text:
From the author of the bestselling Birdsong comes a powerful novel that melds the moral heft of Dickens and the scrupulous realism of Trollope with the satirical spirit of Tom Wolfe.
London: the week before Christmas, 2007. Over seven days we follow the lives of seven major characters: a hedge fund manager trying to bring off the biggest trade of his career; a professional footballer recently arrived from Poland; a young lawyer with little work and too much time to speculate; a student who has been led astray by Islamist theory; a hack book reviewer; a schoolboy hooked on reality TV and genetically altered pot; and a Tube train driver whose Circle Line train joins these and countless other lives together in a daily loop.
With daring skill and savage humor, A Week in December explores the complex patterns and crossings of modern urban life; as the novel moves to its gripping climax, its characters are forced, one by one, to confront the true nature of the world they—and we all—inhabit.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
SEBASTIAN FAULKS worked as a journalist for fourteen years, then turned to writing books full-time in 1991. In 1995 he was recognized as Author of the Year by the British Book Awards for Birdsong. He is the author of Human Traces, On Green Dolphin Street, Charlotte Gray, The Fatal Englishman, The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Engleby, and the James Bond novel Devil May Care. He lives in London with his wife and three children.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
Sunday, December 16
Five o'clock and freezing. Piledrivers and jackhammers were blasting into the wasteland by the side of West Cross Route in Shepherd's Bush. With a bare ten months to the scheduled opening of Europe's largest urban shopping center, the sand-covered sitewas showing only skeletal girders and joists under red cranes, though a peppermint facade had already been tacked on to the eastward side. This was not a retail park with trees and benches, but a compression of trade in a city center, in which migrant laborwas paid by foreign capital to squeeze out layers of profit from any Londoner with credit. At their new "Emirates" Stadium, meanwhile, named for an Arab airline, Arsenal of North London were kicking off under floodlights against Chelsea from the West, whilethe goalkeepers--one Czech, one Spanish--jumped up and down and beat their ribs to keep warm. At nearby Upton Park, the supporters were leaving the ground after a home defeat; and only a few streets away from the Boleyn Ground, with its East End mixture ofsentimentality and grievance, a solitary woman paid her respects to a grandfather--come from Lithuania some eighty years ago--as she stood by his grave in the overflowing cemetery of the East Ham Synagogue. Up the road in Victoria Park, the last of the dogwalkers dragged their mongrels back to flats in Hackney and Bow, gray high-rises marked with satellite dishes, like ears cupped to the outside world in the hope of gossip or escape; while in a minicab that nosed along Dalston Road on its way back to base, thedashboard thermometer touched minus two degrees. In his small rooms in Chelsea, Gabriel Northwood, a barrister in his middle thirties, was reading the Koran, and shivering. He practiced civil law, when he practiced anything at all; this meant that he was not involved in "getting criminals off," but inrepresenting people in a dispute whose outcome would bring financial compensation to the claimants if they won. For a long time, and for reasons he didn't start to understand, Gabriel had received no instructions from solicitors--the branch of the legal professionhe depended on for work. Then a case had landed in his lap. It was to do with a man who had thrown himself under a Tube train, and concerned the extent to which the transport provider might be deemed responsible for failing to provide adequate safety precautions.Almost immediately, a second brief had followed: from a local education authority being sued by the parents of a Muslim girl in Leicester for not allowing her to wear traditional dress to school. With little other preparatory work to do, Gabriel thought hemight as well try to understand the faith whose demands he was about to encounter; and any educated person these days, he told himself, really ought to have read the Koran.
Some yards below where Gabriel sat reading was an Underground train; and in the driver's cab a young woman called Jenni Fortune switched off the interior light because she was distracted by her own reflection in the windscreen. She slowed the train withher left hand on the traction brake control and, just before she drew level with the signal, brought it to a halt. She pressed two red buttons to open the doors and fixed her eyes on the wing mirror to watch the passengers behind her getting in and out. She had been driving on the Circle and Metropolitan lines for three years and still felt excited when she clocked in for her eight-hour shift at the depot. She felt sorry for the poor passengers who sat and swayed behind her. Sideways on, they saw onlybags and overcoats, hanging straps and worn plush under strip lights with suffocating heaters locked on max. They endured the jostle and the boredom, with occasional stabs of fear when drunken, swearing youths pushed on.
From her view, Jenni saw soothing darkness, points, a slither of crossing rails and signals that glowed like red coals. She rattled the train through the tunnels at forty miles per hour and sometimes half expected skeletons to loom out from the wall orbats to brush her face. Head-on, she saw the miracles of London engineering that no passenger would ever glimpse: the corbeled brickwork through which the tunnels had been cut or the giant steel joist that held up a five-floor building above the entry to theplatform at Liverpool Street. The week before Christmas was the worst time of year for people throwing themselves on the track. Nobody knew why. Perhaps the approaching festivity brought back memories of family or friends who'd died, without whom the turkey and the streamers seemeda gloomy echo of a world that had once been full. Or maybe the advertisements for digital cameras, aftershave and computer games reminded people how much they were in debt, how few of "this year's must-have" presents they could afford. Guilt, thought Jenni:a sense of having failed in the competition for resources--for DVDs and body lotions--could drive them to the rails.
Books were what she was hoping to find beneath her own tree. Her favorite authors were Agatha Christie and Edith Wharton, but she read with undifferentiated glee--philosophy or airport novels. Her mother, who had come from County Cork, had barely owneda book and had been suspicious of Jenni's reading habits as a teenager. She urged her to get out and find a boyfriend, but Jenni seemed happier in her room with 600-page novels with titles in embossed gold lettering that told how a Russian pogrom had led, twogenerations later and after much suffering and sex, to the founding of a cosmetics dynasty in New York. Her father, who was from Trinidad, had left "home" when Jenni was eight months old. After her shift she would return to the novel that had won the big literary prize, the 2005 Cafe Bravo, which she was finding a bit thin. Then, after making something to eat for herself and her half brother Tony, if he was there, she would log on to Parallax,the newest and most advanced of alternative-reality games, where she would continue to create the life of her stand-in, or "maquette" as the game had it, Miranda Star.
Two years before, when she was still new to the job, Jenni had had a jumper. She was coming into Monument when a sudden flash of white, like a giant seagull fluttering from the platform edge, had made her brake hard. But it was too late to prevent herhitting a twenty-year-old man, whose leap had cleared the so-called suicide pit but not taken him as far as the positive rail on the far side. Don't look at their faces was the drivers' wisdom, and after three months' counseling and rehabilitation, Jenni hadresumed her driving. The man, though seriously injured, had survived. Two months later, his parents brought a civil action against Jenni's employers, claiming negligence, because their lack of safety precautions had been responsible for the son's injuries.They lost the case, but had been granted leave to appeal, and the thought of the imminent second hearing--tomorrow there would be another meeting with the lawyer, Mr. Northwood--darkened the edges of Jenni Fortune's days.
At that moment in the wealthy inner suburb of North Park, "located," as the estate agent had it, "between the natural advantages of Heath and Green," Sophie Topping had just made a cup of tea for herself and her husband Lance, who was working in his study.He had done this every Sunday afternoon since becoming an MP in the recent by-election. Sophie wasn't sure how he could concentrate on constituency paperwork with the football blasting out from the television in the corner and she suspected that he sometimesnodded off to the excited yet soporific commentary. For fear of discovering him slumped with his mouth open, she always knocked before taking in his tea.
"I'm just finalizing the places for Saturday," she said, handing him a blue china cup with what he called "builders' tea" in it.
"What?" he said.
"The big dinner."
"God, yes. I'd quite forgotten," said Lance. "All under control?"
"Yes, I think it'll be a night to remember." Sophie retired to her desk and looked at the list of names she had printed out from her computer. At first, she'd meant to have an intimate evening with a few powerful people, just so that Richard Wilbraham, the party leader, could see the sort of companyLance moved in. But when she got down to it, there seemed no end to the number of important people she and Lance knew--and wanted the leader to know they knew. Looking down the names, Sophie began to sketch a table plan.
* Lance and Sophie Topping. The party's newest MP and his wife. It was still good to say those words.
* Richard and Janie Wilbraham. Richard, the dynamic PM-in-waiting, would be on her own right hand. He was nice enough, though tended to talk politics. But what could you do?
* Len and Gillian Foxley, Lance's local agent and his tiny wife. Sophie would put Len between two women who would have to bear his halitosis, while Gillian she buried midtable among the also-rans.
* R. Tranter, the paid leader of discussions at Sophie's monthly book club and professional reviewer. She wasn't sure what his first name was. He signed himself "RT" and the women in the group called him "Mr. Tranter" until he invited them to move on toRT.
* Magnus Darke. Probably not his real name, Sophie thought. He was a newspaper columnist and therefore dangerous, obviously, but could be entertaining. He had once said nice things about Lance, called him "the coming man" or some such. Sophie dared toput Darke next to chilly Amanda Malpasse.
* Farooq and Nasim al-Rashid. Sophie sucked her pen. Farooq was a chutney magnate and a large private donor to party funds. He seemed a nice chap. But they both were keen "Allah botherers," as Clare Darnley put it. After some thought Sophie penciled eachone in next to a...
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Book Description Doubleday. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 0385532911. Bookseller Inventory # Z0385532911ZN
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Book Description Doubleday. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 0385532911. Bookseller Inventory # Z0385532911ZN
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Book Description Doubleday. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 0385532911. Bookseller Inventory # Z0385532911ZN
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Book Description Doubleday. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 0385532911. Bookseller Inventory # Z0385532911ZN
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Book Description Doubleday 2010-03-09, 2010. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 1. 0385532911. Bookseller Inventory # Z0385532911ZN
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Book Description Doubleday, 2010. Book Condition: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: The novel is unequivocally successful [as a] narrative . . . Readers will race through the pages like banks through cash. - The Guardian Kirkus Reviews, STARRED Faulks, Sebastian A WEEK IN DECEMBER Two plots-one financial, the other terrorist-are being hatched, but theres much more going on in this absorbing big-canvas view of contemporary London from Faulks (Engleby, 2007, etc.). John Veals, a middle-aged hedge fund manager and the coldest of cold fish, is planning the collapse of a major British bank. His goal? To pump even more billions of dollars into his fund. Hassan al-Rashid, a young Muslim raised in Scotland, belongs to a jihadist cell. By chance, their schemes will climax simultaneously in December 2007. Faulks uses the tried-and-true countdown device as a backbeat. In the foreground is lucid if rather too lengthy exposition. To explain Vealss strategy, Faulks leads us through the labyrinth of puts, calls, trades and more, while for Hassan he limns a credible step-by-step recruitment process. As a counterweight to the blandishments of the Koran, Faulks offers the reader the rational humanism of Gabriel Northwood, an impoverished barrister; the strident voice of the Koran reminds Gabriel uncomfortably of the voices plaguing his schizophrenic brother Adam. Gabriels somber hospital visits are a corrective to a shockingly cruel, hugely lucrative reality show that pillories the participants, all crazies. (Vealss teenage son, a fan of the show, will join Adam after a drug-induced psychotic episode.) The light in Gabriels sad life is a new client, Jenni Fortune, the mixed-race driver of a subway train and devotee of video games. Unlike digital seductions (another Faulks theme), the love that grows between Gabriel and Jenni is piercingly real. For light relief, theres Hassans wealthy businessman father, panicked before an audience with the Queen, soliciting advice on Great Books from an embittered reviewer, a veteran of the literary racket. Remarkably, Faulks retains control of his material as he shows us a world in which money rules, tunnel vision destroys and love remains the touchstone and redeemer. With its inexhaustible curiosity about the way the world works, this funny, exciting work is another milestone in a distinguished career. The Chicago Tribune 2/28/10 A WEEK IN DECEMBER "include[s] beautifully written riffs on how money really works. [it] is vigorous, authentic and often hilarious . The novel follows a hedge fund manager, a book critic, a subway ("tube" in British parlance) driver and a student who falls under the lethal spell of Islamic fundamentalism, among many others, but it is the hedge fund manager who resonates most. He is smart, ruthless, single-minded - and fascinating, in the way a shark or a serial killer can be fascinating: 'Somewhere in the passageways of John Veals' mind,' Faulks writes, 'beyond the thoughts of wife, children, daily living, carnal urges & there was a creature whose heart beat only to market movements.' . Faulks [has] set a formidable standard . clever and convincing, [it reminds] us that fiction always has the final word ." The L.A. Times 3/31/10 "The English writer Sebastian Faulks is one of those curious novelists whose predilection for well-told stories and popularity with readers often have seemed impediments to serious regard. That's a bit unfair because, with its knowing nods to Trollope, Dickens and Tom Wolfe, A WEEK IN DECEMBER -- his ninth work of full-length fiction -- is a formally ambitious, intelligently entertaining, rather provocative novel . [Faulks] has a reporter's keen eye for telling details and a propulsive mastery of narrative .". Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_new_0385532911
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Book Description Doubleday, 2010. Hardcover. Book Condition: New. 1. Bookseller Inventory # DADAX0385532911
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subset: commoncrawl


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Two More DLC's Next Year?
Two More DLC's Next Year?
Jul 5 2009, 11:11 PM
Post #1
You'll Never Walk Alone
Group: Admin
Posts: 359
Joined: 1-August 04
From: Newcastle, England
Member No.: 1
XBL Gamertag: Psyware
PSN Name: Psycopsy
Xfire Identity: Psyware
Gamesindustry.biz recently posted an article written by Analyst Todd Mitchell, of Kaufman Bros. Equity Research, in which Mitchell states that he expects two new downloadable episodes to be released next year followed by GTA:V in 2011.
I would expect that there would be two more pieces of downloadable content for GTA IV, that's what has been indicated to me, although formats are unsure. It's been indicated to me to me that would be the case," said Mitchell.
"Our outlook includes expected strong sell-through of Bioshock 2, and the release of two 'AAA' titles, each from Rockstar (Red Dead Redemption and Agent) and 2K Games (Mafia II and TBD), reiterations of 2K Sports and 2K Play's annual line-ups, an expected GTA title for the PS2, expected strong sell-through of GTA: Chinatown Wars for the PSP, and new GTA DLC for the Xbox 360 and PS3. We now look for the release of GTA V in fiscal 2011..."
Now bear in mind that these are just his beliefs, which in no way officially suggest that there will be any further expansions to the GTA4 series after "The Ballad Of Gay Tony". Once we hear anything official, we'll let you know.
Thanks to Qdeathstar for the news submission.
Jul 5 2009, 11:18 PM
Post #2
My Penis, Your ass. Lets go.
Group: Gold Member
Posts: 420
Joined: 2-August 04
From: Virginia Beach
Member No.: 14
I hope they don't make anymore DLC's .. I'm ready to see vice city redux!
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I've found it's impossible to be more human than human. Inhuman, however, is easy.
Jul 5 2009, 11:37 PM
Post #3
Group: Members
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From: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Member No.: 908
XBL Gamertag: IanCredible988
QUOTE(Qdeathstar @ Jul 5 2009, 06:18 PM) [snapback]1511357[/snapback]
I hope they don't make anymore DLC's .. I'm ready to see vice city redux!
I agree!
Jul 6 2009, 08:43 AM
Post #4
Group: Members
Posts: 66
Joined: 25-November 04
From: ADX, Oregon
Member No.: 5,816
PSN Name: SeeenRulez
Am I reading that right?
A new PS2 title? What would it even be, Chinatown Wars?
San Andreas Stories?! I can only wish.
But yeah, GTA IV: VICE CITY II
Jul 6 2009, 02:02 PM
Post #5
Still Standing
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Posts: 1,433
Joined: 3-August 04
From: London, England
Member No.: 439
PSN Name: BushkaUK
I posted this yesterday in GTAIV DLC discussion. But i didn't think it was worthy enough to be news so i didn't make a fuss about it.
Still, it gives me hope that there will be DLC for PS3.
This post has been edited by DuPz0r: Jul 6 2009, 02:04 PM
Jul 6 2009, 08:18 PM
Post #6
Nobody Special
Group: Members
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Joined: 13-April 08
From: Sweden
Member No.: 39,224
And there is an even older topic on this, we don't need no analysist, it was thought of already!
This post has been edited by thespacecowboy: Jul 6 2009, 08:18 PM
Even the doorbell knows how smart I am, cool house man!
Jul 7 2009, 05:01 AM
Post #7
Upstanding Citizen
Group: Members
Posts: 8
Joined: 18-November 04
From: Australia
Member No.: 5,510
stuff more dlc,i want San Andreas Stories already.
Grand Theft Auto III 96% completed
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 99% completed
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 100% completed
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories 54% completed
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 100% completed
Jul 7 2009, 03:55 PM
Post #8
doesn't play well with others...
Group: Staff
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Joined: 28-March 08
From: michigan...
Member No.: 38,893
XBL Gamertag: your mother...
PSN Name: artistadam
Xfire Identity: i said your mother!!
pfft, the day L&D comes to the PS3 is the day i actually care about GTAIV DLC episodes... till then, who cares... the best information in that whole article is the fact that GTAV could be coming out in the next couple of years... but, anyone with half a brain could of predicted that one...
Oh, good one. The "you're on the internet so you must have no life" insult isn't moronic or unoriginal at all. You must, without a doubt, be a very important member of society, not at all a waste of the already barely valuable gift of life.
As is the case for everyone who takes issue with people who make them sad on the internet, you are one of two kinds of people:
You are exactly what you claim I am, and that is a lonely, pathetic basement dweller. You life is spent eating eight pounds of junk food per day, masturbating to anything you find online that's even remotely feminine, and wishing you had good looks and social skills. You continue to live with your mother until she dies of a combination of lung cancer and liver failure brought on by the chain-smoking and heavy drinking she used to cope with what a failure you are. Your mother mercifully dead and free of the living embodiment of failure she regretfully thrust from her loins, the bills start to pile up and you, unemployed and unable to pay these bills (of course), lose the house and everything in it. Somehow even more of a failure than you already were, you wander from place to place eating out of dumpsters and sleeping in your own filth until you finally die of AIDS, which you contracted from a diseased whore you scrounged up enough money to pay for, so you could finally lose your virginity while at the same time pretending that your mother was back in your life.
You are the type who was an athlete in high school, who was genetically doomed to be an idiot but managed to finish school and even get a college scholarship because you were so good at a worthless children's game. You went off to college with a suitcase full of polo shirts and condoms, the polo shirts, because you're a douche, and the condoms to prevent you from impregnating the dim-witted young college girls whom you could never touch without the aid of Rohypnol, a drug you refer to as "roofies" because you can neither spell or pronounce Rohypnol. You scrape by with borderline D's for the next four years, and leave the campus to go out into the real world where your realize you're not intelligent or talented enough to do anything of value with your life. Misery and minimum wage ensues for thirty years, then you blow your brains out, and your corpse, alone and forgotten, is not discovered until the smell of rotting flesh seeps under your door and your bodily fluids finally soak through the floor of your studio apartment and into the room below you. Your body is cremated, the ashes scraped into a garbage bin because there was no one in your life who valued you enough to pay for a casket, funeral, or burial plot.
You're undoubtedly one of the two, otherwise you would have better things to do than complain about the theme of a forum that doesn't care about anything you have to say.
Jul 9 2009, 12:40 AM
Post #9
Still Standing
Group: Gold Member
Posts: 1,433
Joined: 3-August 04
From: London, England
Member No.: 439
PSN Name: BushkaUK
QUOTE(bOnEs @ Jul 7 2009, 04:55 PM) [snapback]1511622[/snapback]
pfft, the day L&D comes to the PS3 is the day i actually care about GTAIV DLC episodes... till then, who cares... the best information in that whole article is the fact that GTAV could be coming out in the next couple of years... but, anyone with half a brain could of predicted that one...
True that.
Jul 9 2009, 01:36 AM
Post #10
Group: Members
Posts: 75
Joined: 21-July 05
From: Alberta, Canada
Member No.: 20,125
QUOTE(Seeen @ Jul 6 2009, 02:43 AM) [snapback]1511398[/snapback]
A new PS2 title? What would it even be, Chinatown Wars?
Yeah, that was the first thing that I noticed when reading the info. It must be a Chinatown Wars port from the PSP version.
P.S. I wouldn't mind some downloadable GTAIV content for the PS3 as well....
I get bored...
Jul 14 2009, 01:54 PM
Post #11
Upstanding Citizen
Group: Members
Posts: 0
Joined: 20-August 04
Member No.: 891
Not having DLC for the PS3 was a mistake right from the start. I don't want to sound like a fanboi but anyway, they are still exploring the possibilities they can have with the PS3, and the XBox is already at full capacity. What I want to say is that they need to invest in something that has a future(the PS3 in this case) of evolving even more instead of some crap(being the Xbox) that is already working on its limit...
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Project Nova DSE Subrframe Connectors and Solid Body Bushings - Twist And Shout!Written by Johnny Hunkins on June 1, 2012 You can curse the chassis flex in your Gen II Nova, or you can fix it with subframe connectors and solid body bushings from DSE
Early on in Project Nova's tenure with PHR, we noticed that any time we put a jack under any of the X-body's four corners we were met with lots of creaking sounds, tweaked doorjambs, and the three remaining tires preferring to remain glued resolutely to the ground. Throughout our suspension upgrades at Classic Performance Products, we always knew that—unless we did something—the effectiveness of those mods would be tempered by a flaccid chassis to produce less than spectacular results. What we knew all along was that some very simple, cost-effective chassis stiffening moves can produce performance gains on par with more expensive mods like we'd already done. It's one of those things seldom spoken about when lavish groupings of parts are packaged together, but that suspension experts readily admit has a huge impact on vehicle performance.
With our body restoration in full swing at Outlaw Motorsports (Riverside, California), we were presented with the perfect opportunity to easily rectify the situation while the car was blown apart. Unibody cars like our '68 Nova benefit from a weight-reducing, cost-saving design that eschews a full frame for an integrated body/frame arrangement, but as a result, it also means it suffers from torsional instability. Moreover, this chassis flex only gets worse with age. The extreme flex in our 43-year-old car meant that the impending restoration would guarantee we'd suffer paint damage soon after rolling it out of the shop. Not wanting to chance that, we placed a call to the Nova experts at Detroit Speed and Engineering, and placed an order for their X-body specific weld-in subframe connectors, and solid subframe/body bushings. In conjunction with our planned rollbar, we could virtually eradicate all traces of chassis flex in the little Nova.
DSE recommends both mods be done at the same time, as the weld-in subframe connectors necessarily mean you won't have access to the body bushings as long as the subframe connectors are welded to the car. Unlike the rotted-out rubber bushings we replaced, the billet aluminum DSE ones will remain dimensionally stable for the foreseeable life of the car, while providing their own measure of chassis stiffening altogether separate from that of the subframe connectors. (The kit also comes with companion radiator core support bushings, which add a much needed measure of stability for your frontend sheetmetal, including the hood and fenders.)
DSE's subframe connectors are somewhat unique in that they require a modest section of the floor be removed, with the affected floor area then being welded to the connectors. While the operation is marginally destructive to the Nova's (and Camaro/Firebird's) rear floorpan area, it's unobtrusive. This isn't something you want to do to a 100-point restoration, but if your bag includes any kind of spirited driving—dragstrip, autocross, or road course—the DSE subframe connectors are the best ones going, hands down. They also double as a safe jacking point, and being tucked way out of sight, have a zero visible profile. Their beefcake design also renders your Nova (or Camaro/Firebird) with a level of stiffness equal to or better than a modern car with a full perimeter frame chassis. Moreover, we're thrilled that our CPP suspension and braking components will be able to live up to their true potential on the street, and out on the track. So go ahead, twist and shout—not out of frustration—but with the joy brought by a stiff and responsive chassis that will also keep your sheetmetal from buckling and cracking.
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We start by removing and thoroughly cleaning our Nova's stock subframe with a power washer. Once the DSE subframe connectors are welded in, the stub frame most likely will never see the light of day again—so use the opportunity wisely.The DSE bushings sandwich between the subframe and the body; DSE supplies four for the body, and two for the radiator core support. We saved the core support bushings for later in our restoration. The mounts are hardcoated, not anodized; DSE's hardcoating process resists corrosion over the long term much better than anodizing.Ron Aschtgen of Outlaw Motorsports lowers the Nova's body on the subframe for reassembly. If you're restoring your Nova, it's the perfect time to perform these chassis stiffening moves, since you'll likely have the body off the subframe anyway.With the subframe aligned with the body, thread the bolts through the washer and the billet aluminum outer bushing shell, then into the body. Torque the body bushing bolts down to 85 ft-lb. (Core support bolts get torqued to just 35 ft-lb.) We opted for DSE's stainless body bolt kit.Now on to the subframe connectors. Carefully cut out the paper template from the DSE instructions, and tape it to the floorpan from beneath. It's key that you accurately measure the position of the template, placing it just where the instructions indicate—you'll be cutting this portion out so you've got just one chance to get it right!With the template outline marked on the floorpan via a slight fogging of black spray paint, Aschtgen begins cutting out the indicated shape with a cut-off wheel. Note how the brake line must be temporarily relocated—same for the fuel line on the passenger side.The aft end of the DSE subframe connector is cut with a long V-shaped channel that captures the rear subframe. The connector can then be wedged tight to the rear subframe and positioned ideally for the front gussets. Note how the connector is nicely recessed into the cut-out channel in the floorboard.
We made much use of our Millermatic 211 with Auto-Set, which is a super easy-to-use MIG welder for the pro and the hobbyist. The dual-voltage unit uses either household voltage or 230 volts, and automatically senses the correct wire speed for the material thickness you set. Here, Aschtgen welds the endcaps to the connectors before putting them on the Nova.The gussets are welded to the front subframe and the connector; the gussets have three holes for quick rosette welds, which are supplemented by perimeter welds around the gusset. The most important weld performed by our Millermatic 211 was the one connecting the gusset to the front subframe. Another gusset also goes on the inboard side of the connector.The floorpan may need a little persuasion from a hammer to close up a small gap near the front. The tighter the gap, the easier it will be to weld.With the front solidly linked to the front subframe, run a MIG bead around the rear of the connector where it ties in to the rear subframe. This area is an important structure where the leaf-spring perch, body, and rear subframe all come together; the subframe connector ties all this to the front stub, bringing vehicle stiffness to the next level.We're nearly there—the last big operation is to stitch up the gap between the floorboard and the subframe connector. The Nova will gain a significant amount of additional stiffness by tying the subframe connector to the floor and surrounding area—something most subframe connectors do not do. The final move was to coat the bare metal with more of Eastwood's Extreme Chassis Satin Black—both bottom and top side. With our body and paint completed, our next step is to replace the ratty wiring with a new harness from Painless Performance. We'll bring that your way next month!The front panel of our Millermatic 211 has controls for wire speed and voltage, giving us the option to set it manually (to deviate for special circumstances), or go automatic. We used the Auto-Set feature, which automatically adjusts wire feed speed to the material needs. We also dig the Smooth-Start feature, which prevents popping and splattering on start-up.The final move was to coat the bare metal with more of Eastwood's Extreme Chassis Satin Black—both bottom and top side. With our body and paint completed, our next step is to replace the ratty wiring with a new harness from Painless Performance. We'll bring that your way next month!


text: Save the Stub Ticket Holder Item #: 122590 $9.99 $3.97 Qty: Sorry, this item is currently unavailable online. Ship to Home Remember the best seats you've ever had with this Save the Stub Ticket Holder. From plane rides to concerts, this box makes every stub a keepsake. Holder measures 8L x 1.75W x 10H in. Crafted of resin and glass White finish Painted white messages on the glass Holder features ticket-sized hole for collection Comes ready for wall mount; no hanging hardware required Sorry, this item is currently unavailable online.


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Actor Meshach Taylor of 'Designing Women' dead at 67
(CNN) -- Another familiar Hollywood face bid farewell late Saturday -- actor Meshach Taylor. He died at age 67 at his Los Angeles area home, his agent Dede Binder said.
Many may remember him from "Designing Women," where he played assistant Anthony Bouvier.
Taylor had fought a terminal illness and faded markedly in recent days. His wife, children, grandchildren and mother surrounded him as he passed away, Binder said.
"It is with love and gratitude that we sorrowfully announce that our darling, amazingly brilliant and dynamic, Meshach, the incredible father, husband, son and friend has begun his grand transition," the family said in a statement.
Taylor made his screen debut in the 1978 movie "Damien: Omen II." He has appeared regularly in television dramas since, including the series "In the Heat of the Night," "Hannah Montana," and "All of Us," according to his profile on the International Movie Database.
Most recently, he appeared in two episodes of Criminal Minds. The last one ran in January this year.
During the run of "Designing Women," Taylor's co-star Dixie Carter described him as "a good man who is confident and strong. He's absolutely grounded," according to a profile in People.
"The eldest of three children of two former college professors, Taylor, a precocious child, first learned acting technique as a survival skill. 'The kids called me the Professor, and I got beat up a lot, he says. 'So I dummied up until I got into the 11th grade,'" the profile read.
"Even when he didn't have any money, he always had style. He was on the cutting edge of men's colognes, and he was always buying yachting magazines and GQ," actor Joe Mantegna told the magazine.
™ & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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Follow along with step-by-step beading projects and share your designs with beaders around the world—it's quick & easy!
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- "Azure Atmosphere": on
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About this design:
My mom loves sparkle so I tried to make a design that added swarovski bicones to the seed beads. When I showed it to a friend, she called it the star necklace and it has stuck in my head as such.
Components:seed beads, bicone crystals, nymo thread, sterling clasp
Read the comments (or add your own)
Very pretty !! Love how it dangles !!!
thanks! i wish the pic showed more of the sparkle! it hangs well on a real person too– i had a LOT of practice ones that just didnt work on a real neck!
This is lovely; it does have a star like quality.
thanks again!
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Brothers 14th Annual Show & ShineWritten by on October 25, 2012 California's Best GM Trucks Only Event
When it comes to throwing a great classic truck show, location is everything, and that's the reason Brothers held its 14th Annual Show & Shine once again at the Canyon RV Park located within the city of Anaheim, California's, Featherly Park. The event put on by Brothers to thank its loyal base of customers took place on July 8, 2012, and there isn't a better place to get out of the hot Southern California sun than under the trees next to the banks of the Santa Ana River.
Although the temperatures this year were much lower than the heat wave that struck the rest of the nation, the breeze never stopped blowing all day. Of course there are a few minor drawbacks for photographers, such as trying to get a good shot without shadows from the trees blocking the trucks, but that's not a biggie.
Another matter that might make it a little easier to write more detail about the event would be the truck owner's hometown included on the information card on the windshield. There's no charge for admission, so there was a bunch of spectators who avoided paying the $10 parking fee by parking out on the highway. Who knows how many paint chips they got from the 18-wheelers flying by, but hey $10 is $10 right? I'm more into convenience, so I popped for the $10 and got a really good parking spot in the shade under the bridge. Well, the less I write, the more truck photos we can run, so I'm outta here.
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Former Street Trucks editor Travis Noack rolled his pre-smog 454 big-block C10 in with the C/10 club from Central Valley, California.Gallardo Brothers Trucking of California's Central Valley bought this '55 Chevy first series brand-new, and its still in the family.There's nothing like a re-pop Teardrop trailer, with old C10 hauling it to make for a good picnic under the bridge.Believe it or not, this A-D belongs to the Park Ranger. Here, the Ranger's friends wait patiently for the air-pressure to build high enough to lift.Gary Kinion's '69 CST C10 graces the Brothers catalog cover, so it goes without saying he's a regular customer. Underneath those good CPP chassis components abound.This pretty little '57 Chevy was garage built by father and son Steve and Nick Novelli of Reno, Nevada.
Here's a good example of what happens when you don't keep your original paintjob buried in Mothers car wax.Mode Bikes of Costa Mesa, California, rolls to the events in a slammed GMC Step Van. Here, a youthful lad dreams of owning one.Whether it's a small or big-window cab the Deluxe Cab stainless steel molding sure makes these Task Master trucks look good.As seen on this '66 C10, Indian blanket seat covers can double as a Sears poncho should the need arise.Not too shabby. It's nice to see old panels like this with some trick touches like scallops. This one is a '56.Urban Hertz of Pacoima, California, buried this beautiful five-window GMC A-D under numerous coats of pearl Martian Purple and clear urethane.
All styles are welcome at this show. As in years past there was no shortage of very clean lifted trucks.


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Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
For those of you with archery hunts coming up soon, this should get your blood pumping...
Very cool. Thanks for sharing.
I don't Break the rules, I Modify them.
Nice bucks!
-NRA Life Member
What an old big bodied 3 point! He's a hog for sure.
2012 Bowtech Insanity CPXL
TT Xtreme FC Pro
Custom Black Gold Ascent 4 pin
GT Velocity 300's tipped with 125 Shuttle t's weighing 490 grains!!
That is a great lookin group of bucks. Thanks for sharing.
Cool video, thanks for sharing.
Looks like some of them big old boys have passed on their genes too. Bet some of them smaller bucks will get big too!
Colorado Cowboy
Cowboy Action Shooter; Endowment Life Member-NRA
The Original Rocket Scientist-Retired
"My Father always considered a walk in the mountains as the equivalent of church going."
Aldous Huxley
The big three point with stickers is my favorite. Thanks for posting the video.
really nice!! I haven't seen a bunch like that in quite awhile.
Great looking group of deer, thanks for sharing!
Shoot STR8


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My family on the east coast tells me its in the upper 80s. Here in LA, it's in the low 80s. Spring, apparently, sprung.
Seasonably speaking, it's time to find the grill and get some rosé in the house. At this point in the year, chances are you can still find a lot of last year's rosé on the shelf. As long as the wine store has been storing them properly, that's not a problem. So head over to your favorite wine retailer and pick up a pink wine to enjoy this weekend.
One that you might be able to put your hands on is the 2008 Château Viranel Saint-Chinian (suggested retail $13; available for $10) Made from Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault, this wine epitomizes the sunny, Mediterranean feeling that I want from my rosés. It is true salmon in color, and has aromas of rose petals and raspberries. These elements are echoed in the palate, and there are nice stone notes in the aftertaste. Dry, refreshing, and perfect for charcuterie, salads, grilled sausages or just plain sipping on the patio, this wine has very good QPR--and excellent QPR if you can pick it up on sale for around $10.
Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample.
Yesterday, I received news that Good Wine Under $20 had been voted Best Wine Blog of 2010 by the readers of Sauveur Magazine and its online site.
This was the first year Saveur ran the contest, and it is an honor to be chosen in this category. I'm a regular reader of Saveur, which makes this all the more sweet.
Here's a list of all the winners. If you haven't checked them out, you should do so. My congratulations to all those who were nominated.
David Lebovitz
Good Wine Under $20
Smitten Kitchen
Homesick Texan
La Tartine Gourmande
Cafe Fernando
Smitten Kitchen
Food Wishes
Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn
"Napa Valley," "value," and "Cabernet Sauvignon" are not often found in the same blog post title, nor are they often found in the same sentence. Now, the same people who are bringing you good, affordable Pinot Noir are bringing you classy, wallet-friendly Cabernet Sauvignon, too.
If you are looking for a great value in a Napa Valley Cab, look no further than the excellent QPR 2007 Hayman & Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection (suggested retail $14.99; available for $9-$16) When you uncork it, expect to detect blackberry and fresh ground coffee aromas. Your first sips will yield a nice currant and blackberry fruit core, accompanied by elegant, well-integrated tannins. The aftertaste is smooth and lingers in the mouth, turning spicy. Though this wine is perfectly lovely know, it should continue to improve over the next few years, so you may want to put some aside not only for this summer's barbeques but next winter's stews and roasts, too.
Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample
Last week was the vernal equinox, the point in the year when the days are as long as the nights. This year, celebrate spring by drinking wines from the southern hemisphere. Below the equator, they are celebrating fall and looking forward to the cooler temperatures of winter. Here, we've got other things to look forward to: warm sunshine, the first cookouts of summer, the last pots of stew to keep the chill away during the spring rains. Red wines from Argentina and South Africa go well with all these foods and more, with their warm, spicy, fruity profile.
Here are my recommendations for very good QPR wines including a Malbec, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Shiraz-Pinotage Blend that will help you bridge from winter to spring to summer without missing a step.
2007 Bodega Septima Cabernet Sauvignon (suggested retail, $12; available for $7-$12) From Argentina, this luscious Cabernet has aromas of warm baking spices and currants, touched with herbal notes. The flavors are rich, too, with coffee and currants predominant. There is good acidity, and a juicy aftertaste. Drink now, or set aside for 12-18 months.
2008 Sebeka Shiraz-Pinotage "Cape Blend" (suggested retail, $7.99; available for $6-$8) This blend from South Africa features currant and plum aromas and flavors, accented with espresso and baker's chocolate. Like most red blends, it will pair nicely with a variety of foods including burgers, chili, and grilled chicken. Drink over the next 9 months.
2008 Diseño Malbec (suggested retail $7.50; available for around $9) Always a reliable choice in affordable Malbecs, this bottling has floral, blackberry, and truffle aromas. The blackberry and mocha flavors are silky in the mouth. At present the tannins are slightly drying, so give it some air if you're drinking it now or set it aside to drink over the next two years.
Full Disclosure: I received these wines as samples.
Now that it's spring, my mind has turned to cleaning, lightening up, and enjoying the outdoors. In the wine department, that means my mind has turned to Gewürztraminer, a grape that always reminds me of this time of year.
Finding a good, affordable of the grape can be challenging. Some are too sweet, and some have an almost plastic quality with the aroma of cheap perfume. So if you have had Gewürztraminer in the past and not enjoyed it, make it your mission this spring to find one that suits your palate and your pocketbook.
One that I like is the 2009 Dancing Coyote Gewürztraminer (suggested retail, $10.99). It's a very good QPR domestic example with springlike aromas of apple, litchi, and honeysuckle. All of these notes can be found in the flavors, along with a nice acidity that adds to the juiciness of the wine and balances out the natural sweet impression that the grape gives.
This wine will be terrific with grilled sausages, salads, and spicy Asian cuisine.
Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample.
Upcoming spring brunches--check.
Celebration of first flowers blooming--check.
Toasting friends who just got engaged/married--check.
Toasting friends who just had new baby--check.
Mother's Day--check.
See how many celebrations you have coming up in the next few months?
That's why you need to know about this wine. It costs under $15 a bottle and is absolutely yummy. Buy it by the case, and you will have bubbles to see you through into June (provided you don't toast too many Tuesdays along the way...).
The NV J. Laurens Crémant de Limoux Brut is one of the best sparklers--if not the best sparkler--I've ever had for under $15 and represents excellent QPR. Available in lots of markets for between $9 and $13, this wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France has a lovely, creamy taste. Abundant fresh citrus pith and brioche dough make a point-counterpoint of zest and richness in the flavors, with fruit notes of pear, apple, and lemon. A great feature of the wine are the tiny, frothy bubbles which make for a delicate impression. The wine is dry (brut), but it's a soft, gentle brut like spring itself. You can enjoy this wine with a wide range of foods and for this price, why wouldn't you??
Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample.
The idea of affordable Pinot Noir is a guaranteed attention-grabber. Blame it on the movies, the delicacy of the grape, or its status as a fashionable tipple. No matter what you blame it on, there's one thing for sure: Pinot Noir is pricey.
And, in my opinion, deservedly so. When Pinot Noir is well made, it is a joy to drink. It's juicy, fresh, and silky. It pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods. And there is something elegant about the grapes that are made with this wine that always leaves me wanting more: more of it on my dinner table, more in my glass, more in my cellar.
Many of the things I love best about Pinot Noir, however, can be hard to find in less expensive bottlings. Which is why these two selections are such finds--and both cost $20 or less.
2008 Hayman & Hill Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Reserve Selection (suggested retail, $18; a new release so ask your local merchant about whether they will be stocking it). Very characteristic of the Central Coast appellation where the grapes were grown, this wine had juicy black raspberry and elegant floral aromas with hints of chalk and limestone around the edges. Its fruit-forward core reminded me of homemade raspberry jam and fresh blackberries. It had the hallmark smoothness in the mouth, and left behind a satiny feeling that is hard to find in inexpensive Pinot Noir. Excellent QPR.
2008 Rodney Strong Estate Vineyards Pinot Noir (suggested retail, $20; available $14-23). The grapes in this Pinot come from the Russian River Valley which makes for a spicier, earthier wine. Expect notes of raspberry and earth in the aromas, which are echoed in the flavors. There is lots of allspice and clove in the aftertaste. At this early stage of its life, the wine's initial impression is disjointed and awkward but as it gets air (give it a vigorous swirl!) the flavors start to deepen and knit together. This wine is suitable for short-term aging, and will continue to improve until around 2012. Perhaps buy a few bottles if you find it, and set some aside in a cool, dark place for your 2010 Thanksgiving dinner. Excellent QPR.
Full Disclosure: I received these wines as samples.
If you think all Cava is fruity, perfectly enjoyable, but not too interesting--think again. (image from the great LA Food blog, Food She Thought, where you can also read another review of this wine)
I had a great bottle of Cava lately, and it made me realize I just don't know that much about the stuff other than it's from Spain, has bubbles, and is usually affordable.
The wine was the German Gilabert Brut Nature Reserva (domaineLA, $14.99; available elsewhere for $14-$15). This interesting Cava had a price point under $15 and an aromatic profile like Champagne: yeast, lemon pith, and mineral notes. It is dry--and I do mean dry--with no sugar added (the technical term is dosage). Bright, intense lemon and bread dough flavors are accented by a bit of stoniness in the aftertaste. Fine, abundant, active bubbles make for a very fresh, brisk feeling in the mouth, although the overall impression is rather creamy despite the dryness.
If tasted blind, I think that most would think it was a French sparkler, perhaps an inexpensive Champagne. And if you like very dry sparkling wine but have steered clear of Cava in the past fearing it might be too fruit-forward for your tastes, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this.
I suppose there is a technical difference between cellaring and short-term aging. Cellaring wine, for me, means putting wine away for so long that you forget you have it and then are pleasantly surprised to discover you actually do NOT need to buy wine for Christmas 2015 because you actually bought wine for that occasion back in 2007!
But even short-term aging--by my definition wine that you set aside for 1-3 years--can make for a nice discovery when, on a cold winter's night, you make yourself a soup or roast or even whip up some burgers and find that you have a perfect bottle of wine that's been sitting around waiting for you.
As you know I drink mostly wine under $20, but even bottles that cost relatively little can benefit from some time to grow. What happens when they do? To my taste, the wines become smoother and more subtle. The fruit steps quietly aside and lets other notes--floral, herbal, woody--come forward. These are all transformations that I enjoy.
Take, for instance, my recent experience with the 2005 Black Sheep Finds "Genuine Risk" Cabernet Sauvignon. I bought it from online retailer domaine547 (now with an LA-based store, domaineLA) back in February 2008 for $20.99. Fast forward two years to February 2010. I loved this wine, and found it had excellent QPR because of its outstanding Cabernet characteristics. There were aromas of currant, plum, graphite, and licorice, all of which were echoed in the flavors. Hints of herbs and a nice spark of green pepper emerged, too, keeping the wine lively and interesting. It never became too vegetal, with red and purple fruit continuing through into the aftertaste.
If you are interested in more recent releases, the 2006 is available. Based on my experience I'd recommend buying three bottles, enjoying one now for a point of comparison, and drinking the remaining two bottles sometime between 2011 and 2013.
Remember the children's story of Goldilocks and the three bears? She wanders into a cabin and finds three bowls of porridge. The first is too hot. The next is too cold. The third, however, is "just right."
I often feel like Goldilocks when tasting Pinot Grigio. Some of them are too bitter. Some of them are too sweet. Some, too tart. Some of them are too fruity. Why are wines made with this grape so often out of balance?
If you're looking for a nicely balanced Pinot Grigio, look for a bottle of the 2007 Swanson Pinot Grigio from the Napa Valley. ($13-$22) Though it costs a bit more, it is very good QPR and worth every penny. Expect bitter lemon aromas, accented by a bit of blood orange. The flavors are nicely creamy yet still citrusy, like lemon curd. This wine is poised between fruit, acidity, lushness, and bitterness.
As Goldilocks would say: "Just right."
Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample.
Pairing food and wine can be a perplexing, confusing business. People can be nutty on the subject and I have to admit I can be a bit obsessive about finding the perfect food to go with Pinot Gris and the ideal wine for spaghetti and meatballs.
In a world of shrinking bank accounts and free time, I've started prizing versatility in wine. When I go to the store, I'm increasingly drawn to wine that goes with everything. What that often means is that my shopping bag contains a red blend and a bottle of Gewurztraminer. Here's why.
Why Red Blends? Here in the US we tend to gravitate towards single-variety bottlings--Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah. The rest of the world does things differently. Chianti is made from a blend of red grapes that includes at least 80% Sangiovese. In the Rhone, red wines can include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and other red grapes. Like Bordeaux reds? These bottles typically contain Merlot, Cabernet, and juice from Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc. In my mouth, blending grapes takes some of the hard varietal edges from a wine. Put Merlot with Cabernet and some of its green pepperiness goes away, for instance. This makes red blends great food wines, capable of adapting themselves to a variety of cuisines--from burgers to roast chicken to beef curry. In the US, many red blends feature Zinfandel and Syrah. This makes them smooth to drink, and a bit higher in alcohol levels than those from Europe so read your labels! One nice red to try is the 2007 Adastra Ed's Red ($15). This big, yummy, smooth red blend is comprised of 43% Syrah, 39% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Made with organic grapes (see note below), it has abundant notes of dark chocolate, plum, and black cherry in the aromas and flavors. This wine is not only very good QPR--it goes own VERY easily too, so remember it's 15% ABV. Pair it with anything from soups, stews, burgers, spaghetti, pizza, roast chicken with rosemary, pork tenderloin, beef curry--let your imagination fly. NOTE: the nice folks at Adastra tell me that because this is a blend, the mix is not made exclusively from grapes grown Adastra's organic vineyards.
Why Gewurztraminer? When I started thinking about this post, I was planning on extolling the virtues of Sauvignon Blanc. That's a versatile grape, too. But Gewurz edges it out, in my opinion. That's because it pairs beautifully with Asian cuisine--Thai, Chinese, Japanese, even Indian. It also is perfect with pork, sausage, and chicken. So whether you've got some delicate sushi or a hearty Alsatian pork stew, a flavorful Thai curry or a plateful of sausages and mashed potatoes, Gewurztraminer turns out to be a surprisingly good option. Gewurztraminers can be made in a dry or slightly off-dry style, so look at the description on the label. The spicier your food, the better it can handle a bit of sweetness in the wine. The most versatile Gewurztraminers, I find, are the dry ones. One I enjoyed recently was the 2007 Joseph Swan Vineyards Gewurztraminer from the Russian River Valley's Saralee's Vineyards ($20, domaineLA). I loved this domestic Gewurztraminer with its classic, restraind flavor profile. Elegant apple and white nectarine aromas lead into flavors that are almost steely in their intensity and dominated by apple and stone. The aftertaste tends towards nectarine, but this wine is by no means sweet. It was lovely with a tamarind chicken curry, with some sausage, and with a pork stew. Excellent QPR.
Do you have other suggestions for wines that go with most everything? If so, leave them in the comments.
Full disclosure: I received the red blend as a sample.
One of the impediments to blogging in the past few weeks was simply this: I had become a bit tired of wine. There were nights I felt like if I drank another "basic red" I was going to scream. I dipped into my tiny cellar, looking for wines that might inspire and turn this trend around, but had no luck. Everything I tasted seemed a bit blah and predictable.
I turned to water. I developed quite an addiction to Honest Tea (and have a growing collection of the lids printed with inspirational sayings to prove it). Then, reminded of happy, relaxing times in England that were accompanied by drinking hard cider, I turned to fermented, alcoholic apple juice.
That did it. My palate and mood lifted.
Aspall Organic Draft Cider ($6.99 for 500ml, Whole Foods) is, in my opinion, the alcoholic non-grape beverage for wine lovers. It has a rich, fermented taste that is not as overwhelmingly earthy and pungent as some ciders in the market, a nice fizziness that makes it good with many of the same foods that go well with sparkling wine, and leaves your mouth full of the crisp taste of English apples. It is also relatively low in alcohol compared to most table wines at 6.8% alc/vol. And for the price, it's certainly excellent QPR.
If you want to try something new, get yourself some Aspall Cider and make this delicious pork stew to accompany it. It's full of apples, parsnips, and pearl onions (confession: I used the frozen kind because life is too short to peel pearl onions), with some sage, shallot, and mustard for zing and lots of hard cider enriching the sauce. This is a one-pot, all-inclusive meal that is comforting and rich without being heavy. It simmers on the stove for hours, too, which makes it perfect for entertaining or just filling your house with the fragrance of autumn on a cold winter day. Of course, if hard cider is just a no-go zone for you, this recipe would be equally nice with an appley, unoaked Chardonnay, a dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer, or a light red from the Beaujolais.
Don't eat pork? Try Aspall's Cider with a Welsh Rarebit, perhaps sliding some apples under the cheese sauce before you broil it.
For a grape I've never heard of before, Jacquère certainly has a lot of synonyms and variant spellings.
What is Jacquère? It's a white grape grown in the Savoy region of France. (photo from Charles Neal Selections)
Where is the Savoy, you ask? It's tucked up next to the Alps. And though the region makes good wine, most of it never leaves the area's fondue parties and ski lifts. Nevertheless, I've been trying to get to know the wines of Savoy a bit better, and while they can be hard to find they tend to be very good value when you manage it, and pair nicely with food, to boot.
Turns out there are lots of Quenards making wine in Savoy, as the signposts to the right indicate. The Jacquère I tasted was the 2007 Jean-Pierre et Jean-Francois Quenard Vin de Savoie Chignin Anne de la Biguerne ($12.93, Garagiste; for more information on purchasing, contact the importer at Charles Neal Selections)
The wine was surprisingly hard to describe based on the usual fruit and flowers vocabulary. Instead what I tasted was "clean," followed by "snow." It was very fresh tasting, with faint, pure lemon and mineral aromas and flavors if you dug under the clean snow to find them. For under $13, this was excellent QPR.
What to have with your Alpine Jacquère? Something gooey and cheesey (fondue, grilled cheese, Croque Monsieur) would be lovely. But if you really want a treat, pair it with shellfish. That's what we did recently, when we stopped into the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort on the Santa Barbara coast in Montecito. They have a Thursday night seafood buffet that is a far cry from most sad buffets you are now thinking about with horror. The Biltmore's tables were loaded with fresh shucked oysters, snow crab legs, sushi, lobster, and grilled fish. And they don't charge corkage at the Thursday buffet, so I brought along this bottle and the clean-tasting wine was just perfect with the clean-tasting shellfish. All in all, an excellent value in food and wine in pricey Montecito.
Sitting by the ocean on a beautiful Santa Barbara night, sipping Alpine Jacquère, all I could hope for was that somewhere in Savoy someone was cuddled up to the fire keeping warm with a nice bottle of Central Coast Pinot Noir!
It's almost V-Day. Nothing says romance like some bubbly, and even if you are alone this Valentine's Day, don't you deserve to treat yourself to some sparkling wine? Sparkling wine is great for winding down at the end of a long day, it's not too bad with dark chocolate, and it is fantastic with fried comfort foods (potato chips, french fries, and fried chicken to name a few).
If you're in the market for some affordable sparkling wine, I've got a rundown of some of my preferred bottlings from all over the world that cost between $14 and $23. Bubbly wines may be romantic, but nothing says forever like a nice retirement account, so put the money you would have spent on Champagne into the bank and try one of these instead.
N.V. Freixenet Cava Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut. ($18) This lovely packaging contains a very nice bottle of Spanish sparkling wine made entirely from Pinot Noir. A beautiful dark rose in color, there are aromas and flavors of strawberries, cucumbers, and a touch of mint. This sparkler is fresh tasting, yet round and lush, too, with nice body. Good with chocolate, pasta with vodka sauce, or salmon. Well worth the price, and excellent QPR.
N.V. Cupcake Vineyards Blanc de Blancs. ($15.99) A well-made, 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine, with lots of citrus, apple, and some bread dough notes. The wine's refreshing, mild flavors make it an excellent choice for a pre-dinner sipper, or to go with simply prepared fish or chicken. Very good QPR.
N.V. Pongrácz Brut. ($14.99) An interesting sparkler from South Africa made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this wine has toasted bread, apple, and cherry pit flavors. Some may find the bubbles are a bit harsh and raspy, but it is very refreshing and would also be excellent if you are making mimosas or other cocktails that need sparkling wine. Try floating a hibiscus flower in it, with a dash of the syrup from the bottle. It looks beautiful! Very Good QPR.
N.V. Jansz Premium Cuvée ($22.95, Bristol Farms; available elsewhere for $16-$24) An elegant, creamy sparkling wine from Tasmania, with lots of apple in the midpalate. The wine had a lovely mouthfeel, and would partner well with creamy sauces. Made from Chardonnay with a bit of Pinot Noir. Very good QPR.
N.V. Mumm Napa Cuvée M ($20) I was VERY impressed with this $20 domestic sparkler. It had a depth of flavor that I usually find lacking in cheaper sparklers which are all bubbles and citrus and not much else. Made in a barely sec style, from Pinot Noir and late-harvest Muscat, this wine has aromas of white chocolate, toasted bread, and strawberry followed by layered flavors of white chocolate, rose petal, Meyer lemon, strawberry, and toast. Pretty great stuff. Excellent QPR.
Full Disclosure: with the exception of the Jansz, I received all these wines as samples. Prices given are suggested retail, and you may find that the wine costs more or less in your area. Clicking on the wine's name will take you to one of various wine search engines in case you would like to purchase the wine near you.
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Leg prosthesis. 9 1/2"H leather brace fits around leg above where knee would be. Brace is open on one side with holes for straps. Two leather straps extend below brace on either side of opening for base of stump approx. where knee would be, they are screwed into circular metal plates that are attached to top edge of wooden portion of leg. Plates allow brace to move from front to back. Hollow wooden leg is 14 1/8'L. Metal plates extend half-way down leg on either side, are connected to circular plates. Top half of leg is painted red -bottom is painted black. 7/8" x 4 3/4" rectangular piece of wood screwed to front center of leg with four 1/4" screws. Surface is even with surface of rest of leg. Wooden "foot" attached to leg with bolts on either side of where ankle would be. Bolts allow foot to move up & down. "Sole" of foot is leather down to "heel" portion. Leather band around top center of foot. Wooden "toes" carved in upper portion of foot. Leather band is cracking on either end. Paint is worn off of leg in numerous places. "Foot" appears to have been painted white at one time but most of the paint has worn off. Ball of twine inserted in opening of "heel" section of foot.
Wood, leather.
© Copyright 2011 American Heritage Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved.


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It was clear who won the presidential debate last night in Hollywood.
Celebs were not kind to Governor Mitt Romney during the second live presidential debate last night.
For the most part, Romney received criticism for his stammering, his five-point plan, and, of course, his mention of women in binders, among other things.
(Sidenote: If you haven't stumbled upon the bindersfullofwomen tumblr, check it out.)
Unlike the first debate, Obama was praised for his comeback after a lackluster first debate.
Moderator Candy Crowley was also better received than VP debate moderator Martha Raddatz.
The only person who really gave Obama a tough time last night was Donald Trump, calling him "no Bill Clinton."
Here's how the celebs tore Romney apart on Twitter:
Calling him a bully:
On birds:
On gun violence:
Everything else:
@elizadushku / Twitter@JoyVBehar / Twitter@JoyVBehar / Twitter@pattonoswalt /Twitter@pattonoswalt / Twitter@pattonoswalt / Twitter
@katewalsh / Twitter@aishatyler / Twitter@EvaLongoria / Twitter
And, then there were the binder comments:
@BrooklynDecker / Twitter@NIckKristof / Twitter
They were much more in favor of moderator Candy Crowley ...
@jessetyler / Twitter@joyvbehar / Twitter@chrissyteigen / Twitter@RyanSeacrest / Twitter@SarahKSilverman / Twitter@billmaher / Twitter
... and, Obama ...
@MiaFarrow / Twitter@MMFlint / Twitter@billmaher / Twitter@elizadushku / Twitter@SherriEShepherd / Twitter@JoyVBehar / Twitter@NickKristof / Twitter
... unless you were Donald Trump:
However, this was the zinger: @realDonaldTrump / Twitter


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Worked With:
Holt McCallany
Birth Name: Holt McCallany
Born: 09/03/1964
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born: 09/03/1964
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born Holt Quinn McAloney on Sept. 3, 1964, Holt McCallany was the oldest of two sons by Irish actor Michael McAloney, who won a Tony Award for his production of Brendan Behan's "Borstal Boy," and actress-singer Julie Wilson. A childhood spent in Dublin was cut short by his parents' divorce, with McCallany returning with his parents to the United States. There, he was sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Omaha, NE, but this period was a troubled one for him. After being expelled from school, he ran away to Los Angeles, where he decided to become an actor. McCallany's parents eventually tracked him down and sent him back to Ireland to finish high school. After graduation, he studied ... Continue Bio >>
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Daus Mahnke, MD
Esophageal varices
are abnormal blood vessels that develop in the esophagus. They have abnormally thin walls and the blood pressure within them is very high. This combination makes esophageal varices dangerous, because they can burst and cause life-threatening bleeding.
Esophageal variceal injection is a procedure to either stop active bleeding or prevent future bleeding. During the procedure, medication is injected into or alongside esophageal varices. When injecting into the vein, the medication causes blood clots to form, blocking the vein from bleeding. When injected alongside the vein, the swelling in the area compresses the vein, preventing it from bleeding.
The procedure is also known as sclerotherapy.
Esophageal varices can be life-threatening. Esophageal variceal injection is a procedure that can be done to stop active bleeding from esophageal varices and prevent rebleeding.
Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
For this procedure, you will lie on your left side. A mouthpiece will be placed to help keep your mouth open. An assistant will be in the room to monitor your breathing and heart beat. You may also be given oxygen through your nose. A suction tube will be used to clear the saliva and other fluids from your mouth.
A lubricated endoscope will be placed into your mouth. It will be passed down your throat and into your esophagus. The scope will have a small light and a camera. Images will display on a video monitor. Air will be passed through the scope to help your doctor see your esophagus. The enlarged vein will be located. If needed, the endoscope can be passed all the way down into the stomach and upper intestines.
When near the varices, a flexible needle will be passed through the scope. The needle will be used to inject medication into the varices. If needed, your doctor may do many injections during one procedure.
Instruments can also be passed through the scope to apply rubber band-like devices. The rubber band ties off the varices. This will prevent future bleeding. This is called band ligation.
About 30-60 minutes
During the procedure, you may feel discomfort in your throat. After the procedure, your throat may be sore for a few days. In addition, you may feel bloated and need to belch. It may also be painful to swallow for a couple of days after the procedure.
After the procedure, be sure to follow your doctor's
which may include:
After this procedure, you will have a smaller chance of bleeding from your esophageal varices. However, it is still possible to bleed from varices that have been injected. More than one procedure may be required.
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
American Gastroenterological Association
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Health Canada
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)
Berry PA, Wendon JA. The management of severe alcoholic liver disease and variceal bleeding in the intensive care unit. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2006;12:171-7.
Garcia-Tsao G, Sanyal AJ. Prevention and management of gastroesophageal varicies and variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(9):2086-2102.
Gastroesophageal varices. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what. Updated May 13, 2013. Accessed July 12, 2013.
Technology Assessment Committee, Croffie J, et al. Sclerosing agents for use in GI endoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;66(1):1-6.
Last reviewed July 2013 by Daus Mahnke, MD; Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.


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See the top 20 most helpful scuba gear reviews
Average Customer Review: based on 5 reviews.Rating: Hooded is the way to go!
I am considering purchase of this item for the added sun protection on my arms, as I am in the water more days than not. (I live in the Caribbean.) I already have the vest model in medium. Because I am 62", 175 pounds and have a narrow frame, I am wondering if I should get the medium large this time around. The medium vest works okay, but I worry that size might be too tight with the added pull from the sleeves. Thoughts? Thanks so much!
I see the sizing chart has the dimensions for my body but what about the hood? I wear a 7-3/8 hat, will the ML hood be okay?
Re: the lavacore hoody, do I want long sleeve or vest? Im a size small but have a large head, do a still order the small?
The waist and chest are the most important measurements for the fit. Weight will depend on the divers body build and is the last measurement to consider. As long as the item is not used in the water you have up to 60 days to refund or exchange it. The vest style fit easier than the long sleeves.
Hello! I am having trouble finding the thickness of the piece. I am completely new to diving, so this may be an incorrect question, but I thought Id ask! Thanks for all you do!
Hello, Im 61" and 175lbs. Which puts me in the middle of three different sizes on the size chart. Which measurement is more important? Recommendation?
Thanks for your response, Darrick. So you are suggesting the medium large. I see that my height was not posted correctly. I am actually 6 feet two inches tall, 175 pounds and have a narrow frame. Considering that, the medium large is still good?
Regarding the "LavaCore by Oceanic Trilaminate Polytherm Long Sleeve Hooded Dive Rash Guard " - it says Dive in the name, but a review mentioned lap swimming. I really need something with a hood for lap swimming/freestyle especially. Do you find that this works for lap swimming for a significant number of people, or was this review the exception? Is it flexible enough for most swimmers to use for this?
What size is recommended for a 56" 120-pound female? Thank you!
Your bust and waist measurements will always be the 2 most important measurement any time you are purchasing a suit using the manufacturer''s sizing charts. Based on this info, it seems you''d be a Ladies Small, but the other 2 dimensions are important to make sure.
I just want to ask if the hood is made from the same material as the rest of the lava core because I have the long sleeve without the hood and the material is too tough for a hood. Thank you
again , I just want to ask if the hood is made from the same material as the rest of the lava core because I have the long sleeve without the hood and the material is too tough for a hood. Thank you please answer this is the second time i ask this question
Hello Scuba.com! I am going to St. Thomas VI the end of February and Im looking for something to help keep me warm while snorkeling. Last year while there I could only stay in the water approximately 20-30 min. before I started shivering. What should I buy to keep warmer in the water. I am 58" and 128lb. female. Thank you so much! Sincerely, Jan
Specifically designed to add an additional warming layer on the entire upper body, head protection and increased comfort when worn under a traditional neoprene wetsuit.
Wind-proof middle layer provides anti-wind chill properties and ensures warmth in cold conditions
Water resistant outer layer facilitates fast water run-off and quick drying
Light weight and 4-way stretch makes Lavacore incredibly comfortable to wear
Breathable middle layer allows moisture to be drawn away from the body on the surface
Lavacore is neutrally buoyant
All seams are overlapped during flatlock sewing to decrease water flow
Full gusset incorporated into the underarm to offer exceptional arm movement and stretch
Anti-bacterial inner fleece minimizes odor and eliminates bacteria growth
Extended material on back to keep vests and shirts from riding up
SPF 30+ protection
Close to the skin, this soft internal fleece combined with high 4-way stretch produces the ultimate comfort / warmth / weight ratio, a true leader amongst artificial/man-made fabrics within the water sports industry. Wet or dry, hot or cold, Polytherm helps control your core temperature longer and when wet maintains neutral buoyancy, crucial to divers and any high activity watersports enthusiast.
Due to water weight being eliminated the garment becomes an ultra performance piece of equipment - essential to your body's needs of maintaining a safe and secure temperature. Whether worn as a stand alone garment, under your wetsuit or even clothing, Polytherm is guaranteed to keep you well insulated, flexible, lightweight and free from windchill.
Polytherm Tri-Laminate
Combining the outer shell and the inter PU layer, the fleece of Polytherm integrated ensures a very high heat and insulation rating, the PU film layer gives this combination added water resistance and high protection from windchill. Used in areas where extreme heat retention is required.
Ultraflex Durable Outer Protection +
Combining the outer shell and the inter PU layer, the fleece of Polytherm integrated ensures a very high heat and insulation rating, the PU film layer gives this combination added water resistance and high protection from windchill. Used in areas where extreme heat retention is required.
Waterproof/Breathable MIddleMembrane +
Layer is an impermeable Breathable Microporous high stretch PU Film which is wind proof and breathable allowing perspiration to be drawn away in hot conditions.
Insulative Thermal Inner Layer +
Fleece layer is a 240g/sqm 4 way stretch polyester fleece with elastane. It has Anti-Pill treatment as well as Anti-Microbial treatment to reduce odor and eliminate bacteria.
Seam Construction
All of the Lavacore seams are overlapped during flatlock sewing to ensure maximum water integrity and reduced waterflow through the seams. Maximum heat retention is therefore achieved when worn in colder water conditions. See diagram. To ensure maximum integrity and longevity of your Lavacore garment the seam cross-overs on the inside of the suit are locked under the threads of the adjoining seam. The seam construction being doubled and flat-locked allows for maximum stretch out of the four way stretch fabric technology without compromising at seam edges.
Panel Design
The Lavacore range includes female and male specific cut and unique design.
Lycra panels with contemporary lines and graphics are incorporated into all garments.
Full Under the Arm Gusset. This ensures there is no rub or irritation on the sensitive under side of the arms and side of the body. It also reduces restricted movement considerably and allows for extra reach without seam strain and damage.


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925 Silver Jewelry
Durango Silver Co which is in the heart of Silver Jewelry country has been producing 925 Silver Jewelry for nearly forty years here in Durango, Colorado USA. All of our 925 Silver Jewelry is hand crafted by American Jewelers from this area of the Southwestern United States.
We have just created a new presentation on 925 Silver Jewelry that we think you will appreciate – we invite you to come and check it out. There are several photos along with descriptive text to help you get and understanding of the type of 925 Silver Jewelry that we produce and handle here at Durango Silver Company.
925 Silver Jewelry is Sterling Silver Jewelry which is Jewelry that is made with 92.5% fine Silver alloyed with 7.5% copper. 925 Silver Jewelry can also be made with 7.5% alloy other then copper as well such as Argentinian Silver. This 925 Silver is made without copper so it does not tarnish as easily as standard Sterling Silver. You can read more about Argentinian Silver by following this link.
925 Silver Jewelry qualities
Silver Jewelry made with 925 Silver has been a standard for several hundred years now. All 925 Silver Jewelry should be marked .925 or Sterling which means the same thing. Most 925 Silver Jewelry made in the USA will be marked "Sterling" and 925 Silver Jewelry that is made in most other regions of the world will be marked ".925", either way both markings are the Sterling Silver hallmark that you want to look for when you are buying Sterling Silver Jewelry or even just wondering if your Silver Jewelry is made with 925 Silver.
925 Silver Jewelry from Durango Silver Company
Durango Silver Company has been producing 925 Silver Jewelry for nearly forty years now. We use 100% 925 Silver to make our Jewelry and we certify, with a money back guarantee, that the other Jewelry that we handle such as Native American Silver Jewelry and other Silver Jewelry from contemporary artists in also made from 100% 925 Sterling Silver. We produce and handle quality Silver Jewelry and we have no desire to cheapen our Jewelry by using any other type of imitation Silver.
You can be assured while shopping at Durango Silver Company you are buying Quality 925 Silver Jewelry – Gauranteed!


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text:
Round Wooden Tubes?
Posted 30 November 2010 - 09:56 PM
Posted 30 November 2010 - 10:15 PM
Posted 30 November 2010 - 11:01 PM
I remember that thread, and wondering what happened to it. I'm sorry to hear he wasn't able to finish it.
I've been cogitating about how to go about this. It does seem as though the best way to get a round tube would be to start with a coopered tube and sand it round.
I've always made faceted tubes out of plywood so I wouldn't need to build a form before building the tube - I just tape up the slats on a flat surface, put glue in the joints, and roll it up to dry. This is fine if you don't need to rotate your tube. But if you do, fitting rotating rings to a polygonal tube is harder than it might sound (see my own recent experiences with this here .
Of course, if you don't need to rotate, polygonal tubes aren't a problem at all.
So, I'm thinking that I might try making a coopered tube for a small refractor project I have waiting around. The tube would be small enough that I could turn it on my Harbor Freight wood lathe (12x36).
I'd also be interested in hearing others' experiences making round wood tubes.
Posted 30 November 2010 - 11:30 PM
wood tube reflector
Posted 01 December 2010 - 08:47 AM
Posted 01 December 2010 - 08:49 AM
Posted 01 December 2010 - 09:42 AM
You could make a couple grooves that are round in the areas you want the rings in. But sanding it round after the fact would work too. Just a lot of work!
I agree. Probably a better way would be to make a jig to support a router, and turn it round with a router instead of a sander.
I thought of using thin, bendable plywood, too. But the cost would have been 3 or 4 times that of a single sheet of 1/4" plywood.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 10:15 AM
I bought a router bit designed to cut a bird's mouth in one side and then you can glue it up from there.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:00 AM
Tim; jig and router sounds like the cat's meow.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:13 AM
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:16 AM
Please remember that I am drawing upon something I read in the early 1970's.
I did make a tube out of cherry in the early 90's out of a 16 sided polygon that I cobbled together.
I have a industrial wood lathe and used a rasp to get the roundness about right, and successive grades of files and then sandpapers to complete the job.
The cherry was 3/4" thick. The tube 7.5" in diameter and 20" long.
I disassembled and refigured a 6" f/6 portrait lens and made an RFT refractor out of it. Still works great.
Attached Files
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:57 AM
i have made several wooden round tubes for newtons of 6" up to 16".
Here are a couple of picture of a 15" tube.
I use normal plywood for the rings and "airgraft plywood"(thats how they call it here) of 1mm thick.
For the piece that need to be stronger (mirror cell ,focuser) i use 2 layers of 1mm.
Very strong and lightweight.
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Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:58 AM
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Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:58 AM
I made the shell in my 15-inch Dob's upper cage from 1-inch beveled wide slats of plywood. I used blue painter's tape to hold them together on the outside, then put glue in the gaps. Then I wrapped the assembly around a mandrel made of wooden disks of the desired inside diameter and used web clamps to hold the slats in place until the glue dried. All you need do is figure out the circumference of the tube on the outside, how many slats you will need and their width, then the angle of the bevel necessary. Use a table saw and push sticks to make the slats. Titebond or any other similiar yellow wood glue is an good choice for bonding the slats together. If you want to stain and varnish the tube, use a solid hardwood such as oak or cherry, and be careful to remove all traces of glue on the outside before staining. Always use an exterior grade polyurethane if you opt to varnish it, because other varnishes, shellacs and lacquers will rapidly degrade and fail.
That's similar to what I did with my 10" f/6's tube, but I should have made mandrels to force it rounder than it is.
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Posted 01 December 2010 - 12:15 PM
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Posted 01 December 2010 - 12:40 PM
John, keep us posted on the birds mouth bit project. I see those bits for sale and I'm always tempted but have not pulled the trigger.
Tim; jig and router sounds like the cat's meow.
I got the wood two years back at a store. They were blowing it out because it had gotten water-damaged. It turned out to be spalted maple. The fungus creates interesting patterns in the wood.
Its all ripped and planed to the right thickness, I just have to get my ambition together to work in my cold shop for a few days.
The bit came from Lee Valley. They come in different types. Mine can do either 6 or 12 sides. To do 6 or 16 sided objects, you need separate bit for each.
You can also do conical forms using tapered staves.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 12:42 PM
Here's one I made in a similar manner to the 10"er's tube, but using solid stock vermillion padauk, resawn on my bandsaw and thickness planed to 1/4" thick. This was to be for a 5" f/5 refractor, but I'm starting to think I should leave the lens in the PVC tube it came in (probably dates to the 50's or 60's).
Do you have photos inside the ends? I always like seeing how wooden constructs are put together inside.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 12:51 PM
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Posted 01 December 2010 - 12:54 PM
One could make more or fewer-sided tubes by building a jig to feed the work into the router bit at an angle to the table. I've thought about doing something like this, since I like odd-numbered polygons.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 08:03 PM
Lots of other interesting stuff there as well
Posted 01 December 2010 - 08:25 PM
I did as tim5.3 did, just taped the outside faces, spread glue on the cuts between, pulled them together and let dry.
I was also very skeptical this would support any large amount of weight.
It dryed for a few weeks and then I pushed it down on the floor and finally STOOD on it without it breaking. I actually had to jump on it to get this short section ~16" or so to fracture. The glue failed.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 09:25 PM
http://www.aitwood.c...all Paint Grade
Click on Millwork Components, then Plywood Cylinders to view all the sizes they make.
Posted 01 December 2010 - 10:55 PM
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:30 PM
I made my Cass's tube similarly, a few sides at a time. But I had longitudinal ribs (corners, really) to define the angle between sides. I did it this way to avoid having tube currents cascading off baffles inside the tube and into the light path, which was a problem I had on a prior tube for those optics: Cass thread
Posted 01 December 2010 - 11:59 PM