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To Kevin Estep, the enemy he's battling every day is something called Cellblock X. It's an attitude, a set of rules, a way of being that infects prisoners and their keepers alike. It's also a recipe for failure that turns parole into a revolving door.
"We take people, we lock them up, and we don't do a whole lot with them," Estep says. "Our expectations gravitate toward, 'Please don't hurt anybody. Here, let's turn on the TV.' CMRC runs from that philosophy. Our goal is to change the Cellblock X survival skills, those behavioral norms and values that tend to evolve inside any cellblock, where violence and intimidation are tools to get your needs met."
Estep got his first prison job at the age of nineteen. Before joining CEC, he spent 23 years in the Texas corrections system and served as a warden at four different prisons, three of which featured a "therapeutic community" approach. The term is borrowed from a type of group psychotherapy in which members of the group take a leading role in their own recovery. In prison, that often translates into a target population of sex offenders or drug addicts helping each other through the treatment process through mutual support and confrontation. Estep brought elements of the TC approach with him to Colorado, along with a contempt for the usual role of television and recreation in a prisoner's daily schedule.
At CMRC, the only televisions are in the day rooms, and getting to watch them or movies on a Saturday night is a privilege doled out to those who progress in status and achievement. The rec yard offers minimal basketball courts and a few cardio and strength machines but no free weights. Social interaction, particularly the group sessions focusing on "identity formation and lifestyle change," are pushed instead.
"Many of the residents come here, not surprisingly, seeing this as a way to get out," Estep says. "They don't see it as a way to change their life. They start doing the same old thing, and that's a source of contention right at the front. We want them to be able to walk a very fine line and be protective of their freedom."
Whether CMRC is actually promoting change you can believe in, as the saying goes, is a matter of debate. Residents say they learn a great deal from hearing about each other's experiences and mistakes in group sessions. But there are differing views of how much input the residents really have in the way the classes are run. The re-entry program is not an approved therapeutic community in DOC's eyes, like the TC program for sex offenders at Arrowhead, and the idea of a user-led, democratic treatment program inside a prison is problematic even in the best of circumstances. Inmates say the new director has brought increasing regimentation to CMRC along with his TC jargon, and that in most units staffers continue to do the majority of the disciplinary "pull-ups" — as well as the "push-ups" for a job well done.
In other words, Cellblock X is still part of the picture. Critics of the re-entry program say it's difficult to preach responsibility to inmates while so little of their daily lives — other than, yes, their attitude — is under their control. And the message can be particularly irksome when the preaching has a strong Higher Power theme, as several of the inescapable signs at CMRC do:
Palatucci denies that CEC tries to indoctrinate inmates in a particular religion. "We've had complaints that there's a religious component to what we do," he says. "It's certainly very visible and spiritual, but it's across all religions. We have services for people of Islamic faith, Native Americans, Jews, Christians. There's no religious element to the curriculum."
Both Estep and Palatucci say they want to see the program evolve further. In other states, CEC has brought in former residents as counselors or staff; the company has also allowed residents to shed their prison tunics for street clothes as they progress through different phases of the program. Such innovations would have been unthinkable in the Colorado prison system just a few years ago, but DOC now allows ex-offenders to serve as volunteers and mentors in some areas and may allow CEC to develop other incentives for its residents to succeed.
"We're shifting our focus and our culture to re-entry," says DOC spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti. "Some of our leadership is already swinging the boat in that direction. We're going to see the department fitting in more with CEC's philosophy."
Wallace Eckersley is trying to fit in, too. The 56-year-old inmate has served 21 years of a forty-year sentence for kidnapping, robbery and attempted murder. The bizarre crime stems from a time when he was drinking heavily and living on the streets. Eckersley and another panhandler abducted a Colorado Springs woman from a parking lot; Eckersley drove while his partner stabbed the woman and threw her out of her car. The case became notorious because Eckersley was lurching toward trial at the same time that his brother, Baseball Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, was helping steer the Oakland Athletics to the first of three straight trips to the World Series.


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Sludge Removal System
December 2004
Print this page
The patented Mass Flow™ Sludge Removal System is for use in water-washed paint spray booth applications and other sludge producing environments. The system is said to remove spent residue, paint, or pigment and recycle 60 to 80 percent of the water back into the system, helping to keep it clean for prolonged periods without sludge buildup, even during downtime. The main components of the system include a sludge removal tank, centrifuge, agitation equipment, and controls.
KMI Systems, Inc.
Canon Communications LLC . © 2008

subset: commoncrawl


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If, in the cold Detroit winter of 2008, the Fisker Karma concept car had been shown by an established automaker, it would have been hailed as the second coming of luxury sedans. Its proportions alone gave other auto executives and engineers varicose veins -- but at the car's estimated $80,000 base price, it would have been the Karma's salespeople who would have been truly overwhelmed. In terms of visual bang for the buck, the Karma would have had no competition on Planet Earth.
But the Karma was not supposed to be just a beautiful luxury sedan. Included in that competitive price, and hidden under the four-seater's skin, was something straight out of Science Fiction: an electric powertrain with a range-extending internal combustion engine. That car, with that powertrain, at that price? The Karma's good looks might have wooed them speechless, but both seasoned journalists and inexperienced bloggers still managed to scratch out on their notepads: "It'll never happen."
Three years later, it's about to.
The base price has risen slightly (to $96,850, including destination), and if you parked the production-spec 2012 Karma next to the show car, you might notice a couple of subtle differences. But in the Karma's journey from Sci-Fi concept to On-A-Lot-Near-You production car, nothing of substance has changed. At the end of April, the first Karmas will be delivered to paying customers, and the luxury car market will have been changed forever.
Are we perhaps overstating the significance of the Karma? Possibly -- but that risk won't stop us from calling this Fisker the most important car of the year. And for multiple reasons.
REASON ONE: THE TUCKER FACTOR and THE ONLY THREE
For the entire existence of Automobile Magazine, there have been three American car companies. Call them the Big Three or the Detroit Three, but a more accurate name is the Only Three. A little Silicon Valley company called Tesla popped up a few years ago and, for the first time, showed the Only Three that they were no longer the Standard of the World. The world had moved on, and while the Only Three fought against fuel economy standards and struggled to make their first attempts at fuel-saving technologies (remember the Saturn Vue hybrid, which got an oversize alternator and a hybrid badge?) Tesla started selling an all-electric sports car.
A few years later, there's Fisker. Henrik Fisker might not have an American passport, but Fisker Automotive is an American company, with its home in Southern California. And it, like Tesla, is making waves big enough to grab the attention of the world. Tesla and Fisker are doing something that the Only Three haven't done for years -- innovate from the ground up. The spirit of true innovation is what made the world pay attention to the American car companies in the first place.
Over the past several decades, and especially until recently, the Only Three have struggled to make real innovations -- they've barely been able to product world-class cars, not to mention a profit. But while they sit around and wonder why young people aren't excited about cars, they're showing a complete lack of understanding of youth. What excites young people is magic. Magic -- as defined by science fiction becoming reality. The truth is that young people are very much excited by cars, just not the same old cars that the Only Three have been putting out.
Put a Tesla Roadster or a Fisker Karma in front of a sixteen-year-old and you'll see excitement you could measure on a multimeter. Why? These cars are rolling science fiction, in the same way that fin-tailed Cadillacs were rolling Sci-Fi to their parents and grandparents.


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Hi everyone,
Some of you may remember a bunch of flasks I made way back in March, 08. I plated a few species of seed, but only two species made it through. Barkeria spectabilis, which I deflasked a few months ago, and a truckload of Laelia lucasiana...I replated september 08 They've been sitting a few inches from some T8s for a while. I didn't get around to deflasking them, and noticed a few weeks ago that they were sorely in need of deflasking. Anyway, I got my courage together today and finally set forth with my fresh sphag and plastic pots to deflask the suckers. I took photos of the process in case anyone is curious to know what happens - it's only my second time doing this though, so only time will tell if things work out.
In case anyone is wondering what this plant looks like, it's a really cute little rupicolous laelia species (IOSPE link)...which actually makes me a little anxious seeing them all compotted up in sphag. Any ideas? I'll keep you all updated!
-Calvin |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by sakeofsilence (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 1:14
Think H2O2... |
- Posted by terrysealey UK (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 6:34
Calvin, thanks for the update and the pics. I am at the '4 weeks after re-plate' stage with my first sowing & just seeing miniature leaves forming. Yours look good. |
"No more feeling sorry for the runty ones!" - Calvin you heartless beast!!! Everyone deserves a chance at life. (snicker) When I saw the pic of all the babies laid out on the newspaper, I had to laugh. What a job planting all those and just think of all the little individual pots in your near future. I sure hope you have a plan for selling some of your future kids. Phenomenal job though. I'm happy you posted an update. Kevin |
Calvin - those are some healthy-looking plants... and lots of'em! The flasking/way delayed gratification thing hasn't grabbed me yet, but you seem to have it down. |
- Posted by calvin_orchidlover 6a Toronto (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 11:14
Thanks for checking in, guys! I'm armed with my h202, in case anything nasty rears it's head. Terry - what do you have growing up? Be sure to post pics :) Kevin - that was exactly what I was thinking when I threw the smallest of the little guys into the insinkerator last night...cry. I just wish I were in the states so I could send some of you these seedlings...maybe on my next trip to NYC...(I mean, I started these darn things from seed, so no moral ethical dilemma there). Let me know if anyone interested! |
Looking good! That's a lot of babies. I checked out your link, and you're right, it is a really cute plant. As for how they'll do in sphag, it's only a temporary situation. I'd say don't keep the sphag too wet, and separate them out to their 'grown up' medium of choice when they get big enough. I don't know when that is, exactly, not being super familiar with the type, but I'm thinking you have a better idea of that than me. If you weren't over the border, I'd trade you some of my modestas for some of these guys : ( |
- Posted by cldheath44 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 13:36
Nice pictures, Calvin! Very interesting too. I've never seen deflasking pictures before......thanks for posting them! Christine |
- Posted by stitzelweller Md (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 13:40
Calvin, I admire your enthusiam in this endeavor. I wish you great success! I just acquired my first Laelia lucasiana less than two weeks ago, the old-fashioned way. I imported from Brasil! It's a mature, FS plant. Regards, --Stitz-- |
Calvin If you do go to NYC and can ship the things, LMK. I'll pay whatever price you want - well not ANY price, but I'm sure we can work something out. Seriously - really - I will pay cash. Kevin |
- Posted by littlem_2007 5 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 8, 09 at 16:13
hello, Calvin, what a great job you did! and thank you for all the detailed pictures. hope you will bring some to SOOS to sell. sue |
- Posted by terrysealey (My Page) on Wed, Sep 9, 09 at 10:27
Calvin,The Pod parent is Cattleya Mari's Song and the pollen parent is Cattleya Chian-Tzy Regalia 'Stunner'. I pollinated the flower on 04/05/08 and harvested the seeds about 15/05/09 so it took over a year for the first part of this project! I would put up pics but my head hurts through trying to follow the instructions here. Other forums are so much easier!!! |
- Posted by calvin_orchidlover 6a Toronto (My Page) on Wed, Sep 9, 09 at 21:03
Thanks for lookin, everyone. Kevin - noted! I'll pm you when I finalize plans. Sue - do you go to SOOS meetings? I'll definitely bring some once they get a bit larger! Terry - Wow you've gone one step beyond me and made your own hybrid! I'm hoping to do this one day when I feel inspired and motivated...I can barely imagine what you'll feel like when your first seedling blooms! |
- Posted by sweetcicely S7 USDA9 No.CA (My Page) on Thu, Sep 10, 09 at 4:47
Calvin wrote: "The next time I replate, I'm going to throw away all those little protocorms and just replate the biggest, fattest ones. No more feeling sorry for the runty ones!" "...and of course, I couldn't give up on the tiny guys,..." :))) You sound like a new papa. They are Very cute, all perky and healthy and green in their little pots. Good for you! And thank you for all the interesting process pictures! Sc |
- Posted by littlem_2007 5 (My Page) on Thu, Sep 10, 09 at 15:03
hello, Calvin, i try to go to as many SOOS meetings as I can. unfortunately, for the last couple of years, i had to miss all the spring ones and i have a feeling i will have to miss the next one too. I really find them informative and fun. sue |
Wow, oh, wow! I am so impressed. What a patient, painstaking process but oh, so fun for us to enjoy the fruits of your labor. GRRRREAT job! |
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text:
Nothing says summer to me like the smell of lavender when rows of purple bushes line up envelop you in their heady scent. Every time the wind blows, the perfume seems to dance across through the air. Market stalls sell big bunches of freshly cut lavender or small bags stuffed with the buds. On the last night of my holiday, I sat outside long past bedtime trying to drink in every last drop of the fragrant air. Trying to fill my lungs with enough to last me until next year.
Lavender lemonade (makes approx 1.5l)
From Shindig411.com
1 cup sugar
2.5 cups water
1/4 cup lavender buds, stripped from their stems
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2.5 cups water
1. Heat the sugar and 2.5 cups water in a saucepan over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat, add the lavender buds and leave to infuse for an hour.
2. After an hour, strain the syrup and discard the buds. Pour into a big jug and top up with lemon juice and more water. Adjust sugar/lemon to taste and chill until ready to drink.
A note on the measurements – I normally work in weights but this recipe was already in cups and I didn't have any scales. As most of the measurements are liquid, and a cup is 240ml, it wasn't that difficult to manager without.


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Click Image to Enlarge
Scratch and Fix
Having a car door get keyed is enough to make you feel sick. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers have developed a coatings additive to let the healing begin. The scientists developed microcapsules, or "micro-balloons," made up of tin catalysts and a precursor to a silicon-based sealant, which are mixed into coating at 10% of the total volume. When coating is scratched, the capsules—roughly 100 micron in diameter—crack open, releasing the catalyst and the jelly-like sealant. The reaction "heals" the damaged area within minutes or hours, depending on the outside conditions. The researchers tested the material solution by using a razor blade to tear through a 100-micron thick self-healing polymer coating a steel substrate and did the same to a conventional coating protecting an identical steel substrate. After immersion for 24 hours in a salt solution, the control samples had rusted along the scratches, while the self-repairing samples did not—even after 120 hours. Paul Braun, a materials science and engineering professor who developed the technology, projects the first automotive applications will be interior coatings, underbody components, and even inside components such as fuel lines (in this case to prevent corrosion from the inside out).
Where are those smart highways of the future, like the ones that take over a car when it gets on a freeway and relinquishes it back to the driver when the car comes off the exit ramp? The on-ramp to this future may start in San Leandro, CA, where University of California-Berkeley engineers recently guided a 60-ft city bus equipped with sensors and a small processor via magnets embedded along a one-mile stretch of pavement. Following the line of magnets, the bus pulled into regular stops within one cm of the curb. Sensors mounted under the bus measured the magnetic fields created from the roadway magnets, embedded under the pavement and spaced about one meter apart along the center of the lane. The on-board processor translated and directed the bus's lateral and longitudinal position, and managed the steering with an actuator, while a driver operated the gas and brakes. "A number of states and the Congress have been discussing the feasibility of a dedicated truck lane," says Wei-Bin Zhang, program leader for the California Partners for Advanced Transit (PATH) at UC Berkeley. "The automated highways will become a logical and natural choice for travelers when bus and truck automation is widely deployed." Zhang says a guidance system could be deployed in U.S. cities within the next five years.


text:
Problems installing Oracle9i ODBC in Win2000
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text:
Epicurious | November 2012
by Hubert Keller
Hubert Keller's Souvenirs: Stories & Recipes from My Life
Amazing! These turned out so cute and very tasty...just like the petits bonhommes I have had at Christmastime in Alsace.
28 reasons why doughnuts (and doughnut holes)baked or fried, glazed or dustedare perfect morning, noon, and night
plus: everything you need to know about making doughnuts at home ›
Get the inside dish on 10 restaurants Parisians don't want you to know about
plus: Over 1,300 recipes à la Française to cook at home ›


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This Saturday night the unpredictable winged warriors of the Oil Capital Racing Series will bring their mighty sprint cars to the Outlaw Motorsports Park in Wainwright, Oklahoma for the first time in 2013. The series has performed at the sleek 3/8 mile facility in consecutive years until that string was broken in 2012. New promoters Carey and Nicole Menasco have taken Outlaw Motorsports Park (formerly named Outlaw Motor Speedway) into a new direction and the early season success of the track has race fans excited and now it's time for the first sprint car special under the Menasco's leadership.
Winning Streak On The Line
A winning streak will be on the line when OCRS hits OMP soil Saturday night but it isn't the typical winning streak one might come to think of. OCRS is in the midst of producing four new winners in 2013 competition without a repeat winner among them. Here is a look at those four:
The streak started when Coweta Oklahoma's Chance Morton took checkers on May 25th at the Caney Valley Speedway. It was Morton's first ever sprint car victory as he moved into sprints just this season after cutting his teeth in the micro sprint ranks. Since then, Morton has produced well having finished second at Monett Speedway in Missouri and third at Tri-State Speedway.
Brian McClelland of Tulsa got his first OCRS victory of 2013 at the West Siloam Speedway in Colcord Oklahoma. The win came in a "non-wing" event as OCRS is offering up different challenges to the teams this season. It was McClelland's first OCRS triumph since a May 2003 score at the Salina Highbanks.
Never one to be mistaken for her charming ways when it comes to her racing, the lovely Miss Kacee Frazier, another Tulsa born, bred and raised racer, showed the fans in the "Show Me State" what she can do as she scored her career first OCRS win last Friday night at the Monett Speedway.
Alex DeCamp of Locust Grove Oklahoma made it a weekend of first time OCRS winners as he brought home the grand prize Saturday night at the Tri-State Speedway in Pocola Oklahoma. Getting his first career sprint car victory was a major challenge, as he had to fight off four-time OCRS king Jamie Passmore for the right to visit victory lane. DeCamp is another former micro racer who has skills to do well.
Prior to these last four events, Harli White, who has led the point standings since opening night, looked as if she would walk through the season with ease having won three of the first five events of the early season. But to win championships, you must do well when you don't "Park It" in victory lane and Miss White has done that by constantly finishing in the front of the pack. White has her racing stables set up in Lindsay Oklahoma.
2011 Oklahoma State Championship winner Gary Owens of Pauls Valley Oklahoma took honors at the Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada Oklahoma last month and is an expected entrant for this Saturday night's contest. It will be the first ever appearance by Owens on the fast semi=banked speedway and the Glen Owens owned machine is always a threat to win.
Last and certainly not least is Coweta's Kade Morton, older brother of Chance. As brothers will sometimes do to brothers, Kade made sure the eldest gets the first shot at something when he wowed the field with a win at the Thunderbird Speedway back in April thus becoming the first driver to score their initial OCRS win during the 2013 season.
This makes for seven different sprint car winners in just nine OCRS events in 2013. This leaves us to question: Will Outlaw Motorsports Park produce yet another first time 2013 or even a first time OCRS career winner this season? Will White win her fourth of the year? Will there be a second driver to have at least two wins when the cars load up at nights end? Come on out this Saturday night and see first hand just what answer will be produced to this question of thought.
Race Fans: Come Meet OCRS Drivers With Their Cars At Applebee's!
Race fans can see OCRS drivers Alex DeCamp, The Morton brothers Kade and Chance along with Johnny "Hotrod" Kent at the Applebee's in Muskogee Oklahoma from 1pm-3pm this Saturday afternoon. The drivers will be there with their sprint cars and will sign autographs and talk sprint car racing to one and all! Applebee's restaurant is located at: 415 West Shawnee Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma. So come on by and see the drivers and the cars of the Oil Capital Racing Series and while your there, step on inside and have a fantastic lunch at Applebee's then head on south on Highway 69 to Outlaw Motorsports Park in Wainwright and watch some thrilling sprint car racing featuring the OCRS sprint cars!
Outlaw Motorsports Park Event Facts
What: Sprint Cars sanctioned by the Oil Capital Racing Series
When: Saturday June 22nd, 2013
Where: Outlaw Motorsports Park / Wainwright, Oklahoma
Time: Gates open 4pm / Hot Laps 7:00pm / Racing starts at 7:30pm
(OCRS drivers meeting at 6:30pm)
Grandstand Ticket Prices:
$15 ages 13 and up / Seniors and kids 6-12 are $10 / kids 5 and under are free / Pit passes are $30
For information call: (918) 687-7077 or 918-760-6199
Track website: www.outlawmotorsportspark.com
Track is located just 11 miles south of Muskogee on Highway 69
For more information on the OCRS sprint car series including stories, photos, complete 2013 point standings and future schedules, log onto: www.ocrsracing.com
It's showdown time at the Outlaw!
Photo courtesy of Mike Spivey


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UK Anti-Spam Laws Criticised
michael posted more than 10 years ago | from the self-help dept.
88stripyd writes "The Guardian has an article about the ineffectiveness of British anti-spam regulations. Asside from the limited penalties, the Office of the Information Commissioner have yet to actually hand out a fine. From personal experience, the OIC aren't good at answering email on queries regarding the law, their web site, or suggestions that the current procedure of tracking down, printing out and mailing off (with a stamp!) a five-page pdf form to report miscreants be streamlined. The form itself is good for a few yuks, until you remember your taxes are paying for it to be outsourced to private sector hosting."


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For a lot of us in the Midwest, it was a terrible year. First, the late frost killed off a lot of blossoms, then a drought stressed the trees. What I wonder is what this implies for next year.
Normally, I'd think the trees that didn't bear much because of the freeze should be loaded next year. But that doesn't take the drought into account. But maybe the lack of fruit minimized the stress on the trees. What should we expect? |
Follow-Up Postings:
I'd expect the potential for a big crop. Any tree that didn't have much fruit this year will bloom heavily next year. The drought was bad but won't affect bloom as much as crop load. |
I'm certainly not an expert, but here's my 2 cents: I am expecting a bumper crop next year. The weather can't get any worse next year (knock on wood), statistically the odds are well in our favor not to have two terrible years in a row, and the trees have had a nice rest. Yes... The thing to watch for next year is too big a crop -- major thinning might be required to prevent your trees (at least apples if not others) from going into biennial behavior as the result of the bumper crop that I would expect. And the earlier you can do the thinning, the better. Consider removing a reasonable portion of fruiting wood in winter/spring, and at least 3/4 of your baby fruit at the marble size stage in spring to avoid overcropping that results in numerous small sized fruits of lower quality than desired (i.e., all cores/pits and skins and less juicy delicious flesh). Of course, if we end up with another hot March and cold April, then I'm totally wrong. But somehow I think the odds are against lightning striking twice. |
Yes, that's part of what I was wondering - how the projected yield should influence pruning in the dormant season. |
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The business manager for Belfry Public Schools has been suspended without pay after district officials discovered unauthorized purchases on her school-issued credit card.
"Right now it's under investigation," said Superintendent Jason Olson.
Last week, Olson discovered the credit card statement belonging to Patti Webb, the district's business manager and clerk.
"As soon we found out, I suspended her with pay," Olson said.
He then brought it to the school board's attention and contacted Jeff Weldon, the district's lawyer.
The board voted to use Weldon's law firm and open an investigation into Webb's spending. Webb was then suspended from the district without pay late last week.
The initial credit card statement that caught Olson's attention had $18,000 worth of charges on it. However, the district won't know exactly how much of that -- or more -- was due to unauthorized spending, Weldon said.
The card she used was attached to an account that had been opened in 2005. Webb took over as business manager in 2007.
Most of the charges on the statement were for "everyday expense sort of things," Weldon said, like fuel, groceries, restaurants and clothes.
The investigator in the case is a retired public school business manger, someone who has expertise in school finance, Weldon said. He's hopeful the investigation will finish late next week.
Belfry is a kindergarten through 12th-grade school district, which currently has 25 students enrolled.


text:
National Overview - February 2006
NCDC transitioned to the nClimDiv dataset on Thursday, March 13, 2014. This was coincident with the release of the February 2014 monthly monitoring report. For details on this transition, please visit our public FTP site and our U.S. Climate Divisional Database site.
Maps and Graphics:
February | Most Recent 3 Months | Most Recent 6 Months |
Most Recent 12 Months | Annual Summary for 2005 | US Percent Area Very Wet/Dry/Warm/Cold |
It should be emphasized that all of the temperature and precipitation ranks and values are based on preliminary data. The ranks will change when the final data are processed, but will not be replaced on these pages. Graphics based on final data are available on the Climate Monitoring Products page.
For graphics covering periods other than those mentioned above or for tables of national, regional, and statewide data from 1895-present, for February, last 3 months or other periods, please go to the Climate At A Glance page.
National Overview:
- February temperatures were near average for the nation with no states much warmer or much cooler than their long-term means. For information on temperature records during the month, please go to NCDC's Extremes page.
- Precipitation was much below average for the contiguous US ranking 9th driest on record. Much drier than average conditions occurred in the central and southern Plains as well as the Southwest. For more information on drought during February, please visit the U.S. Drought page.
Monthly and Seasonal Highlights:
Regional and Statewide:
Citing This Report
NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: National Overview for February 2006, published online March 2006, retrieved on January 26, 2015 from http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2006/2.


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I started running in 2010; the next year, I started tracking my miles pretty seriously. And it was a lot of miles. In 2011, I ran 1,295 miles; in 2012, I ran 1,206.
In 2013, though, I only ran 958.4 miles. (Only! Hahaha omg I have completely lost my mind.)
A lot of things contributed to the drop in mileage this past year; I was sick in January and again in November, for one thing. The weather was bad more days than it has been in the past three years. And by December, when I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could really jam in 60 miles in four weeks and finish the year at 1,000, I got overwhelmed by everything and just kind of gave up.
So that's not good.
While I'm not one for resolutions, I am all about goals, especially goals that can be broken down into manageable pieces. My goal for 2014 is to run 1,000 miles (at least); while that sounds like a huge number, it averages out to just over 83 miles per month, or about 19.25 miles per week, depending on how you want to think about it.
Either way, that seems totally manageable.
I'm also planning to run at least two half marathons this year (the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April, and the Williams Route 66 in Tulsa in November). Those two races will account for several hundred miles of training runs, which is always helpful. And no, I will not be running a full marathon. This year or ever. I'm not that crazy.
Since this year has started with a cold snap of epic proportions, I've been making friends with the treadmill at my gym (and by "making friends with" I mean "trying to overcome my irrational hatred" because GAH I hate the treadmill). Kristen sent me a list of treadmill workouts, and while she stopped short of saying they would be fun (because TREADMILL OMG) she did promise that they would be more interesting than just running in place while staring a FOX News. (Why do I always choose the treadmill that faces the tv with FOX on it? Every. Single. Time. I swear.)
She was right, as always. I've been running intervals, which makes me feel like a total badass, honestly, and while I don't know that I'm enjoying it, per se, I can see how it will be helpful. Still, I was super happy to get back outside today (because 38 degrees is like a HEAT WAVE, you all, for reals).
So here's to 1,000 miles (at least) this year! And don't worry, I'll be tracking my miles here and on Instagram, so you can see how I'm doing. You're welcome.
this week: 19.35 miles
2014 total: 19.35 miles
38 degrees IS a heat wave! I would kill for 38 degrees right now (as I sit huddled inside avoiding the 25-below-zero windchill). I would be running outside in capris and one long-sleeved top in 38 degrees. (Sob! Miss that.) How do you track your miles? Do you wear a Garmin?
Never say never – I'm not sure my yearly mileage is up there with yours (and it most definitely was not in 2013 – back injury, ugh), but I ran a full marathon in 2012 the day before my 28th birthday. Wanted to do another one before turning 30, but it's not in the cards. So, I signed up for my 8th half & that will have to do. Best of luck in your goal! I may just adopt it myself :)
I just checked my 2013 miles on Endomondo and i only ran 650 miles last year. Im so disappointed. I did manage several 10ks and a few half marathons. I really need to step it up! Thank you for motivating me and putting a new goal in my head! Im signed up for a half marathon on 2/23 out here in So Cal.
"I've been making fiends with the treadmill."
fiends is perfect though I think you meant friends :-) I don't run but do have a few fiend/friend like relationships with other gym equipment. I'm looking at you thigh squeezy thing.
Intervals are the ONLY way to make TM running bearable – if nothing else, they get it done faster. :) (Also, I don't care which TV I end up watching – all 10 channels have such dreck and poison on them that I end up irritated as all get out.)


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Even Madonna Doesn't Want Her Daughter To Dress Like Madonna
While in her younger days, Madonna was known for her risque and revealing outfits, she has considerably cooled her naughty behavior as she has grown more mature.
Madonna reportedly disapproves of the way her 13-year-old daughter, Lourdes Leon, dresses, saying that she wishes "she'd dress more conservatively," adding "how's that for irony?"
Meanwhile, millions of mothers who fought with their daughters (and possibly sons) about copying Madonna's revealing style in the '80s and early '90s are feeling the warm glow of satisfying revenge.
However, Madonna doesn't disapprove of her daughter's sartorial choices too much, since she is teaming up with Lourdes to create a new teen fashion line for Macy's called, appropriately, Material Girl.
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Turnaround may be soon
Wal-Mart's sales slump may end during the current quarter, Simon indicated. Wal-Mart said it expects comparable store sales for the quarter that ends in July to range between a decline of 1% and a rise of 1%. A widely followed gauge of retailer performance, comparable store sales typically reflect locations open at least a year.
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Gasoline prices soared this year as turmoil in Libya and other top petroleum countries of North Africa and the Middle East sent crude oil above $110 a barrel. Earlier this week, regular-grade gasoline averaged $3.94 a gallon nationwide, up 37% from $2.87 a year ago, according to AAA, the auto trade association.
Wal-Mart still had better-than-expected quarterly results, with net income rising 3.9% amid stronger international sales.
During the three months ending April 29, Wal-Mart's fiscal 2012 first quarter, net income rose to $3.43 billion from $3.3 billion a year earlier. Per-share earnings of 97 cents surpassed the average analyst estimate by about 2 cents, according to Yahoo! Finance.
Wal-Mart's total revenue rose 4.3% to $103.4 billion.


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I need money for Nursing School
0Jan 27, '13 by janejanegirlOkay so I got a sure spot at WCU but I went to a few other colleges this year so some of my FASFA money ran out I can't seem to get a cosigner cuz every one in my family went bankrupt. I need money fast, I do work for a CNA agency but I barely started last August I've been trying to get a job with a hospital so I can get a hospital scholarship. I need money quick and I need a cosigner for private loans so any other suggestions. Do you know any place that is just going to give me money?
0Jan 28, '13 by HouTx GuideIf you're referring to West Coast University, you're looking at an astronomical tuition, right? Sorry - but there is basically no chance for this. Student loans are an area of increasing default rates, particularly for commercial (for profit) schools like this one. Lenders are not willing to take any chances.
0Jan 28, '13 by KelRN215, BSN, RNLook for scholarships and grants. Other than that, no, no one just "gives out" money. I graduated 6 years ago and still have over $40K to pay back in student loans.
0Jan 28, '13 by soxgirl2008Are there any cheaper choices out there? Otherwise look for grants and scholarships, but like the above poster said no one is just going to give you money.
0Jan 28, '13 by StephalumpNo one is just going to give you astronomical amounts of money. Even hospitals I know off who offer help with tuition are giving tuition reimbursement - meaning you have to pay for it up front somehow.
I'm sure WCU has rolling admissions. Perhaps you should just slow down and do what's realistic. -
0Jan 28, '13 by springchick1I work at a hospital that offers Tuition Reimbursement. It pays tuition, books, and fees so it doesn't pay for uniforms, any blood work I have to have done, any drug testing, or any additional study guides I buy. I have to pass my class and have to submit paperwork every semester with receipts and a transcript. It pays up to a combined $4,000 a calendar year but I have to pay for everything up front. It's reimbursement. No one is just going to hand out money...I wish they would
2Jan 28, '13 by Devon RexIf you find a place that just gives you money... PLEASE let us know !!
ElSea and Stephalump like this. -
0Jan 29, '13 by zoe92I think you should defer admission for now, save up some money, and then go to nursing school. Like others said, West Coast University has a high tuition so trying to take out a lot of loans & pay so much for school will put you in some serious debt. I would even look at other options, such as a community college or state school, for better tuition rates.
0Jan 29, '13 by hunnybunchesWhat area are you in? If you are in mine, I know of a program that will pay for $8,000 of your program if you and the school qualifies. If you have no other choice, is it too late for you to withdraw without penalty??


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11 It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. | 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. |
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I braced myself as the ship tossed from side to side in the grips of the wake from a passing ship. The children were sprawled out and cross-legged all over the deck. They squinted up at me, there heavy heads were crooked back so far that they appeared to grow directly out of their shoulders. They resembled turtles pulling back into their shells. "Show no fear" I thought to myself. If wasn't their necks that scared me, it was their complete lack of inhibition. They were filter-less and fear-less.
"Miss Emily, where do baby fish come from?" "Miss Emily, why does that man have a funny nose" "are we going to drowned" "Why is there trash in the ocean" "Why does the captain smell like crackers?" "What is that on your face?" "Miss Emily, are you an alien?" "I'm bored" "Miss Emily, I have to go number two" It is amazing the things that can fly out of a child's mind during a 20 minute environmental science class on a tall ship.
Every once in awhile, I would get a question that would soften my fearful lips into a broad smile."Miss Emily, you say oysters have gills and that makes them able to breathe under water. Does that mean that if I eat an oyster, I'll have gills too?" bright kid. "Unfortunately it doesn't work quite like that." I said grinning. This kid had heard the old saying "you are what you eat". Although our food doesn't bestow us with the ability to adopt biological qualities of other animals, we do adopt some degree of the stuff that is in the food we eat. I explained to the kid that when he eats oysters, he is not only eating the oyster, but also eating everything that the oyster has eaten. "What to oysters eat?" The kid asked. "well, they are filter feeders. They feed on plankton and also filter things like metals and fertilizer runoff from the water "
"EWWWW fertilizer?"
"well, not exactly… it isn't as bad as it sounds.." I replied. What else could I say?
This morning, I ran into Dave at work. He was brandishing a newspaper clipping about some farm in Germany where they were feeding their chickens some sort of toxic sewage. I don't have the details of the story because I heard it second hand, but it did spark an interesting conversation about the dangers of eating high on the food chain in the modern food climate.
Most of the meat available today comes from animals eating the same corn and soy based diet that the paleo eaters are trying to avoid. Grain-fed meat often has a higher ratio of inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids to omega-3's, and contains some of the saturated fats that are more associated with raising cholesterol.
Since I am going to be eating more of a meat based diet, it is even more important than ever that I know what my food has been eating. I found a recent review article that talks about the characteristics of grass-fed meats versus grain-fed meats. For those who like to geek out on science, the link is here. For the rest of the readers, here is a cute little summary that I yanked from the Internet. It came from a grass fed beef site, but the data seem to be in agreement with the review article I mentioned (see the data on "mixed cattle"). Another benefit to eating grass fed meat is that the risk of E. coli poisoning is almost non-existent, whereas grain fed animals are more susceptible. Since the risk is so low with grass-fed meats, the farmers don't have to treat the cattle with antibiotics!


text: | Apples! Apples!September 22, 2008 - Kathie EvanoffWhenever I think of apples, it never fails that the wailing of the trees in the Wizard of Oz always runs through my head. Apples are available year-round in our grocery stores, but they are never as good as they are right now in the fall in Northeast Ohio. We can likely thank John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed, for bringing apples here, even though the apples we chow down on now barely resemble the apples of that era. The fact is, John Chapman was delivering apple trees so the makers of hard cider were able to plant their own orchards. The apples of long-ago were small and bitter, but they make good libations for those who indulged. That's not to say those apples weren't good for us now. Many of the apple varieties we enjoy today were cultivated from those bitter apples that John Chapman peddled. He was, after all a nursery man by trade, so caricatures of Chapman prancing through the woods dropping apple seeds everywhere are more than slightly exaggerated. My favorite fresh eating apple is an early variety called Honeycrisp. On the apple scale of sweet to tart, Honeycrisp leans to the tart side. It is crisp with white flesh and a medium-red skin that swirls with yellow. Last year, while visiting relatives in North Carolina, we went to an apple farm and I asked about Honeycrisp only to be admonished by the farm owner who told me Honeycrisp was all gone for the season and I'd have to find something else. My second favorite apple is Braeburn, while my husband prefers Fuji. We sometimes banter back and forth about our favorite apples but when someone finds a variety they like, it's difficult to convince them otherwise. Enjoy apples this season. Not only are they are plentiful and even more delicious due to the wonderful summer rains we enjoyed and the recent cool nights and warm days, but one medium apple, about three inches in diameter, only contains 95 calories and zero fat. Breakfast this morning was a bowl of Fiber One cereal with banana and skim milk. Lunch was when I enjoyed my apple. Well, it was more like after lunch. After a big bowl of rice macaroni and cheese, in which I tossed carrots and peas and a small can of tuna, I was too full for the apple. But it made a great mid-afternoon snack and made me wish I had brought two in my lunch bag. Dinner was actually pretty boring and there is no photo. When I got home from work my husband, who has been fighting a nasty cold, lost the battle and had gotten it full force. He felt like nothing more than chicken noodle soup and toasted cheese sandwich, which is what we had instead of a more intense meal. Perhaps something more interesting will come along when he's feeling better. Article CommentsNo comments posted for this article. Post a Comment | Blog PhotosBreakfast: 2 ounces grains; ¾ cup fruit; ¾ cup milk; 30 discretionary calories. (Do I have to say it? Sugar in tea). |


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Toyota Solara
automophile Posts: 780Thanks for your analysis of the Altima. In the reviews and ads it seems too good to be true. A nice package with a big engine and refined engineering. But, as you have pointed out - they have cut a lot of corners in the places you see them the most. Too bad.
You will enjoy the Solara - I am convinced that it is really a bargain for the overall level of refinement and quality.
Also - You mentioned that the Solara does not require Premium. This is true, but the car runs a LOT better on Premium, and the increased gas mileage more than makes up for the cost difference. Don't skimp here on this nice car! -
wree7777 Posts: 26I bought my 2000 V6 5sp w/ leather about 5 weeks ago with 17200 miles on it and it is awesome! The acceleration is strong and the braking is just right -- smooth and sure, not weak or grabby. A mechanic friend noted that the rpm's didn't waver at all when the car was on cruise control at highway speeds and we headed up a sorta-steep hill. The JBL stereo system that comes with the sport pkg is AWESOME, and the ride is s-m-o-o-t-h and q-u-i-e-t yet still plenty sporty. Another great benefit is the space in the backseat. I usually drive alone, but want the option of carrying adults in the backseat in reasonable comfort (while there and getting in and out). The Solara has as much room in the backseat as the 4-dr Camry!! And it's not bad at all to get in and out of. (The Solara won that contest over the Accord coupe hands down and then some.) I had told that to my 65-year-old father, and he just kind of said "uh-huh" until he tried it and was quite amazed. Recently I had a tall person in the front passenger seat and another tall person directly behind and they both had room to spare. I've also seen a ~6'4" ~300lb car salesman in the back seat looking plenty comfy. The quality of the leather seems really good (a lot better than the Accord which I've seen several 2-yr old Accord coupes with tears in the leather along seam lines and little hairs sticking out of the perforations. Mine doesn't look even close to doing either.) The seats are very comfortable (much better than the Accord). Shifting-wise, it's hard to mess up with this car -- the speed ranges that the engine seems to be content at for each gear are very, very wide. My only "problem" shifting is that it is so quietly content that it doesn't audibly "tell" me when to shift so I sometimes forget, no doubt to the detriment of my gas mileage. Gas mileage -- the highest I've gotten is 30 mostly-highway miles per gallon. (That equaled 482 miles on one tank...) Lowest is 18 which only happened once and I suspect the quality of the gas in that instance. Mostly I've been getting 26-28 in mixed city/highway driving (~40%/60%?). I was talking with a Toyota mechanic today as he put new windshield wipers on for me and he said they hardly ever have to do anything to the Solaras. My mechanic friend has a Toyota mechanic for a brother and he said the same thing. P.S. My previous car of 12 years was an Accord coupe and I loved it and completely expected to get another one, but the Solara came out miles ahead when I compared them and the Solara has the V6 with 5sp! Very cool!!!!
canc Posts: 715I think it's ridiculous for a V6 today to require premium fuel for optimal performance. Look at Toyota's competition (both domestic and import); most have more hp and torque from an engine with similar displacement, yet don't require premium fuel. For example, look at the Solara SLE V6 vs. the Chrysler Sebring LXi Coupe:
Solara: HP: 192 @ 5200 RPM
Sebring: HP: 200 @ 5500 RPM
Solara: 3.0 L
Sebring: 3.0 L
Solara: torque: 207 lb./ft.
Sebring: torque: 205 lb./ft.
Solara: gas mileage: 20 city / 27 highway
Sebring: gas mileage: 20 city / 29 highway
Yet, the Sebring gets these numbers with regular unleaded fuel. The Solara gets these numbers with premium. I think Toyota needs to take a look at what the competition offers and stop sitting on its laurels. -
bwiebe Posts: 27I have tried regular (89), premium, and regular with an ethenol blend (91) and fuel economy is about the same. Premium does give a small bit of a boost in preformance (or maybe its just my imagination) but certanly not worth the 15% increased cost for premium over regular. My mileage has been about 32 on average on the highway and 27-28 for mixed city/highway. (thats using imperial gallons as a measurement) I always convert from metric. I just can't get used to L/100 km. The owners manual doesn't stipulate premium so I'm going to continue to use regular.
pbc Posts: 44Canc - 1 litre = 0.264172 US Liquid Gallons (i.e. they refer to 18 gallon tanks vs our 70 litre tanks). 1 km = 0.621371 miles
Also, if you read the Solara brochure and manual, it quotes 200hp. Although I've also seen several places where they quote it at the Camry V6 output of 192(see the Nissan web site!)
Mileage - Every time I read people's MPG stats they blow my mind. Here is my experience based on me filling up when the tank is down to 10 liters left on Premium 91 fuel (which is a must according to the Canadian Solara brochure):
80% City/20% Highway - 520km on 60 litres translating to 323m on 15.85g or 20MPG
60% City/40% Highway - 580km on 60 litres or 360m on 15.85g or 23MPG
90% Highway/10% City - 800km on 60 litres or 31MPG driving an average 120km (75miles) an hour.
Oh, these are during the cool/warm months usually with little A/C. If I'm driving with A/C on all the time on a hot summer week or with heat on in the dead of winter, I'd say mileage drops by 50-70 km (30-40 miles). I drive a V6 Auto.
On average in mixed driving I'll get 500-580km on 60 litres.
My city drive is brutal though, say 45 minutes to 1 hour for a 22km (13.5 mile) drive. Maybe that is where I'm losing out!
W.r.t. brakes, just to throw this in, I'm at 40,000km (24.5k miles) on the first set and still going. Dealer told me that they want to do something to clean our the salt and rust build up for $170CDN that will help the pads last longer, but so far I haven't dished out. How are other people faring? A friend of mine in his '97 Grand Am has to change his pads every 20,000km (12.4k miles)!! -
oilers1 Posts: 17I'm at 70k km on my '00 SE V6 with the original pads. I was hearing a little squeak from the brakes last week but attribute it to some debris stuck between the pads and rotor--the sound is now gone and plenty of pad left. yes, the dealer tried to sell me a brake cleaning as well..If it ain't broke why fix it? BTW the dealer was Kingsway in Edmonton. They'll say anything to separate you from your cash.
phelpsm Posts: 21I ran across this the other day and thought it useful from www.cars.com:
Demystifying Octane Ratings
"If your car requires high-octane gasoline and you habitually use regular gas because the engine exhibits no sign of knock, you're outsmarting yourself. Most modern, computer-controlled engines include a knock sensor that detects knock and retards the ignition timing, causing the spark plugs to fire slightly later in the cycle. This typically prevents abnormal combustion and knock, which allows vehicles specified for premium fuel to run on lower-grade gasoline if it is all that's available. While this removes the immediate hazard, it's a bad idea to make a habit of running a vehicle on gasoline of lower-than-recommended octane. Retarding the spark causes a richer fuel/air mixture, which decreases fuel economy, increases emissions, causes the engine to run hotter, and reduces the longevity of both the engine itself and the catalytic converter. The money you save by pumping low-grade fuel into a car that demands higher octane is lost anyway, in decreased fuel economy and possibly gradual damage." -
canc Posts: 715
webguyster Posts: 434Winter driving with the 16 inch Michelins is terrible. I didnt get the traction control, and I regret it. My Solara gets snowed in easily, compared to even my neighbors, 99 Camry with 15 inch Michelins. She a nose heavy car in the snow, so give yourself plenty of distance from the cars in front of you. Mine doesnt fish tail, as much as my 97 Avenger did, that car had 17 inch Goodyears, and held the road very nicely. That was the only good thing about that car, however. I may be looking into snow tires this year, possibly from Nokia (??)Tyres, if I can get a good deal, locally.
automophile Posts: 780Yes, gdanczyk, our cars do not REQUIRE Premium, but it is RECOMMENDED. There is more power and greater engine efficiency. Plus, as phelpsm points out, the engine and catalytic converter have to work harder with lower octanes.
My own gas mileage went up dramatically when I switched to Premium, more than offsetting the cost increase as well as giving me more power. If you wnat to evaulate the differences, please use at least 2-3 tankfuls of each for each trial before you make a decision, as the computer seems to take a while to make major changes.
ALSO - the brand of gas makes a REAL difference. I will no longer use Costco gas - the mileage was much worse than using a major brand. My neighbor is in the fuel industry, and he says it is well worth using Standard or Shell, or other top brands. -
01solaraman Posts: 1
hambone32 Posts: 68Did you buy it from Tony? I just bought a 2002 Solara (not from Tony) and I think that the JBL system is weak. It hisses and the speakers rattle. It has WAY too much bass. I like a lot of bass, and I usually cut the bass down to -3 or -4. I think it sucks as a stereo upgrade. Does anybody else feel this way?
webguyster Posts: 434If your car is pulling to left, I presume it always will. I have had multiple alignmments, and rotations, which even included inverting the 16 inch Michelins(outsidtations turned inside on wheels), and nothing seems to resolve the issue. GET USED TO IT! You may get the car a little straighter, but it wont last more than a few hundred miles. I have now found, my car drives straighter, without the alignments, and rotation. I guess the tires are broken in, at 31,000 miles in the rear and the 2 front tires have about 9,000 miles on them, after hitting a small pothole that ripped through the tire, and $480 rim. Earlier postings suggested many people have this problem, I beling one the the first, and will always have this problem. I think there may be a steering rack problem, like Toyota's trucks have/had, or just BAD geometry of the front end, due to design, or poor build quality. You can think of it as a safty feature, cuz if you take your hands off the wheel for even a second at highway speeds, your dead. So remember to use both hands, positioned at 10 and 2, and get used to the ongoing battle with the steering wheel.
ROCKING CHAIR....I recently got a phone call from The National Highway and Traffic Admisitration, and he said that the 2000 Camry/Solaras are covered by TBS, BO... SOMETHING OR OTHER, GOT DELETED FROM MY VOICE MAIL!?! I have had ongoing problems getting this resolved with Toyota Customer Service, and my local dealer. If any of you guys or gals have a rocking chair, reply, or give me any info you have about getting it resolved, please!
STEREO... I have the JBL system that came with option #4, 2000 Solara's,(didnt get alloy rim, like was in brochure) and I think it is the best factory stereo I have ever had, sound quality wise. The head unit is weak, but not a priority of mine. If you think it has too much bass, turn the bass down!?! Increase your treble.
SNOW TIRES...It is a good idea for anyone in snowy climates too have snow tires, as those of us who reside in cold climates, know that all season tires, do not refer to SNOW!!! Black ice, is another story, as even snow tires won't help at all when you start to hydro-plane over the ice. Of course, we all know that black ice is "almost" invisable, until you are driving on it, usually at way too fast speeds, for conditions, and when you hit it just hold your breath and wait for the car to regain control itself, or with your assistance. Even ABS won't help, maybe even make it worse. -
bwiebe Posts: 27I have the michelins on my 2000 SLE V6. I have actually found them to handle quite well on snow and ice. In the past I have found michelins rubber compound to be too hard. Great for being long lasting but tend to just slide on ice and snow. Must have softened the rubber compound. The ABS has saved me a couple of times, this last Saturday the most recent. I hit some black ice on a bridge and while everyone was doing 180's I slowed down under control and steared around a car that had "parked" itself up on the curb.
I have started to experience a slight rocking in the drivers seat, especially when I get in and lean back to adjust myself in the seat. I hear and feel a creaking or give in the seat back. Will be bringing the car in for the 24,000 km servicing next week and will get them to check it out. May be out of luck on warranty though as I had heated seats installed and they may claim this will void the warranty.
No Pulling left, thank the car gods for that as previous posts haven't found a solution.
Stereo sounds good to me although a slight hiss when volume is down and car is parked.
I have noticed that the brakes have a slight squeel when backing up. Usually noticable when first starting up car and it is slightly cold or damp out. -
tshaffer03 Posts: 1
decon Posts: 56I recently took my car into service for 30K.
I told them about the rocking seat problem. They took it for a test drive and said there is a problem. I have a 2000 SLE. They are ordering the part and will fix it when it comes in. The reason it is loose is due to a loose seat rail. Only way to fix it, is to order that new part. -
vz18wp Posts: 20
webguyster Posts: 4342 1/2 years is as good as it gets with the cheap battery they give you with the car, especialkly with all the parasitic drain from the security system, and alarm, if you have one installed. I had 2 replacements the first year, and I am headed for another. When my lights start to dim at stop lights, I know it time to go in again, and get another $39 replacement battery. When I am out of warrenty, my Toyota Extra care deductible is $50, so I will replace with a better battery myself. My dealer installs Interstae batteries, an although they seem to be good batteries from the web sites, I would rather chance it with a Sears Die Hard, or some other large company that has a bigger selection than the dealer, and will be more customer focused when it comes to replacing the battery. I was amazed that Toyota replaced the batteries, as Dodge, aka. D/C, did not cover batteries or tires under bumper to bumper. They did reimburse me after a few phone calls, but it was a hassle. I will try to replace the seat frame b4 36,000 miles, as they have it documented since almost the day I bought the car. My problem has been that I cannot get the service guy or manager to sit in the car, and the mechanics find no problems and dismiss it as wear and tear. I weigh 165lbs, and I am not too big for the seat, where it may cause wear and tear. It has become more noticable to me since I have bruised/fractured a rib, and every little rock back and forth HURTS alot! I hate to we whiney, as the dealer I use is open until 12 midnight, and all the other dealers are about 15-20 miles away and require appointments.
automophile Posts: 780My car has always had a slight left drift. The dealer has improved it, but it is still there, and I don't reallly notice it anymore. I am trying a different dealer for my next service, we'll see what happens. This is the only "defect" or problem I've ever had with the car in nearly 3 years.
The JBL stereo is not the best I've heard, but I would never say it has too much bass. The relatively small speakers can't gereate much real bass anyway.
If you think the JBL system has WAY too much bass then 1. The system is defective, or 2. your previous system had no bass and you got used to it. -
marvin75 Posts: 7I recently replaced my stock paper air filter with TRD's, and so far I am happy with the change. You really notice the difference more at highway speeds--acceleration is smoother and stronger. Not much difference on city streets, but idle coasting speeds are a bit faster, with less "resistance" to slowing. My concern was that there would be increased engine noise (I like the already quiet ride), but so far I am not bothered by any increase in noise. Has anyone else out there tried this upgrade?...Will see how it affects gas mileage, too.
A side note: Does anyone feel and hear an intermittent mild "thump/jerk" when initially accelerating from stop? It is not a big deal, but I wish accelerating from stop would be smoother. I've got the rocking seat, too, and will take it into the dealer soon. Otherwise, great car!
8000 miles -
webguyster Posts: 434Mine gives a thump when coming to a stop at a red light. It feels like the tranny shifting too hard.Makes a DUNK noise. If it is night, the lights will dim when this happens. It is usually only when in 1 and 2nd gear back to 1st. It almost feels like the A/C compressor is on, but is is not. Is this the same thump you refer to??? Good luck with the rockin' chair...
00 SE V6 Solara package #4, no alloy rim,:^( Black/Ivory
P.S. Got an invite from a company probaly through Edmunds, for $75 for opinion on car designs. Anyone else go to one of these??? -
hambone32 Posts: 68I don't even have 1000 miles on my car and I think I have the rocking chair problem. It squeaks and moves a little when I lean back in it. About the comments made here regarding bass, the stereo has more bass than the little speakers can handle. My previous systems were Nissan Bose and were of much higher quality. The JBL speakers distort way too easily, in my opinion. That is with the bass cut almost to the max. When the bass is flat (at zero) it should sound natural, and that is simply not the case with the JBL. I also feel that the car wanders a bit on the highway. The steering is definitely not tight on my Solara. The paint is average at best, it's a "regular guy car" paint job which is ok because it's not an expensive car. I wanted to put a really good shine on it, but it's just not going to happen. I guess I'm being critical, but I'm starting to notice the car's weaknesses at this point. Still the best for the price.


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F'ville gets ready for the movie cameras, prepares to annex 1,200 county acres
It has been a while coming and the time for what is one of the larger annexations in Fayetteville's history will come before the Fayetteville City Council Thursday night.
A total of 15 parcels representing nearly 1,200 acres on the city's northwest side with multiple land owners involved will make the annexation requests. While most are requesting large lot residential zoning, there will be three property owners with 459 acres requesting PCD (Planned Community District) zoning. One of those is the property on which Pinewood Atlanta will be located.
The large acreage includes various properties along Ga. Highway 54 from east of Sandy Creek Road to Tyrone Road and extending north of the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Sandy Creek Road.
Fayetteville Community Development Director Brian Wismer in a June 13 letter said the impetus for the annexation request relates directly to the Pinewood Atlanta studio project.
"The need for sewer service at this location necessitates that the property be located within the city limits to have access to the city's sewer system," Wismer said. "Because the studio property is not directly contiguous to the city's current borders, other parcels must also be annexed to make this direct connection. In addition, the city has received annexation requests from other contiguous property owners."
The multiple annexations total approximately 1,186 acres contiguous to each other and to the city's northwest side. Those properties, locations and owners include:
• 290 acres on Sandy Creek Road/Veterans Parkway — Rivers Rock, LLC/Pinewood
• 44 acres on Sandy Creek — ARC Enterprises, LLC
• 28 acres on Sandy Creek — Fayette County School System (Rivers Elementary)
• 117 acres on east side of Veterans Parkway — ARC Enterprises
• 4 acres on east side of Veterans Parkway — Mathew Rivers
• 5 acres on east side of Veterans Parkway — Paul Rivers
• 97 acres on north side of Veterans Parkway — Shirley Adams Horton
• 42 acres on south side of Veterans Parkway — Shirley Adams Horton
• 2 acres on south side of Veterans Parkway — Dawn Horton
• 136 acres west of Veterans Parkway — ARC Enterprises
• 122 acres on Hwy. 54 near Tyrone Road — Lester Family, LTD
• 60 acres west of Veterans Parkway — Fayette County School System
• 57 acres on east and west sides of Veterans Parkway — ARC Enterprises
• 30 acres on south side of Hwy. 54 — Unified Consultants
• 152 acres east of Sandy Creek and north of Hwy. 54 — Johnnie E. and Diane G. Williams
A portion of the properties to be annexed are requesting PCD zoning while the remainder are requesting the city's large lot residential (R-70) zoning that is equivalent to the comparable county zoning. Parcels totaling 459 acres are requesting PCD zoning while the remaining parcels totaling 727 acres are requesting R-70 zoning.
The properties requesting PCD zoning include the 290-acre Rivers Rock/Pinewood property, the 28-acre Rivers Elementary School property soon to be purchased by Rivers Rock and an adjacent 44-acre property owned by ARC Enterprises, both of which are located just across Sandy Creek Road and immediately to the north of the Pinewood property. The 97-acre Horton property located immediately to the south of the Pinewood property and bordering Veterans Parkway rounds out the properties seeking PCD zoning.
The properties seeking R-70 zoning include the Williams property east of Sandy Creek Road along Hwy. 54, the Lester property along Hwy. 54 east of Tyrone Road, Horton and ARC Enterprises properties northwest of Piedmont Fayette Hospital, the Fayette County School System property adjacent to the Lester property, additional ARC Enterprises property directly across Veterans Parkway from the Pinewood property and the Unified Consultants property on the south side of Hwy. 54 a short distance east of Veterans Parkway.
The council will hear the second reading of the annexation and rezoning request on July 18.
According to the signs along some of the the Rivers property the rezoning request is changing from From: R70 County ..... To: R70 City.
But according to to the City's meeting earlier this week, that sign for the property should read To: City PCD. A Huge HUGE difference. At the following county meeting, the county says there has been a mistake. Lets see if the county/city both hold up to do the right thing.
The county made an exception to the county's own land use plan and allowed "Business" (Pinewood) to set up in a planned future residential area, under the guise of wanting to create jobs, stimulate growth. etc.
This, by no means, was the first exception in this part of the county. Now, it seems they are going to allow anybody the opportunity to piggyback themselves into Fayetteville.What about the people that payed for River's Elementary school that cost $$$ too much ....all on speculation.
Just another round of speculation here, who's gonna pay for someone else's dream? Who is gonna pay the folks surrounding this area for their busted dream? (nobody)
Basically, my view is Do Pinewood first, then maybe....over time annex other land.....Do we need that much more Zoned Business land in F'ville?
Build it and they will come. That was the thought behind Rivers (now sold), after being under-utilized for a few years.
No one can complain about the R70 zoning. This has been on the books for a number of years and probably why you chose to develop roots in the area.
Like you, I have a hard time swallowing the Planned Community District (PCD) concept especially when the city is changing the rules on the fly with increases in density, single use projects in lieu of multiple use, and provision to change from being located on major streets to side streets.
Just one short year ago, county commissioners Brown and Barlow were both discussing the evils of the WFB. Once Pinewood was announced, for the work done by others, the whole commission latched on as they saw the dollar signs ad Pinewood as a savior from having to make further drastic cuts.
Just this past weekend, I drove down Sandy Creek road after a trip to Atlanta with the family. It's a real shame that the county, and now city is bending over backwards to allow for changes to the long term zoning plan.
You have every right to be upset that the landscape around your property is going to change based on speculative income from a studio that has not yet been completed.


text:
Miele has brought out new induction hobs including the KM 6366 with PowerFlex. It has 6 zones which can combine to create 3 larger PowerFlex zones. PowerFlex consists of two zones which can be used individually or combined into a single large zone to achieve TwinBooster up to 7.4kW output. This provides huge benefits relating to technical advances and flexibility. Ask Miele for this product. They are not currently planning to bring this into the US. About $1800 in the UK 800-894-5891. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Miele KM 6366
This post was edited by dan1888 on Fri, Jun 28, 13 at 18:28
Follow-Up Postings:
If they are not planning to bring it into the US, how do you buy it here, get it installed by Miele, warrantied by Miele, etc. |
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Hi! I am in Zone 9b in Florida, and I am a complete gardening newbie. We have this area in our yard that no one uses - it doesn't get any foot traffic at all. What I'd like to do is cover it with star jasmine, to get a nice fragrance. 1. Is it possible to use star jasmine as a groundcover? 2. Is there a certain way I need to train the plant to grow along the ground, instead of up? 3. What is "pinching the vine"? I have read about doing this to make it grow faster, but I don't know what it is or how to do it.
Thank you for your help!
Follow-Up Postings:
Are you speaking of Trachelospermum jasminoides, commonly called Confederate Jasmine? I've not seen that successfully used as a ground cover, per se, but it's 'sister' plant, Trachelospermum asiaticum does wonderfully in that roll. But without the flowers. |
- Posted by houstonnewbie 9 (My Page) on Wed, Mar 12, 08 at 15:28
I'm in Houston and also looking to plant Confederate Jasmine as a ground cover. Has anyone successfully planted it as a ground cover? If so - how many would you plant and how far apart in a 10x2ft area? I would also appreciate your help! |
I have star jasmine in the beds at work and am considering clippings for my own garden. That's how I happened to find this forum and thought I would share what little knowledge I've found on better homes and gardens (bhg.com) I love that site though it only really has the most common plants - not many hard to find ones. good luck. Trachelospermum Evergreen Groundcover , Perennial , Vine USDA Zones: 8 - 9 Light: partial - full shade Height: 6 feet Width: 4 feet Flower Colors: creamy white or yellow Bloom Time: summer Special Features: Grown for its legendary fragrance, this is an excellent, glossy evergreen vine or loose ground cover for the mild-climate garden. It climbs to a manageable 6 feet and is perfect for a small trellis. It produces the heavenly-scented star-like white or yellow flowers in early summer and sporadically thereafter. Notable Varieties Care Planting Pests and Diseases |
Here is a link that might be useful: bhg.com - Trachelospermum
If I may add a hobbyist opinion ;- I would not hesitate to use T. jasminoides or/and T. asiaticum. I really don't think you need to pinch, trim or train unless you want to confine it in a certain area. Both plants natural habit is creeping along where ever there is room available. If you do not wish for it to go upright just don't provide any thing near by for it to try to climb on. Good Luck! Both are on my most favorite plants list! |
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