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Top Truck Challenge 2011: Thrills In The HillsPosted in Top Truck Challenge: 2011 on December 1, 1997
Breathtaking cold water and leg-swallowing mud comprised the contents of Tank Trap's murky Water Hole 3 where Team Dallner's S-10 sat partially submerged on its driver-side. Forming a seemingly impenetrable barrier along the sides of the water hole was a collection of thick foliage that included nasty, thorn-bearing plants and poison oak dripping with its evil, poisonous oil. But worse yet, the team's 30-minute time limit was ticking away so there was no time to dawdle. With the passenger-side 54-inch tires pointing skyward like satellite dishes and foul-smelling steam rising from the hot V-8 engine, the team scrambled to quickly right the rig and continue on through the rest of the brutal course. Like the other nine teams in Top Truck Challenge 2011 they were driven by the innate desire to cross the finish line. "It's an endurance test. You gotta be in there for the full game," said Ron Stewart, co-driver of Team Dallner, after he experienced the brutality of this year's Tank Trap.
Top Truck Challenge is a weeklong event that we created 19 years ago and it takes place at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area near Hollister, California. The field consists of 10 vehicles that are chosen exclusively by Four Wheeler readers from entries submitted voluntarily by the owners of the vehicles. There is a Truck Class and a Buggy Class and each is comprised of five vehicles. Each vehicle contains a "team," which is defined as a driver and co-driver. The teams compete in seven events consisting of the Tow Test, Frame Twister, Mud Pit, Obstacle Course, Hill Climb, Mini Rubicon, and Tank Trap. All of the courses for these events are custom-made and exclusive to Top Truck and together they represent almost all disciplines of four-wheeling. Each one of these events is tough and we make no excuse for that. Top Truck is an event designed to be the ultimate test of vehicle engineering as well as a test of the driver and co-driver to think under pressure, on-the-fly. Over the course of its 19 year history, Top Truck has been host to wheelers from throughout the continental U.S. as well as Canada, Israel, and the Territory of Guam.
Top Truck is filled with action from beginning to end, but as you can imagine, an event of this caliber creates drama far beyond the actual competition. For instance, this year Team Timson had the unfortunate luck of damaging a transfer case in the Frame Twister. The good folks at Advance Adapters in Paso Robles, California, stepped up and quickly made them an Atlas II case, which the team picked up and then installed so they could get back in competition. Unfortunately, the hydraulic steering ram mount on their YJ broke in the first event when back in action. This time, a flurry of help from other competitors culminated with the team being able to compete in the Tank Trap. There are numerous stories like this, where teams came to the aid of other competitors with tools, parts, or labor. There were also some interesting strategies as teams occasionally swapped drivers. One truck owner, Brooke Spencer, turned control of her Buggy Class rig over to driver Ron Adams and co-driver Ben Spinney.
This year's TTC was filled with surprises. Hard luck and lady luck both made appearances and the result was anything but predictable. The action was incredible and the drama riveting. We've summarized each event for you in detail and it begins when you turn the page.
Day 1 Event 1: The Tow Test
What it is: You know how truck pulls work. Ours is nothing like that. We tether each TTC rig to a 37,335-pound cement mixer that dwarfs the TTC machines and we have 'em attempt to pull the mixer as far as they can from a dead stop. Uphill. Yep, you read that right, uphill. We give 'em a short run on flat ground to gather some momentum and then our nasty dirt slope climbs 13 feet in altitude over its 150-foot length at a maximum angle of 16 degrees. If a rig has any weak links, they surface fast.
How it works: Each competitor is allowed one pull and there is no time limit. A pull is completed when forward momentum ceases or the competitor crosses the finish line, whichever comes first. This year, we ran the Truck Class competitors first. No one in either class got a full pull so each was ranked by the distance they traveled.
Finish Line Quotes
"I tell you one thing; it's a little heavy taking off. You know darn well it's back there. It's very interesting. I've never done something like this and it's a lot of fun." –Mike Keller
"That's the first time it's ever hopped pulling anything. Ever. We've done half dozen truck pulls, actually on the sleds, and it's never hopped. First time." –Tim Dallner
"Been battling a timing issue. We thought we had it. We don't."–Tony Montalto "That thing's heavy. That's a real heavy truck." –Corey Timson "I knew it wasn't our event, but you know what? You gotta do 'em all."—Josh Hall
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: The team practiced by pulling a dump truck at home. Ran with the Claws aired to 6 psi in the rear and 3 psi in the front. Small amounts of wheelhop near the end of the pull.
Hall's Samurai: Drafted the heaviest crew member to ride as passenger to add weight. Ran with the Claws aired to 5 psi front and 8 psi rear with both axles drawn down. Straight run, but suffered wheelhop.
Keller's F-350: Aired the 46-inch Baja Claws down to 18 psi. Smooth, straight pull with no shifting and strong power applied near the end.
Montalto's Bronco: Timing issues with the 460 big-block caused it to lose power a short distance into the course.
Montpas' Willys: First competitor. Ran with 15 pounds of tire pressure and each axle drawn down with the winches. Easy off the line, smooth application of power from the 350ci V-8, Boggers spun to a stop.
Sanders' Chevy: Encountered a little wheelhop, but feathered the throttle to keep it to a minimum. Four pounds of air in each 54-inch Claw. Seely's Suburban: Ran with 14 psi in the Boggers and with the TH400 in First gear. Slight course correction late in the pull.
Spencer's FJ40: Drew down the axles and ran 15 psi in the 54-inch Claws. Good run with very little wheelhop out of the 6,540-pound rig.
Timson's YJ: The 54-inch Claws were aired to 14 psi and both axles were drawn down. Rolled the power on from the 8.1L big-block early and shifted the TH400 from First to Second gear along the way. Encountered a little wheelhop.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": First Buggy Class competitor. Ran with 30 psi in the 54-inch Claws and both axles drawn down. Encountered starting line wheelhop that continued through the run. Broke the front driveshaft at the transfer case.
Results (ranked by overall distance traveled)
Truck Class
1. Dallner's S-10 106 ft. 0 in.
2. Montpas' Willys 100 ft. 7 in.
3. Seely's Suburban 98 ft. 11 in.
4. Keller's F-350 98 ft. 8 in.
5. Montalto's Bronco 6 ft. 0 in.
Buggy Class
1. Timson's YJ 98 ft. 5 in.
2. Sanders' Chevy 97 ft. 5 in.
3. Spencer's FJ40 95 ft. 6 in.
4. Hall's Samurai 93 ft. 1 in.
5. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 89 ft. 11 in.
Day 1 Event 2: Frame Twister
What it is: The fact is, 424 feet isn't really that far of a distance. As a matter of fact, at 65 mph a vehicle can cover that distance in less than 4½ seconds. However, when it's 424 feet of Frame Twister, it's a completely different ballgame. This course contains a banner collection of items designed to challenge driver and machine every inch of the way. Highlights include the sheetmetal-mashing boulder pile, tire-grabbing log section (logs placed perpendicular to the direction of travel with deep water holes between each log), deceptive 5-foot-tall log pile, and final large culvert pipes. New this year, we added a 5-foot-deep, water-filled hole early into the course and "Trenchula," a squiggly, deep, water-filled trench strategically placed between the log pile and the logs. Both proved to be a surprise headache for some competitors.
How it works: Each team is allowed 20 minutes. This is an increase of eight minutes from last year to compensate for the added obstacles. During this time, each competitor battles to get as far as they can on the course. Penalties, for infractions such as reversing, winching, etc., are added to each competitor's raw time. Ranking, for those who finish, is by total elapsed time including penalties or overall distance traveled for those who don't finish. This year, we ran the Buggy Class competitors first.
Finish Line Quotes
"When the tires are spinning and the water is splashing in your face and you hear the engine you just go. I don't have time to think about this stuff. You just go." –Josh Hall
"I'm glad that we got to test the vehicle. That's what we wanted to do." –Steven Montpas
"Awesome. Absolutely awesome. Love it. That's why we came. All these events. Love it." –Tim Dallner
"I love it man. This is what I do every weekend if I can."—Alex Sanders
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: Blew through the course and arrived at the logs with 2:00 on the clock. Got stuck, quickly winched out. Entered Trenchula with 4:49 on the clock. Winched over the log pile with 7:45 on the clock. Completed the course. Suffered a punctured passenger-side front tire and pulled the winch cable off the drum.
Hall's Samurai: First Buggy Class competitor. Entered the logs with only 2:15 on the clock and managed to get through without winching. Rolled onto the passenger-side in Trenchula with 3:43 on the clock. Winched back on its wheels with 6:08 on the clock, but traveled out of bounds with 6:24 on the clock.
Keller's F-350: Blazing fast run through the course. Hit the logs at speed and caught big air. Unfortunately, the truck went out of bounds with 1:51 on the clock and was disqualified. Blew a hydraulic steering line.
Montalto's Bronco: First Truck Class competitor. Got stuck in the new hole prior to the boulders and began winching with 3:15 on the clock. Crawled the boulders with no problem. Was stuck in the logs and had winch problems with 14:00 on the clock. Managed to get unstuck and continued with no available winch. Traversed Trenchula before becoming stuck on the log pile and timing out.
Montpas' Willys: Entered the logs with only 2:09 on the clock. Got stuck and quickly winched out. Began winching through the log pile with 4:00 on the clock. Completed the course. Along the way bent the rear driver-side lower four-link bar.
Sanders' Chevy: Became stuck in the logs with 3:05 on the clock. Entered the log pile with 7:00 on the clock, but became stuck and suffered winch problems. Chose to end their run with 11:29 on the clock.
Seely's Suburban: Became stuck nose-down in the new 5-foot-deep hole early into the course. Winching ensued, but mud and water caused the winch to fail. The team chose to end their run with 7:38 on the clock.
Spencer's FJ40: Entered the logs with 2:15 on the clock. Good head of steam, but became stuck and immediately started winching. Entered Trenchula with 5:20 on the clock. Had trouble with the log pile and broke a front passenger-side CV joint and the driver-side steering knuckle bolts. Chose to end their run with 10:42 on the clock.
Timson's YJ: Entered the logs airborne with only 1:35 on the clock. The rear output shaft in the transfer case broke, which left the rear axle with no power and the team had to winch. Traveled out of bounds with 7:42 on the clock and was disqualified at that point.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": Came to the event with a new front driveshaft. Hit the logs at speed and caught big air. Became stuck, but quick winching and no problems on the rest of the course earned the fastest time in the Buggy Class. Cracked a high-steer arm brace somewhere along the way.
Results (time with penalties included or ranking order if DNF)
Truck Class
1. Montpas' Willys 7 min. 46 sec.
2. Dallner's S-10 10 min. 50 sec.
3. Montalto's Bronco DNF
4. Keller's F-350 DNF
5. Seely's Suburban DNF
Buggy Class
1. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 5 min. 05 sec.
2. Timson's YJ DNF
3. Spencer's FJ40 DNF
4. Hall's Samurai DNF
5. Sanders' Chevy DNF
Day 1 Event 3: Mud Pit
What it is: If there's one constant with our Mud Pit competition from year to year, it's that it's constantly changing. We keep this event fresh and exciting by manipulating the mud density and depth so that competitors never know whether our 138-foot pit is going to be a high-speed sprint or a slow speed crawl. This year, we worked up a bunch of soft dirt and then pumped in thousands of gallons of water. Like a fine recipe, we let the whole works marinate until almost all the water had disappeared into the soil. It looked deceptively easy, but was a test of each rig's cooling system, drivetrain beef, and tire traction. We also moved the starting line further from the Pit to give the competitors a 45-foot-longer run at the mud.
How it works: Rigs run separately and are ranked by their elapsed time. Those rigs that do not complete the course are ranked in order of their overall distance traveled. This year, five of the ten rigs completed the course and the Truck Class ran first.
Finish Line Quotes
"Easy." -Mike Keller
"Pretty sticky stuff." –Jeff Seely
"The first 12 years that's all we did was mud bogging, so it's nice to get back to home again." –Tim Dallner
"Harder than it looks." –Tony Montalto
"Loved it. I'm about ready to do it again." –Alex Sanders
"It's muddy. That's home for us." - Steven Montpas
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: Came to the Pit with a fresh bottle of nitrous and a tire and wheel borrowed from Team Hall. Fourth competitor to run in the Truck Class. Ended up trying to forge a new line through most of the course, which sapped forward momentum.
Hall's Samurai: Their strategy was to hold the "foot to the floor" and try to ride up on a bank for more traction. It worked, and earned them the fastest time of the Buggy Class.
Keller's F-350: First Truck Class competitor. Unleashed the 460ci big-block and hit the rut-less mud with some serious forward velocity. Hugged the wall on the left side of the track. Earned the fastest time of all competitors.
Montalto's Bronco: Last competitor in the Truck Class. Could've used more speed off the start line, but stayed on the throttle for 1:37, slowly inching their way forward as the 54-inch Claws scratched for traction.
Montpas' Willys: Second Truck Class competitor. Strategy was to put the 54-inch Boggers in the ruts made by Keller's 46-inch Claws. It worked.
Sanders' Chevy: First competitor in the Buggy Class and first competitor to choose the un-rutted right side of the track. Left the start line in Second gear and downshifted the Muncie 465 to First when the truck started to bog down. Strategy worked.
Seely's Suburban: Third competitor in the Truck Class. Hit the mud with good speed, but ended up outside of the ruts made by the first two competitors and the 44-inch Boggers were quickly overcome.
Spencer's FJ40: Co-driver piloted the rig. Great launch off the start line, but the driver tried to force the rig to the left side of the track, which rapidly depleted momentum.
Timson's YJ: Ran with front-wheel-drive only due to a broken transfer case.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": Last competitor. The 54-inch Claws and the 502ci big-block seemed mostly unfazed by the ruts left by the previous nine competitors.
Results (ranked by overall time or distance traveled if DNF)
Truck Class
1. Keller's F-350 12 sec.
2. Montpas' Willys 16 sec.
3. Dallner's S-10 83 ft. 7 in.
4. Seely's Suburban 80 ft. 0 in.
5. Montalto's Bronco 64 ft. 0 in.
Buggy Class
1. Hall's Samurai 28 sec.
2. Sanders' Chevy 29 sec.
3. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 45 sec.
4. Spencer's FJ40 83 ft. 0 in.
5. Timson's YJ 64 ft. 5 in.
Day 2 Event 1: The Obstacle Course
What it is: Day two of competition kicks off with a visit to this ¼-mile-long course that's filled with an eye-opening collection of obstructions. The low-speed course begins with a long, slippery hill descent that ends with competitors smack-dab in a deep water hole. From there, the course gets worse. It consists of a lower and upper section and highlights include the aforementioned deep water hole in the lower section, a pair of deep water holes in the upper section, and a gnarly 90-degree dogleg turn a short distance from the finish line. New this year, we added deeper holes, more water, and a new shelf drop-off in the upper section.
How it works:
Cones mark the course and hitting any of them earns a 10-second penalty each. If all four tires of a vehicle travel off course it's a disqualification. There's a 10-minute time limit. Ranking is by overall time for those who finish or overall distance traveled for those who don't. This year, we ran the Buggy Class first.
Finish Line Quotes
"I didn't really know what to expect, really. That sand is pretty loose and I was sliding. Brakes on or off, it didn't matter, so I was trying to keep that thing down the hill forward." –Josh Hall
"That hill is so steep, and you come down that hill with more speed than any human should have and you got no time to make that turn and then boom you're up to your chest in water." –Ron Adams
"I'm proud of my little cheapy buggy. It's doing good for me." –Alex Sanders
"It looks a lot easier on camera." –Steven Montpas
"Funnest day of my life, actually. It was the funnest wheeling, funnest thing that's ever happened to me." –Jeff Seely
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: First Truck Class competitor. Got stuck in the lower water hole but winched out quickly. Steering problems in the upper section required driving a portion of the course backwards. Hit nine cones, which generated 90 seconds in penalties.
Hall's Samurai: First Buggy Class competitor. Smooth, drama-free run. Utilized the rear steer and executed a couple of front "digs" in the tighter areas. Hit five cones for 50 seconds in penalties.
Keller's F-350: Last competitor in the Truck Class. Got stuck in the large lower water hole, had winch problems, and spent approximately the next 8 minutes attempting to extract the rig before choosing to end their run with 9:05 on the clock.
Montalto's Bronco: Did not run due to engine problems.
Montpas' Willys: Came to the event with a new camp-fabbed four-link bar. Got stuck in the large lower water hole, but winched out quickly. Executed a front "dig" in the dogleg and chose to run over a cone instead of wasting time trying to avoid it. Only hit three cones for 30 seconds in penalties.
Sanders' Chevy: Third Buggy Class competitor. Became stuck in the lower water hole, probably due in part to the ruts left by Spencer's FJ40. Winched out with 3:39 on the clock. Slow, calculated run that only netted 30 seconds in penalties for hitting three cones. Distributor cap gasket and valve cover gasket leaked allowing sand and water to enter the engine.
Seely's Suburban: Tried to hug the wall in the lower water hole and this caused the rig to slowly roll onto the driver-side. Run ended at that point.
Spencer's FJ40: Second Buggy Class competitor. Became stuck in the lower water hole. Began to winch, but had problems with a wet engine and starter motor, which continued until 7:16 on the clock. Did a front wheelstand on the new shelf drop-off with 8:20 on the clock. Timed out near the dogleg.
Timson's YJ: Did not run due to transfer case problems.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": Blazing fast run with no winching and only 40 seconds in penalties for hitting four cones. Chose to run over the cones at the dogleg instead of losing time trying to maneuver around them. Broke the high-steer arm bolts while crossing the finish line.
Results (overall time including penalties or ranking if DNF)
Truck Class
1. Montpas' Willys 5 min. 31 sec.
2. Dallner's S-10 8 min. 55 sec.
3. Keller's F-350 DNF
4. Seely's Suburban DNF
5. Montalto's Bronco DNS
Buggy Class
1. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 3 min. 09 sec.
2. Hall's Samurai 5 min. 57 sec.
3. Sanders' Chevy 8 min. 39 sec.
4. Spencer's FJ40 DNF
5. Timson's YJ DNS
Day 2 Event 2: The Hill Climb
What it is: Our Hill Climb should probably be called the "Hell Climb." It takes place on a poison oak-lined, steep hillside that boasts a gnarly 60-degree average incline. As if that wasn't bad enough, we bring in a massive excavator and dig a number of deep, strategically-placed holes and we leave lots of loose dirt lying around to further complicate things. This masterpiece is approximately 600 feet of misery and it has a reputation of stopping rigs in their tracks.
How it works: Each team is allowed one attempt to climb the hill. Competitors can stop and restart as long as it doesn't exceed five seconds. If a team exceeds a five-second stop, they are listed as DNF at that point. If the inside of a tire breaks the outside plane of a cone, it's a DNF. This year, we ran the Buggy Class first.
Finish Line Quotes
"It was nasty. I liked it. I'd do it again for fun right now if you'd let me." –Josh Hall
"I love it. That was not near as hard as I was expecting. That was a blast, man. I'm loving this thing." –Alex Sanders
"It was pretty crazy because you can't see a lot. You're going up a hill and all of sudden there's a hole in front of you, so you just go through it." –Shane Vizenor
"Awesome. I love the event. It's a good little twist in there."—Steven Montpas
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: The passenger-side rear tire dropped into a hole approximately 192 feet into the course, which caused the rig to flop onto the passenger-side.
Hall's Samurai: Slow, careful run. Near the end of the course the last big hole waylaid the rig longer than the five-second limit.
Keller's F-350: First Truck Class competitor. Good use of throttle, but a deep hole swallowed the driver-side rear tire causing the rig to slowly roll over a few feet past the 200-foot mark.
Montalto's Bronco: Lost traction shortly into the climb.
Montpas' Willys: Strong run with lots of wheel lift. Completed the climb.
Sanders' Chevy: Made it look easy with a slow and steady run punctuated by big air under the tires from time to time.
Seely's Suburban: Did not run. Stayed in camp removing water and sand from the engine, axles, and fuel system from the roll in the Obstacle Course.
Spencer's FJ40: First Buggy Class competitor. Traveled approximately 158 feet before a broken passenger-side rear axleshaft stopped 'em cold.
Timson's YJ: Second Buggy Class competitor. Came to the event with a new custom-made Atlas transfer case. Good speed, but broke the front axle steering ram mount approximately 188 feet into the course.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": Ran with the front axle drawn down with the winch. Made the climb look easy. Fastest overall time of all competitors.
Results (overall time or ranking order if DNF)
Truck Class
1. Montpas' Willys 1 min. 10 sec.
2. Keller F-350 DNF
3. Dallner's S-10 DNF
4. Montalto's Bronco DNF
5. Seely's Suburban DNS
Buggy Class
1. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 47 sec.
2. Sanders' Chevy 1 min. 20 sec.
3. Hall's Samurai DNF
4. Timson's YJ DNF
5. Spencer's FJ40 DNF
Day 2 Event 3: The Mini Rubicon
What it is: Think of this event as a highly concentrated version of the infamous Rubicon Trail. It's only 150 feet in length, but this boulder-strewn nightmare is engineered to be a world-class challenge from beginning to end. The course is narrow so the number of "lines" is very limited. In addition, we dot the course with five strategically placed deep crevices that create "waterfall"-type obstacles.
How it works: Penalties for infractions such as winching, reversing, stopping, etc,. are added to a team's raw time. Competitors who complete the course are ranked by their actual time while those who do not finish are ranked by their distance traveled. There's a 20-minute time limit. This year, we ran the Buggy Class first.
Finish Line Quotes
"I didn't think it would be that deep and that big of rocks, like, right into your face." –Shane Vizenor
"I'm having a blast. You guys don't understand, I don't get to do this stuff often. There is nothing like this where I come from." –Alex Sanders
"That was the gnarliest stuff I have ever seen. That was awesome. I'd love to do it again. That was great." –Ron Adams
"It was nice and nasty. Really good and chunky. It was awesome, you guys did a good job." –Josh Hall
"It was a little chunkier than I thought it would be. A little more voidy. It was good, it was awesome." –Tim Dallner
"It was pretty tough. It's what we wanted. We were going to get in as far as we could there before that hole and call it quits and save everything for the Tank Trap tomorrow." –Jeff Seely
"This thing is gnarly." –Tony Montalto
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: With a history in competitive rockcrawling, the team's strategy was to stay calm, cool, and collected and not break an axleshaft. It worked, and they completed the course with 18:32 on the clock before penalties.
Hall's Samurai: Ran with the front 54-inch Baja Claws aired to 3 psi and the rears aired to 2½ psi. A C-clip fell off the transfer case linkage late into the course. They timed out a few feet from the finish line.
Keller's F-350: Slow, careful run, but still damaged the front driveshaft coming out of Crevice 1. Chose to end their run with 5:29 on the clock.
Montalto's Bronco: Co-driver drove the rig. Excellent teamwork resulted in steady progress. Timed out, but went the furthest of the teams that did not finish in the Truck Class.
Montpas' Willys: First Truck Class competitor. Snapped the passenger-side rear axleshaft coming out of Crevice 1 with about 1:00 on the clock. Broke the passenger-side front axleshaft and twisted the driver-side front axleshaft shortly thereafter. The front winch cable broke with 17:10 on the clock. Chose to end their run with 18:17 on the clock.
Sanders' Chevy: Had some problems getting out of Crevice 3, which used up over 8 minutes. Along the way, the winch cable broke. The homemade adapter that tilts the carburetor forward 30 degrees seemed to do its job, and the 350ci Chevy ran great even with the front end tilted skyward. Only gathered 5:10 in penalties.
Seely's Suburban: Strategy was to get on the course and gather points but save the truck for the Tank Trap. Had problems getting onto the course. Both diffs got hung up and the co-driver stacked rocks. Got a few feet into the course and chose to end their run with 6:05 on the clock.
Spencer's FJ40: Winched several times, but completed the winch pulls quickly to finish the course in just over 15 minutes. Gathered 6:30 in penalties.
Timson's YJ: Did not run due to steering ram mount problems.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": The winch quit working prior to Crevice 4 with 14:00 on the clock and the rig had to complete the course under its own power. Along the way the rear power steering pump blew an O-ring. Gathered 7:20 in penalties.
Results (overall time including penalties or distance traveled if DNF)
Truck Class
1. Dallner's S-10 22 min. 52 sec.
2. Montalto's Bronco 107 ft. 5 in.
3. Keller's F-350 68 ft. 4 in.
4. Montpas' Willys 57 ft. 4 in.
5. Seely's Suburban 31 ft. 4 in.
Buggy Class
1. Spencer's FJ40 21 min. 41 sec.
2. Sanders' Chevy 24 min. 20 sec.
3. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 25 min. 40 sec.
4. Hall's Samurai 135 ft. 4 in.
5. Timson's YJ DNS
Day 3 Final Event: The Tank Trap
What it is: We save the best for last. Often spoke of in hushed, reverent tones, Tank Trap is legendary, and for good reason. It takes place in a nasty, quarter-mile-long, deep, natural valley, which we modify in such a way as to make every inch of forward progress a battle. It's a merciless course that can humble even the most well-built rig. The course begins with a pair of water holes that we reworked this year. From there, the course transitions into the Canyon, which is approximately 100 yards of steep, slippery rock waterfalls and ledges bordered by sheer, rock-laden walls. After the Canyon there are five more deep water holes separated by steep, loose-dirt hills. The course encore is a steep, rutted, slippery hill climb out of the last water hole. Tank Trap climbs approximately 195 feet in elevation from its starting point to the finish line and it's lined by dense foliage that is either protruding thorns or covered in poisonous oil.
How it works: Tank Trap is strategically important because we make it worth double points. This means teams can gather much-needed points or extend a lead. Each team has 30 minutes to travel as far as they can and the only rule is that they must travel through marker cones when they appear. Rankings are by overall time or distance traveled if DNF. This year, the Buggy Class ran first.
Finish Line Quotes
" It was actually easier than I expected. I had a blast man, it was great. It was awesome. I would almost want to do it again. I'm losing oil pressure, but it would be worth it to do it again." –Alex Sanders
"It feels great to be at the top. After all the late nights changing axleshafts and running down to get spare parts here, there, and everywhere, it feels absolutely great to be at the top of the Tank Trap at the end of the week." –Ron Adams
"It was perfect. Just like we like it. Soupy, deep, the canyon walls were fun. It was good. Fun time." –Josh Hall
"Awesome. I love it." –Tim Dallner
"It was wild. We expected it though. We knew every event you guys do is crazy, so Tank Trap was fun." –Steven Montpas
"It's every bit of hard." –Tony Montalto
"Tank Trap. My demise." –Shane Vizenor
"That was just a wicked trail."—Corey Timson
The Play-By-Play
Dallner's S-10: Entered Water Hole 3 with only 2:50 on the clock and promptly dropped the driver-side tires into ruts and rolled. It took a little over 8 minutes to winch the rig back onto its wheels. Blew through Water Hole 5 with 22:05 on the clock and crossed the finish line a little over a minute later.
Hall's Samurai: Ripped through the course and arrived at Water Hole 4 with only 4:38 on the clock. They drove/floated through the water and then got stuck. Due to some clevis issues the winch recovery took almost nine minutes to complete. Blazed through the rest of the course with no winching.
Keller's F-350: Last competitor. Ran without his rigs front hood assembly, reversed his Mickey Thompson tires, and switched out his nylon winch rope for steel. Traversed the Canyon in a little over nine minutes and entered Water Hole 3 with 10:40 on the clock. Battled a wet distributor from Water Hole 4 to the finish line. Winched along the way.
Montalto's Bronco: Ran without the windshield. With 5:55 on the clock the team was alternating between crawling and winching up the Canyon. The Bronco's body was taking a beating as it was sometimes on its side. The cooling fan began contacting the radiator with 16:20 on the clock and the radiator began steaming with 17:45 on the clock. Timed out in the Canyon.
Montpas' Willys: Impressive, fast run that only required one winch recovery out of Water Hole 4. Hardly slowed down for the Canyon. Fastest run of all competitors.
Sanders' Chevy: First Buggy Class competitor. Steady progress through the Canyon and made it to the dirt hill before Water Hole 5 without winching with only 7:20 on the clock. The team completed a quick winch on the hill, and the rig completed the course under its own power less than two minutes later.
Seely's Suburban: First Truck Class competitor. Had to drag the rigs body along the wall in the Canyon. Slow progress with regular winching. The ignition switch got moved to the "start" position with 8:20 on the clock, which threatened to burn up the starter before it was shut off. Timed out between Water Hole 3 and Water Hole 4.
Spencer's FJ40: Made it to the Canyon with only 1:40 on the clock. Had to winch once in the Canyon and again coming out of Water Hole 4. A couple of winching issues slowed them down a bit. Once out of Hole 4 they never looked back and completed the course less than three minutes later. Somewhere along the line they broke the driver-side sway bar link.
Timson's YJ: Came to the event with a new steering ram mount fabbed with the help of almost everyone in camp. Exited the Canyon with only 4:00 on the clock and entered Water Hole 5 with only 6:15 on the clock. Smooth and steady run with no winching to earn the fastest time in the Buggy Class.
Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty": A blazing run found the rig about ¾ of the way through the Canyon with only 40 seconds on the clock. The driver tried to ride high on the Canyon wall, but rolled the rig onto the passenger-side. Creative winching ensued in an attempt to get the vehicle back on its wheels in the narrow, uneven canyon. At one point, the rig was dangling on the Canyon wall by the front and rear winches. Timed out.
Results (overall time or ranking if DNF))
Truck Class
1. Montpas' Willys 7 min. 40 sec.
2. Dallner's S-10 23 min. 12 sec.
3. Keller's F-350 28 min. 15 sec.
4. Seely's Suburban DNF
5. Montalto's Bronco DNF
Buggy Class
1. Timson's YJ 7 min. 48 sec.
2. Sanders' Chevy 11 min. 07 sec.
3. Hall's Samurai 15 min. 03 sec.
4. Spencer's FJ40 16 min. 18 sec.
5. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" DNF
The Winners!
For 2011, the Top Truck Challenge Truck Class winner is Team Montpas (driver Steven Montpas and co-driver Randy Camp) from Roseburg, Oregon, and the Buggy Class winner is Team Sanders (Alex Sanders and co-driver Jackie Sanders) from Salem, Arkansas.
It wasn't an easy, runaway win for either team. Truck Class winner Team Montpas' '49 Willys suffered major damage in the Mini Rubicon with one twisted and two broken Rockwell axleshafts and a broken winch cable. This damage forced them to end their run and settle for a Fourth Place finish in the event. Further, they were closely pursued in points by Team Dallner throughout the week of competition and going into the Tank Trap event, the team had a slim two-point lead over Team Dallner. A blazing fast run in the Trap was what solidified Team Montpas' win.
Buggy Class winner Team Sanders' sub-$2,000 homemade buggy didn't suffer any major damage throughout the competition. Going into the Tank Trap event they were four points behind the leading team of Team Vizenor. Based on Team Vizenor's strong performance it looked as though the win would be theirs, but the Tank Trap had other ideas. Team Vizenor rolled in the Canyon and couldn't recover, while Team Sanders continued their consistent, almost casual performance, and took Second Place in the Trap to earn the double points needed to pull off the win.
Interestingly, the similarity of this year's two winning rigs is uncanny. Both are small-block Chevy V-8-powered; both are equipped with SM465 manual transmissions, both have NP205 transfer cases; both have 2½-ton Rockwell axles, and both are shod with 54-inch tires. Is this the hot setup? Read into it what you will.
What do our winners have to say about Top Truck? Steven Montpas says, "Cloud nine. We came in as an alternate. We never knew we'd make it this far. We just knew we'd do our best. We broke in the rocks and I was a little worried. I knew we had to finish good in the last event. My co-pilot's awesome and our team just pulled together and we did everything we could." Alex Sanders says, "Blows my mind. It is awesome. This is the best of the best. You can't get no better than this." He goes on to say, "I was shooting for Fifth. I just wanted to complete every event."
Results (points)
Truck Class
1. Montpas' Willys 70.9
2. Dallner's S-10 64.8
3. Keller's F-350 50.7
4. Seely's Suburban 26.6
5. Montalto's Bronco 26.5
Buggy Class
1. Sanders' Chevy 56.8
2. Hall's Samurai 48.7
3. Vizenor's "Li'l Nasty" 48.5
4. Timson's YJ 44.9
5. Spencer's FJ40 40.6
How Top Truck Is Scored
The Truck and Buggy classes are scored separately. The winner of each event gets 10 points; Second Place gets 8 points; Third Place gets 6 points; and so on. The final event, Tank Trap, is worth double points. In order to eliminate tie scores, the winner of Tank Trap receives 20.9 points; Second Place receives 16.8 points; Third Place receives 14.7 points; and so on. In addition to eliminating ties, this procedure further rewards those who do well in the Tank Trap. When all seven events are completed, each team's points are tallied, resulting in their final score.
Even More Awards
During Top Truck's closing ceremonies we handed out several specialty awards. From the team who had the worst luck to the competitor who traveled the longest distance, we recognized them with a plaque. Here are this year's winners.
Long Distance– Team Hall (from Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, approximately 2,759 miles)
Hard Luck– Team Timson (missed the Obstacle Course due to a DOA transfer case and missed the Mini Rubicon due to a broken hydro steering mount)
Team Spirit– Team Dallner (happy campers all the time)
Driving Elegant– Team Sanders (Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata could be the soundtrack to this father/son teams performance)
People's Choice– Team Vizenor "Li'l Nasty" buggy (the people have spoken)
Judges Choice– Team Vizenor "Li'l Nasty" buggy (the judges have spoken)
Last Words
"It was absolutely a great week. All the competitors were great, and we had a great crew. It was fun. Best week I've had in a long time." –Ron Adams
"Best thing ever. Pretty awesome." –Jeff Seely
"It was the best week of wheeling I've had yet, for sure." –Josh Hall
"Top Truck is awesome. Top Truck Challenge is a great thing to do and it's a good test between you and your machine. It really is fun. And they make it harder and harder every year." –Mike Keller
Big Thanks
Top Truck doesn't just magically happen. There are a number of people who we rely on to handle the incredible amount of logistics before, during, and after the event. Many of these folks burn vacation time from their real jobs to help make Top Truck happen. The Four Wheeler team is humbled by their dedication and to them and the companies that helped make TTC '11 a success we tip our hats to you.
Chris Finstad, our lead medic, John Fox, Robert Lund, Tony Morales, Debra Fox, and JP Juarez from the San Juan Bautista Fire Department.
Phillip Indihar at Quality Construction, for providing the camera truck, water truck, pressure washers, and security personnel.
J3 Excavation and Las Animas Concrete, for the equipment support.
California Site Services, for the safety fencing.
Yamaha, for use of the way cool Rhino 700 Sport.
Mansmith's BBQ, for all the mouth-watering meals including the wood fire-cooked welcome dinner.
Hollister Hills SVRA staff and rangers, including District Superintendent Jeff Gaffney, State Park Superintendent I Jack Harper, Maintenance Chief Matthew Allen, Maintenance Supervisor Bruce Meyer, Staff Park and Recreation Specialist Jared Ashton, Heavy Equipment Operator Anthony Terry, the Hollister Hills Trails Team, and the OHMVR Division Trails Team.
Four Wheeler Would Also Like To Extend a Big Thank You to the Official Top Truck Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor and Official Retailer:
4 Wheel Parts, www.4wheelparts.com.
Official Axle & Gear: Superior Gear & Axle, www.superioraxlegear.com
Official Lubricants: Amsoil, www.amsoil.com
Official Winch: Warn Industries, www.warn.com
Official Suspension: Tuff Country, www.tuffcountry.com
Official Traction Device: Eaton, www.eaton.com
Official Lighting: TJM, www.tjm.com
Official Tie-Downs: Mac's, www.macscustomtiedowns.com
Safety First
The action is intense at Top Truck, but make no mistake, safety is our number one priority. We enforce the rules that govern the Hollister Hills SVRA and we also institute our own policies to ensure everyone's safety. As an example, following competitor check-in we gather all of the rigs and physically document important safety information including, but not limited to, what type of safety restraints are installed, where the ignition shutoff is located, where the battery is mounted in each vehicle, etc. This is done to ensure a safe and quick response in case of emergency.
Do You Want To Compete in Top Truck 2012?
Has it been your dream to compete in Top Truck Challenge? Next year we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of Top Truck with the Champions' Challenge 2012. All of the previous TTC winners from 1993 onward will be invited to make the trek to Hollister and compete in our seven-event mega thrashfest. They can compete in the rig they originally ran or they can bring a new rig, it's their call.
What does this mean to you? Well, we'll be inviting one lucky reader to compete against our previous champions and you will decide who that will be using our normal selection criteria. We'll publish a list of TTC Champions' Challenge 2012 hopefuls in the April '12 issue, and you'll decide by ballot which reader is invited. We're opening this contest to former TTC competitors, too, so if you competed in the past and didn't win, now's your chance at redemption.
Do you want to go head-to-head with illustrious former TTC Champions? Turn to page 40 and fill out the entry form, send it to the address listed by the due date and maybe your fellow wheelers will vote you in to Top Truck Champions' Challenge 2012. Please make sure the photo you send is high-quality and shows the entire vehicle. Good luck!


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See Me Not Poverty
- 5 Posts
See Me Not Poverty
The notion is simple – look beyond poverty to really see the human being you are dealing with.
As simplistic as it sounds I really feel that this mentality fails to be adopted by the mass. For example, most people feel pity and sorrow for the victims of poverty we see in UNICEF or Save the Children adverts but aside from the sadness do we really think about who the person displayed in front of us is. Do we think about their hopes and dreams? Do we think beyond the need for food and help and think about what their personality is like? Are they bubbly? Shy? Outgoing? Quirky? Loud?
My honest answer is when seeing advertisements for charity I didn't think of these things. I wouldn't look at the person on the advert and think about what they are really like. More to the point, I wouldn't see myself. After a personal experience of working with a community living in a dumpsite and cemetery area I have realised just how important it is that we see the individuals who are living in poverty as full human beings with every want, need, hope and desire we individually want.
Teenagers living in a dumpsite go through puberty the exact same as teenagers living in a mansion. They have the same hormones, the same want to be loved, the same silly fall-outs and niggles as we did growing up.
Couples living on a dumpsite have the exact same relationship quirks as couples living in Chelsea. They go out on dates. They get nervous about seeing one another. They get butterflies at the mention of their name.
I could go on forever saying how much we all in common regardless of whether we are paupers or prince's. Personality is not something that can be lost in the midst of trash and squalor. We all have freedom in our personalities and it is something that no amount of poverty, corruption or environmental decay can take away from us. The people I met were all different. Some were shy, some were drama queens, some were short tempered, some had dreams of going to Paris, some of being a pastor, some travelling the world.
I think that when we look at crisis situations and think how emotionally drained we would feel in the situation of having to watch the heartbreak of our children crying and not being able to accommodate their needs. I can, only to a fraction, understand how I might feel in that situation but I will never fully understand. That is why it is so important that when helping the homeless, or whoever it may be, we see ourselves, our friends, our family. They are individuals, with a personality, wants, needs and demands; let's not strip them of that.
Next time you walk past someone living on the street and you can't give money, it's not a problem, but at least give them a smile and consider who they are. It costs nothing. But walking past with your head down, pretending they are not there, strips everything human about the interaction. Don't dehumanise. Recognise that we are all the same. Breed compassion.
See Me Not Poverty.

subset: commoncrawl


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I would like to hire a Software Developer
Budget RM99-825 MYR
To create a PC application based on Microsoft Excel. The application should eliminate the ability for intentional users to delete the workbook entirely (within file explorer). MS Excel can only prevent deletion of data entry by way of protecting the worksheet, but intentional user may still remove it (or copy it). The function of the application should be based on MS Excel, where all formulae are working, and linkage between different worksheets are possible. If possible, it is better to not look like MS Excel itself.
1 freelancer is bidding on average RM555 for this job
Hello ! I am a software developer and had been indulged in making several hybrid apps and websites. I had deployed these on time with the least bug. I basically target the middleware to be ionic, xamarin, phonegap and More


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The flying fox is an adorable doe-eyed bat with a dark side – it is the perfect vector for emerging infectious diseases from Asia. Susan Tsang, a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology at The City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate Center, turned to a revolutionary way to help fund her research into how this species spreads disease.
Ms. Tsang wants to track how viruses can spread from flying foxes to humans by tracing the evolution and movements of bat populations. She sampled the genes of wild-caught flying foxes and planned to fill in the gaps with samples from museum specimens around the world. There was only one problem: she needed funds.
"The grants that have dried up are the ones for smaller projects," Tsang explained. Early-career scientists have felt the economic squeeze more than researchers seeking big grants. "What we need is preliminary data, but how are you going to get it if you don't have a seed grant?"
Ms. Tsang is a pioneering member of a brand new movement in science funding. She brought her research proposal directly to the people as a member of the #SciFund Challenge, the largest collection yet of science researchers attempting to raise money online from private donors. Of 240 scientists that signed on to participate in the #SciFund Challenge, 49 cleared the hurdles of the process to produce videos and webpages for their funding campaigns.
The consortium's webpages functioned under the umbrella of the successful crowdfunding website, RocketHub, already known for propelling young artists and small filmmakers toward their first flushes of success.
Some of the #SciFund Challenge researchers have seen their funding dreams realized. Projects that caught the public's imagination and early funding dollars included investigations into zombie fish and exploding duck penises. Charting the flying fox evolutionary tree may seem more prosaic, but results pointing to disease transmission or aiding bat conservation would be wide reaching. While Ms. Tsang has garnered some support, she needs to raise additional funds. This will finance the sequencing of new genes related to the sense of smell and the immune system, along with other standard genetic markers, to figure out the history and linkages of each bat population.
"If we determine the dispersal routes of these bats, it could prove a boon to those interested in global health," noted Tsang. "We need to understand the ecology and evolution of a host as much as a pathogen in order to create preventative measures in case of an epidemic."
Indeed, flying foxes can act as Typhoid Marys, carrying diseases that sicken people without falling ill themselves. They are natural reservoir hosts for several diseases and have been implicated in outbreaks of illnesses such as Lyssavirus and Hendra virus that have killed pigs, horses, and humans. Yet flying foxes have been ignored as vectors until recently, while there has been a great deal of study of birds and livestock that transmit diseases like H1N1 influenza.
Like birds, these large bats can cover long distances and cross oceans. Their range stretches from east of New Guinea, throughout Southeast Asia, and over to islands off eastern Africa.
They also have certain habits that help pass the virus along. They aggregate in huge roosting colonies of 20,000 to 55,000 individuals where they can trade pathogens. They are attracted to plantations of fruit trees and other trees that are tapped for their sap. Roosting in the trees, the animals sometimes drip saliva on half-eaten fruit or defecate into sap collection containers, both excellent ways to transmit infectious diseases.
Ms. Tsang's research might also help preserve populations of an animal that has disappeared throughout much of its range due to habitat encroachment or overhunting. On top of that, Ms. Tsang noted, the animals happen to be a fascinating evolutionary mystery. "Flying foxes are an oddity even amongst bats," Tsang wrote. Their genes could help explain how they dispensed with the sonar that other bats use, to rely instead on their large eyes and sharp noses to find fruit and nectar.
This is the United Nations Year of the Bat and Tsang hopes that it will serve as a platform to build public support for bat conservation. The funding project will have been worth it, said Tsang, even without reaching a specific #SciFund goal. "It's been very useful to show others what we do as scientists, especially since bats are poorly studied."
On the Internet
Bats in peril: flying foxes past and present


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I recently returned from Ethiopia where I visited a project that is being covered by MIGA's political risk insurance. The project involves the privatization and expansion of an existing farm to cultivate and process passion fruit, mango, and papaya for juice exports. The newly formed company, africaJUICE Tibila Share Company, has taken what was essentially an abandoned farm and transformed it into a thriving enterprise.
The project introduced passion fruit to the community which is harvested and processed into juice in a new state-of-the art factory. The juice is then exported to markets in Europe and the Middle East. In addition to creating significant direct employment for a poor rural area (2400 employees), the project is developing a cadre of contract farmers who can earn a significantly higher income for this "in demand" product. At the same time, these farmers can grow their regular crops – mostly onions and tomatoes – in between the rows of passion fruit. africaJUICE has invested substantially in the local irrigation scheme so that local farmers can tap into it. Although there is an abundant water supply from the local river, people continued to suffer during droughts because irrigation was not widely practiced.
In my view, this is a great demonstration of how responsible investment in agribusiness can help Africa feed itself and the world. But perhaps the pictures tell a better story:
Africa Juice – MIGA: Supporting Sustainable Agribusiness Investments
Feature story:
Tropical Fruit Juice Project Helping to Spur Economic Revival in Ethiopia


text:
Join us to celebrate our 10th reunion!
Friday, May 31, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Lelia Hynson Pavilion along the river.
Look through old yearbooks, grab a reunion gift, and enjoy light fare. Cash bar. An all-alumni event with Chester River Runoff on the riverfront will follow immediately after our party. Saturday, don't miss our class photo at the picnic from noon-2 p.m. We hope to see you on Alumni Weekend!
Join us to hear Sam Guthridge '04 and the band Chester River Runoff Friday night!
Class Gallery
E-mail pics from your time as a student, and we'll add them to our retrospective gallery — coming soon! Send your images (with captions) to Jenn Carey Svehla at firstname.lastname@example.com
Check this space for news and announcements:
Remember our senior year?
In Memoriam
- Andrew W. Wilkie
- Chris Harding
- Sarah R. Ackerman
- Shauna L. Bolden
- Timothy G. Buckless
- Michael Cades
- Jenna L. Craley
- Megan E. Daily
- Stephanie L. Duncan
- Elizabeth C. Dunlap
- Jillian C. Fletcher
- April R. Hill
- Erin E. King
- Kristina L. Kriss
- Rebekah R. Land
- Alema Lemes
- Kimberly E. Lesch
- Aurangzeb A. Magsi
- Lewis R. Matthews
- Maximillian J. Orsini
- Alexis M. Perlmutter
- Helen M. Philip
- Alvaro Prado
- Michelle L. Rodney
- Aurora I. Sanchez
- Norman L. Schuyler Jr.
- Jeremy E. Shannon
- Benjamin T. Shapiro
- Gabe E. Singer
- Amy M. Stein
- Stephen A. Stevens
- Nuntavit Suriyunkietkaew
- Clayton C. Swears III
- Susanne H. Tumolo
- Christopher A. Wilson
- Matthew C. Wolfe
Email information to: email@example.com


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
Part# 6153380
1 Review
OPGI Price: $53.99
Part Type: (R) = Authentic reproduction of the original GM product
Years: 1970-1974
Sold As: EACH
2018 Monte Carlo Catalog Page: 174
Replace your original canister style coil with a premium reproduction ignition coil from OPGI. All coils are rated at 12-volts and available for use with internal or external resistor. Each coil features an authentic satin black finish.


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Springfield, Mass. -- April 16, 2011 -- The Springfield College men's tennis team fell this afternoon to MIT, 9-0, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference action at the Springfield College Field House. With the threat of rain, the match was moved indoors.
With the win, MIT raised its record to 10-4 overall, 4-0 in the NEWMAC. Springfield is now 3-5 overall, 0-3 in league action.
All singles matches were taken in straight sets by the Engineers.
MIT will have until next Saturday off when they will travel to Wheaton for another NEWMAC contest at 1:00 PM. SC will host Assumption Monday (April 18) at 3:30 pm at the Appleton Courts.
Final Team Score -- MIT 9, Springfield 0
1) Ken Van Tilburg/Matthew Skalak (MIT) def. Ben Burnap/Doug Nickerson (SC), 8-4
2) Larry Pang/Curtis Wu (MIT) def. Zach O'Leary/John Schrank (SC), 8-3
3) Andrew Cooper/Edwin Zhang (MIT) def. Eric Henne/Joe Giannelli (SC), 8-2
1) Zhang (MIT) def. Burnap (SC), 6-2, 6-1
2) Van Tilburg (MIT) def. Nickerson (SC), 6-2, 6-0
3) Pang (MIT) def. O'Leary (SC), 6-2, 6-2
4) Wu (MIT) def. Henne (SC), 6-4, 6-4
5) Cooper (MIT) def. Giannelli (SC), 6-1, 6-2
6) Troy Astorino (MIT) def. Schrank (SC), 7-5, 6-3


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"Why did you choose this product?"
I love this beautiful and striking rug. The navy is quite masculine while the design adds interest. It is plush and high quality like every other Safavieh rug I have ordered....
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Safavieh Handmade Moroccan Dark Blue Wool Area Rug - 8' x 10'
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Indoor Safavieh Handmade Moroccan Chatham Dark Blue/ Ivory Wool Rug - 8' x 10'
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ITEM#: 15896078Safavieh's Chatham collection is inspired by timeless contemporary designs crafted with the softest wool available. This rug is crafted using a hand tufted construction with a wool pile and features main accent color of dark blue. Hand-tufted of a 100-percent wool pile, this handmade wool rug features unusual detailing inspired by Moroccan design updated with today's freshest colors.
- Durable cotton canvas backing
- Primarily crafted of Wool
- Latex backing
- Pile height is 0.5 inches
- Contemporary style
- Primary color is Dark blue
- Pattern is Geometric
For over 100 years, Safavieh has been crafting rugs of the highest quality and unmatched style. Click here to learn more.
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All rug sizes are approximate. Due to the differences between monitors, some rug colors may vary slightly. We always try to represent all rug colors accurately. Please refer to the text above for a description of the colors shown in the photo.
Please keep in mind that new wool rugs may initially shed and have a natural capacity to shed for several months after purchase. This is normal due to the nature of construction of most wool rugs and not a defect. Click here to view our Wool Rug Care Guide.
Tip: We recommend the use of a non-skid pad to keep the rug in place on smooth surfaces.
All rug sizes are approximate. Due to the difference of monitor colors, some rug colors may vary slightly. We try to represent all rug colors accurately. Please refer to the text above for a description of the colors shown in the photo.
|Modern & Contemporary
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|Contains Latex
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Good quality wool rug
Soft, thick wool. Very comfortable to walk on and my dog loves stretching out on it. Colors are pretty true to the picture, but keep in mind that the pattern is ivory, not white. On my monitor, it looks pretty white but in person it was clearly an off-white/ivory. It clearly states in the description that the pattern is ivory, I just didn't pay attention. The "dark blue" is a nice navy color. It is fuzzing quite a bit, but I'm expecting that to go away with time (I've only had it a few weeks). For the price, this is a great rug.
Sheds, but so worth it.
I love this beautiful and striking rug. The navy is quite masculine while the design adds interest. It is plush and high quality like every other Safavieh rug I have ordered.
Plush beautiful and I am completely happy!
Questions & Answers
This rug is exactly what I was looking for in color and design.
i like the colors
The size, colors and price
"Is the whole rug tufted or are there loops in the blue sections? My cat pulls at looped rugs so I am trying to go with just tufted."
Hello Alice, the entire rug is hand tufted, cut pile. Thank you for shopping with us.
Shopping Tips & Inspiration
Complete Area Rug Size Guide
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The Complete Rug Buying Guide
Learn everything you need to know about rugs before you buy. We'll show you how to choose an area rug that's perfect for your home.
Top 10 Home Decor Trends for 2018
From rich blues and cool marble to mixed patterns and sultry velvet, we're bringing you the latest and greatest trends to try at home. Whether you're looking for a total refresh with sleek Scandinavian design, or want to punch up your style with bold graphic prints, we've got design inspiration to help you reinvent your living space.
8 Essentials for a Modern Global Look
When you blend the crisp minimalism of Modern decor with eclectic Global flavor, you get a uniquely balanced decorating style. Not messy but not clean, Modern Global decor reflects a mature approach to free-spirited Bohemian sensibilities and practical Modernism. From textures and colors to furniture design, Modern Global home decor is a chic marriage of two very different styles.
How to Incorporate Black-and-White Decor in Your Home
Black-and-white home decor is one of this year's biggest home trends. This color combination is a classic for a reason. Not only does it work with a variety of patterns, but it goes with almost every interior design style. Whether you're looking for big or small ways to incorporate this trend into your home, these black-and-white home decor ideas will get you started.
6 Ways a Designer Would Decorate Your Patio
When the weather starts to warm up, it's time to get your patio ready for regular use by family and friends. Use these six tips to decorate your patio with a designer's eye and create a fashionable space that will dazzle all your guests.
5 Ways to Add Coastal Style to Your Home
Bring your home a little closer to the ocean with Coastal Style. Pulling off a coastal look is as simple as incorporating these beach-inspired elements.
A Guide to the Best Rug Materials
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Top 5 Trending Rug Patterns
If you're looking for the chic rugs that are gracing the blogs of your favorite interior designers, we've gathered five of the most popular rug patterns you'll want to keep your eye on.
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If you want to keep your rug looking beautiful for years to come, follow our guide on caring for and cleaning your wool rug.
Dipped in Gold
The glitter and glamour of gold is catching the eye as a 2015 home decor trend.
2015 Lighting Trends to love
If you want to refresh your home this spring, new pendants and lamps help create a chic, brightening effect.
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About Us
AVSUPPLY (PTY) LTD, with Registration Number 2013/040917/07, was established in January 2013. We are an online Computer, Multimedia, Network, and Audio Visual supply shop, dedicated to providing quality products and an excellent service to our customers. We pride ourselves on offering products at very competitive prices and always strive to give our customers the best shopping experience. AVSupply are not VAT registered so the price you see is the price you pay (excluding shipping)
The Products we Sell
Audio Visual Converters
The ever changing digital age has brought about the need for Audio Visual Converters. The converters we sell enable our customers to connect old technology with new, and vice versa
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The majority of HDMI Cables have a maximum length of 20 Metres. To increase the maximum length of an HDMI cable, an HDMI over Network Cable solution is a great option, as it enables the Audio Video signal to be transmitted up to a distance of 30 - 60 metres without signal loss or degredation. AVSupply's HDMI over Cat5e/6 adapters are great products for those wanting to view a device that is 30-60 Metres away from a bedroom or Living room television. They also make for neater installations, as network cables are easier to install through walls and celings
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Sure, you can find souvenirs in any airport, but for a true unapologetic shopping experience, Texas provides retail nirvana. Many a credit card has met its match in the outlet malls of San Marcos and Hillsboro. Or if you're looking for something unique, you're sure to find it in the Galleria in Houston, the boutiques of West Village in Dallas, or the vintage shops along Austin's South Congress Avenue.
Looking for a ball gown worth the gross national product of a few countries? A flawless diamond the size of Rhode Island? Or maybe a custom Italian sports car with all the unnecessary bells and whistles you've always wanted? Friends, this is the place for you. With three of the nation's biggest cities and more than our share of bravado, Texas has an overabundance of style and fashion for even the most discriminating shopper.Antiquing
On a search for something truly original? Well, Texas is the place to visit. Our colorful history, collision of cultures and independent spirit make for astonishing antique finds in nearly every corner of the state. Like Wimberley. It's a fun, artsy community with hundreds and hundreds of arts & crafts booths bursting with all kinds of treasures during Saturday Market Days. Or San Antonio's El Mercado, the largest Mexican marketplace north of the border. Even Round Top – one of the very smallest cities in Texas – hosts the largest antique festival in the nation. Yeah, no kidding. The Wall Street Journal even said so.Western Wear
Where to go for great Western wear? Shoot, that's pretty obvious! If you've got a hankering for Western fashion, Texas is the ultimate authority on cowboy-inspired fashion. So if you're looking for some authentic – or inauthentic – cowboy garb, like a pair of wicked, new custom boots, saunter into any Texas town, large or small, and you can gear up in style.


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Vulgar Opinions: Milan Lucic – All Bark And No Bite
A few months ago I made the observation that the Bruins might be a fairly intimidating team with Chara, Lucic, and Thornton, but I don't think they're actually all that tough. Then the NHL decided to prove me right as teams took turns putting a hurting on the Bruins. Now I'm turning my focus onto one of those players, a guy who I think gets far more credit as a "tough guy" than he actually deserves.
I'm talking about Milan Lucic, runner of goaltenders, sucker puncher of guys after the whistle from behind an official. Milan Lucic is widely regarded as one of the scariest human beings on the ice sans gloves. Meh. I think he's average, having made a history of either fighting guys smaller than himself, or guys that aren't typical fighters.
If you look back three seasons Milan Lucic's average opponent is 1.3 inches shorter, 11 pounds lighter, and averages 9 fights a year. Not exactly elite NHL enforcing talent. The only two players that Lucic has fought that are actually bigger than himself in that span (Carkner and Komisarek, both this season) have a grand total of four fights to their names in the 2011-2012 campaign. The only enforcer Lucic has squared off against this season is Brandon Prust (19 fights this season), who is dwarfed by Lucic by 4 inches and 36 pounds.
Not that I can blame Lucic, the last time he tried to hold his own against larger, more experienced fighters was 2009-2010 when he fought Jared Boll, Adam Mair, and Colton Orr (who Lucic still has by an average of 1.67″ and 9 pounds). According to Hockey Fights, Lucic lost all three of those fights. Peep his bout against Orr and you'll learn why he doesn't pick on anyone his own size anymore:
I think if the teams that have the size to stand up to Lucic actually do so, he'll fold like a lawn chair.
Lucic doesn`t live up to the "fighter code"….I`m sure everyone remembers him beating up Mike Komisarek pretty bad and then SHOWBOATING around the ice…which I beleive is a NO NO with fighters in the NHL. (This was when Mike K. was with the Habs.) George Laraque challenged him on TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS!!!!!! (George is very close in size) Lucic CHICKENED OUT BOTH TIMES!!!! B
BC permalink10/02/13 8:49 PM
Orr is a total psycho, but this article is garbage, and so are you. Lucic isn't in the league to be an enforcer. He is a power forward who will fight AND score 20-30 goals a year. Let me guess – you're a Habs fan? ~~~Homophobia Removed~~~
BC permalink10/02/13 9:03 PM
Just looked at your profile and see you're a Sabres fan. That's all I needed to know. The Bruins own the Sabres and have for a while and will continue to dominate them as long as the Sabres continue to have piss poor defense and a head case for a goalie. Way to be completely transparent by picking on the team that consistently dominates you and keeps you out of the playoffs. You are a joke, much like the Sabres (aside from Vanek, who is too good to be wasting away in Buffalo)
Ryan permalink10/03/13 12:27 PM
Remember when Sabres tough guy Paul Gaustad had to stand up for the whole team and got absolutely destroyed? Hey at least you have John Scott now to fall over himself for 3 minutes a night and take 5-10 PIM.


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For the following couple of posts, I will be looking at the issue of faith in Gregory of Nyssa by reviewing a book by Martin Laird entitled: Gregory of Nyssa and the Grasp of Faith: Union, Knowledge and Divine Presence (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Laird discusses Nyssa's view of the mind, that its energies are often dispersed fruitlessly (through worldly passions), and need to be drawn together and focused through self-denial. A worldly person has a "thick" mind, that squanders its potential on human passions. In Laird's words, "In order for the heart to be whole the mind must in some way be recollected, withdrawn from the affairs of the world. Here it finds its wholeness and ability to ascend" (39). He continues on to explain:
If unclouded, untroubled, or unimpeded by the senses and passions, the same mind, and not a different compartment or level, will move upward towards the spiritual, intelligible world. Given appropriate ascetic training, there is in the mind an upward orientation, a dynamic capacity to ascend" (43).
The thickness of the mind, in a move reminiscent of Edwards, is unable to know beauty. Again, "the sense faculties are not suitably trained for the discernment of what is beautiful and what is not" (45). Importantly, the mind is able to know beauty, but it needs training to do so (contra Edwards). Continue reading


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Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of lymph tissue. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and other sites.
Alternative Names
Lymphoma - Hodgkin; Hodgkin disease; Cancer - Hodgkin lymphoma
The cause of Hodgkin lymphoma is not known. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common among people ages 15 to 35 and 50 to 70. Past infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Fever and chills that come and go
- Itching all over the body that cannot be explained
- Loss of appetite
- Soaking night sweats
- Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin (
swollen glands)
- Weight loss that cannot be explained
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Coughing, chest pains, or breathing problems if there are swollen lymph nodes in the chest
- Excessive sweating
- Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs due to swollen spleen or liver
- Pain in lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
- Skin blushing or flushing
Symptoms caused by Hodgkin lymphoma may occur with other conditions. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific symptoms.
Exams and Tests
The first sign of Hodgkin lymphoma is often a swollen lymph node that appears without a known cause. The disease can spread to nearby lymph nodes. Later it may spread to the spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs.
The disease is usually diagnosed after a biopsy of suspected tissue, usually a lymph node.
If the biopsy and other tests show that you have Hodgkin lymphoma, more tests will be done to see how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide treatment and follow-up.
The following procedures will usually be done:
Blood chemistry testsincluding protein levels, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and uric acid level Bone marrow biopsy(in certain cases) CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis Complete blood count(CBC) to check for anemia and white blood count PET scan
In rare cases, abdominal surgery is needed to take out a piece of the liver and remove the spleen.
Treatment depends on the following:
- The type of Hodgkin lymphoma (most people have classic Hodgkin lymphoma)
- The stage (where the disease has spread)
- Whether the tumor is more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide
- Your age and other medical issues
- Other factors, including weight loss, night sweats, and fever
You may receive
High-dose chemotherapy may be given when Hodgkin lymphoma returns after treatment or does not respond to the first treatment. This is followed by an autologous
Support Groups
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences can help you not feel alone.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Hodgkin lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers. Cure is even more likely if it is diagnosed and treated early. Unlike other cancers, Hodgkin lymphoma is also very curable in its late stages.
You will need to have regular exams and imaging tests for years after your treatment. This helps your doctor check for signs of the cancer returning and for any long-term treatment effects.
Possible Complications
Treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma can have complications. Long-term complications of chemotherapy or radiation therapy include:
- Bone marrow diseases (such as leukemia)
- Heart disease
- Inability to have children (
- Lung problems
- Other cancers
- Thyroid problems
Keep following up with a doctor who knows about monitoring and preventing these complications.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if:
- You have symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma
- You have Hodgkin lymphoma and you have side effects from the treatment
Bartlett NL, Foyli KV. Hodgkin lymphoma. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, et al., eds. Abeloffs Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2013:chap 105.
National Cancer Institute: PDQ Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment. Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified: Feb. 28, 2014. Available at http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adulthodgkins/HealthProfessional. Accessed: March 28, 2014.
National Cancer Institute: PDQ Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment. Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified: Nov. 21, 2013. Available at http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/childhodgkins/HealthProfessional. Accessed: March 28, 2014.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Hodgkin Lymphoma. Version 2.2014. Available at http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/hodgkins.pdf. Accessed: March 28, 2014.
Review Date:
Reviewed By:
Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.


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Welcome aboard! =) Hope you're doing great today...
Welcome, Trac! Glad you could join us. :D I'm always happy to welcome another feminist who has a voice.
Please consider joining a group to meet people and talk about anything that's on your mind, Hang With Friends. You might also like Women Atheists, Female Atheists, and Feminist Atheists.
I also recommend Eco-Logical and Climate Concerns, since the climate is changing so drastically.
After you've searched for topics of interest in "Groups" above and in the "Forums", don't forget to look at recent activity which hides along the right margin of the page all the way at the bottom.
Welcome, Traci. Good for you. We definitely need more loud-mouthed liberal atheist feminists in the world.
Hello Traci
Welcome to this world of rationality, truth and peace, where common sense and science lead to freethinking wisdom --- as you know as a non believer like us.
We invite you to join the busy group "ORIGINS: Universe, Astronomy, Life, Earth, Humans, Religion, Gods, Atheism, Evolution, Darwin..." with 730 discussion topics and 3600 members.
Cool, we've got a feminist group on here that you might like. Of course atheists are mostly liberal, something like 90+%; and most of us are loud-mouthed, because ... well, it's the internet.
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Sundance Darling Brings Shooting to the Big Screen
"Fruitvale Station" caused quite a stir when it premiered at Sundance in January, sparking a drawn-out bidding war. Rachel Dodes joins Lunch Break with a look at the film, which continues a long cinematic tradition of movies that take place within the span of a single day. Photo: The Weinstein Co.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... the midnight New Year's day shooting at twenty two you all on black man while white area police officer sparked protests right after sell the footage of the incident with vinyl ... in our life drama is chronicle the infidel Station ... a film that takes place entirely during the subject ... last day of my Wall Street Journal entertainer reporter ... Rachel DOE's she joins us right now ... with an inside look Rachel thanks for being here ... the twenty four at the new TV show model where the people are now so fond of the things taking precedence very compressed time frame what's the appeal of that yet well I think um ... you know in real life the longer ... we spend with someone the more you get to know them in ... and found the opposite is true Lake and Mr. during that time he spends someone in the ninety minutes then ... avoid feeling other than to get to spend my quiet time with family can this ... movie and you know Michael B Jardin Claes Oscar ... you get to see Impressionists he'd been spending my time with his daughter due to certain ... those moments when he's alone that's when you really see someone's character and Oscar is of course that the young man who was who was killed on that day on New Year's day out ... it's tricky though when you're trying to ... recreate can make people be attached to a character and you do it ... in one day because only serve only so many things happened that day so ... what I think you look of the devices to be used to get you to actually know that person ... prior to the table the support to them prior to this pivotal moment further there is like one min flashback scene where you see in the previous New Year's with ... and when he was actually in prison ... so you know New Year's Day ... when you're looking forward trying to improve your life thinking about resolutions ... so you know this was a man who is trying to be a ... better man ... and so ... by flashing back to get to see the juxtaposition of where he was in when he is ... now ... always tricky to play out real people when you're an actor tells about how the actor who is plain ... Oscar Oscar B Grant tiny go about ... getting to know him his backstory is life yet he really hadn't seen it and ... Bryan curler the director has twenty seven years holds really young guy he's from the Bay area so he was pretty much ... the main source of information to the Bay Area By ... Michael B Jordin to move to the Bay Area about a month before filming began spent a lot of time with Oscar's family with his friends just ... talking about and and said he grew his hair out he gained a little weight he actually ... does resemble him and I think that was important for Ryan to have an actor who resembled him ... because this image ... is burned in the minds of everybody in the Bay area is this killing was such a big deal when it happens how much creative license does Ryan director taking any point in time to get us ... to help us know get to know this character Oscar B Grant now I know there was one scene with with that with the dollar he adds sink a lot of people in the top not seen the job because ... aam you know that ... a lot of it was based on things that actually happened that day that there is a period of a few hours when ... Oscar was by himself and so that the director took some creative license ... he based this scene where ... the Oscar season Dodd get hit by a car ... with that so it's very steady kind of breaks down in hopes that dotted shows like what type of person he is ... the base it on and something that happens his brother ... and we did alot of music for the movie but his brother came home one day I was very quiet and cried and told him the story he thought it would be a good way to ... the both of you know that feeling of relief ... on us to his grieving a friend that died when he was he ... clearly felt that this is something Ostrer wicked on this is the way he would react yes yes and and this until the sun while Sundance was the next step for the stump ... it's coming out on to life's rough though Weinstein sickening in the fold ... he now Weinstein treatment being run ... with that in a fifteen million dollar campaign and it'll probably go on with their words seasons are a real dead story or stories of the Army section thanks much in this range thinking ...


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de gustibus non disputandum
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment
I suspect putin and trump have something to do with this
that's great. people are stupid.
My records are my media for music.
To know me is to know my love of Phish.
Rangers are trash.
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By Hunter Spanks
On a sunny June 6th here we are back in Georgetown at Jinx Proof for session three on Lizzy's backpiece from Dave Waugh. Today he will concentrate on background on the left side of the back, kidney and rib area. Ouch. That's okay, Lizzy brought a friend with her. His name is Dr. Numb. A topical numbing cream suggested by Dave. The cream has been applied and covered with Saran wrap and parts will stay covered as Dave works until he begins to work on them. Right at 2 p.m. Dave's needle strikes the skin and they begin to talk about things being thicker and longer. So they are off to a good start…
Dave begans once again with some black shading in the grass area and moving on to dark greens once again. The color palate that he has laid out is a range of blues and greens, as well as yellow. Blues ranging from a midnight looking blue to a medium electric blue. Already eight minutes into it there seems to be a question of whether or not Lizzy's friend Dr. Numb lives up to his claim. Dave is now shading in a brilliant grass green then moving on to some gunship grey, which I imagine is going into some of the rocks.
Dave dabs out more Dr. Numb which he will continue to work in the skin as he tattoos. He quickly moves on to working in the midnight blue as he begins to work on the water. Dave seems to work by fully completing smaller areas of the tattoo then moving on, working the black shade, then darker colors to highlights, then moving on. So finally, the foul talk starts and we have assured our place in hell by talking about the country singing conjoined twin duo that we had seen on Howard Stern and Jerry Springer.
And how the one girl had to be moved around on a stool, yes, we are terrible people. But somethings are like car accidents, and you can't help but look and comment. I'm sure we all hope she has a successful country music career. Led Zeppelin comes on the in the shop. A bit mellower in the music department today and not so much doom. I think we are all happy about this. Dave continues to work various shades of the blue into the areas of water in the background as Hall and Oats tell us, "your kiss is on my lips." We are only a half-hour in and a sizable section of the tattoo is complete and Dave moves back to black and up the left side of the ribs.
David Bowies "Ch-Ch-Changes" comes on and Dave is wasting no time moving up the left side of the ribs starting again with deeper greens being laid over the black shade and Lizzy is assuring Dave that she will be the most fun thing he will work on today. Lizzy is proud of her tattoo, as she should be. Anyone would be proud to sport a back piece from Dave. Albeit this particular subject matter might not be for everyone. Lets face it, unicorns and dick rocks are not for all. As the awe-inspiring voice of Bon Scott rings through the shop, Dave is laying yellows into the leaves on the left side of the ribs and Lizzy gives an update that Dr. Numb may be wearing off in that area.
I have failed to mention in the past that I do feel spoiled being able to come to the shop and document this, not only the great pleasure I take in watching Dave work but the shop is a literal who's-who gallery of tattooing fine art. Everyone from Ed Hardy, Dan Higgs, Rollo, Jeff Rassier, Mike Davis and countless others. It becomes easy for myself to get distracted and just stare at art and not pay attention to the job at hand. Dave has moved back to blues and is working areas of the water again and they are just under an hour into the session and getting close to a first break. It has just been revealed by Dave that his nickname is "Jelly Balls Waugh."
I think the origin might have something to with boobs but I am not quite sure and do not quote me on that. It's a funny one though. All of a sudden, there is second thought that the water maybe should have been brown. Not sure that is what Lizzy had in mind but is a funny thought. Eeeew. Poo water. The blue seems to be giving Dave a hard time and I find that blues give me a hard time as well and apologizes for any discomfort of trying to work it in and it is break time. Dave again expresses frustration with how the blue is working for him. Break time.
It's 3:10 p.m. and the break is over and Dave is quickly back to work. He now has Lizzy laying on her side in the hopes that he can stretch the skin a bit tighter, making the blues a bit easier to work in. Dave jumps back to working on the leaves that run up the left side of the ribcage. The conversation turns to age and the ever increasing sagging of mens' balls. "Two walnuts and a paper bag" claims Dave. Finishing with some black shade Dave jumps back to working in deeper blues then on to grey to work on some of the rocks that rise up out of the water midway up Lizzy's back. So far it seems that Lizzy's friend Dr. Numb might be doing the trick at almost an hour and a half Lizzy still seems pretty comfortable and not in to much pain as she let's out a giggle.
Dave works in some medium blues into the water surrounding the rocks and comments that Lizzy laying down seems to be working much better for him. Back now to deeper greens in the leaves continuing to work sections to completion has he makes steady progress up the left side of her back. The energetic rhythms of AC/DC are again heard in the shop. This time Brian Johnson voice rings through the shop over the chatter of tattoo machines buzzing. All the while Dave is back to laying in some nice grass greens and the music continues with AC/DC and Bon Scott telling us about, "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." I will have to admit today's playlist is more enjoyable than the soundtrack to session two. A bit under hour two Dave has completed all the water and greenery in the background on the left side to just under the bra line.
Everyone still seems to be hanging in there even Lizzy's new friend Dr. Numb as she seems to still be relaxed and not too bothered by the work being done on her ribs. Oh wait, Lizzy just commented that maybe Dr. Numb should do some more research. I guess this means she is feeling it more than she would like to. What would a tattoo be without a bit of pain right. Plus let's face it, tattoos on the ribs suck and I feel any topicals only take the edge off and that's about it. Dave is meticulous in his attention to the areas being worked on making sure blends and shades are as smooth as butter as they blend from dark to light. Now back to areas of deep blue in the water which is almost complete on the left side. Dave pauses to pour out more colors and asks if Lizzy needs a stretch. She declines and Dave says they will work for about a half hour more.
Heading into the final stretch Dave will begin to work with a liner to work on some of the smaller details on the left side such as mushrooms and Bon Scott announces he's "a rock-n-rolling" man as Dave sings along cheerfully. Dave begins to use some medium brown with a liner to work on and detail the mushrooms scattered throughout the grass in the background. Now on to dotting and highlighting areas with white such as the rock formations that are throughout out the stream of water in the background.
After completing a little work with a liner for detailing the majority of the background on the left side is complete. Dave and Lizzy are calling it a day at about the two-hour mark satisfied with today's progress. So until session four that's all for now.
(Hunter Spanks is a contributing blogger for Tattoo Artist Magazine and was previously in TAM Issue #11. He currently works in Baltimore, MD at Have Fun Be Lucky Tattoo.)
Hunter Spanks TAM #11 video download
(Dave Waugh can be found at Jinx Proof Tattoo in Washington, DC)


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Over the weekend the tiny nation of Cyprus (and its overseas depositors) became the latest Europeans to learn the painful rule that is increasingly guiding the continent's debt crisis: the less solvent a country is, the more sovereignty its citizens must relinquish.
Continue Reading Below
In exchange for financing expensive bailouts of Greece, Spain and now Cyprus, the European Central Bank and richer countries like Germany are demanding a greater say on matters traditionally left up to local politicians like tax rates and retirement ages.
All of this is part of an effort by European leaders to fix the structural imperfections that the eurozone was created with by pushing all 17 eurozone members closer and closer together.
"These are all ways of monetary and fiscal policy being turned over to greater authorities. I think this is how the new Europe will emerge," said Marc Chandler, global head of currency strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman.
While highlighted by the controversial effort to penalize depositors, the proposed 10 billion euro rescue of Cyprus and its outsized banking system contains both conventional and unconventional methods of ceding more sovereignty.
Cyprus Relinquishes Power
On the conventional front, the so-called troika of the ECB, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have forced Cyprus to agree to raise revenue by hiking corporate tax rates, selling off state assets and improving anti-money laundering efforts.
These unpopular concessions are like ones reached elsewhere in Europe in exchange for bailouts. For example, Greece has reluctantly signed off on painful labor reforms like axed salaries and pensions, while Spain was forced to raise its VAT tax.
"The less solvent you are, the more sovereignty you have to give up."
However, with public debt at the end of 2012 at 86% of gross domestic product, by some measures the tiny island of Cyprus is even less solvent than these previous bailout recipients.
Barclays estimated Cyprus's bank recapitalization needs at about 60% of GDP, compared with 40% for Ireland, 27% for Greece and just 6.5% for Spain.
"The less solvent you are, the more sovereignty you have to give up," said Chandler.
Depositors Could Be Hit
That's where the unpopular and unconventional deposit levy comes into play.
For the first time during the current crisis, Germany is forcing Cyprus to raise about 5.8 billion euros by imposing a penalty on bank depositors, many of whom are actually Russians taking advantage of the country's status as a tax haven.
Barclays estimates that 37% of all deposits in Cyprus are from nonresidents, 30% of which are from non-euro area countries like Russia. According to Moody's, Russian banks had about $12 billion on deposits with Cypriot banks and corporate deposits accounted for another $19 billion.
"The only reason this makes any sense is that the overwhelming portion of large accounts in Cypriot banks are held by overseas depositors, mainly Russians," Jack Goldstone, a senior fellow at George Mason University, wrote in a blog post. "This means that Europeans may not have to fear that their accounts in their banks will be treated the same way. Still, this is a crazy precedent."
While clearly controversial and subject to ample revision, Chandler said this proposed levy on deposits is another extension of the solvency/sovereignty equation.
Cyprus is "very insolvent," Chandler said, but Germany has said: "We don't want to bail out Russian oligarchs. Depositors cannot have a free ride."
Eurozone Calm Broken
The decision to try to impose a haircut on all depositors, not just foreign ones, appears to have been partially made by Cyprus. But the need to take a pound of flesh from depositors at all was made at a higher level.
The deposit levy reportedly caused ATM shortages in Cyprus over the weekend and prompted fears it could backfire by reigniting the eurozone crisis that has been calmed by the ECB.
"EU ministers structured a more Byzantine solution to a Cypress bailout that any collection of even Medieval Cardinals could design," Art Cashin, director of floor operations at UBS (NYSE:UBS), wrote in a note. "They have rocked world markets and brought the stability of the euro and the eurozone back into question."
Shares of European banks like Societe Generale (NYSE:SCGLY) and Royal Bank of Scotland (NYSE:RBS) slumped about 3% a piece on Monday, but the losses were not as bad as feared because bank runs have yet to emerge in other countries.
After tumbling more than 100 points in early trading, the Dow Industrials posted slight gains in early afternoon action.
"The fuse still burns but no real explosion yet," said Cashin.
Ed Yardeni, president of investment advisory Yardeni Research, told clients: "I don't expect this 'Cyprus Moment' will turn into a Lehman Moment for the euro zone. However, the plan could shatter the calm in the euro zone."
Fixing the Euro's Original Sin
Lehman moment or not, the proposed bailout of Cyprus is another example of the eurozone's push for integration to fix its structural flaws.
While the eurozone shares a currency and a central bank, it was created in 1999 without crucial components such as a unified banking regulator, joint deposit insurance and most importantly, a fiscal union. This means that Greece was able to run up a massive credit card bill, while tightfisted Germany was forced to come to the rescue.
"The monetary union when it was born was incomplete," said Chandler. "They want to move towards a greater integration of Europe."
This phenomenon explains why Germany, which is operating with a healthy budget deficit that is below 2% of GDP, hasn't been forced to make the same painful concessions as Greece.
"It doesn't need to sacrifice its sovereignty," said Chandler.


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EBC Brake Kits - S12KF1034
Front Set - Premium Rotors
- $328.80
- Free Shipping
Ships Between 1/24 - 1/28
- What Do You Drive?
- Style:Red Stuff Pads (Aggressive Street Pads)
- Part #:S12KF1034
- Red Stuff:
- Mid-level street upgrade
- Lowest dust formula for cleaner wheels
- Significant reduction in stopping distances compared to OE
- Brake-In coating for accelerated pad bed in period
- Kit includes rotors and pads for each wheel
- 12.0 in. rotors
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