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Fantastic Friday: Coffee Paraphernalia
Unknown to both my wife and I, our coffee grinder was losing its edge.
Nearly four years ago, Anna bought me a Bodum Bistro Grinder for my birthday. It was an awesome little grinder for a great price.
I used it every single day. Until one day, it broke.
We replaced it with the king of the hill: a Baratza Virtuoso.
And wow. The first cup of coffee using our new grinder was a revelation.
Who knew a great coffee grinder was so important? I mean, I knew they were important, but seriously the difference was huge.
In addition to the new grinder, the other (somewhat recent) addition to my coffee arsenal is the Kalita Wave. We'll get to it in a minute. But I have to say that the Wave has officially replaced the AeroPress as my daily brewer. What a time to be alive.
All that said, this week you get to peek into the four key components of my daily coffee. (Since I keep the list to just four things, one thing had to leave out was my kitchen scale.)
1. Crema.co
It all starts with beans. Freshly roasted coffee beans make all the difference.
Here in Kansas City, we have local coffee roasters coming out our ears. Such as PT's, Broadway, Oddly Correct, Messenger Coffee, Roasterie, Thou Mayest, Parisi, Post, and Second Best. To name a few.
However, you may prefer to have freshly roasted beans delivered to your door. This is great for folks who don't like going outside or for those who don't have a great coffee roaster nearby where you can easily get access to freshly roasted coffee.
If you're searching for a coffee delivery service, I highly recommend Crema.co.
Crema.co is like Netflix but for coffee. You add the coffees that you want to your list, and then you select how often you want a bag of coffee shipped to you.
This differs from coffee subscription services like Blue Bottle, because Crema lets you pick what you get. Where as with Blue Bottle, you get what they're roasting.
I've gotten beans from Crema and I was very impressed. Great service, great pricing, great coffee.
2. Baratza Virtuoso Grinder
This is the grinder we went with, and it's fantastic. Here at the Blanc household, we like to buy things for life. So we went with a grinder that is excellent at its job, but also should last us for quite a while.
3. Kalita Wave, Pour-over Coffee Maker
As I mentioned last week, this pour-over coffee maker has become my new favorite.
What I like about the Wave is that it can make a larger cup of coffee than my AeroPress (350g+ versus 250g), and I think the coffee it makes is much better than what you get from the v60.
I know everyone says that the AeroPress is super duper easy to clean. And it is, but I think a pour-over contraption like this is even easier to clean. You just dump the filter into the trash and rinse out the dripper itself. There are no moving parts, no lids, etc.
4. Double-Walled Glass Bottle
There are about 150 different variations of this glass bottle on Amazon. I'm pretty sure they're all made at the same place, and everyone gets a turn putting their logo on the front.
What I like about my double-walled glass compared to my stainless-steel thermos is that the bottle is easier to clean in the dishwasher and it doesn't fiddle with the flavor of my coffee.
Of course, the tradeoff is that the glass bottle doesn't keep my coffee as hot for as long.
The glass bottle is also great for cold drinks, since the outside of it won't sweat onto your desk.
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What better to go with awesome coffee than something to read? I'll be sharing some great quotes and articles in next week's edition of Fantastic Friday.
What's So Special About the AeroPress
In more ways than one, I grew up in a fussy coffee home. My parents didn't want me drinking coffee until I was 16 because they were concerned the caffeine would stunt my growth. Who knows.
My home was also fussy about coffee because my dad only ever brewed with a french press. I grew up thinking that brewing and drinking coffee was a special thing. I still think that.
I'm now 33, and have more than made up for the cups of coffee I missed out on the first half of my life. In my kitchen we have a cupboard dedicated entirely to coffee contraptions: a Mokapot; a stovetop espresso maker; an Espro brand french press, a classic Bodum french press, and a single-serving french press; a vacuum siphon coffee maker; two different styles of V60; the Clever Dripper; a Kalita Wave; an Able Kone system; and, of course, the AeroPress.
They're all great — each one is unique in its own way and brew method. The vacuum siphon pot is a lot of fun to use on special occasions; the Espro makes a large pot of coffee for guests; Able's Kone Brewing System looks cool; etc.
But the AeroPress is by far and away my favorite. And I know I'm not alone here.
The AeroPress has become this sort of cult classic, popular geeky way to brew coffee. Everyone with a Twitter account recommends it. There's even an AeroPress world championship competition. And yet, while you can go to your local hipster coffee shop and buy a french press or a pourover, you'd be hard pressed to find a shop that sells (much less even uses) the AeroPress.
So for something that isn't found in mainstream coffee shops (or even most "hipster" coffee shops), why all the hype? What makes the AeroPress so cool?
I've brewed over 1,000 cups of coffee with my AeroPress. Here's what I think is the good (and the bad) of the the AeroPress.
It's cheap to buy. If you're getting in to fussy coffee (or if you lose or demolish your AeroPress), a brand new one is just $25.
It's cheap to use. For one, filters are super cheap — a year's supply of paper filters cost just $4. And secondly, most AeroPress brew methods call for just 16-18g of coffee to brew a cup. There is very little waste.
Clean-up is easy. The AeroPress basically cleans itself as you use it. When you're done brewing a cup, you twist off the cap and pop the puck into the trash. Then rinse and let dry. (Though I will say that I don't think clean AeroPress cleanup up is quite as easy as with the V60. With the V60 you just toss the filter with grounds into the trash and then rinse the thing out.)
The AeroPress is easy to use when you're away from your nerdy home coffee tools. The markings on the side of the AeroPress are helpful for measuring out coffee and water. Obviously you won't need the markings if you're using a scale to measure. But I take my AeroPress camping and on vacation, so I'll pre-grind some coffee to take with me, and I know just how much water to add to make a great cup of coffee without having to guess or eyeball it.
These are things you probably already know about. What really makes the AeroPress such a great coffee maker is just how versatile it is. There are a lot of ways you can use it.
For my cupboardfull of aforementioned coffee brewing contraptions, each one has only one best way to brew coffee. The AeroPress has at least three different ways to brew coffee: espresso-like, pourover-esque, and french press-ish. Each way is completely legitimate and delicious.
Now, the AeroPress does have some cons of its own. As I mentioned above, it's not quite as easy to clean as the V60. Also, the AeroPress can't brew a big pot of coffee — for that, I use my Espro Press (the Chemex is also a fine choice).
In short, the AeroPress hype is real. If you like variety then the AeroPress lets you mix it up. If you mostly prefer this or that type of coffee, you can find a great way to brew it with the AeroPress. Regardless of the coffee beans or the style of coffee you prefer, there's a good way to brew it with the AeroPress.
Here's an interesting new company. Cups, profiled here by Alison Griswold for Inc., offers a $45/month subscription that gets you unlimited cups of coffee at certain local coffee shops. They began in Tel Aviv, grew to Jerusalem, and are now branching out in New York.
Charlie Burt has a great interview with Gregory Kolsto, the owner of Oddly Correct, one of KC's best local roasters and fussy coffee shops:
My mission in life, I think, is to make people feel something. I'm more interested in staff being kind and engaging with people coming through the door than being psyched about coffee. I mean, it has to be both, but because coffee has a tendency to be pretentious on the surface — like you almost expect it to be "hipsters" doing some weird thing with coffee — well, if you can engage people with kindness and information and art beyond that, I think its a beautiful thing. It's totally disarming to both the weird art world and the weird coffee world. I feel like we have a fun opportunity to engage people where they're at.
Zachary Crockett wrote a profile of Alan Adler and his story of inventing the Aerobie Pro disc and the AeroPress:
This is the story of how Adler and Aerobie dispelled the notion of industry-specific limitations and found immense success in two disparate industries: toys and coffee.
And you've gotta love this line, when comparing the marketing tactics of the Aerobie Pro in the '80s compared to how the word got out about the AeroPress in the early 2000s:
Whereas Alder had previously relied on traditional media and television to market his flying discs, the internet brought the AeroPress great success…
Now I think I'll go brew an afternoon cup of coffee. (Thanks, Mitch!)
Marines-turned-coffee-aficionados, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, writing for The Atlantic:
We've hung up our uniforms, we're in the kitchen, and we're making coffee. Great coffee. The kind that reminds you first thing in the morning of everything else you appreciate in life.
This is a fun and informative read (it's adapted from their $5 iBook, Perfect Coffee at Home). I think I'll go make a fresh cup right now.
An all-too-brief look at the smallest coffee shop in North America. Love the custom typeface and design work for the to-go paraphernalia.
The Kone Brewing System
In the far-right cupboard of our kitchen you'll find more than a few coffee contraptions. The most recent addition being the Kone Brewing System.
The Kone Brewing System is a custom fabricated coffee pot, built specifically for the Kone coffee filter.
The Kone filter is a reusable stainless steel filter originally designed for the Chemex pour over pot. The newest and best incarnation of the Kone filter (I think this is the third version Able has made), as well as its accompanying custom fabricated brewing system, were Kickstarted thirty times over last June.
I backed at the $125 level, which got me the whole brewing system with filter as a reward. And it all arrived about two weeks ago. I've since brewed 4 pots of coffee with my Kone Brewing System and they've all been quite delicious.
The Brewing System
The first thing I noticed after opening the box is how big the Kone Brewing System is. I was expecting the Brewing System would hold around 500ml of coffee, but it actually can hold twice that amount.
The Brewing System is made up of four components: the pot, the filter, the filter casing, and the lid.
When brewing, the filter rests inside the casing which rests on top of the pot. When done, you remove the top casing (using the rubber heat shield grip), and place the lid on top of the pot.
It's an extremely handsome rig, and I'm very impressed with the design. It looks great on the breakfast or dinner table, and it looks great sitting on the shelf in our kitchen.
There is no doubt that the guys at Able put a lot of thought and attention into the entire Kone Brewing System. Everything — from the packaging to the included card of instructions to the filter and ceramic pot themselves — exudes attention to detail, care, and thoughtfulness.
Alas, the Kone Brewing System can only be used with the Kone filter. The ceramic top-piece which holds the filter is, as I mentioned, custom fabricated specifically for the Kone filter. There is no internal "V" shape which could accommodate a paper filter if you wanted — you must use the Kone metal filter.
The Kone Filter
They say the advantages of using a metal filter rather than paper are: (1) reusable; (2) you never have to pay for paper filters again; and (3) metal filters allow more oils from the coffee bean to pass through when brewing, thus making a fuller cup of coffee
You can't argue with 1 and 2. And if you are making a big pot of pour over every single day, in the long run a metal filter will pay for itself.
As for the taste. Well, I personally haven't been able to tell any significant difference between a cup of coffee brewed with a paper filter and one brewed with a metal filter. In fact, if I had to chose, I'd pick paper filters.
The AeroPress is certainly my favorite brewing contraption, and I use paper filters with it. I even have a metal disk filter that fits my AeroPress and I haven't noticed any difference when using it rather than the paper filters.
One of the disadvantages to using a metal filter is that some of the "coffee dust" gets through the filter and into the bottom of your cup of coffee. Such as the grit you get when brewing with a normal french press.
Daily Brew?
When it comes to the day-to-day practicality of using the Kone Brewing System, it is not going to be my new daily driver.
For one: compared to the AeroPress or v60, cleanup of the Kone is more involved and tedious because I have to rinse and scrub the filter to get the coffee grinds out of it. Secondly, the Kone Brewing System is intended for making several servings of coffee — it's a lot of coffee gear to use and clean for the 10-ounce cup I usually brew each morning.
I see the Kone Brewing System as being akin to my Siphon vacuum pot. The Siphon is quite impractical for day-to-day use, but it's great for when company is over because it's so fun to use. The Kone is in a similar category (making table-side pourover is always fun), and it can make almost 3 times as much coffee as my siphon.
If however, I was regularly brewing a larger pot of coffee instead of just my single cup, then a big pour over pot like this is just what I would use each day.
If you already own the Kone filter, the Brewing System is $120 by itself. Otherwise it's $160 with the filter.
Being one of the Kickstarter backers I was privy to much of the behind-the-scenes of what goes in to the molding, firing, and packaging of the Kone Brewing System. And without significant economies of scale, $160 is probably as affordable as Able could get it. Which is unfortunate because as much as I like the Kone Brewing System, $160 is a hard price to swallow.
My verdict?
As cool and attractive as it is, it's incredibly hard to justify the extra cost of the Kone Brewing System over a Chemex. The Chemex is just as capable of a coffee maker, but it's one-third the price, holds 10-percent more liquid, works great with the Kone filter, and also works with paper filters.
Some of the custom lingo found in a few independent coffee shops. I have yet to encounter a coffee whop with a menu item for a Breve Americano, but a "U.S.A. J.A.M." from Trabant's could be close.
Did you recently come into possession of an AeroPress, a siphon pot, a Clever dripper, a V60, or the like? Well, then you'd probably enjoy spending some time here next time you're relaxing and drinking your coffee.
For the AeroPress especially because there are so many ways to brew a great cup of coffee with it. Unlike a French Press which has pretty much one best way to brew (coarse grind, 4-minute brew time, stir half way), the AeroPress can make a great cup of coffee with so many different variants.
Curiously, the Brew Methods site doesn't list the the 2012 world championship recipe. I came across this method last spring and have been brewing that way almost every day since.
The Espro Press
Since I'm caffeinated, I'll get right to it: The Espro Press makes an amazing cup of french press coffee.
These things are finally starting to show up for sale, so it's time to review the one I got from Kickstarter back in April.
The original Espro Press is an 8-ounce single-serving press pot. I'd never even heard of it before I saw their project on Kickstarter, where their aim was to build a 32-ounce version. Since I am genetically predisposed to back any coffee-related project on Kickstarter, I pitched in my $85 and "pre-ordered" one of the large Espro Presses.
Their project was funded (more than five times over), and in early April of this year I received my 32-ounce (1,000 ml) press.
Seven days a week I brew a cup of coffee. Most days it's with my AeroPress, but once or twice a week I like to make french press. People often ask me what makes a better cup of coffee — AeroPress or french press? Well, they both make fantastic coffee with their advantages and disadvantages. I enjoy both for different reasons; they're both favorites, really.
So what is it about the Espro Press that makes it so much nicer than my Bodum french press? Two things:
1. Double-walled Steel Vessel
The pot is durable and rugged. And it's heavy. Since it's stainless steel, the best way to keep it clean is to hand wash it. But I've been putting it in the dishwasher since I got it and there are no rust spots.
The double-walled steel construction helps keep the coffee hotter for longer. Normally after brewing a pot of french press I would pour it into a vacuum thermos. Now I just bring the press downstairs to my office with me. Though the Espro Press doesn't keep the coffee piping for 3-4 hours like my vacuum thermos does, it does keep it hot enough for over an hour (about how long it takes me to finish a pot) and it means one less vessel to clean.
|Time (min.)
|Temp (F)
Since the press rod and lid are metal, they conduct a good amount of heat. Which means some heat is lost through the rod and lid, as well as the fact that the lid gets very hot to the touch. But it also means they are built to last — a tradeoff I'm willing to accept.
Double-walled stainless steel french presses are not a new thing. For example: the $100 Frieling french press has a high-quality double-walled stainless steel carafe, not unlike the Espro Press. But the Frieling has the same basic steel mesh filter that you'll find in a common Bodum french press.
What makes the Espro Press the Espro Press is the filter.
2. Double-Layered Micro Filter Basket With Rubber Seal
It's a double-layered micro filter basket with a rubber lip seal. It's unlike any other press pot filter I've seen, and it makes a great cup of coffee.
The filter basket is designed to keep as much of the grit out of the brewed coffee as possible. Here's a comparison of the grit left at the bottom of a cup of coffee by an AeroPress, an Espro Press, and a classic french press:
Obviously the AeroPress wins the "keep as much grit out as possible" competition because I used a paper filter.2 The Espro Press, however, has far less grit than the classic french press. And since the Espro uses a micro filter, you don't lose any oils to a paper filter. (Though I don't know that I'd even be able to tell the difference.)
I drank all three of the now empty cups of coffee you see above. Comparing the Espro Press to the French Press side by side like that I realized just how superior the Espro Press is. The classic french press coffee was noticeably more acidic and bitter (not horribly so) than the Espro Press coffee.
I've always loved the rich and bold coffee that a french press makes, and the Espro seems to make the best version of it.
The Espro Press, despite having a much more complex filter than your average french press, is still just as easy to clean.
Removing the filter basket from the pot, I simply rinse off the grounds from the sides of the basket, rinse out the pot itself, and then put the whole thing into the dishwasher.
The basket can be easily separated so as to clean out the middle zone of the double walls. Until today, I had yet to do this. Here's a is a shot of the grit that accumulated inside the middle filter wall after 30 or so uses of the Espro Press (and, for the record, I intentionally didn't clean the inside wall of the basket, because I wanted to see how dirty it would get over an extended period of time):
There's no reason to let even that much grit accumulate. Taking apart the filter basket is quite simple (it easily twists apart), allowing you to easily separate the outer and inner baskets every time you put it in the dishwasher.
The Best Recipe
The Espro Press carafe can hold 1,500 ml of water. But that leaves no room for any coffee grounds or the filter basket. You can brew up to 1,000 ml of coffee, but I've found that the best recipe is when you brew 750 ml.3
The reason I shy away from brewing the full 1,000 ml capacity is that large filter basket gets in the way when you are brewing that much liquid. About 230 ml of liquid are displaced into the basket and thus don't fully brew with the rest of the water.
Therefore, when brewing 1,000 ml of coffee I do 70 grams of grinds instead of the recommended 60. This causes the water below the basket to brew stronger, and then be diluted a bit once the basket is pressed down and the previously displaced water rejoins the brewed coffee.
The recipe I prefer is the one that Espro recommends for a 3/4 pot:
- 45 grams of coarsely ground coffee
- 750 ml of hot water
- Pour most, stir, pour the rest, wait 4 minutes, press
Now, if you're looking for an iPhone coffee app, I can recommend one of those as well.
- For comparison: I brewed a Bodum glass french press alongside the Espro Press. At the 4 minute mark, just after pressing the grounds, the Bodum coffee temperature was 158° — a temperature it took the Espro nearly 30 minutes to reach. ↵
- This is one reason I love the inverted AeroPress method with a coarse grind. It's not unlike brewing a pot of french press, but thanks to the paper filter you keep all of the grit out of the brewed cup. ↵
- For reference: the classic Bodum french press has a maximum brewing capacity of 750 ml. ↵
Exclusive, Hands-On Review of This Americano
I'm on location at The Roasterie coffee shop in Leawood, Kansas, where I was just handed a hot americano with steamed breve.
My initial impression is that it's delicious.
Americanos at The Roasterie are available hot or iced, and in four different sizes: 8, 12, 16, and 20 ounces. I chose the 12-ounce which, including the extra cost for the breve, cost around $3.
The drink comes in a white paper cup with an additional paper sleeve around the cup. The sleeve not only helps to keep the drink warm, but it also protects your hands from the heat of the cup. There is also a black plastic lid which secures to the top of the cup. The lid serves a dual purpose: it not only helps keep drink hotter for longer, it also acts as a low-level form of spill protection should you accidentally knock your coffee cup over.
After consuming nearly all the contents in this cup, I've found that drinking coffee is not only enjoyable and relaxing, it also stimulates the little grey cells when any sort of thinking and creative work is being done.
Highly recommended.
Not in a million years did I ever imagine that I'd link to a Martha Stewart article. But with Spring here and Summer on the horizon, this is a clever idea for use in iced coffee or tea:
If the ice is made from coffee, it won't dilute your drink as it melts. Freeze hot coffee (or tea, if you prefer) in an ice-cube tray, then use the cubes to cool your brew.
I'm not a big fan of just plain iced coffee, even toddy. I like iced lattes or iced tea. And I have a killer sweet tea recipe that I make using mint we have taking over the flower bed on the south side of our house.
Who doesn't love the AeroPress?
Makes me want to get the tan leather Smart Cover and pour coffee all over it.
Marco Arment reviewed his coffee Joulies several months ago. After I received mine I did a similar test but never ended up turning it into an article. Today, Marco linked to this report by Jeff Ammons and it reminded me that I at least ought to post the results I charted.
Considering Jeff's findings, and how well the Joulies did on Kickstarter, I wonder if there's a market for Hand-Curated Coffee Rocks.
iPhone Coffee Apps
Search the iTunes app store for "coffee" and you get over 700 search results. On my iPhone I have 7 coffee apps installed: 4 of them have similar functionality, 3 of them are unique from the others, and only 1 gets used on a regular basis.
Affogato is designed by Visioa, an iOS development studio based in England. The app is, more or less, an encyclopedia of coffee terms, types, and brews with the relevant descriptions and overviews. There are not many specific details directly related to how to brew a specific type of coffee. Rather, Affogato is primarily an informational app. Though some of the explanations of different drinks include an overview of what that drink's generic recipe is.
Decaf Sucks
Decaf Sucks is a social network-type of app, where users can (a) post suggestions and reviews of local coffee shops; and (b) find local coffee shops based on other peoples' reviews.
The idea is great. In reality, however, I have not found any real-life benefit from the app. In part because I am already aware of all the local coffee shops that Decaf Sucks recommends to me here in Kansas City. Also, when I have gone out of town the app has not had enough reviews for where I'm at to be able to recommend a local coffee shop to me. I've found that a question to my Twitter followers will yield more suggestions about where to go.
CaféTimer is nothing more than a 4-minute timer with a picture of a French Press. I love the simplicity of it: launch it and the timer starts. But I would love to see a few options to add different timers. I, for one, do not brew a pot of French Press coffee every day. Usually I brew my AeroPress, and sometimes I brew my siphon pot. Neither of these brew for 4 minutes.
And so, if I just want a quick coffee timer, my stove's timer is usually the quickest. Though I do also use Siri.
The Other Four Coffee Apps
There next 4 coffee apps are very similar to one another, and their primary function is providing brew recipes, timers, and detailed information on how to brew various types of coffee.
When I think of a coffee app, these are the types of apps I think of.
These are coffee apps that tell me the proper ratio of coffee grounds to water for the various types of brewing methods. Ratios are important because with them you can brew 8 ounces of coffee just as successfully as 32 ounces. And if you're brewing with a new type of method, detailed recipe-based apps like this give you a good starting point.
This app is done in conjunction with the well-known Intelligentsia coffee roasters and brewers. The app features a list of types of coffee beans, detailed instructions for brewing various types of coffee, and a timer.
The list of coffee beans is basically a catalog of their coffee offerings. With information on the bean, the roast, its origin, and more. I've never used this part of the app.
The timer is just that. It has pre-determined times based on the type of brew method you are using. You can select your brew method and then start your timer. The brewing methods section is great if you are learning a new way to brew some coffee. The provide detailed and illustrated instructions for Cafe Solo, Pourover, Chemex, Cupping, Siphon, and french press.
If you're just learning about these various brewing methods and need beginner-level instructions for how to prepare the coffee and the tools, then the Intelligentsia app is a great resource. However, after that initial instruction the app becomes less helpful in providing information for branching out how you brew your coffee.
Coffee Timer
The app "Coffee Timer!" is a reference app for setting the appropriate ratios of coffee grinds to water and for timing your brew. It comes default with settings for french press, siphon, chemex, popover, AeroPress, and the clever dripper.
Though I like the clever drawings on the front of the app's home screen I find the actual coffee-brewing page of the app difficult to adjust, especially on the fly as a task that you may be adjusting a little bit every day. But I do like that you can save your own recipes for various types of brewing methods, such as your single-serving french press and your family-sized french press or your extra-strong AeroPress and your regular-strength AeroPress.
Similar to the app "Coffee", Bloom also offers a list of coffee-to-water ratios and timers for various brew methods. It has the same six methods as "Coffee" does, but with Beehouse instead of AeroPress.
You can add your own recipes to the list, duplicate current ones unto creating your own, and even share those recipies via email, Twitter, or MMS. I created a recipe for AeroPess and Bloom was smart enough to assign an AeroPress-looking icon next to my new recipe. I made up a randomly-named recipe called "Shawn's Fave" and Bloom gave it a more generic coffee bean icon. I made a recipe for "Drip" and Bloom gave it the same generic bean icon.
I like the simplicity of Bloom's interface for a specific coffee brewing recipe in that it displays the coffee and water weights, the bloom and brew times, and has a timer ready to go all on the same screen.
However, what I do not like is that all information for custom recipes has to be entered in manually. There is no way to assign a ratio. Rather, you must manually adjust the coffee-to-water recipe. And therefore: (a) you need a different app to figure out the proper ratio: and (b) you can't adjust your coffee recipe on the fly.
Brew Control
My favorite of the whole lot of coffee apps is Brew Control. As someone who is already familiar with all my coffee tools, I have found Brew Control to be the most easy to use for my daily coffee brewing.
It is extremely simple to set the proper measurements for a brew method. It supports both weight (in grams) and volume (in ounces) for the coffee and the water. My mind thinks in ounces of water, but my scale thinks in weight.
I use Brew Control by first deciding how much coffee I want to brew and setting the water dial in ounces. Then I translate that to grams, and I have my coffee and water ratios. Adjusting the ratio is easy as well.
I don't know about you, but I brew my coffee a little bit different every day it seems like. And so I highly value the ability to tweak my recipe on the fly.
Brew Control has pre-defined recipes/ratios and timers for AeroPress, Auto drip, Chemex, espresso maker, pour over, french press, and siphon. You cannot add new brew methods to the list, but you can customize each current one as you see fit.
My only nit with Brew Control is the UI design. It could use a bit of polish, but only around the edges because the way the app's design and functionality are built in is actually quite clever. Or, in other words, I love the dials.
Of all the coffee apps I have, Brew Control is the only one I use regularly. And for coffee nerds with iPhones, this is the only one I'd recommend spending a few bucks on.
Exactly what it says on the tin. Brew Methods is a collection of links to coffee brewing methods. Including Aeropress, french press, pour over, siphon, stove top, etc. If you're feeling adventurous and want to deviate from the daily grind of how you normally brew your coffee, you're sure to find a few new methods here.
This is the same method that most of the world-champion AeroPressers use. (Via Nick Schaden.)
As I write this sentence there is a hot cup of coffee sitting next to me, brewed using an AeroPress.
I own a drip coffee maker, a Turkish coffee maker, two french presses, a stove-top espresso maker, a siphon, and now an AeroPress. The stove-top makers never get used; the drip maker is only for when lots of company comes over; the siphon gets used about once a week at most; and the french press gets used every single day. Until today.
Savvy readers of the site will know that pretty much every day of the week I brew half a pot of french press coffee. The siphon also makes great coffee and is a lot of fun to use. But it takes lot of work and is very impractical for daily coffee making.
This is where the AeroPress comes in. It makes a cup of coffee on par with the french press and the siphon and is the easiest of them all to clean up.
You can't ask if the AeroPress makes a better or worse cup of coffee than a french press or siphon — AeroPress brews coffee differently and brings out different flavors and tones. It is not better or worse, it is different, and yes, it is good. If you like french press and/or siphon then I bet you will also like AeroPress.
There are many ways to brew a cup of coffee with AeroPress. The common way is to brew it more similarly to how an espresso machine would: by pushing a little amount of water through a lot of fine grounds in a short amount of time. Once you've brewed and pressed your AeroPress your cup only has about 3 – 4 ounces of coffee in it. Very strong coffee. Then you can add hot water or hot milk.
There are some huge advantages to this type of brewing that you will never get with a french press:
You brew the AeroPress with 175-degree water. Using a bit cooler of water means you are far less likely to burn your grounds and so more likely to end up with a cup of coffee that is not very bitter or acidic.
You brew a lot of grounds with very little water and you do it quickly. This means you don't over extract the coffee and your chances of ending up with that smokey-burnt flavor is also far less.
After brewing you can then add piping hot water to your 4 ounces of AeroPressed coffee and bring the temperature back up to piping. I, for one, like my coffee to be as hot as possible.
All of the above advantages to the AeroPress can be overcome by someone who is good at making french press. There is no reason you can't brew a great cup of french press (I do it every day), but the margin for error is smaller with the AeroPress. However, there is one advantage that the AeroPress has which the french press or siphon will never have: clean up.
The AeroPress basically cleans itself as you use it. Once you're done pressing your coffee, you simply untwist the plastic filter cap, pop the coffee puck into the trash, rinse off the bottom of the rubber plunger, and you're done. Clean up takes about 10 seconds. By far, my biggest annoyance of making french press coffee every day is the cleanup.
If you're persnickety about your coffee and brew some every day then the AeroPress may be your cup of tea.
This is what you get when one of those posters that shows you the breakdown of all the different types of espresso drinks and their ingredients and ratios is turned into a short and cute animated video.
Kickstarter project to keep your coffee hotter for longer:
Coffee Joulies work with your coffee to achieve two goals. First, they absorb extra thermal energy in your coffee when it's served too hot, cooling it down to a drinkable temperature three times faster than normal. Next, they release that stored energy back into your coffee keeping it in the right temperature range twice as long.
"A blog about the intersection of coffee, creativity, and design."
I am so subscribed. (Thanks, @picdit.)
Making a Great Cup of French Press Coffee
My uncle Louie, who is recently retired from 40 years as a tech consultant, has acquired a taste for coffee. Just this week he bought a french press, and so he sent me an email asking for advice knowing that I use one every day.
Traditionally, the french press is the finest way to brew a cup of coffee. And despite popular opinion, it can actually be quicker than making coffee with a drip coffee maker. However, the french press is more involved for the person brewing the coffee, as each step is done by hand, but that is something I personally enjoy about it.
Great coffee starts with great ingredients: water and coffee beans. You should use only the best water — filtered, bottled, or (if you're my dad) reverse osmosisified — whenever possible.
I buy my beans whole and grind them just before brewing them. When coffee beans are ground is when they give out their flavor. To use pre-ground coffee beans is to use them at their worst. To grind them just before you brew them is to use them at their best. Moreover, if you use pre-ground coffee chances are you aren't using the coarseness for a french press. Pre-ground coffee is almost always too fine for proper brewing in a french press.
To grind your own coffee, I recommend a conical burr grinder. I use this Breville.
What many people do not know is that there is a big difference between a plain burr grinder and a conical burr grinder. In fact, most inexpensive burr grinders do a worse job grinding your coffee than a cheap blade grinder would.
One of the reasons people buy a burr grinder is because it will produce a more consistent grind (the biggest complaint against blade grinders). However, the average burr grinder has flat burrs. And though you will get consistent grind it often comes at the expense of the ground bean.
With conical burr grinders the burrs are shaped like a cone. This means there is a larger grinding area for the same diameter, allowing the conical burrs to spin at a slower speed. And you want your coffee to be ground slowly. Grinding at high speeds (as most regular, flat burr grinders do) heats up the burrs and results in burnt coffee beans and damaged grounds.
For brewing in a press you want an even and coarse grind. I set my Breville to the most coarse setting it has. (Around the holidays I like to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the grounds before I pour the water in. It gives the coffee a nice spice that goes well with snow and Christmas music.)
I use an electric kettle to boil the water. Once the water has reached a boil I let it cool for just a moment to let it stop bubbling, so the water is right around 200°. Then I pour the hot water into a measuring cup to get the right amount of ounces for how much grounds I'm brewing, and then I pour it into the french press over top of the coffee grounds.
Something which is of upmost importance is the ratio of coffee beans to water. Different people have different opinions about this, but I use 2 tablespoons of beans (measured before they're ground) for every 6 ounces of water. If that ratio results in coffee which is too strong for you then add the hot water to your cup after you've already brewed the coffee. If you water down your beans while brewing, then you'll over extract and end up with bitter coffee.
After I pour the water over the coffee grounds in the french press I let it sit for a few seconds and allow the coffee to bloom. I then give it all a really good stir, place the lid on, and set a timer for 4 minutes.
When it's time to press the coffee I slowly push down on the filter, and then pour it into a thermos. I like my coffee piping hot and so I drink just a little bit at a time — black — to keep it as hot as possible. This also plays well into my affection for small mugs.
Get Equipped
Here is the gear I use, or wish I used, to make my coffee. Equip yourself via these Amazon links and you'll help pay for my next cup of coffee.
How I Order an Americano
When at coffee shops I almost always order a 12-ounce, double Americano with a little bit of half-and-half steamed in.
I used to just add cream to my Americano at the coffee fix-up bar, but now I ask the barista to steam a little bit of half and half in to the drink instead. (This is not the same as an Americano Misto. An Americano Misto is half water and half milk.)
There are several advantages to getting the half-and-half steamed in:
- it keeps your Americano piping hot (by not pouring in cold creamer).
- it adds flavor.
If you prefer lattes or cappuccinos, an Americano is about half the cost, but with the steamed-in creamer it tastes nearly the same.
On occasion the cashier wants to charge me $0.50 extra — calling it a "breve". Sometimes I think that's a crock, and I tell them they already offer free half-and-half at the coffee fix-up bar but that you would prefer the barista to steam it in for you so your drink stays nice and hot. And sometimes I realize I'm at a local coffee establishment and every little bit helps them keep the lights on and the coffee hot.
It's a great drink, and you should try it sometime.


text:
Usually when we talk about most memorable moments in romance novels, we are referring to scenes featuring the hero and heroine. After all, they are the novel's raison d'être. But there are those other scenes—small, perfect moments that are not part of the love story itself, but are memorable for the laughter or the tears they provoke, for the sense of identification they offer, or for the way they perfectly capture a character. Sometimes these moments, rather than the love scenes, are the ones that linger in my mind once I close the book. Here is my list of top seven such moments.
7. Daisy Bellamy's "mother moment" (Snowfall at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs)
Daisy has slipped away from the wedding of her father and Nina Romano to breastfeed her son. Like many other girls, she has dreamed since childhood of her own wedding day, but as she holds her child, she realizes that her dream of Prince Charming and the perfect wedding has changed. She has resented her mother's career that took Sophie Bellamy away from her family, but as Daisy talks to baby Charlie about her plan to leave him with a babysitter so that she can take photography classes, she wonders about her mother's feelings. It's a small, almost insignificant, moment, but it prepares Daisy for a reconnection with Sophie:
"I'm going to feel totally guilty about leaving you, though. Mom left Max and me when we were little. She had to, because of her work. I wonder if she felt like this too. Just totally guilty—"
6. Jack's birth control talk with Ricky (Virgin River by Robyn Carr)
This is one of those scenes that seemed so real and honest it moved me to laughter and left me misty-eyed too. Anyone who has ever watched a teenager that he/she loves and feels some responsibility towards fall headlong into love understands Jack's sense of panic. I suspect many can also relate to his admission to Ricky that he both hopes the young man will use the condoms he's giving him and will have no need to use them. "You wanna be a man, son? You have to think like one. It's not enough to just feel like one."
5. Wulfric's dive into the lake (Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh)
Wulf is one of those cool, self-contained, always-in-control characters. I can't express how delighted I was to see him spontaneously shuck most of his clothing and dive into the same lake where he had once frolicked before the burden of a dukedom was forced upon him. I also love it when the arrogant Freja responds to Wulf's dive by hugging Christine and saying, "If this is what you have done for him . . . I will love you all my life."
4. Lucius's giving Josie a handkerchief (Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James)
Poor Josie! She's having such a miserable season, and her conclusion that there will never be a hero to do for her the kind of thoughtful things Lucius does for her sister Tess is a poignant bit. Then one sentence is added that just so flawlessly sums up the reason Lucius is one of my favorite heroes: "In the end, Lucius Felton had two handkerchiefs, which was just like him."
3. Darcy and Brenna's sleepover at Jude's cottage (Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts)
Her ability to capture women's friendships so accurately is one of the reasons that I have been a Nora Roberts fan for more than twenty years. Any woman who has enjoyed a night of girl talk that ranges from fashion to sex to ghosts, protoplasmic and/or metaphoric, will connect to this scene where Darcy and Brenna show Jude what life is like with friends. The reader shares Jude's conclusion: "It had been wonderful—the talk, the laughter, the foolishness."
2. The ballroom scene (Gallant Waif by Anne Gracie)
Kate Farleigh is quite simply one of my favorite heroines ever. "Gallant" is the word for her. She has suffered beyond imagination, and yet she remains courageous, generous, and large-hearted. In the ballroom scene, vicious scandal mongers are attacking her once again. But this time she is not alone. Many of the young soldiers that Kate once nursed come to her aid. They and their relatives lend their support, and Wellington himself appears and strolls with Kate around the ballroom, praising her gallantry to all they meet. But the tenderest moment in this wonderful scene comes when Oliver Greenwood, blinded in battle, requests a dance.
"Somehow they got through the dance. Oliver being gently steered in the right direction by his fellow officers, and Kate too, for by this time she was completely blinded by her tears."
1. Nicholas's toast (An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley)
The Rogues have just read the lists of Waterloo casualties and learned that the name of Lord Darius Debenham (Dare) is on the list of the fallen. The Rogues have already lost two of their number. Lord Roger Merrihew died in Spain, and Allan Ingram died at sea. With Dare's death, there are nine Rogues left, and some of them are still in danger. Beverley makes the grief over Dare so real that the reader can see the somber faces and feel the tension. Then, Nicholas makes a toast. I cry easily, but these lines move me too deeply for tears. They touch an old wound, and I am broken anew each time I read them. Unfortunately, they are no less appropriate in 2011 than they were in 1815.
"To all the fallen, may they be forever young in heaven. To all the wounded, may they have strength and heal. To all the bereaved, may they feel joy again. And please God . . . may there be one day an end to war."
What non-romantic moments from romance novels do you remember most vividly?
Janga spent decades teaching literature and writing to groups ranging from twelve-year-olds to college students. She is currently a freelance writer, who sometimes writes about romance fiction, and an aspiring writer of contemporary romance, who sometimes thinks of writing an American historical romance. She can be found at her blog Just Janga and tweeting obscure bits about writers as @Janga724

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|April 27, 2012, 10:10 AM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
HK P30 vs Sig P229
I've been wanting to get a P30 for a while now in 9mm but as you all know is a little high in price. Cant really go and try them out since i dont even where here in Miami they rent guns like that except shotguns and .22 rifles at the range.
Saw a video on youtube where the guys is testing both and he has high remarks for the both of them. I'm getting a M&P Shield for carry as soon as my local shop has them and from there going to get either one of this, although i like the look better of the P30.
I need to know from experienced guys like you, what do you think about both and which one would you choose and why. Also plan on using whichever one i get to start IDPA later down the road, once i become very familiar with the gun and practice a lot.
|April 27, 2012, 10:15 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: July 3, 2011
Posts: 1,368
Both are excellent guns, probably the best in their categories. I think the P30 is a little bigger than the P229; the P2000 would be comparable to the P229 if I'm not mistaken.
P30 can be carried cocked and locked, or hammer down safety on or off. Sig must be carried hammer down. P30 has trigger guard mag release, Sig has traditional push button. P30 is polymer, Sig is aluminum.
Other than that, the guns are very similar. Some will say that Sig's quality control is suffering lately, I can't comment on that. I do think HK is the slightly better gun, but its so minor it doesn't matter.
Everyday Loadout
NRA Instructor
NRA Member
|April 27, 2012, 10:21 AM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
Yeah the mag release dont care much since i have a Walther P22 which the same release and i am used to that already. Thanks Scotch!!
|April 27, 2012, 10:56 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2012
Posts: 1,078
I haven't tried the P30, but it is on my list of "want to's".
I used to own a P229 in .40.
I didn't like it, it always felt like it was going to squirt out of the top of my hand. Too "fat" at the top of the grip.
I never had any problems with it, but it was a fairly large sized gun and heavier than the G19 that I use today.
This was in the late 1990's though, the only experience that I have with Sig's current quality level is a friends P226 that shot something like 8" low and 3 or 4 to the right out of the box. We were shooting at 8.5 X11" sheets of paper and almost never figured out where the rounds were going... I finally noticed if I aimed over the paper I clipped the bottom right of the target. We even had my brother who has a nearly identical Blackwater Edition shoot it and he couldn't hit the paper at all. The look on his face was hilarious. Especially when I was getting hits and he wasn't and I don't shoot Sigs as good as he does.
He called Sig and they told him to try different ammo.
He sent it back and they fixed it. I haven't shot it since then, so I assume it is better now.
I am no longer participating in gun forums.
Good luck.
|April 27, 2012, 12:22 PM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
Actually the sig is about $50 cheaper but i rather go with the P30, not to mention all the responses so far are leaning toward the P30.
|April 27, 2012, 12:31 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: April 5, 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 2,461
haven't tried the p30, but from what i'm told, the ergos are near identical to the ppq, and it's phenomenal.
i have a sig p226 uspsa (essentially the same as the blackwater). the same thing was happening to me with the shots going low right (exactly where crow hunter said). now, it's the most accurate gun i own. either it broke in or i did. even my fiance shoots bullseyes with it.
Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm
Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK
Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7
"A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."
|April 27, 2012, 06:36 PM
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Join Date: October 29, 2011
Posts: 1,294
|April 27, 2012, 06:39 PM
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Join Date: October 29, 2011
Posts: 1,294
You really need to try each out and see which works best for you. They are both fine pistols. I own two P229s myself - one in .40 and one in .357 SIG.
Myself I prefer SIGs and shoot them better. I tried a P30 but did not like the trigger on it.
If you don't mind striker fired pistol try the Walther PPQ - if you can find one these days. Its the bees knees. Perfection in grip, ergos, and trigger. Also extremely accurate and reliable.
Good luck picking the one that works best for you.
|April 27, 2012, 07:18 PM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
The problem i have with trying them out is the range i know only rents shotguns and .22 rifles. There is an indoors range i've never been too that i can check what they have for rental to see if they have those.
Walther PPQ i'll check on that right now!! Thanks Sig!
EDIT: Just checked gunbroker and they have them for about $500
|April 27, 2012, 07:26 PM
Join Date: March 25, 2010
Posts: 67
I have both the P30 and the P30L. I just really preferred how they felt in my hand. The P30 and the Sig 229 are almost identical in size. I held both together and the P30 is lighter. I have heard great things on the 229 trigger. I used to have a beretta px4 storm. The trigger on the P30 is similar but better so I don't have a problem with the trigger. I like the ergonomics of the p30 much better (personal preference). I got the p30L used for a good price. I actually like shooting it more but the p30 would be easier to carry.
I have read that some people will only buy the German made Sigs for quality control reasons. I can't speak to that. I think both would serve you well but I vote for the p30. If you aren't as concerned with conceal carry then I would get the p30L.
|April 27, 2012, 08:25 PM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
Yeah i can look into the P30L, i would have to see it at the dealer and make up my mind, the only time i will be carrying the P30 will be while hunting, fishing or camping and it would be open carry anyhow. So the size really doesnt matter that much.
|April 27, 2012, 08:50 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: May 22, 2011
Posts: 7,940
If you really like DA/SA, which I do, then take a look at the Walther P99 AS. A hell of a lot less, and I don't think it's too far off in quality. I do like the P30 more, but I don't like it $300 more.
P.S. - And I am an HK whore.
Know the status of your weapon
Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges
Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture
Maintain situational awareness
|April 27, 2012, 08:55 PM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
Yeah i am planning on becoming an HK whore as well. I have to spend real dough on a handgun at some point, plus when i set my mind on something i wont take it off until i get what i want. I want the P30 lol. I am not changing my mind any time soon, later on i can get a Walther P99 or PPQ but for the moment the P30 will be.
|April 27, 2012, 09:44 PM
Join Date: March 25, 2010
Posts: 67
I have heard all good things about the Walter . If you have the money and wanted that and the HK then I definitely recommend looking at the p30L. It doesn't seem that different to see but it is amazing how accurate it is. Then you cover both sizes .
|April 27, 2012, 11:12 PM
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Join Date: July 29, 2010
Location: The ATL (OTP)
Posts: 3,554
I have owned a new SIG P229 in 9mm for a little over a year and it has become my daily carry weapon. Since purchasing the gun I have shot it probably a couple of times a month and have experienced zero problems. As a matter of fact I just put about 120 rounds through it yesterday and really was pleased with how accurate, reliable and easy to shoot this gun is. I have or currently own handguns from many manufactures and the P229 is probably my favorite to shoot and carry.
A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself.
- Milton Friedman
|April 27, 2012, 11:16 PM
Join Date: March 22, 2012
Posts: 24
I have shot both and I liked the P30 better however...and this is a big one! You need to shoot both yourself. What one likes and another shoots well are to completely different things. So no matter who recommends what, shoot all in questions yourself. One might feel better in your hand than another. But if you are also considering the P30...do the P30L but also look at the PPQ from walther. I have one and the trigger is better than the P30 and I like the longer magazine release on the PPQ. I think the P30 has a slightly better grip and is crafted beautifully but it is also 2x the cost. My only really bitch is the PPQ doesnt have great sight. But as bad as the sights are I seem to do excellent with them. Even so I am replacing them. I just bought a set of Phosphorus 3-dots that looks very similar to the P30. I also (have on order) a Sprinco Recoil Reduction spring for the PPQ it is wirey!! I will have 700 into the PPQ, that 300+ less...that can buy alot of ammo!! Now here is the big one...all money saving beyond...the reason I choose the PPQ over the P30 was purely because I shot it much better! I wanted the P30L but didnt do nearly as well as I did with the PPQ. Had I shot the P30L better...I would have bucked up and got it! But once again I have to throw my disclaimer in there...what I shoot well isnt necessary what you shoot well, try before you buy!
Go to a factory shoot at one of your local shops and shoot everything. I went and shot: Taurus 24/7, XDm, Number of Glocks, Number of Sigs, Px4, M&P (bought one right away), P250, P229, baby Desert Eagle...on my list to own!, PPQ, P30L, USP, 92FS, CZ 75b and a few more. I went 2 days from 9-5 both days (Only comes around once a year). It was so worth it because I had my heart set on the XDm...and didnt shoot it well. It was recommended by tons and I am glad I shot it and I shot it 2x the 1st day and once the second. For I would have bought a gun that didnt fit my style of shooting and would be disappointed with it. Each gun I shot over 50 round thru the ones I liked I shoot 2x and with more ammo. It helped. I currently own M&P9 with an Apex trigger and a PPQ. All Metal Baby Eagle is on the list...I shoot this gun better than any other...ripping the same hole out to 35' which is very good for me!
|April 27, 2012, 11:46 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 12, 2005
Location: Bora Bora
Posts: 903
I'd take the P30 over the Sig if it were my money. But I'm absolutely biased.
|April 28, 2012, 02:46 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: August 17, 2008
Posts: 257
I don't own a 229 but I do have a 228 and would absolutely not hesitate to get a 229. As for the P30, I've never shot or handled any HK pistols, nor do I have any desire to. My personal preference is if it's traditional DA/SA then it should be metal, plastic for striker fired. Is that a stupid belief? Maybe. Do I care? Absolutely not.
So I'm saying 229, but I'm an up and coming Sig fanboy
|April 28, 2012, 04:41 PM
Join Date: April 24, 2012
Posts: 69
Thanks guys!! Come Monday i'll call every shooting range around me and see if they have anything that i am interested in for rent so i can try them out... So far since so many people have recommended i am in between the PPQ, P30 and P229.
Hopefully they have them all so i can try them out and choose for myself.
|April 28, 2012, 05:31 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: April 23, 2012
Posts: 118
I never cared for the HK trigger. I own several Sigs including recent builds and they are flawless.
|April 28, 2012, 05:52 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: March 22, 2009
Posts: 798
If you're left handed and like ambidextrous controls, definitely the HK. If you're right handed, then it's really a non-issue. Both are outstanding choices. In my experience the HK has a better feel in hand by just a bit while the SIG has a far nicer trigger. Accuracy out of both is phenomenal. My personal preference would say SIG, but it's really a tossup.
"Intelligence is nothing more than discussing things with others. Limitless wisdom comes of this." - 山本 常朝
|April 29, 2012, 10:28 AM
Join Date: February 27, 2010
Posts: 27
I still kick myself for passing on a slightly used P30 for $550.
|April 29, 2012, 10:55 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: February 15, 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 394
P30 absolutely.
"If you show up to a fair fight, you're not prepared" -Unidentified Marine Sniper Instructor
"The philosophy of gun control: Teenagers are roaring through town at 90MPH, where the speed limit is 25. Your solution is to lower the speed limit to 20."
- Sam Cohen
|April 29, 2012, 12:21 PM
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Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 3,893
And it costs about $300 less.
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@Palosmann thank you
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My work was one of the last ones to be uploaded and it happened to be on the 5th page! I hope you will like the shirt that I came up with and you will vote for me. I will appreciate it very much. Thank you :)


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A composite of Freqman's gasps #1 #3 #5, (Comedy ?)
Better than his! :)
Perfect! Thanks
if you werent looking 4 it then how would you find it?
ooh, i was lookin for this one!
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The 26-year-old royal is expected to play a full part in the team's final preparation for the expedition, including sleeping out on the ice, dragging a 100kg (220lb) sled, and attending daily briefings.
He is patron of the Walking With The Wounded charity which said it wants to raise £2 million from this unaided trek to help other injured servicemen and women find work, peace of mind and security.
The prince will meet up with the team of four injured soldiers, two charity founders and a polar guide in Longyearbyen in Norway, which is considered the best place to train for treks to the magnetic North.
With temperatures set to plummet to minus 45C on the trek, the third in line to the throne will endure extreme conditions in one of the world's most inhospitable places.
On Friday, after completing an intensive course of training on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, the Prince will fly with the team to the Borneo ice airfield, where he will spend five days with the men on their 200-mile challenge.
All four wounded servicemen sustained their injuries fighting in Afghanistan.
Captain Martin Hewitt was left with a paralysed right arm after being shot and Captain Guy Disney had his right leg amputated below the knee after he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
Private Jaco Van Gass had his left arm amputated and was left with significant tissue loss to his left leg when he too was hit by an RPG and Sergeant Stephen Young suffered a broken back after his vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device.
They will be joined by Simon Dalglish and Ed Parker, who co-founded Walking With The Wounded, and Inge Solheim, a polar guide.
Each team member will haul a sled, known as a pulk, weighing around 100kg (220lb) packed with everything they will need on the unaided trip, such as 40kg (88lb) of food, clothing and personal kit, a share of the cooking equipment, fuel for their stoves, tents and communications equipment.


text:
Click here to watch the wedding live
The streets of St. Augustine were dark and deserted at 3 a.m. Friday morning, but the lights were still on inside British Pub.
Several dozen locals crowded the dimly lit and smokey British Pub on Anastasia Boulevard as early as 3 a.m. Friday for a live viewing of the royal wedding. Inside the bar ladies dressed in colorful sundresses and large brimmed hats.
For $25 a person, one could get a buffet breakfast of scrambled eggs, a British pork sausage delight traditionally called "bangers", fruit, coffee and croissants. The beer, wine, mimosas and bloody mary's were also constantly flowing from behind the bar.
"I'm really surprised at the turn out," said Barbara Hodge, who dressed in a hat, dark-colored dress and shawl, was closest to the large projector scene set up at the back of the bar.
"But I think most are just here for the drinks," she laughed. "I used to live in England and have been here for 10 years."
Bobbie Gallant-Schlitz also sat near the front, dressed in a red dress, large white sun hat and matching white shawl. She said she hadn't slept at all since the day before, as of 4:30 a.m. Friday. Although she already had the hat, she bought the shawl and dress to match specifically for the wedding.
"I took off work on Friday and Saturday just for this," she said.
Gallant-Schlitz said she's just happy to see "something positive in the media."
"You always see negative stuff in the news; we just needed something airy, light and beautiful," she said.
Bill and Sharon McIntosh were also up early for the occasion, despite having an 8-hour work day ahead of them.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Sharon McIntosh. "It really is lovely."
By the time most are getting up to start their day, Prince William and Kate Middleton will begin a fairytale royal wedding ceremony.
The 1,900 guests for the royal wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles' oldest son began arriving at the cathedral in the heart of London before 3 a.m. Eastern standard time. The site of the wedding is the same place where Princess Diana was eulogized at her death in 1997.


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Changing number of cops in cop car?
Started by TheRealTRA, Dec 22 2008 10:21 PM
No replies to this topic
Posted 22 December 2008 - 10:21 PM
Would it be possible to change the number of police that spawn in the police cars?
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users


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My husband's side of the home office was in need of some work. He built a beautiful oiled black walnut desktop with gas pipe legs, but in order to fit the spot in the room, the desk could only be big enough to accommodate his computer. This left no place to stack notebooks or even keep a stash of pens, so a matching industrial style shelf was in order.
What you'll need
- Shelf board
- Tung oil
- 2 lengths of 1/2-inch gas pipe (2 inches longer than the depth of the board)
- 2 1/2-inch pipe flanges
- 2 1/2-inch end caps
- Degreaser
- Lint-free rags
- Nitrile or rubber gloves
- Clear coat spray paint
- 8 trim screws
- 8 wall anchors (Tap-N-Lock are easy to install)
- Level
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Hammer
- Phillips screwdriver
Step 1.
I found a piece of reclaimed black walnut at a local antique market to use for my shelf, but a pine board from the hardware store will work just as well. Next, the board will likely require some prep. A reclaimed board may need a gentle cleaning with soap and water, while a new board might need a light sanding to smooth a freshly cut end. Next, you can apply a stain to deepen the colour of the wood or apply an oil to simply protect it, as I've done. Wear nitrile gloves to protect your hands and follow the product instructions for either method. Allow the wood to dry thoroughly.
Step 2.
Purchase two lengths of gas pipe that are roughly two inches longer than your shelf is deep. Most hardware stores have precut lengths available, or you can ask an employee to custom cut one to the perfect length. (The big box stores will do this for about $10.) The pipes will be covered with grease to prevent rust and aid in the cutting process, so you'll need to clean them. Wearing your nitrile gloves, use a degreasing cleaning product and some old rags to rub them clean, then screw the end caps on one end of each pipe and loosely screw the flange on the other end to stand the pipe up for easy painting. In a well-ventilated area, give both pipes a thorough coat of clear paint. When they're dry, remove the flanges to mount them on the wall.
Step 3.
Decide exactly where the shelf will be hung. Subtract eight inches from the length of the shelf to give you the distance between the two brackets. Using a measuring tape, level and pencil, lightly mark those two points on the wall. Use the level to mark a four-inch vertical line through each of those points, then a horizontal line to create a lower-case "t" shape. Centre the flange over the "t" so you can see the horizontal line through the top two screw holes and vertical line through the middle of the threaded hole. Trace all four screw holes on the wall.
Step 4.
To insert the wall anchors, place the tip in the centre of the circle marked for the screw and tap it in with the hammer. Once they're all in, place a flange over top and use the screwdriver to attach it to the wall with the screws. To keep the flange aligned, insert all four screws halfway before you tighten them. Next, wearing your gloves, screw a pipe into each flange until it's snug. Do not over tighten.
Step 5.
Place your shelf board on top, ensuring it's centred over the pipe brackets. Add books and trinkets, and then stand back to admire your handiwork.
Story continues below advertisement


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Are you sure you and hubby weren't bidding on the same FW? LOL
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Are you sure you and hubby weren't bidding on the same FW? LOL
I just have to ask this, is the featherweight that your DH won the bid on the same one that you lost out on? That would really be a hoot!. Congrats, now you almost have twins, I'm hoping they were both made the same year, that would be great!Originally Posted by lorimax5859
What a nice gift from DH. You must show pics. when they get home.
LOL so funny , have fun with the twins when they arrive :D
I think I would call that an Easter Miracle. Enjoy! :lol:
Happy dance being done for you!


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Dana H.wrote a review of Lorpen Coolmax Multisport Light Shorty Sock on March 25, 2008
Lorpen Coolmax Multisport Light Shorty Sock
I love these socks, the keep your feet cool and they support your foot as well. I have run 2 trail runs in these socks and they were very comfortable and did not slip around in my shoes like some of the other socks do and end up bunching at your side or toe area and give you blister. These socks do not do that and I would highly recommend them to any runner for road running as well. I have run some shorter everyday running on the road and they are great for that as well.


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Policymakers must be held accountable
Point: David Kaye
intelligence officers were merely the tip of the spear in the Bush administration's interrogation program. If the CIA inspector general's report accurately reflects events, some of these officers likely violated the criminal statutes prohibiting torture. Even those who acted "in good faith reliance" on guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice took actions -- such as waterboarding and other cruel, inhuman techniques -- that are inconsistent with U.S. and international law.
Still, someone held that spear; interrogators acted neither alone nor seemingly at their own initiative. The CIA report shows that agency officers continually sought guidance from above. Agency lawyers "consulted extensively with Department of Justice (DOJ) and National Security Council (NSC) legal and policy staff." One heavily redacted CIA "business plan" from 2003, released earlier this week, notes that "U.S. Government decision makers have a positive view of the program, and there is pressure to increase [high-value targets] Interrogation Program capabilities in the shortest time possible."
A Senate Armed Services Committee report made this point last year: "The fact is that senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorized their use against detainees."
Think of it this way: Weren't it for the policies and legal decisions that resulted from the White House's demand for aggressive measures against detainees, illegal interrogations as a matter of policy would not have occurred. Given all that we have learned over the last several years, does anyone seriously doubt that senior officials in the Bush administration "owned" the program? Or that the program was authorized by the White House, probably by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney? Or that the program involved violations of practically peremptory norms of international and domestic law?
Some argue that reviewing the decisions of those who held and manipulated the spear -- and not just those at its tip -- would be to criminalize policy differences. I reject that, although I do recognize that prosecutions of senior Bush administration officials could be disruptive politically and very difficult practically. Though criminal investigation would be the ideal approach, there are options other than prosecutions, such as the kind of "truth commission" proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
It's immaterial to me whether Justice Department prosecutor John Durham is granted authority to investigate senior officials as his "preliminary review" unfolds, Atty. Gen. Eric J. Holder Jr. appoints a special counsel to do the same thing, or some other mechanism is identified for that purpose. What is important is that senior policymakers account for their actions and, if they violated the law, be held accountable, demonstrating America's rejection of torture.
We are, after all, still a nation of laws.
David Kaye, a former State Department lawyer, is executive director of the International Human Rights Program at the UCLA School of Law.
Enhanced interrogation has worked
Counterpoint: Robert Alt
First, David, I need to address your claim from Wednesday, "Nothing in any of the reports released over the last several years ... demonstrates that unlawful interrogation techniques (such as waterboarding, the use of which Dick Cheney calls a 'no-brainer') have made us safe." Your debatable conclusion about the unlawfulness of the techniques aside, this statement is plainly false. Reports issued to date repeatedly note the success of the interrogation techniques at procuring intelligence that prevented attacks.
Indeed, the sentences immediately preceding the part of the CIA "business plan" you quote refute your claim:
"Results from the first Al Qaeda [high value target] interrogated using the aforementioned enhanced techniques [including waterboarding], Abu Zubaydah, have been outstanding. ... The interrogation team has produced [redacted] actionable intelligence disseminations from Abu Zubaydah. This has ultimately led to some instances of the U.S. Government being able to neutralize Al Qaeda capabilities worldwide before there was an opportunity for those capabilities to engage in operations harmful to the United States."
The inspector general's report likewise states that "the Agency's detention and interrogation of terrorists has provided intelligence that has enabled the identification and apprehension of other terrorists and warned of terrorist plots planned for the United States and around the world." And footnotes in the 9/11 Commission Report contain more than 100 references to information obtained from Khalid Shaikh Mohammed following his waterboarding -- information credited with thwarting an attack on the tallest building in Los Angeles.
We can have a serious debate about the prudence or legality of using enhanced interrogation techniques. But claims that the interrogation techniques didn't work, or didn't produce information that kept America safe are sufficiently refuted at this point as to fall outside the boundaries of that debate.
And -- shifting to today's topic -- we should have a serious debate.
That means dispensing with claims that Bush administration decision-makers clearly committed crimes. Indeed, David, you concede some measure of this in hedging your claim that the interrogation methods violated, as you put it, "practically" peremptory norms of international and domestic law.
Even if one assumes that peremptory norms are in some way self-executing, and even if torture is a peremptory norm, you no doubt recognize, as I stated Wednesday, that what constitutes torture is subject to differing interpretations. This is why we have lawyers at the Department of Justice to offer their interpretations of which acts fall on what side of the line. You may disagree with their conclusions, but reputable criminal law professors and ethics professors agree that even if their legal judgment was erroneous, they didn't commit any crimes. We should not be criminalizing differences of opinion.
As for the prospect of a "truth commission," even leaving aside the risk that it would devolve into show trials, the probability of Congress convening one is somewhere around nil. After all, any examination into the interrogation practices would necessarily shed light on the roughly 30 briefings that members of Congress (including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) received on waterboarding and other interrogations techniques in 2002 and 2003 -- in which the question asked by the members was whether the tactics were tough enough, not whether they went too far.
If we begin criminalizing disagreements, I am sure that there will be more than enough blame to go around in the previous administration -- and for future administrations as well.
Robert Alt is a senior legal fellow and deputy director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation.
First Appeared on the Los Angeles Times


text: I drank this tea again today (three oolongs in one day, I know, I know, so much tea, but I couldn't resist). Oriental Beauty is certainly one of our customer favourites and rightly so, it has a uniquely floral aroma and the flavour is reminiscent of citrus and honey. Chi energy is strong, especially when I drink it after other strong chi teas.


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I always thought of the world as a one-time chance, one mistake and you are ruined; your life will never be the same again. I also was afraid of growing up. I had one chance at the world and I wanted to live it right. I also was afraid of dying. I wanted to live my life through without disturbances. Then I read your book Turnabout.
Turnabout captured the aspects of life I had never looked into or even saw. Anny Beth and Amelia somewhat wanted to die. There they were at age 90 all ready to die thinking this was it, they had a good life and that was that. You need to enjoy life as you go on and not dwell on the past. I think all people need to live on those words.
I was surprised how the book ended. It stopped and didn't say if Anny Beth and Amelia died, stayed at age one, or aged again. There is no sequel and I wanted to know how it ended. This is a great book but the ending startled me. I also wondered how you came up with the idea for the book.
This book didn't change my life, but it did alter my mind and how I look at life. Now I take precautions when I have to and risks when I can. If I make a mistake, I do not think too much of it because I know I have many more years and many mistakes ahead of me. This might be a one-time chance, but mistakes are mistakes most can not be taken back and fixed, but you live it through. It is amazing what one book will do to you. My feet were once planted in the ground, after I read your book, they have begun to loosen up. You can say Turnabout turned me around in a way.
Rachael Schmoker


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A Look into the Hellish Cradles of Suns and Solar SystemsAugust 19, 2009 in Astronomy & Space / Astronomy
The dense star cluster RCW 38 glistens about 5500 light years away in the direction of the constellation Vela (the Sails). Like the Orion Nebula Cluster, RCW 38 is an "embedded cluster", in that the nascent cloud of dust and gas still envelops its stars. Astronomers have determined that most stars, including the low mass, reddish ones that outnumber all others in the Universe, originate in these matter-rich locations. Accordingly, embedded clusters provide scientists with a living laboratory in which to explore the mechanisms of star and planetary formation.
"By looking at star clusters like RCW 38, we can learn a great deal about the origins of our Solar System and others, as well as those stars and planets that have yet to come", said Kim DeRose, first author of the new study that appears in the Astronomical Journal. DeRose did her work on RCW 38 while an undergraduate student at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA.
Using the NACO adaptive optics instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope the astronomers obtained the sharpest image yet of RCW 38. They focused on a small area in the centre of the cluster that surrounds the massive star IRS2, which glows in the searing, white-blue range, the hottest surface colour and temperatures possible for stars. These dramatic observations revealed that IRS2 is actually not one, but two stars — a binary system consisting of twin scorching stars, separated by about 500 times the Earth-Sun distance.
In the NACO image, the astronomers found a handful of protostars — the faintly luminous precursors to fully realised stars — and dozens of other candidate stars that have eked out an existence here despite the powerful ultraviolet light radiated by IRS2. Some of these gestating stars may, however, not get past the protostar stage. IRS2's strong radiation energises and disperses the material that might otherwise collapse into new stars, or that has settled into so-called protoplanetary discs around developing stars. In the course of several million years, the surviving discs may give rise to the planets, moons and comets that make up planetary systems like our own.
As if intense ultraviolet rays were not enough, crowded stellar nurseries like RCW 38 also subject their brood to frequent supernovae, as giant stars explode at the ends of their lives. These explosions scatter material throughout nearby space, including rare isotopes — exotic forms of chemical elements that are created in these dying stars. This ejected material ends up in the next generation of stars that form nearby. As these isotopes have been detected in our Sun, scientists have concluded that the Sun formed in a cluster like RCW 38, rather than in a more rural portion of the Milky Way.
"Overall, the details of astronomical objects that adaptive optics reveals are critical in understanding how new stars and planets form in complex, chaotic regions like RCW 38", says co-author Dieter Nürnberger.
More information: This research was presented in a paper that appeared in the Astronomical Journal: A Very Large Telescope / NACO study of star formation in the massive embedded cluster RCW 38, by DeRose et al. (2009, AJ, 138, 33-45).
"A Look into the Hellish Cradles of Suns and Solar Systems" August 19, 2009 https://phys.org/news/2009-08-hellish-cradles-suns-solar.html


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LONWOOD MADERA Topseal
A wide-plank design in six lustrous colors, Lonwood Madera is a resilient sheet vinyl that features detailed graining that elegantly weaves around beautifully-rendered knotting. This extraordinarily realistic look is further enhanced by articulated plank lines resulting in a design that suggests the strength of old-world craftsmanship paired with the crisp, clean lines of contemporary living.
Lonwood Madera comes standard with Lonseal's exclusive Topseal formulation, a factory-applied urethane finish that protects the floor, reduces scuffing and simplifies routine maintenance.
Click on swatch images for enlarged high-resolution versions.
Recycled content
Low VOCs
Factory-applied urethane
MR & IEQ credits


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Jeremy Milam scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Frenship High School baseball team a 9-8 victory Saturday against Lubbock in the championship game of the West Texas Shootout at Frenship.
Milam singled and moved to third on a two-base error by the center fielder before coming home on Lubbock's wild pitch.
The win improved Frenship to 7-1 after missing a chance to claim the championship earlier in the day with a 7-6 loss against Lubbock in the double-elimination tournament.
Relief pitcher T.J. Flores stranded the bases loaded in the bottom the seventh inning as Lubbock earned to chance to play for the West Texas Shootout championship with the earlier victory.
Flores helped his team get there when he entered the seventh inning with 7-5 lead. He allowed an RBI single from Jeremy Milam before retiring two straight batters to earn the save.
Tristan Thoma homered for Frenship in the first inning.
LHS 6, Plainview 4
Arturo Gonzales drove in two runs to help the Lubbock High School baseball team battle out of a three-run deficit before winning, 6-4, against Plainview Saturday in the West Texas Shootout.
Plainview, which claimed third place in the tournament at Frenship, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning but allowed three Lubbock runs in the third and fifth innings.
Jacob Jones and Carson Taylor homered for Plainview (3-4).
Trinity Christian 14
Sweetwater 4
SWEETWATER Trinity Christian had three home runs and a solid pitching performance by Bobby Livingston to win the championship of the Big Country Classic at Sweetwater High School.
Livingston pitched a five-inning complete game, striking out five and walking one, while adding a solo home run and a double. Eric Teague struck the big offensive blow with a grand slam in a seven-run second inning that blew the game open. Braden Connor also had a solo home run.
Coronado 16, Wylie 2
Coronado used a nine-run seventh inning to blow open a close game and take down Abilene Wylie 16-2 in the Abilene Hendrick Classic.
Brooks Shankle homered and tripled for the Mustangs (7-2) and J. Vinson picked up the victory on the mound. CHS limited Wylie to just five hits on the day.
Roosevelt 9, Lamesa 8 (10)
Kendall Haralson tossed a complete game and Roosevelt scored twice in the bottom of the 10th to beat Lamesa 9-8 in the Cooper-Brownfield Tournament.
Steven Haden went 2-for-4 with five RBIs for Roosevelt (4-1).
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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Disney seeks to halt bankruptcy sale of 3-D technology
A Walt Disney Co. unit asked a federal judge to block a bankruptcy court ruling that would allow another company to sell patents related to three-dimensional movies.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production's rights to use the technology to convert traditional films into 3-D movies will be harmed, the company said in its appeal Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
The dispute involves the shell company left in bankruptcy by the collapse of Digital Domain Media Group Inc., the provider of special effects for the movies "Transformers" and "Titanic." That shell, known as DDMG Estate, held an auction for the patents last month that was won by RealD Inc.
Disney claims it has the right to use the technology because of agreements it signed with the original patent holder in 2008 and 2009. The agreements allowed Disney to use the 3D conversion patents on the films "Alice in Wonderland" and "G- Force."
The "G-Force" agreement granted Disney the right to keep using the 3D patents, Burbank, California-based Disney claims in its appeal.
In a Dec. 10 ruling, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Linehan Shannon disagreed with Disney's position. The dispute raised the question of whether Disney could "use that technology, gratis, in perpetuity," Shannon said in his ruling. He ruled the company could not.
After his ruling, RealD won the auction with a bid of $5.45 million and Shannon later approved the sale, which hasn't yet closed.
U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson agreed to hold a telephone hearing Friday so Disney can try to persuade her to overturn Shannon's ruling and temporarily prevent DDMG from closing the sale.
DDMG lawyer Debra Grassgreen, with the law firm Pachulski, Stang, Ziehl & Jones, declined to comment on Disney's filing.
The other assets of Digital Domain (DDMGQ) were sold at a separate auction in September for more than $30 million to a partnership of Chinese and Indian film companies.
Digital Domain's special-effects artists have won multiple Academy Awards, including one for the Brad Pitt movie, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."
The appeal is In re: DDMG Estate, 13-cv-00007, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).


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Artist description:
my littlesisters artwork.. soo yeah.. i saved it to websit :-)
Flash Draw Created Jan 06, 2013 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2013 alogosien.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
xGJx Jan 06, 2013
Wow she's gonna be an amazing artist one day, I tell ya ;3
Page 1


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Europe : The First Crusade - I: The People's Crusade - Extra History
ExtraCreditsPublished: July 7, 2016Updated: July 9, 2016
Published: July 7, 2016Updated: July 9, 2016
Support us on Patreon! http://bit.ly/EHPatreon
Watch the First Crusade series! http://bit.ly/1DxBoWh
Subscribe for new episodes every Saturday! http://bit.ly/SubToEC
Follow us on Facebook! http://bit.ly/ECFBPage
Follow us on Twitter! http://bit.ly/ECTweet
Follow us on Twitch! http://bit.y/ECTwitch


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The cultivation of quality Hindi Urdu programs at the K-12 level is a crucial component of the Flagship's mandate. To this end, HUF spearheads a number of efforts to increase and enhance Hindi Urdu K-12 programs in the US. Our efforts focus on the following areas:
Outreach Workshops
The Flagship hosted a workshop to develop linkages between K-12 and university Hindi Urdu educators Dec 19-20, 2008 at the University of Texas at Austin. K-12 educators from New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Houston, Dallas, and Austin discussed common pedagogical and logistical issues related to the development of K-12 Hindi Urdu programs in the United States. The workshop is the first step in an effort to start a national dialogue on the importance of Hindi Urdu at the K-12 level.
Existing K-12 Programs
The Flagship is working to provide teacher training, curriculum consultancy, and occasional financial support to existing K-12 Hindi Urdu programs. HUF has established partnerships with the following K-12 programs:
- Fremont Unified School District | Fremont, CA
- Edison High School | Edison, NJ
- JP Stevens High School | Edison, NJ
- Hindi USA | Edison, NJ
- Bellaire High School | Houston, TX
- HEB School District | Bedford, TX
- Woodstock School | Mussoorie, India
Emerging K-12 Programs
HUF hopes to establish partnerships ― similar to those listed above ― with K-12 schools who are considering establishing a Hindi and/or Urdu language program. If you are affiliated with such a school and would assistance in starting up a language program, contact us and we will help get you started.
Materials Development
HUF is developing language learning materials with an eye to their use in contexts beyond the Flagship setting; K-12 learners are a significant element in our broader intended audience. HUF materials are free, web-based, and not tied to particular textbooks. Our media projects will hopefully be a significant resource for K-12 learners and teachers alike. In addition, HUF has provided logistical support for the development of the first Hindi textbook for high school students.


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- Hungarian Grand Prix - FP2
Alonso willing to sacrifice race pace
- Race:
- Hungarian Grand Prix
Fernando Alonso says Ferrari should sacrifice some of its race pace if it gives it a better chance in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
With overtaking notoriously difficult at the Hungaroring, qualifying takes on added importance in order to gain track position at the start of the race. Alonso finished FP2 in fourth place as Ferrari showed encouraging one-lap pace but he said that the tyres are likely to deliver a similar race to 2012 - when there were only six on-track overtakes - and as a result race pace will be secondary to qualifying.
"The type of tyre has not changed, so we can count on last year's experience and apart from that, they are the same for everyone," Alonso said. "To gain an advantage over our rivals, it helps to understand them as well and as quickly as possible. Here, more than at other tracks, starting from the front is extremely important and for this reason I believe that everyone will try and optimise their cars for qualifying, even if it means sacrificing a bit for the race."
Team-mate Felipe Massa agreed but added that the pace of the car was looking strong in both qualifying and race trim.
"All went well today and we tested everything on the programme, with the car seeming reasonably competitive," Massa said. "Even the long runs produced positive results and that is a very important factor for the rest of the weekend. Now we must decide which of the solutions we tried can be used for qualifying and the race. On this track, it's really important to start as far up the order as possible and we will do all we can to be in the game. On Sunday, it will be difficult for everyone, as overtaking is almost impossible here and on top of that, they are predicting very high temperatures, which is a factor that needs to be given plenty of consideration when it comes to getting the maximum out of our car."


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Cleary Wolters has landed a deal with HarperOne for her memoir, entitled Out of Orange. Wolters inspired the character Alex Vause on the Netflix original TV series, Orange is the New Black.
According to The Associated Press, "Wolters' book would tell of her time in prison and her 'complicated' relationship with Piper Kerman, Wolters' former friend and lover." The publisher has scheduled a release date for May 2015.


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Terminally Ill Valerie Harper To Join 'Dancing With the Stars'
The newest cast for season 17 of 'Dancing With the Stars' won't be made public until next week, but gossip website TMZ is reporting that 74 year old actress Valerie Harper will be one of this year's contestants, despite being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
TMZ says that Harper, who was told in March she had just months to live, will be dancing this season and is expected to be partnered with pro hoofer Tristan MacManus.
TMZ also reports that 'King of Queens' star Leah Remini, who recently made headlines for quitting Scientology, will be along for this season, along with 'Jersey Shore' bad girl, Snooki (Nicole Polizzi).
Also rumored to be among this year's cast members are Elizabeth Berkeley ('Showgirls'), Amber Riley ('Glee'), singer Christina Milian, Jack Osbourne and former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson.


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IBM Updates Data Warehouse Line
March 7, 2006[From InformationWeek]
IBM expanded its business intelligence offerings Tuesday, unveiling a new version of its data warehouse system and enhancing its partnership with business intelligence software vendor Cognos.
DB2 Data Warehouse Edition v9.1 is the first release to provide a complete system that integrates the DB2 Universal Database with IBM's data mining and online analytical processing tools, DB2 Alphablox tools for developing custom applications with embedded analytics, WebSphere application server, Rational development tools, and other software.
The article continues at http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=NK20NX2KSDF3SQSNDBGCKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=181501710&subSection=


text: On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 6:03 PM, Andrzej Jaworski <himself at poczta.nom.pl>wrote: > I just want to say Hello to let you know that there are some serious > entities watching you besides > monads and FBI:-) > > There has been a hell of a discussion recently about logos, languages and > religion and I want to add > to this. > > First let me disassociate Haskell from Taoism which to may taste has left > us in an unhealthy climate. > It suffices to say that Taoism is a school of clever trics and cute > aphorisms but without the > slightest attempt to explain or generalize let alone produce an abstract > idea or a system. That is > why its wisdom is non transferable in spite of majority of humans desending > from it. Haskell on the > contrary is a minority school that implements abstract ideas for problem > solving in the most > transferable way to date, so that other languages look into it for their > share. But don't worry, > thay will choke becouse it is them who practice Taoizm. Playing too many > tricks will eventually > trick them, even if some are powerful enough to brainwash dicent professors > to preach > interoperability or the like. Every viable complexity needs a single > underlying concept to survive, > including you and the universe. Microsoft and the like excluding;-) > Haskell has all that: consistency, transparency and self-contained concept. I associate Haskell with Zen, due to one of my favorite dialogues: "If it's purely functional, how do you *do* anything?" "You don't ;-)" (Courtesy of Conal Elliott) Haskell and Zen both happen to be my favorites in their respective fields (and exactly which field that is for both is somewhat fuzzy) Luke -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/haskell-cafe/attachments/20081222/c4504b53/attachment.htm


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From the Heart by Mary Ann Esposito
Valentine's Day is here and I find the card aisle at the local Hallmark store almost empty of card browsers. Instead, most of us will browse the internet and send electronic cards, tweets and texts to those who mean the most to us. Pouring out your heart on Valentine's Day is expected and forgetting is not acceptable. Such pressure when we can say I love you any day of the week!
Italians are particularly good at amore and go all out on this day buying gorgeous flowers, Perugina chocolate hearts and maybe even something sparkly from Bulgari. My valentine will get chocolate confections of affection from my kitchen. Chocolate salami is a favorite and a traditional cookie that comes from Tuscany.
Salame Dolce
Tuscan Chocolate Cookies
Makes about 2 ½ dozen
1 lb. plain tea cookies such as Lorna Doone or Danish butter cookies
1 c. baking cocoa
1/2 c. sweet cocoa
1 1/4 c. sugar
2/3 c. slivered almonds
1/2 c. plus 2 T. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 extra large egg yolks, slightly beaten
3 to 5 T. brandy as needed
Coarse, granulated brown sugar
Reduce the cookies to fine crumbs in a food processor or in a paper bag with a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a large mixing bowl and mix in the cocoas, sugar, and almonds. Mix the butter with the egg yolks and stir into the cocoa mixture. Mix everything well with your hands adding a tablespoon at a time of brandy until the ingredients are wet enough to hold together without crumbling.
Cut a sheet of plastic wrap at least 16-inches long. Spread the mixture along the middle of the wrap. Fold up one long side and form a 12 or 14 x 2-inch salami-shaped log. Bring the opposite side of the wrap up and compress the mixture into a log shape. Twist the ends to seal the log and reshape it with your hands so it is even looking. Refrigerate several hours.
Spread a thick layer of the coarse sugar over a work surface. Unwrap the salame and roll it in the sugar to coat it well. Rewrap the log and refrigerate it for
several hours to make it easier to slice. To serve, cut the log into 1/4-1/2-inch thick round slices.
Note: to get a perfect cylindrical shape try using an old wax paper or aluminum paper tube and place the plastic wrapped
log inside. Roll it around on the counter to conform to the tubes shape. Refrigerate, then slice as directed.
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