the longer it is, the easier it is to roll the pasta.
Note: although it is not traditional, Enza has successfully made pasta with a marble rolling pin, and this can be substituted for the wooden pin, if you have one.
Plastic wrap to wrap the resting dough and to cover rolled-out pasta waiting to be filled. It protects the pasta from drying out too quickly.
A sharp chef's knife for cutting pasta sheets.
Cloth-covered chair backs, broom handles, or specially designed pasta racks found in cookware shops for draping the pasta.
Mixing the dough:
Mound the flour in the center of your work surface and make a well in the middle. Add the eggs and spinach. Use a wooden spoon to beat together the eggs and spinach. Then gradually start incorporating shallow scrapings of flour from the sides of the well into the liquid. As you work more and more flour into the liquid, the well's sides may collapse. Use a pastry scraper to keep the liquids from running off and to incorporate the last bits of flour into the dough. Don't worry if it looks like a hopelessly rough and messy lump.
With the aid of the scraper to scoop up unruly pieces, start kneading the dough. Once it becomes a cohesive mass, use the scraper to remove any bits of hard flour on the work surface – these will make the dough lumpy. Knead the dough for about 3 minutes. Its consistency should be elastic and a little sticky. If it is too sticky to move easily, knead in a few more tablespoons of flour. Continue kneading about 10 minutes, or until the dough has become satiny, smooth, and very elastic. It will feel alive under your hands. Do not shortcut this step. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and let it relax at room temperature 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Stretching and Thinning:
If using an extra-long rolling pin work with half the dough at a time. With a regular-length rolling pin, roll out a quarter of the dough at a time and keep the rest of the dough wrapped. Lightly sprinkle a large work surface with flour. The idea is to stretch the dough rather than press down and push it. Shape it into a ball and begin rolling out to form a circle, frequently turning the disc of dough a quarter turn. As it thins outs, start rolling the disc back on the pin a quarter of the way toward the center and stretching it gently sideways by running the palms of your hands over the rolled-up dough from the center of the pin outward. Unroll, turn the disc a quarter turn, and repeat. Do twice more.
Stretch and even out the center of the disc by rolling the dough a quarter of the way back on the pin. Then gently push the rolling pin away from you with one hand while holding the sheet in place on the work surface with the other hand. Repeat three more times, turning the dough a quarter turn each time.
Repeat the two processes as the disc becomes larger and thinner. The goal is a sheet of even thickness. For lasagne, the sheet should be so thin that you can clearly see your hand through it and see colours. Cut into rectangles about 4 by 8 inches (10 x 20 cm). Note: Enza says that transparency is a crucial element of lasagne pasta and the dough should be rolled as thinly as possible. She says this is why her housekeeper has such strong arms!
Dry the pasta at room temperature and store in a sealed container or bag.
#2 Bechamel
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
4 tablespoons (2 ounces/60g) unsalted butter
4 tablespoons (2 ounces/60g) all purpose unbleached (plain) flour, organic stone ground preferred
2&2/3 cups (approx 570ml) milk
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Freshly grated nutmeg to taste
Using a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over low to medium heat. Sift over the flour, whisk until smooth, and then stir (without stopping) for about 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk a little at a time and keep the mixture smooth. Bring to a slow simmer, and stir 3 to 4 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, pepper, and a hint of nutmeg.
#3 Country Style Ragu' (Ragu alla Contadina)
Preparation Time: Ingredient Preparation Time 30 minutes and Cooking time 2 hours
Makes enough sauce for 1 recipe fresh pasta or 1 pound/450g dried pasta)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (45 mL)
2 ounces/60g pancetta, finely chopped
1 medium onion, minced
1 medium stalk celery with leaves, minced
1 small carrot, minced
4 ounces/125g boneless veal shoulder or round
4 ounces/125g pork loin, trimmed of fat, or 4 ounces/125g mild Italian sausage (made without fennel)
8 ounces/250g beef skirt steak, hanging tender, or boneless chuck blade or chuck center cut (in order of preference)
1 ounce/30g thinly sliced Prosciutto di Parma
2/3 cup (5 ounces/160ml) dry red wine
1 &1/2 cups (12 ounces/375ml) chicken or beef stock (homemade if possible)
2 cups (16 ounces/500ml) milk
3 canned plum tomatoes, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 oz. (6 Tbs.) unsalted butter
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium celery stalks, finely chopped (1-1/3 cups)
2 medium carrots, peeled and finely chopped (2/3 cup)
2 small yellow onions, finely chopped (1-1/3 cups)
1 lb. boneless beef brisket or chuck, finely diced or ground (2 cups; see tip)
1 lb. boneless pork shoulder, finely diced or ground (1-1/2 cups; see tip)
8 oz. pancetta, finely diced (1-1/4 cups)
2 cups dry red wine
1/2 cup canned tomato purée
1/4 cup tomato paste diluted in 1/2 cup water
2 cups homemade or low-salt canned beef or chicken broth; more as needed
1 cup whole milk
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a 5- to 6-qt. Dutch oven, melt the 6 Tbs. butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the celery, carrots, and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Add the beef, pork, and pancetta and cook, breaking up the meats with a spoon and stirring often, until the meats lose their redness, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the wine, tomato purée, and tomato paste and simmer vigorously until the liquid is almost evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the beef or chicken broth and the milk, cover with the lid ajar, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently until you have a rich, concentrated sauce, about 2-1/2 hours. Check every 30 minutes to see if more liquid is needed, adding more broth if necessary to prevent scorching. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if needed. Let cool. Skim off the fat from the top, if desired. You should have about 6 cups.


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Press Release
Nearly 60,000 Oklahoma Professionals Conduct Licensing Services Online at http://Licensing.OK.gov
Oklahoma City – August 18, 2009 – Oklahoma physicians, nurses, real estate agents, and home inspectors are just a few of the more than 120 types of professional licensing services available online at http://Licensing.OK.gov. During the first seven months of 2009, nearly 60,000 professionals applied for or renewed their license(s) online, representing an increase of 26 percent from 2008.
"The increase in online adoption is proof that we are responding appropriately to requests for streamlined access to government services," said Mark Mitchell, General Manager of OK.gov. "In the upcoming year, we plan to add many more state agencies to our list of online professional licensures."
Since January 2007, online licensing services participating in the 'Go Green Oklahoma' study have reduced paper consumption amongst state agencies by over 550,000 sheets of paper. 'Go Green Oklahoma' is a study available at http://GoGreen.OK.gov showcasing how Oklahoma eGovernment is helping to reduce the carbon footprint by reducing paper consumption and citizen travel to government facilities.
About OK.gov�
About NIC�

subset: commoncrawl


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Shameless Begging
Hey Everyone!
There are only 2 days left to vote for your favorite blogs over on The Blogger's Choice Awards, so if you like this site, please consider voting for it in the 'best humor blog' category.
If you're not already registered on the BCA site there is a sign-up form and confirmation e-mail, so I won't lie to you: it will take a few minutes of your time. However, winning a Blogger's Choice Award is a key step in my plan for ultimate Wrecky World Domination, so I would reeeally appreciate your support. Besides, it's free, relatively easy, and then you can vote for all of your other favorite blogs, too.
Click here to register and then here to vote for Cake Wrecks.
UPDATE: Wow, Wrecks went from 65 votes to being in the top 3 in about 6 hours! Thanks, guys, and keep those votes comin': may the funniest blog win!


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Badger Veterinary Hospital, southern Wisconsin's leading full-service mixed animal practice, is seeking a part-time or full-time small animal veterinarian to join our Beloit practice. With locations in Beloit, Janesville, and Cambridge, Wisconsin our practice is fast-paced and continually growing. We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of medicine with the best group of highly skilled and compassionate staff. We currently provide preventative care, emergency care, and routine elective surgeries, as well as emergency soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries, nutritional consultations, chiropractic care, equine ambulatory service, and more.
Our practice is nestled between Madison, WI, Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL with surrounding communities offering a wonderful place to live. We strive for a work schedule that allows for a balanced work and personal life – including no on call requirements! The ideal candidate for the position is enthusiastic, patient/client focused, dedicated to the highest quality of medicine, and able to work in a fast-paced environment with an open mind and sensitive manner.
Interested applicants, please email a cover letter and resume to email@example.com. Thank you! We look forward to having you on our team!
DVM or equivalent required. All levels of experience encouraged to apply.
Badger Veterinary Hospital (Badger Equine Veterinary Services) is southern Wisconsin's leading full-service mixed animal practice. With locations in Beloit, Janesville, and Cambridge, Wisconsin our practice is fast-paced and continually growing. For more information on our team and services offered, please visit out website at badgervet.com


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Microsoft is suing Google and Kai-Fu Lee for breach of contract. Kai-Fu Lee has been hired by Google to lead research and development at a facility in China. The problem? Lee last worked foryou guessed itMicrosoft, as as VP of Microsoft's Interactive Services Division. As you might expect, Lee signed a contract forbidding employment with a direct competitor back in 2000, when he joined the company. Microsoft has now asked the state of Washington to get involved.
"Accepting such a position with a direct Microsoft competitor like Google violates the narrow non-competition promise Lee made when he was hired as an executive," the suit says. "Google is fully aware of Lee's promises to Microsoft, but has chosen to ignore them, and has encouraged Lee to violate them."
While suing someone over a non-compete is nothing new, Microsoft's suit also point the finger at Google in an unkind way. The stakes are higher than you might think. Lee oversaw the development of the new MSN Search, as well as Microsoft's desktop search product. He's a pivotal player in the game, and per his contract, he should not work in direct competition for at least a year, according to Microsoft. Tom Burt, a lawyer for Microsoft, told the Wall Street Journal that Google was basically saying "In your face" to Microsoft, because they clearly know that they shouldn't hire Lee. In fact, as News.com notes, Google uncharacteristically celebrated Lee's hire in a news release.
Here in the HQ there's been some speculation about the enforceability of the contract. At the heart of the matter is the legal status of Google's Chinese R&D center, which is opening in a few short months. China typically requires companies to be Chinese-owned, which means that this Google unit could be a joint-venture between Google and a Chinese partner, no matter how symbolic that partnership may in fact be. Could this insulate Google? Perhaps, but what about not being evil?
Microsoft is seeking monetary damages, a guarantee that Lee will not share secrets, and an injunction forcing Google to uphold the 1-year non-compete.


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Statement from the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus regarding Friday's meeting between President Barack Obama and Pope Benedict XVI:
On the Meeting Between Pope Benedict XVI and President Barack Obama
By Carl Anderson
The speculation over what the pope and president would discuss, and whether or not abortion would be center stage has been answered affirmatively. As the Vatican's statement makes clear "the conversation turned first of all" to issues "such as the defense and promotion of life, and the right to abide by one's conscience."
We also know that President Obama told the pope of his desire to "reduce the number of abortions," and of his "respect for the positions of the Church."
It is obvious that President Obama has a serious interest in engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the Catholic Church, and with Catholics, who make up one fourth of the U.S. population. President Obama clearly had much to gain from a successful meeting with the Pope.
Certainly this is another achievement for Vatican and American diplomacy and represents a positive development for those of us who hoped that this meeting might mark a new opportunity in the important relationship between the Catholic Church and U.S. government.
We applaud President Obama for showing sensitivity to the growing consensus among the American people favoring the right to life, restriction of abortion, and the protection of conscience.
As our Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll released today shows, there is a great deal of common ground among the American people on these issues. 86% would restrict abortion far more than it is today, and 79% would protect the right to conscience of health care workers. This is a real consensus on the heart of the abortion issue, and it is heartening to see the president's attention to it.
This is an important moment. The pope and the president have laid the foundation for trying to achieve authentic common ground. How we build on this meeting in a constructive way in the months and years ahead is critical.
The following issues will help provide a true gauge of the progress made on achieving common ground with the Catholic community:
1. Adoption of a federal conscience clause regulation that gives real protection to Catholic institutions and individuals;
2. Health care legislation that does not contain a back door mandate for abortion;
3. Abortion reduction programs that respect pro-life crisis pregnancy and teenage abstinence programs;
4. Preservation of the pro-life riders that currently exist in the annual appropriations legislation. These riders, which restrict federal abortion funding, also raise conscience protection issues, since their removal would force tax payers to pay for abortions against their conscience.
5. Dropping any attempts to codify by statute the president's rescission of the Mexico City Policy, which allows international abortion funding by the United States.
You can view a release on the Marist poll here and here is a link to the actual poll (pdf).


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Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed
By Eric Lee-Mäder, Brianna Borders, and Ashley Minnerath.
- Site selection
- Site preparation
- Plant selection
- Planting techniques
- Ongoing management
Use this document with the pollinator plant list applicable to your region, available through the Pollinator Conservation Resource Center.
To download a copy of the PDF, click here.
Taking Next Steps
Bring Back the Pollinators
Sign the pledge and take action to help protect pollinators and their essential habitats! Bring Back the Pollinators is based on four simple principles that can be implemented in any landscape. Learn more.
Pollinator Conservation Resource Center
A collaboration of the Xerces Society and Neal Williams at the University of California, Davis, the Pollinator Conservation Resource Center is where you can find regional information about plant lists, habitat conservation guides, and more. Learn more.
Pollinator Conservation Seed Mixes
Our partners in the native seed industry are offering specially designed, Xerces-approved wildflower seed mixes that provide foraging and nesting resources for a diversity of pollinators. Learn more.
Plant Milkweed Seed!
Milkweeds support monarch butterflies, native bees, honey bees, and other beneficial insects. As part of our Project Milkweed, we have created this comprehensive national directory of milkweed seed vendors to help you find sources of seed. Search for sources of milkweed seed now!


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Mr. Market Has a Mistress
Her name is psychology, and she's excited about the announcement of the next treasury secretary.
Mr. Market Has a Mistress
The media seems a bit crowded with the "I told you so" pundits, who are only outnumbered but those who offer "a way to fix the financial crisis." The other trope proffered hourly is that the markets are really "irrational right now." But aren't they always irrational? Wasn't the market just as irrational on the way up?
We understand almost nothing about psychology because psychology never explains itself. Mr. Market has a mistress and her name is psyche. Psyche may be whispering, "Timothy Geithner means green screen." Remember Andrew Mellon? Psyche used him and then tossed him into the dustbin of history. Who was Andrew Mellon? Why, he was the Treasury Secretary from 1921 to 1932. Was he important? Yes, but he's meaningless now.
Psych 101
You hear about the VIX all the time. It seems to be a very convenient explanation, but it's meaningless. It has no inherent meaning. It only has the meaning which we give to it at any time. It's what the Dalai Lama simply calls "empty." The VIX is referred to as the "Fear and Greed" index. But aren't there other emotions like doubt or hope or sorrow? Are there only 2 kinds of food - tofu or popcorn? The VIX schpiel is a sham. It's just a number. Psyche does use names and numbers, but only as symbols. She's into Geithner right now because he's the new guy. But like Alan Greenspan, Madonna or Andrew Mellon, he's meaningless. That is, he only has a relational meaning. Geithner symbolizes a green screen… For now.
Sentiment Numbers Are Dumb
Sentiment is meaningless too. It's just a number which has different meanings at different times. Sentiment always has to be interpreted. For instance, in a trending market, sentiment is a self-reinforcing, rather than a contrarian, indication. During a bear market, like this one, there's a preponderance of negative sentiment. I've been measuring sentiment, by my own method, for over 20 years. It's just as meaningless as the VIX. (There have been several daily sentiment readings of 0% bulls over the last 6 weeks. Each one has led to a short-term rally, albeit within a declining trend).
A Quantum of Upside Solace?
Last week we registered relatively rare, back-to-back 0% bullish daily sentiment readings. Does this "double odd" (007?) sentiment infer a quantum of solace for stocks? Should we bet on "00" as one may at roulette? This isn't a Monte-Carlo simulation. Psyche seems to be symbolizing that the S&P may rally 75 to 125 points over the next week.The Treasury spike, gold spike and S&P reversal on Friday are synchronistic with the Geithner symbol. We want to have the market explained. Psyche doesn't do that. The punditry will rationalize it for us after it happens. Meanwhile, psyche remains ensconced in Mr. Markets' boudoir.
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Copyright 2011 Minyanville Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Hollywood is not the center of the cinema universe in film critic-historian Mark Cousins' acclaimed 15-hour documentary, "The Story of Film: An Odyssey," which has its U.S. television premiere Monday evening on Turner Classic Movies.
Cousins, 48, said he didn't want to make a film about show business or celebrity or box office. "I think I mentioned the Oscars twice in 15 hours," he said.
In fact, Cousins, who hails from Northern Ireland, looks upon the dream factory as less dream and more factory.
PHOTOS: Behind-the-scenes Classic Hollywood
That's not to say American movies and filmmakers are given short shrift in the 2011 documentary, which will air weekly through early December on TCM. Several innovative directors, including Buster Keaton, Orson Welles, Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, are explored by Cousins, who also narrates the film.
But international cinema receives the most attention in the documentary, which is based on Cousins' book "The Story of Film."
"It's a very personal vision," said Charlie Tabesh, senior vice president of programming for TCM. "It is not a TCM documentary. It's definitely Mark Cousins' personal vision. When I first saw it, it made me curious and interested in seeing the films. I never went to film school. I felt like I learned a lot."
TCM host Robert Osborne will introduce each episode of the documentary with Cousins.
"I liked the fact that that he points out that it wasn't just Hollywood that invented film," Osborne said. "The French did. The Italians did. It's an international film community. Mark Cousins is such an interesting fellow. He's so knowledgeable about film and so passionate about it all. He's seen everything."
Cousins shines the spotlight on the pioneers, masters and contemporary international filmmakers, including France's Lumière brothers, Georges Méliès, Abel Gance, Jean Cocteau, Marcel Carné, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut; Japan's Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu; Sweden's Carl Theodor Dryer; German's Robert Wiene and Fritz Lang; Russia's Sergei Eisenstein; India's Satyajit Ray, as well as African, Iranian and South American directors.
PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments
One of the most poignant stories Cousins relates in the documentary is of Ruan Lingyu ("The Goddess"), who was not only China's Greta Garbo in terms of popularity in the 1930s but also an accomplished actress, whom he describes as having extraordinary "quietude." She committed suicide in 1935 at age 24 and has almost disappeared from film history books.
"The story of her funeral was front page news in the New York Times," said Cousins. "But if you look in the film guides — even the ones written by women — mostly she doesn't happen [to appear]. If you love the history of movies, you have to fight against that forgetting."
Cousins, who describes himself as having a "proper wanderlust," spent five years making "The Story of Film," traveling the world to where the films were produced and to conduct interviews.
"I was working very independent on a very small budget, so there was no one telling me you have to get Brad Pitt for this," said Cousins. "I wanted people who were either eyewitnesses to movie history and movie magic or who could paint a picture of the world."
Among the 35 people Cousins interviewed are Norman Lloyd, who worked with and was friends with Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Renoir; film historian Cari Beauchamp; directors Stanley Donen, Gus Van Sant and Lars von Trier, and actresses Claudia Cardinale and Kyoko Kagawa.
TCM has also lined up films screening Monday and Tuesday evenings that complement the series. In fact, more than 30 films are making their TCM premieres, including Kenji Mizoguchi's "Osaka Elegy'" from 1936, Ray's 1955 "Pather Panchali" and even the once controversial 1967 Swedish import, "I Am Curious Yellow."
"We have a great deal with Janus [distribution], and we can get access to their entire library, but the challenge was getting stuff that isn't in their library," said Tabesh. "We hired someone as a consultant to track down international rights holders. We paid for subtitling and remastering."
"When I saw the list of films that Charlie had selected, I have to tell you I shed a tear," said Cousins. "I was extremely moved. 'The Story of Film' was a lot of work. You try to share your passion, but you don't even know if people will be interested in what you are doing. It means the work is not in vain."
'The Story of Film: An Odyssey'
Airing: 7 p.m. Mondays on TCM through Dec. 9
Information: http://www.tcm.com
Are you an aficionado of iconic Hollywood? Like us on Facebook and go to the Classic Hollywood landing page to get more Times coverage.


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Canyon Speedmax CF Evo launched
All you could ask for in a time trial bike
German online bike company Canyon officially unveiled their Speedmax CF Evo time trial bike before stage 4 of the Giro d'Italia in Verona today. It's the product of 10 aerodynamicists, engineers and designers who've worked with former top time trialist Michael Rich, and the result is an extremely well thought out piece of speed weaponry.
The skinny
– Indoor velodrome testing on this bike had Denis Menchov (Katusha) putting out just 270W to go 47km/h (CdA in the low 0.18s). In layman's terms that's very quick for not a huge amount of effort.
– There are 7,560 (!) possible ways to set up the cockpit in each of three frame sizes, by altering handlebars, stems and extension type, and making width and height adjustments
– Only available with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting (Ultegra or Dura-Ace)
– Earliest availability mid-October 2012, depending on component sourcing
– Pricing for complete bikes will start at €4,000
– UCI legal in both TT and triathlon versions
The frame
When looking closely at the frame of the Speedmax CF Evo, the first thing that stands out is that the fork, seat and down tube profiles aren't traditional NACA airfoil shapes. They're curved at the front but taper off sharply. Canyon said that in doing their initial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) designs, they found that the NACA shapes were neither as aerodynamic nor stable at speeds below 70km/h and yaw angles up to 10 degrees as their new profiles, which they've dubbed Trident.
The evolution of the Trident shape
Canyon built an adjustable prototype and tested it at the Mercedes Petronas Drag2Zero wind tunnel in the UK, guided by aerodynamics expert Simon Smart. That led to some minor tweaking of the profile shape, followed by a full CFD build of the bike, then another prototype and final testing in the tunnel. The result was a frame that was a lot slipperier (more on that below), 25 percent more stable in crosswinds, 15 percent torsionally stiffer and around 300g lighter than their current Speedmax CF.
The stability of the frame is potentially a big win and was one of the things Michael Rich emphasised as being important. The less energy used to battle crosswinds, the more can be used to propel the bike forward.
Integration of key components
With the frame sorted, Canyon's next challenge was to integrate the handlebars, stem, forks and brakes into the most aerodynamic package possible. This isn't a new problem, so it's no surprise to see the front brake hidden inside the fork, the rear behind the bottom bracket, the stem nicely flush with the top tube and the cabling as internal as possible.
Exposed cables are kept to a minimum
There's a total of 12cm of exposed cable on this bike – the rest feeds through the handlebars into the stem, down a "virtual steerer tube", into the down tube and through the chainstays. It's apparently not too difficult to install either. Finally, the fork has been optimised to work best with 80mm deep front wheels, and it will accomodate wide rims. Canyon say this level of integration resulted in total savings of 21W at 50km/h (about 2sec/km) over the Speedmax CF.
Geometry and adjustability
Canyon will offer the Speedmax CF Evo in three sizes: S (54cm seat tube), M (56cm) and L (58cm), all growing proportionally in seat tube, top tube, head tube, wheelbase, stack (bottom bracket to top tube distance) and reach (BB to steerer) length. All feature 73.25° head angles and 73.5° or 76.5° seat angles, depending on which seatpost is chosen.
There are two stem options: one flush with the top tube and a riser – albeit a sleek one – with the option of spacers. The bike can therefore meet the requirements of UCI races (laid back Selle Italia Monolink seatpost) and triathlon (steeper fliphead rail seatpost) without radical changes.
Taking bar adjustability to the extreme
Looking at the front end in more detail, the cockpit options are mind boggling. There are two different types of stems (flat or riser) in three lengths (75mm-90mm-105mm), flat or downswept 420mm wide cowhorn bars, three types of extensions (straight, S-bend, J or L-bend) which can be mounted above or below the base bar, three different width and 20 different height options for the extensions, and three different pad widths.
Canyon reckon that gives you 7,560 possible ways to set up your cockpit, while keeping the sleekness of the frame intact. We think this alone is worth waiting for as no other bar setup offers this. There are in addition three fork rake options (5mm total either way) but you'd really want to test ride the bike before playing with that.
Designing the Speedmax wasn't a simple process
The Speedmax CF Evo is a function-over-form bike, but its designer, Tomas Fiegl from Artefakt, still had to produce something that looked good. Aesthetics are a key selling point after all, and this machine does follow through with some slick artwork and an elegant frame.
The red top tubes and handlebar tops on the Katusha bikes we saw look the business. Think "knife" and "sword" and you get the idea. It's complemented by a white 'Z' shape on the sides of the tubes with the Canyon name pretty prominent, as you'd expect. The bike has been awarded a 2012 Red Dot design award as well as the all-important UCI certification.
Specification and availability
The Canyon Speedmax CF Evo is being specced with Shimano Dura-Ace or Ultegra Di2 electronic groupsets, with batteries being placed inside the frame. Surprisingly there's not going to be a mechanical option, but Canynon are confident that this won't affect sales. Given that prices for complete bikes with Ultegra Di2 and low-end wheelsets are expected to start from around €4,000, we can understand why they're not worried. Most superbike framesets cost this alone.
Shimano Di2 shifting only
Wheelset options will be a choice of Mavic, Reynolds or Zipp, while on the saddle front you'll have to be content with a Selle Italia (Monolink or rail). The bike's a 2013 model and will be available from mid-October, providing Canyon's component suppliers can meet the demand. We're aiming to get one to test a little before then, and will be quick to report on how it rides.
Putting it to the test with Katusha's 'climbing team'
Team Katusha were astride their Speedmax CF Evo machines in today's fourth stage of the Giro. Team boss Hans-Michael Holczer insisted that they didn't have the team to win and merely wanted to support climber and general classification rider Joaquim Rodriguez, and that he'd be happy with anything above 15th. Saying that, the lads did rather well for themselves, finishing second in the stage, just five seconds behind winners Garmin-Barracuda.
The new Speedmax CF Evo in its 'triathlon' guise with forward seatpost and riser stem


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If you purchased eTickets online at Ticketmaster.com or directly through Ticketmaster by phone, you can login here to view your digital tickets. After logging in, you can either choose to print-at-home or go mobile. When you go mobile, your phone is your ticket. Locate your tickets in your account or in the Ticketmaster mobile app. Your phone will be scanned at the gate for entry.
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Children 'bringing cold chips to school' for lunch
Some children are coming to school with cold chips or just a packet of biscuits in their lunchbox, experts say.
An online survey of 250 school, youth and health staff working with children in England suggests many go without enough to eat during the school day.
The Children's Food Trust's poll found 68.1% had seen a rise in the proportion of families struggling to feed their children in the past two years.
Lunchboxes now contain less fruit and more junk food, it suggests.
Of the staff working in schools, 47.5% said they had seen a change in the food in children's lunchboxes as household budgets got tighter.
One staff member said they had seen "poorer quality sandwich fillings, sometimes just margarine".
Another said there were "fewer processed items - more leftovers or store-cupboard items".
But he added: "In some ways it is healthier, but some families only give cold cooked rice or cold chips with fish fingers or similar."
There were also references to more junk food, sweets and chocolate appearing in lunchboxes, and less fruit.
The snapshot survey also found 84.6% of the professionals who chose to take part in the survey had seen children without enough to eat during the course of their work.
'Enormous struggle'
Of those who said this, 84.8% said it applied to about a third of the children they worked with.
Children's Food Trust chief executive-designate Linda Cregan said too many people who worked with children were having to go above and beyond the call of duty to try to protect children from the effects of hunger and poor diet.
She added: "Of course it's a parent's responsibility to make sure their child eats well.
"But as this and other surveys have shown, the reality is that this can be an enormous struggle.
"Whether we like it or not, people working in these jobs are at the front line of helping parents on this, so they need the right support.
"As local authorities develop their public health plans, ring-fencing funding to support children's nutrition would be a good starting point.
"This could be used in all sorts of ways - training on cooking skills for local organisations working with families, subsidising good school food, breakfast clubs in schools or grub clubs for the holidays - but making that explicit commitment is vital."
Pupils at Priory School in Lewes told the BBC's School Report project their lunches were generally quite good.
"I haven't seen people with chips in their lunchboxes - but the school does do chips on Fridays though. I guess people just get that," said Flora, aged 14.
Ellen, aged 13, agreed that most people were quite healthy: "I take a piece of fruit to school every day."
School dinners were easier, quicker and nicer because "you can get hot food", according to Ossia, 14.
And 13-year-old Safi said: "Packed lunches are cheaper. I can buy in bulk and have the same thing every day."


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TUESDAY, Dec. 4, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- Noises, questions and other disruptions in the operating room can cause young, inexperienced surgeons to make serious mistakes, according to a new, small study.
Researchers found that 44 percent of young surgeons aged 27 to 35 made a significant mistake when they were distracted during a simulated operation.
During critical moments of the procedure, a cell phone rang or a tray fell on the floor. But most errors occurred when the 18 young surgeons were asked questions about problems developing with another patient, the study found. As the surgeon addressed these questions, someone standing nearby would strike up a casual conversation about politics. These sidebar conversations were the second most common cause of the surgical mistakes.
The study, published Nov. 29 in the journal Archives of Surgery, also found that surgeons tested in the afternoon fared worse. The mistakes made were serious or potentially fatal, resulting in organ damage or injuries to ducts and arteries, they found.
"This research clearly shows that at least with younger surgeons, distractions in the operating room can hurt you," said the study's lead author, Robin Feuerbacher, assistant professor of energy systems engineering at Oregon State University, Cascades, in a university news release. "The problem appears significant, but it may be that we can develop better ways to address the concern and help train surgeons how to deal with distractions."
For the study, the researchers used a virtual reality simulator of a minimally invasive gall-bladder-removal operation, a procedure that requires much skill and concentration.
Although the study involved second-year, third-year and research-year surgical residents, the study's authors said older age and experience may not make surgeons immune to distractions, particularly when they are overworked or tired.
"We've presented these findings at a surgical conference and many experienced surgeons didn't seem too surprised by the results," noted Feuerbacher. "It appears working through interruptions is something you learn how to deal with, and in the beginning you might not deal with them very well."
More information
The National Patient Safety Foundation provides more information on patient safety.


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The MidWest BARRIER10 4 bar tubular vehicle barrier keeps your pets safe and away from the driver and passenger seat. The tubular barrier fits most SUV's and feature a unique and adjustable design that can be used either in horizontal or vertical manner. In addition, it also has soft brace pads which protect your interior and keep your pets away from the barriers.
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Adjustable from 34 to 65" Wide
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San Mateo, CA (September 2019)
- San Mateo County Event Center (Expo Hall) 1346 Saratoga Drive San Mateo, CA, 94403 United States (map)
San Mateo, CA Jewelry Show
San Mateo County Event Center (Expo Hall)
September 6-8, 2019
Open To The Public
Children Under 9 Not Permitted.
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San Mateo County Event Center (Expo Hall)
1346 Saratoga Dr, San Mateo, CA 94403
Visit These Featured Exhibitors
Family-Owned And Operated Fine Designer Jewelry
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America's Jewelry Marketplace
Visit America's longest running direct-to-consumer jewelry show when it visits your town! The International Gem & Jewelry Show's world famous "Jeweler's Market" brings wholesalers, manufacturers and designers together under one roof. Shop from rows and rows of quality gemstone, bead, jewelry and accessory dealers for incredible selection. You'll find local jewelers, international vendors and talented artisans at every show. Whether you are shopping for jewelry making supplies or looking for the hottest trends, you'll find what you're looking for at the InterGem show.
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Wholesale Registration
Most InterGem Shows include a "Trade Only" section for wholesale jewelry buyers with the proper credentials. To register as a wholesale buyer, you can register online or at the show. You will also need to bring the "Mandatory Credentials" below to verify the registration.
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Go to the wholesale registration desk at the show and complete your registration.
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- Posted in California, Fall 2019
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Thanks to a judge in California, who forced Cal State to release the contract for a Sarah Palin speech, we now know what she'll demand if you want her to speak at YOUR event.
For starters:
- $75,000
- First-Class airfare
- "Deluxe" hotel accommodations
- Chauffeur to and from event with SUV (or, in pinch, black Town Car)
- Wooden lecturn
- Two bottled waters
- Bendy straws (for the waters)
- Pen on which to scribble notes on her hand
(Okay, we made up the last one.)
These aren't wild demands, actually, for a speaker of Palin's stature. We'd have assumed the speaking fee alone would have been $100,000. But if you want to scrimp and save, you can always hire Palin's famous single-teenage-mom daughter Bristol, who will only nick you for $14,000.


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Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance, Repair and Concerns
in Toyota
This topic is for the discussion of the particular concerns, costs and repairs that current and future Hybrid vehicle owners are, or will be, dealing with.
By "hybrid", we mean any vehicle using some kind of interactive electric + internal combustion system.
All makes of hybrids are welcome here. Tell us your experiences in maintaining these vehicles, or if you might be planning to buy one, what your concerns are.
Are they reliable?
Live up to their promises?
Would you buy another?
Are you skeptical about hybrids?
Who makes the best one/type?
What particular issues have you had to deal with?
By "hybrid", we mean any vehicle using some kind of interactive electric + internal combustion system.
All makes of hybrids are welcome here. Tell us your experiences in maintaining these vehicles, or if you might be planning to buy one, what your concerns are.
Are they reliable?
Live up to their promises?
Would you buy another?
Are you skeptical about hybrids?
Who makes the best one/type?
What particular issues have you had to deal with?
I can only speak for the Toyota Prius but I have plenty to share. First off, as to maintenance, its just the same as with conventional cars. Oil changes every 5-6 thousand miles w/ quality filters. Now, as to repairs, What repairs? I presently have over 90K miles and nary a problem. Quality, dependability, and just plain well designed engineering have given the Prius owner one fine car that has passed every doubter's questions. Oh! by the way. Resale of the hybrid is outstanding and it even passed the tests of Motor Trend, Car & Driver, Mechanic's Illustrated, & Popular Science. As to buying another....I wouldn't even hesitate, what with the 3rd Gen. just around the corner. It looks like another "looker" as well being improved over the previous Prius. To those who were doubters in the early yrs I say....Look at the Prius's success. Now as to issues, I just want to point out one problem I've encountered in my '04 Prius. The head light bulbs are a pain in the ....well lets just say....you need the hands of a surgen to replace them. I finally let the dealer do it for 10 bucks.0
Have you ever had to jump start it? Some folks have accidentally left their cars on for days at a time.0
Nope! Never had to in 5 yrs. I'm still on original batteries. I'm really curious how someone could leave the car "on" causing a serious drain on the batteries. By the way. Which battery went dead. I'm guessing the small one rt side compartment rear. Yes? or No?0
It's easy to leave it on if you have the key in your pocket and you don't press the off button. People pull up, put it in park and get out.0
Obviously you're refering to the "Smart Key" Right? Because that's the only way I can imagine the situation you are stating as an example.0
It would be interesting to hear from owners with >100,000 miles on the odometer. They must be out there, since hybrids would appeal to some who drive a lot of miles per year. That would be especially true if a high percentage of those miles are in and around cities. For example, I've seen numerous Prius taxis. They're a common sight in Santa Monica.0
Yes and I know people who've made this error, so it's not uncommon. I almost did it myself once. I think once you get used to the car, you are far less likely to do this.0
There were almost countless Prius's in Vancouver B.C. My wife & I were there for a cruise to Alaska and spent 4 days b/4 the trip. We met several taxis and several with high milage ( 150,000 and up....1 in particular w/ 188,000) They raved about how the Prius had saved their jobs by putting $$$$$ back in their pockets. I'm closing in on 100K very soon and all is fine with the hybrid.0
That's reassuring. I believe gasoline is more expensive in Canada than the U.S., which would decrease the payback time for the extra cost of a Prius versus, say, a Corolla.
When we were in Vancouver, we rode from the airport to our hotel in a Corolla. One thing that struck me, besides the vehicle, was how gently the driver drove compared with most American taxi drivers tooling around in Crown Vics. That was confirmed by a ride back to the airport, this time in a previous generation Camry. It was apparent that both drivers were conscious of fuel consumption, and maximizing the longevity of their vehicles. New York taxi driver should take a lesson from these other drivers. Heck, even in Naples, Italy, where you can get some hair raising rides in taxis, with drivers disregarding traffic lights, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, one-ways and more, the drivers don't abuse their cars.
I think you'll see a big move out of Crown Vics, for taxi service, over the next couple of years, unless oil prices keep declining. Even then, though, knowing how volatile oil prices are, and how quickly prices can shoot up, cab companies will factor the possibility of another price rise into their next vehicle purchase. In addition to Priuses, I've also seen some Ford Escape taxis.0
Oh that would be Andrew Grant's Prius taxi service in Vancouver. Yep, he is racking up incredible mileages with no battery failures apparently.
In California, the traction battery is warrantied to 150,000 miles.
Apparently, battery failure is simply a non-issue. Sounds like, unless you are very unlucky, that your Prius's battery will be sold again through the wrecking yard that takes your worn out Prius.0
These are significant because they help answer the durability and cost-of- ownership concerns. Whether or not the hybrid taxi fleets continue to grow will say a lot about the concerns of those who are reluctant to be early adopters.
It would be interesting to do a long term comparison between the Prius and, say, the VW Rabbit or Jetta diesel for taxi use.
Of course, for many participants in Edmunds forums, fun-to-drive is an important ownership consideration, and taxis don't address that issue. Maybe the 2011 Honda CR-Z, which I believe is scheduled to be introduced in 2010, will be a game changer for enthusiasts. For all of the Prius' attributes, I've never heard that these cars are fun to drive. They're probably good transportation modules for certain uses, but that doesn't fully satisfy my needs. Compact and mid-size diesel hatchbacks, sedans and wagons can be reasonably fun to drive. For those willing to spend more, the BMW and Acura TSX diesels will soon be available,0
I don't see a VW product holding up in taxi use. I think the maintenance will take all the profits. Taxi biz is marginal at best anyway these days.
Also the Prius is rather comfy for passengers and it's great for marketing purposes to promote a taxi business. It's gonna be tricky to get away with the slogan "breath easy in a diesel".
The reason we have mostly American taxi cabs is about the running costs. Parts are cheap and you can beat the hell out of them and throw them away, since you got a lot of passenger room for your money and zero resale value anyway. So you might as well buy 'em cheap, destroy them and start over.
The best taxis are cheap to run and/or cheap to buy. It's hard to have both---Prius are cheap to run but not cheap to buy. I'm sure a fleet price on a Chevy is way better.0
It's easy to leave it on if you have the key in your pocket and you don't press the off button. People pull up, put it in park and get out.
I've done that in my Prius ( just under 3 yrs & 92,000 mi ) but 'only' for 7-8 hours!! :surprise: Actually in this case what happens is that the gasoline engine cycles on for 45 sec or so to boost the traction battery then the ICE shuts down. On - Off - On - Off - etc, etc, etc, etc At that rate of running for 45 sec every 3-5 min it would take an awfully long time to run the tank empty. I'm guessing weeks. At that time the ICE would stall out and the system would shut down.
The 12v battery serves very little purpose in a Prius. It only sends a signal to the engine to begin to power up and it keeps the 'clock ticking' when the vehicle is off. It's about half the size of a normal 12v battery. It can be run down like any other 12v if a light is left on inside but that's about the only way it can go dead.
As railrodjames has noted the Prius is ultra reliable and durable. It is in fact the No 1 most reliable family vehicle in both CR and JD Power's rankings. I've been hit twice, once on the rear door by the battery, with no difference in driving dynamics at all. Other than these accidents the hybrids actually have LESS maintenance than a similar ICE-only vehcle!!! Huh? LESS you say?
Yes, the hybrid systems need no maintenance EVER at anytime during their lives.
The ICE needs oil and filters every 5K or 6 mo's like any other ICE vehicle.
The ICE needs an air filter @ 30K mi, Many other vehicles recommend 15K intervals.
The ICE has a timing chain which never needs service. The same as the Corolla/Camry for example
The PSD needs a coolant drain/replace at 100,000 mi intervals.
The ICE has 120,000 mi spark plugs. The same as the Corolla/Camry for example.
The EPS never needs maintenance. The same as the Corolla/Camry for example.
The 12v battery were it to fail is about half the size of a normal ICE 12v battery.
The OEM tires are Goodyear run-of-the-mill Integritys which should last 40,000 mi. My OEMs went to exactly 50,000 mi.
Oh...hybrid drivers are finding that their original brakes are lasting well over 100,000 miles and even up to 200,000 - 250,000 without replacement. I'm about half way there. A friend who also posts here just turned 215,000 miles on his '04. He did replace a water pump and serpentine belt at about 150K-160K mi. but he's still on his original brakes.0
The 12v battery were it to fail is about half the size of a normal ICE 12v battery.
If it is just a small 12 volt battery why does it cost $300 to replace? At least two Prius owners have quoted that price from Toyota.0
It's not the size that's the difference, it's the construction. The Prius 12V battery is an AGM (Absorbed-electrolyte Glass Mat) type of battery. I could bore you with explanation if you wish :P0
kiawah Posts: 3,666well you got my interest....had never heard of it. But here's a website:
new battery type
the invention
Sheez, now why didn't I think of that!!0
Toyota thought of it. Just another way to keep you coming to the dealer for service. Specialty parts that are not worth making a generic equivalent. Another good reason not to own a hybrid.0
kyrpto Posts: 216I'm waiting for the Highlander Hybrid to morph into an emergency vehicle or cop car. Heard the Brits tested some Lexus Hybrid SUVs for inner city use a while back.0
Aspen, CO already has one in use and a township in NJ is replacing it's FEH with an HH. I'm discussing with one of the towns on the Outer Banks to purchase one as well.0
Is it possible to disconnect the IMA system and drive the Civic 2003 as if it were not a hybrid vehicle?
It's clear to me, with all the maintenance costs of this car over the years, that the gas savings has been eaten up. Now that the IMA battery is dead, I am told by the dealer it's $3,000 to repair--the car isn't worth any more money spent, but without the battery, it also isn't worth much as a trade in.
I'm interested in knowing if the IMA system can be disengaged and the car still operate.
(It seems there is no indication how to post a new thread on this forum--I'm new here; how is it done?)0
I noticed this comment when looking up battery costs for your car. This remark is under warranty battery replacement procedures: the "you" in this paragraph refers to the dealer:
Out of warranty:
Any repair performed after warranty expiration may be eligible for goodwill consideration by the District Parts and Service Manager or your Zone Office. You must request consideration, and get a decision, before starting work.0
Thanks, I just called the dealer and was told that the battery is under a 150,000 warranty, and we are short of that mileage. It has something to do with the fuel efficiency classification: low or high, not sure which.
I had already made the decision not to buy another Honda Hybrid--just wasn't worth the investment at all, and the company should be made to pay for the many problems the first model has had. I had three catalytics installed--they were all free under warranty, but still: three! With the apparent track record of the model, Honda should be forced to make all first major repairs for free, regardless of warranty; or if it was a smart company, it would do that on its own, to rebuild whatever good will it might have had with buyers.
While I'm on the subject of repair costs, why does the a/c compressor cost $1,200 to replace? I can a/c my complete home for that kind of money. Is there something special about the Honda a/c system that makes it such an expense?0
Well with an AC compressor failure, there is the possibility that the faulty compressor threw debris throughout the entire system. Your home has simple ducting coming from one unit, but a car AC has multiple components, most of which are stashed in impossible to get places. Keep in mind that your car's AC is, relative to the space involved, pretty efficient. You could never cool your home as fast as you can cool your car!
So getting rid of the contaminants in the system might require at least flushing lines and condenser after removing them, and often requires a new dryer, expansion valve, etc. Then there's the "trapping" and evacuation of old freon, adding new freon, testing, lubricating, blah blah.
This is why you see so many used cars for sale with "AC needs a recharge". Of course what that really means is that the seller found out how much it really costs to fix the AC and didn't bother to do it.0
Oh well, then there is just the matter of the many stories I've heard about the Hybrid a/c system failing--must be our fault0
stevedebi LAPosts: 4,098"Oh well, then there is just the matter of the many stories I've heard about the Hybrid a/c system failing--must be our fault"
Not near as many failing as in the 2002-2005 CR-V, which has been an epidemic...0
larsb Posts: 8,204How about repair shops finally catching up with the hybrid trend:
And Gary thought this would NEVER happen0
Just don't keep your hybrid past 99,999 miles and you may not be shocked. :sick:
The big cost difference from traditional cars is a high-voltage battery, which is supposed to last for 100,000 miles but costs anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 when it dies.
That still does not address the biggest cost. Parts are still OEM and expensive compared to 3rd party vendor parts available for most traditional cars.0
Apparently you missed the latest announcement 4 or 6 weeks ago. The cost of a replacement battery pack at full retail over the parts counter is $2599 for a Gen2 ( $2289 for a Gen1 ). There are discounts being offered already. Competition is a great concept.
Now only if one were to fail we'd see what the real situation was ( sitting here playing Maytag man waiting for the first failure to occur ).0
I was merely posting what the independent repair shops in Sacramento were claiming the cost of battery replacement. It does not look like Honda hybrid owners are as fortunate. Though I am still more interested in the 10 year battery life. As our 19 year old Lexus has not passed the 100k mile mark yet. And we drive a lot less than we used to. Our year old Sequoia is already past 6k miles. We are tearing up the road with that one. So in 6 more years we will know how the first of the Gen 2 Prius make out battery wise.0
vap3 Posts: 1my prius used to be a taxi, so explains the high use. It was in a minor fender bender, so they sold it to me for cheap! And its been almost 3 years I had the vehicle I put like 20k miles on it myself. Change the fluids and the coolants, and inspect the belt once in awhile, you can't go wrong.
But there are some issues with the current gen prius, but once you got it all up and stable its good to go.0


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My friend Yelixsa Mattehews is participating in an endurance event as a member of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training. They are raising funds through a Triathlon to help stop Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin, and Myeloma from taking more lives. She is completing this event in honor of Caroline Clark, someone who touched ours hearts deeply and made us appreciate life so much more. Neither of us knew Caroline for long. She shared a few classes with me (including self-defense class where we were frequent sparring partners.) However, in the short time we knew Caroline during our years at Utica College of Syracuse University, she made a great impact on our lives. Her presence could fill an empty room, her smiles were contagious and her story inspired everyone that heard it. On February 5th , 2005 Caroline Clark passed away from Leukemia; she fought until the end, she tried until the end. Athough she is now gone, her memory will forever live in the hearts of all of those who knew her.
I am so grateful to Yelixsa (or Yelly and she is affectionately known) for making this commitment in honor of such a great person and to help many others who may suffer or be afflicted by this disease. I am asking that you support her endeavor by donating at least $25 to her cause. If you can't do $25, any amount will do. Her competition is on May 8th, so you have a few weeks to donate.
Visit HERE to do so:


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North Korea on Tuesday said it will restart a shuttered nuclear reactor capable of producing fissile material for weapons and "readjust" other facilities at its sprawling Yongbyon nuclear facility some 55 miles north of Pyongyang.
Is this just empty rhetoric from a regime trying to test the resolve of South Korean and US leaders? Or is it a genuinely worrisome development in an increasingly tense area of the world?
The answer to that question may depend upon North Korea's follow-through. It's possible the warning is just words and that construction at Yongbyon won't actually accelerate. It's also possible the Pyongyang regime will now rebuild the facility that produced the plutonium for at least two of North Korea's nuclear tests. That would not be a good thing.
"Among Pyongyang's recent inflated threats, the announced intention to 'readjust and restart' its nuclear facilities is the most worrisome," writes International Institute for Strategic Studies nuclear expert Mark Fitzpatrick in his analysis of the event.
The main issue may be what happens to the Yongbyon plutonium production reactor. This facility, which first went critical in 1985, can produce enough dangerous fissile stuff for about one small nuclear weapon per year. It was shut down in 2007 per international disarmament talks (which have since stalled). In 2008 North Korean officials made a show of imploding its aging cooling tower, issuing rare invitations to international journalists to visit and see the destruction.
The reactor has not been ripped up beyond hope of repair, though. Far from it. Restarting this facility would take about six months, according to Sig Hecker, a nuclear expert from Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation who has visited the site.
Mr. Hecker estimates that North Korea has about four to eight bombs worth of plutonium extracted from fuel rods used to power this reactor in the past. A restart obviously would allow Pyongyang to slowly build up this arsenal.
The second issue of "readjustment" might allow this increase to occur more quickly. That's because this statement suggests that North Korea will do more to produce highly-enriched uranium, the second type of fissile material used in nuclear weapons.
There's already a centrifuge facility for uranium enrichment operating at Yongbyon. North Korean officials surprised Hecker by taking him on a tour of the previously-undetected plant in 2010. At the time the officials said it was meant to produce fuel for a light-water reactor also under construction at the site. The "readjustment" term implies that Pyongyang may up the ante and openly begin production at bomb-worthy enrichment levels.
The US has long suspected that North Korea was enriching uranium in secret. Centrifuge halls are easy to hide and North Korea's mountains have many tunnels where they could be stashed. In an address to a South Korean nuclear conference, Hecker expressed doubt that the Yongbyon enrichment facility sprang up from nowhere within months.
"The Yongbyon centrifuge facility could not have been constructed from scratch and made operational in only 18 months, between April 2009 and November 2010, as Pyongyang has claimed," Hecker said at the conference. "It is likely that the North had one full cascade (about 340 centrifuges) operational at a separate site long before it moved into the renovated Yongbyon fuel fabrication building and revealed their centrifuge program in November 2010."
Tuning up the Yongbyon centrifuges could produce enough highly-enriched uranium for one bomb per year. Any clandestine facility likely could produce at least that much, if not more. Add in the plutonium production from a restarted reactor, and some US experts see a worrisome trend, if not a nightmare scenario: a North Korea eager to produce a large and workable arsenal of nuclear weapons.
It's possible Pyongyang isn't technically good enough to get both these fissile material tracks going. In the Washington Post, Max Fisher writes that the vow to restart the plutonium reactor in fact indicates that North Korea can't master the difficult art of uranium enrichment.
And again, it's possible the whole thing is just talk. But if it isn't, the US and its allies may find it hard to stop the move. Current sanctions are leaky at best due to China's "inattention," writes Mr. Fitzpatrick, the IISS nuclear expert. And in any case North Korea is by now almost self-sufficient in nuclear technology.
"Unfortunately, there are not good solutions," writes Fitzpatrick. "The only glimmer of hope is that North Korea also announced that along with the nuclear weapons work it will simultaneously be pushing forward economic development."


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Today I have yet another pair of Sandbox pants, I was going to use another pattern but the last pair turned out so well, I just took the quick route! I think it is funny how fabric can really change a pattern. I would never think these pants were made with this pattern. The fabric I used was from Hancock's and was a stretch twill with a nice tiny hounds-tooth pattern. I squeaked by with 1/2 yard and with the sale price these pants cost about $2.50!
He looks like a little man in these pants and I just am thrilled with them. I think they might be my favorite project of the week!
The shirt is a flashback skinny tee I also made this week. I like the color and it feels so soft, but I used a ribbed knit that was too thin and so the cuffs are baggy. I may cut them off and then do a 2" cuff with a different ribbing if they keep bothering me. :) Those tiny things tend to drive me nuts!!
I am so glad I spent the week sewing for my kids and got most of my list accomplished. I am planning to do a round up next week of my favorite from the flickr pool! See you then!


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Unlike the screams, beeps, and yelps of horn and buzzer alarm systems, today's voice evac systems now have their say.
This lesson deals with voice evacuation systems - commonly called voice evac systems. These are specially designed public address systems, typically used during fire situations, which the Life-Safety Code requires for certain types of installations.
Voice evac systems are usually part of high-end fire alarm systems, primarily in places of assembly. The system uses spoken messages to evacuate public facilities in an orderly fashion during emergencies. A typical alarm message would state, "Attention please: There has been a report of an emergency. Proceed calmly to the nearest exit, and leave the building immediately." We consider voice-based systems better alternatives to buzzers and horns, because a voice is typically less frightening (causing less panic), and can give specific instructions.
These systems are not difficult to install, but do cost more than a traditional alarm system.
Code requirements. NFPA 101 (National Fire Prevention Association, document 101) requires you to install voice evac systems in certain types of buildings. It defines assembly occupancy as including, but not limited to, "all buildings or portions of buildings used for gathering together 50 or more people for purposes as deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, or awaiting transportation."
More specifically, voice evac applies only to Class A and Class B assembly facilities that house more than 300 people. NFPA 101, Sec. 8-3.4.1 states that all Class A and Class B assembly occupancies and art theaters with more than one audience-viewing room shall be equipped with an approved fire alarm system. Other requirements include:
• Occupant notification shall be by means of voice announcements, either prerecorded, or initiated by the person in the constantly attended location.
• The announcement shall be made via an approved voice communications or public address system, provided with an emergency power source above the ambient noise level of the assembly occupancy.
• The authority with jurisdiction determines if it's "impractical to have a constantly attended location" and allows installation of a manual pull station-type fire system.
• Emergency voice alarm/communication systems are a requirement in high-rise buildings more than seven stories.
System design. Evac systems are not especially difficult to design or install. Obviously, you must place the speakers and control stations correctly, and then get appropriate conductors to each location by the use of an appropriate wiring method.
Here are some additional system design guidelines you need to be aware of:
• Locate the voice evacuation control panel and monitor in a convenient location for fire department and law enforcement personnel. Generally, this location will be either next to the fire panel, near the lobby annunciators, or at the entrance to an assembly area.
• Determine if zoning of the system is required. In multi-story facilities, a zoned multi-channel voice evac system is preferred. For example, if a fire occurs on the third floor of a building, the system can direct third- and fourth-floor occupants to immediately exit via the nearest stairwell. Meanwhile, the fifth-, sixth- and seventh-floor occupants can receive a voice message informing them of an emergency on the third floor and ask them to standby. Once the stairwell crowding has eased, the voice evac system will inform those floors to exit.
• Measure or estimate the ambient noise level and determine speaker wattage and locations. Use manufacturer's tables and recommendations.
• Determine if a standard voice message is acceptable or if you'll need a special message, such as instructions in English and Spanish or unique instructions that apply to the location. In general, a female voice has a more calming influence than a male voice. Moreover, its higher frequency makes it more intelligible over the loudspeaker than a deeper male voice.
• Most voice evac systems are unique to the manufacturer. Check manufacturers' specifications before installing. You'll find most manufacturers are willing to advise you on the installation process.
• You should use a strong alert tone prior to the recorded voice message. The "whoop" signal sweeps across many frequencies, and you can hear it even at high ambient noise levels. It's important to get people's attention before the voice evac system gives instructions.
Speaker placement. The placement of speakers for voice evac systems is critical. The general rules for speaker placement include:
• Place speakers at pull station locations and in main corridors, similar to the placement of conventional horns.
• At a minimum, make sure all occupied locations are within 50 ft of a speaker.
• You can tap speakers at different levels for audibility. They generally range from .25W taps to 4W taps.
• Doors and walls will drop the sound level by about 10 dB depending on their construction.
• Every time you double the distance from your sound source, you'll lose 6 dB from your expected sound level.
• Having most of the system's speaker set at their lower tap settings provides better intelligibility and more uniform sound levels.
• Always locate a speaker in boiler rooms, with a minimum 2W tap setting.
• Set speaker wattage taps to provide 15 dBA above ambient sound levels. (A setting of 1W is most common.)
• Locate speakers outside bathrooms and bedroom areas, so the message is clearly audible within.
• Be sure speakers are in normally occupied areas to protect workers or personnel.
• As a general rule, provide 1W of speaker power for every 1500 sq ft in divided areas and 2000 sq ft in open areas.
• Place additional speakers in rooms such as cafeterias, and isolated areas such as a computer room.
Power adjustments. Voice evac systems use a constant AC voltage output to drive a series of speakers. A fire alarm horn circuit operating at 24VDC and 1A can drive 10 100mA horn/strobes in parallel. A speaker circuit operating at 25VAC and 1A (25W) can drive 25 speakers at 1W in parallel.
The two standard voltages used for voice evac speakers are 25VAC and 70.7VAC. You use the higher voltage (70.7V) for long distances. Obviously, different transformers and power supplies are a requirement for the higher voltage.
High- and low-noise areas will dictate the speaker layout. In quiet areas, you can set the speaker locations to reach ambient +l5 dB in all areas. However, you should set overall speaker volumes below 90 dB so they don't startle people. In high-ambient areas, you should place speakers closer together and reach settings of a maximum of 15 dB to 21 dB above ambient. If the settings are too loud, the message can become unintelligible.
To determine decibel levels, use a certified decibel meter and take readings throughout the building. Don't be confused by the field meter reading versus the UL rating on the speakers. UL uses a complex process to calculate sound levels. Consequently, the ratings for fire alarm speakers are lower than you would find with a meter on site. The UL rating is often much less than the on-site meter reading, sometimes by up to 13 dB.
Wall-mount speakers are generally more efficient at delivering sound power than ceiling speakers. Therefore, ceiling speakers output about 3 dB less sound. You can calculate standby battery requirements using the following formula.
Additional battery amp/hours = (standby hours that are required x modules x standby current) + (alarm time x modules x alarm current).
Calculating for the proper use of your facility's voice evac system will help to ensure that necessary information will reach the people on the premises during emergencies.
Sidebar: Facility Security Uses
As we've seen, the traditional use of voice evac systems (and the one the Life Safety Code requires) is for fire alarm notification. However, this course deals with security issues. So how can a voice evac system help you with security issues?
Voice evac systems become important when there is an intruder in the facility. In such cases, one of your first concerns is to get people out of harm's way. The voice evac system is ideal for this. It allows one of your people to pick up a microphone and tell everyone in the facility what is going on, and how to leave the facility. This not only lets everyone know to get out, but it also informs them of where the danger is - so they can avoid it.
For example, during the Columbine High School shooting, it might have been helpful to have the following message come over the public address system: "Attention please. Shots have been fired in the Library. Please leave the building immediately and avoid this area." The students would have immediately known where the threat was located, and probably would have been less intimidated to move through other areas of the building to escape the danger. As it was, most students and teachers remained in the building, not knowing where the shooters were. Had they known, many of them may have escaped without injury.
Another benefit to this system is you can use it during an attack to notify law enforcement personnel as to where the assailants are, what they are doing, and where innocent people are in the building. Information is hypercritical, and the voice evac system gives you a way to disseminate that information.


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Anyone who follows Warners' Stellian on Twitter knows that I have a slight obsession with DIY projects. So many of our customers are in the middle of their own DIY remodels and as a hopefully soon-to-be homeowner, I plan to pump a lot of sweat equity into my investment too — especially the kitchen.
While I consider myself open-minded — and certainly cheap enough — but perhaps not adventurous enough to try an idea from "This Old House": Update an old fridge with a faux stainless steel finish.
I downloaded some before and after shots from the company that makes the paint, Thomas' Liquid Stainless Steel:
The idea is innovative, and some people seem to really dig the idea, but all I can think of good intentions gone wrong.
Sure, $56 a can is palatable for most anyone, but the paint seems better suited for smaller projects. A white, black or bisque fridge generally carries a textured finish, which will never match the look of a contemporary stainless steel refrigerator. (Don't know what I mean? Watch them paint a textured fridge in the promotional video.)
I'd love to see pictures if anyone has painted or knows someone who has painted appliances — with or without success.


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From Openmoko
This is a page detailing accessories that may be of use for your Neo1973.
This is both accessories that do not exist, and existing devices that may be good to add to a web-store.
Advertising on this page is permitted, but keep it brief and factual.
Existing devices
Input Devices
There are (at least) two uses for a Bluetooth pedometer as a Neo1973 accessory:
- As an input device for exercise-monitoring software
- A pedometer combined with a compass (see Wish_List_-_Hardware#Digital_compass) would allow the positioning software to perform dead reckoning when the GPS signal has been lost. The US Army's Land Warrior system already does this. (Maybe the pedometer is partly redundant with the accelerometers for dead reckoning tasks? See the SiRFDiRect announcement.)
Special covers
Different special covers could be made available with features like:
- A standard slip-on or clip-on template (possibly with buttons) to make the touch-screen blind accessible
- Small metal frame for protection (like Siemens M65, only with more style)
- Case with mirror on the back, for putting on makeup/checking appearance or helping with self-portraits with an integrated camera.
- Option to completely design printable case styles, perhaps with engraving. Ability to share these on a 'community' site.
- Solar powered recharger (perhaps as extendable/unfoldable Expansion Back).
- Rubber protection like available for iPod, of course in different colors and transparency.
Car kit
A car kit with a cradle which simultaneously recharges the device.
Charger conversion connector
A flexible converter allowing you to recharge the Neo1973 with power from many DC sources such as other devices chargers. Problems are that it may overload the DC source. It may require sensing of the input voltage, and reducing load if the voltage drops by a factor. Ideally the device should accept input voltage in the range of around 3.3v-28V in either polarity.


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Vampire Academy
add a link
Vampire Academy: Frostbite. How the fans will help revive the franchise
Vampire Academy: Frostbite. How the fans will help revive the franchise
I remember visiting this website once...
It was called Vampire Academy: Frostbite. How the fans will help revive the franchise | BlogHer
Here's some stuff I remembered seeing:
Vampire Academy: Frostbite. How the fans will help revive the franchise
Before I get into this particular blog, I want to extend a thank you to all of the Vampire Academy fans for re-tweeting, sharing, reading etc.. my last bog. I am happy to say that it has been read by over 400 people, shared on Facebook 148 times and retweeted 14 times (not including the re-tweets that happened strictly on twitter and not through blogher). You guys are simply amazing and I will continue to advertise and write about Vampire Academy until we get final word on Frostbite (and even when we do find out that it will be produced, optimisim people, I will continue writing about the road to Frostbite). I have been blown away by your support! Thank you so much!
On July 14th the Official Vampire Academy facebook/twitter page (ran by the producers of the first film) posted that they have collected a majority of the funds for the sequel, Frostbite, but that they needed help from the fans. In a world where Veronica Mars was revived thanks to the success of a Kickstarter campaign and where Reading Rainbow is brought back to life by the fans, it is not a surprise that the producers of the film decided to reach out to the fans, who clearly want the sequel to be made but with their input being put to good use, to help fund a sequel. It\'s a last ditch effort for the producers and fans have seemed to respond positively to the message.
Currently the Facebook message has been liked over 9,000 times which is a nod in the right direction for the producers and one can only hope that a good majority of fans will be able to contribute to the production of the film. Word has yet to be released how much money they are looking to get but it is clear that this is the final move they can make before the film is officially dead. I know some fans are extremely angry about this particular move and feel as though the producers are stringing them along but honestly, I have never seen people work so hard to keep a franchise alive. It is admirable that they are wanting to keep this franchise alive for the fans because they see potential in it. It\'s downright refreshing, really, to see the dedication that they are throwing behind the film.
The positive thing about fan funding a film, whether they need a few hundred thousand or even into the millions, is that the fans officially have a voice and a somewhat say in the films. I am one who backed Veronica Mars, I have no regrets about giving $50 to the revival of a great show, and through that funding I was part of the production and knew everything that was going on. Constant updates and also giving feedback to the producers was great and I was able to see my show come back to life on the big screen. For those that have never contributed to a campaign, I stand behind them and think they are great way for you to be involved! You can go into the film, watch it, enjoy it and know that you, yes yes!, helped bring it back to life. So I encourage those that can contribute to contribute when the times comes, even $10 is something. Now for those that are still unsure and don\'t want to lose your money if the film doesn\'t get made, if the campaign fails and they don\'t reach the amount of money that needs to be raised, you aren\'t losing any money (the money doesn\'t even come out of your account until the campaign is over and usually that takes about a month).
The Vampire Academy has already done an amazing job of showing their support for the film and have proven that they want the Frostbite sequel and the producers see this but they just need a little bit of help. Making a film costs money, making a film of a franchise that didn\'t do well the first time it was released, needs a little more money and support from the fans. This is not the time to yell at the producers and get angry because you feel that they are stringing you along, this is not their intentions at all! They see that you want this film but they can\'t fund it or find enough funding by themselves, so they are taking the chance (their last chance, I can\'t stress enough that if the campaign fails, this is it, no sequel at all and the film/franchise will officially be dead) and asking you, the amazing fans out there, to help them raise the money to bring this film to life. Yes your voices are being heard and your input is being listened to. This sequel will be the sequel that the fans deserve and want, it will have all the special moments that happened in the book, it will have action, love, sadness etc...So please, if you have even a little bit of money please help fund this film and be a part of history and revive the franchise!
So good luck to all of the Vampire Academy fans, prove yourself and show that the Vampire Academy Family is amazing and that they can do anything!
'Veronica Mars' Feature Kickstarter Reaches $2 Million Goal In 10 Hours
Fans of The Hunger Games: Enthusiastic Readers or Bigoted Fandom?
Valiant effort from the Vampire Academy fans
How to revive a franchise (aka saving Vampire Academy)
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Other than the whole addiction to work thing, my mom and I are not that similar. She'll mention that we are when both of us are somehow awake at 3am, pursuing our passions, but at first glance, I'm much more my father's daughter. On the other hand, people don't have a hard time recognizing my sister as one of my mother's daughters. Me, they express slight surprise and search my face for similar features. And meanwhile I'm like well, I don't think I'm adopted...?
But if you judged only by my and my mother's addiction to shoes and handbags, we are clearly of the same genetic material.
My closets at home are bursting with bags of all shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. My mother and I vie for space to cram our plethora of shoes. It's a friendly obsession that we share...until, of course, space gets tight. Then we point out the unused parts of our respective collections while we simultaneously try to hoard as many bags or shoes as possible. My mom once advised me to pick one to focus on: shoes or bags. I asked her why she got to do both. [She claimed that she chose shoes, but I'm not buying it.]
I still have a huge box full of bags here in my small apartment, but these days, the choices are slim. And when the weather forecast tells me that it's going to rain/snow all week, the choices dwindle even further.
I have, as you may have noticed, two main ones: the giant Ortlieb and the small Baileyworks. Both have protected my
life laptop from the harsh elements thrown at me by cars full of teenage boys and the wheels of huge trucks blowing through slush or giant pools of water. I love both, too, and if you have stronger arms and shoulders [thank you military presses, push-ups, and planks], neither is an issue even on a bike with more aggressive geometry. But when you know the sky is going to dump large amounts of water on you all week, and that therefore you'll be carrying not only your essentials [laptop, books, lunch, tools], but also your entire wardrobe on your back, you really sort of start wanting at least a rear rack. And then you start to wish you had panniers, which is kind of a bad thing, because that is a slippery slope, people.
I know, I know, it's not a bad thing, per se. The thing is, if I'm going to be in the dorkiest attire in the entire world [read: rainpants] this week, arriving at school with eyeliner down to my chin, the last thing I'm going to be seen with are a pair of saddlebags draped across my rear wheel [I have enough of those on my hips? HA HA...okay I set myself up for that one]. I have enough trouble as it is sneaking into a bathroom - one of those with only one stall so you can completely lock people out - unseen, trying to creep there unnoticed while those damn rainpants swiiisshhh, swiiishhh like some extreme dork alert. At that point, panniers would not only slow me down, but spell instant death to any presumption that cycling can actually be cool.
Not that my classmates would know or care if I was seen with panniers. They'll probably just say, "oh, is that a new bag?" and be on their way. But it's the principle of the thing. Just like I wouldn't ask you to wear a helmet or a jersey that doesn't match your bike [the horror...the horror...say it like Brando]. Yeah, I might be obsessed/addicted/whatever, but who said that precluded looking good...or at least less dorky?