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5 Ways to Make a Powerful Portal (live copy)
To cut costs and optimize benefits, HR portals must be tweaked and adjusted. Here are some ways to rev up your portal's performance for ease of use, employee relevance, and functionality.
Vinu Raman can still recall the dark days of the Web. It was only a few years ago that the supply-chain manager for Hewlett-Packard would have to click across dozens of intranet sites in search of information. He'd also find himself constantly logging on at different sites and battling to keep all his browser bookmarks current. "Sometimes, it would seem as if the Web was creating more chaos than it was solving," he says.
Fortunately for Raman, that's no longer the case. As HP has added capabilities and improved the functionality of its portal, he and his colleagues are finding that it is transforming the way they work -- and think. Now when workers at the computing giant need information, they simply click to the appropriate tab using a browser and find what they're looking for. An HR tab, for example, offers a range of information from wage reviews to benefits, employee assistance to performance-management criteria. In fact, Raman can post a requisition online when he needs to fill a position and view résumés as they stream in. He also can access the portal from home or while traveling.
Hewlett-Packard is one of a growing number of companies that are redesigning and reorganizing their Web interface to make the information age a reality. They -- and human resources departments -- are recognizing that in order to cut costs and fully realize the benefits of e-business, it's essential to optimize performance, usability, and functionality. "A well-designed portal can bring order from chaos," says David Rhodes, a principal at consulting firm Towers Perrin in Stamford, Connecticut. "It can put an incredible number of resources at employees' fingertips."
Just a couple of years ago, organizations were busy piling on features as quickly as upstart dot-coms accumulated venture capital. In today's tough economy, however, the emphasis is clearly on tweaking and improving portal performance, while adding tools as they make sense. Not surprisingly, HR has a key role to play in the process, since many enterprise portal applications use data and systems that originate in human resources or pass through it. "HR is usually at the center of a successful portal deployment," says Michael Rudnick, national enterprise portal leader for consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide in Stamford, Connecticut.
Building a first-class portal requires more than a pretty home page.
Yet with many technical and practical issues converging, achieving success is no sure thing. It takes considerable planning to put the right information in the right place, and ensure that it's up-to-date and available in a digestible format. As a result, many companies are now conducting formal usability studies and focus groups, and analyzing surfing patterns, in order to optimize their portals and maximize their gains. Many are also creating a task force or interdepartmental team to oversee projects and interface with outside companies that link to the portal, such as HMOs and 401(k) providers.
Know what users need
One company that has raised the stakes of its portal is General Growth Properties, a Chicago firm that owns 96 shopping centers and manages 46 other malls throughout the United States. A few years ago, the company realized that communicating with about 3,000 employees in 146 locations required a sophisticated portal. "It's essential for today's employees to have the information they need to make good decisions," says Judy Herbst, vice president of human resources.
In April 1999, the company went live with an HR portal from Ultimate Software, headquartered in Weston, Florida, that focused primarily on employee self-service. Workers could update basic information such as an address or phone number, and view paycheck and tax information. Over time, GGP has included links to its learning-management system and added the ability to select and change benefits, and actually enroll in classes online. "The portal has become the main point of entry into HR and other online services," Herbst says.
Yet GGP learned early on that additional features don't always translate into a better portal. Only about 50 percent of its employees have access to computers, so it was essential to add kiosks at various locations. HR also worked hard to assume a strategic role in the design and development of the portal. That meant understanding how users click through the site, what they stumble over, and what they'd like to see. GGP uses Web tracking software and has conducted internal usability studies. An interdepartmental team that oversees the site solicits feedback from employees on a regular basis, and the company has helped train key employees in the skills required to manage the portal. Currently, 85 percent of employees use the portal.
"In order for a portal to succeed, those using it must be able to customize content and have the specific information they need right at their fingertips."
Building a first-class portal requires more than a pretty home page, Rudnick says. One glaring problem is that workers often find themselves lost once they click beyond the start page. That's because many organizations have simply tied together a variety of intranets, usually defined by departmental boundaries. HR might have its own site, while finance and operations might operate others, each with its own look and feel. "In the online world, people do not look for information by departments; they look for what's relevant to them at that moment," he says.
Dump the silos and map the process
Getting rid of the silo mentality is essential. So is mapping out business processes. Leading portal vendors such as SAP, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards, Enwisen, Epicentric, and Plumtree now offer built-in tools that make it simpler to build a portal and link data from disparate systems. Connecting disorganized information and dead links is a recipe for disaster. What's more, "the single greatest driver of portal ROI is application integration," says Bob Geib, director of PeopleSoft Portal Solutions. Too often, companies and HR departments that neglect these issues wind up automating inefficiency and minimizing the return on investment.
"In order for a portal to succeed, those using it must be able to customize content and have the specific information they need right at their fingertips," says David Meuse, a principal in the Human Resources Effectiveness Practice at Hewitt Associates in Chicago. Just as Yahoo and other Web portals allow individuals to view the specific information they want in the position they desire, HR and enterprise portals must provide links to essential information. By creating a personalized start page, an employee can create an optimal online environment.
A couple of years ago, Hewlett-Packard began examining ways to optimize various intranets so that workers could get the information they wanted, when and how they wanted it. Many of these intranets dated back as far as 1995, when the company made its first real foray online. The lack of organization and coordination -- partly as a result of organizational silos -- made it difficult for workers to find the information they were looking for quickly, says Steve Rice, director of Global HR Technology.
In fact, workers like Raman often found themselves dealing with hundreds of bookmarks and too many questions about where to find something. So, HP developed a classification system for organizing and managing information, and created rules for publishing content online. Software from ProAct Technologies, located in White Plains, New York, helped automate many of the authoring and publishing processes. By using specific tabs, it's now possible to book travel online, find a travel expense reimbursement form, or view 401(k) account information with a couple of clicks of a mouse. In fact, employees can now complete more than 150 types of HR functions online.
Measure your usability
But that's not all. Early on, HP brought employees into its human-factors lab and began conducting detailed usability studies. It solicited feedback and conducted employee surveys. It also began using specialized Web tracking software from WebTrends in San Jose, California, to analyze how employees click through the portal, which receives about 65 million hits a month. Another piece of the puzzle was to add single sign-on capabilities. Employees can enter their password once and surf the entire portal. Rice says that HP saved $50 million within a year of introducing the portal.
|Portal Pluses
|The major benefits of a portal include:
According to Gaelyn Mitchell, senior vice president of Aon Consulting, New York City, the distinction between HR and enterprise portals is blurring. "In many instances, HR portals are becoming part of larger enterprise portals," he says. That makes sense -- and it can save dollars -- because a single, unified entry point into enterprise data, information, and knowledge makes it simpler to maintain consistency, focus, and overall usability. It also creates a tool for controlling employee surfing, he adds. "It's a way to provide access to specific functionality rather than having people trolling the Web."
Be ready to show the portal's value
The evolution of an intranet from an underused information repository to an advanced employee relationship management tool doesn't happen overnight. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, enterprise portals will become far more individualized than today's intranets, offering real-time communications and true work-flow capability," Rudnick says.
In order to make a successful leap to this brave new world, Rudnick says, an organization must calculate the return on investment and demonstrate tangible benefits of a portal early on. He believes that companies must conduct audits of their enterprise portal initiatives to understand how financial and operational resources should be allocated for internal and external development, licensing, content maintenance, and other areas.
Many organizations that started with basic self-service tools are now moving to online benefits selection, recruiting, succession planning, and e-learning.
Although each organization must approach a portal differently, Mitchell says, it is wise to identify the capabilities and features that are easiest to implement, offer the biggest practical advantage for both the enterprise and employees, and provide maximum return on investment. Alan Goldstein, executive VP of development for Ultimate Software, adds, "Organizations must have defined objectives and plans for winning the 'buy-in' of executives, including the IT department and line managers."
Many organizations that started with basic self-service tools such as address updates are now moving to online benefits selection, recruiting, succession planning, and e-learning. One of them is the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, where planning was part of the process from the beginning. The school -- with about 350 faculty and staff and about 1,700 students -- installed a PeopleSoft enterprise portal in February 2001, after rolling it out to test groups and learning what worked and what didn't. Today, each constituency sees only appropriate content, thus eliminating clutter and confusion. Employees can view job openings and benefits information, students can check schedules and campus resources, and faculty can view updates on academic affairs. There's also a special section in which faculty can discuss key issues without involvement by the school's administration.
Tom Hyatt, vice president for technology, says that the institution has focused on adopting features that provide maximum value while tweaking functionality for top performance. "Rather than provide every feature imaginable, it's important to address the mainstream needs of the organization and do those things well," he says. So far, this approach has paid dividends. The portal has improved communication across the institution, simplified HR's job, and lowered costs.
Serve your employee customers
Success often comes to organizations that adopt a customer-service mentality, Rhodes says. While a portal must benefit the enterprise, if employees don't find it useful or relevant, it's likely to wind up underutilized or ignored. "It's important to take a hard look at the quality of the overall customer experience," Meuse says. "Many people are now familiar with the Web and use it regularly, so they have high expectations." If those expectations aren't met, they will usually go back to doing things by paper and telephone.
For HR, that means marketing the portal, teaching employees how to use it effectively, and even providing incentives for migrating online -- including contests and sweepstakes. It means training workers how to use it to maximum advantage. And it means working with other departments to build a solid product that addresses real-world business problems and needs. For employees, turning to the portal should make the workday simpler and better.
Vinu Raman describes a portal as "a bridge to data and information scattered across an enterprise and around the world. When it is designed right, it makes it possible for people to become far more productive."
Workforce, April 2002, pp. 34-40 -- Subscribe Now!


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Out of Stock
Item # SHI0268
Don't worry though, we have a lot more Brake Levers & Integrated Shifters in stock than that.View Similar Products
Shimano Ultegra ST-6700 STI Shifters $0.00
As with all Shimano component groups, the signature piece of the new Ultegra 6700 set is the STI levers. Following the trickle-down rules of Shimano components, these share a design with their blingier brother, Dura Ace 7900, a body shape that is supposed to be easier to grasp and a changed pivot point which makes braking from the hoods easier. Like those levers, these route the shift cables under your handlebar tape. Like those levers, these have a carbon-fiber brake/shift lever blade that is shaped for better shifting; more material on the outside of the arm so there's more material for your finger(s) to find when upshifting and the levers are canted slightly outward for quicker action. The right lever can still downshift one, two, or three cogs at a time, while it can still upshift one cog at a time. The pivot and lever shape have been changed to pull more cable at the beginning of the brake lever stroke, ala their well-known Servo-Wave tech, so the brake pads can rest farther from the rim; it's also a way to, when paired with the matching brakes, increase braking power.
Of course, there are differences. The left lever still has a "trim" feature, something that was engineered out of the new 7900. The reach adjustment is achieved by inserting shims between the lever and the body. It designed to work with 6700 front derailleurs, but can work with older Ultegra 6600 and current Dura Ace 7900, but Shimano is calling it "'B' compatibility," meaning it works but you lose some features you'd otherwise have.
The right lever is designed to work with Shimano 10-speed rear derailleurs. It can work with older Ultegra 6600 derailleurs. It can also work with 7900, though it, too is 'B' compatibility level.
Using these levers with older Shimano brakes is not recommended. The feel will be "hard," and there will be very little modulation in braking power.
These levers are lighter than their predecessors, both the older Ultegra, which was 490g for a set, and last year's Ultegra SL, which came in at 447g a set. The left lever is designed to shift double-chain ring cranks, and there is a "trim" shift in order to optimize the position of your front derailleur. The levers come with Shimano cables and housing.
Tech Specs
View more Brake Levers & Integrated Shifters
Reviews & Community
I have a 2002 Lemond Zurich with Ultegra...
I have a 2002 Lemond Zurich with Ultegra components I raced on for many years. After a few crashes, the shifters are beat up. Can I replace them with Shimano Ultegra ST-6600 shifters without having to replace anything else? Thanks!
Hi Rich,
You could certainly replace the 6600 shifters with 6700 shifters, and there would be no compatibility issues with the existing derailleurs, crankset, or brakes. Unfortunately, with the introduction of the 6800 11 speed Ultegra components, we are stocking less and less of the 6700 components, and it looks like these are no longer available (at least for the time being). We do have a shipment of 105 shifters on the way, and these would also be compatible.
Cable breaks
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
I get frequent cable breaks with this ST6700 shifter for the rear derailleurs. The cable breaks in the shifter. Leaving the cable stop and 2 centimeter of cable inside. Need to remove a plastic cover to get the broken cable out. Is it a flaw on this version of the shifter or is it a Shimano feature? I never had a cable break with my Campangolo shifters during the 10+ years I used it.
Ultegra Shifters
Worth the money
I adjusted the cables after about 100 miles on varied terrain. I've used SRAM Rival in the past, and the Ultegra hoods are noticeably more comfortable on long rides.
Drop It Likes its Hot
I love these shifters. I put them on my big wheel last month, and I have yet to find a shifter that can drop shift as smoothly as these when I whip a power slide around the switchbacks in Smugglers Notch. The only problem I encountered was that the handlebars on my Hot Wheels cruiser are somewhat larger than the shifters were made to work with. Nothing a quick trip to the hardware store cant fix!
I want to upgrade from a 9 to a 10 Ultegra...
I want to upgrade from a 9 to a 10 Ultegra set-up. Is it just a matter of shifters/chain and cassette?
Shimano Ultegra ST-6700 Dual Control Shifter
I really love these shifters. I have had them last year and this year on my training bike, and they feel great, and never mis-shift. They are very comfortable and reliable, and they come with small inserts to make the reach slightly smaller (if you have smaller hands, or prefer a closer lever).
I own a 2002 s-works specialized road bike(...
I own a 2002 s-works specialized road bike( the red&white model)
with a dura-ace 9 gear right hand shifter that broke, after 8 wonderful
years of great riding! how can i replace this shifter, and stay on the
road w/ this set up. Where can I find a shifter to purchase?
You probably have the 7700 dura-ace line. To find replacement shifters either go to your local bike shop that is a Shimano retailer or search online for new or used 'Shimano Dura-Ace ST-7700 9 Speed STI Lever'.
I have a 2009 cannondale six5 with shimano...
I have a 2009 cannondale six5 with shimano 105flight deck shifters and ultegra rear derailleur.?Will the shimano ultegra ST-6700 dual C shifters work on this bike and be an upgrade from the 105 shifters.?
Yes, that will work. With cable routing that lies underneath your bar tape, these will give a much cleaner look than your 105's and are a nice upgrade!
Yes these will put the cable under the tape but your Brakes will not work as well unless you replace them and if you are using a Flightdeck it will not work with the new shifter.
Does the inner cable come with Ultegra ST...
Does the inner cable come with Ultegra ST 6700 shifter?
These shifters come with new inner cables and if I am not mistaken new cable housing as well.
Great shifters
I went from the SRAM Rival to these. The upgrade was worth every penny. These brake better and the shifting is much more precise. I would not hesitate to install these again. Highly recommended.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kelty Noah's Tarp 12
144 in / 365.76 cm
144 in / 365.76 cm
|Minimum Weight
2 lb 1 oz / 0.94 kg
|Packaged Weight
2 lb 8 oz / 1.13 kg
|Floor Area
144 sq ft / 13.38 sq m
|Packaged Diameter
5 in / 12.70 cm
|Packaged Length
23 in / 58.42 cm
|Fly Fabric
68D Polyester 450 mm
Where to Buy
Great tarp I use a hammock and use this as my tarp.
Source: bought it used
Price Paid: $40
Great tarp
- Light weight
- Versatile
I use a hammock and use this as my tarp. It is a good size and light weight.
If you are looking to drop your pack weight, the best way to do that is by learning to use a tarp instead of a tent.
I got this tarp as a rain fly for my hammock, but…
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $60
I got this tarp as a rain fly for my hammock, but found many other uses as well.
- Large covered area
- Can use as a tent
- Many ways to set it up
- The lunch style box makes for harder packing
- The rope is a bit bulky
I got this tarp as rain fly for my hammock. Our Boy Scout Troop went to bike ride the Va. Creeper Trail. It rained on our last night and all day Sunday. All the gear I had on the ground and my boots stayed dry. My son's gear got soaked as well as all the other Scouts who had smaller rain fly.
The 12x12 was big enough that eight of us used my tarp to stay dry and cook at the edges of the tarp. The lunch style bag it come in makes it harder to pack up. I'm using a stuff sack now.
The Noah's Tarp has almost endless ways to set up. It's real easy to do. I also use it as a tent in the fall and am thinking about trying it out this winter as well.
This is a great tarp for a decent price and weight.
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $69.95
This is a great tarp for a decent price and weight. Would recommend.
- Covers large area
- Decent weight
- Tons of eyelets
- Material stretched over time
The only reason I give this product four stars is because it has stretched out over time. It's seen its fair share of rain storms, and after setting it up numerous times over the last year it has begun to stretch. This could be user error though, maybe I had it a little too taut.
But it has kept me dry more times than I can count and it's a decent weight. There are also a ton of eyelets so you can tie it up a million different ways. I would not take it backpacking though unless there was a large group involved. I've only used it for canoe and car camping.
I have had Noah's Tarp 12 for a couple of years now.
Price Paid: $70
I have had Noah's Tarp 12 for a couple of years now. This is a very light and adaptable tent for the backcountry.
Since I live in the Colorado region we see a variety of conditions. I am not sure if the tarp would do well in very high winds, you may have to be creative and have lots of pegs handy. I have to agree that rain is a little noisy but that is part of the outdoor experience, right?
Overall this is a great bargain for a very good shelter.
The Kelty Noah 12 is a huge tarp perfect for year…
Source: bought it used
Price Paid: $40
The Kelty Noah 12 is a huge tarp perfect for year round use, if you are not worried about weight. It can be set up in many different configurations and has plenty of tie-out points.
- Many setup options
- Useful as a winter tarp
- Stands up to heavy rain
- It's huge
I bought this Kelty Noah 12 used for use over my hammock when backpacking. It provides more than enough cover for my hammock and gear to be kept out of the elements. I've even used it to cover my hammock and daughters 1-person tent while out camping and it provided plenty of coverage.
I mostly use this on a diagonal over my hammock, which gives me plenty of lengthwise coverage as well as providing enough side coverage for wind protection and rain cover.
I would highly recommend this tarp to anyone looking for a do-it-all tarp.
One of my car camping staples (and I've even taken…
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: Don't recall
One of my car camping staples (and I've even taken it backpacking a few times when we needed extra shade or protection from rain). The 12' size works well for shielding 3-4 camp chairs from the sun or elements as well as creating a little privacy barrier when camping in congested areas.
- 12' size works well for 3-4 people
- Waterproofness has been flawless
- Light color creates a cooler shaded area
- A lot of guy points for setting up many different ways
- Heavy for backpacking even though I've done it a few times
I got this tarp originally in June 2005 for a 2,500 mile 7-day car camping trip from CO to NV, OR, ID, MO, WY and then back to Denver. This thing saw every kind of weather possible from 80s in NV to a snow storm in ID. It worked beautifully in keeping the sun, wind, rain and snow off of us at our campsites. I also bought two of the Kelty aluminum tarp poles (one fixed length and the other adjustable) which allow us to set it up in different configurations depending on the weather.
Since then it has gone on every other car camping trip for the same reasons. In CO our weather can vary day by day and sometimes even during the day so having a reliable shelter is nice, especially when you don't what to spend the time cramped in your tent.
As mentioned above, there have been a couple of backpacking trips where I've strapped it to my pack. It's not too heavy when I'm carrying my solo tent, so it becomes a nice haven for shade or rain when I'm able to tie it off on trees around the campsite. One of my older tents the girls use doesn't have a vestibule, so before I got this smaller 6' tarp we'd use this tarp to protect their gear too.
Highly recommended for car camping. It gets used a lot and has stood up to years of abuse. Plus the dogs like it when they can rest in the shade :-).
Works as advertised. Recommend buying 1 or 2 of the…
Source: bought it new
Works as advertised.
- Well built
- Packs small
- Incomplete, needs poles
Recommend buying 1 or 2 of the Kelty adjustable poles to make it work in any location. As sold, it is dependent on proper tree/support location to be effective. A tarp makes camping in the rain much nicer.
A must have for group outings — will keep you dry…
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $40
A must have for group outings — will keep you dry and give you a great common area to hang out under on wet and/or windy days.
- Versatile
- Keeps You Dry
- Sturdy
I've had a few tents in my day that I've woken up to water dripping on my face, but I tell you I've never got wet under my Noah's Tarp. This thing is so versatile too.
I was hiking last fall on the Manistee River Trail an awful day in late October — with rain, 30 mile/hour wind gusts, and bitingly bone cold. I hung this up and it held strong all night long and kept rain off my face.
It's kind of a luxury item for a campsite but I brought it up to Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area in Northern Michigan this past September for a weekend where it rained more than it didn't and this thing was great for keeping our common area dry. We cooked and ate breakfast under it, hung out, kept the wood dry and our gear.
I recommend purchasing and using some reflective cordage with it because it comes with black cordage that is easy to trip over.
Great tarp, sturdy, waterproof, saved our trip. Four…
Source: bought it new
Great tarp, sturdy, waterproof, saved our trip.
- Lightweight
- Sturdy
- Waterproof
- Easy to set up
Four of us spent 23 days kayaking in Glacier Bay this past summer... It rained on us 19 days in a row!! This tarp was the difference between a challenging trip and an unbearable one.
We used it every day, it was big enough to cover us all, giving us a place to hang out protected from the rain, a place to change our clothes, and it handled the wind well, too. Hundreds of ways to hang it (we used our kayak paddles a lot), and it was fully waterproof.
Fantastic tarp.
This tarp is so versatile. I typically use it as an…
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: 35$ at Gear Revival in Atlanta, GA
- Fairly light and compact for the size and price
- Versatile
- Great in severe weather if set up well
- None really
This tarp is so versatile. I typically use it as an area cover, however it makes a great bivy with no poles. The center loop on the top allows it to be suspended from above with sides and corners attached at ground.
As a cover I have suspended it from trees, cars, signs, vines... with the right no stratch cord you can suspend this from objects quite a distance away. If you don't want poles at the corners but have no close trees, try poles 10 to 20 feet from the corners with cord to the corners and two stake lines holding the poles in place.
It is loud during rain. That is due to the light weight mateial and the tension. It's a giant drum. You can use less tension and "shape" the angles to not allow puddling however you will lose some size when creating the angles and less tension makes it less stable in rain.
Just bought my second 12 and have a 16 on the radar. My 300 dollar MSI has not left its bag in years.
I got the Noah's Tarp 12 to use as a dining fly/community…
Design: Tarp
Sleeps: 3
Ease of Setup: Medium
Weight: <2 pounds
Price Paid: $70
I got the Noah's Tarp 12 to use as a dining fly/community shelter. I thought it would be useful and quick to pitch both car camping and on large group back country trips. It's certainly small and light compared to most other options we had.
My experience with it has been a little disappointing, sorry to say.
The unique and wonderful part of the Noah's Tarp design is that it's stable with only the four corners anchored, and portions of the tarp can be staked to the ground to create many sheltered configurations.
The downside is that it's huge relative to the area it shelters. To shelter a standard campground picnic table requires perhaps 20 feet from one corner stake to it's opposite corner stake, and many camp sites don't have that much open space to work with. Also the tarp has to be pitched really high (9-10 feet) at the top corners to accommodate the slope of the roof it creates, and even then it feels a little claustrophobic under there. Bottom line is we only pitch it when the chance of rain is pretty good, and we've been sorry a few times when we've been fooled and got rained on with the tarp packed up.
If I were carrying this as a primary shelter in the Sierras or somewhere else that doesn't have bug issues, I'm sure I'd be raving about how much I love it, but for my uses, it hasn't really been the right choice. I think I'd be happier with a rectangular tarp of similar weight fabric. A smaller conventional rectangular tarp could shelter a cooking and eating area without hogging the entire campsite.
All in all, I give it 3.5 out of 5. It's clearly a great product for some users, just not me.
I am so glad I made the jump to a tarp. Super light,…
Sleeps: 5
Ease of Setup: easy
Weight: 2Lbs
Price Paid: $70
I am so glad I made the jump to a tarp. Super light, super stable, a million variations on setup, can be used for a number of applications, and kept me out of the wind when the wind chill was in the teens.
I was out in bad, cold weather for an overnight and just set up a small trapezoid with three stakes and my trekking pole. The extra tarp material was then tucked under to make a two layered floor to help insulate and keep water out. It worked great aside from a little condensation due to lack airflow. I love this tarp.
Update: April 27, 2010
Very versatile! I use it everywhere! It's light, can…
Very versatile! I use it everywhere! It's light, can be pitched in a million ways. Worth every penny.
I've camped with tarps for years, and have actually…
Design: Kelty Noah's ark
Price Paid: $55
I've camped with tarps for years, and have actually have owned my own canvas company for 12 years. I've used the 16' Noah's Tarp during a rainy week of camping, and I think it's superb in almost every way except the sound that every rain drop makes, sounds like a proverbial downpour. I would attribute this noise to the tight weave, or the treatment that Kelty places on this watertight cover.
I like it so much, I've ordered the 12' to complement the large one.
I have used cheap tarps of all shapes and sizes for…
Ease of Setup: simple set-up
Weight: 2.5
Price Paid: $60
I have used cheap tarps of all shapes and sizes for years to keep dry while backpacking. However, Kelty's Noah Tarp 12 has impressed me in a variety of ways. The bulky tarps from the hardware store simply don't do the job -- too bulky, too heavy, and depending on the size too little/too much coverage.
The diamond shape provides superior coverage for me in my hammock. Rain and high winds didn't dampen (no pun intended. . .) my spirits or my gear. It fully satisfies my camping needs regardless of the conditions -- rain, snow, or wind. I talked to Kelty about using seam sealer in addition to their factory-taped seams. They told me it wasn't necessary but added that it wouldn't hurt. I applied REI seam sealer, and it provides me with a little more peace of mind.
A friend of mine was going to buy one as well; however, he felt the price was too high. Personally, I feel totally comfortable paying $60 for a product that insures that I will not wake up soaking wet or covered in snow. With confidence, I recommend this tarp. . . Stay away from the Outdoor Products tarps. . .way overpriced and unreliable.
a GREAT tarp. Lightweight, very easy to pitch and…
Ease of Setup: excellent
Weight: 2lb 4oz
Price Paid: $60
a GREAT tarp. Lightweight, very easy to pitch and very versitile, stable in wind, drains rain very well, doesn't stretch in the rain, light in color so it doesn't get dark and dreary beneath in the rain. Far superior to square tarps. Well made and reasonably priced.
Where to Buy
Kelty Noah's Tarp 12
$44.96 - $69.95


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Hello Kitty Organizer: Adventures
Loungefly for Hello Kitty
Item # 37910-201308
Neatly stow your toiletries, cosmetics and jewelry in this supercute Hello Kitty Hanging... more details
Neatly stow your toiletries, cosmetics and jewelry in this supercute Hello Kitty Hanging Organizer by Loungefly. Three zippered compartments feature clear vinyl windows so you can see all you've packed. This is great for both home and travel and includes a cute Loungefly nameplate and magnetic button closure. Part of the Hello Kitty Adventures collection.
- 21"H x 10.5"W x 0.25"D (open)
- 7.75"H x 10.5"W x 0.75"D (closed)
- Hard wearing polyester canvas with nylon bow print lining
- 3 x zippered compartments with clear vinyl outer
- Magnetic button closure
- Metal hanger attached
- This product is not machine washable. Wipe clean with damp cloth and air dry
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Cooler than average temperatures this week.
A company said it has faced challenges since seeking approval to put a care ...
The No. 24 Arkansas baseball team (21-13) raced out to an early lead Wednesday ...
Due to the threat of inclement weather, Arkansas baseball's series opener with ...
From the Army Corps of Engineers:
ROGERS, Ark. -- The Army Corps of Engineers will finalize a partnership with the nonprofit Beaver Lake Foundation at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 at the Prairie Creek Park Overlook Shelter, 9300 N. Park Road Drive in Rogers, Ark. The public is invited to attend.
Little Rock District Commander Col. Glenn Masset, Chief of Operations Division John Balgavy and Beaver Lake Foundation President Kerry Jensen will sign the agreement formalizing the partnership.
This partnership allows the foundation to assist in meeting the Corps' missions of recreation, natural resources management, and environmental stewardship, along with fundraising and marketing for Beaver Lake's facilities.
The foundation is a group of local individuals that are interested in sustaining Beaver Lake for future generations.
For more information, please contact Beaver Lake's Operations Project Manager Sean Harper by calling (479) 636-1210, ext. 1702.
Recreation information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beaverlakeusace, and on Twitter at twitter.com/usacelittlerock.


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Home > Television > N > Newsradio
Dave Foley
Andy Dick
Stephen Root
Vicki Lewis
All Cast & Crew >>
Summary:Comedy series about an all-news radio station (WNYX) in New York City. The office is run by Dave Nelson, an enthusiastic news director from Wisconsin. His responsibilities include coping with eccentric boss Jimmy James, calming Matthew the nervous street reporter, gaining the respect of his off-beat secretary Beth, supervising Joe the electrician/handy-man, and juggling what was once a romantic relationship with Lisa, an attractive but insecure newswriter.


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KBS + African Elephants
These are our favorite kind of emails to receive: Yo Founders! I just wanted to send you a brief email to tell you that I love your beer. In fact I love KBS so much that I actually brought a bottle to Africa on my honeymoon last year. My wife thought I was nuts bringing…Read More »


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A look at some of the memorable moments that happened in entertainment history on Nov. 12.
1970: Singer Jim Morrison performed with The Doors for the last time during a concert in New Orleans. Morrison died in July 1971.
1980: Bruce Springsteen earned his first number-one album with "The River."
1984: Madonna released her "Like A Virgin" album.
1991: Talk show host Oprah Winfrey testified on Capitol Hill in favor of a bill aimed at making sure convicted child abusers aren't hired to take care of children.
Today's Birthdays: Playwright-actor Wallace Shawn ("The Princess Bride") is 70. Singer Brian Hyland is 70. Keyboardist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG's is 69. Sportscaster Al Michaels is 69. Singer Neil Young is 68. Guitarist Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult is 66. Country singer Barbara Fairchild is 63. Actress Megan Mullally ("Will and Grace") is 55. Actor Sam Lloyd ("Scrubs") is 50. Bassist David Ellefson of Megadeth is 49. Actress Tamala Jones ("Castle," "The Brothers") is 39. Actress Angela Watson ("Step By Step") is 39. Singer Tevin Campbell is 37. Actress Ashley Williams ("Good Morning, Miami") is 35. Actress Cote de Pablo ("NCIS") is 34. Actor Ryan Gosling is 33. Bassist Chris Huffman of Casting Crowns is 33. Actress Anne Hathaway is 31. Singer Omarion (B2K) is 29. Drummer Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes is 23.


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Linda Hamilton
Birth Name: Linda Hamilton
Born: 09/26/1956
Birth Place: Salisbury, Maryland, USA
Born: 09/26/1956
Birth Place: Salisbury, Maryland, USA
Born Sept. 26, 1956 in Salisbury, MD, Linda Carroll Hamilton was an identical twin; her sister's name was Leslie. Hamilton's father was a physician who died in a car accident when she was five, and had self-diagnosed himself with bipolar disorder. Her genetics - and the loss of her father - contributed to her own lifelong struggle with mental health issues, as well as to her childhood compulsive eating. She attended Washington College in Chesterton, MD for two years, where a theater professor infamously told her that she had no chance of making a living as an actress. Hamilton was not deterred and used the rest of her college fund to move to New York and pursue acting fulltime. She enroll... Continue Bio >>
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1932 Ford Grille Shell - Slicing And Dicing, Part 1Written by on December 1, 2010 Beauty Is Truly In The Eye Of The Beholder ... If He (Or She) Knows What To Look For
There's perhaps no other body component that sets the style for a street rod more than the grille and grille shell. This is the "face" of the car, and just like a person's face, it often establishes the individuality of a particular person's ride.
While many cars use a stock grille shell, there are many reasons why it might be modified. For example, when putting a '32 Ford grille shell on a Model A, the stock '32 shell is taller than the cowl, giving the car a somewhat awkward look, and if a hood is fitted, this will cause the hood to run uphill toward the front, visually conflicting with the lines of the car.
In this article, we'll look at how to shorten a '32 grille shell. As a bonus, the metalworking techniques shown can be used for many other body modifications, not just for grille shells, and we will use only simple tools for the process.
Pay special attention to where the cuts are placed. While many grille shells have been sectioned by just removing a horizontal slice near the middle, we're taking an approach that involves more intricate cutting. The payoff is much less distortion from welding, which will make the weld cleanup much easier, and the majority of the weld is on the leading edge of the grille shell where it's easy to reach with a hammer and dolly, and easy to sand and file.
Tune in next month for Part 2, when we'll do some more difficult modifications on a '28 Ford grille shell.
Ron Covell has made a DVD that covers the work done in parts one and two of this series, showing the process of re-proportioning a '28 and a '32 Ford grille shell. Every step is shown in detail, with great close-up shots, and lots of clear commentary that brings out many of the fine points involved in doing high-quality metalwork. The price of the DVD is $20, and you can order from Covell Creative Metalworking online at www.covell.biz, or by telephone at (800) 747-4631.
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I'm going to carefully place the cuts to minimize the cleanup work needed after welding. Rather than have a weld on the side of the grille shell, I'll simply cut 2-1/2 inches off the bottom. Here I'm laying out the cuts with a combination square and a felt-tipped marker.The cuts on the inner flange are placed higher up to miss the inner apron of the grille shell. Note the long vertical cut needed on the face of the grille shell to connect the inner and outer cut. This is the best place to position the weld, since I'll get less distortion here, and it will be easy to work the weld for finishing.A small cut is needed on the bottom rolled lip where it will mate with the side of the grille shell. Take great care when laying out these cuts to ensure the parts will fit together tightly, easing the welding.I'm using an abrasive cutoff wheel in a pneumatic die grinder. Be sure to use a face shield, hearing protection, and gloves.The cut edges are carefully deburred, then held in alignment with locking pliers while they are tack-welded. The welds are placed about 1/2-inch apart, and the metal is aligned for each tack as necessary. I'm using TIG welding, but MIG or oxy-acetylene welding could be used too.Here's the joint after tack-welding. Notice how tightly the parts fit together, and how good the alignment is at the joint. This will make the joint easy to weld, and speed the cleanup work after welding.It's essential to check the fit of the grille before the finish welding is done. If any adjustments are needed, this is the time. My careful measuring and cutting have paid off, since the fit is spot-on.I'm using my new Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder, a sweet machine that can run on both 115V and 230V power. Note how little distortion I'm getting since the fit was nearly perfect, and the closeness of the tack welds on the inner return flange. This attention to detail will make the weld easy to clean up!
Here I'm sanding the weld bead down flush with the base metal. Care must be taken to prevent grinding the metal too thin. This is when all the careful fitting pays big dividends. You'll see that there are almost no low spots to work up.And here's the completed grille shell, with the grille in place. You can see how well everything fits together, thanks to our careful layout and cutting. A job like this can be completed in just a few hours once you are up to speed with your layout, cutting, welding, and finishing techniques.


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Episode No. 4 of "The Ultimate Fighter 11," opens with a brief recap of the previous week's three-round battle between MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) blogger and Team Liddell fighter Brad Tavares and Team Ortiz's James Hammortree. Only this time, we get to hear from the other fighters as the fight is unfolding, and something doesn't sit right with a few of the observers.
Team Ortiz's Jamie Yager is openly cheering for Tavares in the fight. Yager's teammates immediately call him out and let him know how should be cheering for his colleagues regardless of his friendship with Tavares. Yager is asked what team he's on, and he jokingly answers, "I'm on Team Yager."
Yager explains he was cheering for his teammate and his friend simultaneously and was basically just hoping for a good fight. Nevertheless, Nick Ring pulls Yager aside and tries to talk some sense into him.
It's an odd pairing considering the tension that began with the two in episode No. 3. Yager professes to be on the same page as Ring, though the smug look on his face suggests otherwise.
Back at the house, Yager explains what happened to Tavares, Kris McCray and Kyle Noke – "The Minority Report." Yager's a bit less apologetic now.
"If anybody don't like that, that we stick together, that we keep 'The Minority Report' together, that's just too [expletive] bad," Yager says.
In another part of the house, Ring continues to express his frustration regarding Yager. Team Ortiz's Kyacey Uscola joins in and expresses obvious distaste for Yager.
"I hate that mother[expletive]," Uscola says. "He's a piece of [expletive] dog[expletive]."
Not exactly team unity.
Shortly after, it's time for the fight announcement – the first of two on episode No. 4. Coach Chuck Liddell is still in charge of the matchups, and he takes Rich Attonito to face Uscola.
Hammortree is familiar with Uscola's lengthy MMA record, and he predicts his teammate will win by "Hulk smash."
But Team Liddell's Joe Henle says you'd better not count Attonito out; he's like a pitbull.
After a commercial break, Uscola discusses his family situation back home, and shares that he'll be missing the birth of his first child in order to compete on the show.
Meanwhile, coach Tito Ortiz is confident that Uscola should dominate in all phases of the fight. Ortiz coaches Uscola to be prepared for an inevitable Attonito takedown and to work back to the feet when it comes.
Uscola is confident for the bout, and he cites his punching power, his wrestling pedigree, and his overall hunger for the reasons he'll likely wind up victorious.
At a Team Liddell training session, Attonito has a brief romantic moment with a punching bag before running off a list of nicknames he's earned over time. Coach John Hackleman believes Attonito is one of the best fighters on the show. Fighting out of American Top Team, Attonito is also praised for his great ground game by Liddell.
Additionally, Liddell says he's heard that Uscola has trouble getting off his back, so he believes Attonito is a perfect matchup. Attonito knows that Uscola is one of Team Ortiz's best, and he's ready for the challenge.
Back at the house, Uscola is missing a sweatshirt. He finds it quickly: the sweatshirt is in Yager's closet, and a verbal altercation ensues.
Yager is upset that Uscola went through his [expletive], though he does nothing to explain why the sweatshirt, labeled with Uscola's name, was in the closet. It turns out the Kris McCray was the one that put it there, but Uscola remains angered with Yager, instead.
On the way to the gym, Uscola continues to brand Yager a thief. Uscola cites some missing Punishment Athletics gear, but Yager insists he was told he could take the clothing.
At the gym, Ortiz gets a taste of the controversy brewing in his team. Uscola labels Yager the "bad apple" of the team, and Clayton McKinney chimes in that "no one sees eye to eye" with Yager. Ortiz defends Yager and tries to diffuse the situation. Meanwhile, Uscola writes Yager off as "a clown box."
Later, back at the house, Yager strikes up a conversation with Attonito. The Team Liddell fighter shares pictures of his wife, and the two fins a mutual accord as family men.
Finally, after the house drama, it's fight time.
RICH ATTONITO vs. KYACEY USCOLA
Referee Josh Rosenthal starts the action, and Uscola takes the center of the cage early. Uscola lands a nice overhand right, but he eats a straight right hand in return. Attonito lands a few more right hands a Uscola works his jabs, and the shorter fighter gets the best of the early exchanges.
One minute in, Attonito lands a 1-2, and Uscola hits the floor. Attonito pounces, and he delivers a barrage of punches and elbows as Uscola tries to scramble on the mat. Attonito keeps the pressure on, but Uscola does a good job of remaining active on the bottom, and he eventually works back to his feet.
Uscola grabs a kimura from the front, but Attonito simply grabs a single-leg and inverts Uscola before slamming him to the floor. Uscola's head is nearly driven through the floor with the powerful slam, and Attonito return to his ground-and-pound attack.
Uscola tries to catch Attonito with an upkick, then he thinks about a leglock. Attonito moves to the floor, and Uscola locks in a nice kimura and cranks it. Attonito rolls through the hold and defends with Uscola now in side control.
Uscola releases the hold, somehow surviving the initial onslaught and now in a dominant position. Attonito rolls, and Uscola stands and delivers two powerful knees. The second appears to have landed illegally, and Rosenthal halts the action.
A bloodied Uscola is livid.
Attonito is tended to by the doctors, and they quickly determine he can't continue. Uscola is inconsolable, and he yells for Attonito to get up. Ortiz also can't believe the turn of events, but the verdict has been issued. It's a disqualification win for Attonito.
- Rich Attonito def. Kyacey Uscola via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 1, 3:37
Replays show that the knee did not connect firmly to Attonito's head, but he looks woozy, nonetheless.
Neither fighter looks pleased at the result, but Uscola is especially angry. He thinks Attonito may have laid down a little faster than he should have, and says while he like the man, he no longer has respect for him as a fighter.
Ortiz rips a door off on the way to the locker room, and it nearly falls on him as he passes.
Back in the Team Liddell dressing room, Attonito has ice on his head, but he also is nursing an injured right hand. He stops off at the hospital before heading home, and he learns that his hand is broken and will probably require surgery. Attonito is out, and Uscola hopes maybe, just maybe, he'll get a chance to re-enter the competition because of the result.
The next day, it's time for another fight announcement. Liddell's team is 3-0, and they get to pick the matchup yet again. Liddell picks Charley Blanchard to match up with Team Ortiz's Yager. Liddell says he likes the matchup, though Blanchard is facing a massive size differential.
Ortiz says he things Yager slipping on a banana peel is about the only way he'll lose, though he also says if he loses again, he'll shoot himself.
Liddell explains that he believes Blanchard's strengths match up well with Yager, and the two discuss keeping the pressure on Yager and not allowing him room to set up the powerful kicks that let him move into the house.
Yager explains that despite all the controversy he's been involved in already, he's simply misunderstood. Ortiz seems to understand his psyche, saying Yager came from nothing, therefore he's always defensive. As far as the fight, Ortiz thinks Yager simply has to stay quick on his feet and he'll earn victory.
Despite a big difference in height, both fighters weigh in at 186 pounds, and the fight is official. Uscola sneaks in one more dig at his teammate, and he openly admits he's cheering for both a Yager loss and an injury that forces him to go home.
Rosenthal oversees the episode's second fight as well, and a touch of gloves gets the action started. Both fighters try to feel the distance out early, and Yager over-extends on an early jab. Blanchard avoids a few combinations, but he's moving straight back, much to his coaches' dismay.
Blanchard shoots in for a takedown, but Yager wiggles free and back to his feet. Blanchard persists with the attempt, but he's only successful in bringing Yager to his knees before he's back on his feet.
The fighters reset, and a powerful right hand Superman punch drops Blanchard. He covers up against the cage, and Yager brings seven powerful punches crashing down. The punches don't connect cleanly, but Blanchard is in a fetal position, and the fight is waved off just 70 seconds after it begins.
Finally a win for Team Ortiz. Yager breakdances a little in the center, and UFC president Dana White says the middleweight simply "sucked the desire" out of Blanchard.
- Jamie Yager def. Charley Blanchard via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:10
Blanchard is disappointed, but Ortiz is ecstatic to finally get a win. Yager believes he's bringing some good energy to the team, though that remains to be seen.
Uscola, for instance, says he still hopes to smash his face someday.
Catch new episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz" every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV. MMAjunkie.com will recap each episode of the reality series, and full series coverage can be found on "The Ultimate Fighter 11" page.


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I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but couldn't think of any where else to put it.
I've done several demonstrations of using several mapping programs (AutoRealm and Fractal Mapper mostly) at local (Pacific Northwest) science fiction conventions. I have gotten a fairly good reception and have had approximately 25-30 folks show up.
I was wondering if anyone else has done a similiar thing at sf/gaming cons, and what type of reception they got? Any hints, tips on how to make the presentation more enjoyable?


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It's a winter wonderland as Disney On Ice presents "Let's Celebrate!"
This all-new show visits Greensboro from Dec. 5 to 8 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
Have fun with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney villains, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch, a Royal Ball with the Disney princesses, and much, much more.
Disney On Ice presents "Let's Celebrate!" features more than 50 characters from 16 Disney stories live on ice, including Tiana from Walt Disney Pictures.
On Monday, Nov. 25th starting at 5 a.m., be sure to watch the "Good Morning Show" for your chance to win two tickets to "WFMY News 2's Opening Night" of Disney on Ice presents "Let's Celebrate!"
If you're the 10th caller, you can win two tickets to this annual party on ice!
Skate on over to this fun-filled wonderland at the Greensboro Coliseum, Dec. 5-8.
For more information and ticket purchase, visit Ticketmaster's website.
Read: Official Rules


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Bridgette Wilson
Birth Name: Bridgette Wilson
Born: 09/25/1973
Birth Place: Gold Beach, Oregon, USA
Born: 09/25/1973
Birth Place: Gold Beach, Oregon, USA
Five foot nine inch former teen volleyball star Bridgette Wilson used her 1990 title as Miss Teen USA as a springboard to an acting career. Soon after relocating to Los Angeles in her Miss Teen USA Mercury Tracer, the blonde Oregon native landed a ten-month stint on the daytime serial "Santa Barbara" (NBC, 1991-92) and then made her feature debut as the pistol-toting daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Last Action Hero" (1993). 1995 saw her in small parts in the movies "Nixon" and "Higher Learning" and in higher profile roles as a tough drug task-force leader in "Mortal Kombat" (her bad ass quotient went through the roof) and as Adam Sandler's love interest in "Billy Madison". Wilson m... Continue Bio >>
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Jun 07
Bodine Claims Texas Victory Number Six with Germain Racing
Posted by: lori on Jun 07, 2010
Tagged in: Sherwin Williams , Germain Racing
Mooresville, NC (06-07-2010) – Todd Bodine might need to change his nickname from "The Onion" to "The Lonestar Legend." Bodine, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader, kept the No. 30 Valvoline Tundra out in front of the Truck Series field for 106 of 169 laps, collecting his sixth win at Texas Motor Speedway, the 18th victory in his Truck Series career. Germain Racing now has seven Texas victories as part of the team's total count of 19 wins. The No. 30 Valvoline Tundra team leads all Tundra teams in total victories. A great race truck and strong teamwork were the key ingredients in Friday's winning performance.
"Tonight's win felt great. We've been struggling all year to make the trucks drive well and (Mike Hillman) Junior and the team went to work and figured it out. The No. 30 Valvoline Tundra was driving well and it was fast. It was wide open. It was fun to drive, it really was.," said Bodine, who's struggles have resulted in top-five finishes in seven of eight Truck Series races this season.
Just past halfway, Bodine was struggling with a tight handling condition when he was running in second-place. The crew helped Bodine fix the problem the best way possible.
"The difference that got us back up front in clean air where we could run well late in the race was our last pit stop. The crew did an unbelievable job. They beat everybody out by a second or two. You have to have everything go right and that's what happened tonight. We had a great Tundra and with it being the first race for Valvoline with the team…to come out of here with a win…I think that's the second time we've done that with a new sponsor. It was an awesome night all the way around," said Bodine.
Winning at Texas has become a bit of an annual tradition for Germain Racing. Since opening shop in 2004, the team has only been winless at Texas one season, 2008, but in that season, the team still earned a pole award and the No. 30 Tundra scored two top-five finishes.
"It's great to come out of Texas with the win, obviously. Everybody talks about momentum and what it does for your team. Our guys, it wouldn't matter if we came out of here finishing 30th, they're going to go home and work just as hard for the next race and prepare the best they can. That's the one good thing about our race team -- we don't ever give up. To come out of here with a win for the stretch, it's awesome but it's just one win, it's one track and we have to go to Michigan next week and beat them up there," said Bodine.
While "everything in Texas is big," winning in a Toyota Tundra in Texas is huge. The state is home to Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Texas (TMMTX), a production facility located in San Antonio that produces the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks. The facility directly employs nearly 2,000 Toyota team members and indirectly another 2,000 people are employed at area suppliers.
"Germain Racing puts a lot of pride into preparing our race vehicles every weekend, but when we send the No. 30 Valvoline Tundra to a place like Texas Motor Speedway, there's extra pride and there's a lot of extra pressure we place on ourselves. We know what we are capable of so we work that much harder. The fans at Texas are great, the folks at the race track are wonderful and we love winning in the state that's the home state for the Tundra manufacturing plant," said crew chief Mike Hillman Jr.
Germain Racing puts the No. 30 Tundra back on track this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, a track where Bodine has two victories in NASCAR's number two division and two top-five and four top-ten finishes in the Trucks. Watch Saturday's race live on SPEED starting at 1:30 PM Eastern.
When shopping for your new or used car or truck, head directly to Germain.com to find the perfect vehicle or visit your local Germain dealer in Ohio, Florida, or Arkansas. Germain.com is part of Germain Motor Company, a top-25 automotive retail network with 21 dealerships and more than 60 years of experience.
Germain Racing competes in each of NASCAR's three national divisions as well as the K&N Pro Series East. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit Germainracing.com for more information. To keep up with team news, follow on Twitter @Germainracing or become a fan on Facebook.


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AUBURN, Wash. (April 20, 2014) – Based on his sparkling season debut Sunday, Scat Daddybaby could be destined for stardom this season at Emerald Downs.
With Gallyn Mitchell aboard, the 4-year-old gelding rocketed to a 2 ¼- length victory over a star-studded field of older allowance horses in the $21,000 Travelodge Auburn Purse. Running six furlongs in a meet-fastest 1:08.20, Scat Daddybaby paid $19.40, $6.80 and $5.40.
Bred and owned by Mike and Amy Feuerborn, Scat Daddybaby has won four straight races dating to last August, and is 5-2-0 in 11 starts overall with earnings of $57,487. Robbie Baze is the trainer.
Sunday, Scat Daddybaby simply ran the competition into the ground, opening a two-length lead while setting fractions of :21.82 for the quarter-mile and :44.09 for the half. Scat Daddybaby straightened into the lane with a 1 ½-length lead and had enough in reserve to hold off Mr. Bowling for the victory.
The 5-to-2 betting favorite ridden by Isaias Enriquez, Mr. Bowling closed strongly to finish second and paid $4.60 and $3.80. It was an encouraging season debut for the graded stakes winner, whose last outing was an 11th in the 2013 Longacres Mile.
Speaking of the Longacres Mile, Mike Feurborn said the Grade 3 race could be a target for Scat Daddybaby, a Kentucky-bred by Scat Daddy-Bianconi Baby who was 2-for-2 at one mile last year.
"(Today's race) was about as good as you could have hoped," he said. "But it's just one step."
The Feuerborns ranks No. 2 all-time with 25 stakes wins at Emerald Downs, and in 2012 their brilliant 4-year-old Class Included became only the second filly or mare to be voted Horse of the Meeting. However, they have never won the Longacres Mile.
Finallygotabentley, ridden by Leslie Mawing, was two lengths back in third place and paid $9.40 to show. Jebrica, Winning Machine, Mike Man's Gold, Country Rules, Rocky's Quest, Running Tap and Somewhere With You completed the order of finish.
For Mitchell, it was his first win of the season and upped his track record total to 1,349 wins. He is the only jockey to ride a winner all 19 seasons at Emerald Downs.
Mawing reached a milestone a race later, becoming the seventh jockey to win 500 races at Emerald Downs, when he guided Claudia's Cahill to a one-length victory in the nightcap. Mawing, 40, has 2,122 career wins.
"Milestones are nice, of course, but I couldn't have done it without the support of the owners and trainers, Mawing said."
NOTES: Trainer Jeff Metz continued his early-season assault with three more wins and has 10 wins in the first four days. Two of Metz' winners—Cha Cha Latte ($3.80) and Vegas Burn ($5.40)—became the meet's first two-time winners. A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by After Market, Cha Cha Latte has won four straight overall and is 8-for-20 lifetime. . .Metz leads Frank Lucarelli 10-8 atop the standings and they've combined for nearly half the wins (18-39) so far. . .Rocco Bowen had his third riding triple in four days and owns a 10-7 leads over defending champ Isaias Enriquez. . . Stikine Slough ($6) won the $19,950 co-feature for 3-year-olds which have never won two races. Trained by Chris Stenslie and owned by One Horse Will Do Corp., Scott and Tina Saxwold and Stenslie, Stikine Slough ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.13, and appears to be a contender for the $50,000 Auburn Handicap on Sunday, May 25. . .Reflective Glory ($3.40) won the Sunday opener and accounted for $13,821 of $14,974 wagered to show. . .Michael Pollowitz, father of Emerald Downs' media assistant/broadcaster Jacob Pollowitz, enjoyed a big afternoon as his Washington-bred 3-year-old gelding Happy Idea won the sixth race at Santa Anita. Trained by Vann Belvoir, Happy Idea earned $19,200 for the win and also was claimed for $25,000 Sunday by Bob Hess Jr. . . .Live racing resumes Saturday with first post 2 p.m.