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So Many Single-Malt Scotches, but Which Dram Do We Drink?
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Mr. Gunn, a Highland Scot, was referring to single-malt Scotch whiskies, the individual products of copper pot stills with the ability to arouse passion and acts of pilgrimage from whisky drinkers around the world. * But all revelry aside, it can, nevertheless, be a bamboozling experience these days to enter a reputable whisky shop or well-stocked bar, and encounter the plethora of tongue-twisting Scotch brands created by more than 100 distilleries. My local pub in Portland, Oregon, displays more than 60 single malts along its back bar, each one with a story to tell and a place to discover. At one end of the bar is a handful of gentle Lowland malts: soft, floral whiskies that reflect the rolling hills and fertile farmland of their birth and maturation. Emphatically anchoring the other end is the robust family of Islay whiskies. Uncorked, these island malts release a peat reek, salt spray and perhaps a hint of bagpipes, carrying the drinker back to the windswept speck of Hebridean land. * The rest of Scotland lies between these two extremes: brine and sea loch flavors from island whiskies, smoke and spice from distilleries on the edges of the country. In the center of this spirituous row are the heartland malts--the Speysiders. Kissed by sherry and Bourbon oak casks, nestled by the banks of whisky rivers and bounded by mountain and sea, Speyside malts comprise an aristocratic majority of Scotland's whiskies. The whole culture of whisky permeates the landscape and people of this region, creating complex, round malts of aromatic, fruity sweetness. * Nearly 90 single-malt distilleries are currently producing whisky in Scotland, most of it available as a bottled single malt. (Around 30 additional distilleries are closed, either demolished or "silent"--presently inactive, but often capable of resuming production Their malt whiskies can be found in limited bottlings.) In the past few years, an increasing number of distilleries have introduced a range of bottlings, usually in a variety of ages, and more recently with different alcohol strengths, vintages and wood "finishes." In addition to these distillery bottlings, independent merchant bottlers offer a liquid treasure trove of often rare, limited malt whiskies under their own company labels.
In every bottle of malt whisky rests the spirit of a place. Each one is unique and often has its own band of faithful admirers. Yet, whenever a group of whisky drinkers gather, it seems that certain distilleries dominate the discussion, rising to the top by merit more than by the marketing wiles.
If there are classic single-malt distilleries that consistently produce great whiskies, a sensible place to begin a search may be the blending rooms of the Scotch whisky companies. It has been the international success of blended Scotches--the likes of The Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal--that has kept the diverse family of single malts in existence for more than 100 years.
A blended Scotch can include up to 40 individual single malts and two or three grain whiskies, married together to create a unified, whole spirit. Typically, a blend will include several "core" malts in the recipe, whiskies that marry well with the other whiskies, and add character and sophistication to the blend. Most of these core, or component, malts are outstanding whiskies in their own right, sought after by the blending companies that pay a premium price for their unique character. Top class, first class, top dogs and crack drams are some of the descriptors used for these great producing distilleries. (A dram is a measure of whisky in Scotland, the quantity often determined by the sobriety or generosity of the dram giver.)
When I asked one worthy whisky maker why some distilleries have a heritage of creating great whisky, he replied: "Och, it's all in the genes." There may be a wee bit more to it than genetics, so let's take a brief look at how the cratur is made. A single malt, very simply, is the product of an individual distillery in Scotland. It is made from a sugary liquid extract of 100 percent malted barley that is fermented by yeast and double distilled in small batches in copper pot stills. The new spirit then matures in oak casks before bottling. The characteristics that shape a single-malt whisky are derived from its ingredients (water, malted barley and yeast), production methods and maturation.
Of the many scientific, mystical and genetic factors that are responsible for the character of a single malt, the oak cask is perhaps the most important. It can account for as much as 60 percent of the whisky's flavor and ultimate character. Each oak cask used to mature Scotch whisky imprints its personality on the spirit. Identical new-make spirit--the white spirit that's been distilled but not yet aged--made in the same distilling season at one distillery can have quite different characteristics as a mature spirit, depending on the cask.
A distillery that embarks on a high-quality, oak-cask program for its single malts may not be genetically well endowed, but it can end up with great whisky. This is what makes the exploration of single malts such a lifelong pleasure for the whisky drinker, and the decision to exclude certain distilleries from a top-class list so difficult.
A number of the top-class malts reviewed in this article may not be widely available as distillery bottlings. It is thanks to independent merchant bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail in the Speyside town of Elgin and Cadenhead's of Campbeltown that we can enjoy these rare treats. These two companies have traditionally bought "fillings" of new-make spirit from individual distilleries, supplied their own casks to mature the whisky, and bottled it in a variety of ages in limited quantities. Their retail shops--Gordon & MacPhail in Elgin; Cadenhead's in Edinburgh, London and Campbeltown--are places of pilgrimage for the serious whisky drinker. Of the other independent bottlers that have started up in the past 10 years or so, Adelphi and Signatory have established a reputation of quality.
Not every occasion or mood calls for a complex malt whisky like the ones we'll discuss on our top-class journey. If you seek an everyday, all-purpose whisky, a restorative dram at the end of a hectic day, or prefer a lighter, less complex spirit before dinner, these are that scores of single malts may be better suited to the task.
The culture of whisky approaches perfection in the Speyside region of northeast Scotland. More than half of the country's single-malt distilleries are located here, by the banks of river systems that course down, northwards, from the great massif of the Grampian Hills to their estuaries on the Moray Firth. The principal whisky river is the Spey, the second longest and the fastest flowing in Scotland. With more than 60 of Scotland's single-malt distilleries located in the region, Speyside whiskies cover a broad spectrum of flavor characteristics. Speysides range from light, delicate and flowery to rich, full, fruity and robust. They are the most versatile of all the regions; a Speyside malt can be found to suit all whisky palates.
Macallan (Founded 1824)
The noble Macallan Distillery overlooks a glorious sweep of Strathspey and the village of Craigellachie across the River Spey. The distillery is both innovative and traditional, and has dedicated itself to a sophisticated pursuit of quality in regard to ingredients, production and maturation. The distillery has been using the Golden Promise variety of barley since the 1960s. Macallan believes that the barley, in conjunction with the fermentation and pot stills, gives its whisky a fruity, estery balance and longevity.
The direct, gas-fired stills are among the smallest in Scotland. The distillate that ends up in the casks (the heart of the run) is a remarkably small fraction of the whole distillate compared to other distilleries, about 15 to 17 percent. First- and second-fill Spanish oak casks, seasoned with oloroso sherry, are used exclusively for maturation of the whisky.
Recommended bottlings Macallan 12, 18 and 25 year old, Gran Reserva--18-year-old Macallan matured in first-fill sherry casks, recently available in the United States (all distillery bottlings).
Tasting notes Macallan 12 and 18 year old; 86 proof. The 12 year old has a full and smooth body; rich, honey-sweet and sherry nose; rich, full, sweet and nutty palate; warm, round and lingering. The Macallan 18 has all the qualities of the 12, with more richness, oak, spice and nuts. Regarded by many single-malt connoisseurs as the finest whisky in this, or any, style.
Glenfarclas (Founded 1836)
Situated on the south side of the River Spey, Glenfarclas sits in an exposed patch of farmland in the shadow of the bare, often snow-blanketed Ben Rinnes mountain. Still an independent distillery and run by the Grant family for five generations, Glenfarclas (or "Glenfirstclass" if you work there) produces a delicious range of rich, flavorful drams with a healthy dose of sherry character. The name, translated from Scottish Gaelic, means "glen (valley) of the green grassland." Glenfarclas has the largest stills on Speyside, gas-fired, and uses soft, cold, snow-melted water from a spring that rises in the heart of Ben Rinnes. Her single malts have a large percentage of Spanish oak in them.
Recommended bottlings The complete range of distillery bottlings, from the 10 to the 30 year old. The 17 year old is a personal favorite.
Tasting notes Glenfarclas 12 year old; 86 proof. Medium- to full-bodied; amber colored; rich, full sherry nose; palate is a delightful balance of sherry depth, malty sweetness and subtle peat smoke, with a teasing lick of Highland fire; finish is lingering and sweetly full. Glenfarclas is a classic Speyside and Highland malt, and one of Scotland's most versatile whiskies in her youth.
Longmorn (Founded 1894)
For many years, until it was mercifully introduced as one of the Seagram Co.'s Heritage Selection malts, Longmorn had been regarded as one of Scotch whisky's best-kept secrets. Blenders seek out Longmorn to use as a "top dressing" in their finest blends. The wash stills, which are used for the first distillation, are among the widest and lowest of all the whisky distilleries. (The heaviness of Longmorn is shared by Strathisla, its sister distillery and partner in the Heritage Selection. Located in the nearby town of Keith, the picturesque Strathisla is the oldest Highland distillery, founded in 1786.)
Recommended bottlings Longmorn 15 year old (distillery bottling). Gordon & MacPhail Longmorn-Glenlivet 12 year old.
Tasting notes Longmorn 15 year old; 90 proof (distillery bottling). Medium- to full-bodied; floral, full, fragrant aroma with some oil; clean, malty palate, smooth and round, flowery and rich; malty sweet lingering finish, clean with notes of nuts and sherry. A rich, deep, true-to-the-region Speysider.
Linkwood (Founded 1825)
Not far from Longmorn, Linkwood Distillery has shared her neighbor's predilection for secrecy over the years. The distillery is nestled in a tranquil natural setting, next door to sturdy, ancient farm buildings. A well-tended flower garden fronts the still house, and a pair of swans occupy the distillery pond just above. Opening a bottle of Linkwood is like unleashing a spring breeze. The aroma is flowery, clean and delicate. The body is surprisingly full, with malty sweetness and a hint of smoke. A versatile and elegant dram, Linkwood can be sipped for hours.
Recommended bottlings Linkwood 12 year old Flora & Fauna limited bottling series from United Distillers. Gordon & MacPhail Linkwood 15 and 21 year old.
Aberlour (Founded 1879)
The Speyside community of Charlestown of Aberlour (pronounced Abber-lour, as in hour) is one of the prettiest villages in Scotland. Aberlour Distillery, producer of one of those archetypal Speyside fireside and after-dinner whiskies, anchors the west end of the village. The current distillery was founded by James Fleming in 1879, on the site of an older distillery with origins in 1826. The distillery's output demonstrates the judicious marrying of whiskies from Bourbon and sherry casks. In the midst of the distillery grounds is Saint Drostan's (Dunstan's) Well. It's tapped now, but in the seventh century, as legend and public relations would have it, it was used by Dunstan for baptismal ceremonies.
Recommended bottlings Aberlour 10, 15 and 18 year old (all distillery bottlings).
Tasting notes Aberlour 10 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). Medium-bodied; amber color; almonds, honey and sweetness in the nose; rich sherry and malty sweet flavors and yet there is a lightness to the palate; round, clean and smooth, with a gentle, sherry-sweet finish.
Mortlach (Founded 1823)
Dufftown (pop. 1,700), is the self-proclaimed whisky "capital" of Scotland. "Rome was built on seven hills; Dufftown stands on seven stills," is how the saying goes. The first legal distillery to be established in the town was Mortlach (pronounced Mort-lach, the "ch" with a guttural sound, as in loch), producer of a heavenly, heavy Speyside dram. The meaty whisky is a great favorite with the blenders--Mortlach is an excellent marrier.
New-make Mortlach is one of the heaviest spirits in Speyside. When mature, the robust whisky displays the classic Speyside attributes of fruit, malt, light smoke and sherry, in a perfect balance of depth, roundness and complexity.
Recommended bottlings Mortlach 16 year old Flora and Fauna limited bottling series from United Distillers. Gordon & MacPhail Mortlach 15 and 21 year old.
Glenfiddich (Founded 1887)
The most famous stills in this heady whisky district are the coal-fired ones of Glenfiddich, established by William Grant. The Grant family, in its fifth generation, is still involved with the company, which has established Glenfiddich as the world's best-selling single malt. The Grants began the mass marketing of Glenfiddich in 1963, the first company to do so on such a scale with a single malt. A raising of the whisky glass is due to this pioneering family, filled preferably with the 15- or 18-year bottlings, soft yet complex reflections of the distillery's pedigree.
Balvenie (Founded 1892)
The Grants also own Balvenie Distillery next door, named after nearby Balvenie (pronounced Bal-VEN-ee) Castle, a substantial thirteenth-century ruin. Balvenie's single malts are a delicious counterpart to Glenfiddich, with rich, sherry characteristics and after-dinner qualities.
Balvenie Distillery, which is independently operated, retains its traditional floor maltings and has its own farmlands, where part of the barley used in the maltings is grown. An on-site cooperage repairs the casks and a coppersmith tends the stills. Its nine stills are taller than those at Glenfiddich, producing a heavier, fuller spirit.
Recommended bottlings Balvenie Founder's Reserve 10 year old, Balvenie DoubleWood 12 year old, Balvenie PortWood 21 year old (all distillery bottlings).
Tasting notes Balvenie DoubleWood 12 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). Medium- to full-bodied, rich, clean whisky; amber color; malty and sherry sweet in the soft nose; smooth, sweet and mellow palate with nuts, fruit and spices; lingering finish, warming with chocolate and some smoke. The DoubleWood spends most of its life in traditional Bourbon casks and is then transferred to finish the maturation in sherry casks.
Glenrothes (Founded 1879)
The hardworking whisky town of Rothes (pop. 1,400) is home to five distilleries, including Glenrothes, Glen Grant and Speyburn. Glenrothes (pronounced Glen-ROTH-ess) is another malt that is difficult to find but well worth the discovery. There's a cooperage for repairing casks on site, and about half the malt used comes from the Saladin maltings at Tamdhu, Glenrothes's sister distillery in Speyside. Glenrothes is prized for its marrying qualities and is closely associated with the Cutty Sark blend. The stills produce a new-make spirit packed with fruit and feints--the final fraction of the second distillation, which has a heavier, oilier character--ideal for blending and aging. The rare distillery bottlings from Glenrothes are the result of selected casks from a particular vintage or year of distillation. Glenrothes vintages tend to have lots of fruit, a hint of smoke and sherry, sweetness, and full, round flavors.
Recommended bottlings Glenrothes 1979 Vintage, Glenrothes 1982 Vintage.
Cragganmore (Founded 1869)
Hidden at the confluence of the rivers Spey and Avon is the distillery of Cragganmore. The distillery stands on the grounds of Ballindalloch Castle Estate, residence of the Macpherson-Grant family since 1546 and home to the oldest herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle in the world. Cragganmore is one of Speyside's smaller distilleries and has two of Scotland's most unusual stills: each spirit still has an L-shaped flat-topped head. Thus, some of the heavier, oily compounds in the vapors that rise from the pot condense at the head and fall back to be recondensed. The result is a cleaner, lighter spirit.
Recommended bottlings Cragganmore 12 year old (distillery bottling).
Tasting notes Cragganmore 12; 80 proof (distillery bottling). Medium-bodied, smooth and firm; rich, dryish and complex nose, fragrant and flowery with background notes of grass and smoke; a clean, round, malty and well-balanced palate; and a lingering malt and soft smoke afterglow. A serious and cerebral whisky from a much respected distillery.
Glendronach (Founded 1826)
Glendronach, which means "valley of the brambles (blackberries)" in Scottish Gaelic, is tucked away in gentle northeast Scotland terrain. Her spirit reflects the earthy traditions of Aberdeenshire more so than the Highland glens of Moray and Strathspey. Glendronach (pronounced Glen-DRON-ach) is one of Scotland's bonniest, most traditional distilleries, offering the visitor a chance to see a rare floor maltings (a process in which presoaked barley is spread on a floor, where it begins its conversion from starch to sugar) and kiln, in addition to traditional coal-fired distillation when Glendronach is producing. The distillery is currently silent. The gleaming pot stills are coal-fired, a method used by just a handful of distilleries today. The new-make spirit is poured into Spanish oak casks that have previously been host to oloroso sherry.
Recommended bottlings Glendronach 15 year old (distillery bottling).
Tasting notes Glendronach 15 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). The malt has a deep and rich sherry character that, combined with oak and Highland depth, places it emphatically in the after-dinner category.
Glenlivet (Founded 1824)
The glen of the River Livet is the most notorious whisky district in Scotland. Flanked by the Cromdale Hills and the Ladder Hills, with access to passes over the Cairngorms to the south, this remote high country was perfect for distilling illicit whisky. In the early 1800s, 200 illicit stills were said to be operating in the glen. The Glenlivet Distillery, the "father of all Scotch," is anchored on a limestone shelf in the austere heart of it all. Its founder, a doughty Highlander named George Smith, was the first distiller in the area to apply for a legal distillery license, in 1824.
Recommended bottlings Glenlivet 12 and 18 year old (distillery bottlings). The distillery has also recently introduced a series of vintage Glenlivet bottlings that includes five single malts distilled in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Limited to a few thousand bottles from each year, the collection is interesting not only for the extended ages of the whiskies (between 26 and 31 years), but also for the opportunity to compare subtle differences--flavors such as fruit, nuts and spice are more or less evident in each bottling--that can be tasted in the spirits from year to year.
Tasting notes Glenlivet 18 year old; 104 to 112 proof (distillery bottling). The flavors in the older Glenlivet have developed more depth and richness than the standard 12-year-old bottling. The body is firm and smooth, the nose has sherry sweetness and floral aromas; the palate is sweet, with nuts and peaches; the finish is lingering and sweet. The 18 blossoms with Speyside character and depth.
Other recommendations Speyside distilleries with widespread distribution--Cardhu, Singleton of Auchroisk, Knockando, Speyburn, Glen Grant (older bottlings), Tomintoul, Tamnavulin, Tamdhu. Speyside distilleries with limited bottlings and distribution-- Aultmore, Glen Elgin, Glendullan, Ardmore, Balmenach, Glenburgie, Ben Rinnes.
With a population of about 4,000 and eight distilleries, Islay is Scotland's preeminent whisky island and the most southerly of the Hebrides, measuring 20 miles east to west and 25 miles north to south. Most of Islay's malts are noted for their peat-reek, heavy, full and robust qualities. Islay's pungent, complex whiskies have long been popular with the blenders for these characteristics.
The peat reek--a Scottish word for smell--is a defining, important characteristic in certain, usually island, malt whiskies. The character is created during the malting of the barley. Peat is acidic, decayed vegetation made up of bog plants such as sphagnum moss, heather, sedges and grasses. In the malt kiln, the "green" malt is spread on a perforated floor above the furnace and exposed to burning peat smoke in varying degrees for up to 20 hours.
The amount of peating is measured by the concentration of acidic organic compounds called phenols that are found in the peat smoke. Most Speyside malts, for example, will have one to five parts per million phenols in them. Laphroaig, near the other end of the reek spectrum, has a formidable 35 ppm phenols.The higher the concentration of phenols, the smokier the spirit.
Lagavulin (Founded 1816)
Lagavulin Distillery is nestled into a small, rocky bay on the more sheltered southeast coast of Islay. The name Lagavulin (pronounced Lag-a-VOO-lin), is derived from the Scottish Gaelic, laggan mhouillin, which means "mill in the little dell." By the 1740s, the site was better known for the stills in the dell, with about 10 smuggler's bothies (huts) puffing away, making it one of Scotland's oldest whisky production locations. Lagavulin's malted barley, kilned in nearby Port Ellen, has 35 to 40 ppm phenols.
Recommended bottling Lagavulin 16 years old (distillery bottling).
Tasting notes Lagavulin 16 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). Full-bodied and rich; the nose is pungent with peat smoke, salt and some sweetness in the background. The sea and the sweetness make their appearances in the smooth taste, too, but the robust, dry flavor of peat dominates this sophisticated whisky; a gentle bite introduces the smoky finish, an afterglow of peat warms the soul.
Bowmore (Founded 1779)
The harbor village of Bowmore (pronounced BOH-more), population 1,000, was built in the 1760s and is the island's commercial and social center. Few distilleries are as architecturally integrated with a community as the whitewashed buildings of Bowmore, Islay's first legal distillery. The distillery tour is especially worthwhile; visitors can watch traditional floor malting, which accounts for about 40 percent of the malted barley in the whisky. The kilning at Bowmore results in a medium-peated malt of around 20 ppm.
Recommended bottling Bowmore 17, 21 and 25 year old (distillery bottlings). My favorite is the 17 year old.
Tasting notes Bowmore 17 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). Heavier and more robust than the younger Bowmores, which have a citrus note to them, the 17 displays Bowmore's peaty character emphatically and harmoniously throughout, yet it does not overwhelm the whisky's underlying sweetness. There's vanilla and chocolate in the nose and a warming, smoky glow from start to finish.
Laphroaig (founded circa 1820s)
The name Laphroaig (pronounced La-FROYG) is taken from the bay around which the distillery was built. Whitewashed buildings skirt the shoreline, the sea lapping a warehouse wall at high tide. Laphroaig Distillery presents an opportunity to explore unchanged whisky buildings, to view traditional floor malting, and to smell the peat reek firsthand, which is formidable. Thirty percent of the malted barley in Laphroaig is made at the distillery, resulting in a pungent dram of around 35 ppm phenols.
Recommended bottling Laphroaig 10 and 15 year old, Laphroaig Cask Strength (all distillery bottlings).
Tasting notes Laphroaig 10 year old; 80 to 86 proof (distillery bottling). Straight 10-year-old Laphroaig is an outdoor malt, to be sipped from a flask as an antidote to hellish, or just Scottish, weather. A splash of spring water mellows the whisky. It has a long and balanced aroma of seaweed, phenols, peat, heather smoke and vanilla notes; the palate is a complex melody of peat, salt, iodine, oil and oak; the finish is round, dry, warming and lingering. The 15-year-old Laphroaig is a quintessential, complete Islay whisky.
Ardbeg (Founded 1815)
Whisky drinkers can rejoice now that Ardbeg, one of Scotland's truly great drams, is producing once more. The distillery was bought by Glenmorangie in early 1997 and the stills were singing their pungent sea chanteys by the summer of that year. The bottlings from the new owners should reach the United States in early 1999. Bottlings of Ardbeg from the previous owner and independent bottlers can still be found and they are worth tracking down.
Ardbeg is perhaps the island's most magical distillery site: an ancient, stone-slab pier reaches into a bay dotted with craggy rocks; swans, otters and seals swim by; and the sea's aroma is everywhere. When Ardbeg's maltings were operating, the whisky had a formidable 53 ppms phenols from the local peat. Yet it does not overwhelm the heaviness and depth of the whisky. When Ardbeg is sipped from a good bottling, brine and smoke envelop you like a damp sea fog.
Other Recommendations Islay distillery with widespread distribution-- Bunnahabhain (Boon-a-HA-ven). Islay distilleries with limited bottlings and distribution--Caol Ila (Cull-eela); Port Ellen (closed).
The Highland region comprises single-malt distilleries to the north of the Highland Fault, or Line, a geological boundary that stretches from Greenock, a town northwest of Glasgow, to the city of Dundee on Scotland's east coast. Highland includes the spirituous Speyside region, as well as various subregions that contain an additional 30 or so Highland malts. These distilleries are scattered in diverse locations and landscapes, from the moorlands of the Monadhliaths to the Perthshire glens and along the eastern coastlines and firths. The characteristics of the whiskies are just as diverse, and it is difficult to pinpoint a shared regional style for such a widespread area. Most have a firm, malty body.
Highland Park (Founded 1798)
About 70 islands and islets make up the fertile, timeless Orkney Islands, 17 of them inhabited. The island capital, Kirkwall, is the biggest Orkney town, and the Highland Park distillery is located on its southern outskirts. Highland Park is a gem of a traditional distillery and an object lesson in how to integrate whisky making into a local culture. Scotland's northernmost distillery, her old, clustered stone buildings and slate roofs seem permanently and organically rooted in the townscape. Highland Park malts 20 percent of its own barley on five traditional malting floors, using Orkney peat for the purpose. The phenol content for this malted barley is 8 ppm, and it is supplemented with unpeated malt from mainland Scotland.
Recommended bottling Highland Park 12, 18 and 25 year old (all distillery bottlings).
Tasting notes Highland Park 12 year old; 86 proof (distillery bottling). Medium-bodied; peat smoke and heather honey in the nose; malty sweet, fresh, smoky and round in the palate with plenty of depth; honey finish. One of the most versatile single malts.
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During the NMHU-Colorado Mines football game last September, it was alleged that some of the football players made threats to the Mines Cheerleaders, and a complaint was made against HU that resulted in a RMAC conference call over this matter.
The results of that call have been not made public, but this writer is requesting the full particulars under the FOI (Freedom of Information) Act, since this is public record. When the information is known, and there's full veracity to what was said will be republished here on this Forum.
It is widely known that NMHU men's sports (particularly football and basketball) is considered to be an "Outlaw School," picking up Div. I rejects. During the late 60's the HU football team established itself as a powerhouse NAIA school by this very same means...Hence this reputation.
On the other hand, the NMHU baseball (with the exception of last year's drug bust involving team players) squad has a very good reputation.
Some things never change, including the NMHU "Outlaw" image. If this is the case, how about NMHU Athletics "Going With The Flow" and having an Oakland Raider face imprinted into a cowboy hat? That'll make RMAC really talk!
What is "outlaw" about lesser schools recruiting "Division I rejects? The best talent available to small schools may well be the talent that is almost, but not quite, good enough for Division I -- unless you get lucky and find a standout that just wants to come here. But if by "rejects" you mean players who have been thrown out of Division I schools for misbehavior on or off the field, that would be pretty outlaw behavior.

subset: commoncrawl


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Screening for
prostate cancer—checking for signs of the disease when
there are no symptoms—is done with the
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. In the United States, about 16 out of 100 men will get prostate cancer, but only 3 will die because of it. That means about 97 out of 100 men will die of something other than prostate cancer.footnote 1
The number of deaths caused by prostate cancer
has dropped over the past 20 years. The decrease has been linked to more cases
of early diagnosis through PSA testing and to better cancer treatment. But it is not yet known if PSA testing actually saves lives or if the benefits of having PSA screening are worth the harms of follow-up tests and cancer treatments.
Finding prostate cancer early leads you to some
big decisions. Most prostate cancer grows slowly. And the side effects of
treatment may change your quality of life. It's possible that you may not be able to have an
erection or control urination after surgery. These are important things to think about. If
you are older with other serious health problems, these side effects may seem worse than
early-stage cancer that may not grow much during your lifetime. But for active or younger men, treatment may help them live longer.
So before you decide to have a
PSA test, talk with your doctor. Ask about your risk for prostate cancer, and
discuss the pros and cons of testing. Some men will not want to live with the
side effects of treatment. Other men are more concerned about survival. It is
important to learn all you can and talk to your doctor before making a
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine PSA tests to look for prostate cancer.
The USPSTF found that testing does more harm than good. Men who are tested may end up getting treatment they
don't need, and those treatments can cause other problems. Few, if any, men are helped to live longer by having
the test.
Other expert groups, such as the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Urological Association (AUA), disagree.
For more information, see the topic Prostate Cancer.
Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.
Scher HI, et al. (2015). Cancer of the prostate. In VT DeVita Jr et al., eds., DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg's Cancer Principles and Practices of Oncology, 10th ed., pp. 932–980. Philadelphia: Walters Kluwer.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerChristopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology
Current as ofJuly 26, 2016
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Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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PROFESSIONAL Theatre Company , Rain or Shine, is promising a swashbuckling treat at Witley Court.
There will be an open-air performance of the pirate adventure, Treasure Island on Saturday, August 30, from 7.30pm, and audiences are being advised to bring seating or rugs for an al fresco treat for all ages.
Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story is brought to theatrical life in a new adaptation by James Reynard.
Mr Reynard, who also directs the play, says "This tale of buccaneers, greed, courage, betrayal and pieces of eight has both humour and brutality. My adaptation is very much an adult production which can also be enjoyed by children and is an ideal choice for an outdoor family theatrical event".
Tickets are available on 01452 521575, or online on www.rainorshine.co.uk


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Sea — August 2004
By Capt. Bill Pike
Storm Warning
|For the edification and benefit of benighted boobs.
The most intense storm I've ever crossed courses with occurred on Lake Superior in November of 1981. It was a bruiser, at least from the standpoint of wave height, which topped out at about 35 feet.
Even old salts get jittery under such conditions. Everybody onboard the M/V Buffalo that night, experienced or not, flat forgot about sleep, opting instead to gather communally in the wheelhouse in bulky orange survival suits to watch the ship fight the sea in the eerie glow of her big spotlights. Freezing water sloshed in the companionways not far below. Sweaty silence prevailed as the 635-foot ore carrier rhythmically submerged her massive bow beneath the monster waves. And triumphant cheers arose each time she came back up, vibrating like a giant tuning fork struck with a vast, celestial hammer.
Other storms have enlivened my seafaring career, of course. And some, while not as intense as the one on Lake Superior, made much more profound impressions. Take, for example, the hurricane that hit the Gulf of Mexico in the autumn of 1985. It turned me into a true believer, wholly committed to keeping boats and bad weather separate. I've stuck to my guns ever since, too, even trotting out my convictions publicly from time to time for the edification and benefit of benighted boobs who decide to "ride out" approaching hurricanes onboard their boats to see what it's "really like out there."
Wind speeds of over 100 mph were recorded for that storm, along with a penchant for fluky changes in direction. The darn thing was so fickle-minded, in fact, that it completely fooled the oil-company experts of the day—they failed to evacuate a large offshore natural gas platform while winds were light and helicopters could still fly, a miscalculation they eventually addressed by sending a tug-supply vessel to the rescue, the one I happened to be working on at the time—the M/V Point Liberty.
The Liberty was a wonderful boat, constructed of welded steel plate by Halter Shipyards at Moss Point, Mississippi, with an LOA of 197 feet, a beam of 40 feet, and draft of 15 feet. She sported twin EMD engines, a towing winch the size of a tract house, and a yacht-like interior.
The storm wasn't far off when we backed down on the platform, and the dangers and difficulties inherent in safely getting 35 guys hundreds of feet down onto a heaving deck in thunderous seas is worth a story in itself. Suffice it to say that on the way back to the base in Cameron, Louisiana, every one of them got seasick. While some simply flaked out on the galley floor like disaster victims, the rest took a more active role, heaving their guts out in all sorts of inappropriate places. The Liberty's crew was queasy as well, and exhausted—we'd been running shorthanded for months due to a downturn in the oil and gas biz.
Night came, and with it torrential rain. From my plush seat at the helm, I caught myself looking astern periodically, trying to keep tabs on the storm breathing down our necks, as if I might be able to see it and somehow stop it.
Next page > Part 2: The hurricane was upon us. My eyes weren't working. My radar wasn't working. And my mind wasn't working too well, either. > Page 1, 2
This article originally appeared in the July 2004 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.


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Free-to-air TV: Friday, December 21
Better Homes and Gardens, Channel Seven, 7pm
This week on Better Homes and Gardens, the show designed to promote a magazine that has become a show for people who want to do DIY vicariously, Dr Harry is dancing with dogs. Fast Ed, meanwhile, proves he is still the happiest human being ever to enter a kitchen, as he demonstrates how to cook budget-cut oyster blade steak like a MasterChef contestant eliminated in round one. Also, Graham proves it's not just the kids who can create presents people will pretend to want, with a wheat grass table runner.
Louis Theroux: America's Most Dangerous Pets, ABC2, 8.30pm
Despite the montage of big cats, primates and other wild animals kept in surreal domestic situations that opens tonight's trademark Theroux investigative journalism effort, it's surprising how much the first instinct in watching is to think Theroux must have made for a very timid child and is possibly a bit of a wet blanket as a parent. Theroux's first thought is to ponder why anyone would want a tiger. Surely everyone at some stage has wished for a big cat, snake or pachyderm at least for a little while? Yet as Theroux takes his trademark disdain for a walk around the world of some of the US's most eccentric animal lovers, his cynicism feels like the odd one out, as though he is pouring water over dreams. Sure, the class for crazy women with monkeys is a whole new world of scary, but for the most part this is a sequence of encounters in which we learn that many animals instinctively don't like Theroux - and it's often hard not to agree.
Who Do You Think You Are? Channel Nine, 10am
It's hard to comprehend the journey of an African American into his slavery heritage, yet that is only half the adventure Emmitt Smith, a multiple Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboy (who also won Dancing with the Stars) goes on in this extraordinary episode. That an African American in the present day is forced to turn to the ''colored'' set of county records over the ''white'' set is nothing short of startling, so it is downright boggling to see him discover his ancestors listed as inventory in another person's will, with a dollar value for all five given at $2000. Smith also discovers that his ancestors were not only slaves but slave owners. There is something tremendous about such a successful man facing the reality of such severe segregation only a few generations back, and choosing to focus on the strength of enslaved family members over the actions of the biologically related individuals who traded in humanity. Emmitt Smith is quite clearly a strong man, but it is his strength in the face of a harsh reality that makes this compelling viewing.
Cowboy Builders, 7Two, 10pm
How can you not love a show that helps those who ''paid for a builder and got a cowboy'', dedicated to hunting cowboy builders, those of the ''shoddy work, shocking principles and rotten tradesmen'' variety? Tonight hosts Dominic Littlewood and Melinda Messenger come to the rescue of a Leeds couple. We have crime, punishment, retribution and restoration, plus DIY renovation porn as Messenger badgers every tradesman and retailer in Britain for a helping hand.
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Lemon Meltaways
Makes 35 to 40 cookies
11/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1. Using an electric mixer, combine the cookie ingredients; beat at a low speed, scraping often, until well-mixed, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Divide dough in half; shape each into a 1-by-8-inch log. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a sharp knife, cut each log into 1/4-inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until set; cookies will not brown. Cool on wire rack.
4. Use an electric mixer to combine the frosting ingredients; beat at medium speed until fluffy. Spread on cooled cookies.
— Land O'Lakes, submitted by Jean Summers


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X Marks the SpotLanguage brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.
It was Xmas time, and Xavier eXeter eXhorted his family for an eXpedition downtown to eXpend some funds for the usual holiday gift eXchange. As soon as they boarded the eXpress train, his Auntie Jen began to eXpound on her eXpectations for the trip.
"I assume you know that the full name of the holiday is Christmas?"
"Newspapers started it to save space, replacing 'Christ' with a cross."
"Very good. Do you know what else 'ex' means?"
"Well, it can mean 'outside' or 'former'."
"EXcellent. But sometimes, it doesn't seem related to the original word." She smiled, and Xavier could tell she had another one of her games in mind. He returned the grin, eXcited for her to eXplain the rules.
"Now, if you lose weight in January, how might you describe your loss?"
Xavier thought for a few seconds, and then his face eXploded with delight.
"Very good! What else?" Jen often had more than one up her sleeve. His father claimed that's why she often wore long-sleeved blouses.
She chuckled and made a mental note. " I hadn't thought of that one. How about 'EX-size', spelled C-I-S-E ?"
"Oohhh," he groaned. "Okay, do you have any more?"
How many of Auntie Jen's words can you get?
1. Formerly enough
2. Former building location
3. Another former building location
4. Formerly in good health
5. Used to make a living in the movies
6. Former mining area
7. Formerly eaten by chickens
HintIn #3 and #7, the regular word and the "ex" word sound alike, but aren't spelled quite the same.
Answer1. Ex-ample
2. Ex-tract
3. Ex-site (excite)
4. Ex-hale
5. Ex-act
6. Ex-claim
7. Ex-pecked (expect)
What Next?
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In August, Jamie McMurray confirmed that he had signed a contract extension to return to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2013.
Two months later, McMurray learned that Bass Pro Shops was leaving his team for Stewart-Haas Racing and the organization had to find replacements for the 18-race sponsor.
MORE: Top 25: Montoya | Team grades | What NASCAR drivers make
That's the way things have gone since McMurray enjoyed a career year in 2010, winning three races for Ganassi, including the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 at Indy.
Since then, McMurray has finished in the top 10 just seven times in the past two seasons and finished 27th and 21st in the Sprint Cup standings.
Given that, signing a contract extension likely was his biggest move of the year.
He still has faith in Earnhardt Ganassi, however.
"We're working really hard to get our program better," McMurray said. "I want to be a part of this program and get it back to where this was in 2010."
Highlights: McMurray had back-to-back top-10 finishes at Las Vegas and Bristol in March, leading many to believe that he and Earnhardt Ganassi finally had snapped out of their 2011 slump. But McMurray would score just one more top-10 all season and led just 58 laps.
Low point: You could say it was the start of the season, when he wrecked in the Daytona 500 and then blew an engine the following week at Phoenix. But the ultimate insult came in October at Talladega, where McMurray had a chance to win for the third time. He led 38 laps and had one of the cars to beat before getting swept into a crash with just five laps remaining and finished 34th.
Defining moment: When teammate Juan Pablo Montoya crashed into a jet dryer during the Daytona 500, sparking a huge fire and leading to a long delay, it was an embarrassment for the organization. Why? Montoya wrecked under caution when a suspension part broke on his car. McMurray then spun at the end of the race and the team originally believed his wreck was caused by the same problem. That's the way things have gone for Earnhardt Ganassi the past two years.
Outlook for 2013: McMurray and Montoya can't help but be hopeful, because things seemingly can't get any worse.
The organization has worked for more than a year to try to change the way they build their cars to make them faster. A new engine deal with Hendrick Motorsports should also help.
McMurray can only hope for the best.
"We haven't had a very good year, but our cars haven't been very fast," he said. "Juan and I run within 50 feet of each other every single week. We've got to get our cars better."


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Four times a year the Department for Transport publish the figures [2] that estimate the previous quarter's casualty figures.
Figures for spring 2013 have just been released and show a 12% increase in cycle casualties against the previous year's estimate.
Since cycle use - by at least one count [3] - is growing substantially, it is inevitable that even if the overall risk of cycling falls, cycle casualties will still rise.
However, whereas motor traffic data is supplied for each quarter, cycle traffic changes quarter on quarter are not reported, as they are highly seasonal. For instance April and June 2012 had rainfall levels 76% and 103% above the long term average, whereas in 2013 they were 12% and 37% below respectively. The better weather during this period is almost undoubtedly linked to relatively higher cycling levels, and correspondingly higher casualty figures.
CTC has called on the Government to improve recording of cycling data to ensure that we have a better understanding of how many injuries are happening per person, or per mile travelled, not just counting the crashes.
Chris Peck
CTC Policy Coordinator
None of this should lead to complacency on behalf of Government and local authorities: far too many cycle casualties are the result of poorly designed infrastructure, high speed limits and inadequately enforced road traffic law.
If we are to achieve Get Britain Cycling's [4] targets of 10% of trips by bike by 2025 and 25% by 2050, we will need an infrastructure which supports a far wider range of people cycling than presently, and we'll also need to put an end to bad driving by having better enforced road traffic law.


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Posted 5 years ago
(40 items)
This is the second of the 3 vintage afghans. It is large enough to fit on the double bed without falling over the edges. very comfortable and soft. It makes a great cover while setting on the couch or on the bed for a nap.
Was crocheted by My mother when she was still very active with the leisure arts.


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POLICE rushed to Throop Mill after reports of a man seen with two knives.
A call was made to police at 2.27pm on Saturday afternoon from a member of the public.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said a man had been detained. He was released and driven back to Throop Mill around 4.30pm by a police officer.
His two knives, which he described as throwing knives, were kept by officers at Winton station.
The Bournemouth man, who did not want to be named, said he had nothing bad to say about the police, who were 'just doing their job'.
He said he had been sat by the river splitting sticks with the knives and hoped he would be able to have them returned to him.
Visitors to the beauty spot say they saw around six police cars parked up at the Mill on Saturday.
Kieran Selby, who is involved in the campaign to save Throop Mill, said he went past around 3pm and saw all the police cars after hearing sirens.
He said people were still being allowed to walk down to the river and there were lots of visitors around at that time.
Steve Johns, from Townsend, who was fishing by the river, said the man who had been quizzed had been speaking to him before the incident.
"He seemed a proper gentleman. He was stood on the bridge talking to us; he obviously loved the countryside as he was quite knowledgeable.
"He left and then came back for his walking stick. Then we saw the police before he walked back over the bridge with them following him.
"He wasn't cuffed or anything like that; just walking in front of them. He seemed like a lovely old gentleman."
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said on Saturday evening that they had been called following a sighting of a male in possession of two knives in the area of the river by Throop.
They located and spoke to a man in his 50s, in lawful possession of props used in a knife throwing act.
The spokesperson said the man had been practising near the riverbank.
They added: "No criminal offence was disclosed and no further action will be taken in this matter."


text:
Classic traditional save the date Gifts. Customize the save the date design with personalized details or names, and easily change the save the date graphic, image, background or color. Add a monogram or photo to personalize this design. These gifts make the perfect present for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and holidays. Wedding - Birthday - Party - Make your own custom design from blank template.
40% Off wood wall art, wrapped canvas prints, wall decals, and posters USE CODE: ZAZSPACESALE USE COUPON CODE: ZAZSPACESALE


text:
Woodworking is a dying art that the current generation of DIYers just aren't taking the time to learn. Woodworking is often a skill passed down from generation to generation and as technology creeps more and more into our everyday lives our dads will more likely know how to setup a POP email server than cut a dovetail joint.
I'm in the camp of wishing I knew more or anything about woodworking. Yes I can cut and measure lumber but there is no art to it. The beauty in woodworking (from what I've heard) is getting to a point where you can go away from plans and start customizing your own furniture or other project.
Here are 13 woodshops that any woodworker or not will love. The clean floors and flawless tools will make any tool junky envious.
Check out the rest of our woodworking articles and if you are into awesome looking workshops from notable makers, builders, DIYers and craftsman, then you must visit Tool Crave.


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Hello everyone!! The blogging week has started, and I wanted to brighten up your Monday with this special video. If you remember the pre-wedding session I shot for Hui Ling and Yew Cheong (Check out their photos HERE), during the shoot, we also had videographer Eddie Lee on board that day to film all the behind the scenes action! :D
Which means, you'll be able to see how some of the shots were set up and made, the sweet smiles from the couple themselves, and unfortunately how DAGGY I look while shooting - oh yes, that means cap, yellow rain boots, and all!!
Enjoy the video, and hope this adds a little sparkle to start your week! :D For those viewing this post via RSS feed, you can view the video HERE.
For those who want to have this for your pre-wedding, please contact us! We'd love to create something fabulous for you! Ok, Eddie will create something fabulous for you! haha, but I promise I'll take some pwetty piccies?? :D
Alright, the past week has been absolutely insanely busy and packed, but I'll be back really soon on this blog space with some special pictures and the like! So please stay tuned or follow us on the facebook page where ALOT (and I mean TONNES AND TONNES) of sneak peeks and photos are leaked out before they make it to this blogspace so stay in touch with us there too! :D


text:
Paid Sick Leave – Exempt Staff Personnel
The university sick leave policy is intended to encourage the accumulation of sick leave to cover extended illness. It is recognized that employees may become ill or injured, and, therefore, unable to perform their assigned duties. Accumulated sick leave should not be considered as earned time off with pay and may not be granted in this manner. Abuse of the privilege may be deemed justification for discharge of the employee.
It is urged that all employees be impressed with the value of accumulating a balance of up to 90 paid sick leave days to cover potential periods of extended illness or injury. An employee needs approximately 65 days of accumulated sick leave to cover the 60-calendar day waiting period plus 30 calendar days for processing time before receiving a check for long-term disability benefits under the university's salary continuance program. Additional processing time may be needed by the salary continuance insurance company for certain health care situations.
Paid sick leave is accrued beginning on the employee's effective date of employment; but for a new employee, it is not available for use until the beginning of the calendar month following satisfactory completion of the probationary period. Paid sick leave may be accumulated up to a maximum balance of 90 workdays. Paid sick leave must be used in half-day or full-day increments. Sick leave balance can be found on Self Serve Banner under Employee Leave Balances. For accrual information, see Exempt Paid Sick Leave Accrual.
Paid sick leave applies only if the employee is actively employed at the time of illness or injury. Paid sick leave is to be used only for the illness or injury of the employee, including maternity-related conditions, or for the care of a family member during an illness or injury of that family member. The total paid sick leave used for the care of a family member shall not exceed 5 days in any fiscal year.
If absent from work because of illness or injury, an employee must notify his or her supervisor according to departmental regulations for reporting absences. Failure to notify his or her supervisor within the departmental prescribed time may result in disapproval of sick leave benefits and/or disciplinary action up to and including discharge. If there is no specific departmental regulation, the employee is required to notify his or her supervisor no later than 30 minutes after the beginning of the work shift.
The university may require for any sick leave, and particularly sick leave requested on the day before or after a paid holiday or vacation period, a medical statement from a health care provider confirming the illness of the employee before granting sick leave benefits. At its sole discretion, the university reserves the right to assign the unused sick leave balance or any portion thereof toward time taken off which would otherwise qualify for sick leave. Whenever an employee is on sick leave, including sick leave for maternity-related conditions, the employee may be required to submit to the university periodic statements from the employee's health care provider. Failure to provide requested evidence may result in disapproval of sick leave benefits and/or disciplinary action up to and including discharge.
Sick leave payments will cease whenever an employee enters a layoff status.


text:
For most people, all it takes to get to the grocery store is a set of car keys. That's not the case for many senior citizens, who may not feel comfortable driving anymore.
Older residents want to retain their independence, so they resist any hint of a caregiver in their homes. Helpful adult children offer to drive their parents to doctor's appointments, but that gets old when family and job demands conflict.
Enter Mountain View resident Nanci Cooper, who has seen this scenario played out many times over the 30 years she's worked with seniors, visiting them in their homes to cook or carry on conversations as a volunteer through a Santa Clara County program.
Her solution to the problem? First and Main, a senior shuttle service scheduled to ferry Los Altos seniors who live independently, not in assisted-living centers or other facilities.
Cooper is in the midst of securing the proper city permits, which she hopes to have by mid-April.
"Seniors often don't want strangers in their homes, or they feel like the caregiver will just hang out," said Cooper, who also runs Cooper ElderCare Consulting to solve dilemmas like this one and to recruit helpers. "The (adult) children are pushing the caregiver thing, but parents really don't want it."
First and Main will serve as an alternative to hiring full-time help, "just another tool," Cooper said. Instead of having someone underfoot in their homes, seniors will be able to call 279-7616 for a ride anywhere within Los Altos, seven days a week. Seniors will get door-to-door pickups and drop-offs without reservations for $400 a month.
The cost will run less than it would to hire a caregiver, but more than depending on friends or relatives. Unlimited rides will be available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, with shorter hours – 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. – on Saturdays and Sundays, major holidays included.
Cooper's next goal is to apply for grants to buy a disabled-friendly van, something she can't afford now. Therefore, initially the shuttle service will accommodate only those active seniors who aren't comfortable driving themselves anymore.
The success of the business depends on providing short trips, which Cooper said is the only way she could be profitable without a government subsidy. That means that she won't service Los Altos Hills, but she hopes to expand in the future.
Cooper has two vehicles in her fleet and plans to be a driver.


text:
The Vallejo Raiders midget division football team beat the Sacramento Hurricanes in the Northern California championship game.
This year there is no championship game for their level in Florida but the Raiders would like to send the team to Las Vegas.
The Raiders are asking the public to help with donations. They need transportation, lodging and food for 25 participants.
Payments can be sent to P.O. Box 1172, Vallejo, CA 94590 or call 712-7543 for more information.


text:
Grow Your Own Wooden Pale Green Planter (H)1220mm
Grow Your Own Wooden Pale Green Planter (H)1220mm
Home Delivery
Unavailable for Home delivery. Please check your local store stock.
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Product Details
Product Information
Grow climbing plants & herbs & enhancing garden space with this Grow your own planter.
- Suitable for external use
- Garden
Features and Benefits
- Made using responsibly sourced, Forest Friendly timber
Technical Specifications
|Grow your own
|Colour description
|Pale green
|Pack quantity
|Height (mm)
|Width (mm)
|Depth (mm)
Health and Safety
Please note that this item has additional safety or regulatory datasheets available. The product may have possible health and safety hazards covered in these documents. Refer to the container for full information and always follow the instructions.
Help & Advice
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How to build a brick planter
Brick planters are an ideal place to grow plants that need different soil conditions from the ones in your flowerbeds. A raised planter is also easier to reach if you find it difficult to crouch or kneel at ground level and is just four low brick walls built in a square or rectangular shape.
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Buyer's guide to plant pots
When choosing which plant pot to make use of there are a range of factors to consider. Picking the right container can end up making a big difference to your plant's health and life span, as well as the overall effect or style which is created by your garden. Before making any purchases you need to have enough information to match your plant with a suitable container, or the other way round.
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This pale green timber Blooma corner planter is ideal for displaying your flowering plants. Guarantee - 1 year Self assembly - Easy assembly
This pale green timber Blooma herb wheel planter is ideal for displaying your flowering plants. Guarantee - 1 year Self assembly - Easy assembly


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Make the TV room a family room again
Steve Kindig has been an electronics enthusiast for over 30 years. He has written extensively about home and car A/V gear for Crutchfield since 1985. Steve is also a volunteer DJ at community radio station WTJU, where he is a regular host of the American folk show "Atlantic Weekly," as well as the world music program "Radio Tropicale."
More from Steve Kindig
Heads up!Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.
"Please turn off all personal electronics"
His Android™, her iPad®, their 3DS player. With nonstop communication and instant entertainment at our fingertips we can sit side-by-side with family or friends without actually sharing what we're watching, playing, or listening to. And sometimes that's exactly what we want. But there's a lot to be said for engaging with others — talking, listening, laughing.
In these busy times simply enjoying a movie together may present a scheduling challenge, but give it a try. Read on to learn how three Crutchfield families use their audio/video systems to share the fun. You'll also find some options for putting together a system your whole family will love.
Mighty Machines, movie nights, and more
|Crutchfield Human Resources Manager Trista and family
"We don't watch that much TV, but we're big fans of Netflix® instant streaming. Our two boys (3-1/2 and 2) love Mighty Machines, and we all get a kick out of YouTube™. Especially our 8-year-old daughter, who will suddenly appear, microphone in hand, belting out karaoke tunes to music videos.
"The TV never stays on during dinner, except for our 'indoor picnic' movie nights.We spread out a blanket on the living room floor, lay out the food and drinks, and let the kids pick the movie." -Trista, Human Resources Manager
A no-hassle system for streaming video at your house
The Sony KDL-46HX750 combines a spectacular picture with access to great Internet content, like movies and TV shows from Netflix. The room-friendly Bose® CineMate® 1 SR home theater speaker system produces amazingly big sound. Its low-profile sound bar goes near your TV, and the wireless Acoustimass® module can be placed just about anywhere and still pump out the bass. The Sony Tablet S can stream music and video to the TV via Wi-Fi®, and its colorful touchscreen is a fun way to control this entire system.
Video gaming: Screen time is team time
|Mike, Crutchfield Senior Creative Director, and his kids
"The home theater system in our family room really gets a workout. But with busy schedules including homework and after-school activities, it can be tough to find time for the whole family to sit down and watch a movie together. Luckily, there are shorter chunks of time that are perfect for firing up our Nintendo® Wii™. My 8-year-old son and I alternate between the team play of Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 and going head to head in the Mario Kart™ driving game. My 10-year-old daughter got us into DanceDance Revolution™, which really gets you up out of your chair and moving." -Mike, Senior Creative Director, Home Electronics
How to pump up the gaming experience at your house
Sony's KDL-55EX720 is modestly priced as 3D TVs go. Its 1080p screen provides a vivid picture for games and movies, yet the TV is fairly compact. The Denon AVR-1912 connects to your network and is one of our most affordable receivers to offer built-in Apple® AirPlay®, which lets you use any iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod touch® as a wireless music source. And the Energy RC-Micro 5.1 is an amazing value in a compact speaker system. Its clear, spacious sound can fill a small- to medium-sized room, and it gets rave reviews from our customers.
A projector turns our house into a movie house
|Crutchfield Brand Manager Julie with her family
"We have a dedicated TV room for movie and TV viewing. But we also have a projector that we can pull out when we want more of a movie theater experience. Between our three kids (7, 3, and 2 years old) and their friends, we can end up with quite a roomful!
"In our long family room we put the projector on a dresser on the back wall, and set up a portable screen in front. Our video source is our Apple TV®. It's super-compact, and lets us download movies from iTunes® or stream video from Netflix®. It accesses the content wirelessly, so we don't have to run a cable from our computer." -Julie, Brand Manager
How to create a movie theater at your house
The Epson 3010 projector produces a razor-sharp 1080p picture, and handles 3D video sources, too. The Apple TV media streamer can instantly download an astounding variety of movies and TV shows, as well as play everything in your iTunes music library.
If you're planning a full-on home theater, the Marantz SR7005 receiver lets you hear the full sonic impact of movie soundtracks and music. And the voice-matched Definitive Technology speakers are anchored by powered towers in front for a double dose of deep bass, plus an unusually muscular center channel speaker and matching surrounds.