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Battle Royal: The Wrap-Up
Comparing anything in the bike industry is a dangerous business. There's a long history of manufacturers expecting—and getting—reviews of just their equipment without having the results muddled up by any comparison to the work of a competitor. There's also a history of pissed-off companies withholding ad dollars, not just in the bike industry, but any industry you look at. If you never see an ad from Campagnolo, Shimano or SRAM, this series would probably be why. Most bike companies aren't wild about reviews that don't spit-shine their every effort. So I'll try not to be surprised if none of them ever advertise with me. They're each accustomed to kid glove treatment, but I can't in good conscience claim to have written an in-depth appraisal and not note some of the weaker features—some intended, some not—that give these groups their real-world identities.
So which component group is best for you? After all, that's the question. Judging from the comments these posts have received, very few readers were willing to accept the idea that there was a winner. And that's okay. What I wanted to make people aware of was that there are objective features found in some of these groups that elevate that group in consideration. When someone tells me, "It's just a matter of preference." I bristle in the same way that I do when someone tries to tell me, "How can you say with certainty something is a good piece of writing? It's all subjective."
Um, nope. No, it's not. You see, if I posted a piece of writing riddled with misspelled words, used no capital letters and included no punctuation, you'd stop reading after just a few minutes. I guarantee it. And that's even if all the verb tenses are correct. No matter how excellent the ideas might be, without a sense of the rhythm and focus of a writer's ideas, the work becomes just a jungle of words. Similarly, a group is just a bunch of bike parts until they are properly assembled and adjusted to the point of working according to factory spec.
Below are a number of considerations that help illustrate some of the stronger features each of the groups has to offer, while also highlighting some of the weaknesses to be found as well.
Foolproof shifting: Despite the input from some readers that (insert group name here) shifts like crap, my experience is that Dura-Ace and Red have been more foolproof than Campagnolo. Red gets a ding because if the chain is in the largest cog and you try to downshift again because, for instance, you believe the chain's in the 21 when it's actually in the 23, unless you're paying attention and push a bit harder on the lever, you'll end up upshifting, so you'll get a higher gear when you were looking for a lower one. I've made that mistake, but I've also learned that if I go for the downshift and the cog's not there, all I have to do is push a bit harder and the chain will stay put. Not so bad. Sure, it's simpler the way Campagnolo and Dura-Ace let you know you're out of cogs: the lever won't move, but there's more to this feature than that.
More impressive is that a Red group built with the included Gore cables I could ride through a hurricane's storm surge and the shifting would continue to be butter-smooth.
I've missed dozens upon dozens of upshifts with Dura-Ace because I needed to rotate my wrist to get that last bit of lever travel and couldn't because I was mid-sprint. And I've overshifted the Super Record thumb buttons just as many times. But I've never missed or over-shifted an upshift with Red, in part because I can pull the lever back to the bar, tucked beneath my index finger.
In downshifting, practically speaking, I never downshift more than two cogs at a time. I broke too many Shimano chains in the 1990s because I tried shifting three cogs (or maybe more).
There's no clear victor, but I give the edge to Red.
Front derailleur trim: That Dura-Ace no longer features any trim is a fail. I don't know a rider who doesn't get at least a bit of front derailleur rub in some gear. That's not to say perfect adjustment isn't possible; the problem is that so few mechanics (me included) know exactly how to achieve it. Because Red only offers trim in the big chainring isn't a fail, but it gets a B-. Super Record is the clear winner here because you can trim easily in either the big or little chainring.
Braking performance: With regard to modulation, I give the edge to Super Record. For absolute brake power, Super Record and Red have an edge over Dura-Ace, but not by a lot. That said, swapping out wheels often makes a bigger difference than going to different groups. I've ridden each of the groups with wheels that resulted in poorer than expected braking and with wheels that offered braking that was a bit more responsive than I wanted. Ultimately, they all offer terrific modulation. They are so good they beg the question: Who really needs hydraulics?
Sound: A full Red group is the noisiest group I've ever encountered. Full stop. Still, it's not that terrible. Is it one of the group's worst features? I don't think so. I seem to have spent so much time on Dura-Ace that I've come to accept its noise level as the standard by which to judge. The upshot to that is when I get on Super Record the group is so quiet I relish the cut in noise. Win to Super Record.
Ease of shifting: For riders with small hands or relatively little hand strength it's fair to note that the shifting systems require differing amounts of force to execute a shift. This difference is more pronounced with the front shifter. Since Dura-Ace changed to running the derailleur cables beneath the bar tape, the force required to execute a shift has gone up, and with the front derailleur it's noticeably so. Red requires less force to execute a shift, but this is another occasion where the clear edge goes to Super-Record. It's the system I recommend for women riders.
Crank options: Super Record is off the back on this one. Campagnolo offers the Ultra-Torque crank in either 53/39 or 50/34 configurations and only four lengths: 165, 170, 172.5 and 175mm. Red offers six chainring combinations and six lengths (165 to 177.5mm in 2.5mm increments). Dura-Ace gets the slight edge, for while they offer the same six choices in chainrings, they offer seven lengths, adding a 180mm option to the array.
Gearing choices: If we leave out non-group options such as pairing a Red group with an Apex rear derailleur and cassette and just stick to in-group options, Red doesn't look so hot with its four choices. Dura-Ace offers more choices with eight different cassette options. However, though Super Record only offers five options, they take the V here because the 11-speed 11-23 offers everything a 10-speed 11-21 offers, plus it adds a little kindness for the odd hill. The 12-25 and 12-27 options make lots of sense where I live and for those folks who need a little extra help on longer climbs, the 12-29 cassette provides something the other groups don't offer.
Ergonomics: Okay, Dura-Ace just plain loses on this. The current control lever body has all the design sense of a freeway accident. Sure, it's functional, but looking at it doesn't invoke any desire to hold it in my hand. The Super Record control lever is its tactile opposite. I can't not want to touch one, to hold one in my hand when I see it. It simply looks made to fit my hand and if my hand belongs there, then I'm going to put it there. The Super Record brake levers also feel better on my fingers than either the Dura-Ace or Red levers. They aren't really made for someone with big hands, but the included shims help with that. But as I noted for those of us with smaller hands I wish they offered the ability to adjust the lever throw. That's a miss.
Red strikes an interesting balance by offering a lever body that is comfortable and natural to hold and giving the user the opportunity to adjust both the brake lever throw and the shifter paddle position. Edge to Red.
Weight: This one goes to Super Record with a weight of 1950 grams (4.3 lbs.). Red is an extra 30 grams, which is pretty darn close. Dura-Ace may be the heaviest of the bunch, but it wasn't too many years ago that a 2 kilo group would have seemed like the stuff of killer tomato movies.
Cost: Recently, I was talking Campagnolo's general manager for North America, Tom Kattus. We were talking about how people choose groups and he noted that Super Record isn't a fair comparison to Dura-Ace or Red because it's so much more expensive. The fair comparison is Chorus, he says. That's a helpful consideration if your primary motivator is price. But I think anytime someone looks at Super Record they do it for a simple reason: They want their conception of what is best. People may shop for the best price on Super Record, but by the time they do that they've already decided that's what they are buying. Super Record buyers don't want better—they want best. The 7-series Beamer is an amazing sedan. However, the Maserati Quattroporte can reasonably be called the best four-door sedan on the market. Some people will argue Jaguar or Porsche, but you can't count the Maserati out, and that's the point. The best deals I see are for Red, so again, it takes the win.
Ease of repair: There are three criteria for this section. First is how quick is it to work on or replace a part. Little touches like the clearly marked and easy to reach derailleur set screws plus the easily accessible lever adjustment screws control lever nuts make Red my favorite to work on. Should I want a component worked on and some small part replaced, such as a component within a control lever, Super Record is the ticket. Just take it to an authorized Campagnolo service center. But if I'm away from home and need a replacement part due to a crash or other need (this happens), I'd rather have Dura-Ace. It's better stocked, both here and abroad. Regardless, if I walk into my garage to work on a bike I'd rather work on Red than Super Record or Dura-Ace. I have the highest level of confidence that I'll make the adjustment I need in the least amount of time if I'm working on Red.
Crash sensitivity: If you go down, it's handy to be able to ride home. Super Record's more liberal use of carbon fiber puts them at a distinct disadvantage here. Any time a friend who owns a Campagnolo Record or Super Record group has gone down we know to call for a pick-up. The components remind me of what a mentor from Arkansas once said of chickens: "They just look for reasons to die." Unfortunately, Red levers seem to be rather susceptible to death by impact and abrasion as well. Even after going to carbon fiber brake levers I have to admit that Dura-Ace seems more likely to survive a misadventure.
Cool factor: Ah cool. What's cool is (of course!) entirely in the eye of the beholder. I've got plenty of friends for whom cool can only be bestowed by something Italian. Other friends believe that if you've spent a dime more than necessary your purchase wasn't cool. They go for Red. And there are plenty of folks for whom cool only comes by sticking close to the mainstream. No winner; this is a draw.
Overall appearance: The effect graphics can have on a part is easy to underestimate until you see something amazing. One of my favorite features about Red is its bold use of graphics and color. It makes a statement. And while I really like the overall look of Super Record, there are places where the look is more industrial than stylish. Maybe I'd like the look more if I didn't expect so much from them. For God's sake, they're Italian. Their stuff ought, by right, to look so good that I should fantasize pretty girls will blow kisses to me when I ride by on Super Record. As to Dura-Ace, 7800 was a better looking group; 7900 recalls Apple products in the 1990s after Steve Jobs was forced out. I recall seeing one Apple computer and thinking, "They what?" The difference between average industrial design and great industrial design is the difference between Hyundai and Aston Martin. There's so much I like about Super Record, but Red takes this by a wheel.
Ideal users: The best answer for one user is not the best answer for all users. I tend to steer women to Campagnolo groups for the ease of shifting if they don't have great hand strength. I'll recommend Red if it seems like they will have trouble with the reach to Campagnolo brake levers. For newbie racers or those who race ultra-technical courses where you might be hard on the brakes for a tight corner and then sprinting back up to speed, I think Dura-Ace is better than Mexican Coke, because you can brake and downshift at the same time. If you've got big hands, also Dura-Ace; the lever bodies are bigger and you'll be less likely to notice the increased force required to shift to the big chainring. Like to maintain your equipment yourself? Red is the easiest to work on and achieve the desired result in my experience. And for you sprinters, it's Red. Red Red Red Red Red. And everyone knows that if you hang your identity on Euro cool your bike will feature Campagnolo.
And the winner is …
As I tallied up the various considerations above, I suspected that what I was going to find was that I'd given more points to Red than the other groups. I was surprised to find that it was essentially a tie between Super Record and Red. When I think about the bikes I've had at my disposal recently, I realized that I chose which bike to ride according to the following criteria:
- If the bike absolutely had to work correctly at all times and I knew I couldn't afford a missed shift due to drivetrain vagaries, I chose Red.
- If I wanted the perfect gearing for a hilly day and light shifting plus terrific progressive brake power for descending, I chose Super Record.
- I seem to wind up on Dura-Ace only when it's the equipment on the bike that I want to ride.
My Super Record drivetrain has been so fussy that there have been rides where I've made a conscious choice not to take it. The more I think about it the more I realize that if the drivetrain had worked flawlessly all the time—instead of only recently—I probably wouldn't be as enamored with Red as I am. All of the groups have issues that bug me. I'd like the Super Record brake lever throw to be adjustable. I hate the Super Record brake quick release. I'd like more cassette choices in Red. I'd like lighter shift action with Dura-Ace. All that said, that 11-speed 12-27 cassette paired with a compact crank will get me through any terrain when I'm fit. And if I'm not fit (which would include all of 2011 and every bit of 2012 so far), well maybe Fatty will let me contribute to Fat Cyclist again. In the meantime, I think I'm going to go lube my Campy chain; I'm riding it tomorrow. And the next day.
Battle Royal, Part IV: SRAM Red
Had it not been for the entry of SRAM into the world of road component groups there would likely never have been a reason for me to do this series of posts. It's their presence that makes this question interesting. How SRAM even came to offer a road group makes this conversation all the more interesting. After all, if you were a cyclist in the late 1980s and ran across the early Gripshift units you can be forgiven for having concluded that SRAM would never make anything you'd willingly purchase. The shifters were wonky and bulky, and had to be positioned in a relatively inconvenient position. Even with a Shimano drivetrain the shifters required some fiddling.
Somehow, SRAM survived this first questionable product. They made acquisitions. Among their many acquisitions (which included Rock Shox and Truvativ among others) they picked up Sachs. You may recall that back in the 1990s Sachs licensed Campagnolo's Ergo control lever design and put out an 8-speed group of their own.
Had SRAM been run by some MBA with a background in accounting and no history in cycling, I can guarantee you that SRAM's first component group would simply have re-badged the old Sachs designs after the company's lawyers negotiated an ad-infinitum agreement with Campagnolo for its existing lever design. But that wasn't the case. SRAM, like a great many bike companies, has the good fortune to be run by a bunch of minds at their best when discussing bicycles. Even though the Sachs name no longer appears in SRAM's family of brands, the acquisition was it's first genius stroke. It gave the small company a portfolio of existing designs and the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Schweinfurt, Germany. It was all the leg up they needed.
SRAM deserves some credit for spec'ing ceramic bearings to remove drag from the drivetrain.
When word began to circulate that SRAM would come out with its first full road group, we all wondered just how it would shift. Early reports were that they hadn't licensed a design from either Shimano or Campagnolo, which meant they had a genius team of patent attorneys, less for what they filed than what they avoided. They'd danced through a minefield and arrived at the other side, feet intact. Certainly there was going to be ample time for Shimano to disassemble a shifter and file a suit, but by the time you've gone into full-scale production on an integrated control lever you've vetted the design pretty carefully.
This is the orginal DoubleTap prototype.
Let me back up a second. It used to be that the rear derailleur was the lead guitar of any component group. Why? It was the crux move, the soufflé a l'orange that makes the meal. If your soufflé falls, the meal is a miss. The rear derailleur was the engineering triumph of a group. Designed well the slant parallelogram would require the same amount of lever throw as well as an equal amount of overshift to execute a shift from one cog to the next. Done poorly, your shift from the 13t cog to the 15 was different than your shift from the 21t cog to the 23. With the rear derailleur very well understood at this point, the challenge has shifted to the integrated control lever. Witness Vision Components. While I love the work of the folks at FSA, the fact that their one full component group is triathlon-based and uses bar cons is all the evidence we need to prove the argument. Until you have introduced an integrated control lever claiming you produce a road group is a bit like saying you can see Russia from Alaska. It's a stretch.
This shows the two pawls and single ratchet that constitute the heart of the DoubleTap system.
Even if you've tried a SRAM road group and didn't like the company's work, they deserve a measure of respect just because of the challenge the company had to meet to deliver a fresh shifting system to market. And that tag line, "Will you make the leap?" It wasn't just some cutesy line. At the heart of that question is actual technology. Double-Tap shifting relies on an innovative (pronounced patent pending) ratchet system that causes one pawl to float over the other depending on how far the lever is depressed.
A look inside the finished lever.
Best Features: My first, favorite feature of Red, indeed of any SRAM road group, is the engineering that goes into their components. In any engineering problem you always begin with your givens, that is, your lines in the sand. Ride any SRAM group and brake response remains incredibly consistent, more consistent than Campagnolo, which is far more consistent than Shimano. Switch Shimano groups and you might as well relearn cycling. God forbid you should mix Dura-Ace levers with Ultegra brakes. The differing mechanical advantages of the two levers result in vastly sub-par brake performance. Red brake performance is like Force brake performance is like Rival is like Apex. While this is a bit off the track of an evaluation of Red as a group, give this another line or two. The point here is that SRAM established what they believed brake performance should be. It's a firm line in the sand. No matter who you are, no matter what you spend, you deserve a certain level of brake performance, and it's not inferior to what the pros get. Contrast that with Shimano. Ultegra is grabbier than Dura-Ace. How come? Better yet, why has brake performance for Sora and Tiagra always been so inferior to Dura-Ace? Do people on a budget have a reduced need to stop?
I really like that what you get with Apex is the same braking experience as Red; it's just heavier.
There's an angular elegance to SRAM's brakes, not to mention a good reason why they all look similar.
SRAM shifters also benefit from two unique-to-SRAM design concepts. The shifters employ a technology called Exact Actuation. That means that there is no multiplier on cable travel. In broad strokes it means that if you move the shifter enough to move the cable 1mm, the derailleur moves 1mm as well. It makes drivetrain setup quick and easy and results in a less finicky drivetrain overall. And while I know plenty of riders who will swear there is nothing ever finicky about Shimano drivetrains, I've experienced it first-hand.
The next unique-to-SRAM design concept that I like is its ZeroLoss shifting. That we tolerate shift levers that can move a centimeter or more without accomplishing a shift boggles my mind. ZeroLoss means that if the shift lever is moving then the cable is moving, and if the cable is moving, then the derailleur is moving—you're shifting. The kicker here is that it's really not a particularly innovative concept. We would never, ever tolerate play in our brake levers. Extra throw? Sure, but you pull on the brake lever and that brake is moving. So why do we put up with lever movement that does less to move a shifter cable than turning the pedals? SRAM shouldn't be occupying this territory alone, but they are, so they deserve some credit. Compare: A SRAM upshift requires less than 1cm of lever movement to execute; a downshift requires 2.5cm of lever movement to execute. Bear in mind, that's a completed shift. A Campagnolo rear downshift lever moves 2cm before you engage the cable. The buttons move 1cm. A Shimano rear downshift lever moves 1.5cm, the rear upshift lever moves 2.5cm.
Practically speaking, what this means is that you've executed an upshift with any of SRAM's levers by the time you've even begun a downshift with a competing system. You've executed a downshift with SRAM before you can execute an upshift with Shimano. There's no adequate defense for that design flaw, weirder still that neither Shimano nor Campagnolo has addressed it so far.
I get a lot of questions about whether DoubleTap levers are confusing to operate. My answer has always been no. The reason why has to do with the play in Shimano and Campagnolo shift levers. The upshift with SRAM requires so little lever movement that a downshift never feels unnatural. You can execute a downshift with SRAM in less throw than you can complete any shift with Shimano. Only upshifts with Campagnolo come close to matching the efficiency of SRAM shifters.
Generally speaking, I don't consider DoubleTap a selling point; it's just not a liability. However, the fact that you can tuck the shift lever beneath your index finger and execute an upshift with far greater ease than you can with Shimano and to a more foolproof degree than you can with Campagnolo does make it a terrific system for someone with a long sprint.
You want to know what I just love? How the brake lever throw can be adjusted with just a 3mm Allen and by peeling back the lever hoods. That it doesn't require the removal of the lever face plate nor result in that slack-jawed appearance you get with Dura-Ace demonstrates just how forward-thinking SRAM's engineers are.
My other favorite feature of SRAM component groups (because it's true of them all) is the PowerLock chain connector. It's easy to connect and surprisingly easy to take apart, making chain cleaning something you can do with a minimum of fuss.
The high and low set screws are easy to get to and clearly marked. Why can't everyone do that?
Worst Features: That aforementioned PowerLock chain connector? It's strictly single-serve. Not wild about that. Maybe I'd feel different if I had a dozen of them tucked in a spare parts bin, but I don't.
For a company that seems to take input from almost any source, I'm stunned and disappointed that SRAM only offers four cassettes for Red. Four. Hell, they offer six different chainring combinations for the Red crankset—12 if you count the two different spindles. Worse, all of the cassettes begin with an 11t cog. They do offer a greater array of choices at the Force level, but it seems to me that very few Red users will ever need an 11. I really hate that I can't get a Red cassette that begins with a 12. Hate hate hate.
There are more svelte levers on the market, but the Red lever's contours are smooth.
The shape of the SRAM lever body isn't terrific. It's not the end of the world as some users have complained, but the shifter body is a bit wide and a touch tall. I've not had a problem with the meek bump at the end of the lever, but I often hear riders complain that they fear their hands will run off the end of the lever. Just what event might cause that worries me more than the lever does, though.
The other aspect of the Red group that doesn't pass muster is the titanium-caged front derailleur. I still like it better than Campagnolo's carbon fiber outer plate front unit, but that's a bit like saying you prefer malaria to meningitis.
If there's one point of general agreement regarding Red, it's that the front derailleur offers mushy shifting due to the titanium cage.
Assembly and Maintenance: The first time I assembled a SRAM group from scratch I was amazed at how easy it was to do. That first group was mostly Red with an Apex rear derailleur and cassette so I could run some really low gearing in the Alps, so technically, it wasn't a full Red group, but my sense of working on other SRAM components is that a Red rear derailleur and cassette wouldn't have altered the assembly in any appreciable way.
The one knock I have against maintenance is that if you need to replace a derailleur cable you absolutely must use a brand new cable with a soldered end. Better if you use a new Gore cable, of course. And it helps to put a slight bend in the cable about an inch from the end.
Once together it won't need anything other than chain lube for at least 1000 miles. The only reason I know about the challenge of replacing a cable is because I moved the group between bikes. I've put 2000 miles on a chain and not found any appreciable chain wear.
Group Weight: 4.37 lbs. (1980g)
Best Internet Pricing: $1499
Battle Royal, Part III: Campagnolo Super-Record
Campagnolo wins. There, that's one of the two acceptable conclusions it would seem most readers will accept as just. I'm willing to bet that for most readers the sentimental favorite, the group of components that if—for any reason, any reason at all—I fail to find Campagnolo's Super Record group the absolute winner of this little comparison, this subset of readers will feel justified in coming to the conclusion that I simply don't know what I'm talking about.
I understand that sentiment, I really do.
The other alternative, of course, is that I'm supposed to come to the conclusion that these three groups and our love for them are as beyond question as religion. If you've had the impossibly good fortune to have had a love of Campagnolo passed down to you by your father, conceivably even a grandfather, you, sir, are lucky beyond measure and are thusly awarded a dispensation from this discussion. In your case, Campagnolo, by virtue of the fact that it was as inherited by you as your actual religion, is beyond question the winner.
But most of us made a choice. Maybe it wasn't all that conscious, but we had to make a choice, so for most of us, it's not like religion.
It's a helluva prelude, but I had to do it. And here's why: When I bought my first racing bike in the 1980s, it was both used and equipped with Campagnolo Super Record. I had a sense that what I purchased was an investment in my future. That my bicycle was without an expiration date. It was not, however, impervious to ham-fisted wrenching. The headset had been brinnelled, "indexed," as we joked. When I replaced the headset (with a Chris King), I took the opportunity to overhaul the entire bike. I recall my shop's manager turning the brake's quick release and saying, "This works so well … why would Shimano want to go and change that?"
That was a direct quote recalled verbatim more than 20 years later.
Campagnolo's Record group carries with it an air of elegance. Record has the enviable distinction of combining components of obvious function with a wash of art that rises above good industrial design. It reminds me of the work you find in a great guitar, fine silver or some of the best German sedans.
It seems unlikely that either Dura-Ace or Red will ever be as pretty as Record. This is a level of unlikely akin to me winning a Pulitzer or peace breaking out in the Middle East, although I'd welcome either or both. Campagnolo's sense of the interplay of artful design and function are readily apparent at almost every turn, to be found in the use of carbon fiber in the front and rear derailleurs. Even better are the flowing contours of the Ergo levers. There's something Eames-like in the way the lever bodies curve inward at the rise and the brake levers flatten and wrap outward at the hook.
Out of the box, the skeleton brakes remind me of some German shower fixture: minimal, functional and almost endlessly adjustable. On the road, however, they accumulate more dirt, sand and assorted road grime than any other brake I've encountered. Not surprising, I suppose, they've got surface area like Norway has coastline. And getting in there to clean them has forced me to amass a set of brushes I didn't previously need.
Best Features: Their creativity. They were the first to add 10 speeds and then 11. They added carbon fiber to components like shift levers and derailleurs before anyone else did. They embraced both triples and compact cranks before Shimano did. They've offered a greater array of cassettes for their top group than Shimano has for some years. It's a fact that Campagnolo has done more to meet the needs of the everyman than Shimano has by virtue of its willingness to offer smaller chainrings and bigger rear cogs on its cassettes. For an executive with taste and too few hours to ride, there isn't a better choice than Campy with a compact crank and a 13-29 cassette, that is unless he lives some place relatively flat where he can get by with the compact and a 12-23.
I appreciate that Campagnolo offers cassettes with a 12t small cog. I don't climb as fast as I did when I was racing, so I like having a 27t large cog. My unabashed love of climbing combined with my even greater love of technical descents (where my speed rarely hits 50 mph) makes my absolute favorite cassette the 11-speed 12-27. It has worked for me in the canyons above Malibu and makes great sense in the Alps as well. I can't defend this preference in any remotely objective way; it suits my fitness and the terrain I prefer.
One great feature of Campagnolo's Ergo shifter is your ability to dump the chain down the cassette after getting over the top of a climb. Where I live I rarely need this feature, but I have ridden loads of hills in New England that had a sharp finish to them and being able to drop three or four cogs instantly was pretty handy. Even better than this is the mechanical advantage of their shifters. It requires less force to execute a shift with Campagnolo shifters than either of their competitors' shifters. And then there's trim. Whether you're in the small or large chainring, you get trim and I've yet to ride a Dura-Ace bike adjusted so perfectly as to prevent me from desiring at least a touch of trim.
Campagnolo has also endorsed the concept of running changes in a way Shimano doesn't appreciate. If you didn't like a feature of 7800, too bad; it stayed until the release of 7900. With Campagnolo, every year there are a few tweaks. The downside is that sometimes the new group isn't all that new, but that process of tweaking has meant that the pressure required to shift the thumb button has decreased but the chance of overshifting has dropped as well. It used to be that in a sprint, by the time you generated enough pressure to execute a shift, you were well on your way to yet another shift. I was careful about the smallest cog I'd run on my cassette when I raced to make sure I didn't risk overshifting. Running changes also means that each year Super Record gets a bit lighter; no matter what Shimano is doing, the fact that each year Super record gets lighter will keep the group competitive and push Shimano to catch up.
Worst Features: Their creativity. Let's face it, three of the biggest game changers in component design—integrated control levers, large diameter BB spindles and dual-pivot brakes—all came from Shimano. It pains me to write that. Five or six years ago a friend summed up the reason he thought Campagnolo was OTB in component design with this: "Two words dude, square taper." He was referring to the Italian company's ongoing use of the square taper BB spindle, something they did finally abandon.
It's not that Campagnolo isn't creative. God knows. The problem is that the company used to lose the plot line periodically. Two more words: Delta brakes. I covered this ground adequately in peloton's issue 8, but I'll remind you that the Delta brake, while as gorgeous as Riedel crystal, worked only as well as something spec'd by Huffy and was even harder to adjust. Imagine something as pretty as an iPod but with circa 1990s system software by Microsoft.
As much as I love the shape of the Ergo body and brake lever, I'm dismayed that Campagnolo has yet to offer the ability to adjust the reach on the brake lever. This is never more frustrating than when I move back to my Super Record-equipped bike from either a Dura-Ace or Red-equipped bike. It seems to me that ideal ergonomics would mean that lever reach would be adjustable so that any rider could open their hands while in the drops and their fingers would immediately reach the levers. It's not a huge reach, but it's a reach, nonetheless, that many of us are forced to make. That the quick release for the brake is on the lever is a feature I've never liked. A broken spoke will result in a brake lever that can only be reached from the hood.
Campagnolo's extensive use of carbon fiber has a downside. Lay a Campy-equipped bike down and you'd better sharpen up your American Express card. I once had one of their chains blow apart at the shop-installed with the $100 tool masterlink (an abandoned design) and the broken link caught in the rear derailleur pulleys as I pedaled. The carbon parallelogram snapped like dried pasta. I still find the fact that their chains are non-repairable and require a $100 chain tool irksome. And that's putting it mildly.
Assembly and Maintenance: The last iteration of Campagnolo 10-speed Record set a new standard in functionality for the Italian manufacturer's top group. It was by far the quickest to set up and adjust, save the chain, but we've covered that. Unfortunately, Super Record 11 has proven to be fussier to set up. If the front derailleur set up isn't perfect a dropped chain can result in chewed up carbon fiber, either in the front derailleur (no bueno) or perhaps at the frame (really no bueno).
Worse is the company's decision to use aluminum Torx fittings to secure the levers and brake pads. Gone are the days of slipping a 5mm driver below the hood and giving a firm twist. Now you have to peel the hood back to a crazy degree and try to shove a Torx driver in there squarely enough that you don't end up with aluminum shavings all over the lever. Your results may vary. To get the lever clamp tight enough I had to snug a crescent wrench on the driver's handle. To see a picture of me doing this you can check out the Wikipedia entry for "awkward." Not publicized by the company was the release of some alternative cassette spacers some months after the introduction of Super Record. There was an acknowledgement that some users might not be getting the best possible shifting performance. I was Googling for information on optimal adjustment of Super Record drivetrains when I happened to run across info about the ever-so-slightly thicker spacers.
Running new cables in a lever is less fun than changing a diaper. By a long shot. Those little white cable guides may give you choice, and they pop out to aid installation, but getting them back in is a bit like trying to replace a AA battery with a D cell.
The good news is that once it's working properly all it needs is the occasional wash and chain lube.
Group Weight: 4.3 lbs. (1950g)
Best Internet Pricing: $2199


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Squirrel Gets His Nuts Stuck That will teach him for trying to eat the bird feed. 5/10/2013 10:54:41 AM 44,193
Don't Stick a Vacuum To Your Back Why would you do this to yourself? WTF! 4/26/2013 10:59:25 AM 7,244
Toilet Paper Roll Stuck To Old Man in Bathroom Instead of letting him know, this guy gets a good pic. 4/5/2013 11:31:28 AM 7,508

subset: commoncrawl


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Toronto Blue Jays Gear
Toronto Blue Jays Mens
Toronto Blue Jays Mens T-Shirts
Toronto Blue Jays Mens T-Shirts Short Sleeved
(81 items)
Product ID: 803152
Main Content
If you like to see perfect games, no-hitters, twenty strikeout performances and straight-up filthy pitching, then this Strikeout tee by Mitchell & Ness is the perfect way to boast your Blue Jays pride. With retro-inspired team graphics printed on the front, this tee will make all the opposition's sluggers — including the best in the game— look like a bunch of little leaguers whenever they're up against the Jays' dominating pitchers. You'll always make a case for the Cy Young Award to come back to Toronto everytime you wear this tee!
- 100% Cotton fabric
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or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are
received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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[Home] [Bible] [Job] [Homer/Plato] [Shakespeare] [Law] [Words] [Reviews] [Me] [Billphorisms] [Autism] [Map]
Speller's Diary III
Page 313 (I)
Page 313 (II)
2007 Senior Bee
2007 Bee II
2007 Bee III
Words B
Words Ci-Cl (I)
Words Ci-Cl (II)
Counterpane (I)
Counterpane (II)
Words D (I)
Words D (II)
Words D (III)
Words N-O
Words O
Words O, R
Your "Q's" I
Your "Q's" II
Your "R's" I
Your "R's" II
Your "R's" III
Words Re
Words Re-Rh
Fun with "R"
Afrikaans Words
Random Words
Words T-Z (I)
Words T-Z (II)
Words T-Z (III)
Words U (I)
Words U (II)
End of Alphabet
Superior Words I
Superior Words II
Superior Words III
Superior Words IV
Superior Words V
Superior Words VI
Insults I
Insults II
Mizpah, Mizo, etc.
Karezza II
Night Before Bee
Scott's Words I
Page 11 (I)
Page 11 (II)
WI Bee (2010)
Seattle (2/2010)
Seattle (3/2010)
Chinese Words
Chinese Words II
Bill Long 8/30/07
Primarily with the Male Gender in Mind
About eight months ago I wrote a series of essays on the development of insults in English. In order to give equal treatment to the ladies, I also listed about 35 insult words that have historically been directed at women. I have since come up with a few more insult words directed to women, but they will have to wait for another occasion. In this essay I will explore many that I didn't list in the earlier essays. Here they are: (1) whippersnapper; (2) stickybeak; (3) quakebottom; (4) dunderwhelp; (5) eyeservant; (6) smatchet; (7) shoulderclapper (today we have back-slapper or glad-hander); (8) slubberdegullion; and, my favorite (9) queer plunger. Most can be defined rather quickly; let me begin with the one which requires most explanation--queer plunger.
Queer Plunger
We plunge into this topic by entering into the Victorian world of the 19th century. A recent (2006) detective novel by Canadian author Maureen Jennings, Vices of My Blood (A Detective Murdoch Mystery) introduces us to queer plungers in Victorian Toronto. Murdoch receives a telegram advising him to be on the watch for "queer plungers," a family of three who have just showed up in Toronto and were probably "working" the King Street area. Callahan, Murdoch's stenographer, didn't know what queer plungers were, so Murdoch went on to explain:
"Queer plungers is a cant term for folks who commit fraudulent acts upon the public. Typically, they work in groups of three or more. For instance, a favourite trick is for one of the group to pretend to be despondent, and in full view of a crowd, he will plunge into some water, the lake or a river like the Don. The second member of the gang will then effect a rescue. The half-drowned one will be taken to the closest house. They always make sure it's a tavern or failing that a church just emptying of the congregation. Then there is some cock-and-bull story about why the poor man wanted to commit self-murder in the first place. Debts of honour, most like. A go-around is suggested so he can redeem himself. Another go-around for the rescuer. Get the picture?"
What would be our modern term for people who defraud the public? In any case, a great historical term, which brings us into the world of con men (originally "confidence" men) and schemes to delude the public.
Whippersnapper and a "Slang" Dictionary
Let's go quickly now, then end our two essays with one other historical term. No one is quite sure of the origin of whippersnapper, but by 1700 a dictionary had defined it as "a very small but sprightly Boy." The source of that quotation should make us pause for a moment. It is "B.E's" 1699 Dictionary of the Canting Crew. This dictionary, the first "slang dictionary" in English, "reached back to the chronicles of Elizabethan low life" and described that life in great detail. Because the word "slang" was itself not invented until the early 19th century, the previous word to describe the argot of a particular group was "cant." Thus, the "canting crew" were those who lived on the edges of society, whose life this dictionary claimed to describe. Many imitators of this kind of dictionary grew up in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the "high-brow" Oxford English Dictionary tended to ignore them when compiling its so-called definitive record of the English language. Nevertheless, as this article says, when the OED's 2nd edition came out in the late 1980s, it found itself repairing to the most carefully-done dictionary of slang and unconventional english, edited by Eric Partridge, for some of its words (such as the entries for "fuck" and "prick" and "cunt," which are all now soberly defined in the OED). In any case, by the 18th century a whippersnapper was "a diminutive or insignificant person, esp. a sprightly or impertinent young fellow." We can see "B.E." in that definition, can't we?
Other Useful Terms
The picture created by the word "stickybeak" says it all: it is "an inquisitive person; one who sticks his nose into others' affairs, a Nosey Parker." The term wasn't invented until 1920, and now is said to be "Austra. and NZ colloq." Its first usage attestation is this: "I've told the girls to give out that we've gone fishing, if any stickybeaks get to asking why we ain't visible no more." Though I haven't heard the word used much in the US, I believe it has legs. It is superior to "Nosey Parker" (again, a term of uncertain origin) or a "prying cow" or something like that.
I could find no dictionary support for the word quakebottom being a coward, but the Net so defines it, and the combination of words in it suggests the phenomenon. I prefer it to "fraidy cat"... A dunderwhelp is "a dunderheaded 'whelp,' a contemptible blockhead. Its first attestation in 1621 is this: "What a purblind puppy I was!..What a dunder-whelp, To let him domineer thus!" An eyeservant is one who performs his duty only when under the eye of the employer. The word originated in the mid-16th century in a sermon by Oxford Protestant martyr Hugh Latimer, "The most part of servants are but eye-servants."
I actually need one more essay to finish my thoughts.


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Miami Campus
*Now open for enrollment Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.*
Campus Address: 3721-1 NW 7th Street | Miami, FL 33126
Contact Numbers: Office - 786.363.4910 | Fax - 786.363.4924
From the north: I-95 south to S.R. 836, west to NW 37th Ave exit, south to just before NW 7th Street, Central Shopping Center is on the right hand side.
From the south: S.R. 826 - Palmetto Expressway north to S.R. 836, east to LeJeune Rd. / NW 42nd Ave exit, south to NW 7th Street, east to just before 37th Ave, Central Shopping Center is on the left hand side.
Florida Commission for Independent Education License #2262


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All sales final on clearance items.
EXCLUSIVELY OURS! An ankle bootie with style and comfort, the Umberto Raffini Franca will easily fit into your fall wardrobe. Enjoy the soft, full grain aniline leather that looks great and is easy to care for along with a full leather lining that helps to wick away moisture keeping feet dry and healthy all day. The removable contour molded in sole has an arch cushion for all-day comfort helping to cradle the foot.


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I love hidden mickeys. I force my family to look for them when we go.
I love hidden mickeys. I force my family to look for them when we go.
"Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland...the blessing of size. There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine."
-Walt Disney-
I LOVE Animal Kingdom!!!
I didn't used to look for them but back in August 2005 I made a trip with my step-son who had never been to WDW. We pointed out a couple we knew about and he made it a point to find every HM he could. He found so many that in a million years I would never have found. Now I find myself trying to find new ones just to show him up the next time we take him.
Sometimes all you need is a reminder that out there lies a better place... a better world... a Walt Disney World.Visited In: 1983, 1988, 1989 x2, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 (passholder), 2007 (x2 x3), 2008, 2009 (x2), 2010, 2011 (x2)
Detail is there to make you believe in the reality of the story youre immersed in. - Joe Rohde
Hidden Mickeys are so much fun... it's like a little Disney secret that the average guest doesn't really consider. One time when looking for a Hidden Mickey outside of the Haunted Mansion, I was on the ground... and these tourists were looking at me like I was completely nuts. But I found it (on the gate near the bottom!).
My name is Emily and I am addicted to Walt Disney World. There, I said it and I'm proud.
Louis Mongello, you are my hero!
Moving to St. Petersburg, FL in November!!!
I will be at WDW every two weeks then... I can't wait!
I know my family picked up the book in Downtown Disney at the store with all of the scrapbooking stuff. I also know I've seen it at other Disney locations all around WDW but I can't remember any other specific places off the top of my head.
If you're looking to pick it up before your trip, I was in a Barnes and Noble and spotted it just a few days ago.
Have fun on your trip!
A dream is a wish your heart makes....
"Tom Morrow, paging Mr. Tom Morrow. Your party from Saturn has arrived. Please give them a ring."
At almost any Disney gift shop. And ask them why they are not carrying the DWT book! We all know they should.
I haven't really started looking yet, but I did notice the Mickey on the wallpaper in our room at Pop Century! I didn't notice it the first time we went.
I tried my darndest to find as many as possible on my last trip, but I really didn't find many. I found two on "Soarin", one on "Spaceship Earth", and one on "Splash Mountain". I'll certainly keep my eye out for more on my next trip.
*2006 Off site*2007 Pop*2008 Off site*2009 Pop/POR*2010 June Pop*Oct Pop*Dec Pop*2011 Dec CB Pirate Room*2012 Nov Disney Dream*Dec Pop*2013 Feb Pop*March The Swan*Dec Pop*2014 Oct Disney Fantasy
I love looking for hidden mickeys! That's why I bought the Hidden Mickeys book. It helps so much!!
Where Magic Lives
"its a glorious three hour finale I call A Tribute to all Nations but Mostly AMERICA!"
"Now approaching Tomorrowland's Space Mountain"
When I went to WDW in December I looked for then all over...I only found a few.
Adam ~ A Proud D23 Charter Member!
My new favorite is a hidden Sorcerer Mickey in Blizzard Beach. I did have to use the book to find it though, and it shames me how confused I got- it's really quite simple once you see it. In the center of the arch of a stone bridge, you can see it while in the lazy river and moving in the appropriate direction. It's 3 grey circular stones, and a blue-ish triangular stone.
My brother and I usually swim through the people there like an obstacle course, and now we always have to pop up out of the water, scare everybody, point out the hidden mickey for a minute, then duck back underwater and swim all the way around to do it again. ^^'
Btw I'm also disappointed that they're letting the grass grow over the other stone hm visible only from the ski lift... <_>
(If I'm here, then I'm probably supposed to be animating instead.)
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An election recount is underway for the district 3 seat on the Lehigh Acres Fire Board. The top two candidates each got 31 percent of the vote - forcing an automatic recount of some 13,000.
The candidates say this race is sending a message - a choice between the status quo and a new face.
The race comes down to incumbent Larry Becker and challenger Ronald Krome - who says he didn't expect to win.
"I didn't actually ever think I was going to have the seat. I really thought that sooner or later he was going to win the seat," Krome
Becker says he believes that's still the case.
"If you go into an election you cannot think to be a loser, you have to think to be a winner all the time, and I believe the people of Lehigh will end up voting the right way," he said.
Becker leads the tight race. About 77 votes separate the two, which by law means an automatic machine recount.
To Krome, the tight race sends a strong message that the people of Lehigh want better.
For months, tensions have been high between the board and union who have been at impasse over contract negotiations.
And not long ago, Lehigh Fire Chief Donald Adams stepped down after saying he was simply tired of the critics.
"It signifies to me they wanted something different, they wanted change for their board," Krome said.
Becker does not share this view. He believes it's a ploy by the union to get what it wants - more money. He says he fears his departure could ultimately lead the district to go broke.
"The union wanted the people that they back on the board so that when it comes to negotiations they will follow whatever the union wants," Becker
Newly elected board member Jacqueline Danis says regardless of the winner, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.
"I would like to see that the board and the firefighters works as a team that's what I would like to see," said Danis.
If the final tally is still to close to call after the machine recount, then staff will have to count by hand. If Krome wins, he will be one of three new board members. The other two new members are replacing commissions who decided not to run again.


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Now in his memoir Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander, Phil Robertson shares his life's journey and how he became the entreprenuer who created a product that changed the duck hunting industry.
A budding romance novelist---and daytime legal secretary---Amy Clarke gets her inspiration for her books from her dreams. But when her visions suddenly become more disturbing and appear while she's wide awake, the safety of her family is threatened by a case at work. Could God be trying to tell her something?
Embrace the high calling of fatherhood and become the dad you're meant to be! Offering timeless Scripture promises from the NKJV, this topically arranged collection offers God's wisdom on a host of practical subjects so you can find guidance right when you need it.
It isn't easy to lead in today's world. Connecting King Saul's missteps to challenges facing contemporary leaders, Hawkins and Parrott offer scriptural principles, applications, action points, and checklists to help you shepherd your church and community.
Men - redeem your passions, drives, and purposes so you can live out your faith. Manual speaks to you honestly about your role as a Christian in a culture that actively works against Gods will and Gods way.
In his typically accessible and conversation style, Tim Keller addresses these questions with candor, insightfulness, and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our modern questions about work.
What does it mean for a husband to love his wife? Tony Evans says a husband must be his wife's savior, sanctifier, and satisfier. It is by living out these three principles that a godly marriage will blossom and flourish.
In RG3: The Promise Washington Post reporter Dave Sheinin provides an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at Griffin's first year in the NFL, from how he got there to his record-breaking first game to the frightening knee injury that ended the Redskins' playoff hopes.
More: Author Shops


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NEWSLETTERS Free Newsletters Archive My Subscriptions NEWS News by Subject News by Disease News by Date PLoS Search News Post Your News JoVE CAREER NETWORK Job Seeker Login Most Recent Jobs Browse Biotech Jobs Search Jobs Post Resume Career Fairs Career Resources For Employers HOTBEDS Regional News US & Canada Biotech Bay Biotech Beach Genetown Pharm Country BioCapital BioMidwest Bio NC BioForest Southern Pharm BioCanada East US Device Europe Asia DIVERSITY INVESTOR Market Summary News IPOs PROFILES Company Profiles START UPS Companies Events INTELLIGENCE Research Store INDUSTRY EVENTS Biotech Events Post an Event RESOURCES Real Estate Business Opportunities
Production campaign converts multi ton quantities of bio-succinic acid into bio-based 1,4-BDO
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - BioAmber Inc. has scaled up its hydrogenation catalyst technology under license from DuPont and converted multi-ton quantities of bio-succinic acid into 100% bio-based 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). BioAmber believes the global addressable market for these products exceeds $4 billion, and that they are principally used to make polyesters, polyurethanes, spandex and biodegradable plastics.
Using bio-succinic acid made at its French facility as a starting material, BioAmber successfully completed a 1,4-BDO production campaign in collaboration with one of the world's leading commercial catalyst suppliers and a toll manufacturer possessing large-scale hydrogenation reactors and distillation columns.
"This is the culmination of two years of work and an important milestone in the development of our bio-based 1,4-BDO platform. We have been able to couple the DuPont catalyst technology with our bio-succinic acid production to manufacture high purity bio-based 1,4-BDO at demonstration scale," said Jim Millis, BioAmber's Chief Technology Officer. "We are developing an integrated plant engineering design that combines the production of bio-succinic acid and bio-based 1,4-BDO on a single site," he added.
High purity, bio-based 1,4-BDO is available from BioAmber for testing and product development. Companies interested in obtaining samples should contact Patrick Piot (email@example.com +33 6 75 72 88 87), or visit BioAmber's web site at www.bio-amber.com.
About BioAmber Inc.
BioAmber is a next generation chemicals company. Its proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstocks into chemicals for use in a wide variety of everyday products including plastics, food additives and personal care products. BioAmber produces bio-succinic acid in what it believes to be one of the world's largest bio-based chemical manufacturing facilities. For more information visit the company's web site at www.bio-amber.com.


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Clover Stack 'n Store Bobbin Tower
by Clover
Retail: $15.95
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This innovative tool neatly organizes up to 30 bobbins. It can hold most types of bobbins and secures threads. Conveniently see all your thread colors at a glance. Made out of flexible, rubberized plastic, it can hold most bobbin types, however it does not fit the Singer Centaur II bobbins. Bobbins not included.
3 1/2 in. tall Item No. 81920
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Cowboys, your traditional, quality leather boots have arrived! 11" leather shaft with 6-row stitch pattern. Leather lined. Durable heel counter features premium shoulder leathers. Perforated detail. Duratread outsole and U-toe profile.


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slideshow to an event, here we go! making edit to text now
6 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers
By Reader s Digest Magazine | Thanksgiving – Tue, Nov 24, 2009 6:08 PM ESTDiane Morgan, author of The Thanksgiving Table and New Thanksgiving Table, shares her do-ahead appetizer recipes for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner.
10 No-Fail Tips for the Perfect Thanksgiving
By BettyConfidential.com | Thanksgiving – Tue, Nov 24, 2009 4:59 PM ESTMake your holiday a celebration to remember with these easy steps from expert chefs and party planners!
- The Betty Editors, BettyConfidential.com
It's an honor to host Thanksgiving at your house - it means your guests are comfortable in your home and enjoy your cooking. But whether it's your first time or your tenth, the preparation can leave you frazzled on this coziest of holidays. If you're ready to be less stressed, these strategies will help you give your guests the best Thanksgiving yet.
1. Brine your turkey
The best turkey must be moist. David Burke, an award-winning chef, restaurateur and author, has done quite a bit of experimenting (he's tried deep frying one and even steamed one in his dishwasher!), but he says the best way to cook a turkey is to brine it beforehand.To brine a fresh turkey, submerge it in heavily salted water for two days in your refrigerator (or one hour per one pound of turkey). "It sounds like a long time, but it's completely worth it," says
Read More »from 10 No-Fail Tips for the Perfect ThanksgivingThanksgiving Without Turkey?
By BettyConfidential.com | Thanksgiving – Mon, Nov 23, 2009 6:31 PM ESTIt works for me! Here's why
- Maureen Angelos, BettyConfidential.com
"If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?"Sarah Palin, Going Rogue
The former governor of Alaska poses an interesting question, one that I, unlike her, am not theologically equipped to answer. But I can say why I will not be eating any tempting (though divinely-made) critters this Thanksgiving.
I stopped eating meat for the first time at age 14, while watching a PBS special about the commercial hunting of baby harp seals. I ended up crying over my frozen dinner, ruining the special occasion, Salisbury-steak meal I had loved so much until then. Harp seals aren't part of anyone's diet, but I still didn't think the seals should be killed, anymore than I thought my cat Boots should be killed. Animals were animals. I considered them my friends.
But I lived in a meat-eating household, and despite my newly found food militancy, I couldn't maintain my vegetarian
Read More »from Thanksgiving Without Turkey?How do you keep calm and relaxed as you prep for Thanksgiving?
By Dory Devlin, Shine staff | Thanksgiving – Mon, Nov 23, 2009 5:04 PM ESTGetty ImagesFor those of us who have several lists going in our head this week as we prep for Thanksgiving, Mark Bittman, the food writer for The New York Times, has some wonderful, calming words for us. Now, this is the kind of guy who could send us into a tizzy with things like his 101 Head Starts on the Day, but instead he puts all of it--the menu planning, the prep, the hard day-of work--into perfect perspective when Bittman tells hosts to...just chill.
Read More »from How do you keep calm and relaxed as you prep for Thanksgiving?
"When did performance anxiety and guilt become prerequisites for offering family and friends nourishment hospitality?" he writes. "At Thanksgiving, cooking should be one of the more relaxing things we do. Everyone is aware of the stresses of Thanksgiving, and nearly everyone - the in-laws' odd friends aside - is appreciative of your time and effort. They really don't care if your serving spoon is a spatula."
Even Bittman admits, there are good reasons we get a little tied in knots over this holiday. Do the math and you realize there is justThis recipe comes from my dear Aunt Martha who is truly a Southern Belle at heart. Along with making homemade chocolate and yummy candies, she is a pie baker who knows how to make the perfect crust. For this recipe, you can use store bought crust or make your own. The sweetness of the filling is what matters in this Southern Pecan Pie recipe.
Southern Pecan Pie
You will need the following:
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dark Karo syrup
- 1 cup pecans, chopped plus a few whole ones for decorating the top
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of salt
1 - 9 inch store bought pie crust or make your own.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Beat eggs with mixer on medium speed in a large bowl for 2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Stir until the grainy sound of the sugar is gone.
- Pour into unbaked pie shell.
- Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Insert a knife in
Thanksgiving, Tom Colicchio Style. The Top Chef judge on family-friendly cooking.
By Babble.com | Thanksgiving – Sat, Nov 21, 2009 12:55 AM EST
Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio - the man behind the massive reality hit Top Chef and co-owner of the Craft restaurant empire - isn't much different from his TV persona. When I spoke to him, he discussed both his personal and public life in the same straightforward, fast-talking way he interacts with contestants on his show. But his no-nonsense New York personality softens when he talks about his three loves outside of the kitchen - wife, Lori and his two sons, Dante, sixteen, and Luka, who was born August 1st . No doubt about it, Tom is a family-first, food-second kind of guy, though he makes it clear he's very serious about both. Luckily, he took a few minutes out his very busy day - he was hosting a dinner party that night - to share his thoughts on bland kid's menus, Thanksgiving at the Colicchio house, and how to handle a screaming baby in a restaurant. - Andrea Zimmerman
Congrats on the new addition to the family. How's it going so far? Are you exhausted yet?
Read More »from Thanksgiving, Tom Colicchio Style. The Top Chef judge on family-friendly cooking.How to Serve the Bird: 5 Turkey Tricks
By Epicurious.com | Thanksgiving – Fri, Nov 20, 2009 11:40 PM ESTThanksgiving turkey roasting tips and recipes are swirling around now that the big day is approaching, and of course our Turkey Primer offers shopping, prep, stuffing, roasting, and carving tips. Epicurious members have been jumping into the fray too, helping each other out with personal advice and experience.
When Greatlakesgal1 posted a cooking conundrum in our Family Meals forum - whether she should cook one huge turkey or two small ones for better taste and ease of fitting it/them into the oven - fellow forum members were quick to offer their suggestions.
1) Buy two smaller hen turkeys - they "will produce a high meat to bone ratio, plus there will be four drumsticks and wings for those that enjoy them," suggests rjordan.
2) Rockie says she makes a turkey breast and a whole bird: "I have made my breast a day ahead, even, and that way it frees the oven up for the bird itself and any sides that need to be baked. It can be reheated while the bird itself is resting."
How to Avoid Extra Turkey Day Pounds
By Allure Daily Beauty Reporter | Thanksgiving – Fri, Nov 20, 2009 9:28 PM ESTThe number of calories consumed at an average Thanksgiving dinner is 3,000. Yes, you read it right. 3,000. That's nearly twice the number of calories you're supposed to consume in a whole day. To avoid a turkey day pig-a-thon, and the weight gain that comes with it, keep these nutritionist tips in mind.
1. Don't show up starving. Eat a protein snack like a low-fat string cheese or yogurt before leaving the house. The protein will help hold off hunger.
2. Wear your skinny jeans. The more snug your clothing, the more aware you are of your body. "Studies show that women who wear loose-fitting clothes eat more," says nutritionist Jana Klauer.
5-Minute Holiday Hair and Makeup Tricks
3. Scan the table before filling up. You may love mashed potatoes and stuffing more than life itself, but choosing raw or grilled vegetables instead is the secret to staying thin-they keep your mouth busy and fill you up quickly, so you don't have room for that second piece of cornbread.
Read More »from How to Avoid Extra Turkey Day PoundsOnce again, families across the U.S. will come together on the fourth Thursday of November to eat mass quantities of turkey and stuffing, share politely strained conversation with rarely-visited relatives, and claim a spot on the couch to indulge in a food coma. There might be a few mumblings about why we should all be thankful, but let's get real-Thanksgiving has become all about the food.
Read More »from How to Party Like a Pilgrim
Don't get me wrong; I love Thanksgiving, particularly my grandma's corn casserole. But it feels like the same routine every year. This year, I suggest we spice things up and return to our old school roots-I mean really old school. For a unique and historic take on Thanksgiving, let's ditch the pumpkin pie and borrow a few ideas from our pilgrim predecessors.
Lose the Turkey
Though the information we have for what's considered the first Thanksgiving (which occurred after a successful harvest in 1621) is limited, we do know that the pilgrims ate plenty o' meat. However, whether they ate turkey is
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text:
< Return To Hearing
The Honorable Patrick Henry HaysMarch 21, 2002 Good afternoon. I am Patrick Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock, Arkansas. I have served as Mayor for over 13 years, starting in January of 1989. I am here today on behalf of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, for which I serve as a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee. I want to thank Chairman Biden for calling today's hearing, as well as Senator Grassley and the entire Subcommittee. Mayors have consistently attached a high priority to preparing our cities for the possibility of disasters - both natural and man made. Now, in the wake of September 11 and the anthrax mailings, emergency management planning has been redoubled, and there have been significant new deployments of public safety resources. The Conference of Mayors released a survey which found that from September 11, 2001 through the end of 2002, cities will spend an additional $2.6 billion on new homeland security priorities including equipment, overtime and training. Mayors know the importance of public safety and are 100 percent committed to the homeland war against terrorism. But we must forge a new federal-local partnership to make sure that our domestic soldiers - police, fire, emergency workers and other city employees - have the resources needed for this new challenge. This was the message mayors and police chiefs carried to Congress last week, and I want to thank Chairman Biden for participating in our discussions. In October of 2001 the Conference of Mayors sponsored a Safety and Security Summit at which we developed a National Action Plan covering transportation security, emergency management, and law enforcement. I ask that our plan be entered into the record, and would like to touch on several key points related to law enforcement. Supporting our First Responders First, at a January 24 White House meeting with 300 mayors President Bush announced his $3.5 billion first responders initiative, which we praised as an important step forward. As we stated then, we want to work directly with Congress to refine that proposal and make sure that those dollars are provided in the most efficient and effective manner. To that end, it is our belief that funding must be provided directly to city and county first responders, rather than all flowing through the states as proposed by the Administration. After all, a 9-1-1 call does not get a state trooper. Second, we must ensure that the funding can be used to not only prepare for a possible attack, but to also help prevent future attacks. Our police departments must have access to the funding, and officer deployments such as overtime should be specifically authorized. For example, mayors called for and support the more detailed terrorism alert system unveiled by Governor Ridge, but these alerts will continue to require more officers on the streets -- in essence national security being provided by local law enforcement. This is why the Conference of Mayors strongly supports legislation being sponsored by Senator Clinton and several other Senators to create a highly flexible Homeland Security Block Grant. The Ongoing Fight Against Crime Let me address specifically the kind of local choices mayors face. Last year the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program, run through HUD, was eliminated. My city received $188,000 from our housing authority under this grant to operate three precinct stations located in our housing projects. All three now face elimination. This reduction, along with homeland security requirements, will make me choose between protecting my citizens against a terrorist who may attack my community, and those terrorists or criminals which strike my city every day. The worst terrorist to most of America is the one who lives next door, and who through fear of daily crime keeps you from living your life. Public safety is achieved by a balancing of resources to needs, and every community is different. That is why as we wage the new war against terrorism, we must not retreat from the ongoing fight against crime. In the 1990's, mayors worked closely with our police chiefs and officers to increase public safety -- with dramatic results. As of last year, violent crime was estimated to be at a 20-year low nationwide. Just last week the Conference of Mayors sponsored an event in Baltimore which highlighted a 24 percent crime reduction in that city over the past two years. Baltimore Mayor O'Malley is emphatic that this would not have been possible without the help of these federal resources, and you would find similar stories in cities large and small across the nation. But while there have been major reductions, crime is still a major issue in many cities, and in many neighborhoods within cities. In addition, we know that key indicators, such as the economy and return of more than 600,000 ex-convicts annually to our cities, have led some experts to predict an upswing in crime rates. Many cities want to hire additional officers, move existing officers onto the streets, and place new officers in schools. In addition, there is a major interest in new crime fighting technologies. That is why we find it counterintuitive that OMB is proposing to cut COPS by 80 percent and eliminate the block grant by merging it into the state Byrne Grant program. This comes on top of a 25 percent reduction in the local block grant last year. We must ensure that cities have the resources needed to fight both the domestic war on terrorism and the continuing war against crime. We simply cannot "Rob Peter to Pay Paul." Federal-Local Law Enforcement Cooperation Finally, we need a new communications system between federal and local public safety officials with a "24/7" threat assessment capability and appropriate sharing of intelligence. Our discussions with the Administration on this have been constructive, but we want to ensure that any institutional barriers to greater intelligence sharing by the federal government are addressed. That is why we urge passage of the "Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act" (S. 1615) which would allow the federal government to increase intelligence sharing with local and state governments. Conclusion I want to thank the Subcommittee for this opportunity to testify, and I look forward to continued discussions as together we work to strengthen our nation's homeland defense. |


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CONGRATS on your first start Tim. I loved playing in Oakland. It was a great place to compete. Like I mentioned last week, kind of a cross between a Halloween party on steroids and a biker convention.
Tebow time!!! The blogosphere here has been waiting for you to start, so I am not going to keep them waiting. I'm going to leave this one WIDE-OPEN for the fans comments!!!
You have finally received what you have been asking for since the day Tim Tebow was drafted. Let's hear it!!!
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Mark Cooper, Tim Tebow


text: I've been fishing my whole life (ok im only 28, but anyway) but the only fishing i've done is for trout and perch with nightcrawlers. I recently took a break from my outdoor activities due to moving around the country and attending college. I am now ready to get back into it and would love to try other types of fishing. I have, over my break, purchased a few things i've run across (usually if there's a clearance sale or something like that LOL) like some rapalas and a few other crank baits. Ive even gone as far as purchasing spinnerbaits. Anyway I now live in northern utah and I think I've settled down. Is there maybe any sites anyone knows of or any knowledge around (I know there is :)) that can maybe help out with my long awaited return to my first love? LOL


text:
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2012 Teen Library Card Design Contest
Design the 2012 Teen Library Card: An Art Contest for Teens
Teens are invited to create, photograph, or design the library card of their dreams! The artwork will be turned in, judged, and a winner declared. The winning artwork will appear on a limited edition library card, available during the year 2012. This contest is open to all Teens (ages 12-19).
Huntsville Madison County Public Library Teen Library Design Contest 2012
Contest Rules:
- All participants must be between the ages of 12-18.
- All entries must be 100% original art with no copyright or trademark symbols.
- Participants have the option of submitting artwork to be used as a background on the logo or designing the logo to include the words: "Huntsville Madison County Public Library" and the year "2012".
- Art may be signed by the artist.
- Entries may be print or digital. Maximum acceptable print size is 8.5" x 11". Designs may be submitted up to 8.5 x 11, but keep in mind the logo will also be used for the teen library card which will have a finished size of 2 x 3 ¼ inches so it needs to look good at that size.
- For digital artwork, we can accept vector artwork (.eps, .ps, .ai, etc.) or we can accept raster images (.jpg, .psd, etc.). However, the finished artwork must be printable at 300dpi (dots per inch) at 2 x 3 ¼ inches.
- No slides, video, or websites will be accepted.
- Deadline for entries is Friday, November 18, 2011 at 5:00 PM. Art may be submitted to any branch.
- If you would like to pick up your artwork, please notify the Library in advance.
- The only limits to your creative expression are no excessive violence, nudity, profanity, or racist overtones.
- Winning artwork will be displayed on the Teen Library Card for a period of one year and will be used as the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Teen Logo for the same period.
- For more contest information, contact Katie Kalil, YA Librarian, at (256) 723-2995 or e-mail at kkalil [at] hmcpl [dot] org
ENTRY INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE (please use a blank sheet of paper)
Address, City, State, Zip
Primary Phone, Alternative Phone
Name/Title of Artwork
Monday, October 17, 2011 - 9:00am - Friday, November 18, 2011 - 5:00pm


text:
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text:
20 U.S. Code § 6381j - Research
In general
The Secretary shall carry out, through grant or contract, research into the components of successful family literacy services, in order to—
Scientifically based research on family literacy
In general
Use of expert entity
The National Institute for Literacy, in consultation with the Secretary, shall carry out the research under paragraph (1) through an entity, including a Federal agency, that has expertise in carrying out longitudinal studies of the development of literacy skills in children and has developed effective interventions to help children with reading difficulties.
The National Institute for Literacy shall disseminate, pursuant to section
6367 of this title, the results of the research described in subsections (a) and (b) of this section to State educational agencies and recipients of subgrants under this subpart.
(Pub. L. 89–10, title I, § 1241, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title I, § 101,Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1566.)
References in Text
The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is title II of Pub. L. 105–220, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1059, as amended, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 9201 et seq.) of chapter
73 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
9201 of this title and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1241 ofPub. L. 89–10was classified to section
2801 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10by Pub. L. 103–382.
The table below lists the classification updates, since Jan. 3, 2012, for this section. Updates to a broader range of sections may be found at the update page for containing chapter, title, etc.
The most recent Classification Table update that we have noticed was Tuesday, August 13, 2013
An empty table indicates that we see no relevant changes listed in the classification tables. If you suspect that our system may be missing something, please double-check with the Office of the Law Revision Counsel.
20 USC | Description of Change | Session Year | Public Law | Statutes at Large |
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