text:
The Happily Ever After Ending - Part I
I originally polled readers/authors on the Happily-Ever-After ending in issues #1 and 2 of this column. Since more than a year has passed since that time, I thought we could revisit the topic and ask:
Must a romance have an HEA ending?
As I indicated in Issue #27 of this column, "Personally, while I appreciate subtlety in romance, I need to be hit over the head with the fact that the hero and heroine are going to be together forever."
Here's what readers/authors had to say:
I originally polled readers/authors on the Happily-Ever-After ending in issues #1 and 2 of this column. Since more than a year has passed since that time, I thought we could revisit the topic and ask:
Must a romance have an HEA ending?
As I indicated in Issue #27 of this column, "Personally, while I appreciate subtlety in romance, I need to be hit over the head with the fact that the hero and heroine are going to be together forever."
Here's what readers/authors had to say:
I don't know about other publishers, but my editor at Leisure has always insisted on a happy ever after ending. I tried to write one where the hero left the heroine at the end of the book because he knew he was wrong for her, but my editor insisted I change it. I was a fairly new writer at the time, so I did as she asked. If I was writing the book now, I would fight to keep my original ending.
I guess that I prefer happy ever after, too. A Knight In Shining Armor one of my favorite books, but, in my opinion, it also had the most disappointing ending. Maybe Jude knew what she was doing, since people are still talking about the end of that book, but it ruined the story for me.
Mandy (email@example.com):
A romance has to have a happy ending!! That's one of the main reasons I read romance!!! A book has to make me smile at the end -- or sometimes cry! :-) If it doesn't, I wonder why I even bothered reading it. And, yes, I also hafta be hit over the head with the fact that the h/h are going to be together after the book ends.
Charlotte Sellers (charlott@borg):
After reading romance novels for some fourteen years, I am growing bored with the same old predictable stuff and really have difficulty remembering many books after reading them. I understand that, basically, all romances are predictable - man and woman will marry at the end and live happily ever after; however, it is very refreshing to find books that fulfil this basic criteria without following the same patterns. I really enjoyed Sutcliffe's book especially because of the non-traditional ending. While I don't have complaints with the "beating over the head" ending, I appreciate and value the rare book that deviates from the norm. I applaud any romance author who takes risks and tries to do something new with a genre that desperately needs revitalization.
Author Aimee Thurlo (http://www.comet.net/writersm/thurlo/home.htm):
I personally think that without the happily ever after ending you're cheating the readers. Women want to have that because it's so very often missing in their own lives. Reality has a way of intruding. We create fantasies. Let them be just that.
From Kathleen L Schemine (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I agree with your statement about wanting to be hit over the head with a happy ending. While in college I read Rosemary Rogers' trilogy about Virginia and Steve. The first book was about how they met, battled, and fell in love. In the second book they were estranged and then reunited. When I read the third book, another estrangement and reunion, I quit caring about them. I wished I could have said to them that after all this time they should know each other well enough to decide positively if they should be together or not. The HEA ending of the third book seemed ridiculous because I didn't have faith that they'd stay together. It may have been a HEA for the characters, but the third time around wasn't one for me.
Christiane Friese (firstname.lastname@example.com):
Generally, I have to agree that I want a HEA ending when I read a romance. It would be quite a shock to reach the last page only to find out the hero would rather stay single and the heroine enter a cloister (a bit extreme, I know). However, I do not think that an open end, or quasi-open-end, has to be that awful. I have not read Sutcliffe's Devotion, so I can't say whether or not I think it's well done. But in a lot of books those last several pages are so terribly (I can't think of a propoer English word, the German equivalent would be kitschig) saccharine sweet and cloying that I often just roll my eyes and can hardly bear to read through them (unfortunately, I cannot think of an example right now). I think I would rather prefer an open end to something like that.
I haven't read that duo of books with the twice married hero either, but I don't think that could put me off an author for all times either. A lot of the enjoyment I get reading romance comes from the development of the characters and their living together through their problems and not from knowing they will live on cloud nine for the rest of their lives. I think the difference is that while I do require a happy end to that specific situation portrayed in a book I do not need necessarily the assurance they live happily ever after. The situation that either the hero or the heroine has been happily involved before meeting their partner is common enough in romance books. I often wonder what those relationships were like and whether there is not another story waiting to be told. Therefore I can very well imagine reading two books about the same hero with two diferent heroines (or vice versa). Maybe I will even give this duo a try!!
Finally, I would like to add how much I like and enjoy your column and The Romance Reader. As a romance fan in Germany (reading, however, only the English versions, because the translations are incredibly bad!) I don't have a lot of possibilities to learn about new books or even discuss them. Therefore this site is always great fun to visit!!
Author Katherine Deauxville:
Happy ending, yes. Modified. Many contemporaries don't need the locked-in "and so they lived happily ever after". Just an implication that maybe it's going to be a satisfactory relationship.
But a happy resolution - definitely. I don't want a heroine running off into the rain crying after the hero has explained that he has a wife and two kids he intends to stay with.
As for endings - period - yes, spare me the dangling non-resolution. The not solving the mystery. That's a tease that I, as a harried reader looking for information and entertainment, want to be spared.
Jaci (email@example.com):
I am one of those that absolutely must have a happily ever after ending. I read romance because it is pure escapism and provides an outlet for my imagination and idealism. If the ending were't happy, I think my goal would be defeated.
Elaine Wethington (email@example.com):
I have recently read four romances that had "ambiguous" endings. These were Penelope Williamson's The Outsider, Megan Chance's The Portrait as well as her Fall from Grace, and Roberta Gellis' romance based on Orpheus and Eurydice.
I enjoyed all of them, but for different reasons than I typically enjoy romance. In all of these books, the heroine ends up with the hero. Gellis does it in such a clever way in the retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice legend that I almost stood up and applauded at the end of the book. But I could not buy for a minute in any of these books that we were headed for the traditional happy ending at any time. These women were heading for serious trouble, because the men were serious trouble. (And in the case of Fall from Grace and the Gellis book, the women were fated to die.) I think, however, their unhappy fates are pretty obvious from the beginning, and I wonder if many readers wouldn't just end up putting the book down? I know that The Romance Reader's reviewer of Fall from Grace had this problem with the book. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed all 4 books, but not as romance novels per se.
Author Jennifer Crusie:
I think romance novels, like any genre stories, must provide a reader with catharsis at the end, and that catharsis is usually found in a "just" ending; that is, characters get what they deserve. The bad guy gets punished, and the good guys get the happiness they've been striving for because they've suffered and grown and struggled. But a "just" ending can also mean a "sadder but wiser" ending (like Scarlett O'Hara's) or a noble sacrifice ending (like the one in movie Sommersby) or a "pick-up-the-pieces-and-go-on" ending in which it's clear the characters will not have perfect, easy lives thereafter, but are better off because of the struggles they've won and the life lessons they've learned.
So if HEA means a perfect marriage with perfect children in the offing, no, absolutely not, the romance doesn't require this. But if HEA means all the pressing problems solved with hope for the future and a feeling of personal achievement and of justice served for both the characters and the reader, then, yes. Romance doesn't admit despair at the end, nor does it posit the world as a cold, cruel, chaotic place. It offers hope, salvation and order through connection with others (not just the romantic connection with the hero). That's why it's so popular.
Mary Jane (email@example.com):
I need those happy endings, too. The wonderful writing that I've found and those happy endings are why I read romance. (In fact, I read the very end of a book before I buy it to make sure there's a happy ending.) Life can be tough sometimes and there's alot that is beyond our control - I love escaping into a great romance novel and knowing that in the end the characters I care about will live happily ever after.
Kathy Boswell (email@example.com):
I'm in total agreement with you. If I don't have a happily ever after at the end, I'm very disappointed. I have to know that the couple are going to live happily ever after and stay in love and married forever! If there's a family sequel or whatever, that couple is married, happy, has kids, the whole bit!
Author Deborah Simmons (firstname.lastname@example.com):
To me, a happy ending is part of the appeal of romance. I don't know if I would read a romance without it, and I doubt if I would write one, either.
Andrea Schlieder (email@example.com):
The HEA is an absolute must for me. This is what makes romance as a genre so appealing-the ending can be depended upon to be happy. And even though I know this is a given I still take a quick peek at the last page 'just to make sure'. If I ever read a 'romance' that did not end happily I would most likely never read that author again.
Andrea - who never got over the ending of Gone With The Wind!
Your column has prompted me to once again broach the one thing about your otherwise fine work in the romance genre that has always deeply disturbed me; your insistence (and RWA's) on defining romances as something that has a happy ending. For me, that is the definition of a romantic comedy, using comedy in the Shakespearean sense of something that ends happily (i.e., not necessarily something that is wildly humorous). But the bulk of the most famous romances in the world are romantic tragedies: Romeo & Juliet, Tristan & Isolde, and so on. But perhaps it would be better to stick with prose -- well then, take Wuthering Heights. While I always found that book a bit overrated and disjointed, an awful lot of literary types (esp. women's lit types) think it's the cat's pajamas. Not calling it a romance lessons the prestige of romances, IMO.
But perhaps we should focus on more readily accessible popular novels. The one that comes immediately to mind is Gone with the Wind. If I ask my husband to name a romance, GWTW is what he'd say. Not only that -- it is a masterfully written book that offers an incredibly realistic characterization in the form of Scarlett O'Hara and a vividly researched historical setting, even as it includes all sorts of period-piece prejudices that we should never forget people held. gain, Excluding GWTW from romances again does a disservice to the genre, IMO.
And actually, as for its "unhappy" ending--while I sob at the ending of Romeo & Juliet and many other romantic tragedies, I have never been saddened by Rhett's departure at the end of GWTW (by Mellie's death, yes; by Rhett's departure, no). Scarlett was a spoiled brat before the war and selfish money grubber after; she lusted after Mellie's husband long after Melly became her best friend; she was a big show off; she treated Rhett abominably; and she didn't know her own feelings until it was way too late. Frankly, my dear, I thought she got what she deserved!
Anyway, if I had to define a romance, it would be a book that focuses on one or more human love relationships.
Thanks for letting me "vent" this I know dissenting opinion.
(To read E.P.'s follow-up, which was a Letter of the Week, and the responses it received, please click here.)
Author Jaclyn Reding (firstname.lastname@example.com):
My vote is yes on the HEA. For me its the final conclusion, the resolution of the conflict that has been driving the story from page one. Without it, the story is lacking. My best example? Gone With The Wind. I love that story. I love Scarlett. I love Rhett. I hate the ending. It left me hanging. It left me feeling incomplete, for although I knew Scarlett would go after Rhett - she just had to - without having that tangible proof of it there, that small niggling bit of doubt always remained. Did she go after Rhett after all? Did she succeed in winning him back? The reader was left wondering. . . hoping. . . but never knowing for certain.
Linda Williams (email@example.com):
To me the definition of Romance is the HEA. No HEA, no Romance. But the author has to do more than just hit me over the head with the h/h's mutual pledges of undying love at the end of the novel. The development of the characters & plot up to that moment have to lend strong credence to the veracity of those pledges. Not only do I have to hear the words, I also have to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the H/H are going to love each other forevermore.
Last year I severely disliked one of Elizabeth Lowell's more recently written western novels primarily because of the ending. I thought the hero was simply deluding himself and the heroine about his committment to her on the last page of the novel. So much so that I could easily visualize another big misunderstanding based on the hero's insecurities and lack of trust in the heroine occurring the very next day, or even later that afternoon! As a character, the author had not proved to my satisfaction that this "wounded" hero was not still carrying around the same woman-hating emotional baggage that he brought into the novel on page one. (Sorry, can't remember the title -- it was the one about the civil war vet who was tracking down the outlaw gang members responsible for kidnapping and killing his child, and who got permanently side tracked from his mission to help our heroine save her ranch.)
Another writer who at one time I enjoyed reading but I never pick up today is category writer Diane Palmer. Her books often depicted wounded heroes a la Lowell who carried around written in granite preconceived notions of women based on their appearance, their profession, their family, etc. Men who have these whore/madonna mentalities where women are concerned, have to do more in their evolution of character than just flip the heroine from category 'A' whore, to category 'B' madonna to make me a believer in the novel's HEA. If the author has demonstrated to me concretely that the hero has evolved sufficiently to see all women as real people, with faults, virtues, etc. then I'll believe that the HEA is for real.
Also, the author really has to go the extra mile to prove the HEA in those novels where the hero is initially described as a "rake" or womanizer. I have to have compelling proof that the tom cat has mended his ways!
And finally, like you, I worry about age gaps. Not only is the heroine looking at a long term future of widowhood but a lot of conflicts arise as the hero ages; jealousy, insecurity, loss of virility (his), increased sexuality (her), etc. So you see, I have to be able to see that 17 or 18 year old teenager as the personality type who will remain devoted to her 35-40 year old husband twenty years down the road when he's 60 and she's just 38.
From Katherine Lazo (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I think HEA endings are definitely called for. I remember one Silhouette Desire, by some author whose name I can't remember (this was all years ago); I was about to buy it since the last title (a Silhouette Romance) I had read by that author had a blissfully HEA ending. Then I realized the name of the heroine (a widow) sounded very familiar -- she was the heroine in the previous book by that author! Immediately after that, I placed that author on my "to avoid" list. This is one criterion where "first strike and you're out" applies.
Author P. Alice Duncan (email@example.com):
As far as I'm concerned, if a book doesn't have an HEA ending I don't wanna read it. Okay, so my own personal life hasn't exactly been filled to the brim with HEA's and maybe that colors my perspective. However, for me one of the reasons I love romance so much is that people fight the good fight and win, unlike real life in which the outcome is often questionable. My opinion isn't shared by everyone, but also as far as I'm concerned, the romance genre is based on fantasy -- it's the way life should be and would be if justice prevailed, as it were. In many respects, the romance and mystery genres are similar. In mysteries the crime is always solved. In romances, the hero and heroine have an HEA. Real life is often infinitely more murky than that, darn it.
Jacquie Rogers (email@example.com):
I don't read to get depressed. I want the heroine and hero sitting in the kitchen with their baby twin boys at the end of the book.
I really hate trite conflict, though. The "He doesn't love me. . . She doesn't love me" that goes on for 100 pages makes me disgusted as a reader. Hurl! Of course, as a writer its a no brainer.
Laverne Zemaitis (email@example.com):
I really require a Happily Ever After in a romance. If I want brutal reality, I go to another section of the bookstore. I also agree that sequels where we learn a favorite character from another book has died really bother me. For a few hours a week, I live in a wonderful world where passions run high and love lasts forever. Please don't jolt me back to earth!
Author Denee Cody (DeneeMCody):
I think the HEA is essential to romance. Critics of the genre point to this as evidence that romances are formulaic and to a certain extent they are correct. Of course their tone is usually derogatory, implying nothing of merit can be written to a formula. However, most art is restricted by some form. Shakespeare's sonnets were written to a form (the sonnet). What a writer does with the form elevates the story above the commonplace. So, while there are a few "restrictions" in romance, the HEA appears to be the one absolutely essential to the readers.
Like every writer I know, I have so many story ideas bouncing around in my head I won't live long enough to write them all. Some of those ideas, while they have a strong romance in them, do not have happy endings. I would never write those stories as romances. They would have to be done as mainstream historical fiction, where there is more flexibility in how a book ends. The necessity of the HEA ending is invariably the reason I decide not to write certain stories I would love to explore. It is the one crucial criterion that, for me, decides whether or not the story is a romance. Every other story element can work as either romance or mainstream, but not this one.
I've read excellent novels, with strong romantic themes, or great love stories, that did not have the HEA and could not be classified as romance. I'm not sure if a lot of other writers feel some frustration over the "rule" for the HEA. I do, when I have a story I want to tell, but know it doesn't quite fit. But I think most writers, like most readers of romance, accept and prefer the HEA. I'll be interested to see if your survey supports my impression of what is preferred.
Beth Abott (email@example.com):
I tend to be a lurker, but I am quite adamant on the subject of the HEA ending. It is mandatory for me. Period. If I want reality, I have my own life (g). I can read the paper for real life angst. When I read, I want to escape, preferably into a wonderful, romantic, erotic fantasy.
Susie (email@example.com):
Life is tough, everyone has hardships. Very few people have happily ever after. Why do I need more of unhappiness in my reading? I gave up Daniel Steel because she always makes me sad. If I want sad I can watch my local news and save five bucks!
Author Mary Jo Putney (email@example.com):
Part of this depends on the definitions -- romance in the grand tradition, like Romeo & Juliet, Gone With the Wind, etc, often did not have happy endings, and in fact the poignance and tragedy often were part of what made the story memorable.
However, the romance genre books that we read and write by definition have happy endings. These books are read as escapes from the difficulties and stresses of everyday life, and few of us want to read 400 pages and get invested in the characters only to find out that they can't work out.
Personally, I wouldn't want to read a romance with an unhappy ending, and I certainly don't want to write one. The same is more or less true of other genres -- one wants the ending to be satisfying, if not necessarily "happy." (What kind of mystery wouldn't solve the murder?)
From Liz Zink (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I also, have to have an HEA ending. I read romance to relax and to remove myself from reality for a time. I can't do that if I'm confronted with a "bad" ending. I have enough of the real world, I need to know that the hero and heroine are going to overcome obstacles and make it through to the end. I can recall one book right off the top of my head, Beauty by Susan Wilson (I think) the heroine dies at the end giving birth to their child. Now the story was great up until that point and the heroine did make the ultimate sacrifice for her love, however, I thought I was reading a romance with a happy ending and was extremely upset about the ending. I gave the book away, and I usually don't do that. I like to hoard my books. If I'm reading a different genre of books, I expect different things to happen, I won't be so upset by a non HEA ending, but if it's labeled as romance, I want happily ever after, darn it!
Author Marsha Canham (firstname.lastname@example.com):
As a general rule of thumb, I would say yes, readers expect HEA endings and authors usually deliver them. There are some exceptions, like Gone with the Wind and The Thorn Birds, and they certainly worked. I myself had to fight long and hard with the editors when The Pride of Lions was being copy-edited. It does not have a standard HEA ending; it ends with the hero and heroine being separated until the sequel, The Blood of Roses, brings them together again. But in that instance, it was the logical ending that won out over the acceptable ending. I just couldn't see a Jacobite soldier agreeing to let his English wife remain in Scotland at the outbreak of the Rebellion of '45, when he knew his clan's territory would be hotly contested in battle.
I did receive more mail from Pride than from any other book I have written -- about 400 in the span of a few days. Most of it was due to the publisher 'forgetting' to include the preview chapter for Blood of Roses, which would have told the reader the sequel was on its way. But out of the 400, a good percentage agreed with my thinking: an unconventional way to end the book, but totally logical.
Would I do it again? If the storyline warranted it: absolutely.
From Penny (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I didn't have a problem with Devotion. I knew the guy was gonna go get 'er, course some kissy and huggy would have been nice between the two of them, I guess that's why some readers felt cheated, we wanna see and hear the HEA, just knowing it happens isn't enough. Absolutely, this HEA is a prerequisite for a good romance, or else what's the point? Like Sommersby, that movie with Richard Gere and Jodi Foster, which was a great romance till the last 5 minutes, then I watched in horrified disbelief as a wonderful story was ruined totally!!! I never watched it again, and I loved it, up to the very end.
I have never forgiven Linda Lael Miller for her first book in the vampire trilogy she wrote, Forever & the Night. She let the hero and heroine get together at the end, but they forgot who they were, so they didn't know it. Whatta drag of an ending for a good book. I have never forgiven her, and that was the first and last book of hers I read.
On the other hand, Robin Gideon wrote a vampire trilogy, in which the heroine grows old and dies, because she refuses to become a vampire, and the hero of course is immortal. Robin Gideon handled this beautifully, and I didn't feel the least cheated of my HEA, because the heroine remained true to herself, and I knew the hero would love her forever, tho his life went on. This is the only book, however, where the death of a character hasn;t knocked my nose completely out of joint and made me really mad at the author. If I wanted reality, I'd read the newspaper. When I read romantic fiction or watch what my daughter calls a "chick flick," I want all my cliches intact, thank you.
From Judith Czako (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I agree with you - if it's not HEA, it's not a romance. It can be a wonderful novel, a terrific story, a moving experience, the best book ever, all of that and more, but it does not meet my criteria for a romance. If I buy a book that is self-described as a romance, or published as one by a known romance publisher, I expect it to remain within at least that convention.
Author Elizabeth Grayson (firstname.lastname@example.com):
I think that almost by definition a happy -- or at least hopeful -- ending is a requirement of genre books. In Mysteries, the crooks get caught. In Westerns, the good guys win. In Science Fiction, the world gets saved. In Romance, the hero and heroine end up together. Or at least they have a strong hope of being together. People read genre fiction to have the assumption that "all's right with the world" confirmed. That guarantee allows writers of genre fiction to explore difficult or tragic circumstances in their books, and allows readers to engage emotionally with characters going through these things with the assurance that "everything will come out right in the end."
Books where the crooks get away and the hero and heroine don't end up together are not genre books. They are something else -- something every bit as viable, often every bit as enjoyable to the reader. But different. They are suspense or thrillers. Women's fiction, contemporary or historical novels. Literary fiction.
But if you are talking about "Romance" as genre fiction, a happy ending is, in my opinion, mandatory.
Karyn (email@example.com):
I agree with you the a happily ever after ending is almost essential to a good romance novel. One example that immediately comes to mind is Dana Ransom's Pirate's Captive. In a sequel, we learn that the heroine died relatively soon after the ending of the Pirate's Captive, and that the hero has been alone and grieving for over fifteen years. To make matters worse, we have to watch hm die. This was actually a traumatic experience for me. Pirate's Captive is one of my favorite books of all time, so I just ignore Ransom's future and make up my own. After all, it is fiction.
Janis Reams Hudson's Apache series is another matter. Two of these books have the same hero, his first wife dying between the two. Now, I can understand an author writing a book and later realizing something was wrong (whatever it may be) and having to do something about it. However, in this case, Hudson obviously intended to kill her, as seen in an epilogue that foreshadows her demise. Why? There is no reason for the first book, except to set the stage for the second.
Thank you for this oppurtunity to actually express something I have thought about for a while.


text:
WOL End of Season Survey
Submitted by Katie Macarelli on
From WITHOUT LIMITS PRODUCTIONS:
Dear CYCLO X Athlete,
After 4 months of non stop racing the 2013 Shimano CYCLO X Series, powered by Boa Technology finished in sandy frozen style as athletes stormed the beaches of Boulder Reservoir! We couldn't have asked for a better series finale as nearly all of our category winners were decided on this final day, some categories coming down to just a half point!
Thank you to all the racers, volunteer teams, individuals, sponsors, and BRAC for one amazing season. For all those racing at the US National Championships this January we wish you the best of luck and know you'll make Colorado Proud! Please stay tuned for exciting updates over the coming months as we start planning the 2014 Cyclo-cross season, and we look forward to seeing many of you during road and triathlon season this spring and Summer.
- Lance Panigutti and Tony Panigutti
As we continue to take the CYCLO X Series to the next level in 2014 we ask that you take 5 min to complete a short 10 question survey. The results allow us to make changes and improvements season to season to further enhance the rider experience.
- SM OPEN - Robin Eckmann (Chesaux Cup Winner)
- SW OPEN - Kristin Weber
- SW 35+ - Lauren Costantini
- SW 3 - Liz Barcheck
- SW 4 - Maurine Sweeney
- SM 3 - Jack Tanner
- SM 4 - Adam Fivehouse
- SM 5 - Ryan Malarky
- Singlespeed - Mitch Westall
- 35+ - Michael Robson
- 35+ Cat 3 - Robert Batey
- 35+ Cat 4 - Peter Schaub
- 45+ Jeff Hall
- SM45+4 - Chris Shamis
- 55+ Alan Hills
- JM 10-12 Dakota Cline
- JM 13-14 Max Robson
- JM 15-16 Jack Doherty
- JM 17-18 Max Schmidtmann
- JW 10-12 Tea Wright
- JW 13-14 Petra Schmidtmann
- JW 15-16 Mina Anderberg
- JW 17-18 Jenny Lucke
*We're directing all comments to 303Cycling's facebook page. Or, you could comment ON the actual survey.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cavalry Branch - Enlisted Collar Insignia
Quantity in Basket:
Code: UAR127
Price: $9.95
Shipping Weight: 0.03 pounds
In Stock
Army Enlisted Cavalry collar with 'US' collar, full size, gold finish.
All of our insignia are made by official U.S.
manufacturers that supply the government. All are
regulation full size, as worn by U.S. Armed Forces.
wwm home | about wwm | militaria products | FAQs | militaria events
militaria links & resources | contact info | link to us | what's new? |
Privacy Policy
Web site designed by D.Hart & Associates Website Development


text:
I had a recent conversation with car customizer Dick Dean. In addition to many other projects, Dick Dean worked for George Barris on the original modifications that turned the Futura into the Batmobile and subsequent replicas. He also worked for Dean Jefferies customizing the Monkeemobile and the Black Beauty too. Who better to answer my burning questions about the Futura and the replicas but Dick Dean?
Eric: How many people worked on modifying the Futura into the Batmobile and how long did it take?
Dick: Five men working 3 weeks to get the first Batmobile to the studios.
E: Who were the five people who worked on the conversion of the Futura?
D: Myself, Dan Dempski, Richard "Korky" Korkes, Bill Cushenbery, and Roy "Tubs" Johnson.
E: Where there any pictures taken during the construction?
D: There were no pictures of construction because it went so fast. Bill Cushenbery did start the work on the Batmobile, but time was running out so we brought it back to George's and did a crash program.
E: What was the Futura's condition before you started work on it?
D: It had one small dent on the fender
E: How were the door bats applied on the #1?
D: The bats were affixed on with flush screws
E: Where did you get the beacon light and the props for the #1?
D: Handmade the light, gadgets, etc.
E: What was in the trunk of the #1?
D: Futura - stock
E: Did you work on the repairs of the #1 when the car was breaking down in 1966-1968?
D: No, but the #1 Batmobile did get a chassis change after the movie. Les Tompkins, George Barris' partner at the time changed it. Ford gave 4 complete chassis and engines which were used.
E: When were molds pulled from the #1?
D: After the filming was over the car was taken to the mold shop.
E: How many replicas were built by Barris shop?
D: Three at Barris' shop.
E: Were any of the replicas used on the TV show or 1966 movie?
D: No, only the #1 car was used in the movie and on TV as the others cars weren't even built yet.
E: Did you build a metal replica or are you familiar with a metal replica (#5) that George may have won in a lawsuit/dispute?
D: There is no metal #5 car that either George Barris or I know of. If there's a #5 metal one out there, someone else built it.
E: In what years were the replicas built?
E: Why were the replicas made differently from the original #1?
D: Because we couldn't always find the same things. No one cared.
E: Did the Dragster have a manual or automatic transmission?
D: A manual transmission.
E: Did the replicas originally all have rear canopies?
D: The replicas always had canopies on the rear, yes.
E: Why were some of the Batmobiles flocked? Was it to hide stress cracks from the fiberglass?
D: One of the replicas was flocked because it came out of the mold in bad shape. So we called it Bat Fuzz.
Thanks to Mr. Dean for taking the time to answer my questions!


text:
|McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web
|Home Articles Links News Newsletter Books Forum Community Search Donate
Your Depression and Bipolar Disorder Source
Knowledge is Necessity
Is it worth it, the vomiting, the migraines, the hair loss?
"I went into this world kicking and screaming, I am going to leave it the same way."
Main articles page.
Go here.
Sophy's Story
Barbara's Story
Colleen's Story
Sleeping in the Bathroom
I am dreaming. I dream I am dead. I see myself, in the coffin, in the ground. Something comes out of my mouth, and ears. I wake up screaming, as I always do, praying I will be cremated. I realize I am alive. My heart is racing, my breath is fast. My cat stirs looks at me with her big copper eyes and closes them. It is 2:15 am.
I hear a knock and a doorbell ring about 20 minutes later. I look outside the window, and see a police car, the lights flashing red in the darkness. I realize the police are at my door. I don a bathrobe, and close the door, leaving the cat to slumber on my bed uninterrupted, and climb the steps downstairs to my front door. I am tired. I open the door, leaving the chain on. The cops shine their lights on me. Can we come in miss?
I open it wider to make sure they are police officers. They are. I close the door, remove the chain and let them come upstairs to my apartment. One starts talking to me, the other one takes the flashlight and starts poking around, "Don't let the cat out! " I scream.
"What the blue blazes is going on", I want to say. The constable seems to read my mind. We had a 911 call that there were loud screams coming from this apartment. Are you alone?
Just me and the cat.
No other people, you aren't hiding anyone?
He asks me to show him my neck. I do. I am fine.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Not at the moment
Did anyone hit you tonight? Hurt you?
No, I had a bad dream and woke up screaming.
The other cop tells his partner, no one else is here, and I checked, no alcohol. No drugs.
It was a bad dream. I dreamt I had died and there were worms. I am afraid of the worms.
They leave, assured that I am OK. And I am embarrassed. And wish the floor could swallow me. The love of my life was a constable, the one person who tore my heart asunder. I respect policemen, but they make me nervous.
I am on a ledge. I am afraid I am going to fall.
I drove home from my parent's house the other night, with a notion I wanted to take the car off the road and swerve it into a tree. The whole way home a police car was behind me, passing me about 500 yards from my apartment. I was mad.
Last night was the worst. Earlier this week I noticed my hair was coming out from the Lithium, or the Tegretol or Wellbutrin I am currently taking. A visit to the hairdresser confirmed it; I have lost close to 40 percent of my hair. It was shorn - I lost over a foot. It had always been my pride and joy. Now it lay on the floor discarded. I spent the day after it was cut in bed, afraid to look in a mirror. It is hardly on my back now. I washed my hair today, more in the drain. It looks like I will be totally bald soon. At least my insurance pays for a wig.
I was too depressed to want to off myself. Today I felt good. And decided to try to hurt myself. I tried to get my boom box into the bathroom plug it in and drop it in the bath. To my dismay, it didn't reach. I couldn't get the blade out of the safety razor. So I did something I had promised a good friend I would never do. I went to an office supply store and got an exacto knife. And slit my wrists. Maybe with all the medication the blood didn't come out. It didn't. Or maybe I didn't cut deep enough. It hurt like hell. I had a fantasy of perhaps saying "F**K You" in blood, I am mad.
I am PO'ed that I missed a promotion. That was given to a girl ten years younger than me who rumor has it slept into it. It makes me so mad, because she didn't even swallow. I wanted it, worked as hard as her. It is not fair. Some people just have life fall into their laps and other people keep getting sh*t thrown at them. I am tired of shoveling sh*t. I am so tired. I want to sleep. I am so angry. Why do I have to have this?
A friend of mine, this webmaster who I have gotten to know through emails since Sept 11, has told me I cannot get well until I accept I am a manic-depressive. Bipolar. I cannot accept it. I am fighting it, I have been fighting since I was born, being shoved in foster homes until I was adopted. I fought back when I was raped, and probably lived to tell the tale because of it. I fought the entire time I was living in my car, after being tossed out of my folks house when a roommate blew my entire life savings up her nose, going to a battered women's shelter to shower and change. I could probably knock the s**t out of Mike Tyson. Perhaps not.
I am getting more and more acutely suicidal. Do I want to hurt someone? No, but I want to scream. I have never tried to electrocute myself before. Would I have done it if the cord had reached? Yes. Would it hurt? Absolutely.
I have always fantasized about wrists and hanging. Obsessed. I finally gave into the fantasy, to that last taboo- and tried that. Obviously, it didn't work, I am still here. Damn. Why?
A friend of mine, a wonderful man on the other coast told me if he had one wish in the world, he would wish that I could finish a novel, get it published, and live off the money from it, get famous, or slightly famous and live happily ever after. If he had one wish. He is a good friend. He could have easily wished that his children get full scholarships to his Ivy League Alma Mater. He could have wished for money, which I know he could use. He wished for me. He is one of the few people who have not left me during the last two months of hell during my leave of absence. Instead he calls me daily, letting me cry, as I rapid-cycle, up and down as often as 47 times in an hour.
And I repay him back by slitting my wrists. Nice one Sophy. I should care. But I don't I am in so much pain. I just want it to end.
Make peace with this? I went into this world kicking and screaming, I am going to leave it the same way. Why does so much bad things have to happen to me.?
Why can't I be like everyone else? Why can't I have the little white house and the picket fence and 2 children, 2 cats and a dog? Why can't I be a soccer mom? All the women I know my age are soccer moms
I am a failure. I am the opposite of King Midas, instead of everything I touch turning to gold, everything I touch turns to s**t.
I want to curl up and die. I don't care about work. I am sick from the medication. Is it worth it? Vomiting constantly, migraines, and hair loss? Rapid-cycling as often as 47 times in an hour? I lay down to sleep and I have nightmares? The sweats? I am keeping my apartment at sixty degrees and I still am sweating. Sleeping in the bathroom because I cannot stop vomiting. All to be normal?
But don't we all want to be normal?
For free online issues of McMan's Depression and Bipolar Weekly, email me and put "Sample" in the heading and your email address in the body.
Catherine (March 22, 2004): Society tells
us that "normalcy" is what we should "strive for" but I say that it is
stability that we strive for. I will say that there is a bell
curve-created range for which the population falls wherein certain
characteristics denote a "norm" but I do not believe that any individual
on this planet can be called "normal." We all have idiosyncrasies. I feel
that it is ethically right to make sure that we harm no one else in
society, and that any behavior which is damaging to vulnerable
populations, that is destructive to society or is severely maladaptive
should be quelled or controlled. I believe that it is important to be able
to function within society, but I also believe that every person has a
right to be an individual, and I think often that the approach of such
severe control over people via medication is very harmful.
Your stability and happiness is the most important thing, not whether or not you are "normal" in society!! You may just be the type of person who like many of us, can't fit into this awful world that has been created where people are thoughtless of one another, people like to run over you on the highway, and people betray you at work.
You might be a consumer and you might have depression or
whatever, but also I believe personally that our world today has become
tainted and rude, and I feel that some part of what triggers mental
illness is a natural and justified reaction to a chaotic world that has
succumbed to greed, selfishness and cruelty. I am aware that mental
disorders are partially caused by genetic factors, but I also believe that
these factors are brought out through traumatic events in our lives.
Sophy, Barbara, and Colleen articles All articles
Post your opinion here.
Sophy Patterson
Order my book on Amazon
Your online source for issues that matter to you.
For free samples, email me and put "Sample" in the heading and your email address in the body.
Find out more.
Shop for depression and bipolar books online here.
Share Your Story
Two simple facts: 1) Everyone has a story, and 2) Our illness unites us all. Please feel free to share your story with us. Don't sell yourself short - your message will resonate with many. Send your thoughts or a finished narrative by emailing me.


text:
CinemaCon, the National Association of Theatre Owners Convention was held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 24 – 27 culminating with the presentation of the 2014 Big Screen Achievement Awards in the Colosseum on the 27th. "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush served as MC and this year's recipients were as follows:
Shailene Woodley, the actress from "Divergent", who will soon be seen in "The Fault in Our Stars", won Female Star of Tomorrow. Her counterpart Chadwick Boseman the star of "42" received the Male Star of Tomorrow. Another talent to keep an eye on Chris Pratt was named the Breakthrough Performer of the Year.
Jack Raynor and Nicola Peltz, who will be appearing in the upcoming "Transformers: Age of Extinction" took home Male and Female Rising Star of the Year honors
Leslie Mann was awarded Comedy Star of the Year while Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg were named Comedy Filmmakers of the Year
Actress, producer, director Drew Barrymore and iconic funnyman Adam Sandler got Female and Male Star of the Year Awards for their upcoming film "Blended, which will be released in May. The movie tells the story of a disastrous blind first date of single parents and a mix-up that takes place when they along with their children are on the same African vacation.
Comedy director Ivan Reitman, who took home this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, and action director Christopher Nolan took part in a private Q&A session with six student filmmaker finalists being mentored by TV and film actor Michael B. Jordan as part a special project sponsored by Sprite Films. Actor/Producer/Director Kevin Costner was named this year's Cinema Icon and Andy Serkis received the Vanguard Award. Serkis was seen reprising his role as Caesar in the film "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes", which had new footage screened at the event. In addition, Jon Hamm who is featured in the "Million Dollar Arm" took home the Excellence in Acting Award for his diverse works in feature films.
Some other notable happenings that took place during this year's CinemaCon before the awards presentation were the arrival of industry icon Clint Eastwood, who came to talk about the upcoming film "Jersey Boys", which he directed. He explained how the show started nine years earlier at a small get-together of actors in LaJolla. At the time they didn't think it would be a huge success let alone a Tony Award winner. Eastwood received a standing ovation from the approximately 5,000 attendees before showing footage of the musical.
On Thursday, Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman also appeared at CinemaCon with clips from their new film "Transcendence" that hits theatres on April 18th. Also on Thursday, "Godzilla", starring Elizabeth Olsen and Bryan Cranston, which is set for release on May 16th showed the famous monster's return as he threatens to destroy America in this sci-fi action film.
During the festivities Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum provided a look at their upcoming movie "Jupiter Ascending" and the audience was also given a sneak peek of Peter Jackson's final "Hobbit" film completing the second trilogy.
According to officials, CinemaCon, which was formerly known as ShoWest, had one of its most successful conventions to date and plans to return to Las Vegas once again in March of 2015.


text:
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is giving guests permission to enjoy an adult beverage anytime for a superior value. Starting today, participating Red Robin® restaurants nationwide will be offering great drink prices all day, every day throughout the entire restaurant that include 79 drink options for under $5 each.*
Red Robin is kicking off the year by expanding its adult beverage program beyond the bar and beyond the typical happy hour. With this new all day, every day beverage program Red Robin restaurants can highlight exciting beverage offerings for guests 21-and-over while continuing to embrace Red Robin's heritage of innovative mixology.
Guests can enjoy $3.50 select domestic 16 oz. drafts and select domestic 12 oz. bottles; $4.50 select domestic 22 oz. drafts, Woodbridge® Chardonnay, Rex Goliath® Cabernet Sauvignon, Jim Beam®, Bacardi®, and Smirnoff®** specials; and $5.50 Sauza® Gold Margarita specials. The new beverage program complements Red Robin's $3, $5, $7, and $9 appetizer options, enhancing the Red Robin guest experience with superior value.
"We want our guests to enjoy an adult beverage on their time, instead of being restricted to limited hours," said Denny Marie Post, Red Robin's senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "With great drink prices, guests can say yes to pairing a Red Robin burger with a beverage of their choice."


text:
On the Blog
Featured Commentary
Being around people can be an anxious experience, if not draining experience, for many. But, how can we manage that trepidation and move forward? Alexandra Elle reflects on having the courage to show up and interact when it feels next to impossible.
On the Blog
Thomas Merton and Lao Tzu make compelling cases for flowing around obstacles rather than butting up against them. If we do so, we fight inequities in the world with equanimity and make a life worth living for all.
When you think of a name — or your name — what story or memory comes to mind? A post about the pathways and constraints of a name, and a invitation for your stories about our most basic expressions of identity.
Rami, not Rumi. And good reads on living and loving well, male parenting, and not-knowing.
An American writer living in Egypt during the months after 9/11 experiences the beauty of Ramadan in Cairo. She finds unexpected kinship in the rhythms of the culture and its people, reflecting all that is human: piety and gaiety, charity and ostentation, sacrifice and indulgence.
Who is "the other"? A call to cultivate deep curiosity for the lives and struggles and to move away from the "Us-versus-Them" mentality — including a reflective exercise you can perform right now, wherever you are.
To trust our children requires allowing them the room to act differently that we might expect. A mother's argument for placing trust in our children's expansive imaginations and empathic potential.
In times of trauma, modern-day technology connects us instantly. But could it be that genetic memory metabolizes much more slowly? Courtney Martin juxtaposes modern day urgency with a long view of legacy.
Is there room in our seeking for not-knowing? Are our hearts big enough to hold mystery? A prayer and a meditation for the mystery of the last ten nights of Ramadan.
"How can we learn to embrace with love the whole of who we are?" Parker Palmer with three tools to help us show up as we really are and live and love fully as we engage with the world.
Freedom rings this Independence Day with a panoply of sounds and sights to remind us of our burgeoning world!
Mysteries of an expanding universe and other ties to what makes a life worth living.
To celebrate the 80th birthday of the great spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sharon Salzberg recounts her first encounter with him and the importance of his example — in words and in deed.
A longtime yogi sees fatherhood through the lens of the complementary balance of effort and ease, strength and softness.
An inspirational profile of one of those modern-day heroes, SAS, a doctor whose key insights turned the tide of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone — an exemplar of quiet commitment and unending courage who saved thousands of lives by bridging worlds.
Feces can be a powerful thing, but not in the way that you might gather. Before becoming a father, Omid Safi thought love was something you feel or experience, the everyday ritual of changing his daughter's diaper taught him about a love that's stronger than shit.
The act of extending a hand, of seeking, can sometimes leave you humbled by an amazing experience. Watch Abigail Washburn and her band The Village find unexpected rewards at a dinner party with local musicians in China.
As we celebrate the Fourth of July in the States, Parker Palmer contemplates the hope, the promise, and the opportunity of "we the people" with a song from Leonard Cohen.
Our readers and our columnists explore Vincent Harding's question in light of the Charleston tragedy — and how we can reclaim our fears and our hopes in this great experiment. Plus, some things I've been reading this week (for your eyes only).
As we become global citizens and focus on issues around the world, we neglect to look out the window of our back yards and into our local communities. A reminder to be part of the locality where we live too.
Beginning with a quote from Hazrat Inayat Khan, an exploration and a grappling with suffering, parenting, and the nature of love.
The wealth of information curated and articulated — drawing on all our executive editor reads, hears, and sees. From collective silence to the moral quality of action, words of advice and admiration.
A passionate, grounded plea to recognize white privilege and the gut level pushback — the "white fragility" — that happens when talking about race.
We are in need of a new vision and visionaries who remind us not of the "greatness" of America, but of its goodness writes Omid Safi. A call for forgiveness, but one that's rooted in love and justice — and for an America that is yet to be.
Bill Siemering, a founding member of National Public Radio, will be speaking at On Being on Loring Park tonight at 5:30pm. Join us for a live stream!
Recent events in the life of the world have made it challenging to engage in trust and hope. Parker Palmer turns to another type of knowing that leads to grace.


text:
HTC Titan and Radar priced
Yesterday, during IFA 2011, HTC announced its first Windows Phone Mango devices: the Titan and the Radar.
While the Taiwanese company didn't unveil the handsets' prices in the official press release, an HTC rep confirmed to us the following: the HTC Titan (which comes with a 4.7 inch display, 1.5GHz processor, and 8MP rear camera) will cost €609 (about $878). The smaller (and whiter) HTC Radar will be cheaper: only €399 ($568). These prices are for the German market, and include VAT.
It's said that both new HTC smartphones will hit the shelves across Europe starting October 1 (no word yet on what carriers will offer them). We'll post hands-on videos of the two devices later today.
Other companies that should launch Windows Phone Mango handsets in October are Nokia, Samsung, LG, Acer and ZTE.


text:
musings of a social architect I just wanted to send a quick shout-out to promote a new blogger- Amy Jo Kim. She wrote Community Building on the Web one of the standard books on the subject - and one that helped me immensely. Recently she was the VP of Social Architecture at There.com. I had the chance to have dinner with her and others at the online community summit and I'm glad to see she's taken the weblog leap. From what I can tell, she just getting started, so I'm hoping a little promotion... Continue Reading
As you may know, I'm a fan of the "onlinefacilitation" Yahoo! Group thats run by my friend and fellow Seattlelite Nancy White. Recently a member started a new discussion asking for input on the question "How do you do e-Networking?. The member is preparing for a presentation on the subject. Nancy replied with what I thought was great advice. I like the idea of having 3 tiers and visualizing your network. The text below came form this post. First, from a software standpoint, check out... Continue Reading
- « first
- ‹ previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4


text:
Christian right looks to rebound
View Single Post
May The Force Serve You.
Join Date
: Nov 2006
: 2,236
YES. Even though I have a tremendous amount of respect for the US military(moreso than the rest of the government) and love democracy, I think that if we went to war with Iraq JUST to overthrow Saddam and set up a Democratic government, it was morally wrong.
Huh. Understood. I guess I'm okay with violence, only because it's the only thing that has worked for us in the past, and animals use violence as well. We are still living due to the slaughters and the murders that previous generations of the human race has pulled off, after all. Since the hands of all nations in existance or in the past are, well, pretty bloody...I would be very uncomfortable calling every one of them immoral. Still, I see your point. To each their own.
Still, following your logic, I would be a bit iffy about even having the US military protect Kurdistan. It will make Turkey, another ally of US, and a democracy, pretty angry about us protecting the Kurds, and many members of the Kurds are sympathetic to the PKK, a terrorist organization that occasianlly pull off car bombs and terror attacks in both Iran and Turkey. And what about the Kurdistan's claim over Kirkuk and all its precious oil? The Kurds are willing to relocate the Arabs who live there, because they "were there first". And if the Arabs don't want to leave, then the Kurds will just move in anyway and force the Arabs to sell. If I follow your logic, if the Kurds are pulling off immoral stuff, should we even help them?
Originally Posted by
The Onion
"The Cambodian government has established many exciting-sounding 're-education camps' where both intellectuals and everyday citizens can be sent at any time," Day said. Well, we at Barnes & Noble have always supported re-education in America, and we intend to extend this policy to our new customers." For every hardcover book sold, Barnes & Noble will donate a dollar to the Cambodian government to help re-educate local children.
Full Article Here
you may:
quote & reply
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by SilentScope001


text:
VH1's Hollywood Exes returns for a third season looking inside the lives of former spouses of the famous, and there's plenty to talk about, including the arrival of a new cast member (Shanna Moakler) and a spinoff later this year (Atlanta Exes). BFTV recently spoke with returning cast member Mayte Garcia to talk about both these things and how she's progressing in season three.
"The thing is, it's a sisterhood," she said of the cast, which also includes Jessica Canseco, Sheree Fletcher, Andrea Kelly, Nicole Murphy, and Shamicka Lawrence. Of adding Moakler, the ex-wife of Blink-182 musician Travis Barker, Mayte told us, "It was just fun to see how we could help her."
After three seasons, this group knows each other pretty well. So which of her fellow exes would Mayte say she's learned the most from? "I'd say all of them. All of them have a little bit of something. That's what makes this group so special," she reflected. "Nicole's a mother of five, and I'm a mom. She helps me with that and she's amazing.
"Dree, me and her have so much in common, being that we are both dancers and we danced for our husbands. Her little Dree-isms are crazy. You're going to se a whole new Sheree this season, but for the better. Jessica's just a free spirit. I think all the girls have had some kind of impact."
As for what you'll see from Mayte, "I was pretty true to my story," she teased. "I hope it relays that there is love. That's the difference between this show and other shows out there. At the end of the day, it's about love and sisterhood."
A major part of her story is her passion for animals; as we reported last season, she has her own animal rescue, Mayte's Rescue (maytesrescue.com). "I'm very proud of what we've done," she told us. "Right now, I have three fosters. Two cats and one dog that are being fostered. It's what I do all the time and I'm passionate about." You can follow maytesrescue on Instagram and Facebook for the latest up-to-date information on Mayte's rescue efforts and how you can get involved.
That passion has not only become part of what we see on the show, but it has led her into new business ventures as well. "I'm actually starting a faux fur line with Shanna, because we're both serious animal lovers and I think there can be fashion without having to hurt animals," Mayte added. She's also continuing her career as a dancer and an actress, and - in perhaps the biggest development for her - has recently adopted a daughter.
The Hollywood ladies have done so well for themselves that VH1 has gone forward with another project focused on the exes of Atlanta, and we asked Mayte to weigh in on her series having its own spinoff. "We just went in doing this as a support group, to go on camera and show our issues, good or bad. I think people enjoy it because it's not just about who you're married to," she told us. "It's exciting that they made a franchise. I want to know how Cee Lo [Green]'s ex [Christina Johnson] and Usher's ex [Tameka Raymond] are doing. I'm excited!"
Three seasons in, what does she think she's taken away from Hollywood Exes? "I think it's helped me be more open," she reflected. "The third season definitely has more of me. We're surrounded by a group of women who are very strong mind opinionated and passionate about what they believe in, so you can 't help but show who you are, which I think is beautiful."
Hollywood Exes premieres tonight at 9 PM ET/PT on VH1 (check your local listings for specific channel). For more on Mayte, you can follow her on Twitter (@MayteGarcia) and by visiting her official website (mayte.com).
(c)2014 Brittany Frederick. Appears at Examiner with permission. All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted. Visit my official website and follow me on Twitter at @tvbrittanyf.


text:
Make a Garden Arbor From Old Wooden Doors
Create a charming entryway for your garden from a pair of old doors.
Brian Patrick Flynn
Materials Needed
- 2 solid wood doors
- four 12" pieces of rebar
- strip of pressure-treated 1' x 3' x 6' pine or cedar lumber
- three 2' x 6' x 8' planks of pressure-treated pine or cedar
- wood glue
- finishing nails
- 2 1/2" outdoor wood screws
- cicular saw
- hand saw
- 1/2" drill bit
- 1/8" drill bit
- hammer or nail gun
- pressure-treated crown molding
- primer
- exterior latex paint
- paint brush
- paint pan
- paint roller handle
- paint roller sleeve
- damp cloth or sponge
- measuring tape
- notepad
Step 1: Select Proper Doors
In order to resist the
elements, solid wooden doors need to be used for this project; however,
the two
doors can vary in heights and finishes as long as they have the same
width. In
order to ensure a level installation, both doors must stand at exactly
the same
height. Heights can be easily adjusted by using a measuring tape and a
pencil to mark the doors to size, then cutting the doors to the exact
same height with a circular saw.
Step 2: Cut Side Panels
In order to make the arbor open and airy, cut openings into the tops of
each of the doors. Doors with recessed panels simply require cutting
around the inside edge of the paneling using a circular saw. When using
solid wood doors without paneling, measure and mark the intended opening
size with measuring tape and pencil, then cut with circular saw. Tip:
Standard exterior entry doors are 36" wide. An excellent sized opening
to consider, based on proper scale and proportion of two doors placed across from one
another, is 24", leaving approximately 6" of door on each side of the
Step 3: Attach Decorative Ledge
Measure and mark the opening of the newly cut door directly to the strip of 1' x 3' x 6' lumber, allowing enough space for a 1" overhang on both sides to accommodate a decorative ledge.
Use a
hand saw to cut the strip, then place it along the bottom of the door opening. Secure the ledge into place using wood glue,
nails and a hammer.
For a more decorative look, add pressure-treated crown molding under ledge.
Step 4: Reinforce with Rebar
On the bottom of each door, add a 1/2" hole 6" deep and 4" from each side with a 1/2" drill bit. Next, hammer a 12" piece of rebar into each drilled hole.
Step 5: Determine Arbor Width
Determine exact distance for each of the two doors to be spaced properly apart using measuring tape, then jot down the dimensions. This will be the overall width of the arbor.
Step 6: Mark and Chisel
On the 2' x 6' plank of pine or cedar, mark the width of the door span, adding one additional inch to each side to account for proper overhang. Cut a notch in the wood using a jigsaw, then use a wood chisel and hammer to remove the appropriate width necessary to accommodate the doors.
Step 7: Trace and Cut Template
Create a
quarter circle template by tracing a round edge onto two pieces of scrap pine
or cedar boards, then cut the pattern onto the 2' x 6' plank.
Cut the pattern template into the 2' x 6' plank using the jigsaw.
Step 8: Attach the Arbor Tops
Position the outside pieces of wood so that they are flush with the edge of each door. Tap the wood with the hammer to secure a snug fit, then attach with 2 1/2" outdoor wood screws using the drill.
Once the outside pieces are secured into place, measure for the center, and install the third board.
Step 9: Cut and Attach Corner Braces
Create four corner braces from planks of 2' x 8' pine or cedar by cutting each plank at a 45 degree angle with the circular saw.
Pre-drill the braces with a 1/8" drill bit, then attach them using 2 1/2" wood screws.
Step 10: Paint, Dry and Enjoy
Wipe all surfaces of doors and arbor top with a damp cloth or sponge. Prime and paint the doors, decorative ledge and arbor top with exterior latex paint and paint brush or roller.
2 Comments About this How To
Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!Flag this Comment
Posted 2 years ago
Eva Sanchez
LOVE IT!!!!Flag this Comment
Posted 2 years ago
We Recommend...
All Pots on Deck! How to Make a Deck Rail Planter
Dress up your windows or deck railing with this cool DIY planter project.
How to Paint a Fence
11 photos
DIY Potting Bench
19 photos
See Also:
- Fence Revival: A Guide to Painting and Staining By: Sam Henderson
- 14 Roses for Pergolas and Arbors 14 photos
- How to Build a Backyard Teepee 15 photos


text:
StyleByte: Shopping The Sale Rack
Everyone loves the thrill of getting a great deal and now is the perfect time to find one as shops are moving out their summer-wear to make room for new Fall collections. Sales are everywhere and it is a great time to nab killer pieces at fantastic prices. But sale shopping is not for the faint of heart. It takes time and patience to weed through the racks and with so much to buy, what do you need and what do you leave? In an attempt to simplify the process, I have compiled a short list of my favorite items to pick up, and those that are better left behind.
Pic 1
Purchase: Staples. Staples. Staples. When flipping through the sale racks, I search for pieces that will last the test of time; great basics like denim, blouses and easy silhouette dresses. I prefer to steer clear of items that were this seasons trends, for fear of their longevity. (Unless of course your intention is to wear them in the next few weeks.)
Stripes - Stripes were arguably the most trendy look for the spring/summer season and normally I would encourage you to stay away from purchasing them due to their shelf-life. However, in this case the more stripes the better as stripes never go out of style.
Denim - Finding denim on a sale rack is always exciting, especially if they have a darker wash with a slimmer leg. Light washes are great too, but need to be stored for fall. I would avoid bootcut denim (unless they are your favorite) and opt for a straight or skinny leg instead.
White denim - There is no better time to stock up on white denim then at a sale, because it is here to stay. I would opt for an ankle or full length in a skinny or straight leg fit.
Coated - If you are lucky enough to find a coated denim or legging, snag them as they are still as hot this fall/winter as last. If possible, I would stick to a neutral color (black, grey, brown etc).
Leather: Leather and leather detailing is still the rage moving into the cold weather so pick up what you can on sale.
Dresses - Choose styles, colors and patterns that have some longevity to them; a shift dress is the perfect timeless silhouette.
Blouses - Blouses (silk, polyester, or a blend) have worked their way into becoming a staple in our wardrobe and would be a great item to nab.
Blazer - I am a sucker for a great blazer. I don't know a blazer that is going to go out of style unless it is very fashion forward. If it is a simple, great piece, in a neutral color (black, navy, even white) don't pass it by.
Pic 2
Don't purchase- Trendy. Trendy. Trendy. As I mentioned above, unless you are planning on wearing the items in the next few weeks/month, then I would leave the uber-trendy spring/summer items on the rack. Normally a trend doesn't stay current for more than one or two seasons; so this summer's hot items most likely will not be next summer's. So it's best to stick with the basics.
Overalls- Overalls were a fun, edgy trend this spring/summer but their shelf-life is certainly questionable.
Cut-outs - Cut-outs were also the rage. They were placed on various parts of dresses and tops and were amazing; however, I fear that may be the last that we see of them for a while.
Patterned jumpsuits - Again an exciting splash of color and texture that may be out as soon as it came in.
Colored and patterned denim - Outrageous patterns and brightly colored denim may be the easiest thing that you pass-up on the sale rack. They have both run their course.
Sports-wear - I appreciated the sports-wear inspired trend this spring (it wasn't so prevalent this summer) but I don't think it has legs to stand on for next year.
Crop tops - Crop tops certainly made a larger impression on fashion this season than I ever imagined, so I am on the fence about how long the style will stick around. I would most likely pass on them unless you are going to rock the entire 70's look and then I say, go for it!
Maxi's - Similarly, the maxi skirt and dress have had their days and it would be best to leave them on the rack.
Pic 3
I hope that I have made your next sale shopping outing a bit easier and potentially more fun. As always, if you have questions or need some fashion assistance, please stop by the store — our doors are always open. XX Ashley
Ashley Rothwell-Campagna
Owner, Apt. 202
Pic 1: J brand denim, Splendid tee, and ASOS crop top
Pic 2: (Top) Alice + Olivia dress and Lanston stripe tee (bottom) Eighty Sixty sweater, Citizens for Humanity coated denim, Rebecca Minkoff blazer, BCBG blouse
Pic 3: (Top) Mother jumpsuit, Lovers and Friends dress, and 3.1 Phillip Lim (bottom) THVM denim, Free People jumper, and Celine dress


text:
Define the top 3 issues you'd like to see fixed in 3.1.1
By alexismp on May 06, 2011
In a prior entry we introduced the objectives for the GlassFish 3.1.1 release. With a goal to be highly compatible with 3.1 we can only fix a small number of critical bugs and we'd like you to help us identify the most important ones using the voting mechanism built into JIRA.
With four promoted builds of GlassFish 3.1.1 accounting for already well over 100 bug fixes we'd like to ask you to vote for what you consider to be the most important bugs by 9 am PT Wednesday, May 11th, 2011. And if you want to send fixes we'll take that too, thanks!


text:
Editors' Note: The "Download Now" link directs you to the Android Market where you must continue the download process. This download may not be available in some countries.
Publisher's Description+
From Zuro: Running Fighter is the art of movement.try your best to see how far you can go.Features:* EASY, FUN AND RELAXING GAME PLAYJump, crawl or hit to bypass all the blocker.* LIFE AND DIFFICULT MODESExplore the game world in a life mode or different difficult levels.* STYLISH GRAPHICSExplore a simple black and white world* ENJOY IT FOR FREEDon't hesitate to download this simple and fun game! Enjoy!Recent changes:performance boostContent rating: Everyone
What's new in this version:
performance boost
read more +


text:
Placing a priority on prevention and research as long-term strategies to improve the health of Oklahomans, TSET works with numerous partners and grantees to help fulfill the Oklahoma State Plan for Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation, Oklahoma Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan, and the Oklahoma Health Improvement Plan. Actions recommended in these plans will save lives, save money, and create a healthy workforce to strengthen Oklahoma's competitive edge.
The following accomplishments have been realized as a result of TSET-funded programs, partnerships with other state agencies, communities, businesses, and tribal nations, and the public policies enacted by the Oklahoma State Legislature and Oklahoma voters.
Outcome Measures
Public Policies
Community-Based Programs
Tobacco-Free Property Policies (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including all events)
Tobacco Cessation Systems Initiatives
Public Education through Health Communications – Tobacco Stops With Me Campaign
TSET opens an "unsolicited proposals" process between October and January each year. Organizations may propose programs related to any of the areas of allowable funding as specified in the Oklahoma Constitution. TSET covers up to 50% of the project's costs.


text: Now this is training -- go to mountain bike races on motorcycles hauling your mountain bikes. KTM riders Chris Fillmore and Cole Kirkpatrick are joined by Husaberg's Russell Bobbitt and Nick Fahringer on KTM 990 Adventures with their mountain bikes on back. The destination is a local enduro mountain bike race.


text:
TC AND OTHERS: PROPOSAL FOR A TRIBUTE TO GÖTHE; April 1831; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18310400-TCAO-FMA-01; CL 5:259.
[early April]
As it is always the highest duty and happiness to shew reverence for whom reverence is due, and our chief—perhaps our only—benefactor is he who, by act and word, instructs us in wisdom, We, the undersigned, feeling to the poet GÖTHE as the spiritually taught to their spiritual teacher, are desirous to express that sentiment openly and in common. For which end we have determined to contribute, in equal shares, towards some small English Gift, to be presented him on his approaching birth-day, with a letter in our joint names; that so, while the venerable man still dwells among us, some memorial of the love and gratitude we owe him, and think the whole world owes him, may not be wanting.
It is at present proposed that the gift be a Seal, bearing some suitable inscription, and, as a stamp, an epigraph and emblem, selected from his own poems. It is further calculated that the cost should not exceed thirty guineas; and that the contribution of each should not be less than one guinea, nor more than two. But all such details must be settled by the general consent.
For the present, our chief anxiety is, that the Gift, of whatever outward value, may have an inward value; that no miserable motive of vanity, or other insincerity, too usual on such occasions, may have place here;—but that this, our united act, may be, what it professes, a testimonial of our common sentiments; and that no one who does not from the heart entertain such may join himself therein.


text:
Carnotaurus is a web application solutions provider. It enjoys success with brands like Ghost Pubs and myPUBGUIDE
- England, United Kingdom
- carnotaurus.co.uk
- Member for 5 years, 2 months
- 1 profile view
- Last seen Apr 17 '11 at 11:26
Communities (47)
Top Network Posts
- 42Generate class from database table
- 32How many developers before continuous integration becomes effective for us?
- 14Choosing a CMS: EPiServer vs Orchard vs SiteCore vs Umbraco
- 13Is it more hygenic to keep the lid down on the toilet after use?
- 10How do I find an affordable editor?
- 9How do we know to favour composition over generalisation is always the right choice?
- 9Can a Himalayan crystal salt cave reduce stress?
- View more network posts →
Keeping a low profile.
This user hasn't posted... yet.
Badges (1)
Gold —
Silver —
Bronze 1


text:
Beautiful photo.
Greeting Ahora
Thank you so much.
best wishes.
nice natura good foto
Thanks zmogelis for visit.
Greetings from Iran
Mahdi Kalhor
thanks for images
Nice view and colours, like
parsa g,
a.ferrer, thanks for Like
Wellcome you both and grat thanks for visit.
All the best from Iran,
Hi Mahdi, * I have sent a message of protest and was told SPAM!:-( Now, I venture to cancel my account
* It is a shame as the user works Olympist, I abandoned the contest, I do not more give messages, I do not need the prize! * Sorry, but I help google translate to communicate in English * Greetings,Gabi
Beautiful photo. A lone tree that gives the onbra those who need it. A song in the land and nature, and I see this picture.
Heu captat amb tota la seua grandesa la vida, que es dolça i es dura al mateix temps.like
Hi Gabi, I understand, I don't answer to any comments(about Congrats!) in my photo(41085291). The prize is not important for me. I won three times but did not receive awards. But I found too many good friends. I do not accept mode of competition.
Welcome Voro. Thank you a lot for your lovely comments and Like also for visiting my gallery!
All the best from Iran, Mahdi
همزیستی مسالمت آمیز
بگذاریم زیبا بماند
drmsaeedi 1
تشکر از شما عزیزان
Excellent composition.
Best wishes from Jordan.
Beautiful landscape photo. LIKE. best wishes
I LIKE this photo.
If you are dissatisfied with the current management of Panoramio, thank you to favorably take in considération the petition of Mr. Stuart Smith.
Photo taken in Mazandaran, Unnamed Road, Iran


text:
A country's domestic and foreign policies are often shaped by the philosophical foundations of its system of government. America is a free and prosperous country because the Declaration of Independence holds dear life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness subsumes the freedoms guarded in the Bill of Rights. On the other hand, Islamic states whose ideas are rooted in obedience to Allah and the strict laws of the Koran are often rife with chauvinism and lack of individual rights. The Jewish state has no constitution and no bill of rights, and perhaps this is one reason why the Israeli system of government is, if anything, mixed: part secular, part religious; part capitalistic, part socialist; part individualistic, part collectivist.
Some argue that the Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by Hebrew Scriptures, although academia often attributes the flowering of Western Civilization to the Greek philosophic tradition. The apparent dichotomy between "Athens" (reason) and Jerusalem (revelation) is one that is explored and debunked in scholar Yoram Hazony's incredible new book, The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture, which I had the privilege of reading before it was published by Cambridge University Press this year. Hazony, who is also Provost of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem, will be talking about his new book in Los Angeles on Monday, October 22, 7:30 pm at Stephen S. Wise Temple. (DVR the presidential debate or listen to it on the radio. This is a talk not to be missed.)
Hazony successfully makes the case for reading the Hebrew Bible as a book of reason, not revelation. "If we want to understand the ideas the Hebrew Scriptures were written to advance," he writes in the first chapter, "we should read the texts much as we read the writings of Plato or Hobbes – as works of reasons or philosophy composed to assist individuals and nations looking to discover the true and the good in accordance with man's natural abilities."
This book is a watershed for academia, which has largely rejected the Hebrew Bible from inclusion into the pantheon of great philosophical documents, but the book also has the potential to transform our understanding of the role that Hebrew Scriptures, or Torah, should and could have in shaping the philosophical and hence political foundations of the Jewish State.
The Torah is dismissed all too often by secular Jews as an antiquated relic containing little value to the development of the Jewish state. Orthodox Jews often elevate the ritual aspects of law contained therein over the broad philosophic principles. Indeed, the secular founders adopted much of Britain's parliamentary system and codes of law. Some Orthodox Jews seek to impose laws relating to halachic observance upon the citizens of Israel. This is what causes secular Jews to believe that any invocation of the Bible to guide the governance of the state smacks of theocracy.
In reading the Torah as a book of reason, Hazony argues, we find that a major theme and even virtue of the Torah is non-conformity and rebellion against unjust authority, whether it be family, government, and even God himself. Abel, Abraham, and Moses were all free thinkers, seeking to live the best lives they could according to ethics flowing from rational observation, finding better ways of living and being, and heeding the call to perfect the world according to the values they ultimately deemed best for advancing humanity.
Hazony re-introduces Jeremiah as the Bible's champion of reason, with Jeremiah telling the Israelites: "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, and see, if you can, and know, and search its broad places: If you can find a man, if there is one who does justice and seeks truth, and I will forgive her."
Hazony sets up the archetype of the shepherd (the wandering free thinker) against that of the farmer (the toiler bound to the land). To understand these archetypes in modern terms, I'd like to think of the shepherd as the hi-tech entrepreneur who could wander anywhere with his brain power and create prosperity. In that sense Israel, with its economy indebted to the hi-tech industry, is the land of shepherds. The farmers are those dependent on their immediate natural resources for subsistence. In that sense, the oil rich nations of the Middle East are the lands of farmers. And it is an immediate dependency on natural resources, or colloquially "making a living," that often compel individuals and nations such as Israel to sacrifice their long-term rational and ethical self-interest for immediate practical concerns. (Watch the video trailer below!)
It is precisely Hazony's reading of the Torah that can guide Israel toward writing a constitution that ensures the Jewish State remains democratic, rational and free because, ultimately, the founding document of the Jewish people is about reason and an ethical system flowing from reason. And it is the call toward independent thought and anti-authoritarianism—the qualities of the shepherd--that Israel must embrace to defy world opinion and do what is ultimately just and true for her survival.
View our privacy policy and terms of service.


text:
Vending Machines
Where are the vending machines?
Who is in charge? Who do I call?
University Services monitors all soda pop machines, water machines, snack and fresh food machines. If you have a problem with a machine, such as not receiving a product, or any other issues, contact the University Services Department at 313.578.0588 so we may get the problem corrected. For monetary reimbursement, visit Student Accounting.
Who are the vending machine companies?
Absopure: all water machines
Coca-Cola: soda pop and juices
Variety Food Services: snacks and foods
Where can I recycle my plastic bottles?
Located next to our Absopure Machines are carboard recyling bins.
We would appreciate your help in disposing your plastic bottles here!


text:
Oct 11, 2010 5:08 AM
Time to git yr learnin on! Everybody Loves Coupons, of UltimateCoupons.com fame, is a blog about, what else, coupons: how to use 'em, where to get 'em, and saving serious cash with 'em. But lurking inside this unassuming blog are some surprisingly well-researched and interesting articles about the economy, seasonal trends, and our future as a society. So take a gander and then you can say, "Hey Ma! I's smart!"
Black Friday is still nearly two months away, but some analysts have already pegged at least one item retailers will be featuring in their door-buster sales: LCD TVs. Two leading research firms say that an over-supply of LCD TVs coupled with pent-up demand among recession-weary consumers should combine to lower prices and make TVs a must-have for holiday shoppers. Paul Gagnon, director of TV research at Display Search, said that LCD manufacturers have been waiting all year for demand to return and have held off on lowering prices. "Manufacturers were playing a game of chicken, hoping demand would be there and reluctant to be the first one to let prices fall," said Gagnon. "Only recently did they come to the shocking realization that prices needed to fall. That will have a good impact on holiday sales."
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
anyone watch it?
Printable View
anyone watch it?
its overrated
that said i usually have it on in background semi-paying attention during the hour break between boardwalk empire and dae joyoung
also this show would be better without that black sword chick. not everything that makes sense to put in a comic book works on a serious tv drama thing.
I watched up to the latest episode this lastweek/weekend. and ive created a bond with daryl and no he might die and im going to be > : (
walking dead is sick. i think the sword thing is a little funny but at the same time michonne is my favorite character. andrea was until she became a vapid slut with no clue what's going on.
rick can go fuck off though. his leading style has completely changed from what it used to be and he's a dick to any outsiders for no reason. which in a post apocalyptic world is a reasonable position to take but still rick is a douche.
88 to 9/10 show would watch again. specifically this season.
the governor is the only character i find particularly interesting at this point
although some guy whos played by cutty debuted last episode
and the governor seems pretty boring to me. his role is typical as hell, there's nothing deep about a guy who runs a town by stealing others resources and doesn't tell anybody about it. experimenting on the dead was probably not even his idea, and his daughter's dead now so that element is gone now. his idea of pitting the brothers against each other is cool in a terrible way though.
Where the fuck do they get all of those bullets. I remember one episode they were shooting at bottles and cans. What.


text:
Are you following the Vista on Facebook? How about Instagram? Twitter? We are on a mission to get 1000 likes by the end of the summer and Shyla, Lani and Kendra have been posting great photos on Instagram and fun tidbits on Twitter. The whole idea is great but honestly, it gives me a stomach ache trying to figure out what to do and when and what we are missing. Any advice and encouragement will be greatly appreciated!
So, if you have a minute, please go and like us on Facebook and take a look at some of the fun photos that we have on Instagram. If you have a photo from your travels on Cape Ann, we'd love to see those, too.
Happy Spring!


text:
Things to see and do - Mali
Leaving for Mali
Muso Kunda Museum :
Nearby tourist sites
Muso Kunda Museum
Muso Kunda Museum : Michelin's recommendations
You can find out about the way of life of women living in Mali by visiting Muso Kunda Museum in Bamako, the only museum in the country dedicated to women. Exhibition of traditional and contemporary everyday objects, costumes, jewellery and fabrics. For safety reasons, tourists are advised to avoid this region.
Useful Information
- Address : Quartier Korofina RMM - BamakoBamako


text:
Often, if not always, there is little or no overlap or coordination between high school and college vacations and exam schedules. Students who are on vacation (for example in the spring) from high school while college is in session must plan to attend their college classes and, of course, in December and June, when college classes are not meeting, 3-1-3 students are still attending high school classes. Most high schools allow 3-1-3 students to attend school half a day during such period.
College examinations are not scheduled at the same time as classes being examined. That is, a class which meets at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, might have its final examination on a Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. Therefore, 3-1-3 students must make special arrangements during final exam week with high school faculty. However, final examination schedules are published far in advance of finals week and most schools are well aware of the situation and quite ready to excuse 3-13 students from a high school class to take a college exam. 3-1-3 students taking Regents examinations in the high school in January might also need to make arrangements with college faculty for a missed class. Throughout the 3-1-3 year, attendance at both high school and college classes is a priority.


text:
27 acrylic
jorghe art
Giorgio Casu
"27 ACRYLIC" is a collection of pictures entirely painted by giorgio casu or jorghe as he sign his work S during 4 years of travelling all around the world.
Mostly dedicated to icons of music and art in general, 27 ACRYLIC is a book for music and art lovers and pop art fans.
Comment posted.
Log in
or create an account to post a comment.
Left of Center 2009
Published May 26, 2009
Published October 20, 2008
Blurb Sites


text:
A reader just sent in this recent press release to share with readers. At $35 a month, if this software lives up to it's hype and promises it could radically change the debt relief landscape as we know it today. The key is going to be in the operation and how tightly it is integrated into MasterCard RPPS for debt ... Read More »
SpringCoin – Scam, Complaint, Review, or Praise?
Please share your experience with this debt relief company and provide your review and feedback, in the comments section below. The goal of this page is to allow people to share information that may be important to help others to make a more informed decision regarding their experience with this debt relief company. Here are some potential questions you might ... Read More »


text:
Sacramento, California is apparently capital to more than our state government.
According to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Sacramento is yet again one of the 2014 capitals in the US to Spring allergies.
The Allergy Capitals is an AAFA annual research project to identify "the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies" during the Spring and Fall seasons.
Sacramento (again) made the list.
Allergies reflect an overreaction of the immune system to substances (allergens) that usually cause no reaction in most individuals. These substances can trigger sneezing, wheezing, coughing and itching.
Common allergies induced by exposures to environmental allergens include the following:
- Allergic asthma: (asthma symptoms triggered by an allergic reaction): Characterized by airway obstruction that is at least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with allergy. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, chest tightness, and occasional fatigue and slight chest pain.
- Atopic Dermatitis: (eczema, skin allergy): A chronic or recurrent inflammatory skin disease characterized by lesions, scaling and flaking; it is sometimes called eczema.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis: (eye allergy): Characterized by inflammation of the eyes; it is the most common form of allergic eye disease. Symptoms can include itchy and watery eyes and lid distress. Allergic conjunctivitis is also commonly associated with the presence of other allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma.
- Allergic rhinitis: (hay fever or "indoor/outdoor," "seasonal," "perennial" or "nasal" allergies): Characterized by nasal stuffiness, sneezing, nasal itching, clear nasal discharge, and itching of the roof of the mouth and/or ears.
Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked to a variety of common and serious chronic respiratory illnesses. Additionally, allergic reactions can be severe and even fatal.
Measurements And Total Score
The data measured and compared by the AAFA each season includes:
- Pollen scores - airborne pollen/mold spore levels. Average is considered 300 grains per cubic meter air daily.
- Medication utilization per patient - per capita utilization and sales of prescription, over the counter, and behind the counter medications. Average is considered 1.06 medications per estimated patient.
- Board certified allergist per patient - number of board certified allergy and immunology specialists per 10,000 estimated patients. Average is considered to be 0.91 board certified allergists per 10,000 estimated patients.
To calculate a Total Score, the total pollen, medication, and board certified physician scores were rescaled 100 points to the largest score and presenting all other scores as a percentage of the largest.
Louisville, Kentucky was the worst Spring 2014 US allergy capital, ranked #1 with a Total Score of 100.
Sacramento And Other California Allergy Capitals
The Total Scores make for interesting reading. Here is a California summary of the 2014 Spring ranking.
- Los Angeles - Rank 38. Total Score of 70.38. 2013 Rank 77.
- Fresno - Rank 54. Total Score of 67.11. 2013 Rank 65.
- Modesto - Rank 76. Total Score of 61.37. 2013 Rank 81.
- San Francisco - Rank 77. Total Score of 61.26. 2013 Rank 84.
- San Jose - Rank 78. Total Score of 60.56. 2013 Rank 88.
- Bakersfield - Rank 81. Total Score of 58.85. 2013 Rank 82.
- Riverside - Rank 82. Total Score of 56.93. 2013 Rank 49.
- Stockton - Rank 84. Total Score of 56.17. 2013 Rank 92.
- Sacramento - Rank 88. Total Score of 54.82. 2013 Rank 94.
- Oxnard - Rank 91. Total Score of 54.41. 2013 Rank 90.
- San Diego - Rank 97. Total Score of 48.71. 2013 Rank 97.
The US Office of Management and Budget has defined 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas for the US.
These are defined as one or more adjacent counties or county equivalents that have at least one urban core area of at least 50,000 population, plus adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured by commuting ties.
Sacramento is not destined to forever each year be identified as an allergy capital, which has a worsening rank. We can do something about this. We need to respond.


text:
PANAMA CITY BEACH - Panama City Beach City Council members are thinking about imposing tougher requirements for scooter rental businesses.
Beach Council members passed the first reading of an ordinance creating those requirements at Thursday's meeting.
One would require all renters to wear bright green vests with the word "RENTAL" embroidered on the back.
Businesses will also have to provide renters with helmets.
The renter must wear them on the business's property, but can remove it after leaving the property.
Each scooter will carry a bright-colored flag to help drivers see them.
Renters will be required to carry a brochure with them at all times, explaining the basic rules of the road.
The council will discuss insurance requirement at a later date.
The second and final ordinance reading will take place at the next council meeting.


text:
Halloween Fudge
Yield: Makes about 64 small squares.
Kids from miles around appear at Hildur's house on Halloween, looking for this treat that they've come to expect.
Login to add to your Recipe Box
Upload Your Photo
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or 1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter (optional)
Instructions:Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Add sugar, milk, and chocolate, and stir constantly until chocolate is melted. Boil for 13 minutes and remove from heat. Add vanilla (and walnuts or peanut butter) and beat until creamy and mixture begins to sugar slightly around the edge of the pan. Pour at once into a buttered 8-inch square pan, cool slightly, and mark into squares.
Updated Wednesday, December 12th, 2007


text:
The feeling you receive when you walk into Out of India restaurant is very authentic and unique with attractive decorations. The high standard of service along with good food is the reason for customers of Gippsland returning time and time again.
Out of India restaurant established back in July 2002. With a lot of hard work and dedication, We are much focused and always strive to achieve the best result possible for the business. We believe our business stands out from other restaurants in Gippsland because of our constant commitment. the menu was designed by our head chef to cater for all needs, all meat is Halal and over 95% of the menu is Gluten Free, including a large Vegetarian selection as well as children's meals.
We believe that our restaurant can be enjoyed by all ages as the atmosphere is relaxed and we have also created a friendly environment. We also believe our menu has something for everyone. we also cater for functions or special occasions, birthdays, engagements, weddings,corporate parties, ect.
please call for any kind of catering, booking or home delivery,
please call for any kind of catering, booking or home delivery,
PH: 03 51336292, 03 51333094 or 03 51342174
JUNE SPECIAL, ALL YOU CAN EAT & ALL YOU CAN DRINKS- 6:30 TO 8:30, 3 course banquet meal and any alcohol drinks as much as you like, only for $50pp
June Dine In Specials (banquets are not included) Anything on the menu that starts with the letter "J' is half price
Free Cake For Birthday Party, Minimum Of 8people or More WE DO HOME DELIVERY & CATERING EVERYDAY
We Do Delivery To- Morwell, Yallourn, Traralgon, Churchill, Hazelwood,
Moe, Newborugh, Tyers, Traralgon East & Traralgon South.