text:
A two-man pup tent does not
include two men or a pup.
[How much to spend]
[What kind]
[Basic Styles]
[A-Frames] [Dome or Pop Tents] [Hoop Tents] [Bivy] [Cabin Tents / Family-style Tents ] [Backpacking Tents]
[Shape] [Features to Look For] [Size] [Weight] [Ventilation] [Three Season Tent] [Four Season tent] [Tent Fabric] [Tent Poles] [Workmanship] [Waterproofing]
[Set-up] [Color]
[The Fly]
Tips] [Ground
Sheets] [Washing
Your Tent]
[Care & Maintenance] [Staking Your Tent]
in the countryside, away from city lights, out under the stars on a
clear night is simply spectacular.
However, waking up in the middle of the night during a downpour can be quite miserable.
Just waking up in the morning covered with dew is bad enough.
is a solution to this problem:
put a roof over your head.
campsite bed is made;
you've geared up with
pads, mats, sleeping bags, air mattresses, sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows
to get a good night's sleep.
Now you need to insure that cozy campground slumber with an appropriate tent to shield you from the wind, the sun and the rain and also to protect you from unfriendly outdoor pests like flies, mosquitoes and no-seeums.
Mama always said,
"always buy the best you can afford".
That advice is as good as ever when it comes to tents. However that is not to say you have to break the bank.
Obviously there must be some difference to justify the price.
Let's put it this way.
If we were climbing Mount Everest, then we would choose the $700.00 tent. It would stand up to the high winds, and the material would not shred because of those same winds in the extreme cold. However, if we are taking some young scouts for a weekend camping trip in the park, the $29.99 tent should stand up to those elements very nicely.
need to think of your tent as an investment.
It's much better to spend an extra amount on a quality tent than to skimp.
cheap tent, may work all right in good weather, but as soon as the
wind rises and the skies open up, forget it.
You'll be miserable.
In many cases, a good tent can make a nightmare scenario downright cozy.
So spend as much as you can afford, but always go with quality.
What kind of tent?
Determine the Purpose of the Tent
If being used for family camping--consider comfort, space and ventilation
If backcountry camping--consider weight, size and durability
today come in all shapes
and sizes to meet a variety of camping needs and weather situations.
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a new tent.
The floor should be the most water-resistant part of the tent. Because you are putting pressure on the floor of the tent, you can draw water into the tent through the fabric. This is why most floors are heavily coated with urethane for waterproofness.
Things to Consider:
Look for a tent with a one piece floor, it's less likely to seep water than a floor with seams.
Most tents now come with a
"Bathtub" like bottom. This is generally a heavier duty
material than the sidewalls, and usually is waterproof. This
does not alleviate the need for putting now a tarp under your tent,
which is still a good idea. The "Bathtub" like bottom
does remove the need for trenching around tents. Trenching occurred
years ago when tents had no bottoms, or had canvas bottoms that did
not repel water. The trenches directed the water away from the
tent. The tent bottoms of today have earned the name
"Bathtub" bottoms, because the material used to make the
bottoms usually goes 2-4 inches above floor level.
Although many people have stopped using bottom tarps because of these newer bottom designs, it is still a good idea. It is another layer between the possible damp/wet ground and your tent floor. Not only is this potentially warmer, but it helps keep the tent cleaner. You might see these advertised at footprints. This is because you do not want your tarp sticking out from the sides around the tent. If this occurs, then rain water would collect on the tarp possibly make its way under your tent.
This is the same stuff you use to cover your trailer or boat with.
Floors made of this material are good at repelling water but can tear easily on sharp rocks.
They are heavier than nylon floors and are thicker so tents with polyweave floors don't pack as small or as light as tents with nylon floors.
This floor costs considerably less to make than a nylon floor with a light urethane coating, yet provides better waterproofness.
Nylon floors come in many different weights and are a sometimes hard to differentiate.
The best way to differentiate is by touching the fabric on different tents.
Better tents use 3 ounce (per square foot), 70 Denier (a measurement of weave) nylon taffeta or greater or 210 Denier Oxford nylon (a bit heavier).
These materials are far more abrasion resistant than lighter weight nylon. Untreated nylon is not water repellent so it must be treated with urethane (see treatments).
When treated with enough urethane a nylon floor can become watertight.
The floor is the part of the tent that requires the highest degree of waterproofness.
Treatments are urethane based and can be applied in two ways.
One is a liquid form that is poured onto the fabric and a knife-edge is rolled over the fabric to distribute it evenly. A single pass can yield waterproofness to up to 35 PSI of water pressure. The more passes, the more waterproof the fabric becomes.
The second method is to laminate one sheet of urethane to the fabric. This method costs much less and provides a greater degree of waterproofness up to 200 PSI.
Regardless of the method used, the floor fabric should be treated to a minimum of 100 PSI. Anything less and you may need to wear a life jacket before falling asleep.
The treated side of the fabric should be on the inside of the tent, because friction with loose dirt and small rocks will eventually deteriorate the treatment.
A factor not to be overlooked is the construction.
A floor made of the most waterproof fabric will still leak if there are seams on the floor which are not properly sealed.
Many companies tape their floor seams, so as to avoid having the consumer seam seal the floor themselves.
However, most companies fail to tape the corners that are prone to leakage. If the corners are not properly sealed, take the time to do it yourself.
you could spend five bucks and 15 minutes to ensure a long and happy
life, would you?
Of course you would!
And one of the best things you can do for a tent is to use a groundsheet religiously.
Although the bottom of your tent is made of reinforced material that is thicker than either its rain fly or tent walls, the forest floor is an abrasive place. To prevent accidental punctures from rocks and the like, lay a plastic ground cover under the tent's floor.
Most tents on the market now have a fully sewn in groundsheet, often with what's called a 'bath-tub' floor design. This is where the groundsheet extends further up the side of the tent to eliminate any water penetration from the side seams.
Mountain tents commonly use a groundsheet material made from neoprene coated nylon, which is extremely waterproof and durable but heavier than the normal PU coated nylon groundsheets. In the cheaper end of the tent market a polythene material is used as it is robust, waterproof and inexpensive but it is heavy and noisy!
Thin polyethylene sheeting from a hardware store is a lightweight, inexpensive option to go under your tent.
Old shower curtains make great ground clothes.
They should not extend beyond the edge of the tent; otherwise they will collect moisture which could enter your tent.
This groundsheet should be cut to fit the shape of the tent floor-as big, but no bigger. A groundsheet that peeks out from the edges of the tent will channel water underneath, and no degree of waterproofing will stop water from seeping inside. You can buy material for groundsheet at both outdoor-equipment and hardware stores. Plastic from hardware stores is perfectly fine and often cheaper.
your own groundsheet
For materials you'll need a large sheet of waterproof material, scissors, a marker, some duct tape and grommets (optional).
Step 1: Lay the uncut groundsheet out and set up your tent on top of it (without rainfly and vestibule). Stake the tent out tautly.
Step 2: Using the marker, trace the outline of the tent.
Step 3: Trim the excess, following an invisible line that is 2 inches inside the line you traced. This is to prevent any overhanging fabric, which will direct rain underneath your tent's floor. This is very important! When your trimming is complete, no portion of the groundsheet should extend beyond the footprint of the tent.
Optional Step 4: If you plan on using nylon (a good choice because of its light weight and durability), disregard Step 3 and cut exactly along the traced line. Then fold over the edge of the groundsheet all the way around and sew a 2-inch hem to prevent the fabric from fraying.
Optional Step 5: Instead of cutting uniformly 2 inches inside your tracing, leave the corners on the original line and arc the sides inward. Then attach grommets to the corners. By looping the grommets over the tent pole tips, you've firmly attached the groundsheet. Plus you can use it as a pack cover in the rain, a cooking shelter or a vestibule extension.
Optional Step 6: If you use a shower curtain, polyethylene or Tyvek, cut long strips of duct tape in half, lengthwise. Then carefully fold the strips over the edges of the groundsheet. This will protect the edges from tearing or shredding.
sure the rain fly
is an adequate size, covering most of the tent with an extended
section at the door to allow entry without soaking the inside of the tent.
Make sure the tent is big enough to accommodate all the campers
plus a place to stow their gear.
Particular circumstances, like snow camping, beach camping, or backpacking, may call for specialized tents, accessories or considerations.
look further into the aspects of selecting a proper tent.
Basic Styles
tent lingo has become as complicated as translating
at a United Nations conference.
are a few definitions to help guide you through this dilemma.
Keep in mind the three basic components of a tent: the poles, the canopy, and the rain fly, the latter two of which are separate in a two-walled tent and combined in a single-walled tent.
Additionally, most tents come equipped with stakes and a stuff sack.
versus double-walled tents.
Traditional tents have a nylon body, which may be covered by a polyurethane-coated rain fly.
However, modern fabric technology has resulted in single-walled tents made from waterproof/breathable material that does not require a rain fly for protection against moisture.
double-walled tents are heavier than their single cousins, but are
also less expensive. The advantage of double-walled tents is that
they breathe well (the canopy and fly
have several inches of space between them, or the fly
can be removed completely), with less condensation forming on the
interior walls.
Also, if you are accident-prone, a punctured rain fly can be repaired or replaced, leaving the main tent intact.
Rain flies that have lost their waterproofness can also be replaced with less cost than is required to buy a new single-walled tent.
shape tent you purchase is just one of the many factors involved in
finding the tent that is just right for you.
The shape of the tent, of course, determines a lot,
but you will also find that even if you are in a car,
the weight, size, ventilation, tent materials, tent poles, workmanship, waterproofing, set up and color will also matter.
For example, if you drive a Geo Metro, it is doubtful you'll want to fill your car with a full-sized cabin tent.
tent designs can be a little daunting;
many will have similar features,
but look completely different when erected.
Most tent designs, however, are variations on the following five configurations.
A-frame tent is becoming outmoded
as newer, sexier-looking dome tents take over the market.
Experienced campers, however, swear by their reliability in the face of bad weather-in spite of their old-fashioned design, which features two sloping sides falling away from a rigid center pole, a design that catches the wind but sheds water quickly.
This design offers less interior space for the size than more contemporary designs but offers more interior height.
A-frames are often lighter in weight than domes because there are often fewer poles.
While most A-frames require stakes, some modified A-frames are freestanding.
tend to cost less than their dome-shaped cousins,
and this may be only one of the reasons to choose this tried-and-true design.
style of tent is by far the most popular recreational tent around.
It offers plenty of floor space and is designed to ride out heavy winds.
Are more aerodynamic and stable, with a sleeker profile to shed water and wind effectively.
Tents are generally easy to set up.
You usually slide 2 or 3 poles made of aluminum or fiberglass, through sleeves on the tent and then pull them up to the round shape and put the ends in little "corners" of fabric.
The poles come in several sections and are attached with interior cord
tents are preferable if you will be in an area that is prone to high
winds because the shape makes for little risk of collapsing.
Dome tents usually are packed into one bag for both the tent and poles.
manufacturers color-code the sleeves, and this helps.
In bad weather, having practiced pitching your tent beforehand will be a dress rehearsal if you have to do it quickly.
drawback of dome tents is that they usually aren't as tall or roomy
and the floor plan isn't as efficient as the standard A-frame rectangle for sleeping.
The sloping sides of the dome mean that you will hunch over a lot, even in large tents that have standing room directly under the center of the dome.
Their crisscrossing poles, producing a hexagonal, octagonal, or similar geometrical shape, make them extremely rigid
- therefore good in windy conditions.
Octagonal? Hexagonal?
bags and duffels are rectangles, why would you want a Hex shaped tent?
- just my opinion
are classified as freestanding, meaning you can pitch them without
using guylines
(ropes tied to trees and other supports) and stakes,
attaching these after the tent is up.
Freestanding tents also offer the added convenience of portability;
you can set them up in one location and move them-in one piece-to another
(within a reasonable distance)
if your first site is too rocky or uneven.
does not mean leaving your tent unstaked.
At the very least, staking is required to help pull the rain fly taut (and therefore rainproof) at midpoints on each side of the tent.
Bear in mind that an unstaked, freestanding tent can become airborne when hit with a good gust of wind.
Some tents are made of rain-resistant material, but many are constructed with light, breathable nylon and are protected by rain flies.
great thing about a good dome is the way they take the rain. The
secret is the fly. A good fly will have enough overhang to let you
keep the windows open in a pretty good rain, this adds to comfort.
Also hidden behind the fly is a tent that is largely mesh fabric. Air is able to come up under the fly and pass in and out of the tent offering ventilation and privacy. This is important both to keep cool on summer nights and to release moisture in cooler seasons.
A good fly will come down to near the ground and can be staked out so that a straight falling rain will never touch the actual tent!
This tent design may have been the originator to the more adaptable and improved dome tent.
Designed for use by serious backpackers
(and others who opt to shed the weight of heavier tents),
the hoop tent is a usually cylindrical design with curved sidewalls.
Hoop tents are lightweight because they use only two poles, but are a bit less spacious than domes or A-frames.
tents aren't as rugged in high winds, rain, or snow as A-frames or
Domes, but their shape is highly efficient for both weight and floor space.
Hoop tents generally incorporate three arched frame stays, which allow for nice roomy doors and high ceilings.
of these tents feature a fold-back covering that permits occupants
(in pleasant weather)
to see the sky through extra-big panels of mosquito netting.
Although this design can withstand high winds, some models with sloped entrances encourage rain to migrate inside.
Hoop tents are for weight-conscious backpackers.
(Tent and Sack)
Bivouacs come in two styles:
tent version, which is essentially a hoop tent;
and a bivvy sack, which encloses a single person like a cocoon.
(or bivy) sacks are one-man "tents" that typically exist
in the domain of the serious hiker.
These "tents" resemble narrow tubes that have the unfortunate reputation of sealing in body moisture because the walls of the tent aren't allowed to "breathe" as they do in other tent designs.
Bivvies often have a large hoop that supports the front end, keeping the fabric off your head.
the breathability problem, there is also no room for camping gear
inside the tent; equipment left outside could be soaked in a downpour.
In this case, you'll have to cover your equipment with some sort of rainproofing-in the form of plastic garbage bags or under a rain poncho, or tarpaulin.
sacs have no supporting ribs.
In effect, the bivvy sac is a form of sleeping bag cover that offers some waterproofing and wind protection (not insulation). There is even less room inside these types of "tents," which have the unfortunate nickname-and rightly so-of "body bags."
Family-Sized Tents
but not least, are family-sized tents designed to accommodate up to
six people. These are made more for car campers; they're less
practical for backpackers, cyclists, or those traveling by canoe.
These weighty monsters are really more like the equivalent of a log cabin with apartment-size rooms and "windows"; they weigh between 20 and 30 pounds.
Family tents are multiroom tents designed for those who plan to stay at the same site for longer periods of time.
Their large, square designs have high ceilings and vertical walls. They have plenty of space for cots, chairs and coolers.
Large, six- to eight-person family tents that open with screened sides are a delight for summer camping.
tents, for lack of a better word, come in a variety of styles
descended from the canvas designs of my youth.
There are umbrella styles, cottage designs, cabin tents, modified dome designs, and others that defy simple description.
The main difference between these tents and their forebears are the fabrics-nylon walls, taffeta floors, and, occasionally, canvas poplin roofs-and the superstructure, which usually consists of aluminum tubing.
tents are bulkier, heavier, and take a little more time to pitch
than dome tents.
Most are not free-standing, so you must stakes down the corners before erecting them.
Family tents aren't as stalwart in a strong wind as dome designs, but they are roomier for a given floor space, have more standing room, and usually offer better ventilation.
Some come with room dividers, awnings, or additional rooms that can be added with zippers.
If you have a large family or expect to spend a lot of time in your tent, a family-style tent would be a good choice.
The dome style is more convenient for shorter trips, or on vacations where you're moving camp every couple of days.
Canvas Tent
have had plenty of experience with both dome and cabin tents and my
personal opinion is that either one is fine for most use and it is
really a matter of personal preference.
I've been more than happy with our cabin tent!
Backpacking Tents
There are many specialty backpacking tents on the market, most of them based on a modified dome or geodesic design with arcing poles. Some are as complicated as lunar landing modules. Designed to stand up under harsh conditions, they are typically made for sleeping, keeping your gear dry, and little else.
But unless you are considering bicycle or canoe camping, or, of course, backpacking, they don't provide enough room to be a good choice for families.
Features to Look For
Consider Quality of Other Features
and seams
Look for tents with nylon-coil zippers. They're less prone to breaking than metal zippers, and are lighter. Examine a tent's zippers carefully: Sticky or recalcitrant zippers may be a sign of future trouble.
Broken Zippers? Click Here
Window and Door mesh
Tie Downs
How big does the tent need to be?
Determine the Size and Weight
What type of activity
How many people
How much gear to store in tent
sizes do not include room for gear storage.
Consider purchasing a larger tent for this purpose
it's just you and your spouse, then you obviously don't need to get
a monster tent that's made for 8 people.
On the other hand, if you're camping with the Brady Bunch, then you will need a larger tent.
will you need to keep any campers separate?
If so, there are tents that have two or three "rooms".
These tents are divided into two or three separate living areas, and they are perfect if you want to keep girls in one room and boys in another, or parents in one room and kids in another.
thing to consider when deciding on the size of your tent is whether
or not you plan on storing any gear inside the tent. If you want to
keep the cooler and other items in the tent, then get a tent that's
rated for 1 or 2 more people higher than you normally would.
Some tents even have a separate "dining room". This is usually a screened-in area for eating and lounging.
are rated for people sleeping . . .
If you want to have your clothing duffel etc. with you . . .
add to the head count, start with at least 50% more
most important thing to look for in a camping tent is roominess.
Are you tall?
Is there enough room to stretch out to your full length when you are in your sleeping bag?
What about headroom?
Do you have enough room to sit up comfortably?
Do you intend to spend a lot of time in your tent?
Decide how much room is important to you before purchasing a tent.
manufacturers tend to overestimate the number of people their tents
can accommodate.
If a tent claims it holds one to two people,
it usually means exactly that (holds one to two people)
and with little room for much else.
Two people will be a tight fit without their gear, and one person will fit with plenty of room for clothes, food, etc.
Keep that in mind when considering how much you want your tent to hold.
Cabin tents are big with high ceilings and large windows.
Multi-room models are available.
Dome tents are smaller, stable and better in varying weather conditions.
They are easy to setup and take down
When you are making your tent wish list, remember that you will be responsible for how the tent reaches the campground, be it a primitive site in a state forest or a fully-equipped site at the nearest KOA. For backpackers, the most important feature of a tent is its weight. Car campers, on the other hand, are more interested in roominess and comfort. Even so, carrying more tent than the camping trip calls for can be almost as much of a mistake as not having an adequate tent. Some of the larger family tents weigh in excess of 30 pounds.
Don't purchase a huge, bulky, heavy tent if your time in the tent is limited to the eight hours you will be sleeping in it. If your tent will be used only for the "rest" half of R&R, you might want to look into one of the less expensive small family camping tents.
if you head out on a camping trip in a heavy duty vehicle intending
to set up a base camp for several days or more, the larger tents may
be worth the bulk as well as the price.
Many campers (like us) set up in state parks, particularly those on lakes or the ocean, and live in the campground for a week or more.
is another important feature to look for when shopping for a tent.
On hot, buggy nights there is nothing worse than being stifled in a poorly ventilated tent.
Many tents these days offer plenty of no-see-um netting for cross ventilation
as well as protection from bugs.
Well ventilated tents also have fewer problems with condensation build-up inside the tent than tents sealed up tight. If you are planning only cold weather camping, this feature won't be necessary.
you a spring/summer/fall tent-user, or do you like to extend camping
into the winter as well?
Do you think you'll take your tent primarily on backpacking, rafting, sea kayaking, or car camping trips?
Or do you enjoy heading up into the mountains where you'll be exposed to the elements:
snow, wind, rain, hail, sleet, and all those fun experience-builders?
Three Season Tent
tents can be classified as three-season. In other words, their
construction makes them comfortable from spring through fall. There
are also tents that are almost entirely no-see-um netting for
ultimate ventilation and which are perfect for camping in the summer,
particularly in the South and Southwest.
On the other hand, if you intend to hike in every season, a good rain fly will compensate in cold weather for the extra ventilation needed in hot weather.
tents have more mesh, lighter poles
and fabrics, and aren't as heavy-duty.
Three-season also means less ca$h.
Four Season Tent
built for four-season use usually have very little ventilation and
sometimes feature a cook hole in the floor so that you can cook
inside your tent.
Four-season tents theoretically keep you warm or cool, whichever the case may be, year-round.
tents usually have stronger poles,
heavier fabrics, less mesh, and remain sturdy in the wind and snow.
They also have a little more room for gear and cooking.
the more weather and snow you camp out in, the stronger your tent
needs to be.
Snow = a four-season tent.
No snow or little snow = a three-season tent.
Tent Fabric
Most tents are made of strong but
lightweight nylon taffeta or rip stop nylon, which weighs
approximately 2 ounces per square yard.
Some of the bigger tents use coated polyester or cotton poplin canvas, which weighs a good deal more.
The floors and flys are usually coated with polyurethane or another moisture-repellent substance to prevent moisture from passing from the ground into the tent. Although the body of a tent is often left untreated to increase the transfer of respiration and perspiration through the tent's walls, it is not unusual to wake up in a damp tent. Moisture can gather beneath sleeping pads or air mattresses (but not cots since they are raised above the floor). Large and airy tents have less of a problem this way because of the greater circulation of air throughout the tent. Some tents offer a double-roof construction, which further decreases unwanted condensation. I have spent a number of sleepless nights in tents that dripped continually from the ceiling.
Polyester withstands extended exposure to the sun
Nylon is lighter weight
Canvas is durable but very heavy
Tent Poles
is important
Fiberglass poles are durable
Aluminum poles are lightweight
In the past few years, tent poles have evolved from unyielding aluminum to shock-corded poles of fiberglass or aluminum (except in the case of some of the larger, family tents, which still use rigid aluminum poles). These new poles are threaded in segments over elastic (shock) cord that allows the user merely to snap the poles into shape rather than piece them together.
This means that a bungee cord runs through each pole assembly. This
keeps the pole together so you don't have to hunt for pieces. As the
poles sections slip together the cord holds them together so they can
be handled as a single pole.
shake out your shock-corded poles to snap them together.
When dismantling the tent, the segments are pulled apart and folded compactly.
There is still some controversy as to whether fiberglass is superior to aluminum when it comes to designing tent poles. Fiberglass is less expensive and more flexible than aluminum. It does not require pre-bending or any special attachments. It also provides a better packing size when folded. Its major drawbacks are that it is affected by weather and can break into splinters and must be replaced. Aluminum is more likely to bend and can be splinted when it breaks. Durability is one of aluminum's main advantages along with the fact that it is easily replaced.
Aluminum poles are the standard for high-end tents.
quality aluminum poles are strong, light and can run well over $200
for a replacement set.
Don't loose them.
Thick poles come with mountaineering and 4 season tents.
Save the weight and get thinner poles if you will not be camping in heavy winds and snow.
They are light, flexible and can withstand the cold.
The quality of aluminum poles vary, but most poles are aircraft grade aluminum which are lighter and less bulky while providing increased strength.
Diameters range from 6 mm to 15 mm. The larger diameter is heavier, stronger and less flexible, thus more stable under high winds. Most backpacking tents use 8.5 mm to 9.5 mm. As a general rule if your tent has only one pole intersection, your poles should be 9.5 mm.
If your tent is higher than 5 feet tall, you need a pole diameter of at least 10.5 mm.
Some companies color code their aluminum poles to make the tent easier to set up.
fiberglass poles unless car camping.
These poles are heavy and fragile although inexpensive.
Fiberglass poles are heavier than aluminum poles and are not as durable.
When temperatures fall below freezing, fiberglass poles start to crack.
Fiberglass poles are usually used to cut costs.
Fiberglass comes in varying qualities, the cheap versions tend to splinter rather easily.
Fiberglass poles also have metal sleeves at their ends, these tend to get caught in pole sleeves and make setting up the tent rather frustrating.
End Tips:
To make set up easier some manufacturers have devised interesting ways to attach pole ends to the tent's corners. Here are a few of them:
Ball tips - one end of the pole has a sphere that you simply slide into the continuous sleeve until it rests in a pocket at the other end of the tent.
Hollow end - the end of the pole is hollow so that a pin at the tent's corner can be inserted. This seems easy but the pin sometimes slips out when you try to flex the pole.
Point tips - a pointed end tip is inserted into a grommet at the tent's corner. The pointed end always seems to slip out of the grommet by the time you are ready to insert the other end of the pole.
Locking tips - This works the same way as the pointed tip but without the problem of it slipping out of the grommet.
Tent Poles, Original Military Surplus Tent poles connect to
create sturdy support for your tent or tarp, 15" tall each and
all can be connected or used separately
3/4" DiameterAdjusts from 4' to 8'
Friction lock secures height and tension
Galvanized steel construction
ski bags to hold your dining tarp, poles, pegs and ropes together.
They are relatively inexpensive at the end of ski season.
any tent may be adequate for your needs,
you may want to consider how long you would like your tent to last.
Good workmanship means you can have a long-lasting relationship with your tent.
well-made tent should have lap-felled seams around the floor seam.
Lap-felled seams (like the seams on the sides of your Levis) provide extra strength, because they are actually four layers of interlocking fabric joined by a double row of stitching.
On uncoated nylon tents, check for taped seams. Because nylon tends to unravel, taping or hiding the end of the fabric behind the seam with another piece of fabric will stop or stall this process.
make sure that all stress points are reinforced either with extra
stitching or bar tacking.
Tug at the material to make sure the load is equally distributed across the reinforcement.
Unequal distribution can cause premature wear on your tent.
Today's tents are mostly water
resistant, although, even if the manufacturer calls it unnecessary,
it's a good idea to seam-seal your tent.
Ideally this should be done prior to the camping trip.
The tents usually come with instructions, and the best course of action would be to follow the manufactures recommendation.
Set up your tent in a protected area, and put the fly on inside out. Run seam sealer (included with some new tents, or available at outdoor stores) along every seam on the fly and the floor. It's better to apply two thin coats than one thick coat. Allow to dry for several hours before putting the tent away.
Water can still invade
most tents through WICKING. This is where something touching
the side of the tent will, through capillary action, draw the water
through the tent wall onto the item touching it. This could be
a backpack, clothes, sleeping bag, or any other item capable of
holding moisture.
This can be an especially bad surprise on the morning of a heavy dew.
agree that waterproofing is an important feature to consider.
There is nothing more miserable than sleeping in a wet tent.
The better the material, the more water-resistant, then the more likely you are to sleep dry. But there are some days that it rains so hard that no matter how good your tent, you're going to get wet (if for no other reason that you bring the rain in yourself going in and out of the tent). It may rain for days on end while you cower inside your tent waiting for the deluge to subside. During this time, your tent does not even have time to dry out, but as long as your sleeping bag is fairly dry, you can sleep warmly, if not entirely comfortably, in your damp tent.
are occasions like these that have taught some campers to keep a
spare tarp on hand. The tarp can then be erected over your tent to
provide an extra roof and a little extra protection from the rain.
Just remember to give the tarp a little slant so that water doesn't pool up in the middle of it.
To keep your tent as dry as possible, it is important to seal its seams, especially those around the floor of the tent. Most leaks occur at the seams because that is where the needles that sewed the pieces together left holes.
Although parts of the tent are coated, the needle holes in the seams will allow water to enter your tent; therefore manufacturers often include an applicator bottle of sealant designed to close these tiny holes. Buy some sealer (available at most outdoors stores) and follow the directions.
Then seal them again.
the fly (and the tent if it is not seam-taped) out on the ground;
run a thin coating of sealant along the seams. Allow the sealant to
dry according to the instructions on the bottle, and then apply a
second coat.
Sealing seams every season helps ensure that your tent will perform the way it's supposed to.
on how much you use the tent, the sealer can last up to two years.
If you use your tent a lot or have subjected it to a lot of rain or snow, seal the seams more often.
You can buy seam sealer at any outdoor store and most discount stores. It is very cheap with easy to follow directions.
Rain flies have to be seam-sealed every few seasons.
sun too will eventually cause a tent to deteriorate.
If possible, camp in the shade to avoid harmful UV rays. You might consider simply leaving your rain fly on during the day. They are easier to replace after a few seasons of abuse than the entire tent.
Tent floors can wear out, so use a ground tarp when possible.
When camping in the cold or snow, try to position your tent so that the early morning sun warms you and evaporates the dew or frost on your tent.
You will also want to consider how easily a tent can be set up and taken down
- important when it comes to pitching a tent in the dark or wind or rain.
golden rule is to
always set your tent up in the yard before your first camping trip
This rule serves many purposes.
First because you want to make sure that all of the parts are enclosed in the package. Think of how awful it would be to be at your campsite and find that a pole was missing.
Also you want to have practice at pitching the tent so that you will have an idea as to what you have to do once you are at camp.
You don't want to waste a lot of your precious camping time trying to set up a tent that you aren't familiar with.
You may also want to practice setting up in the dark!
While you have your tent set up in your yard there are a few things that I highly recommending doing.
first is waterproofing.
Most tents are considered waterproof but it never hurts to give it an extra boost.
also want to check the stakes
for your tent.
If the tent comes with the skinny metal stakes, forget them.
Buy yourself some of the larger plastic stakes.
They will make the tent much more securely attached to the ground. They are very cheap and I would recommend buying and taking extra. You will be amazed at the uses you can find for tent stakes.
remember to never ever ever use the loops on the tent to pull the
stakes out of the ground. They are not meant for this and doing this
could cause them not to hold at the most inconvenient of times - like
when it is windy and rainy and you most want to be inside of the tent.
If you have a hammer with a claw that will fit to pull them out, use that.
If not, then stake pullers are relatively inexpensive and available wherever you buy the extra stakes.
There are several different methods of tent set up-clip systems, sleeve systems and grommet systems. In the clip system, the ends of the poles are held by grommets and the tent clipped to the poles; in the sleeve system, the poles are pushed through sleeves in the tent and the ends are held by grommets; and the simple grommet system, in which the poles, usually rigid aluminum poles, are held by grommets or loops with little or no bending of the poles. Some tents employ combinations of the two systems, the clip and sleeve combination being the most common.
While color is a matter of personal preference, there are reasons why you may choose one color over another. Bright, neon-like colors are good only in search-and-rescue situations because the blinding material will stand out against the snow or the green and brown of the woods or the sand in the desert. Since most camping involves designated sites, this situation rarely arises. It is more common among mountain climbers or others who find themselves in this situation having traveled in remote areas. For the very reason bright colors are effective in emergency situations as described above, these colors can be annoying to other campers, causing a visual disturbance in what is supposed to be a natural, outdoors experience.
The fabric color affects the quality of light inside your tent. If your tent is pale green or blue, the bright sunlight filtered through your tent will form a soft light inside. On rainy or overcast days, the light inside your tent could be slightly depressing. These colors are also a bit more inconspicuous in the backcountry. In contrast, orange and yellow fabrics are great in foul weather because they produce a brighter light inside your tent but few manufacturers use these colors anymore just because they are so bright.
a matter of fact, there is a definite trend toward using more
inconspicuous and environmentally pleasing colors such as grey, light
grey, white and tan. These please the eye both inside and outside the
tent. Blue and gold combinations are also used in many tents as are
lodengreen or spruce, charcoal, burgundy, teal and aqua.
Blue-grey and green are by far the most common tent colors.
a quality ground cloth for under your tent to protect the floor and
to keep it drier and cleaner.
This should be the same shape as your tent and slightly smaller.
The Fly
'fly' or 'roof fly' or 'rain fly'
is the separate sheet of waterproofed fabric that covers the main tent body
(in most modern double-wall tent designs).
rain fly of your tent is undoubtedly the most integral part of your
tent when the rain begins to fall.
It is essentially your last line of defense from the cold, wet rain.
The fly may just cover a central part of the roof, or it may extend all the way to the ground. It may incorporate an integral vestibule or annex by the tent door(s), or even a porch-style awning on some family models.
In any case, it is likely to be somewhat heavier than the rest of the tent, as the fly takes the most abuse over time from UV light, winds, rains, birds, trees
a good idea to purchase 1 or 2 extra flies when you first get the
new tent
(or soon after),
for likely replacement needs down the road.
(Very happy when a model is discontinued and parts become scarce.)
Flies need to be re-treated/sealed for waterproofness every so often, and like the rest of the tent should be stored clean and dry.
use you won't always need it of course
in less humid climates with little rain it is fun to go fly-less,
for increased ventilation,
nighttime star-gazing on models with sheer ceiling material.
fly sheets also include extra sewn-on web loops or metal rings, for
attaching guy-out
in windy conditions:
It's a good idea to get some good weather-proof cord
(available at most sports or hardware stores)
and heavy-duty stakes to augment the basic tent package, and use them if there's any chance of strong gusts.
are four very important characteristics of a rain fly:
1. Rain flies should be full length, so they protect the inner walls from getting wet and from letting too much cold air into the tent, or even worse spindrift. But there still must be enough space between the ground and the bottom of the rain fly so that ventilation is not inhibited. As a general rule, the seam that attaches the tent floor to the tent wall should be covered by the rain fly.
2. The tightness of the rain fly is important because if it's not tight when dry, it certainly won't be tight when wet. When the fly gets wet it stretches and begins to sag. This allows water to enter into the tent when the fly fabric touches the tent fabric. To prevent this the camper must go out and tighten guy lines. Some flies are equipped with compression straps and ladderlock buckles at the corners that can be tightened when the fabric begins to sag.
Reinforced guy
points are a must if you want your tent to be standing during
wind and rain. These points allow you to anchor your tent and stretch
the rain fly to avoid sagging.
4. Vents are an often-overlooked characteristic, but are extremely important in the battle versus condensation. Without vents, the warm, humid air that rises to the top of tent has a long way to go until it reaches the bottom of the fly to escape. Vents placed high on the rain fly allow this air to escape more rapidly and eliminate the formation of water droplets due to condensation. But please, make sure the vents are well protected from letting rain in.
really can make the difference between a solid shelter and a large
loose tumbleweed-type tent.
If in doubt, guy it out!
We're talking tents here,
not tornado shelters.
track of the weather before and during your trip,
use proper gear for the likely conditions,
and be realistic about your overall safety needs
and the ability of your equipment
and fellow campers.
Additional Tips
Once you've spent bucket loads for your tent, follow these tips to make sure it lasts long and serves you well:
Vestibules and Other Features
tents come equipped with vestibules. A vestibule is essentially a
tent's front porch. It is designed to protect gear from the elements
and can offer a canopy under which to cook in foul weather.
(Never cook inside a tent.)
You must remember that any open flame in a tent is dangerous. DO NOT
use candles when you are sleeping. There is a chance you may not wake up.
A vestibule also gives you somewhere to put your shoes-a place that is not inside the tent, but not outside either.
tents offer mesh storage pouches that are good for storing small
personal items like watches, compasses, and small flashlights.
Just don't forget to remove those things when you stuff the tent back into its sack. Many manufacturers include a small loop (not to be confused with tent poles) in the mid-center of the tent that you can use to suspend a flashlight.
if weather isn't a problem, insects sometimes are.
Well-built tents feature finely woven insect netting in their roof panels, entrances, and end panels. Depending on the time of year and location, a tent is valuable as a shelter from the elements and an impenetrable barrier to mosquitoes and black flies. Such netting lets you see your surroundings while holding off the invasion of biting insects. The netting does double duty in the roof panels-it not only keeps insects out, but allows moisture expelled from occupants in the tent to be released outside, keeping conditions inside comfortable and less humid than they might otherwise be.
Washing Your Tent
wash in a washing machine
dry in a dryer
will want to keep any equipment you buy in tip-top shape.
This is especially true for a tent, which typically represents the biggest investment in any single piece of outdoor equipment you're likely to make.
The trouble is, a tent is your first line of defense against the elements and is always in contact with the earth when being used.
The sad fact of the matter is that the clean, unruffled beauty will eventually become soiled, whether from the ground on which it's pitched, or from any goop that falls from the trees around it.
you can't just send your synthetic fiber wonder to the dry cleaners
or toss it into a washing machine to rid it of past brushes with the wilderness.
Rest assured, washing your tent isn't hard, it just takes a little care and some elbow grease.
you find yourself faced with a tent that has undergone the ravages
of a rainstorm that turned your particular patch of outdoor
wilderness into a mucky hell, chances are your tent has taken the
brunt of the misery.
In your hasty exit from your campsite, you probably stuffed your mud-smeared tent back into its stuff-sack to be dealt with later.
Later quickly becomes now on your return home, and you wonder how you're going to deal with the mess the outdoors has made of your outdoor shelter.
first step is to dry everything out.
That means draping your tent over a clothes line in the garage, or over several chairs inside.
Allow your tent to dry thoroughly overnight.
Cleaning is best done outside by using a brush to gently wipe away dried mud from the fabric. You'll find that your tent's synthetic fabric easily repels dirt and that a good brushing is all that's really needed to get your tent looking like new again.
heavily soiled areas, spot clean with a solution of soapy water.
Use only the mildest of detergent soaps.
Never use detergent of washing machines or dryers
because they can damage the tent's protective coating and seams
Either brushing or wet-spot cleaning can also be used to clean the fly, and it may be a good time to seal the tent and fly seams.
adequate drying time before stuffing your tent back into its sack.
In some cases-where your tent has come into contact with oil or pine sap-it may be difficult to clean the tent entirely.
Look at stains such as these as war wounds that tents wear as badges of honor in their on-going battle to keep their owners safe, sound, and comfortable while nature whirls around them in the night.
A little tip . . .
well-meaning advice to buy an
"ecologically unobtrusive"
Sure, browns, grays, and greens blend into the landscape, but they can be awfully difficult to find after a long day on the trail.
If you get lost, a red tent is much easier to spot.
Also, dark interiors make for gloomy stormbound days;
stick with bright, light colors.
One Last Note to Ponder . . .
Most tents, even those that are labeled flame resistant, will burn, so keep all sources of heat or flames at a safe distance.
To prevent a serious fire or burn, follow these suggestions:
1. Read the labels before purchasing a tent. Buy only a flame resistant tent.
2. Pitch your tent at least five meters from grills and fireplaces.
3. Have an escape plan, and be prepared to cut your way out of the tent if a fire occurs.
4. Use only battery-operated lights in or near tents and campers.
5. Keep a fire extinguisher or container of water available at all times.
6. Maintain at least a one meter clear area, free of leaves, dry grass, pine needles, etc., around grills, fireplaces, and tents.
7. Thoroughly extinguish all fires, and turn off fuel lanterns and stoves before leaving the campsite or before going to bed.
See Emergency Fire Procedures
prevent accidents in the night,
use phosphorescent paint to mark the top of corner pegs of tents, guylines, etc.
Copyright © 2000 Jon's Images, Inc. All rights reserved
See Gear Tips Disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using any info from this site, you agree to our full terms. Review the full terms by clicking here. Below is a summary of some of the terms. If you do not agree to the full terms, do not use the information. All information on this web site is provided as a free service. Under no conditions does it constitute professional advice. No representations are made as to the completeness, accuracy, comprehensiveness or otherwise of the information provided. This site is considered publishers of this material, not authors. Information may have errors or be outdated. Some information is from historical sources or represents opinions of the author. It is for research purposes only. The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. We are not liable for any consequential, incidental, indirect, or special damages. You indemnify us for claims caused by you.


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So, very excited, at lunch I drove across the Bridge to my old favorite grocery to acquire Chinese ingredients to make some dishes from Cecilia Chiang's The Seventh Daughter.
I took a photograph before I went in. Isn't she lovely?
Unfortunately, she was looking very shabby inside. All was not as I remembered. Either that, or my enthusiasm has been (properly) dampened by the (hideous) reports on (nonexistent) food safety standards in China. (Yes, I do know this is a Chinese-American market, but many of the products come from China, and I just have this feeling. . . ) I saw packets of fresh noodles already dotted with mold, dented cans of coconut milk, rusting jars of bamboo shoots. Charnel house atmosphere over at the butcher counter.
I did not let it deter me. I loaded up -- on pork belly, lotus seeds, gingko nuts, won ton skins, and so on -- but not with the giddy high spirits of yore. Sad.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
The End of the Affair?
Posted by tipsybaker at 5/06/2008 02:04:00 PM Labels: Cecilia Chiang, Sunset Super
1 comment:
- Anonymous5/7/08, 1:16 AM
Loved the phrase "charnel house" applied to the butcher's, also "isn't she lovely" tag on the photo. In fact loved the whole piece. Was surprised that you went ahead and purchased items, after your litany of less-than-appealing products and atmosphere. Nice twist. Haven't read your other entries yet, but I suspect that I will become a devoted reader. PGMReplyDelete
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subset: commoncrawl


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Lavonia puts Café Risque property on the market
LAVONIA - Now that the Café Risque is history, the City of Lavonia is looking into its options for the building and 4.6 acres off Interstate 85 Exit 173.
Lavonia Mayor Ralph Owens said Norton Realty of Gainesville would get the contract to sell the property. And, City Manager Gary Fesperman said because Lavonia did not purchase the land and the building for a specific purpose it must be sold as surplus property.
Owens said he believes Norton has the most experience in marketing commercial real estate.
"We just felt like they (Norton Realty) would have more contacts than anyone else would," he said. "However, the contract will read that if another Realtor finds a buyer for that property, then they'll split the commission with Norton."
Begun in the 1920's, Norton Realty is one of the oldest and largest realtors in north Georgia, specializing in both commercial and residential properties.
Lavonia city fathers ultimately would like to see the property developed in to upscale businesses and restaurants. The city will be meeting with agents from Norton realty later this week to work out how to market the land.
Meantime, Fesperman says he has had some interested parties contact him.
"We've had some people interested in the property. We've had people sort of dangle a little fish hook out there with some bait on it to see what we would do, but nothing of substance," he said.Last month, the city bought the building that once housed a topless restaurant and the property it sits on through an anonymous third-party for almost $1 million. The mayor believes with the right marketing, the city will be able to get its money back.
"Norton is going to come up with what we need to ask for the property. Appraisals can vary , but we feel like we're going to get our money back out of it," Owens said.
In a related move, the city plans to sell off the entire contents of the strip club, which Owens said consists mainly of restaurant and kitchen items.
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text:
COLUMBUS - A resident of Zanesville discovered how easy winning could be playing Ohio Lottery games. Travis Hardesty won $50,000 on the Ohio Lottery's instant EZPLAY game Wild Card Joker.
After mandatory federal and state taxes totaling 29 percent are withheld, Hardesty receives $35,500. Hardesty purchased the winning ticket from Sunrise Strikes, 1940 E. Pike Street in Zanesville. The odds of winning are 1:3.75
Next Est. Jackpot: $55 Million
Cash Option Value: $35.2 Million
Next Jackpot: $50 Million
Cash Option Value: $32 Million
Next Jackpot: $194,000
Next Jackpot: $12.2 Million
Cash Option Value: $6.1 Million


text:
Adjournment Debate. - Tribunals of Inquiry.
Tuesday, 15 October 2002
Dáil Eireann Debate
125. Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children the Government's response to the findings of the Lindsay tribunal; the reason he has not referred a copy of the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18043/02]
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin): The report of the Lindsay tribunal relating to the infection with HIV and hepatitis C of persons with haemophilia was published on 5 September last. The report is a lengthy and detailed document. The tribunal sat for 196 days and heard evidence from 146 witnesses. In addition, the tribunal heard the personal testimonies of some of those who were infected and the next of kin of some of those members of the haemophilia community who have passed away. I am sure that I speak for everyone in the House in expressing our sorrow at the suffering that all of these people have endured.
The report finds that 104 people with haemophilia were infected with HIV through blood products. Of these, the tribunal finds that 96 were infected by products imported into the country and eight were infected by products made by the Blood Transfusion Services Board. The records of the Virus Reference Laboratory recorded 217 persons with haemophilia tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies. The tribunal regards this as a minimum figure. It is understood that approximately 70 of those people infected with HIV have died. The report examines the response of various persons and bodies in the State in dealing with the emerging problems of HIV and hepatitis C and criticises a number of bodies. They include the BTSB, the National Haemophilia Treatment Centre, certain treating doctors and the Department of Health and Children. The report makes eight recommendations and I am examining these with a view to their early implementation.
In relation to referral of the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions, I indicated shortly after it was published that I needed time to study the report in order to make an informed decision on the matter. I also wished to discuss the report with representatives of the Irish Haemophilia Society which I did last Wednesday. I will make my final decision on the matter shortly.
|Last Updated: 10/09/2010 17:53:22
|Page of 267


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2 U.S. Code § 111a - Receipts from sales of items by Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of Senate, to Senators, etc., to be credited to appropriation from which purchased
In any case in which appropriated funds are used by a Senator or a committee or office of the Senate to purchase from the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate items which were purchased by him from the appropriation for "miscellaneous items" under "Contingent Expenses of the Senate" in any appropriation Act, the amounts received by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States for credit to such appropriation. This section does not apply to amounts received from the sale of used or surplus furniture and equipment.
Source(Pub. L. 96–214, Mar. 24, 1980, 94 Stat. 122.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


text:
''I also believe most gun owners agree that we can respect the Second Amendment while keeping an irresponsible, law-breaking few from inflicting harm on a massive scale. I believe most of them agree that if America worked harder to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, there would be fewer atrocities like the one that occurred in Newtown.''
President Barack Obama in announcing his plan to reduce gun violence


text:
The Biggest Lesson the GOP Should Learn from the Election
Republicans need to stop nominating right-wing extremists like John McCain and Mitt Romney.
December 1, 2012 - 12:00 am
Furthermore, the Super Squish is someone who won't lose votes on social issues. He'll never bring them up, and if Democrats bring them up, he'll immediately capitulate to what they want to keep those issues from being problems. And maybe he can support them on some things to show he doesn't agree with those scary religious Republicans. Ideally, he himself will be an abortionist. This would certainly keep women voters from being frightened of the Republican candidate; they love abortions.
Also, the Super Squish will not be another one of those Republicans who mindlessly invoke Ronald Reagan and instead will really chastise the Republican Party's love for him. He'll tell Republicans, "Reagan would be ashamed of the Party as it is today. Also, I'm ashamed of Reagan, because he's not as great as everyone pretends and was actually quite divisive. Yes, everyone likes him now, but they shouldn't. So let's never mention him again except to say how ashamed he would be of today's GOP."
Similarly, the Super Squish will take on the religious wing of the party that pushes it to extremism. "The only things I believe without question are things that people in white lab coats say," he'll lecture the religious nuts. "If Jesus didn't warn us about climate change, then maybe He wasn't that great a messiah. So let's never mention Him again except to say how ashamed He would be of today's GOP."
And I guess the Super Squish can support some conservative idea to shore up the base a little… like what's a really harmless right-wing idea? Balance the budget? No… that implies some severe spending cuts. Anyway, this perfect candidate will have some sort of conservative idea he'll favor… but he'll only mention it if a reporter really presses him on why exactly he is a Republican at all. And he'll be profusely apologetic about it, knowing that mentioning it might hurt the feelings of people who disagree with him.
Finally, this Super Squish will not be a minority or a woman, as it's highly offensive to them to imply that one of them would actually be a Republican.
So who is this Super Squish? We don't know yet, but we'd better start looking now. Start with any Republican allowed to speak on MSNBC. And we must have him ready for 2016 before the wingnuts start to rally around another far-right disaster like McCain or Romney. If the Republicans have finally learned their lesson, they'll embrace the Super Squish, and the Super Squish will in turn keep them at arm's length so as not to appear too Republicany. And while the Super Squish won't win the presidency (beating a Democrat is racially insensitive to their numerous coalitions), he'll run a campaign so inoffensive to the left that they'll pat us on the back and say, "You ran an honorable campaign, predominantly white people."
Ah, it will be nice to hold our heads up high again.


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Seat Belt Safety
According to the
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, vehicle crashes remain the number one killer of children ages 2-14 in the United States. Safe Kids Buckle Up teaches parents and caregivers how to buckle up children the right way, on every ride.
Rules You Need to Know
Every person on every ride must use a car seat, booster seat or safety belt that's right for his or her weight and height.
All children under age 13 must ride in a back seat.
Know where the airbags are in your vehicles. They can be in the front seat, on the roofline or in a back seat. Some airbags can be turned off.
Follow manufacturers' instructions for car seats, booster seats and vehicle safety at all times.
Do not allow your child to ride in vehicles where drivers or passengers do not use safety restraints.
Don't share safety belts. Use one safety belt for each person in the car.
Weigh and measure children often to be sure they are using the right safety device.
Install car seats using a locked vehicle safety belt or LATCH system. Read and follow all labels and instructions.
Never use car seats purchased from yard sales, secondhand stores or flea markets.
Never let children ride on laps or in cargo areas or pickup truck beds.
Get help with your child passenger safety by contacting a Safe Kids coalition near you.
Always Remember
Your child is counting on you to provide the best protection in a vehicle! Make sure your child always rides safely in your car, and prepare older children to "think safety" if they are ever in a car where no car seat or booster seat is available.
Make sure children know how to protect themselves by sitting in a back seat and using a safety belt. Approximately 45 percent of children who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 were completely unrestrained. Don't let your child become a statistic.
For the best protection, use the right restraint for your child's age, weight and height. And remember to wear your seat belt on every ride too. Your child will do as you do.
Seat Belt Safety Tools
There are many tools parents and caregivers can use to help reduce the risk of injury and death to children who ride in vehicles. Click on the links below to learn more information about seat belt safety for each age group.
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text:
St. Matt's: The stated destination for 85 Florida prisoners in past 5 years
When Billy Braswell left Florida prison for the seventh time, he went somewhere he'd never been before: Collier County.
Before getting out in January, the 54-year-old former construction worker heard from a cellmate in a north Florida prison about St. Matthew's House, an East Naples homeless shelter. With no place to live, Braswell became one of the 85 state prisoners in the past five years to tell corrections officials he was headed to the shelter.
In a jailhouse interview, Braswell said he had good intentions, that he "was hoping to gain a job, save some money and get on the right path."
But he soon ran into trouble. After being kicked out of St. Matthew's House for drinking alcohol, Collier sheriff's deputies arrested Braswell in mid-May, alleging he tried to rape a woman outside the shelter. Braswell denies the charges.
Braswell's case lies at the heart of a debate about crime and homeless shelters, one that looms despite St. Matthew's House abandoning plans last month to build a shelter in Bonita Springs. Shelter officials are still looking at expanding into southern Lee County or northern Collier County. And wherever they go, complaints about crime and criminals will follow.
In opposing the proposed Bonita Springs shelter, neighborhood groups pointed to people like Braswell, calling him a cautionary tale that foreshadowed a crime jump.
"That's not an isolated incident," said Konrad Schultz, founder of the Concerned Citizens of Bonita, which formed when St. Matthew's House started looking at the Old U.S. 41 location near Bernwood Drive.
By the shelter's own count, 70 of the 85 released prisoners who said they were coming to St. Matthew's House actually stayed there. The shelter's president and CEO, Vann Ellison, said those 70 represent about 1 percent of all people who have stayed at St. Matthew's House since mid-2007. He added that recidivism rates among those 70 are low, fears of a major crime increase are exaggerated, and opponents are ignoring the good done at the shelter.
"They're saying 'not in my backyard' and not bringing forward any solutions," Ellison said of the opposition groups. "Thirty-seven thousand people are going to be released from prison in Florida each year, and they're offering no answers for them."
Braswell's story raises fundamental questions about crime and homeless shelters: Do new shelters lead to higher crime rates? Do they attract more convicts? Would law enforcement, already stretched thin, carry a heavier burden?
To answer these questions, the Daily News examined prison records, local jail records and court documents, tracking the paths of criminals linked to St. Matthew's House. It also spoke with representatives from both sides, as well as independent observers, for context about the crime conversation.
Would a shelter attract violent criminals and released prisoners?
Opponents: Yes. The current St. Matthew's House already is well-known to recently released state prisoners like Braswell, as well as jail inmates.
Supporters: No. Staff screen the criminal histories of potential residents, rejecting violent offenders and those convicted of sex crimes.
Analysis: It's undeniable that the East Naples' St. Matthew's House is familiar to convicts and inmates — both in and out of Southwest Florida.
Upon release from prison, a convict must provide corrections officials with an address of where they're going. Since June 2007, 85 prisoners have said they were going to 2001 Airport-Pulling Road S., the address of St. Matthew's House.
Nearly all of their crimes fit into six categories — assault, burglary, robbery, theft, drugs or DUI.
About half were sentenced for crimes committed in Collier or Lee counties.
Collier: 35
Lee: 8
Broward: 6
Martin: 4
Palm Beach: 4
Hillsborough: 3
Miami-Dade: 3
Pinellas: 3
Other: 19
Source: Florida Department of Corrections
But unless under supervised release, the prisoner doesn't have to go to the address provided.
The Daily News asked to review St. Matthew's House records to verify how many of those 85 prisoners spent time at the shelter. Citing privacy reasons, shelter officials denied that request.
But when provided with the 85 names, shelter staff combed through guest logs and found 70 had stayed at St. Matthew's House. Of those 70, Ellison said 41 listed Collier or Lee as their home county.
During that same five-year stretch, records show 239 people arrested by the Collier County Sheriff's Office have listed 2001 Airport-Pulling Road S. as their home address.
The 309 prisoners and inmates linked to St. Matthew's House through state prisons and the Collier jail represent about 5 percent of the population at St. Matthew's House, which is estimated at about 1,200 per year.
But others sometimes come from state prisons outside Florida and jails outside Collier County, where records weren't tracked by the Daily News. Ellison estimated 14 to 16 percent of St. Matthew's House residents listed "custody" as their last location of residence.
Have convicted and accused criminals associated with St. Matthew's House committed serious crimes after leaving prison or jail?
Opponents: There are dozens of examples of crimes — including some violent ones — in Collier County linked to St. Matthew's House records.
Supporters: Connections between convicts and the shelter have been overblown, and recidivism rates for those who stayed at the shelter are low.
Analysis: Among those state prisoners linked to St. Matthew's House, some have had run-ins with law enforcement in Collier County. Upon release, 26 of those 85 — or 31 percent — landed back in the Naples Jail Center within three years. That figure mirrors Florida Department of Corrections studies, which show about one-in-three state prisoners will re-offend within three years of release.
13 were originally sentenced to prison for crimes committed in Collier
13 were originally sentenced to prison for crimes committed outside Collier
6 listed St. Matthew's House as their home address upon re-arrest, though the shelter says none were actually staying there
At least 5 gave an address within a 2 mile radius of St. Matthew's House
Source: Florida Department of Corrections, Collier County Sheriff's Office
Most were arrested on non-violent offenses — theft, marijuana possession, probation violation.
A few much-debated cases, however, involve violent crimes.
Braswell's case suggests there are convicts who come to Southwest Florida for the first time because of the shelter. In an interview, Braswell said he'd previously lived in Jacksonville, St. Petersburg and Okeechobee. He chose St. Matthew's House over shelters in Miami because drugs and crime are more prevalent there, he said.
There's also Clyde Barden, who listed St. Matthew's House as his address upon arrest in April. He's accused of grabbing a convenience store clerk's hands while he stole from an open cash register about five miles from the shelter. His case is pending.
In one case, however, the stated impact of St. Matthew's House has been exaggerated.
Opponents tied St. Matthew's House to Stephen Moretto, who was arrested in August 2009 and later convicted of two murder charges in Lee County. But shelter records show Moretto had lived in Naples for at least five years, and his 17-day stay ended more than a month before his arrest for the San Carlos Park slayings.
Would crime rates rise near a new homeless shelter?
Opponents: Absolutely. The homeless population tends to have higher rates of drug and alcohol dependency, which increases the likelihood of crime. The current St. Matthew's House location in East Naples already has higher incidents of crime.
Supporters: No. The residents of St. Matthew's House are largely dedicated to recovery, undergo daily alcohol tests and are subject to random drug screenings.
Analysis: It's not a guarantee that crime automatically rises in neighborhoods around homeless shelters. In some cases, researchers found crime rates actually fell when a new homeless shelter is erected.
John Gilderbloom, a University of Louisville professor who was written extensively on homelessness issues, said oversight and strong leaders among shelter management play a key role.
"If they're unregulated, unlicensed and they sort of say for the government to stay out, that's always a sign of trouble," Gilderbloom said.
Using CrimeCast, a forecasting tool, Gaut says the Airport-Pulling Road address for St. Matthew's House is 2.3 times more likely to have violent and property offenses than other parts of the county.
Homicide: 1.95x
Rape: 3.21x
Robbery: 2.42x
Aggravated assault: 1.71x
Burglary: 2.19x
Larceny: 1.76x
Motor vehicle theft: 2.13x
Crimes against property: 1.77x
From a Sheriff's Office perspective, it's difficult to say whether St. Matthew's House causes higher crime, particularly because of the nearby jail, bail bondsmen offices and other civil service facilities, Collier County sheriff's Capt. Tim Guerrette said.
"Those places all are factors too," Guerrette said. "Any time we have a dense population of people, you're going to get some added calls for service."
But to William Gaut, a retired police captain who authored a free crime analysis report for the Concerned Citizens of Bonita, the evidence is undeniable — crime would rise.
Historical data also suggest that the area would become home to more sex offenders, Gaut said.
"The indicators are that crime would probably rise significantly," he said.
Would a homeless shelter mean more work for local law enforcement?
Opponents: Yes. The Collier County Sheriff's Office already responds to a significant numbers of calls for service at the East Naples location, and more patrols are needed around the current shelter.
Supporters: Perhaps, but the current St. Matthew's House staff also has a strong relationship with local police. The Collier County Sheriff's Office, for example, can check the shelter's roster for active warrants.
Analysis: Local sheriff's deputies are no stranger to St. Matthew's House in East Naples. In the past five years, deputies have responded to an average of 4.5 calls for service per week at that location — a high amount for the Sheriff's Office.
Still, the call data shows that in many cases, deputies are responding to routine issues. About half of all calls for service were not crime-related.
Medical, 247 -- 22 percent
Other non-crime, 205 -- 18 percent
Investigations, 150 -- 13 percent
Disturbances, 136 -- 12 percent
Warrants/civil service, 106 -- 9 percent
Suspicious person/incident, 106 -- 9 percent
Other crime-related, 102 -- 9 percent
Welfare/mental check, 93 -- 8 percent
Source: Collier County Sheriff's Office
There's also no guarantee that more police help would be needed at a new shelter.
Two homeless shelters in Fort Myers have had significantly fewer calls for service than St. Matthew's House during the same five-year time period. The Salvation Army Social Services Center, a 215-bed shelter, averaged 2.7 calls for service per week, while the Fort Myers Rescue Mission, which houses 65 men, averaged 0.7 calls per week.
The Rev. David Light, director of the Fort Myers Rescue Mission, said a friendly bond with police helps keep calls for service down. A ban on alcohol and drugs helps deter potential criminals from populating his shelter, he said.
"That's the two areas where you get a lot of crime," Light said. "Because we test, they're going to either avoid us or they're going to avoid alcohol and drugs if they're coming here."
Would more homeless people and potential criminals roam the streets near a proposed shelter?
Opponents: Yes. The East Naples location is always at capacity, causing shelter staff to turn away potential residents who then loiter in the area while waiting for an open bed. The surrounding region would also become home to those who leave or are kicked out of the shelter, such as Braswell.
Supporters: It's unlikely. A new shelter could take some homeless people off the street, providing them with beds. The originally proposed site also would have served women and children, who are more likely to abide by laws.
Analysis: Since 2005, the East Naples location has been over capacity, which causes staff to deny access to some homeless. Some of those turned away find other places to stay. Some live in homeless camps and nearby woods. Some come back each day, asking about vacancies.
Guerrette, the Collier sheriff's captain, said deputies get more calls about roaming homeless during the night.
"One thing we do get is complaints about sleeping behind businesses. We'll get them up Radio Road and down the Trail," he said. "For the most part, during the day, we're not seeing a lot of activity going on."
Guerrette added that homeless camps aren't unique to the St. Matthew's House area.
Supporters have said a new shelter would support the homeless population that's not currently serviced, but there aren't precise figures about how many homeless populate south Lee County and north Collier County. Using a strict federal definition, there are an estimated 2,800 homeless people in Lee County, said Janet Bartos, executive director of the Lee County Homeless Coalition.
"Clearly there's a homeless population in the Bonita area," Bartos said. "We know what, but figuring out how many, it's tough."
One argument that Gilderbloom, the Louisville professor, rejects: that shelters for women and children mean less crime.
"The problem is the boyfriends show up and you get domestic violence issues, which can get pretty bad," Gilderbloom said.
A shelter doesn't have to mean more homeless and more crime in neighborhoods, Gilderbloom said. The keys to avoiding those issues — good management serving a small population.
"Size matters, and the bigger it is, the more problems you're going to have in terms of the neighborhood impact," Gilderbloom said. "My line on it is, 'Yes, we do need housing shelters, but it should be organized.'"
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Bushfires Burn Across Victoria
Smoke rises near the town of Seaton on January 19, 2013 in Melbourne,... Nieuwsfoto'sAustralië,Horizontaal,Melbourne - Australië,Ongelukken en rampen,StadjePhotographer Craig SillitoeCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: Smoke rises near the town of Seaton on January 19, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. Bushfires in Victoria have claimed one life and destroyed several houses. Record heat continues to create extreme fire conditions throughout Australia. (Photo by Craig Sillitoe/Getty Images)


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In the body politic, social pathogens of aggression that surface in the form of such things as racism, fascism, homophobia, and xenophobia can be viewed and approached in a similar manner. Each of these ideological cancers have origins, histories, distinct characteristics, and can be studied, monitored, and analyzed asking the same basic questions used by the Centers for Disease Control and the Institutes for Public Health:
- Where does it come from?
- What conditions allow it to prosper?
- How is it transmitted?
- What is its life cycle?
- What causes it to become dormant?
- Can it be eradicated?
Through such a methodical approach to understanding social pathogens, we are best able to mobilize with economy and effectiveness the resources available. Beginning our quest for human dignity with an attitude of respect for the process and results of research and analysis enables us to avoid inappropriate responses to outbreaks while we advance our pooled knowledge and experience.
(Read more about the Public Health Model.)


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Kaptivating Kidz: Sophia's Choice? Swimming
Seven-year-old Sophia Ruppert is a bonafied water bug.
In just over two years of competitive swimming with Willamalane Swim Club in Springfield, Sophia most recently finished eighth out of 24 at the state meet. Out-stroking many in the eight-and-under age group.
"Sometimes I don't want to swim and then a few days later, I say I want to go swimming so bad but I can't because it's a day off."
If Sophia had her druthers, she would never dive into salt water.
"It tastes horrible."
The chlorine kid also has a deal with her dad. If she trims her 500-freestyle time down to sub 5-mins?
"If I get five minutes or under, he is going to get one of his ears pierced."
Pop doesn't have to worry about piercing his lobes for a few more years as at last check her best 500-time was 8:44.
If Sophia continues to work with her coach Tyler Stone, that process could be moved along quit quickly.
The former swimmer at Springfield High School said, "Just her drive to win is one thing that kids of that age, I typically don't see until they get a little bit older."
Back in the Summer of 2008, Sophia was glued to the tube watching gold medalist Michael Phelps at the Olympic Games in Beijing. She taught herself how to breastroke. Now Sophia has her sights set on the 2020 Olympics.
"I watch them and try to copy them but I forget it in the middle of the night"
Not to worry, Sophia has nine more years to remember just how the Olympians do it.
You can connect with Nick Krupke through facebook. Just "like" Nick Krupke KVAL
Know of any sporty "Kaptivating Kidz" that need some recognition on KVAL? Drop us a line and tell us why a certain special little someone or team should get some time to shine in the spotlight.
Visit the Kaptivating Kidz page on kval.com.


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Best of News
Rescue co-ordinator Don McIntyre shows the Global Maritime Distress... NyhetsfotoAntarktis,Australien,Bro,Fransk kultur,Hobart,Horisontell,Kryssning,Matros,Olyckor och katastrofer,Rädda,Räddningsarbetare,Tasmanien,Transportmedel,VisaPhotographer AFPCollection: AFP 2013 AFPRescue co-ordinator Don McIntyre shows the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) on the bridge of the Antarctic cruise vessel which rescued French sailor Alian Delord, the MV Orion, at Macquarie dock, in Hobart on January 22, 2013. A French sailor walked off the cruise ship that saved him after he spent three days adrift in a life-raft in the remote Southern Ocean, smiling and assisted by his rescuers. Alain Delord was marooned on a life-raft in mountainous seas about 500 nautical miles from southern Australia's Tasmania after his yacht was badly damaged in perilous weather during a solo round-the-world sailing attempt. AFP PHOTO / DAN HIMBRECHTS (Photo credit should read Dan Himbrechts/AFP/Getty Images)


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This Is Even Worse Then The Home Cyst RemovalSearch:Home Cyst Removal On This Website"
Umm.. Yeah, I just did that.. and I think it was grosser than this one to be honest..
I just ate cottage cheese by the way.. and I can feel the curds creeping back up on me..
it was a cyst on a dudes back not his tweenky :o
Thats considered a personal attack dude, thats why there being deleted, and douches like yourself could spend less time talking poo about the moderators and actually having a life
thats all i have to say
I've seen alot worse, but, this isn't pleasant in the least to look at.
Also, the narrator making a thing about them not disinfecting - he evidently isn't aware that most western surgery has moved away from antiseptic technique (using disinfectants on the wound during surgery) and towards aseptic technique (making everything in use sterile).
This Is Even Worse Then The Home Cyst RemovalSearch:Home Cyst Removal On This Website
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LPGA Tour in Mexico
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2012 Lorena Ochoa Invitational | Preview | 08 Nov 2012
The LPGA Tour is back from a month playing events in Asia and will this week play the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara in Mexico.
The tournament has been blessed by the appearance of four of the leading five players in the world ranking with Suzann Pettersen having played well here previously and in great form at present deserving favouritism just ahead of Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Yani Tseng and the defending champion Catriona Matthew.
The field is restricted to just 36 players for the US$1 million event.
Only one Australian, Katherine Hull, is in the field.
Discuss this article in our forums


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Sausage and Sauerkraut Recipe
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 small onion, halved and sliced
- 1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 package (16 ounces) sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- In a large skillet, saute the potatoes in oil for 5-6 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir in onion; saute for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Add the sausage, sauerkraut, pepper and salt. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Yield: 4 servings.
Medium-Bodied White Wine
Enjoy this recipe with a medium-bodied white wine such as Riesling or Gewürtztraminer
Reviews for Sausage and Sauerkraut
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"This was a very easy and absolutely delicious meal. I would recommend this dish to anyone open to German food culture. The taste is great and really makes you feel like your eating a meal from germany. Plus its quick and easy for all you busy nights. Enjoy it and share it."
"Very easy to make . If you like sauerkraut you will live this recipe. Very Good!"
"Been making this for years. Add a few green peppers toss until al dente. Extra special yummy. Use fresh Polish Kielbasa for even better results."
"I make this as I love sauerkraut but I add caraway seeds to it. Very good."
"This was more delicious than I expected it to be! I boiled the potatoes the day before so I could make this in less time. My sauerkraut came in a jar and was imported from Germany; I did not rinse it and I did not add salt. Good stuff!"


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Pitchfork: Home. Streaming directory. InsomniaFm.com - Electronic Music Radio. List of Internet stations. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This is a list of articles on Internet streaming media resources.
General. Drum & Bass mix search engine - crawling for D&B mixes and sets. Free and legal music downloads. The big directory for you. The Wire: Adventures in Modern Music: Article. Hosted by Rob Young.
With a "Super Slayers" mix by Sun Araw Playlist: Joanna Newsom '81 from Have One On Me (Drag City) SomaFM: Listener Supported, Commercial Free Internet Radio. Music News, Album Reviews, Concert Photos, MP3s, Videos and More.


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Feb. 1, 2012
The official Gameday Program at each Badgers home series includes player profiles. This feature is just one of the exclusive items available inside the program, which is available for purchase on game day at Kohl Center or online at NationalWClub.com. Today we look at sophomore forward Mark Zengerle, who was featured in the program for the Alaska Anchorage series. | Purchase Gameday Programs
MADISON, Wis. -- An odd thing happened Jan. 14 in Mankato, Minn.--sophomore forward Mark Zengerle didn't record a point.
For the past 20 consecutive games leading up that cold night against Minnesota State, Zengerle had scored at least one goal or collected at least one assist in every contest.
The Rochester, N.Y. native's streak fell just one gut-wrenching game short of head coach Mike Eaves' record 21-game streak he set back in the 1977-78 season. Eaves did as much as he could to help extend the streak, getting the forward out for the final 29 seconds after Minnesota State sealed a 3-0 victory with an empty-net goal.
Twenty games for Zengerle ranks as the second-best in program history, eclipsing Mark Johnson's 17-game streak, also from the 1977-78 season. And let's be honest, you're doing something right if you put up a bigger number than Mark Johnson ever did.
Zengerle's streak came as part of an offensive uptick this season--one largely credited to his move from the wing to center.
"Just as far as my game goes, I feel like I'm better when I have the puck and skating up the ice," Zengerle said. "You don't really get to do that too much at wing. At center you've got a lot more free roaming in the neutral zone."
As a freshman, Zengerle put up a more-than-respectable 36 points over the season. But just five of those points came in the form of goals.
With 8 regular season games left this year, Zengerle stands at 39 points, 10 of them coming on goals. Zengerle said he's expected this increased output from himself for a while now.
"Yeah, it's something that I wanted to do definitely," Zengerle said. "I wanted to do it last year too--I had a really good start for it as far as the point production goes and then I cooled off a lot."
But cooling off this season is something Zengerle has rarely done, having put himself on the score sheet in all but three games.
Zengerle's streak may now rank among the best in school history, but let's consider for a moment some of the top streaks in sports history.
Joe DiMaggio holds arguably one of the most unbreakable streaks, having recorded a hit in 56- consecutive games. Fellow baseball great Cal Ripken, Jr., played in 2,632 consecutive games. And it if it's longevity we're talking about, you can hardly ignore the 297 consecutive regular season games Brett Favre played.
Also among some of the top streaks in sports, the 90 straight games UConn women's basketball won from 2008-2010. Or how about a mind-boggling eight consecutive NBA titles for the Boston Celtics?
It's almost impossible to imagine the 59 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings LA Dodger Orel Hershiser once threw.
In hockey, however, there's one streak that stands above all others: most consecutive games with a point.
Wayne Gretzky, who holds more professional hockey records than you can keep track of, once put together a 51-game scoring streak. More impressively, he did that all within the bounds of the 1983-84 season.
Fifty-one is, of course, 30 more games than the Wisconsin program record. But NCAA to NHL, that's apples to oranges, right? True, but how do you like these apples:
From Dec. 19, 1973- Dec. 6, 1975--almost two full seasons--Michigan State's Tom Ross set the WCHA record with at least one point in 78-straight games.
"That's not going to happen," Zengerle said with a laugh.
Much the same, Mark Zengerle should still hold himself in high esteem.
To post a statistic sandwiched between the performances of Mark Johnson and Mike Eaves is something to be proud of.
For Zengerle, now it's time to start a new streak. And no one should be surprised if he does.
"I guess you could say I've been pretty consistent," Zengerle said.
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Last Sunday I completed my 3rd 5k in 3 months and I'm just getting started. So far I've racked up 30 pounds of weight loss but when you start at 323 pounds you have to go in with the mindset that your in it for the long haul.
Losing weight and becoming fit is a marathon not a sprint. With that in mind I'm in no hurry because I'm actually starting to have fun on this journey.
There are things that I never thought I'd enjoy doing but I've learned that I never really gave them a chance in the first place. Here are a few things that have surprised me so far on my journey:
- I actually enjoy eating and cooking healthy foods. I always thought healthy foods tasted bad but now I know I just wasn't using the right ingredients. Once I started hunting for healthy foods that used quality unprocessed ingredients the food started to become delicious. On top of that spending time in the kitchen after work was a great way to relax.
- I am a runner now. 4 months ago I was a couch potato With hard training and consistency I transformed myself into a runner. I was gasping for air jogging for 2 mins straight now I can run a 5k.I've discovered how better I feel going to work when I run first thing in the morning. It's almost a cleansing experience.
- I seriously enjoy lifting weights. I joined a gym a month ago and I took to that like a duck to water. Like running, weight lifting is a competition with yourself. A guy next to you lifting 300 pounds doesn't matter. All that matters is the weight you are working with and pushing yourself to find that next level.
Where is this journey headed? I have no clue because I am open to any and all challenges.What I do know is my blog FatLossJoe will show where I've been, where I am and where I am going. I'm throwing down a gauntlet for myself and I can't wait to see where I'll be 3 months from now because the last three months have been a game changer!
Please visit me at FatLossJoe and on Twitter


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Since our founding in the late 1990's there has been solid support for more
universal participation and for an efficient way to exchange memories and
reminiscences and to learn more about the lives of our far-flung Forest Hills
brothers and sisters. The Internet now offers a mechanism for that.
Since 2001, we have been meeting in the Fall, annually, in what we call
"Conviviums" in diverse places such as Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, and Forest
Hills. In 2008, at the special invitation of Brenda La Grange Johnson, former
Forest Hillian then serving as the United States Ambassador to the island nation of Jamaica, over 50 of us travelled to Kingston and Montego Bay. In 2009, we cruised from NY to Bermuda on Royal Caribbean. In 2010 and 2011 we enjoyed Jacksonville Beach, FL, and in 2012 New Orleans.
The Forest Hills Club's stated initial purpose was (and still is) to promote
sharing of memories, photographs and reminiscences and to collect and share
information on the whereabouts of our fellow Forest Hillians.
We are an organization of inclusion. All persons with memories of Forest Hills
are invited to participate. Please join us, enjoy our website and come to our next Convivium!
We survive on donations mainly to cover website expenses and would appreciated a donation...whatever you feel it's worth. To chip in, please mail a check payable to, "The Forest Hills Club", c/o Jeff McGann, Secretary/Treas.
34 S. Harbor Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Or, click "Join Us" on the navigation bar on the left for an easy "Pay Pal" credit card secure payment option.
With just a few mouse clicks here on our website you can be back in Forest Hills again. Using the links on the left side, you can revisit and see people, places and things of Forest Hills.
We survive on donations of information, pictures, and biographies also.
Please contact Jeff McGann by email at email@example.com or phone 772 563 3268.
* * *


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My husband and I would like to backpack the North Rim of Yosemite for our honeymoon. We would be taking this trip the first week of September 2012. Our current route includes the North Rim to Tenaya Lake, looping the valley to Cloudsrest, and then descending to the valley via the Half Dome route (Little Yosemite Valley). We have only been backpacking in Yosemite in July when water was never an issue. Does anyone have experience backpacking in Yosemite in September? Is Yosemite Falls dry in September? Our snowpack this previous winter was meager, to say the least, so I am expecting some pretty dry conditions this September. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!Ashley
I did the North Rim 2 years ago in Sept. Yosemite falls was NOT dry at all. It was quite spectacular actually. But this year it may be different with the light snow.
It will get pretty dry around Clouds Rest in that season. In September, Yosemite Creek gets fairly dry and is reduced to a trickle. It is not obvious where you intend to start on the North Rim. The major streams will be a trickle and the minor streams will disappear. Even any standing water can be used, but you will want to filter it a lot.I've used water from Ribbon Creek when there was no flow.--B.G.--
We will be starting from Tamarack Flat. I have read mixed reviews about starting from Bog Oak Flat Road (rockslide was difficult to scramble with packs on, etc.).
Yes, Tamarack Flat is the best place, and I've started there about twenty times. The road was closed one year, so I had to start over at Big Oak Flat Road (the highway), and it was longer with more uphill, so I don't recommend that one. The rockslide is actually below El Capitan, on the way from the valley up to the Old Big Oak Flat Road (now an old fire road).The place to camp first is about 200 yards after crossing Ribbon Creek, while you are still within walking range of the water there. Unfortunately, the best time to go is about July 1 for the wildflowers.Hey, if you two can survive that trip, then marriage will be easy.--B.G.--
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Current Obsession Round Sunglasses
I am currently obbessed with round sunglasses and I don't know why. Ever since they started to have more vareity I have been hooked. I love the round ones from Prada and the half tint ones the most. The girl in the third last picture is adorable she is so over the top it works at least in my opinion bag lady chic strikes again.
What are your favorite and least favorite style of sunglasses?
You'll ♥
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