text:
on the road o'dreams
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Passing ADV Stalkers in California
Oddometer: 6,128
Most 520's used with dirt and mud and hard riding will go maybe 10,000 to 12,000 miles. An off brand cheapo chain? Even less. DID make all kinds of chains. The stock DR650 chain is a DID "O" ring chain, a good mid grade chain. OK, but not great. Most DR650 riders get about 12,000 miles out of it, more or less. I got just 10,000 out of mine, but I ride in dirt and mud ... like Jay does. See a pattern here? I'm on my 3rd DR650. An X ring chain is substantially better than any O ring chain. And, in my experience, DID make the best in the world X ring chains at the moment. Seems to me a dealer for DiD should be able to order any chain they make. You may have to wait a while for it ... but with a 20,000 mile service life ... most riders can plan well ahead and have the new chain and sprockets waiting when the time comes. My old chain (DID VM-2 X ring) even with 22,000 miles, is still usable. In India or Mexico or many other countries I'm sure riders would get another 10,000 out of it. The key to long life is changing out the countershaft sprocket early, at about 10,000 miles or so. Cleaning and oiling also help. Cheap sprockets or Super miracle sprockets will both eat up your chain and shorten its life. Cheap sprockets will hook and sharpen badly ... and very quickly. This wears a chain out early. Super Hard Miracle sprockets are so hard they bash the rollers and ruin the chain in about 10,000 miles (on a DR650) I like Suzuki stock sprockets but other good ones are : AFAM, JT, Renthal, and Sunstar. (JT and Sunstar are from Thailand ... and getting better as Sunstar now provide sprockets for Triumph) Suzuki sprockets go about 15% further than JT but wear predictably and give plenty of warning as they reach the end. |
Living on a DR
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: New Delhi - new 'home' for post RTW
Oddometer: 1,543
I have 2 more spare front JT sprockets and will change it out when I get to 10k miles. Throttle is feeling responsive with the new chain, after the slack of the Iris, yuck. ___________________ An update on some of things I made for the bike: The chain lubrication system didn't work out so good. It oiled the chain all right, but the oil wouldn't stop dripping until the bottle was drained. This wasn't so much a problem when I had thicker chain lubricant, but once that ran out I began using engine oil and that just ran through the system until the reservoir was dry. Plus, I had dirty oil splattered over the panniers and tool tubes. But, I wrote to Loobman and they've agreed to send me one of their chain lubrication systems, being honored that I copied them In the meantime, I've bought some local Brazilian spray lubricant for $5. The side stand extension bolts have been working great. In the dirt, I just find a suitable stone in the ground to set the stand on and all is good. Today, I got a new lexan windscreen made for the bike. Looks better than what I started the trip with. Total cost with parts and labor: $15 Didn't a chance to get a picture of it, but will post one soon. Seems fitting to get it done here in Bolivia, since I broke my original during my first ride thru here. Some other tasks that I got taken care of here: - spare key from an original Suzuki blank $7. Didn't realize that the original key is over 12 years old and nice and rounded everywhere. New key is sharp. - Got some holes in my gloves stitched up at the cobbler for $5 - bought some coca leaves for $0.50 Altiplano, here I come! Stocking up on food for the Salar trip and need to find a good sleeping bag in Sucre, then I'm all set for the Lagunas route. Woot Thanks Ken in Montana for your gracious donation
J A Y on a 98 Suzuki DR650SE (sanDRina) Trip Website: JamminGlobal.com Current Ride Report: Global South | Past Trips: CDR '09, Alaska '08, Mexico '07 | YouTube Videos |
Totally Normal? I'm not!
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Banana Republic of Black Gold
Oddometer: 1,189
"DIY Loobman"
Hi Jay.
To avoid constant dripping of the oil, turn the bottle around on your DIY system, so that the side through which the oil comes out is facing up. When you want to lube your chain, simply squeeze the bottle so that enough oil goes into the hose (maybe do this every time you roll away from a fuel stop)... that quantity of oil will be enough to lube your chain every tank full or so... That's how the Loobman works, which I personally did not like... I had it installed on my F650 and ended up taking it off... It makes a BIG mess and since it is not constant lubing like the Scottoiler, I figured I'd just keep oiling the chain manually with some ATF every 500 kms or so which has worked great on my two bikes for thousands of kms now. Maybe you'll like it? Buen viaje!
SS. '98 BMW F650 / '06 WR250F / '07 KTM 990 Adv Caracas, Venezuela |
Living on a DR
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: New Delhi - new 'home' for post RTW
Oddometer: 1,543
Brazil, Part 8: Servicing sanDRina in Sao Paulo
October 3 - October 19, 2010
As you might know, I'm using this trip as a transition from my previous life as an engineer to a future life in the humanitarian field and to get me there, I'm studying for a Masters in Sustainable Development from the University of London while I'm traveling and every October, I need to give my yearly exams at a British consulate. I had to decide back in July (while I was in Quito, Ecuador) where I would take the exams and since then, the clock has sort of been ticking down to my arrival in São Paulo. I had hoped to arrive a few days earlier but with the bike issues I had, I got here the day before my first exam. I was well prepared and the exams went well. The next year of study starts in February 2011 and I'll be picking up the course materials (dealing with water issues) in Morocco and will probably take next year's exams in South Africa. With that taken care of, I had lots of bike maintenance to attend to. I stayed with Fernando and Luciana thru CouchSurfing and they put me in touch with a good mechanic who treated sanDRina very well. There're lots of maintenance pictures below and if you're not interested in the oily bits, hold on for the beach shots from Rio next. Having lunch at an Outback Steakhouse with Fernando and Luciana, my hosts thru CouchSurfing. They were very gracious to put me up for two weeks while I got everything with the bike sorted out. Fernando is a medical sales rep and Luciana is finishing up a biochemistry Ph.D. They traveled to Europe recently and would like to live in the US for a few years, so I shared some info on that with them. That evening, we were invited by CouchSurfing friends of Fernando for dinner. The two guys are French ex-pat systems engineers, working on a new subway line here and they're both named Julian. To the right is Eliza, a Japanese-Brazilian and Julian's girl friend, who's a journalist. São Paulo has the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan. With the labor shortage in the coffee plantations at the beginning of the 20th century, many rural Japanese families emigrated to Brazil in search of a better life. Along with them, with Brazil's liberal immigration policies in the past, many others cultures emigrated over such as Italians and Lebanese, creating a cultural melting pot in São Paulo. Eliza grew up in a smaller city north of Rio and spoke of how it took a while before she was accepted as a Brazilian by the locals there. But in the mega city of São Paulo, the Japanese are well-established. Julian and Eliza are both great cooks and before Brazil, he was posted in Thailand and learnt there how to make the good Thai food that we're having for dinner here. In between my exams, Fernando took me for a tour at the Instituto Butantan, where Luciana is working on her Ph.D on developing pharmaceuticals from snake venom. Yup, snakes. All kinds from all over the world. The Butantan Institute is renowned for the production of vaccines and antivenoms and is a leading research facility in venomous animals. It was started in 1901 to combat a bubonic plague outbreak in the nearby port city of Santos. I think I'm a pretty rational guy but I still can't get the societally-installed image (thru movies and our media) of snakes as evil and dangerous out of my mind. I've conquered a lot of my fears over the years, but haven't yet got around to this one. A green tree snake. Fernando pointed out that the triangular-shaped head snakes are usually poisonous but not always. The king of the hill here, the Indian Python. It's not poisonous but is known as a constrictor, meaning it crushes its prey to death, then swallows it. They didn't have an anaconda in the display cases; it would have been nice to compare the two. After seeing some deadly spiders and tarantulas, I was happy to leave before any of the inmates escaped. Receiving a care package from my sister in Miami with a new clutch kit, a new tent from Catoma, some new tool tubes and various other items. This box traveled all over Brazil before I finally got my hands on it. It arrived into Rio (two weeks from Miami) and cleared customs there (surprisingly, I didn't have to pay any customs duties) then it was sent to Kavin in São Luís, but it was too late for me, so he sent it down here to São Paulo. I also got a fresh supply of spices from my mom. This is Buma, Fernando and Luciana's Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy. She was fun to play with and reminded me of Zoey, a pitbull I lived with in Chicago. One aspect I really enjoy of staying with people in their homes is meeting their pets and see what their lives are like. Once my exams were over, it was time to focus on sanDRina. A cousin of Luciana's put me in touch with Rogerio here. He's a Race Tech Suspension, KTM and Honda certified mechanic and perfected his skill in Phoenix, Arizona for many years before returning home to Brazil. He also raced in the Rally dos Sertões with the factory KTM team and had some good stories to tell. I wasn't having any issues with my suspension but after coming across such an experienced mechanic, I figured a rebuild would be good and I knew I could trust him with the prized bits of sanDRina. It was a good call to rebuild the rear shock as I haven't done so since buying the bike and putting around 50,000 kms (31,000 mi) on it since then. It's a Larry Roeseler Signature Series 420 shock and Rogerio said there was very little oil left and the nitrogen from the bladder had all but leaked out. He put in some good quality Motorex shock oil and said the rest of the unit looked good. The shop we're at is called Street Fighters and they're new on the scene but are quickly creating a good name for themselves. The clutch problems that started back in Bolivia were finally being put to rest with this new EBC Heavy Duty clutch kit from ProCycle. The fibre plates are soaking in engine oil before installation. This was the little battery that the mechanic gave me in Cambui to get me here. It did really good and Rogerio joked that I should carry it as a spare. It was replaced with a new Yuasa battery. The front forks being rebuilt. The seals looked good, so the oil was changed and the Race Tech Cartridge Emulators were also rebuilt. The valve springs in the emulators had busted through the housing after probably hitting a few pot holes on the TransAmazonica too hard. My WER steering stabilizer was also rebuilt with fresh oil. That's Andreas, Rogerio's right-hand man who worked with steady precision. His ride was a DR800, knows as the DR Big. Rebuilding the fuel petcocks on the Aqualine Safari tank. The alignment of the holes with the path in the key determines if you're running on reserve or normal. I had noticed a notch in the steering and Rogerio confirmed that the bearings were shot. Andreas is whacking out the old steering head bearings that were put in before my Continental Divide trip. I wasn't so keen on All Balls bearings after the rear wheel ones failed on me in Peru, but that's all they had in São Paulo and I was happy they were able to find the specific bearings for my bike. The rest of the guys at Street Fighters were top notch as well and were running around town getting whatever I needed for the bike. It was a good place to be. As we were working into the evening, a few guys from the next door univeristy (UNIP) came over and asked for Rogerio's help. Turned out they were part of the Formula SAE program, where college teams engineer and race a mini formula race car against other colleges in a performance and design competition. Formula SAE was my life during my undergrad at Purdue's Mechanical Engineering and that's where I learnt most of what I know about wrenching on cars and bikes. Before that I didn't know how suspensions or differentials worked. I was also introduced to machining there, spending entire weekends over a lathe, turning out bespoke parts for the car. The ultimate reward was getting to be the test driver over the summer; pulling g-forces is an awesome feeling. They just rebuilt their engine (from a Yamaha R6) and were having some issues with the transmission. The formula dictates the engine size to 600 cc, which means most teams use a sportbike engine. On my team, I was responsible for the heat exchanger and fuel delivery systems. This team was having some issues with over heating and asked me a few questions on it. I had designed a water spray system for our car to take advantage of evaporative cooling, but the added weight wasn't justified. I still would like to design such a system for the DR - one of the things I didn't get around to before leaving on the trip. sanDRina with the whole crew at Street Fighters. I was done with Round 1 and would soon be back for more. Going for a test ride around the city. São Paulo is a modern city and parts of it feel like New York and other parts like San Francisco (lots of hills). It's the biggest city in the southern hemisphere with a metro population of around 20 million. It's considered an Alpha World City, being an important node in the global economic system. There's not too many touristic things to do, but it's a great place to get things done. Fernando had to go away on a business trip for a few days, so I stayed with Julian in his well-secured apartment block. São Paulo is very progressive, but crime is still a big concern and most residences are secured like fortresses. Julian, being French, moves around with a crepe-maker. Reminding me of my life in Chicago - he likes to throw frequent get togethers centered on food. He made all sorts of delicious crepes including the staple Nutella and banana but I requested a special kind here with this Thai chilly paste (which was kind of sweet) with rice. Strange, but it tasted yummy. At the crepe party, I met Bianca (with the red scarf), one of Eliza's journalist friends and she asked if I could make my chicken curry for a party she was throwing the next night at her place here. You betcha. This is at Bianca's place and more of their journo friends. I love coming into someone's house and going straight to their kitchen. Bianca asked what I needed the night before and had all the ingredients ready. Here, I'm slowing adding in the chopped tomatoes to get the sauce out of the curry. I usually make my curry not very spicy due to the sensitive taste buds of South Americans but on request, I made a separate dish that was more spicy. Fernando getting the hookah going, which is an Indian waterpipe for smoking tobacco (usually flavoured), which is gaining popularity around the world. I'm not a tobacco smoker, but if it's filtered through water and chilled in the same process with a bit of flavour thrown in, it's not bad at all. A shot from the desert tray of baklava (a Turkish pastry) towards the waftings of the Indian curry. Bianca's traveled around and was pleased at the aromas in her place. Seasoning the curries with freshly chopped cilantro. I was pleased to see more people went for the spicier of the two curries. If you've been following the trip, you're probably aware that I'm making the same dish all the time. Many reasons for this: the ingredients are simple and easy to source anywhere, plus with a new audience every time, it's still new and novel to them. Also, I've read that success in anything comes with many, many hours of practice, so my curry keeps getting better all the time. Stuffed with curry, the diners laze around the low table, taking puffs from the hookah. Having a drink of Arak, an anise-based liqour, which acts like a digestive. Sharing a wonderful evening with warm Paulistas over some Indian food. After a long weekend, it was back to Street Fighters to take care of some long-term maintenance issues. Giving the starter motor a good cleaning. Everything checked out all right. We also tested the whole charging system: the generator, the rectifier and inspected the wiring loom. We had to remove the Cam Chain Tensioner to remove the starter motor and if you remember from way back in San Francisco, the mis-assembly of this part was the reason I destroyed my original engine. I expressed my reservations to Rogerio about messing with the tensioner and he assured me that he would show me exactly how to reinstall it the proper way. I released the tensioner with the correct tension on the cam chain and nothing broke this time. I liked Rogerio's philosophy as a mechanic. He said a motorcycle is simply a machine and if everything is working perfectly, you should be able to disassemble and reassemble every part of it with no issues. Of course, you must have the knowledge of how to do it and enough experience and wisdom to guide you through it. Having lunch with the Street Fighters crew at the next door Japanese por kilo restaurant. Unique to Brazil are the normalcy of restaurants that charge you by the weight of the food you take from a buffet line. This definitely helps cut down on food waste as you will only take what you can finish. Cheaper restaurants charge around R$ 10/kilo ($2.50/lb) for the regular fare of rice and beans with some meat up to fancier restaurants like this one with sushi and tasty Japanese dishes for R$ 20/kilo. One of the issues I couldn't solve at Street Fighters was my jet needle problem. We couldn't find a spare that matched my needle exactly after scouring most of the moto shops in town. Rogerio sent me to Roberto's shop here. He's a specialist mechanic doing custom jobs on older motorcycles. Roberto's engine expertise has been called on by the state oil company, Petrobras for designing and machining some parts for oil rig pumps. I explained my problem to him and he went about devising a solution. The problem with my jet needle was that it was too short, therefore the carburetor was running rich. We couldn't find a spare at his shop, which had engine parts lying all around, so he figured it would be best to mate on the additional piece that was broken off. The jet needle with a new head, secured on with a collar, which was soldered on, but being brass and aluminum, it was hard to get a good mate. I installed it in the carburetor and the engine was sounding good again, but this issue wasn't closed yet. The next day, while riding around town, the collar came loose and the needle fell into the carburetor, making the bike run terribly. I limped the bike across town to Rogerio's next contact, Paulo, another motorcycle machinist who's worked on setting up race bikes, along with vintage ones like this hard tail Harley here. He machined me a new jet needle out of brass to match the profile of my original jet needle as close as possible. The tapered profile of the jet needle is crucial to smooth running of the throttle. But alas, this solution too did not work. I couldn't get the bike to run properly with this new needle. The exact characteristics of the profile could not be matched and these small discrepancies meant my only solution was to put back the shortened original jet needle in the carburetor and order the exact parts from the US. Time to fire up my support network: I called up my mechanic, Gus in Chicago and he ordered the parts right away and sent them to my sister, who FedEx-ed them down to me. The logistics of the situation, with my 90 day Brazilian visa expiring (I spent a whole 3 months in Brazil) and visa extension being a complicated process for me meant that the needle would be best sent to Buenos Aires, where I would meet it in a few weeks time. At least I made a new throttle cable and a spare while I was at it. I got some new tool tubes in my care package and went over to friends of Rogerio: Julio and Felipe's hardware shop to source some good hose clamps. When I was ready to pay, the owner Julio said it was on him as he was glad to help a world traveler. He too rides bikes and said he wished he could be doing a trip like mine. The backend of the bike was looking clean now and I thanked Julio for his contribution. Every Thursday night is a bike night at Street Fighters and the cool thing about the place is that at day it's a motorcycle shop and at night it turns into a happening bar. I think the place is better referred to as a motorcycle boutique. As you might expect, I was standing around answering lots of questions. One more day at the shop. In the days leading up to my arrival in São Paulo, on cold starts in the mornings, heavy smoke would billow out of the exhaust for the first few seconds. While not affecting the performance of the bike, I wanted to get it checked out and Rogerio said it was probably my valve stem oil seals seeping oil onto the piston that was being burnt when the engine was cold-started. And since we were removing the cylinder head to service that, might as well go one step further and service the piston. That's carbon buildup on the piston head from over 46,900 kms (29,100 mi) on this engine. However, I think most of that was from the recent very rich running of the carburetor. There was a bit of oil blow back past the piston rings (which are tasked with separating the engine oil from the combustion chamber) and since we found an original set of piston rings for my bike at the local Suzuki dealer, might as well change them out now as I don't think I'll be going back into the engine anytime soon (hopefully). Rogerio's running a wire brush here to polish up the surface. He worked diligently on servicing all the parts. Aware that my previous engine rebuild of my original engine before the trip began lead to its demise (due to my own fault with the cam chain tensioner), I was not deterred of going back into an engine under the expert guidance of Rogerio. The cross-hatches on the Nikasil coated cylinder walls looking good. This is where the piston slides up and down and the hatches retain oil in them creating a film for smooth piston action. New valve stem oil seals installed (the green parts), which were also conveniently found at the local Suzuki dealer. Upon inspecting the valves, Rogerio pointed out the curve that had set in on the valve face. This is an intake valve and the curve meant that when the valve was closed against the cylinder head the seal wasn't perfect and prolonged use would perpetuate the curve and lead to reduced combustion chamber compression pressure (loss of power). Not finding new valves, we went over to the machine shop at the university with the Formula SAE team and they were happy to help. The valve face was slowly grinded flat in a lathe. Now that's what a proper valve face is supposed to look like. With the new face, a considerable amount of time was spent re-seating the valves in the cylinder head with a specific grinding paste that ensured the two surfaces mated properly. A clean-looking piston back in its home of the engine cylinder. The reassembly of the engine went smoothly and the bike fired up nicely with no smoke on subsequent restarts. sanDRina was feeling fresh all over (rebuilt suspension, top end engine, new bearings, cleaned starter motor, etc), except she was still running the shortened jet needle. We cranked up the rear spring some more when the shock was rebuilt and this raised the height of the bike and rendered my shortened side stand too short now, so I devised this extension system with three bolts. It would work nicely on hard surfaces but would obviously sink in on loose ground like mud, but placing it on a stone would take care of that. People warned me of the crazy traffic in São Paulo, but it wasn't bad at all. I guess by now I've gotten enough experience of driving through Latin American cities that it comes naturally, that is being aggressive defensive through traffic. But a nice feature of some main routes in São Paulo are these exclusive lanes for motorcycles. Cars are not allowed to stray into this lane and none of them did, making it a breeze during rush hours. This also cuts down on the amount of motorcycles lane-splitting around cars and inadvertently hitting mirrors and scratching doors. I heard the local bikers here, especially the messenger boys, are quite aggressive and will kick mirrors if cars are blocking a path between lanes. A sign warning bikers to be careful as they cut across lanes near an intersection. Traffic was well-behaved around São Paulo and when there were no exclusive motorcycle lanes, I notched up my lane-splitting experience. Back at Street Fighters, every Saturday, after closing down the shop at noon, the churrasco (bbq) is fired up and staff and customers enjoy some skewers of beef and chicken with beers and caipirinhas. A big thanks to Rogerio for all the excellent work he did on sanDRina and for teaching me a lot of things along the way. With the crew at Street Fighters. They accepted me as part of the family over the ten days that I kept coming back here. And I thanked them for the heavy discounts they gave me on the work that was done there. Things got a little crazy. This beer can was inverted and holes were punched in the bottom with rock salt placed on top with another hole for drinking. They do crazy things with beer in each country down here. The sun setting over my two weeks in São Paulo. I met many nice Paulistas and got a lot of things taken care of and now it was time to head to the beach and Rio for a bit of R&R.
J A Y on a 98 Suzuki DR650SE (sanDRina) Trip Website: JamminGlobal.com Current Ride Report: Global South | Past Trips: CDR '09, Alaska '08, Mexico '07 | YouTube Videos Jammin screwed with this post 12-10-2010 at 10:22 PM |
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: May 2008
Location: Versailles, KY
Oddometer: 447
I'm marveling at the re-build work you are able to get done down there. In the US, it would probably be cheaper to get another bike (engine or other part). I'm sure there are people here with the skills to rebuild engines (or other parts) like that, but with the economics of the situation being what they are, I doubt they get much practice. As you noted, practice is essential. That simply reinforces the replacement paradigm.
My inclination on the carb issue would be to return to stock. LOVING the report.
2006 Yamaha XT225 (TM33,Wiseco 10.25 to 1 piston, Webcams 89A cam, beehive racing springs, RDL seat) 2000 ST1100 ABS, RDL seat |
belligerent cameloid
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: twixt & tween
Oddometer: 17,972
Holy Cow! It's like a brand new bike.
World Community Grid - Team ADVrider |
Gnarly Adventurer
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Northern Ca.
Oddometer: 496
WOW, I just found you RR yesterday. I have spent most of Saturday and this morning (Sunday) following your trip. Can't seem to get away from the computer. I would love to do somthing like your doing but i don't think I will ever be able too.
So let me thank you for allowing me to ride along with you from the comfort of my computer chair. Although some of those high, narrow mountain passes, truck passing were a little nerve racking. I have subscribed to your RR and plan to follow you to India. I wish you good luck. Keep it coming!!!! LaPorte
If you don't know where your going don't lead! |
Joined: May 2010
Location: plymouth, mi
Oddometer: 15
Hello Jay, you have talked alot about your chicken curry. I was wondering if you could post a recipe of the curry (if not exactly maybe ingredients)?
Oh, also have subscribed and have loved the ride! Safe travels! -Vincent
Studly Adventurer
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA
Oddometer: 755
My DR was having the same cold start smoke problem. Thanks for diagnosing it for me ;) It's a bummer I missed you, I am back in San Francisco after having sold my DR650 in Bariloche. I wish you good luck with your continued journey and I will keep following it :) Michael
San Francisco to South America, eventually |
Notta Poser
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Baños, Ecuador
Oddometer: 254
"Are you hip?"
Motorcycle Tour Guide - Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental Quito, Ecuador EC# 593-8-376-4181 US# 507-593-9550 skypename - candohome |
Living on a DR
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: New Delhi - new 'home' for post RTW
Oddometer: 1,543
Hola amigos, I am back in the thick of Bolivia and loving it. Spent the last 4 days on the Ruta del Che, a route from Santa Cruz to Sucre going through the towns following the last few days of Che Guevara. The sights were interesting, but the roads were the highlight. Nice dirt, rocks, gullies, water crossings, cliffs and goats = a recipe for great riding
Am in Sucre now and feels good to be back in a proper Andean city. It's 2,800 m (9,200 ft) here and will spend a few days getting acclimatized here before heading for the salar. Also need to find a good sleeping bag and fix a few things. Thanks for the comments, will reply shortly.
J A Y on a 98 Suzuki DR650SE (sanDRina) Trip Website: JamminGlobal.com Current Ride Report: Global South | Past Trips: CDR '09, Alaska '08, Mexico '07 | YouTube Videos |
Living on a DR
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: New Delhi - new 'home' for post RTW
Oddometer: 1,543
Yeah, I thought a lot about having a stock carb shipped to me, but now with all the proper parts in the carb, she's running like a top again. I've been up past 14,000 ft and no issues. I'll keep the flat slide for now. Haha, yup. I joke that now only the chassis is from 1998 and who knows, even that might be replaced at some point in the future. Quote:
Haha, thanks Aaron. Hope all is well in Quito.
J A Y on a 98 Suzuki DR650SE (sanDRina) Trip Website: JamminGlobal.com Current Ride Report: Global South | Past Trips: CDR '09, Alaska '08, Mexico '07 | YouTube Videos |
Living on a DR
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: New Delhi - new 'home' for post RTW
Oddometer: 1,543
Quite a productive day today here in Sucre. I found a down sleeping bag for $32, repaired my air mattress (sprung a leak). Welded up my pannier frame after the weight of the tool tubes and the washboard didn't get along. And also welded an additional inch to my side stand, so wont be needing the screws anymore. Mounted the knobby front tire. Bring on the sand.
Bought some supplies for the Uyuni trip (oatmeal). Need to bleed the brakes tomorrow and then I'm all set. She's going to be perfect by the time I get to Uyuni.
J A Y on a 98 Suzuki DR650SE (sanDRina) Trip Website: JamminGlobal.com Current Ride Report: Global South | Past Trips: CDR '09, Alaska '08, Mexico '07 | YouTube Videos |
ADVrider junkie :)
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Patras, Greece
Oddometer: 630
cool ............
------------------------------------------------ '03 Aprilia ETV1000 Caponord |
Studly Adventurer
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Woosta county, MA
Oddometer: 756
Vanakkam Nanba. Kalakkurey. Romba perumaya irukku.
Greetings friend! Very proud to see another Madrasi on a RTW. Been following your thread for quite some time and enjoyed reading. Didn't wanna post until I completed reading it. One of the best RRs I have read.
I hope to meet you if my vacation (to India) coincides with your arrival in Chennai later in life.. 2012 or 2013? I may never be able to do a trip like yours, so thanks for taking us along. Good luck & be safe.
DR650 - FZ1 - 200 EXC (plated - Not inspected yet) |
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Joangel Concepcion KVEO - NewsCenter Reporter
Joangel Concepcion is a General Assignment reporter. Joangel joined the Newscenter 23 team in October 2010. Before arriving in McAllen, Joangel interned at NBC Philadelphia (DMA #4). She also was an anchor/general assignment reporter for Temple Update. There she covered everything from poverty to murders.
Joangel began her career here in Rio Grande Valley covering a variety of stories. She shoots, writes, and edits her own packages on a daily basis. During her time in the Valley Joangel has covered several top stories, but the one that left the biggest impact was when she explored the issue of suicide after the death of a local Police Chief.
Born and raised in Miami, FL, Joangel graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism.
In her spare time, Joangel enjoys cooking, exercising and enjoying the outdoors.


text: RENOVATED 1 bedroom. Stylish kitchen & bathroom. Great location by scenic park! Beautiful wood floors & spacious balcony. Parking & laundry on-site. Close to shops & all amenities! Easy access to TTC, 401 & DVP. Heating & water included (hydro extra). CALL 416-444-7280 for availability. See our other suites at ViT#B2502.


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Tandy Brands Provides Update On Current Events
- Appoints John Little as Chief Restructuring Officer
- Plans to file Form 10-Q on or before April 22, 2013
- Provides updates on negotiations with senior lender to address covenant violation
DALLAS, March 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tandy Brands Accessories, Inc. (Nasdaq:TBAC) today provided an update on current events.
"Because of the disappointing performance of a portion of our Gifts segment in December 2012 we violated the fixed-charge coverage covenant in our credit agreement with our senior lender," said Rod McGeachy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tandy Brands. "Although total gross sales targets were met, the profit miss was driven by a highly promotional retail environment, which drove higher than expected sales allowances and higher returns of unsold inventories, both of which reduced our gift net sales in the quarter ended December 31, 2012."
Appoints John Little Chief Restructuring Officer
"Today, although we are in violation of the fixed-charge coverage covenant, we remain in compliance with the liquidity covenants with our senior lender. However, the profit miss and seasonal nature of our business has reduced our liquidity to a point we believe outside capital is necessary in the near term to solidify our balance sheet," said McGeachy. "To facilitate this, we are leveraging the capabilities of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, and specifically, the expertise of John Little." The Company is pleased to engage the services of Mr. Little as Chief Restructuring Officer, and has provided the following biography for Mr. Little: Mr. Little has over 25 years of management and leadership experience and specializes in corporate restructuring services including working capital management, debt capacity analysis, business plan analysis and development, performance improvement, vendor and business partner diligence, as well as many other business performance issues. He holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and the Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP®) designations. Prior to joining Deloitte & Touche LLP, Mr. Little served as an active duty officer in U.S. Army Engineer and Special Forces (Green Beret) units. Mr. Little will remain a principal of Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP while he is engaged by the Company as a consultant.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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The nursery is available during the 8:30 am am Sunday Mass for children from 12 to 36 months of age. In this parent cooperative program parents are encouraged to lend a hand, on a rotating basis, in the operation of the nursery. The nursery is also a volunteer opportunity for any teen, young adult or adult of the parish.
Parish Nursery
February 28, 2011 by


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Queen Helene • Mint Julep Natural Facial Scrub • Scrubs
(258 reviews)
Average Rating. | 4.3 |
Would buy this product again. | 86% |
Ingredients |
LadyClaudia on 1/25/2013 4:52:00 PM more reviews by LadyClaudia
Age: 18 & Under Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine Eyes: Green
This stuff is great! It really exfoliates your skin and helps with acne in conjunction with the Mint Julep Mask. I use this everyday, and for a week, I used it with the mask, and it really helped my skin. It dries it out a bit, so make sure you have a good moisturizer. It gets rid of scaly spots very well. I have no complaints about it, except that it would be better with a flip top, since I use it in the shower. But at least it's not in a tub, and the twist off cap isn't horrible. It doesn't smell like mint, surprisingly, but more like a light lemon/citrus. Nevertheless, it smells great, and works very well, especially since it's only a few bucks for something that will last you quite a while. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Ene on 12/9/2012 5:43:00 PM more reviews by Ene
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination Hair: Black Eyes: Black
this product was ok for me. i only like that it made my skin feel tighter but it does have a drying effect. you just need to have a good moisturiser. personally i use a shea butter to moisturise. but over all the product is ok.at least i dont break out
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
lolitavanilla on 12/4/2012 12:07:00 PM more reviews by lolitavanilla
Age: 19-24 Skin: Dry, Fair Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
This product has balanced my skin and it just looks healthly. It takes a week to start seeing consistant results. It only feels to abrasive if i scrub with a wash cloth but my fingers work just as good so its not a problem. I use this more to loosen up dirt and blackheads rather than just a cleanser by its self. I use this then the purpose gentle cleansing wash. Result deep clean without tighness, dryness or irritation and my skin doesnt start over producing oil fromto much stripping. I think this scrub is better than clinque´s seven day scrub.
This scrub would work great for those with dry skin it doesnt over dry.The mint tingle is very relaxing too.
With a sally´s beauty club card u can get it for 3.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
jlhoward27 on 11/15/2012 8:41:00 AM more reviews by jlhoward27
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond, Medium Eyes: Blue
I liked this product. It's just a simple scrub with a nice clean mint tingle. It wasn't amazing but for the price it's worth it!
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SkinMission22 on 10/2/2012 2:38:00 PM more reviews by SkinMission22
Age: 18 & Under Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
Miracle! Absolute Miracle!
I used the mask before and figured if that works so good, I should use the scrub because my skin has always had rough patches. But after using this. My skin is clear and smooth! I was like wow. My acne is pretty much gone and ever since I had it since the 4th grade, nothing like this has done something so wonderful. I will of course buy it again and again.
You better believe that if this is going to be discontinued, I will protest!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
walk6860 on 9/27/2012 4:30:00 PM more reviews by walk6860
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond Eyes: Green
Generally speaking, I really like this product. I use it in the shower a few times a week to wake my skin up. I actually love the smell - minty and fresh, and definitely works well with the steam of the shower to remove dead skin cells.
It is a tad too abrasive, and I should really cut back on how many times I use it weekly - but I am addicted to the fresh feeling,
Cost effective, lasts a LONG time, readily available, and not likely to be discontinued. A product that I will definitely come back to.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
cravemakeup9 on 8/17/2012 8:56:00 PM more reviews by cravemakeup9
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination Hair: Black Eyes: Black
Ok this is a one week mask kind of thing. If you do it everyday literally your face will burn for a few minutes and breakout. With that being said...Once I see a breakout coming thru I use this and the next day!! BAM clear smooth face! It has a cool minty feel to it but once it dries up it feels funny and stops tingling. This product is really strong so I would recommend another mask.
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campasianspice on 8/17/2012 8:40:00 PM more reviews by campasianspice
Age: 25-29 Skin: Combination, Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
I bought Queen Helene's scrub because her facial mask was okay and inexpensive. First, I don't recommend using it on the face. The product is too abrasive. I didn't mind because I planned on using it to shave. However, the smell was something I really detested. I will go back to using apricot scrub (St. Ives or generic).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
FloofyCurls on 6/19/2012 7:46:00 PM more reviews by FloofyCurls
Age: 18 & Under Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Brown
This cleared my skin up and completely smoothed my face over. Pores? Gone. Blackheads? What are those? Redness? None. My face went from feeling sweaty and icky and oily from no AC in my house and ninety-degree temps to smooth and cool and refreshed and, well, gorgeous. IN ONE USE. OVERNIGHT. It was astounding. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this scrub. Run to Sally's, pick it up, and don't let anyone have any. Ever. Nope, never.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* egoh on 5/19/2012 4:49:00 PM more reviews by egoh
Age: 36-43 Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral Hair: Grey, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Brown
This is one of those products that I feel like I SHOULD have come across earlier yet never did ! I bought it at Sally Beauty Supply as a "filler" to get free shipping. It has become my go to facial scrub in the shower. It has a very refreshing scent and the beads are so gentle that I never feel like it's cutting into my skin yet it sure does give my face a smooth polish afterwards. Will definitely repurchase :)
Top Rated Scrubs
- 246 reviews
Mary Kay Micro-dermabrasion
132 reviewsAmore Pacific treatment enzyme peel
41 reviews


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Can a Fed rate cut make credit flow?
An interest-rate move Wednesday could make some loans cheaper than at any time since 2003.
scott wallace - staff
New York
For the ninth time in just over a year, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to cut interest rates, quite possibly its last reduction in this downturn.
The Fed's move would probably take rates to the lowest levels since 2003, when the economy was growing at a snail's pace, and could mean a full percentage point decline this month alone, a rare sharp drop and an indication of how quickly the central bank sees the need to respond to the sinking economy.
The rate reduction co-incides with a Fed rule change that allows it to pay interest on banks' excess reserves – a change that experts say gives Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke the ability to provide almost unlimited liquidity to the US banking system. This October one-two combination will be a powerful lever for the economy, economists say, perhaps enough to finally begin to relieve some of the pressures on credit markets.
"The Fed is pushing on the accelerator as hard as it can," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "By paying interest rates on reserves, the Fed is able to provide so much cash to financial institutions that there will be no reason for them not to lend to one another and, by extension, to business and households."
If the Fed is successful, the change will be welcomed by struggling corporations, some of which are now paying more than 18 percent to borrow money. Even some investment-grade companies are paying as much as 9 percent.
"Anything with risk attached is [stuck with] high rates, so lowering rates would be helpful," says Mr. Zandi.
The Fed's move on Wednesday is expected to lower the federal funds rate – the rate at which banks lend their excess reserves through the central bank to other financial institutions – to 1 percent. Economists anticipate that other major central banks will also lower rates in a coordinated rate cut much like the half-a-percentage point drop in early October.


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Video: Topics: Arts & Entertainment: Music
Heaven & Earth: Mass on the Celtic Journey
This beautiful music performance, recorded in Des Moines, features the tales of Celtic figures from history and legend. 00:35
PBS NewsHour | Conversation: John Legend | PBS (#10266)
Jeffery Brown talks to singer-songwriter John Legend. 12:20
Independent Lens | Haiti's Best Known Band Keeps Hope Alive | PBS (#1318)
Watch "When the Drum is Beating" - April 12, 2012 (check local listings) 00:26
Great Performances | Clip from The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall | PBS (#3613)
Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess sing the title song, "Phantom of the Opera" 01:21
Great Performances | The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall | PBS (#3613)
Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking hit comes to PBS in March (check local listings) 00:30
American Masters | Danny Holgate plays Gershwin | PBS (#2502)
Danny Holgate plays a section of "Ain't Necesarily So" 00:27
American Masters | The Blues Brothers Band Remembers Cab Calloway | PBS (#2502)
The Blues Brothers Band tells a story about meeting Cab Calloway in an elevator 02:22
American Masters | Cab Calloway vs. Dizzy Gillespie | PBS (#2502)
Writers and critics discuss the long-time rivalry between Cab and Dizzy 02:29
American Masters | Chris Calloway Brooks Discuss His Grandfather | PBS (#2502)
Musician Chris Calloway Brooks discusses the music of Cab Calloway 03:43
Great Performances | The Thomashefskys | PBS (#3706)
A celebration of Yiddish theater airs Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. (check local listings) 00:36
In Performance at The White House | Red White and Blues | PBS (#1802)
In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues traces the influence of the Blues 00:30
To The Contrary | TTC Extra: Hollywood Stars Speak Out About Weight | PBS
Hollywood Stars Speak Out About Weight 05:22
PBS NewsHour | Conversastion: Pianist Jonathan Biss | PBS
Jeffrey Brown talks to pianist Jonathan Biss. 07:35
PBS NewsHour | OK Go's Damian Kulash | PBS (#10259)
OK Go's Damian Kulash 06:12
PBS NewsHour | OK Go's Damian Kulash Fixes a Studio Light | PBS (#10259)
OK Go's Damian Kulash Fixes a Studio Light 00:44


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Want to make an Anime? Dai Sato tells you how.I know there are a lot of foreign art/animation fans here on DA, fans of works and artists from Europe and Japan. Dai Sato, the legendary writer for classic, foreign TV shows such as COWBOY BEBOP, GHOST IN THE SHELL and WOLF'S RAIN explains the process of creating an animated series in japan. Take notes for you students/fans out there and enjoy! PART 1.:PART2:
Some more tips to FreelancingJust over a year ago, I compiled a small list of things you need to get started as a Freelance artist.Let's accelerate a little bit, and assume that now you're in the business and have a pretty good groove going. While the core principles are still paramount to anything else, here are some quick one-shot tidbits of information that will assuredly save your bacon.Back up everything, including the backups.When working digitally, it's so easy to accidentally delete something off your hard drive and be unable to get it back. I've done this a few times myself. Even had entire hard drives fail on me. But it has been a very, very long time since the last time I had to redo an image from the start. Sure, I've had crashes that put me back an hour, I've merged layers together in a manner that ruins my work flow and makes the file unusable. But fixing these issues isn't nearly as painful
Time to begin promoting YOU! [IMPORTANT]It's Time to begin promoting some artists, FB page has almost 1000 Likes and the Channel has 500+ Subscribers so we can start with this! (if you are interested fav this or comment)YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/dexelkyrFacebook Page :http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dex91/346330452135645-Twitter: Dex911Heya there guys!I realized we almost reached 1000 likes on Facebook and 500 Subscribers on YouTube, so i want to start promoting some artists right NOW! I've been in the first 8 videos; enough for me, now it's your turn!Hence, here is what i thought: i could use my YouTube Channel to feature and promote unrecognized talents, to start. This "series" or whatever you call it could have regular episodes, and will be totally focused on promoting you!I could make a kind-of Vlog in which i tell you about some ideas i have, so that you can tell me your opinion *-*Here is a List of ideas i got for the name of the series i already told y
Journals: The Tweaks We ALL WantWell, that didn't entirely go as planned. There are a few issues with the Journal implementation, but there aren't any issues we can't easily fix. And we got so much great feedback, that we now clearly understand some things we didn't before. The best part is, we're going to get the best of both worlds for Journals. All of the benefits of the deviation system for Journals, with all of the resolutions that were vocalized as concerns.Monday of next week, we're going to release the following changes so that everyone can SMILE! When you go to publish a Journal, you'll be able to Submit your Journal to your Profile just as you did before the changes. The Journal will go out to your +Watch list, display on your Journal tab and on your Profile Page (if applicable.) There wouldn't be a +Favorite button unless you Submit to The deviantART Journal.That's right! You'll also be able to publish to
THE CHURCH OF GOOGLISMSTEP 1: The problem.You have a problem.Don't tell me you don't have problems.Everyone has problems.Determine what your biggest problem is.Don't have a big problem? Too scared to admit it?You can start smaller- How about a small problem?How about something that concerns/bothers/confuses you today/this week/recently?Come up with a bunch of keywords that describe your problem.STEP 2: Ask google for solution to your problem.Google your question using ALL the possible keyword combinations that your problem relates to or has in it.See if anyone already has a similar problem or has already resolved it.Take 3 hours if you must.Finding correct information can get tough, especially if it is obscure, hidden, answered incorrectly or has conflicting answers.Answers without proper sources or evidence are generally incorrect and should be disregarded.If there are too many conflicting solutions and opposing answers and you're not sure which is correct,Use the principle of
SNIPPY: QUESTIONABLE REALITYI definitely thought about killing Captain, especially after several pranks that were pulled on me like that time when I woke up with a bucket super-glued to my head and declared "iron man".Or that time when Captain made a soup out of my gas mask filters because the broth needed the "Smooth flavour of Snippy" and salt wasn't available... so I had to roam the decaying shopping malls for a new pair.Or that time when Captain pushed me into a watery abyss inside a wooden barrel to celebrate "Niagara falls day".Have my thoughts become so compounded as to finally cause schizophrenia?...Am I a stone throw away from becoming like Pilot, talking to pet rocks and building the Bastion of Captania out of rotting shoe boxes?And if I were to kill Captain who would I have left?I must have been talking out loud like those crazy hobos that lived outside the protectorate dome that communicated with radioactive rain clouds via conversations of interpretive dance, until they were consumed by a famil
Site Update: Help Desk Closure, Manage FavouritesIn our continuous effort to improve the deviantART experience, we're publishing weekly Site Updates to keep members informed and to gather feedback. Below is a list of recent changes to the site, bug fixes, and feedback that was brought up by members in the last Site Update.What's NewHelp Desk Closure, July 4thIn honor of Independence Day in the United States, the Help Desk will be closed on Friday, July 4th. We'll be back to our normal business hours on Monday, July 7th. Please keep in mind that due to this extended weekend, there will be some delays in ticket responses upon our reopening. Any tickets filed will be attended to as soon as possible.Change LogTrying to view comments left on a file in Sta.sh after that file was submitted as a deviation would redirect to an error page, rather than displaying the Sta.sh comments. Fixed
DO YOU KNOW THESE ARTISTS?It's been a while since i've shared some of my favorite deviants. Here's a list of talent that some of you may or may not be aware of that i've been drooling over lately. I love this place!Check 'em out!::iconmonk-art: Fabian Schlaga. LEGEND. If you haven't heard of this guy, you're missing out!:iconsaspy: Saspy's work is amazing. The female mega-talent from Italy shows no sign of slowing down with her bright and fun approaches to character design, expressions and energy.:iconjoel27: Joel is currently my FAVORITE ARTIST on Deviantart. Just flip through his gallery and you might find yourself there all day.:icontchokun: French Artist who worked on online games and flash shorts such as WAKFU is not to be missed. serious talent here:iconrikkitikki: Rikkitikki's light hearted animation influence illustrations are something to fall in love with. He's got a detective concept he's been playing with that shows the main characters quite often and i usually fave when he draws th
ANIME CURRICULUM?If there were an Art University in America that decided to introduce a "ANIME PRINCIPLES" class in their animation program, A class that would not only cover the art of creating TV production/feature anime, art history and it's understanding, but taught by, say-- Peter Chung-- with special periodical class visits throughout the semester by Japanese Animation Directors from Gainax, Madhouse, Studio Pierrot, Bones, Ghibli and Production I.G. ( with english translators of course) with the final thesis of a 3 minute short to be shown to them for judging. And the top graduates were to be awarded and a year internship at any of these studios,Would you attend something like that? or not?Why?
WEBCOMICKERS: What are we afraid of?Anxiety and ComicsFor the Month of March, we polled webcomic users on Deviantart, Twitter, and forums, posing the question: What are the challenges that make you most anxious when beginning a new story or project?We got a lot of excellent responses and more than a few webcomickers were willing to bare all their anxieties and frustrations! Any advice for conquering any of these infamous terrors? What worked for you? Tell us in the comments!Top 5 Anxiety issues 1. Confidence/Self-doubt (22%):icontheblackwonderland: "i'm just afraid people might not like it and all the work would be for nothing":iconwhiskeyii: "To clarify, I think it's a combination of self-doubt and being overwhelmed. For whatever reason, I feel more comfortable when a setting in my head has been well fleshed-out, but it gets to the point where I start thinking about minor thin
Contest Time! WINNERS~ :iconredsparklesplz: Originality Contest~ :iconredsparklesplz:So after much debate, we just couldn't decide with just one winner in the end ^^'THE RUNNER UP GOES TO:icongoat13:100+ points + Pen sketch from cenkazChibi from BlueJNekoAND THE WINNER GOES TO::iconredsparklesplz::iconmagnus-8m::iconredsparklesplz:500+ points + color headshot from M10NRequest from recklessFlailingPlease note those guys to give you your prizes ;DThank you to everyone who has entered, you made our judging very difficult as most of us were torn over who should win hehehe.As I said, the next contest will be due around late october/november and we'll keep a longer time frame so we can get more hard working entries. TILL NEXT TIME ;DTHEMECreate a manga cover or movie poster with your original characters.RULES:You must be a member of VA to participateAll admin are allowed to participate,
ASPIRING MANGAKA : SHONEN JUMP WANTS YOU!JAPAN'S SHONEN JUMP is looking for the next manga star with the INTERNATIONAL MANGA COMPETITION! The next manga star could be you!Get ready to submit your masterpiece for competition and win cash, prizes and a publishing opportunity! Put up or shut up! Good luck! :-DALL INFO HERE:http://mangaaward.shonenjump.com/en
A Beginner's Guide :: Literary CommissionsIf you're a writer who's considering selling their skills, but not sure of how to set up prices or know what exactly you need to write in your information, look no further! Myself and imaginary-rose have complied a few tips to help beginning writers who want to start commissions but unsure of how to take the first step.The Important Things The biggest thing you need to consider before taking commissions is "How well can I write another's ideas?". This is a big thing because if you're not able to put your own into words that well, it may be challenging to put another's on paper. We suggest taking requests to see how well you work under a bit of pressure. If you can handle it well and get it done within a reasonable amount of time, you're a prime candidate to start selling your skills. Know your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. In your information, you want to be 100% honest with your potential buyers. Don't sugarcoat your weakness or over emph
Animation/Art/Career/etc. Q and A?I've been working since graduating more than 4 years now, and I've improved a lot over these years. It's a very different environment from college to professional studio work. I have friends that graduated same year as me but some quit animation entirely and some are still trying to find an entry level job. I flew out to LA from NYC 1 month after graduating, for an internship at Titmouse, when there were merely 20-ish people around. I was hired after two months of testing, and my first job was a clean-up artist/animation in betweenner.a little side story, I signed up for "animation" major thinking it's 3d for game cinematics, and it turned out to be on paper, stayed 4 years, 3d seemed pretty technical as to learning the programs and know how to use it. Drawing is more... fun... and direct. Then I watched animation films like Ghost in the Shell, Jin Roh, Ninja Scroll... etc.If anyone would like to ask any animation related questions pls comment below and I'd be happy to answer them.
Writers and Artists! - Update53 Artists and 40 Writers as of 11-09-2012:: +5 artists, +1 writersApologies for taking so long to update this time around. Again, if I messed up with any links, typos, or if you want to be removed, either comment to be removed or find your original comment and state that you are no longer interested in collaborating. Thanks~Artistsarbaros | Ninjelic | HokoriTamashi | misterycookie | TheXion | T-SLA | xXChirushiXx | koyukiyamada |
Improvements!Is there anyone who knows of any good online art classes? Or something similar?This is the kind of thing I want to learn:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVMLNkNW2Lo&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBp4nPOEXqM&context=C48473ddADvjVQa1PpcFP5SB6anq-KjN9XulokPy1_VlJ2jeYc8U8=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boxpz_s-aJc&context=C4a9b66aADvjVQa1PpcFP5SB6anq-KjJFV2cShUwWfJrF4Clzdr9Q=I was actually thinking of doing University but I can't really spare the time these days, I just really want to expand! If anyone knows of anything that can help me learn this type of thing, that would help out so much, I don't know the first place to start so any help would be great.Thanks in advance -PatAlso, one of my closest friends has been doing some incredible work lately, check out his work:Rick - The Walking Dead


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Grapes, Viticulture and WinemakingWine World & SpiritsSunday, April 21, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM (PDT) |
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
We will learn a glossary of important wine terms, discuss the major international grape varieties as well as the basics of viticulture and winemaking. To register for this class, click here
Advance registration is necessary.
Sommelier Arnie Millan presents the Introduction to Wine Class series beginning Sunday April 21st, 2013 until June 23rd. The program of six classes is scheduled every Sunday (except June 2nd) from 3:00 until 5:30 p.m. at Wine World & Spirits at 400 N.E. 45th Street(98105), just of I-5 and the 45th Street exit.
Free parking is available in Wine World's lot on the North end of our building.
For inquiries or gift certificates, please contact Arnie Millan at firstname.lastname@example.com.
The classes include thorough tastings of 8 wines during each class and will be offered for $50 per class or $275 for all six sessions. **Sorry, but No discounts to Explorers Club or Living Social Vouchers may be applied to these classes.
When & Where
Wine World & Spirits
400 NE 45th St
Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM (PDT)
Add to my calendar
Wine World & Spirits
Largest wine shop in the Northwest with a great selection of beers from near and far.


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In Stock
Color: Black
This Grenade Recruiter Backpack has it all. External water bottle holder? Check. Padded laptop pocket? Check. External board straps to transport your skateboard? Check. Several pockets to hold whatever you desire? Check. A mean grenade logo on the back so that everyone keeps their distance? Check! The Recruiter Backpack kicks some serious butt in the style department and makes any other backpack look like a wuss. Whether at the skate park or just around town, you're gonna get some stares once they see a vicious looking grenade with a deadly stare and razor sharp teeth. And hey, it's functional, too.


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Days: TBA
Times: TBA
Location: TBA
Club Representatives:
President - Logan Hill
Vice President - Ryan Willcockson
Club Dues: N/A
The Department of Campus Recreation strongly recommends that all Club Sport members have adequate accident/medical insurance coverage. Each Club Sport member is responsible for arranging his or her own coverage. For information on Eastern Washington University's Student Medical Insurance Plans visit:
email: email@example.com
phone: (509) 359-4013
fax: (509) 359-4735
View the original version of this page.


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Jan 22, 2013 2:18 PM
**UPDATE** Looking to fill Roster for 14U Krushing Kats
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The kats are looking for a few players to complete the roster. Having tryouts today Janurary 27th at Kate Barr Ross in Huntsville at 4:00 on field 8.
If you need a different day to tryout please call Nikki at 713-906-1543
Online Golf Tee Times with Last Minute Tee Time Deals & Discounts
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Hoquiam Looks to Setup RV Park
HOQUIAM, Wash. – Hoquiam would like to welcome campers, near the city's lagoon. Mayor Jack Durney tells us "There's an area right next to the lagoon that faces the bay, it's called Airport road [and] we've improved that quite a bit, we're looking at the potential of having maybe an RV Park kind of setup."
Durney said the strip has a great view, and is right next to Bowerman Basin where the shorebirds come in. As the city nears the completion of the Biosolids removal project nearby, new dikes and roads have added Port property near Bowerman Airfield.


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Jack Stallard previews the Rangers
Jack Stallard is the Sports Editor of the Longview News-Journal.
What does he think of the two-time defending American League champions?
"I think the Rangers are the team to beat. The lineup, no one in baseball can touch that. If they stay healthy, Hamilton, Beltre and Cruz will have phenomenal numbers. You can't pitch to that offense. If they're scoring six runs a game, you'll wins a lot of games. Texas is the team to beat."
What about Yu Darvish?
"Darvish will do great. He does not have to be the man. He doesn't have to be the ace. If he gets 13 wins, they will be great. He's doing everything they need him to do. He'll be OK."


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I'm a pretty white person falling in love in a picturesque region of the South
Kate's agent
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On Thursday, November 8th and Wednesday, November 14, 2012, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) will host open forums to receive feedback from the District's arts community on upcoming plans for the increased arts budget for FY 2013. The top priority of the forums will be to discuss the agency's new grant program, the Arts Stabilization Grant (ASG).
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This is my last day in my 20s. Is that a milestone? I always find thinking of age as an achievement to be bizarre, as the years come and go whether you actually do anything with your time or not.
Looking back on my 20s, and ahead to my 30s, I don't really think much of my life strategy has changed. Perhaps that is a red flag of immaturity, but I always have and still do think the goal of life is to bust seams.


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Low-loss resonant modes in deterministically aperiodic nanopillar waveguides
JOSA B, Vol. 23, Issue 10, pp. 2265-2272 (2006)
Enhanced HTML Acrobat PDF (852 KB)
Quasiperiodic Fibonacci-like and fractal Cantor-like single- and multiple-row nanopillar waveguides are investigated theoretically by employing the finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that resonant modes of the Fibonacci and Cantor waveguides can have a Q factor comparable with that of a point-defect resonator embedded in a periodic nanopillar waveguide, while the radiation is preferably emitted into the waveguide direction, thus improving coupling to an unstructured dielectric waveguide located along the structure axis. This is especially so when the dielectric waveguide introduces a small perturbation in the aperiodic structure, breaking the structure symmetry while staying well apart from the main localization area of the resonant mode. The high-Q factor and increased coupling with the external dielectric waveguide suggest using the proposed deterministically aperiodic nanopillar waveguides in photonic integrated circuits.
© 2006 Optical Society of America
OCIS Codes
(130.2790) Integrated optics : Guided waves
(230.3990) Optical devices : Micro-optical devices
(230.7370) Optical devices : Waveguides
ToC Category:
Photonic Crystals
Original Manuscript: January 25, 2006
Revised Manuscript: May 8, 2006
Manuscript Accepted: June 10, 2006
Sergei V. Zhukovsky, Dmirty N. Chigrin, and Johann Kroha, "Low-loss resonant modes in deterministically aperiodic nanopillar waveguides," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23, 2265-2272 (2006)
Sort: Year | Journal | Reset
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- J. C. Johnson, H. Yan, R. D. Schaller, L. H. Haber, R. J. Saykally, and P. Yang, "Single nanowire lasers," J. Phys. Chem. B 105, 11387-11390 (2001). [CrossRef]
- S. G. Johnson, S. Fan, A. Mekis, and J. D. Joannopoulos, "Multipole-cancellation mechanism for high-Q cavities in the absence of a complete photonic band gap," Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 3388-3390 (2001). [CrossRef]
- M. Kohmoto, B. Sutherland, and C. Tang, "Critical wave function and a Cantor-set spectrum of a one-dimensional quasicrystal model," Phys. Rev. B 35, 1020-1033 (1987). [CrossRef]
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We just got back from a fabulous weekend with Meagan & Steven for their destination wedding at Beaches Turks and Caicos! What a gorgeous place to say "I Do!" As I sort through hundreds of photos, I wanted to share just a few sneak peeks from their wedding! It was hard to choose (and even after writing this I still added ANOTHER one). There's a lot more to come, but I hope you enjoy this little preview! Congrats Meagan & Steven!
Sneak Peek: Meagan & Steven | Wedding at Beaches Turks and Caicos |Destination Wedding Photographers
December 15, 2014Jennifer & Kevin | Old Town San Diego Wedding at the Cosmopolitan Hotel | San Diego Wedding Photographers
October 31, 2014As get ready to celebrate Dia de los Muertos this weekend, I thought it was the perfect time to share Jennifer & Kevin's gorgeous wedding at the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant in Old Town San Diego! This beautiful hotel dates back to 1827 and is full of history and charm – the perfect place for a wedding! Jen & Kevin's wedding was both elegant and festive! The courtyard was decorated with beautiful linens, milk glass, and each table had a unique floral arrangement. The colors were so enchanting – lots of greenery with pops of vibrant pink. The wedding cake was topped with the phrase "Love Grows Here," and during the ceremony Jen & Kevin watered a tree together. It was such an endearing moment and a beautiful symbol of unity! The atmosphere was lively and fun, as family and friends celebrated at a brunch reception with delicious Mexican dishes and desserts and (one of my favorite features) a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar! Um, yeah… how much are you wishing that you were at their wedding right now??!! It was a blast! I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Jen & Kevin have a lot of fun together. They are so happy together and so smitten with each other! We're pretty smitten with them, too! They are such an adorable couple, and we are so excited to share more of their lovely wedding photos with you!
Venue | The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant
Wedding Coordinator | Simply Exquisite Weddings & Events
Staging Decorator | Terri Wise
Hair | Jenna Stead
Makeup | Jayme
Officiant | Pastor Steve Creel
Musician | Jennifer Spingola/Spags Music
Floral Designer | San Diego Floral Design
Cake Designer | San Diego Desserts
Sneak Peek: Jennifer & Kevin | Old Town San Diego Wedding at the Cosmopolitan Hotel | San Diego Wedding Photographers
October 18, 2014Wow, what a day! We've already photographed a wedding and have a sneak peek ready and it's not even time for dinner yet! We had a fun time celebrating at Jennifer & Kevin's wedding at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town San Diego this morning! Here's a little sneak peek from their beautiful day!
And here's a little bonus, just for fun! :)
In September, we traveled to New York for Carolyn & Cristofer's beautiful wedding at the Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle. It was such a heartfelt day with laughter and happy tears. Our exquisite bride Carolyn did two first looks. First, she shared a first look with her father at the top of a grand staircase, presenting him with a sweet handkerchief to say how much he means to her. Then she walked down the staircase to see the other man who means the most in her life, her very-soon-to-be husband Cris.
Friends and family gathered outside to witness Carolyn & Cris saying "I do" with a breathtaking view of the sound behind them. They were so excited that the day was finally here that they couldn't quite get the words out. There were a couple moments that caused them both to stop and just laugh. I love when a wedding doesn't stick to the script and has candid moments like this. These are some of my favorite images from their ceremony.
That evening, everyone enjoyed a gorgeous reception with tons of dancing! I think it's safe to say everyone had a great time, and these two deserved to have such a beautiful wedding to begin their lives together! Congratulations Carolyn & Cris!
Sneak Peek: Carolyn & Cris | Wedding at the Surf Club on the Sound | NY Wedding Photos
September 29, 2014I don't know if it gets much more beautiful than this! We traveled literally from coast to coast to document Carolyn & Cristofer's beautiful wedding at the Surf Club on the Sound in New Rochelle, NY. It was such a gorgeous setting for their wedding, and even though it wasn't a small wedding it still felt very intimate. They both come from large families, and it really felt like two families joining as one. That's what a wedding should be! No detail was overlooked, and it all came together beautifully! But the most beautiful of all were the bride and groom. I mean… could they be any cuter? They are so great together, and you can see how happy they are to be husband and wife at last! It was hard to choose photos for the sneak peek, so I hope you don't mind that I have more than usual! More coming soon!
Featured in Vintage Boudoir Magazine | Models Dianna Prince, Dee V'ous, and Frawy
September 23, 2014I was so excited the other day when pinup model Dianna Prince told me that our shoot was featured on the cover of this month's Vintage Boudoir Magazine! Dianna also does pinup hair styling and runs the Dianna Prince Pinup Academy. She has since relocated to Las Vegas (the perfect place for pinup) but I had fun shooting with her and the other models she worked with. Also featured in this magazine were burlesque dancer Dee V'ous of the Drop Dead Dames Burlesque Revue and the lovely Frawy Ayazo. All 3 ladies are wearing pieces from my Etsy shop, Sweet Bisou! Dianna is wearing a 70s Miss Dior nightgown. Dee V'ous is wearing a vintage nightgown by Harvey Woods. And Frawy is wearing a vintage lace dress (which had a matching bolero). She loved the dress so much that she actually bought it!
Thanks so much to Vintage Boudoir Magazine for the feature, and to Dianna for organizing the shoot and submitting the photos! Make sure to pick up the magazine to see some more lovely vintage boudoir photos!
Before we get into the fall season, I wanted to share with you our final wedding of the summer! Trisha & Patrick came out from Arizona for their beautiful destination wedding in San Diego! They chose Imperial Beach as the setting for their nuptials and were joined by their closest friends and family. Trisha couldn't hold back her happiness as she walked down the aisle on her dad's arm with tears in her eyes. They are so incredibly sweet and so much in love! Thank you for coming to San Diego and allowing us to share in this happy day with both of you! We wish you tons of happiness!
Jay Chu Album Release Party
September 19, 2014Earlier this year, Matt did an album cover shoot with his talented friend and coworker, Jay Chu. Jay is an incredibly talented musician, singer, and songwriter and he is launching his first EP at an album release party this weekend! The show is on Saturday, September 20th at 3:30pm at Tin Roof in the Gaslamp. You can find more information by visiting his website (http://www.jaychumusic.com/). While you're at it, go ahead and give his page a like: Jay Chu Music Fan Page
The album is called Change, and it features a combination of still images shot by Matt and artwork by Pol Sena using Matt's shots as inspiration. It's so awesome to see Jay's vision come to life, and I love how the photos and artwork represent what the album is about! You can listen to the music on Jay's website, but hopefully you'll make it out to his show! If you do, make sure to find us and say hello!
Nattaya & Zachary | Wedding at Wedgewood Fallbrook | San Diego Wedding Photographers
September 8, 2014Nattaya & Zachary's beautiful wedding at the Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center in Fallbrook was perfection! I think it's safe to say we had a really fun time shooting this one! The details were gorgeous, the wedding party was awesome, and our couple couldn't have been more in love and excited to marry each other! They were so overwhelmed with emotion that they hugged each other in the middle of the ceremony. It was so sweet!
The reception was one huge party as everyone danced, visited with friends and family, and jumped into the photobooth. We took the newlyweds outside for a few more photos and a very memorable view of the amazing supermoon that graced the sky on this incredibly special day! I don't see how this day could have been any better. It was amazing from start to finish!
Featured in Kat Club Magazine | Model Kaite Dent
August 27, 2014One of the images I shot from a shoot earlier this year with model Kaite Dent was featured in Issue No. 1 of Kat Club Magazine by Retro Lovely! So excited to have this shot featured among so many other gorgeous images! Seriously, this magazine is full of pinup style loveliness! Thanks to Hair by Dianna Prince, who organized the shoot, and to Kat Club for the feature!


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Top 10 Cheap Sports Cars under $60,000
These days you do not have to shell out $100k plus to own a nice sports car. Yes, we all dream of owning and driving the high end sports cars like a Lamborghini or Ferrari. The reality is these vehicles cost more than a single family home! But there are a ton of cheap sports cars on the market for the 2012 model year and these vehicles can provide lots of tire shredding fun. Take for instance a middle of the road muscle car or a base model Corvette; these cars can accelerate as fast as many exotic cars at a fraction of the price.
The sports car line has become increasingly blurred over the past decade. In the past, the term sports car usually meant a rear wheel drive vehicle with two seats. Now there are big V-8 muscle cars, turbocharged sedans, and even some front wheel drive automobiles that are considered sports cars. This might irritate the pure enthusiast but for the rest of us, cars have been evolving for a while now. And 400 horsepower is still fun no matter the shape, size, number of seats, or engine configuration. So sit back and strap on your seat belts as we take a look some of the cheapest sports cars for 2012.
10. 2012 Honda Civic Si - $22,205
09. 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - $22,250
The 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or a 3.8L V-6 engine. The V-6 is good for 308 horsepower and 266 lb-ft or torque and the power is put down to the pavement through the rear wheels. The base price is $22,250 and the R-Spec V-6 costs $26,750. Some of the more sporty features you will find on a Genesis Coupe are a track-tuned suspension consisting of stiffer spring and dampener rates, large Brembo brakes, and lightweight 19-inch alloy rims. That is some serious performance hardware for a cheap sports car. But what really helps the 2012 Hyundai Genesis to stand out from the crowd are the car's good looks. With 0-60 MPH times in the upper 5 second range, the Genesis Coupe is cool ride that will surprise many. And gas mileage is not too shabby either with the Genesis Coupe netting 17 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway.
08. 2012 Nissan 370Z - $31,450
The 2012 Nissan 370Z has a couple of things going for it. First the Z has a very storied and prestigious history spanning all the way back to 1969. The Datsun 240Z was cheap sports car that is still a real favorite among many enthusiasts. Many different iterations of the Z have spanned a couple of decades all culminating in the 370Z model. The second major factor the 370Z has in its corner is the technology that Nissan possesses. The Nissan GTR is considered one of the ultimate sports cars in the world and plays the role of big brother to the 370Z. Thus the 2012 Nissan 370Z gets all kinds of goodies (technology) passed down from the mighty Godzilla. Like a true sports car; the 370Z features something never seen before on a mass marked car. SynchroRev Match is a down shift rev-matching system in which the computer automatically blips the throttle when downshifting. This helps keep the car right in the sweet spot of the powerband. The base model 2012 Nissan 370Z has a starting price of just over $31,000. This Japanese sports car is powered by a 3.7L V-6 engine that provides 332 horsepower and 270lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission can be had. 0-60 MPH fly's by in 4.5 seconds making this one cheapest fast sports car you can buy. Fuel economy is not bad either with the 370Z getting 18 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The exterior of the car is something different with the arrow style lights and the severe slope on the roofline. But overall the 370Z makes a bold visual statement.
07. 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS - $31,850
06. 2012 Audi TT - $38,300
The Audi TT has been around since 1998 and has remained relatively unchanged since then. Sure there have been performance updates and technological upgrades over the past 10+ years. But why would Audi mess with a good thing? The 2012 Audi TT is a very capable and cheap sports car. The look of the Audi TT speaks volumes in regards to its performance heritage. Beneath the modern design of the exterior lurks Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel drive system. The motor is a small 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. While this may not sound very sports car like, the Audi TT benefits from turbo power. With a base price of $38,300 and the ability to run from 0-60 MPH in 5.8 seconds the 2012 Audi TT is a great choice for those looking to buy a cheap sports car that is not you ordinary run of the mill ride. Total power output is 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Audi TT is not only a skilled handling automobile but it is also quite luxurious on the inside. The small engine helps the 2012 Audi TT get 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway which is by far the best cheap sports car fuel economy. Audi also makes a special TT RS version of this vehicle that costs a heck of a lot more at $56k but it also features 150 more horsepower.
05. 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 - $43,995
Practically every sports car or muscle car comparison out there has the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 as one of the contenders in the mix. This car not only looks the part; it has the firepower to back it up. With a base price of $43,995 the Challenger SRT-8 is almost $20k more than the base model V-6 version but it is still considered a cheap sports car compared to the high end exotic vehicles. The Challenger SRT-8 is the pride and joy of Dodge's Street and Racing Technology division and these guys have delivered one strong muscle car. The vehicle is motivated by a 6.4L HEMI V-8 engine that produces 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 MPH flys by in a mere 4.4 seconds. The HEMI features fuel saver technology which allows the engine to switch-off four cylinders in order to conserve fuel. The Challenger gets 14 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. Some other great features present on the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 are a TREMEC 6-speed transmission, Brembo Brake kit, 20-inch rims, and cool old school sports stripes.
04. 2012 Ford Shelby GT 500 - $48,800
Take one part Mustang, one part supercharger, one part madness, and blend them together. The result is a cheap sports car that produces a mind boggling 550 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. The 2012 Ford Shelby GT 500 has a base price of $48,800. For that amount you get more horsepower than a $187k Lamborghini Gallardo! The Shelby GT 500 is loaded with tons of goodies including huge 14-inch Brembo brakes with four-piston calipers, a TREMEC 6-speed transmission, limited-slip differential, sports stripes, and 19-inch rims. Performance wise the 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 ranks among some of the fastest sports cars with a 0-60 MPH time of 4.3 seconds. Take this cheap sports car to the drag strip and the GT 500 can rip off quarter mile times in the mid 12-second range. Ford has packed all their technological wizardry into the GT 500 and you will get everything from the famous SYNC system to traction and stability control. Fuel economy ratings are mediocre with the GT 500 getting 15 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. But who cars about fuel economy when you have 550 horses prancing around under the hood!
03. 2012 Chevrolet Corvette - $49,525
Ah the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette; a cheap sports car that is the pride and joy of America. The first generation Corvette debuted way back in the 1950's and there have been many iconic vehicles along the way. Now the Corvette is in its 6th version dubbed the C6. The base model 2012 Chevrolet Corvette costs $49,525 and comes with a 6.2L V-8 engine that produces 436 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque. Rest assured the Corvette is a dyed in the wool sports car. Everything about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette speaks to its performance and history. Top speed is 190 MPH and 0-60 zooms by in 4.2 seconds. These are serious numbers for a base model Corvette indeed. Oh and the fuel economy numbers are not half bad at 16 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. If you feel frisky there are other models like the Gran Sport, Z06, and ZR1 but these are all much more expensive. The base model 2012 Chevrolet Corvette coupe provides more bang for you buck than any other cheap sports car on the market today.
02. 2012 Porsche Cayman - $51,900
In a sea of Porsche sports cars that include the 911, Boxster, and Panamera; the Cayman seems to often get ignored. But the 2012 Porsche Cayman is a cheap sports car that offers incredible performance coupled with great looks. From the front the Cayman looks like the Porsche 911 but a bit more refined. Out back the Cayman features a more sloped roof line that almost gives it a fastback feel. In fact the Cayman is considered one of the best looking cheap sports cars on the market today. With a base price of $51,900 the 2012 Porsche Cayman is one of the least expensive Porsche automobiles you can buy. Power comes via the flat-six boxer engine that Porsche is famous for. This 2.9L 6-cylinder engine produces 265 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy checks in a 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. The power numbers may be some of the lowest on the list but Cayman features a lightweight chassis that is more at home on the track than on the road. That's not to say the Porsche Cayman is a track only car. Instead the Cayman is one of the most pure sports cars you will ever drive. It is nimble and has lightning quick reflexes. There are more expensive trims that feature a larger engine with more horsepower like the CAyman S or Black Edition. But the base model 2012 Porsche Cayman is one of the greatest cheap sports cars out there.
The 2012 BMW M3 is priced at $59,900 which it the upper end of the cheap sports car scale. But the amount of performance that comes from the M3 coupe is extraordinary. Can you think of any one car that has been the measuring stick of both performance and luxury for so many years. Month after month, year after year, the M3 reigns supreme in almost any contest it enters. Power comes via a high performance 4.0L V-8 engine that produces 414 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. While not the most power on the list of cheap sports cars; the 2012 BMW M3 does has a few tricks up its sleeve. With a high 8400 RPM redline the M3 can run 0-60 MPH in 4.8 seconds. The Double Clutch Gearbox is a 7-speed transmission that is operated via paddle shifters. The 2012 BMW M3 features an M Dynamic Mode which tweaks the response of the car in a more aggressive manner. Good luck finding the limits of this car! The 2012 BMW M3 is so poised and confident it can handle anything you throw its way. Fuel economy does suffer though for all this performance. The M3 gets 14 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway. Beyond the performance of the M3; you can enjoy tons of comfort, convenience, and technology all rolled into one modern cheap sports car.


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Comfortable, holds everything in without rolling like most control tops. Not too dark and not too sheer.
February 1, 2015
EXCELLENT quality!
I love these tights! I am a HUGE fan of Express tights, they are top quality and you can dress them up or down. I guess what I like the most is they are durable wash after wash. I would definitely recommend them! I've read other reviews stating they run small, I find them running true to size. NOTE: The picture doesn't do justice to the level of opaqueness. THEY ARE REALLY OPAQUE.
January 2, 2015
not as good as the use to be
I have had multiple tights from Express forever and after a few years of wear, I decided to get more. These new tights are TERRIBLE. they are cheaply made. I have already returned a pair and then ended up having the same issue with the replaced one. I am pretty disappointment as I really liked them.
December 24, 2014
They are different from what they used to be!!!
Express has definitely changed their tights recently!!! I loved the old ones, but the new ones are cheap and not durable!!! The old ones fit true to size and had more opaqueness in them vs the new ones run a little smaller and are not as opaque. I used to wear my old ones multiple times with no damage vs the new ones get damaged right away! When you put them on they also tend to pick up the imprint of your hands and fingers, its hard to describe but some places on your leg will look sheerer than others. Overall the quality of the new ones is not good!!! I am very disappointed. ..this used to be my to go place for tights, but not anymore!
December 11, 2014
Tights are NOT what they used to be!!!
I used to buy multiple pairs of these tights every year and have a few on hand as current backups. I bought a few more this year over several purchases (hoping maybe I just got a bad "batch" the last time) and they are NOT what they used to be. I've seen similar reviews like this and completely agree. I am in the S/M range but always buy the M/L in these to add to the opaqueness, and bought the M/L again and they are so incredibly tight and thus, look sheer in certain places on my legs. The material is also thinner than it used to be. Very upset w/how Express changed these and am on a hunt for other ones that matched the quality of how these used to be.
December 8, 2014
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Archive for Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Times set for BLHS alumni game
December 31, 2013
Basehor-Linwood boys basketball's inaugural alumni game festivities will begin at 5 p.m. Friday in the main high school gymnasium.
The evening's events will start with a scrimmage between the current junior varsity and freshman teams, then wrap up with a scrimmage between alumni and current varsity players. There are currently 12 alumni signed up, and others can still do so for $10 the day of the event. Checks can be made out to BLHS.
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