text:
This time under the reins of Head Coach Fernando Clavijo the Black and Blue will make their run to conquer the trophy of the oldest and most distinguished sporting tournament in the United States. Clavijo's experience in this tournament with New England led the Revolution to the Championship game in 2001 where they were defeated 2-1 by the Los Angeles Galaxy at Fullerton Stadium in California.
The Thunder who made their way into the fourth round of the tournament by defeating Major League Soccer's expansion team Real Salt Lake 6-4 last night in Minnesota is currently in 10th place in the USL's First Division standings according to the USL's official webpage.
Dating back to 1914 the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest sports competition in the United States and is among the oldest in the world. Open to all amateur and professional teams in the United States the annual Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an 87-year-old single-elimination tournament.
In a nutshell the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is very similar to domestic cup competitions popular throughout Europe South America and the rest of the world. Cup competitions which usually run simultaneously with a country's league season are open in the early stages to any club that can qualify giving local amateur teams a chance to compete against the best teams a country has to offer.
Since the beginning of Major League Soccer in 1996 MLS clubs have dominated the championship winning the Open Cup in seven of the eight years of the league only failing in 1999. That year the Rochester Raging Rhinos rewrote the script knocking out three MLS teams (Dallas Chicago and Columbus) to reach the final before upsetting the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the championship game at Crew Stadium in Columbus.
In 1996 D.C. United became the first MLS team to capture the title defeating the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-0 in the final. The Dallas Burn followed suit in 1997 denying United back-to-back titles with a 1-0 win over D.C. in penalty kicks in the championship game. In 1998 it was the expansion Chicago Fire capturing the trophy defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 in extra time in the championship match.
The 87-year-old Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament was renamed in 1999 to honor Lamar Hunt a long-time soccer pioneer and current owner of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards.
For tickets information for the Rapids vs. Minnesota Thunder Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Fourth Round Match please contact the Thunder's ticket office at 615.917.8326 or visit their webpage at www.mnthunder.com.
Colorado Rapids All-Time Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup history and results:
1996: Advanced to semifinal round.
1997: Advanced to third round
1998: Lost qualifier to the Miami Fusion 3-2.
1999: Open Cup runners-up. Advanced to the championship game vs. Rochester Rhinos lost 2-0.
2000: Advanced to third round
2001: Advanced to third round
2002: Advanced to quarterfinal round
2003: Advance to quarterfinal round
2004: Eliminated in fourth round


text:
crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
Of all religious right responses to the recent suicides of gay teens and bullying against lgbt youth in general, the following has to take the proverbial cake:
A coalition of pro-family leaders today urges Christian families to be faithful to biblical morality and discerning in the face of false and irresponsible accusations. Christianity and traditional values are not the cause of teen suicides, and attempts to link the two are deceptive and will ultimately harm children.
"Gay" activists nationwide are fueling an effort to indict traditional moral values as "guilty until proven innocent" in some bullying incidents involving teens. Their proposed solutions end up sexualizing teens at young ages into known high-risk behaviors and silencing concerned parents.
Now, the U.S. Department of Education seems to be joining the effort, setting the stage for implicating traditional morality as the cause of some cases of bullying, and using the force of federal government to force pro-homosexual, pro-"transgender" indoctrination programs onto local schools.
"Just say no" to these outrageous and unsubstantiated claims, said Buddy Smith, Executive Vice President, American Family Association (www.afa.net). "Bullying can be prevented without endorsing homosexual behavior. Activist adults essentially are saying that American parents who want their kids to avoid high risk homosexual sex acts and remain abstinent until traditional marriage, are harming kids. This is preposterous, and local parents and communities need to resist enforced political correctness."
Authentic Christians will remember several key concepts from Scripture:
1. Homosexual behavior is always a sin, God's plan for sexuality is male/female marriage, and God has not changed His mind about this (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
2. Jesus described marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and that humans were created male and female "from the beginning." Gender change is a defiant and ungrateful sin against God's direction and design (Matthew 19:4-6)
3. Violence against children is wrong. Jesus was very clear in his protection of children and also had harsh words for those who would forbid children from knowing His truth and love ( Luke 17:2; Luke 18: 15-16). "Gay" activists want to keep children from knowing, loving and following the real Jesus Christ. At the very least, schools must not interfere in the desires of parents to raise their own children to follow Christ and live out biblical morality.
4. School boards aid child corruption and insult faithful families when they allow "gay-straight alliances," homosexual indoctrination programs, permission for use of opposite sex restrooms, and any of the other ridiculous demands of the "gay" lobby.
So in other words, in spite a CNN poll which says churches contribute to the problem of gay teen suicide, these folks who call themselves "real Christians" continue to play the "it's the rabid homosexual activists" card.
Personally, I'm astounded by the audacity of these folks because you see, I don't necessarily blame the church for this problem. And of course I don't blame the lgbt community.
The problem is staring us all in the face. It's these "real Christians" that are to blame. For years, they have bent over backwards to demonize the lgbt community, making us look like the other, and basically calling us evil. Their actions and comments create an atmosphere that make it difficult for not only lgbt teens but lgbts in general.
And now they have the temerity to push a statement blaming other for their actions.
You think I am wrong? Well let's look at some of these folks on this list:
1. Linda Harvey, president of Mission America – The former ad executive who "found Christ" and also publicly said gays and people who support us shouldn't be around children because, amongst other things, we will cause them to be sexually abused:
When people have views supporting homosexuality, they should not be involved with youth in any way, period. Here's why:
• They will provide inaccurate, misleading information to kids;
• They may limit a student's opportunity to hear warnings about the behavior;
• They may advocate or model inappropriate behavior;
• They may be directly involved in the molestation of kids themselves; or
• They may be in a position to allow others to do so. – Fairy Tales Don't Come True: Impressionable Kids and Homosexuality
2. Micah Clark, American Family Association of Indiana – who in 2002 bragged that during a hearing on domestic partnerships in Indianapolis, he not only cited the distorted data of Paul (gay men stuff gerbils of their rectums) Cameron, but sidestepped a councilmember who called him out for it:
"The author of the (domestic partner benefit) bill . . . tried to come at me for using a Paul Cameron study. I diverted that one pretty well by pointing out that I have spoken with Dr. Paul Cameron and her information was wrong. In any event, I said it was published in a well respected peer review journal and the research has not been disproved. I have been waiting for that one for years." (Indianapolis Rejects Domestic Partner Benefits, Concerned Women for America, August 8, 2002)
3. Gary Glenn, President, American Family Association of Michigan – who this year said that we should "criminalize homosexual behavior."
4. J. Matt Barber, Director of Cultural Affairs, Liberty Counsel – who not only defends countries which persecute lgbts, describes gay relationships as "one man violently cramming his penis into another man's lower intestine and calling it 'love", but also makes it a point to encourage people to focus more on the "ick factor" of gay sex.
5. Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel – who recently implied that children raised in gay households have a danger of catching HIV/AIDS.
6. Peter LaBarbera, President, Americans for Truth – who really needs no introduction. When it comes to demonizing lgbts, LaBarbera has not only written the book but also the movie. These are just a few of his acts:
1. Smearing gays via a CDC report on an increase on HIV while intentionally downplaying the part of the report which clearly places the blame on this increase on homophobia (while at the same time implying that the report "dispels the homophobia causes AIDS propaganda")
2. Defending a bill which would lead to the imprisonment and possible genocide of Ugandans simply for being gay or lesbian.
3. Going to subcultural leather events and using the "racy" behavior of gays attending to stigmatize the entire lgbt community while ignoring the behavior of heterosexuals at the same events.
4 . Making ugly comments about a "transgender quota" in the Obama Administration simply because the president appoints a (very, very qualified) transgendered woman to an office in his administration.
5. Instigating a highly inappropriate comment about gays, lesbians, and sexual intercourse; a comment so ugly that it led to a feud between three religious right groups.
6. Continuously citing the work of the discredited researcher Paul Cameron, even when made aware of his dubious history of getting kicked out of medical groups, censures and rebukes.
7. Aiding and abetting Conservapedia spread lies about gay health using the fictional term "gay bowel syndrome."
8. Freely admitting to errors when it comes to claims against the gay and lesbian community but not taking responsibility for them.
9. Falsely accusing the Democratic National Convention and the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of putting on a sadomasochistic event.
10. Attempting to imply that a staph infection was the new HIV and then lying about his implications when caught.
When these people come out with this statement about bullying and everyone focuses on the church, we all miss the point. The church is not the problem, it is these folks who exploit the beliefs of the church who are the problem. And they need to be exposed.
Because quite frankly, their statements on the bullying of lgbt teens is the equivalent of a pyromaniac issuing a statement about fire prevention.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MIAMI - University of Miami head coach Al Golden is responding to a Yahoo! Sports report about his program.
Yahoo! reported that a former Miami football employee, Sean Allen, assisted Golden's staff in recruiting and had ties to Nevin Shapiro.
Late Friday night, Golden released the following statement, "I have been a college football coach for more than 18 years and I am proud of-- and I stand by-- my record of compliance over that span. As my colleagues and players on all of my teams can attest, I believe strongly in doing things the right way with the best of intentions. The inferences and suggestions in the Yahoo! Sports story that my conduct was anything but ethical are simply false. I, like all of us at UM, have cooperated fully with the joint NCAA-UM inquiry and will continue to do so, so that our program and our University can move forward. Because the process is on-going, I am unable to address any specifics or answer questions on the matter."
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Tumor-like Outgrowth
There is a tumor like outgrowth in between my breasts. My physician said it is not a cancerous tumor, but even he is not able to find out the reason behind that. Can you please help me?
If you are not comfortable with your physician's response you may wish to seek a second opinion. You may want to visit a dermatologist. There are many benign growths on the skin and unfortunately we do not know what causes many of them. However, a skin biopsy may be needed (or not) depending on the dermatologsist's diagnosis.
Jeremy S Bordeaux, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University


text:
VDOT on Social Media
The Virginia Department of Transportation is expanding its use of social media to communicate with the 7.5 million Virginians who depend on us to connect them with the things that are most important in their lives.
VDOT launched its Facebook page in August 2010 to add to an already robust social media program that includes Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and two major Web sites.
Check out VDOT's social media options to get transportation information and travel tips in the format that serves you best.
These include:
Regional 511 traffic feeds on Twitter
VDOT's award-winning photography on Flickr
Page last modified: Nov. 3, 2015


text:
Brad Keselowski was named the 2012 Driver of the Year by a panel of broadcasters and journalists.
The 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion earned 18 of the 19 votes by the panel that votes on the award, which was first started by the Driver of the Year Foundation in 1967.
MORE: Is Keselowski underpaid? | How drivers get paid | Gordon's bittersweet year
Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2012 IndyCar Series champion, earned the other vote.
"To be honored with the 2012 Driver of the Year is a great way to cap off our championship season," Keselowski said in a statement. "The list is definitely a 'Who's Who' in the history of racing.
"It gives me great pride to see my name there with the likes of Mark Donohue and Mario Andretti, drivers who have transcended one particular discipline or series, and are considered some of the best to ever sit in a racecar."
Keselowski will receive a trophy and a Tissot watch.


text:
Tea Control
Item# 40-118
This item is currently not available.
Additional Information
Perfect Tea, First Cup to Last
- Let tea steep to just the right strength, then stop it brewing with a twist of the lid
- Attractive teapot is perfect for entertaining
An adjustable infuser lets you brew loose tea or tea bags to the perfect strength, then stop the brewing with a simple twist of the lid. Relax and sip away, knowing your tea won't get bitter as it sits. The Tea Control tea maker received the exclusive European Red Dot Design Award.
Product Details
- Borosilicate glass, BPA-free copolyester
- 5" H; 4-1/2" diameter at the base, 3-3/4" in diameter at the top
- Inner strainer is 2" in diameter x 4" H
- Holds 28 ounces
- Dishwasher-safe
Reviewed by 2 customers
- Attractive
- Convenient capacity
- Well Made
Best Uses
- Making more than one cup
I have several infusers/cups for making one cup of tea so this is perfect for making 2 or 3 cups at a time. The product is made of quality materials.
Makes the perfect cup of tea.


text:
Burnett feeling good after bullpen session
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Angels reliever Sean Burnett isn't sure what the difference was between his first "official" bullpen session on Thursday and that supposedly fake one he wound up throwing on Sunday.
All he knows is that his left arm felt good throwing off a mound, again.
"Another huge step for me, I guess," Burnett said with a wry smile. "My first official bullpen."
Burnett threw 30 fastballs off the rubber on Thursday morning, just like he did four days earlier, at an estimated 80- to 90-percent intensity. He let it go on his last two, and "my 30th pitch felt as good as the others." It felt, in Burnett's words, "phenomenal."
Burnett still has to work in his offspeed pitches -- which he's been throwing off flat ground -- and estimates he'll need two to three more bullpens before he can progress to a live BP session and then ultimately get in games.
That's a lot of steps to complete in 18 days, which is why Burnett seems likely to start the season on the disabled list. The important thing is he's clearing major hurdles seven months after August forearm surgery.
Simply throwing off a downhill plane is not something his arm was able to stand up to last season.
"The biggest step probably isn't physically; it's more emotionally and mentally," Burnett said. "Last year, I felt so good, and then every time I would get off the mound it would go downhill after a couple of pitches. So it's a big mental step for me, more than physically. Obviously, for the training staff, it's physical, but for the player, it's mental. Today was a big hurdle. I didn't fatigue, like I did [on Sunday]. Hopefully, it progresses, just like my throwing program."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his columns and his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers Executive VP/General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the club has recalled C Quinton Howden from the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).
Howden, who was selected by Florida in the first round (25th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has played in 41 games with San Antonio this season registering 19 points (9-10-19). The Oak Bank, Manitoba native played in 244 games with Moose Jaw (Western Hockey League) before turning pro, scoring 111 goals with 128 assists. Howden has yet to play in a National Hockey League regular season game.
Source: Florida Panthers Media


text: Charleston Stage Company calls it quits By Bill Lynch June 25, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Stage Company will take a final bow in the first week of July, according to a release from the theater group's media relations officer, Frieda Forsley.In the release, Charleston Stage Company cited declining revenues and attendance over the course of several years, as well as a loss in backing from the West Virginia State University's College of the Arts and Sciences, as the underlying reasons why the company was dissolving.Charleston Stage Company was co-founded by David Wohl, who was the dean of the college of arts and sciences at WVSU. Wohl served as artistic director of the stage company, but left Charleston in 2010, after he took a job at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, N.C.Bethany Cline, a local actress, said she got her start in the Charleston theater scene with Charleston Stage Company's 1993 production of "Night of the Iguana" and recently appeared in their production of "God of Carnage."Cline said she was sad to hear of the company's demise, but not entirely surprised."I was pretty sure they were going to have some trouble once David Wohl moved and he wasn't able to continue as artistic director."Wohl, she said, was the glue that held the company together."I think most theater companies like Charleston Stage Company have a person like that," Cline said. "And they have to pass the torch on to someone else before they leave or it all falls apart."Stuart Frazier, a member of Charleston's Stage Company's board since January, didn't specifically mention Wohl, but said the group has been trying to move forward past their relationship with WVSU. However, numerous financial challenges had built up because they were no longer associated with the university."We had bills we weren't used to," he said. "There were things we'd never paid before and that were covered by the university and suddenly they were on our lap." Frazier said the group tried to adapt and explored what options they could. Some time ago, Charleston Stage Company's board sent an "SOS letter" to various people associated with the theater company, asking for help."We tried to find sponsors," Frazier said. "But things didn't really materialize as much as we wanted. We didn't find people to sponsor us."Without funding, the group's fate was more or less sealed.Charleston Stage Company's board will meet one final time at 6 p.m. July 2 at Good News Mountaineer Garage, 221 Hale St. The public is invited to attend the meeting.While it seems like this is the end of Charleston Stage Company, Frazier wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen at that last meeting. He said, "What happens next is a better question for the president, Geoff Coward or some of the other members of the board, but basically, I think we're going to review it all again, look at our possible options, double check and see if we have any sort of 'Hail Mary' pass left to us."A message was sent to Coward and calls were made to other members of the board, but no one had responded by press time.If no solution to Charleston Stage Company's problems becomes available, Cline said it was heartbreaking that the theater company would close, but added that this would not be the end of theater in Charleston. She'd keep looking for roles that interest her."There are still people out there putting on quality productions," she said. "I'll be sad, but I have a lot of really good memories."Reach Bill Lynch at firstname.lastname@example.com or 304-348-5195. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 2 Teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 3 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 4 Congressional opioid investigation targets drug wholesaler Miami-Luken 5 Innerviews: Dual-identity surgeon riding high in horse racing world HEPC hikes in-state students' tuition Previous Story Putnam Health Board gains one, loses two Next Story


text: Batu Caves ADD TO TRIP PLANNER REMOVE FROM TRIP PLANNER Batu Caves is a an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Selangor. Site of a Hindu temple and shrine, Batu Caves attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam. A limestone outcrop located just north of Kuala Lumpur, Batu Caves has three main caves featuring temples and Hindu shrines. Its main attraction is the large statue of the Hindu God at the entrance, besides a steep 272 climb up its steps to finally view the stunning skyline of the city centre. Monkeys frolic around the caves, and it is a popular spot for rock climbing enthusiasts. Paintings and scenes of Hindu Gods can also be seen in the Ramayana Cave. Batu Caves is a place where you should not miss on your next visit to Malaysia! Getting Here By Car or TaxiBatu Caves is accessible by car or taxi as it is situated beside the main highway of MRR2 in Batu Caves area.KTM KomuterThere is also the KTM Komuter train service from KL Sentral to Batu Caves.Monorail and BusFrom KL Sentral, take the monorail service to Titiwangsa station. Alight here and take the bus to Batu Caves. Who To Contact Batu Caves Temple Management Office Phone: +603 - 6189 6284 Dark Cave, Batu Caves Phone: +603 - 6186 7011 Fax: +603 - 6177 5111 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Related Brochure View all brochure


text:
LAKE COUNTY -- A respirator fit testing is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Lake County Farm Bureau (LCFB) office. The testing will be performed by State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund) qualified staff and is being organized by LCFB.
According to the State Fund website, respirators that have tight-fitting facepieces are not one-size-fits-all. These facepieces must form a proper seal around the wearer's face in order to prevent contaminated air from leaking into the facepiece. Therefore, fit testing is required before initial use and at least annually for all employees who are required to wear respirators with a tight-fitting facepiece.
Pre-registration is required and the following criteria are necessary: all employees must receive medical clearance to wear a respirator and employees must bring a current medical certificate to the fit test. When registering for the test, participants must provide the manufacture name and model number of the respirator. Employees must be free of facial hair to ensure adequate fit and must bring their own respirator to the fit testing.
Pre-registration is required by Tuesday. Fees for the fit test are $10 for Farm Bureau members and $25 for non-Farm Bureau members.
The LCFB office is located at 65 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport. To register, call 263-0911.


text:
The Mark Twain House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963, one of the first 100 properties in the nation, and is the winner of a major award for restoration from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. However the restoration of an historic property is never static. An ongoing interpretation of the property requires continual revisiting of the building restoration.
The goal of The Mark Twain House restoration is to bring the historic property to the period of 1881 through 1891 by removing architectural and decorative features that were added by the people who occupied the house following the Clemenses. This will allow visitors to see the house after Tiffany and Associated Artists completed the redecoration of the first floor rooms, and it represents the decade when the Clemenses most completely furnished their home, and had improved the land to their greatest satisfaction.
The physical alterations we make to the house during restoration must be based on documentary and physical evidence. When we change the appearance of any part of The Mark Twain House, we document as a record for future generations any features or materials that we remove or alter.
There is an educational component to the restoration project. Visitors coming to The Mark Twain House during the restoration period will have an unique opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes and watch up-close as master craftsmen bring the house back to the period between 1881 and 1891.
The significant restoration projects underway at The Mark Twain House & Museum have been funded in part by a grant from Save America's Treasures, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition, work at the house is being supported through a new initiative, Restore America, a partnership of cable television network HGTV and the National Trust. HGTV has donated $1 million toward the restoration and preservation of 12 Save America's Treasures sites, including The Mark Twain House.
Donations for Restoration
We are constantly working to restore The Mark Twain House to the time when the Clemens family lived here, and can use your help.
Virtual Tour
Get a preview of the splendor you'll see on the tour. Pick your favorite room so you can concentrate on the details during your visit!
Become a Member
Check out our new $35 "Twainiac"� Membership!


text:
Submit News
TSA Agents Demand Passengers Surrender Their Drinks for Screening
Jason Mick
September 5, 2012 12:29 PM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Travelers, brace yourselves for the latest indignity
Thinking about flying? Well, in addition to
"enhanced" searches
and the risk that your privates
may be photographed and stored
Transportation Safety Administration
screeners, travelers now have one more woe to add to their litany of complaints.
According to
Daily Mail
TSA agents at the Columbus, Ohio Airport have been subjecting travelers to random seizures/inspections of their drinks at the gate to "check for explosives".
Of course, these drinks all were presumably were sold by the airport vendors, as any drink-size liquid containers are supposed to be seized by the bag screeners at the security checkpoint -- a policy that has been in place since 2006. So at first blush it's somewhat unclear exactly why the TSA agents felt it necessary to screen passengers' Starbucks and soft drinks.
The incident has been leaked onto YouTube (of course):
Ryan Mauro, a national security analyst, told the
Daily Mail
, "They're worried someone could bring an ingredient past security and then mix it with a drink that turns into something else - a poison or something else."
Airport screeners test passenger's Starbucks coffee to make sure he isn't a terrorist.
[Image Source: YouTube]
In June, the U.S. reportedly thwarted an attempt to blow up an airliner by a Yemen-trained, Norwegian citizen who was a member of the militant fundamentalist Islamic group al Qaeda. Despite the potential terrorist's plot failing, national security officials are reportedly alarmed about the fact that his spotless record and lack of inclusion
on no-fly lists
could have allowed him to escape scrutiny, were it not for the tips.
In a statement the TSA confirmed it might now be seizing people's drinks as a precautionary measure, commenting, "TSA employs multiple layers of security throughout the airport where passengers may be randomly selected for additional screening. One measure may include testing liquids that are in a passenger's possession."
Is that a coconut water or a bomb? Let's find out. [Image Source: YouTube]
TSA agents "examine" the beverages using a special security screen, which appears to involve taking a small dropper or swab sample of the beverage, then testing it on a slide with some sort of reagent mix.
Some say that the policy goes to far, though. The person who captured the incident on video told the
Daily Mail
I couldn't help but notice the two TSA women that were 'testing' any and all liquids that people had in their hands. Now remember that this is inside the terminal, well beyond the security check and purchased inside the terminal ... just people waiting to get on the plane.
My wife and son came back from a coffee shop just around the corner, then we were approached. I asked them what they were doing. One of the TSA ladies said that they were checking for explosive chemicals (as we are drinking them). I said 'really..inside the terminal? You have got to be kidding me.'
I asked them if they wanted to swab us all. She responded with something like, yes sometimes we need to do that. I then asked if she wanted a urine sample.
The TSA is way out of control. I understand that my ranting to one of these $11.00 per hour TSA goons probably does nothing, but you have to say something. Whats next...perhaps the TSA will come to your home prior to your drive to the airport? The police state of the U.S. is OUT OF CONTROL!
Indeed, as the
list of indignities grows
at a pace proportional to the would-be terrorists' increasingly imaginative plots, one has to wonder where the line must be drawn.
Daily Mail
"So far we have not seen a single Android device that does not infringe on our patents." -- Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith
Related Articles
New Homeland Security Scanners Could Lead to More Detainments
July 11, 2012, 5:50 PM
DHS Proposes Secret Watchlist Database, Privacy Groups Protest
August 10, 2011, 4:26 PM
TSA Patdown Leaves 6-Year Old in Tears, Gov't Defends Actions
April 14, 2011, 10:01 AM
Senate Moves to Criminalize Sharing of Body Scanner Pics
February 10, 2011, 9:02 AM
Latest Headlines
Swedish Commuters can use Futuristic Hand
September 12, 2017, 7:10 AM
New system can reconstruct faces using person's DNA
September 7, 2017, 6:18 AM
Meet your new doctor – Robo-doctor
August 26, 2017, 8:15 AM
PIQ ROBOTTM reveals its new artificial intelligence software
November 29, 2016, 12:59 AM
One more time - Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone Around the World
November 24, 2016, 4:00 AM
Google's Smart Contact Lens Project gets halted for 2016
November 20, 2016, 7:00 AM
More Headlines
Most Popular Articles
Samsung Galaxy S9 – Latest Leaks
September 24, 2017, 6:57 AM
London Petition to Save Uber – 633,853 Signatures
September 24, 2017, 6:45 AM
Google Pixel 2XL will reportedly cost less.
September 20, 2017, 6:17 AM
Google Home Mini – Debuts on October 4th at Google Pixel Event
September 20, 2017, 6:58 AM
Uber faces ban in London – Loses License next month.
September 22, 2017, 7:02 AM
Latest Blog Posts
Australia joins UK space radar mission
Saimin Nidarson
Sep 26, 2017, 6:25 AM
China disrupts WhatsApp ahead of Communist Party meeting
Saimin Nidarson
Sep 26, 2017, 6:18 AM
Uber using 'aggressive' tactics says Mayor
Saimin Nidarson
Sep 25, 2017, 9:51 AM
Australia to create national space agency
Saimin Nidarson
Sep 25, 2017, 9:38 AM
Zuckerberg wants to sell 35-75 million of Facebook shares
Saimin Nidarson
Sep 25, 2017, 9:33 AM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2017 DailyTech LLC. -
RSS Feed
About Us
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information
Kristopher Kubicki


text:
The academic excellence of any university begins with its learning community. That's why Loyola has long been committed to recruiting exceptional teacher-scholars. The renowned faculty at Loyola have one thing in common: a passion for teaching and a desire to make a difference in our students' lives. They are knowledgeable and experts in their fields of study and they are easily accessible.
Our professors will help you explore the world from multiple points of view
Our professors find time for life outside the classroom, too. You'll likely see them cheering on the Greyhounds in a Patriot League basketball game in Reitz Arena almost as often as you see them poring over books in their offices. In short, our professors are well-rounded, just like a Loyola education.
369 Number of full-time faculty
84% Hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree
51% are female
20% are of color
12:1 Faculty-Student ratio


text:
|Click Here to Login
« The Prince of Wales's 60th Birthday Celebrations: November 2008 | Charles and Camilla: Visit to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador - March 8-17, 2009 »
Our communities encompass many different hobbies and interests, but each one is built on friendly, intelligent membership.
» More about our Communities
Our Automotive communities encompass many different makes and models. From U.S. domestics to European Saloons.
» More about our Automotive Communities
Our Marine websites focus on Cruising and Sailing Vessels, including forums and the largest cruising Wiki project on the web today.
» More about our Marine Communities


text:
From breaking news to debate and conversation, we bring you the news as it happens
It's been slammed by critics everywhere, but surely there must be some ray of light in this big budget Hollywood Blockbuster? Laura McGoldrick took Chris Campbell along to see if they could fill in the cracks.
Latest NZH Video
Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern welcomes new Labour MPs to the caucus, and discusses moving forward after the election.
Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings has received a 78.5 percent pay rise taking his annual pay package to more than $8 million.
Authorities in Tennessee say one person is dead and seven people sustained injuries after a gunman opened fire at a church in Nashville. Source: AP


text:
Humpty Dumpty has had his great fall, thanks to an outstanding bankruptcy judge who has all but dismantled the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS) thanks to his recent ruling.
Last week New York Judge Robert Grossman ruled that all of MERS' business practices are illegal.
It's a staggering blow to the banks and their endless efforts to circumvent due process. It has the potential to once again slow down the foreclosure process.
The foreclosure registry was set up by the banks with one purpose in mind, to make securitizing mortgages easier for them.
And homeowners, as is usually the case with matters relating to bundled mortgages, were getting screwed.
Here's the short explanation. MERS allowed the banks to bypass public record keeping, all in an effort to streamline the records that banks were using to foreclose.
Local record keeping regulations might have been cumbersome for the banks to keep up with, but it protected the homeowners and provided transparency.
By allowing the banks to essentially hijack an important part of the record keeping process, namely the recording of each time a mortgage was sold to a different investor, banks had much greater control then than they ever should have been allowed to.
Banks can talk about streamlining the process as the reason behind MERS all they want, but the effect was that it was much more difficult for homeowners to see who currently owned their mortgage, and it just allowed the banks to be sloppy with their records, and they were.
MERS was separating the notes from the mortgages, again so they could be securitized, yet in the case that was brought before Grossman, their lawyers argued they could still foreclose because in theory, the mortgage follows the note.
Continue reading


text:
Bochy grateful for infield depth behind Scutaro
SAN FRANCISCO -- No official moves have been announced, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy reiterated Thursday that starting second baseman Marco Scutaro (back) and lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt (knee) will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.
Both moves will have trickle-down effects on the rest of the team, leaving the door open for some lesser-known players to make the Opening Day roster. Joaquin Arias was penciled in as the starting second baseman Thursday, something he could be doing regularly as Scutaro tries to get his back right.
"I'll mix it up and try to match it up as well as I can," Bochy said. "I think with Joaquin's experience and the defense that he gives you, he'll get the lion's share of the playing time."
Rookie Ehire Adrianza and non-roster invitee Brandon Hicks -- who had a "tremendous" spring, according to Bochy -- are also poised to make the team as backup infielders and could see time at second base.
As for Scutaro, Bochy didn't sound optimistic that he would have the second baseman back on the field April 4 when he's eligible to return. The plan is to have Scutaro join his teammates in San Francisco on Friday, run through baseball activities and go from there.
"We've been spending six or seven weeks on this," Bochy said of Scutaro's attempt to get healthy. "It's been a slow process, frustrating for him. But what's important is that we get him right because it is so early in the season. If it takes another couple weeks, I'll take him for five months."
Scutaro, 38, is in the second season of a three-year, $20 million deal he signed following the 2012 campaign, when he played a big role in the team's World Series run. But his back has given him lingering problems since midseason last year, and it limited him to just one Cactus League contest this spring.
Adrianza played in nine games as a September callup in 2013 and is known for his solid work with the glove. While he played almost exclusively at shortstop as a Minor Leaguer, Brandon Crawford figures to be entrenched as San Francisco's starter for years to come. Thus, Adrianza has been working hard to prove to the coaching staff he can also handle second and eventually third base.
"I want to show them that I can play wherever they want me to play," Adrianza said. "First, third, second, whatever. I just want to be here and help the team win."
Adrianza said he feels natural at second base, because it's where he played before he was signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in 2006. The 24-year-old said he's been relying on the advice of his countryman Scutaro as he tries to make a lasting impression on the Giants' front office.
"I feel bad for Scutaro, because he's one of the best players in the big leagues, for me," Adrianza said. "It's an opportunity. I want to be here because of my work. I don't want to be here because he's hurt. For me, it's keep working hard and see what happens in these few days."
As Bochy noted, the team also has MLB-tested Nick Noonan in Triple-A Fresno to call on if needed.
"It's nice to have this depth to call on," Bochy said. "[They're] probably all going to play a part in our season."
Alex Espinoza is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
I love chips but I try to only make them occasionally because of how unhealthy and fattening they are. I also really don't like how a chip pan can leave my house smelling of chip fat as there is nothing more disgusting than the smell of chip fat wafting through the house and it actually makes me feel sick when I smell it.
Because of this I use my chip pan in the garage so it doesn't matter to me how unattractive it is so I just went for a cheap chip pan because I knew it was going to be hidden away and also because I use it so little I didn't want to spend lots of money on it.
I bought my chip pan from the Argos value range and it is absolutely fine for me and my household and although it lacks the bells and whistles of more expensive ones it does the job fine. It only costs £13.99 so it is loads cheaper than the more expensive silver coloured ones. It doesn't have a massive capacity but it does myself my husband and the kids when I am cooking chips as part of a meal. If you are wanting big portions then you should maybe look for something else but for normal portions this should do most households.
There is a dial on the front that tells you what the ideal temperature you should have the fryer at for the food that you are cooking. To be honest I usually only really cook chips in this. It gets hot quickly and I think it probably takes about 5 minutes to heat up enough to add the chips to the hot oil from switching it on. Depending on how cold it has been in my garage where I keep it sometimes it takes a little bit longer but on the whole it isn't bad for heating up in a speedy manner.
There is a built in filter but this doesn't stop the smells from escaping hence why I use mine in the garage. It maybe minimises them but I can still smell the oil the day after using it. Also there is a small window on the top of the fryer which is supposed to allow you to check on your food and see if it is cooking ok but this is useless as it just steams up completely as soon as the lid is closed so you end up having to open the lid to check which makes it obsolete.
The fryer cooks chips nicely though and they come out crisp and brown on the outside and fluffy and cooked on the inside. I love the taste of home made chips and I would have them loads if they weren't so unhealthy. I have an air fryer which I also love and use loads but the kids and my husband prefer the taste of chips cooked in this which is the only reason that I have it as I tell them they can have real chips as a treat every so often and the rest of the time we have chips I cook them in the air fryer.
Because this was only £13.99 I think that it is really good value and even though I don't use it very often I didn't begrudge paying it like I do with some expensive gadgets which hardly get used. It does take up a bit of storage room which I could probably do with but I do like the fact that I can have some real chips as a treat when I fancy them.
I remember eating a lot of deep fried chips when I was younger, so when I moved out, I decided I needed a deep fat fryer. I just couldn't wait for fatty greasy chips as oven chips just wasn't doing the job.
I paid £3.99 for this, which is still the currant price in Argos.
Its a basic looking deep fat fryer, which doesn't take up too much storage space. Its plain white with a switch and temperature nob. Its has a flip top lip with a small little window on top, so you can see your food cooking and a filter on top.
Product details:
0.5kg food capacity.
Oil capacity 1.5L.
Variable temperature from 108°C to 190°C.
Cool wall body.
Removable filter.
Oil filter.
Safety cut out.
Easy to clean.
Size H28.3, W28, D24.8cm
Setting it up was simple, you fill the fryer with the oil to the suggested level, pop in the basket, put on the lid and its good to go.
There is pictures of the front with examples of fish chicken and chips and tells you what temperature is best to cook on. (although in the instruction book there are more temperatures for vegetables and such.)
After you have selected your temperate, plug it in and the oil begins to heat, it takes around five minutes until the oil has heated. When the light goes off, it means the oil is ready for cooking. Then you are able to lower your food in.
After cooking there is a slot where you can put the basket, so the fat drips back into the unit and the food don't end up with lots of grease on them.
the filter is easy to clean as you just wipe clean it, even thought you can still smell grease and fat, It does do a ok job at keeping smells at bay.
I normally use wet wipes to clean the outside of the fryer and after ive removed the dirty oil I use a soapy scourer to remove the rest of the grease. The lid can just be washed up normally.
Ive tried cooking lots of different food in here such as chips, onion rings, mushrooms, fish and chicken, and its all tasted lovely without too much grease or fat dripping off it.
This fryer cooks enough chips for two as part of a main meal, but if you are a family this fryer would not be for you unless you want to cook two loads of chips at a time.
My only complaint with this is after the food has finished cooking when you press the open button, the lid opens very quick and a blast off stream comes shooting out, which is quite dangerous if your too close, now when I open it I make sure im standing well back
I bought this fat frier, one because it was cheap (£12.99) and two because it wasnt for everyday use, I didnt want to spend a lot of money on it. Previously I had used a saucepan full of oil to cook chips, wedges etc, this made for a gross saucepan that I could never get clean. I decided that buying a deep fat frier was in order, due to keeping it all compact and covered........or so I thought.
The first few uses were fine, I filled it with oil and after moving the dial to indicate chips, I switched it on and waited for the red light to go out. There is a handle that you must squeeze to fit onto the basket inside, this is a bit of a pain to clip it on and unclip it everytime but it was cheap so I cant really complain.
The chips etc cooked inside, do come out crispy and nicely cooked, I drain mine off on kitchen roll before dishing up. I did find that there is no real designated spot where you can clip the basket onto to allow for drainage. There is a little lip on the edge of the basket which I clip onto the frier itself but the basket stays under the level of the oil so it doesnt drain properly.
I have been using mine for a good few months now and have found that the transparent section of the lid is unusable. You cant see through it at all now so in order to check the food within, the lid has to be opened. The button with which to open the lid has stopped working now, I have to press it and prise the lid open with the annoying pronged handle. The lid has also changed shape and doesnt sit properly now.
Overall I dont know how many times I can justify it by blaming the price before I end up thowing it away and buying a more expensive one.
I love my chips and basically anything greasy! Even though I know it is not good for me, but occasionally it is okay to have some treats and I consider fried chips one of my treats! Therefore as I was only going to make my fried chips occasionally, I was on a look out for a cheap deep fat fryer, and found Argos Value one to be the one for me!
At the time I purchased mine for £9.99 which was a sale price at an Argos shop on eBay, however looking now it is now at £13.99 on the main Argos website which is still a good price for a deep fat fryer. The price is the main thing that attracted me to this fryer, as I have tried a few Argos Valued items and have been overall pleased with the performances in the past so I was hoping this one would also live up to my expectations.
The fryer is a nice compact size, and is white in colour. It has an attractive circular shape to the body of the fryer which is due to its curvy edges. It has a turning knob at the front of the fryer and along with other options and a power light. It comes with a metal frying basket that goes inside the fryer and a handle.
I like that the fryer is small in size as it doesn't take up much room on the worktops, and when I am finished with it I can easily lift it up and store it away in the garage as it is reasonably light weight.
It is very easy and straight forward to set up, simply plug in and in matter of minutes its ready to use. Once plugged in and switched on, the red light indicator will light up which is a good little warning indicator to let us know to be careful as it is hot and ready to use. It also has a handy safety feature that switches the fryer off automatically if the fryer overheats. There is a little see through window located at the top so you can easily see whether your chips are nice and golden or whether you need to increase the temperature if it is not cooking fast enough, however it is worth keeping it clean or it can be hard to see through if its covered in grease and oil. The temperature knob is located at the front and is clearly labelled along with all the available functions which makes it very easy to use for novices like myself.
To cook food, It requires 1.5 L of oil which is clearly marked on the fryer so you know exactly how much you need to put in. It can cook a good two or three portions of chips (0.5g capacity) in one sitting, which is not bad at all. The temperature ranges from 180c to 210c which is clearly visible of the front turning knob.
Once it is on it is not that noisy to use, it still makes a sound when it is on, but that is mainly the sound of the food frying away than the machine itself. It heats up in minutes and fries food to the standard expected of a deep fat fryer and manages to fry chips quite quickly. I found that after use it did take a little while to cool down, but that's not a huge problem.
The top cover is easy to remove and attach back on, so it makes it easier to add and remove the contents of the fryer. I found adding and removing the contents from the inner basket easy, thanks to the in build handle it means I can carefully remove the contents without worrying about burning myself or making a mess. The basket allows the oil to drain out, and therefore doesn't leave too much oil dripping off from the chips.
The cleaning process is something I dread a little, as it is quite greasy it does take a while to soak and scrub off the grease, but the detachable lid cover makes it a little easier to manage.
The problem is that although it makes great fried food, I am afraid this fryer did not last very long. After a few months it just stopped working, the light indicator wouldn't flash on and it just lost power. I have no idea why, as I didn't use it all that often, but I guess it is what you get for buying valued electric item. I have however bought many other Argos valued electric goods in the past which lasted me years, it was just this Argos Value fryer that let me down in the end. I did take it back to Argos who were very understanding and gave me a full refund. It is a shame really, as it ticked all the boxes for me but it just didn't manage to last as long as other valued items I purchased before.
It could have just been my bad luck that the item stopped working after a few months, but when it worked it did make great fried chips! Therefore as a result I would rate this item 3 or 5.
I got this Argos value deep fat fryer as a present when I moved in with my boyfriend. I had never previously had a fryer and didn't think I would have much use for one, until I started using it. The length of the cord is decent and you don't have to be too restricted as to wheere you use the fryer. It is also small in size, however this makes it compact and sleek and most importantly, easy to store when it is not in use.
The tempreature settings are simple, a little LED light indicates when the fryer has reached the desired temperature. Also, the fryer comes with a list of instructions which tells you which setting each different type of food needs to be on and how long it needs to be cooked for, which is extremely helpful.
The only small downside is that the basket is a little small... however it is ideal for a couple or a family of 3. If its for a family of 4-5 I think it would be a little on the small size. However it cooks fast so if you didn't have enough space you could really get away with cooking a second helping. You need to replace the filter which costs a couple of quid now and again but I've had mine a year and never had to do this yet. Also as long as you clean the oil after each use, you don't need to change it very often as long as it isn't stood for too long. Definitely recommend.
I purchased this product around a year ago now when I moved into my own place.
The product is white in colour and it doesn't look out of place in the kitchen. There are a few good things about this product. It's cheap at under £20 and the length of the cord is decent. I can plug this in and I don't have to feel restricted with the length of the cord. The look of the fryer is sleek and elegant yet basic. You have a small "window" on the top of the fryer where you can view what's cooking. I like the addition of the window but when the fryer is turned on the window soon steams up so then you can't view the food! The temperature controls are easy to work and there's an LED light that lets you know when the oil has reached it's desired temperature. This takes just over five minutes, which isn't too long when you're hungry!
It's easy to use - just pour the oil into the basin, add your food to the basket and wait for it to cook!
The basket is rather small so I can't fit a lot of food in there. I can fit a few chips and some chicken nuggets in there but there's not really much room so I have to "squeeze" them in! Sometimes this results in squashed chips... However the food ends up being cooked to perfection and it tastes much better compared to oven cooked food. It's not the most healthy of ways to cook food so this comes out around twice a week - certainly not everyday!
A decent product for the price.
Having being homeless with nowhere to live ecept a womans reuge for a year with my two children, we were finally given a place to live. As I got no help with grants or loans ect money was tight for having to furnish my new home, so everything that was bought as cheap as I could find it. Despite that I like a bargain, why spend lots on unnessery money on an item when you can get a just as good one for cheaper? Lets you spend that extra money on something else.
I ordered most of my items for Argos as they have a wide range of their own make "Argos Value Range" plus it is more convienant for me to order it all from the same place as it is not only one delivery charge but also only one day waiting in an epmty house awaitin the items. I decided to go for the basic Argos Value Deep Fat Fryer as it was the cheapest ones in the Argos catalogue at the time. This is most definitely a 'no frills' fryer as it is pertty basic but it was the cheapest I could find so thought I would go for it. The other reason I brought this one was because with it being from Argos, at least you know if you are going to get any problems with it, then you will get decent customer service from Argos.
This deep fat fryer is only available in white and is priced at £14.49 in their current catalogue (spring/summer 2012). It can be brought in store, reserved online or delivered to your home for an extra cost for delivery. There are no special features with the fryer, but then provided it does the job of frying your food to a good standard, then in my opinion it doesn't really matter.
There is very little danger of you accidently leaving this fryer on without realising it as there is a large power light which is good as it catches your attention to let you know that the fryer is on.It has a viewing window in the top of the fryer but it needs cleaned on a regular basis as it soon becomes greasy and hard to see through. The fryer has an oil capacity of 1.5l and a food capacity of 0.5g so it is a pretty ample size in comparison to other fryers. It also has 1.2kw power and ranges from 108c to210c. It also has an adjustable thermostat on the front meaning the fryer so it can be used to fry a variety of foods to the way you like them.
One of my most hated household chores is cleaning a cooker, fryer or de-scalin the kettle. Lets face it, who does like doing these dire job as it is just so messy. In all fairness this actually isn't all that bad a fryer to clean, as the lid can be removed which makes it so much more easy. The base of the fryer also fits easily into the sink, so you can give it a good clean. I recommend ising a brillo pad to remove all the grease and crumbs that are left in the bottom of the frye, just make sure that you rinse it out well after using the cleaning materials.
What I liked about this fryer is not only is it great value for money but it also has a couple of safety features as well. It is non slip feet at the bottom of the fryer which work well as the fryer hasn't slid while I am using it, only if it has been lifted by myself when I am cleaning round it when I clean my work tops. As most of you know deep fat fryers have a high risk of starting a fire but this fryer has a cut off feature which in theory saves this from becomin an issue.
I don't normally use a fryer as most of my cooking is done by using the hobs on my cooker and the oven and grill. I like my home made meals such as spaghetti bolonagise, mince and potatoes with veg, lime and chilli chicken, chicken meals, pork ect. But every now and then I like to cook saussages, fish fingers, chicken dippers, ect and not forgetting chips! I do love my chips as do the children however, it is safe to say we do not like chips that come out of the oven, they are tasteless and the texture in your mouth is awful. I am a healthy eater but I would rather have tasty chips from a deep fat fryer than healthy oven chips any day. This fryer does exactly what I wanted it to do, it cooks what I want perfectly as it has diffent funchions for different food that you can cook. I like that fact that it is not only easy to use but also easy to clean, the only fryer that I have had that has been so no complaintes there. At the time when I bought this deep fat fryer it cost me £13 although the price has went up to just under £15, I would still say it is a fantastic price and well worth the money. I liked the fact that it doesn't take up much room in your kitchen so when not in use you can put away in a cupbaord, just make sure that if you have children that they dont touch it, I personally have mines sitting on the work top as my kitchen is quite large and looks empty without my fryer, kettle, and microwave being on show. I would happily recommend this to others and would quite easily rate it a 5 out of 5. The waiting time for the fryer to melt the fat doesn't take too long I would say the adverage time like any other fryer. The fryer also has a decent length of cord so it doesn't have to be plugged in to the plug socket directly rext to it, however for safety reasons I wouldn't recommend doing that for safetly reasons. I keep mines plugged into the closest socket which is right behind the fryer. Another plus point with the cheap fryer, is that it doesnt take long to cool down after it has been used, which is handy when you have children in case any accidents were to happen. I always ask my girls to stay out the kitchen while I am cooking but you know what it is like they always have a question to ask or something to say... mummy cassidy is being horrible to me, mummy II need a drink, mummy god i could go on, kids will be kids.
If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful deep fat fryer like I was, then I recommend you take a look at this one from Argos. Although it may not look much it does exactly what you need it for. If you type in the webpage www.argos.co.uk wait until the page loads, then type in value range deep fat fryer and you will see the item come up on your screen.
I hope that my review was of some use to you, thank you for taking the time to read it.
=== The product ===
This is a deep fat fryer from Argos. The packaging is basic, being provided in a cardboard box with a plug cover and an instruction pamphlet. This is to deep fry food such as chicken & chips. This is quite small in size and there is a little 'window' on the top so you can see how your items are cooking without opening up the lid.
=== How to use this ===
This really is so simple to use. Just put it on the side, plug it in and switch it on. There is a thermostat indicator and a light shows when this is heated up and ready to use. This will need to be filled with oil before use and the oil should be changed regularly to ensure nice tasting chips can still be enjoyed! There is a large button that is simple to press down but the lid does spring up quite fast so you have to be pretty quick!
=== Where to buy this & for how much ===
This is currently £14.99 from Argos.co.uk and Argos stores and while the price has risen about £1.20 since my purchase this is still a very reasonable price compared to others available and this was the cheapest fryer I could find at the time back in 2010.
=== Overall opinion ===
With us lovely the occasional portion of chips & me always wanting to save some money where possible we bought this deep fat fryer around 18 months ago, from Argos, and promptly started to use this around once per week.
This is really the ideal size for just two people, probably no more. The basket fits in to the place in the handle well and while this is not large it does the job that we need with no problems at all. The basket is strong, sturdy and does not move around from the handle meaning this is nice and safe. It can be a little fiddly to slot the basket and handle back together when wanting to use it but as long as you have some patience this is simple enough to use.
Within the top there is a small filter that can be cleaned easily, I usually just wipe mine over regularly, and this helps to stop my home stinking like a chip shop! I have never changed mine even though it has been used 50 times and I believe that the suggested amount was 60 uses and then change it but as I have yet to send off to order some of the filters I won't be worrying about it now!
I like that there are several little indicators above the thermostat which show me the ideal temperature to cook items at. This is very handy and has helped me on several occasions. The temperature dial is simple to move and works well as far as I can tell.
This holds around 1.5 litres of oil and I probably change mine every few weeks even though ours is not used regularly.
I like everything about this deep fat fryer, it's small, compact, fits in the cupboard well, it cooks fast and efficiently and the basket allows me to shake off fat and then clip in the lid to drain properly before serving up. This allows us to have nice fish & chip suppers a couple of times a month with minimal expense and without having to leave our warm home. The price was very reasonable and although this did not match the majority of my kitchen appliances it did not matter as it was tucked away in the cupboard most of the week.
Unfortunately I have had to stop using this as I managed to drop it when picking it up with soapy hands and have snapped the lid off completely. This could still be used but because the hinge is broken I did not want to risk burning myself or my kitchen down so I have had to stop using this and have just replaced it with a new one but thanks to the quality of this one I have purchased a slightly different Argos model that I will probably review in the future. This was completely my fault and because we have very hard floors this has become damaged through my own fault!
This deep fat fryer from Argos is a real steal at only £15 you can't even get a toaster for that nowadays It's all White with a hindered lid a dial on the front for temperature and time. The body of the fryer is easy to clean. Just use a damp cloth or if there happens to be some fat on it just use some washing up liquid on the cloth. The filter to keep the air clean is fully removable as is the lid.
The oil capacity is 0.5L strangely not that deep but what do you expect for £15. The temperature dial goes from 108C too 210C. I use the highest rate for cooking chips which is what most people will use this for.the body stay cool while cooking so you won't burn yourself. There is a temperature ready light on it that lights up when the oil comes to the temperature you have set it to. There is also a power light to remind you to turn it off when finished. There is also a vexing window so you can see if your chips are starting to brown to much. But I find this fogs up when you lower the chips in to the oil then gets covered in oil once it starts to cook.
It's slightly smaller than the average deep fat fryer at H28.3, W28, D24.8cm.
It's a great option for anyone on a budget but does make you ear unhealthy food.
One of the main reasons I purchased this deep fat fryer is because it was cheap at just £14.99. And also I had an Argos store locally; so it was easy for me to pick up and take home. The other reason I bought it was because it was a smaller size compared to others I had seen on the market. I wanted something that would not be too large and obtrusive and something that would fit neatly into a slim line cupboard when not in use and this ticked all the boxes.
- Item description -
It is a nice clean white colour which is easy to wipe down, it has nice ergonomic rounded edges and is easy to grip when lifting it out of low cupboards and storing away. It came with all the usual gubins; basket and handle for cooking the chips in. It is very lightweight and was incredibly easy to set up and use. The lid is fully removable which makes cleaning it so much easier. It also features a safety cut out - which stops it from overheating.
When I went to set it up I was highly delighted that I only needed 1.5 litres oil to o fill it to the required standard level mark. This meant it was lighter to lift and store away when not in use; as it was not weighed down with an excessive amount of vegtable oil.
- Cooking facility and usage -
Well I can say that this chip fryer has gone down a treat, it is fairly quiet to use, makes chips fast and at a nice golden consistency, heats up quickly and likewise cools promptly. There is a light to indicate when the oil is ready for cooking in and likewise a light to say when the power is on.
It has a nice sized basket that is holds enough chips for 2 good sized portions (0.5 kgs) (in my opinion). After use it also wipes down easily and looks good to boot. It has a range of settings from 108 C to 210 C. And I can vouch that it cooks crispy onion rings to restaurant standards (in my opinon!) - all you need is the garlic dip to go with it.
- Storage -
Being such a small and neat fryer I feel at the price it has been worth every penny; not least for the neat size and lack of storage space it takes up when out of use. It also makes chips just as good as an expensive fryer if not better in some cases (read my Actifry review for that).
- Conclusion -
I have been extremely pleased with the fast, hot chips it produces and think it has been an absolute bargain for the price. The only downside I have found is that the handle is little bit lightweight, as is the basket. However overall it is well worth it purchasing and excellent value for money.
Thanks for reading and I hope this has been of some use to you
My partner and myself were brought the Argos Value Deep Fat Fryer as a gift when we moved into our home. I have had a look on ebay and it can be purchased for £14.99 and can be purchased with upto 3 years Replacement Product Care for an additional £3.99.
The fryer itself is made from white plastic which does not get hot whilst in use, the top however has burnt my fingers a couple of times when I have closed the lid.
It is 28.3cm in height, 28cm in width and 24.8cm in depth with an oil capacity of 1.5L but only a 0.5kg food capactity. This means that if you are frying something like chips you could probably get 3 average sized portions at one time, possibly 4 at a push.
The fryer is incredibly easy to use, you can change the temperature using the large dial on the front of the fryer, temperature can be taken from 108°C to 210°C. There are some pictures on the front above the dial giving advice on the temperature required to cook some foods. It heats up quite quickly, if I have it at full heat it can take about 15 minutes and when ready a light will come on so I can tell by just a glance. It can be opened with minimal fuss using the large button just below the lid but as I have said previously if you don't get the lid shut quickly then it will burn your fingers. It frys the food perfectly well and due to the cage like basket that is used it frys every part of the food.
It has a safety cut out although I don't really think that this makes any difference to the fryer or its safety they have at least tried. It also has non-slip feet which do work as mine has never moved from where we put it. The only real issue with safety is that you will need your arms covered when putting the food in as the basket comes very close to top and it will spit at you, it is also very noisy for a few minutes whilst spitting.
After use it can take about an hour to cool down the oil with the lid open although I'm sure some people don't bother doing this and will just shut the lid and turn it off. My partner does this when he uses it and its completley safe and will eventually cool down, it just takes a little longer. Once cool it is very easy to clean as the basket can be taken right out the fryer and the oil filter and lid are both removable. The only issue with cleaning is that due to the very white colour if you are one of those people who cannot stand even the slightest bit of muck you'll end up having to wipe down the outside daily whether you've used it or not.
I would recommend this to singletons, couples or families of 3 as any more than this and you won't fit everything in. Its a great price and after having mine for a few months and using it probably once a week I have never encountered any problems, all pictures on the casing have stayed as clear as when we got it and have not even begun to rub off and it is small enough to leave on the counter rather than having to put it away and get it out each time. Definetly worth the money.
During my latest pregnancy i had major cravings for home made chunky chips, i through out my old deep fat fryer a few years ago when i was on a health kick and to be honest it was so grubby and was fit for the bin. My husband tried his best to make me home made chips using a basic pan and oil but they did not turn out the same as a fryer would have made them and it was so unsafe cooking them in a pan!
That weekend we looked online and found a perfect cheap fryer, it was from argos and i clicked and reserved it and went in store to collect it shortly after. It cost around £13.00 and is from argos value range. Most of my kitchen items are stainless steel or red so being basic white was the only option did not bother me to much as i was hoping not to use it to much.
Its a value range product so i was expecting it to be very basic, it a lovely clean white colour much nicer than i was expecting. You can choose what temperature you want to cook food at for different food group like meat, veg chips e.t.c it has a viewing window to see food cooking but is not practical at all as it steams up and you cant see inside!
It is easy to use, i filled it with veg oil first upto the maximum filling line. I plugged it in and turned it on to heat the oil first before using. It has a good sized cable length which means i can use it on any my worktops in the kitchen. It also has a indicator light which lets me know when its ready to star cooking. It comes with the inner metal cooking basket, the basket and fryer is fairly small and no good for a big family but is enough for my small family.
I love cooking home made chips and onion rings in my fryer, its came in handy for making quick snacks and meals and is easy enough to clean.
good enough for what i paid and does the job well, i would recommend this to small families.
I tend to not make chips very often and when I do I usually make wedges and over chips as these are much healthier than fried chips. In fact I didn't have own a deep fat fryer for years but I had been craving proper home-made chips for a while and when I saw that the Argos value fryer was on sale in my local Argos for only £9.99 I decided to treat myself and get it.
The value fryer isn't the prettiest of deep fat fryers and I would have much preferred a sleek looking steel one but as it was such a bargain I can't really complain too much about how it looks. It is made from white plastic on the outside and round in shape instead of the more modern rectangle ones. Be aware that the fryer is very small and even though I knew it wasn't going to be huge I wasn't expecting it to be as small as it is. It is basically just about large enough for one largish portion of chips. I suppose this is a good thing as otherwise I might end up making me and the kids big portions instead of just small treat potions if it was larger.
It has an oil capacity of 1.5 litres but in reality there isn't really all that much space inside it. Other than the size being small the actual fryer works great and is easy to set up and get using straight away.
You just need to fill it with oil to its recommended level and then plug it in and wait for it to heat up. There are different temperatures you can choose depending on what food you are cooking with the minimum being 130 degrees and the maximum being 210 degrees.
Once it is turned on it heats up quite quickly and when you put the chips in they also cook in a reasonable amount of time. When it is ready to use the light will turn off which means it has got to the correct temperature that you have chosen.
It gets to the right temperature where the chips get nice and brown on the outside but are soft in the middle. My mum has a much more expensive chip pan and when it is set at the temperature that they recommend for chips hers go lovely and crispy on the outside but are hard in the middle so for the money this one is much better at actually cooking even if it isn't as attractive.
One annoying thing about this chip pan is that the handle isn't integrated and you need to attach it every time you want to shake the chips or remove the basket. This can be a bit fiddly and annoying.
The pan also has a little window on the top so you can see how the chips are progressing but this steams up and is difficult to see into so I usually need to actually open the chip pan and look instead.
The filter on the lid does do a decent enough job at ensuring the house doesn't stink of chip fat but it doesn't stop all smells from escaping.
At the price I paid for this chip pan I think it is fabulous value and it does the job well. I got it when it was on offer though and the usual price is £14.99 which is still excellent value.
It isn't suitable for large families but if you want a small easy to store chip pan then this one comes highly recommended.
I won this fryer in a raffle! Admittedly it wasn't the greatest of wins, but at the cost of a £1 for the ticket, it raised a smile. Unfortunately i'm not a huge fan of deep fat fryers as the whole greasyness thing that is associated with them causes my stomach to churn somewhat.
I think it's because when we moved into our current house, we had to spend 2 months scrubbing and cleaning and redocorating the whole kitchen and conservatory due to other peoples grubbiness. It was awful! The smell was so difficult to shift as it was actually embedded in the walls! Wall paper smelt foul and grease was splattered everywhere. If you're using a deep fat fryer, I recommend plenty of ventilation and to clean up ASAP after using it, else the smell will reall stick!
This fryer however has had some uses, in particular in times whereby my daughters in a rush and just wants some quick chips. It's ideal for that, but that's about it for us as a family because it's too small and I much prefer my Tefal Actifry. That's not an option for all though, but if I didn't have that, I'd simply opt for things cooked in the oven instead compared to any deep fat fryer. Still, this fryer is cheap enough, works well and is provides convenient fast food mostly suited for one person.
**Small, basic and cheap!**
The capacity really isn't big enough for a family. If a couple were to use it, you would be only able to have a small portion of chips each. When my daughter has cooked for herself, she has a plateful and there's barely anything left over for another person. It's definately a basic fryer with no frills design as you can see in the picture. There is a glass window in the flip lid so that you can see what's cooking which is a positive feature i guess.
**How to use?**
Easy peasy! As with most fryers a basket is provided. You fill the unit to the recommended levels with oil and then await the oil to heat up. There is a selection dial on the fryer front which recommends what temperature is best for various foods. Chips for example are cooked on the hottest heat and fish would be on a lower heat.
You make your selection and then once the heat has become hot after about 5-6 minutes, you lower your food into the fryer and close the lid.
Viewing window
Removeable lid
Cool wall body
Safety cut out
Non slip feet
Power light
Oil capacity is 1.5L
Temp = 108c - 210c
Food capacity is 0.5kg
**Taste and smell**
I'm afraid I find the smell of this fryer really unpleasant and the taste of food coated in fat is greasy. I remember my daughter doing us some onion rings to nibble on and they were slightly overcooked. They were absolutely laden with fat dripping off them and put me off fryed food for a while! Chips aren't too bad if you make sure you shake them well to drain excess fat from them. I would still opt for oven chips though!
I don't think anyone likes cleaning anything thats greasy, but in all fairness if you clean this straight away, its not too bad. The lid can be taken off easily and the base can be washing in a sink. I used scourers and brillos on mine to make sure ALL grease came off perfectly. The viewing glass also gets really grimey, so give that a clean on a regular basis, else you'll not be able to see anything cooking!
**Be aware of**
Steam bursts out of the fryer when opening the lid! This can literally curl your eyelashes. Whilst you may wish to have curly lashes, this isn't a safe beauty practise!
The handle on the basket is pretty dead duff and flimsy. Be careful not to overload the basket and there shouldn't be a problem.
OVerall - this fryer is fine for a single person on a cheap budget as it does the job and is convenient. As far as fryers go, its simple to use and very efficient. I'm simply not a fan though!
Argos Value Deep Fat Fryer
As a single person living on my own, it was essential for me to find a deep fat fryer which would be suitable for smaller portions - this fryer is just the ticket! At a modest £20.00, it is great value for money and it is a perfect size for portions for one person - I would not recommend this fryer for families or couples as it does not have the capacity to make meals for more than one person.
Food capacity 0.5kg.
Oil capacity 1.5L.
From 108°C to 210°C.
Power light.
Viewing window.
Removable lid.
Easy to clean.
Cool wall body.
Non-slip feet.
Safety cut out.
Ideal for one person - It makes just enough for one big portion or two smaller portions of chips. This fryer is not suitable for a family or a couple with a large appetite.
This superb little fryer heats up incredibly quickly so it is perfect for cooking that late night snack or quick lunch.
I mostly use my fryer for chips and I am always amazed at how quickly they cook. The chips always come out perfectly and not at all fatty.
Cleaning of this fryer is simple and easy. A quick once over with a damp cloth brings this item looking like new.
As it only requires one a a bit litres of oil, it is very cost effective. I have found it very cheap to run as it is small and compact and takes no time at all to heat up.
A word of warning on the lid of this fryer. There can be a build up of steam within the unit, so take care when opening the lid as there is an escape of steam which can catch you off guard if you are not careful.
The fryer is very easy to set up. Just add the oil and plug it in - it is then ready to cook immediately!
A simple handle fits on to the basket which ensures that you can easily take the basket out when your food is cooked. The handle can feel slightly flimsy when the basket is totally full so I would recommend that you don't overfill it. I would not recommend this fryer for the elderly or infirm - it can be slightly fiddly to attach the handle to the basket as this needs to be removed whilst cooking.
I would definately recommend this fryer for a household of one person. It is ideal for one portion and it very quick, efficient and cheap to run.


text:
The Kansas Department of Labor says some Kansans will see a reduction in their unemployment checks.
The department said Thursday that checks for Kansans receiving extended unemployment for 14 extra weeks will see their payments reduced 10.7 percent on or shortly after March 31.
The reductions in the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program are the result of $85 billion in federal spending cuts that went into effect March 1. The cuts mean states that administer unemployment payments are getting less money.
Kansas currently qualifies for an unemployment program that provides up to 14 additional weeks of benefits to qualified people. The amount of benefits will be reduced but the 14-week period will not be affected.


text:
The Sikorsky S-70i military helicopter–a new export variant of the UH-60M Black Hawk–made its first flight on July 1 from the Sikorsky Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Assembled in Poland by PZL Mielec, the first S-70i (S/N 0001) arrived in West Palm Beach on May 4, after PZL Mielec completed final assembly in Poland on March 15. United Technologies (UTC) is the parent company of both Sikorsky and PZL Mielec, which UTC purchased in 2007.
The S-70i and the standard UH-60M Black Hawk are virtually identical aircraft, with their main differences related to items that are not exportable from the U.S.–mainly some avionics and radios–according to Debra Zampano, S-70i program manager, international programs. The S-70i's performance numbers are anticipated to be similar to those of the UH-60M, which include max cruise speed, 151 knots and max range (no reserve), 276 nm.
Because the UH-60M and S-70i are so similar, only one aircraft is being used for the qualification flights. About 100 flight-test hours will be flown to meet the requirements of Sikorsky's internal Quality Assurance Board. The second S-70i, which is the first production aircraft and is now under assembly at PZL Mielec, will begin production flight testing later this year in Poland.
Primary customer interest for the S-70i is coming from counties in the Middle East and Latin America, Zampano said. A baseline-configured S-70i will cost less than $13 million (2011 $), she said. Competing designs include the legacy Mil Mi-17 and Eurocopter EC532 helicopters and under-development AgustaWestland AW149.


text: |LaRouche uses his Triple Curve graphic, shown below, to demonstrate how he was able to forecast the present collapse of the globalized monetarist system, which is now reaching a critical point of instability. LaRouche's Dual Curve, below, without the dominant monetary component, shows how the U.S. Constitutional credit system should work. LaRouche is proposing such a credit system as the basis for a new economic system to replace the bankrupt IMF. This is the only way to avoid a world-wide economic collapse.


text:
Emmy is trying so hard to be good. Her parents are busy jet-setting all over the world in search of money and status while Emmy is left home alone with her cold and distant nanny Miss Barmy. Still, Emmy tries to be good. No one at school seems to like or care about Emmy either – not one person in the classroom seems to notice she exists at all. And yet Emmy STILL tries to be good. "She did her homework without being told. She ate all her vegetables, even the slimy ones. And she never talked back to her nanny, Miss Barmy, although it was almost impossible to keep quiet, some days. She really was a little too good. Which is why she liked to sit by the Rat. The Rat was not good at all . . ." The rat is Emmy's classroom pet. He isn't cute or cuddly, in fact, he's a nasty little beast! Emmy can sometimes relate to the rat, because some days, she'd like to be a nasty little beast too!
One day, when the rat bites Emmy, she finds that she can actually hear what he is saying. As if the rat's poor behavior isn't bad enough, now she has to listen to his crabby complaining, pouting, bragging, and whining. His rotten attitude is hardly worth having this startling new power! Then the rat bites Joe, the class cool guy, who can now hear him speak too..and then he bites Joe again and shrinks him to the size of an action figure! What's a good friend like Emmy to do but offer to get bitten a second time and shrink too? Now a few inches high, Joe and Emmy free the rat and begin an adventure to find out the source of the rat's power and how to reverse it. Along the way, they get help from some new four legged friends and get on the trail of Emmy's own Miss Barmy, who isn't just cold and distant, she's evil too!
The rat is definately the star in this one. His biting comments and sarcastic one-liners kept me laughing through the whole book. Emmy reminds me of Molly Moon from Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism. Both girls feel isolated, alone and unloved, yet they don't give up on their search for friendship and happiness. Author: Lynne Jonell Illustrator: Jonathan Bean
- Read Chapter One Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat
- Book 2: Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls
- Read Chapter One Emmy and the Home for Troubled Girls
- Coming Soon: Emmy and the and the Rats in the Belfry
- Create an Emmy Bookmark
- Put an an Emmy Play
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat Web Comic Used With Permission:


text:
Out of the Humidor
Dear Marvin,
I have been a serious marathon runner for 14 years and a cigar smoker for five. While there may be some who find this combination to be incongruous, I do not. The pursuit of happiness is not limited to any particular set of endeavors. In November, I competed in my 20th marathon and my first with cigars. Several friends along the 26.2-mile course kept me supplied with Macanudo Crystal Cafes during the race. While not my first race, it may have been my most relaxing.
When I was a child, my parents never went out to formal affairs until my father tucked two Churchills into his tuxedo pocket. My own first experience with cigars proved to be somewhat of an embarrassment. Shortly after graduating from law school, I found myself being interviewed by a prominent attorney who at one time served as attorney general of the United States. After the interview the lawyer, who is the senior partner of one of Baltimore's most venerable law firms, offered me a cigar. I accepted. I attempted to light the cigar without removing the cap. It was my first cigar and I had no idea that the cap had to be removed to allow the draw of air. I sucked very hard until the partner advised me.
Several years ago I decided to try cigars. One of my first experiences led me to believe that cigar smoking is often memorable. I was dating a young Englishwoman whose mother came to visit us in New York. We thought our guest might enjoy an evening at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony.
On a balmy July afternoon we climbed into my car, put the top down and headed for Lennox, Massachusetts. We had decided to have a formal picnic on the lawn before the performance of Beethoven's Fidelio. We had a picnic basket full of good food, wine, china and crystal. After dinner I lit up a cigar. Almost immediately I saw a woman walk toward me from a distance of about 20 yards. She demanded that I extinguish my "vile cigar." Jayne, my friend's mother, jumped to her feet to defend not only me but my cigar smoking. She informed my accuser that as a young girl she had lived through some of London's darkest hours during the Battle of Britain. She made it quite clear that a great man with an ever-present cigar had rallied the English people and led the West through a tumultuous time. My accuser walked away looking very confused. I finished my smoke with a Cognac, and as I looked at the sun setting over the Berkshire Mountains, I could only think: it doesn't get any better than this.
Roland Nicholson Jr.
New York, New York
New York, New York
Dear Marvin,
Over the years I have enjoyed reading about the cigar experiences your other readers share with us. I feel that perhaps it is my turn to share now, rather than just enjoy.
In July 1995, 11 students from Missouri Southern State College earned scholarships to attend Christ Church College at Oxford University. I was proud to be among them, although I had serious reservations about how much I would enjoy the experience. I didn't know any of the other students and was not sure that I could measure up to the challenge academically.
My first fear was put to rest during the flight to England. The other students were not acquainted with each other, either. They also shared the same scholastic fear that I had. Most of us became good friends as we shared our experiences of life and school with one another, and supported each other through the term.
On the first evening after dinner in the Great Hall, Chad Phipps, one of the young men in our group ("The Missouri Contingent," as we became known) was keeping me company as I unpacked. Not being a smoker, he took a special interest in my travel humidor, so I began to expound on the finer points of smoking premium cigars. By the end of the discussion, I knew that he had taken the bait and all I needed to do was set the hook. I told him that the next day I was going to make a run to Oxford's finest tobacconist in order to purchase my first supply of Cuban smokes. Our enthusiasm soon spread to Shelby, a young lady in our group, who asked if she might go along.
The next afternoon the three of us embarked on a journey I will always remember. From the tobacconist's small, ravaged humidor I purchased Cohibas, Romeo y Julietas and Montecristos. We carried our treasure back to my room at Christ Church and placed them in my humidor, which was now "our humidor."
That night after dinner, we retrieved a Cohiba and one of the Romeos and gathered in the Master's Garden. Shelby, who chose to forgo the actual smoking, sat on the exquisitely manicured grass and stared up at us with keen interest as I demonstrated the ritual of cutting, lighting and smoking one of life's precious gifts. Chad was hooked.
On the many evenings that followed, I would have just as many pleasant and tranquil experiences with my new comrades, such as walking with Shelby on my arm (thank God for an understanding wife) around the meadow and along the Thames, standing on a street corner with Chad, and talking to students and others from all over the world, slowly burning our treasure the whole time.
Sitting in that garden alone one night, I came to a realization: I was among the best that my college had to offer, with some of the best people a man could be associated with, drinking the best wines, while smoking the best cigars, at one of the best universities in the Western world. If a guy can do better than that, please tell me how.
Doug Shaw
Carl Junction, Missouri
Carl Junction, Missouri
Dear Marvin,
I am a European reader of your excellent magazine; the subscription was given to me as a present by my fiancée last year.
This year, I turned my fiancée into my wife, and as she is American, the wedding and subsequent party were held in her native Southern California. She flew to the United States some weeks before I did, and just before boarding my Los Angeles-bound plane, I could not resist buying a box of Romeo y Julietas in the airport duty-free shop, thinking it would be a great gift to give to people attending the wedding after all the partying, drinking and dancing were done with.
The wedding reception and party came, and after dinner I walked around handing out cigars. The result was startling. The cigars were gone within five minutes, with people looking in awe at these "forbidden" items, asking where I had gotten them. The dance floor quickly emptied, and everyone was out on the balcony, puffing at their Romeo y Julietas, enjoying themselves.
Because I was too busy greeting people and asking everyone how they were doing, I never actually got to finish my dessert, let alone indulge in a cigar. But I am positive the cigars made it a wedding reception with a difference, and I could see that when drinking, dancing or having a cigar are at stake, the last of these becomes the first choice.
Paul Brach
Vienna, Austria
Vienna, Austria
Dear Marvin,
I live in San Diego and I usually take the coastal route to and from work instead of the more crowded freeway. But on Fridays, traffic is just as bad at 5 o'clock on the coastal route as it is on the freeway. So I usually end up heading south after work (I live to the north) to either my parents' house or to my sister's. It gives me time to catch up with what's going on in their lives, and it saves me from being stuck in the northbound traffic with the sun in my face.
On this particular day, the sun wasn't out and the cloudy skies were inviting. I decided to go directly home, although I knew I would hit traffic. Well, sure enough, I found myself staring at an endless line of vehicles creeping along at a snail's pace. After 20 minutes, of what seemed like hours to me, I noticed that several drivers had pulled off alongside the traffic, content to wait it out.
I remembered at that moment that I had a box of cigars in my trunk. I decided to pull over and smoke one. They weren't your expensive type of cigar, they were just some that I purchase through a catalogue. Even though they are relatively inexpensive, they smoke very nicely and have a nice aroma. So I pulled off and decided I would share some of my smokes with my fellow traffic "dropouts." With the cigar box under my arm, I tapped on the window of the first car, offering a smoke. The driver accepted with a grin that spread from ear to ear and a hearty "Thanks!"
I proceeded to the other two cars and each driver accepted my offer, both agreeing that a cigar was a definite treat in this unwanted moment. Meanwhile, after five minutes back at my car, I was joined by the first driver. He was really enjoying his cigar, this one being only the second he had ever smoked. He asked me what brand it was; I told him they were called "Palma Throwouts," the name, of course, being a misnomer. He told me it was much nicer than the other one he had smoked, which had set him back $7. When I told him that I purchase three cigar brands through the catalogue and that each one averaged out to 50 cents apiece, he nearly had a stroke right on the spot. He was in love with their aroma.
Soon, the other two drivers joined in on the conversation. All the while, the traffic continued to crawl by. What a sight we must've been, four men enjoying a late afternoon smoke; but we had smiles on our faces.
I was amazed that a cigar had brought together four complete strangers. Eventually, another driver pulled out of traffic and alongside our vehicles. He already had a cigar in his hand. Time flew by, and when the traffic had finally lessened, we rejoined the race. But not before we exchanged phone numbers. Thanks, Steve, John, William and Duke; till the next time. And, oh yes, thanks, Thompson Cigar Co., for making cigar smoking affordable.
Robert Gaspar
San Diego, California
San Diego, California
Dear Marvin,
Log in if you're already registered.
Or register for Cigar Aficionado today—it's free.
Registration allows you to:
Keep track of your favorite cigars in your personal humidor.
Comment on all our stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Search our database of more than 17,000 cigar tasting notes by score, brand, country, size, price range, year, wrapper and more, plus add your favorites to your Personal Humidor.