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Tim Bellette, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:27am
Re: Broadband Speeds Averaging About 1/3 Of The SpIt is a bit hard for providers to advertise exact speeds, since everyones exact speed would vary depending on line conditions and distance from their exchange or node. One place could get 80% of its advertised speed while a house only a few doors down could only be capable of getting 30% of the advertised speed.
I do agree with the fact that you may vary well, and most probably will not, get full speeds as advertised should be made more aware of by providers. Perhaps a theoretical speed calculator on providers sites or technical help lines should also be available.
With Australian ADSL2+ broadband there are a sites (http://adsl2exchanges.com.au/) which allow you to calculate your distance and an estimated speed you will be able to obtain. However; these are not completely accurate because it also depends on line quality which is not available to these services.
danlinks (profile), 27 Jun 2009 @ 1:27pm
Re: Re: Broadband Speeds Averaging About 1/3 Of The SpWhat a joke reply. Look, they should be held to a minimum speed, and THAT is the way they should advertise, not the theoretical maximum. I buy based upon speed, not on dreams. Don't support LIES.
Zeus512, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:35am
American ISPsI've never had a broadband connection that delivered 1/3 what it promised, mine have always been within 90% delivery of the promoted speeds, from my understanding ISPs tell your modem how fast they are allowed to dl/ul and then the modem trys its best to give you that rate, many factors affect you recieving this speed such as bad packets or interference in the line, but your modem should be set by your ISP to what they bit rate they sold you, so it isn't false advertising, sure they could go the extra mile and set you modem to a slightly higher speed to make up for the degradation of the signal, but that 10% is'nt going to make a noticable difference to the average user.
Paul`, 8 Aug 2007 @ 4:53am
Re: American ISPsI think its not the modem but the ISP who's computers go "Jim Bob, paying for the 512/128 speed acount so lets limit it accordingly" and throttles it at the connection to their servers or whatever.
ddh, 8 Aug 2007 @ 5:28am
Re: Re: American ISPsIncorrect. The modem downloads a config file from the ISP that tells it at what speed to run at. The ISP can monitor this and, if done incorrectly, ban you from the service if you change the config file. This is for cable anyway. DSL may be different, but I doubt it.
Spuds, 8 Aug 2007 @ 5:34am
Re: Re: Re: American ISPsDSL modems do not download a config file. Their speed is limited on the DSLAM or is left "unconfigured" for best speed based on line conditions.
DSL modems operate a lot like a regular modem... "handshaking" up to their configured speed... or the maximum.
danlinks (profile), 27 Jun 2009 @ 1:32pm
Re: American ISPsAgain, you too support outright lies. My Honda Civic got 50 MPG one time on one road. Honda doesn't advertise 50 MPG, they have been forced to advertise THE TRUTH, i.e. what most people can expect.
Why do you expect less than what is advertised? If the pharmacy gave you 90% of the correct perscriptions, would you be okay with that?
Force the ISPs to tell you what to NORMALLY expect, not what might happen on a clear day.
Julian Bond, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:42am
Cable? or ADSL?Cable speeds seem to be pretty much as advertised. Is this just an ADSL thing?
danlinks (profile), 27 Jun 2009 @ 1:36pm
Re: Cable? or ADSL?Cable speeds don't do as advertised. Where do you get this? Comcast varies all over the place, only showing high speeds once in a while. I have proof, dozens of tests showing that they don't perform, do you? ADSL performs better on average than cable. It isn't cool to be in the middle of a movie and have the screen from Netflix say "your internet connection speed has slowed, adjusting the resolution".
Paquito, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:58am
DSL sucks!DSL technology sucks...
Well, in fact, technology is not responsible for the actions operators perform (when they say your speed will be 3-6-whatever megabits and then you realize that's "up to").
That's because of the "contention rate" operators should tell you. It means, if you want a 5 megabit DSL but the contention rate is 10, it means you'll share that speed with 10 other users (always the same in fact), so the minimum speed you can expect is 500 Kbps and the maximum (if the other nine are not using the DSL) would be 5 Mbps...
Long story anyway,
Regards from Spain,
Dick Fer, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:03am
Re: DSL sucks!You're talking about two different issues. Line speed, and contention for bandwidth going to the gateway router.
Content providers frequently promise a high line speed, but due to conditions, some subscribers can't achieve those speeds. Contention is a whole separate issue. Contention is relatively easy to fix. However, there are oversubscription factors that are necessary within telecommunications, or it would be too costly to provide service. The phone and cable companies are selling shared access. You can and should complain if you get a good line speed, but a poor connection to the internet.
With that, the article is kind of funny. It says only 30% of the subscribers are satisfied. I'd say that less than 30% actually understand what they've purchased or how it works. They have even less understanding of how conditions affect their line rate. Many people have wi-fi, and the overhead, latency, and RF interference frequently cause troubles that are unrelated to the line rate, yet contribute to the overall experience.
I've never had trouble with broadband connections. I had a DSL line that was bad. I dropped it like a hot potato, then re-ordered years later and it was much improved. Architecture changes have improved technology.
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 2:04am
I have cable internet!I get close to advertised speeds. I have an 8 Mb connection and roughly get 7.6 Mbps - 7.9Mbps.
Da_ALC, 8 Aug 2007 @ 2:31amdisagree, its perfectly easy for exact speeds to be advertised. The pro0blem is that they take on to many people for their lines/ bandwidth, and so up and down it..
Thats clled been greedy. Making money out of people by shifting up and down and supplying as many people as possible with a bad service, rther than a good service to a set ammount.
Fine from a business angle, not fine from mine!
Sorry for the limited explanations of my feelings here, i iz in a rush.
commonsense, 8 Aug 2007 @ 2:39am
on the box? or in the company's ad?there's a difference. the equipment is made to handle "up to a" certain speed, but that has nothing to do with what the broadband provider will be supplying to the box. contrary to what paquito mentions, DSL speeds are pretty consistent and reliable - unlike cable speeds which are capable of higher speeds but fluctuate according to the number of users in an area. DSL speeds just depend on the distance from the central switching office and/or is there are additional local routers between the CSO and your location.
so the lead article mentions the speed on the box, which is not the same as the speed offered by the service provider.
GoblinJuice, 8 Aug 2007 @ 3:00am
eh.UK study, eh? I've heard horror stories about the UK's broadband market... not sure if it applies to the US of A.
I've had the most experience with Comcast. When it works, it works great (at or above the advertised rate) 95+% of the time. I've only had to call them a couple times in a few years.
As for false advertising... that's bullshit. They make it clear it's "up to". If you want an ironclad, "I can sue you if you don't perform" sorta level of performance... that'll cost you - big. =D
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 5:41am
Re: eh.The problem is not that people want an ironclad estimate. It's people are fed up with hearing "up to" 24Mbit and then they get 500Kbit. Come on, that's just taking the piss.
Would you buy a car if the manufacturer told you it could reach "up to" 200 miles per hour, then you go test it and it hits 75 max?
The reality is ISPs can give decent predictions on your likely speed, every ISP I've had has done this. BUT only at my request. They simply will not do it at will because they know full well if they start telling people they will ONLY get 500Kbit MAX they might go for other services like cable.
As for Broadband in the UK, it varies greatly. I have an "up to" 24Mbit connection that syncs at 16Mbit and gives me on average 1.5MB per sec downloads. So yeah, it's good. But I live in the centre of London so I expect it to be good. Others who don't live so centrally get very poor speeds and reliability.
Dom, 8 Aug 2007 @ 3:01am
Advertising SpeedsAt the end of the day, practically all ISP websites provide a "line checker" facility that tells you the sorts of speeds that you can expect.
If this can be done (and clearly it can be) then there's no reason for ISP's to be misleading. Sure, some people might get near enough to 8Mb broadband, but before you sign on the dotted line with an ISP, they should tell you in no uncertain terms what to expect. That way there'd be no confusion.
People would still complain that they had to ring up before they were told that they weren't going to recieve 8Mb, but it's better than signing up with an ISP and THEN finding out...
Neverhood, 8 Aug 2007 @ 3:47am
Experience from DenmarkAs far as I have seen here in north europe, advertisers don't say "up to" speed when they advertise. It must be a UK thing.
If the line is not broken, speeds is usually at 85-90%+ of advertised speed here in Denmark.
Ofcause there is the rare occation where a new company wants to get a fast marked share and use the "up to X speed" slogan, but they don't tend to be around that long.
If your speed is less than ~85% of advertised speed I recommend to call your ISP... It has solved my problem 2 times now.
TimW, 8 Aug 2007 @ 4:00am
UK speedsUp to a few years ago, most UK speeds were given as absolutes. One would buy a "normal" 512kb connection or an upgraded 1 or 2mb.
Then some smaller ISPs started to advertise 8mb connections with small print giving details of "Yes you might get 8mb ifd you live next door to the telephone exchange and nobody in your area is sharing the line". This prompted the larger ISPs to go down the same route.
To be fair to the ISPs this small print is always fairly prominant once you get to a sign up stage.
The UK suffers from poor quality phone lines (lack of investment over many years) and fairly high contention ratios (1:50 being most common). Over the last year or so broadband use has increased because of offers of "Free broadband" tied into mobile phone and satellite TV deals.
Personally, I live about a mile from the exchange, have a 1:30 contention ratio and get about 4mb/s on my advertised 8mb connection.
The Todd, 8 Aug 2007 @ 5:05am
ISPsI have worked for many different ISPs an worked with even more. I have seen issues where the speeds aren't as advertised because its a small local ISP just getting started and can't afford to increase it's bandwidth so much that everyone gets what they want. In fact, they tend to use traffic shaping to stop the file sharing or at least slow it down. But even in the worst cases, I've only ever seen maybe 60% of advertised. I think this report is based on UK ISPs. I also would make the argument that DSL should not have that big of a loss as some people are saying when you live a long way from the headend. Using old ADSL technology we were capable of 95% at 8 miles and we were just a little telco with 400 DSL customers.
Spuds, 8 Aug 2007 @ 5:32am
DSL Speed...DSL speed is widely variable based on a number of factors... the primary one being the inside wiring in the home. If your inside wiring isn't what it should be, if you have improper DSL filtering done (modem filtered or no filters at all) then your speed will suffer.
Likewise, your distance from the central office will affect the speeds you will receive. With ADSL 1, the limit is about 18,000 feet (~6,000m) -- And yes, "JimBob" could be limited to 512K at the DSLAM... and even though JimBob is across the street from the central office, all he can hope for is the 512K because that's what he pays for.
Ahamed, 5 May 2009 @ 10:55pm
Re: DSL Speed...hi, For more information about the ip address I found the website in ip-details.com. In that you can find IP route map, internet speed test, etc., It is very useful site and free of cost.
Benjie, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:03amIf you're paying for "up-to," then you should only have to pay for the speed you actually get. If line conditions are limiting your speed, that's the providers problem. L2Fiber
justsomeguy, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:09am
Re:Are you gonna pay upwards of $10k to have the line to your home improved. I think not...
|333173|3|_||3, 8 Aug 2007 @ 9:52pm
Re:The traqffic monitors should monitor how fast your connection really is, and charge accordingly. Here is an example: if I pay for 16Mbps ADSL2+, then if I can get that speed or faster than I gt that speed, adn am charged accordingly. When my speed drops below that, I get charged for the lower speed connection based on the percentage of the month for which I get that speed. THis way my bill might look like: SPEED CHARGE TIME %TIME SUBTOTAL 12Mbps $20 500H 25 $5 8Mbps $15 1000H 50 $7.50 4Mbps $12 500h 25 $4 TOTAL $16.50
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:45amComcast SUCKS!
Haywood, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:46am
I'd settle for a little consistencyI don't doubt that at times I exceed my "up to" speed. The problem is that what I get is like batch feeding. Right after a modem reboot it is usually blazing, then it slowly deteriorates to slower than dial-up and stays there until the signal gets so weak that the modem gives up and reboots. I've noticed that about a month before my contract is up for renewal all this magically goes away and I get exquisite service. I wouldn't renew, but this is my only option except satellite.
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:47amI actually have DSL and I'm paying for 3M down and 384 up, but im actually getting a steady rate over 5M down and 384 up -- so I'm loving it. Its steady because it never varies like cable will when you neighborhood tries to get online with you.
You just need to ensure your close enough to a distribution box, which grows everyday as their increase their networks in areas of increased demands. So its a catch22, gotta demand it before you get it.
ComcastUS, 8 Aug 2007 @ 6:48amI've been frustrated with comcast in the past (mostly because their tech support offers no assistance in confirming local router/packet loss issues - "reboot your pc"), but I get advertised speed in the middle of center city Philadelphia.
I'm curious how they're testing the connection - is it just one HTTP download? What about usenet? Without fail I always max out my connection when downloading from usenet on 8 simultaneous connections to newshosting/giganews/usenetserver/whomever.
Rick, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:19am
up to 100MPGI was just thinking about how the car companies could start advertising 'up to' 100MPG cars.
In fine print you would find if driven downhill in neutral 785% of the time by a professional stunt driver....
Congress would outlaw or regulate 'up to' language so fast, you'd think they actually did something for once.
Monarch, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:30am
RE: Da_ALCDa_ALC, ISPs can NOT easily advertise exact speeds, unless you want to advertise low expectations. ISPs do NOT actually oversell either. I've worked for ISPs since 1998, and as technology has improved, so has speed.
DSL and cable are on ATM and Frame Relays that share bandwidth by design. It's not overselling bandwidth, it's by design. Why, well let's see, you can purchase a T1 connection of 1536kbps for say $600/mo. or you can purchase a DSL or Cable connection for say $50/mo for 3-6mbps down and 512kbps up. There may be a couple hundred customers hooked up to the DSLAM or Switch that shares a DS3 for bandwidth.
What would the average customer be willing to pay for, for 3mbps download speeds? $1,200/mo for 2 mlppp T1s or $50/mo for a DSL or cable connection.
Then on top of that, the DSL and Cable are affected by Line Quality, Distance, voltage regulation and other issues. It's not like a dedicated T1 internet access connection. Granted there are Frame and ATM T1 connections available, that share bandwidth through a switch also, and you can get them for around $200/mo, but if everyone were to use full bandwidth, there would not be enough there, causing latency. That's the risk you take for purchasing cheap bandwidth. It's not greed, it's monetary fact. There is a very slim profit line from ISPs and Telco's who provide that bandwidth. Especially in the Technical Support expenses, as the majority of calls to technical support are from lazy, ignorant or stupid people who call in for support they could fix themselves by using common sense or reading a help file. And that is especially true for people who have certs, they are almost the worst, as they THINK they know what the hell they are talking about.
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:52amI get exactly what is promised from my wireless isp Air-Pipe
it's a t1 and I get exactlr 1.5. the only complaint i have is that is as fast as i can get in my remote location
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:53am
102%My provider Insightbb advertises up to 10mb download speed, I get 10.2mb on average
DL_Zero, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:53am
Mine are faster than advertised...I have comcast cable internet, and they advertise a 6mb connection. Speedtest.net shows that i can sustain 14000k+ download speeds. My actual http or ftp downloads are around 1000-2000k.
charter hater, 8 Aug 2007 @ 7:59am
charter blowsI had fun with Charter Comm. internet connection would drop for about 12 hours a day. I kept complaining. This went on for 6 months. They finally sent a tech over and he was like, zomg!! all the apartments are dropping connection at the same time, this isn't on your end. I was like, no duh! seems no one else complained... drinking town, no one cares about the internet. Also, this apartment is 100' from a fiber hub and has a direct hard line. Eventually I just dropped the service because I was not getting.. service. Anyway, when the 'not paying' caught up to me and i got their lovely internal network IP and a constant redirection to a "Your account is having issues, contact us" page.. I was like WTF?!!?!?!?! i can access their warning page and get 0% loss to it, but when they reactivate my internet and get a 'normal' IP, i get 95-100% loss?!
false advertising? funnybusting a telco for false advertising is like busting a lawyer for lying. you might as well bust nascar for speeding.
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 8:35am
haha suckers!I get 100% of my speed, in all but the worst times of the week (saturday afternoon when its raining)
LoneWolf367, 8 Aug 2007 @ 8:50am
Mostly satisfactory serviceI myself being a cable customer for the past 6 years from Charter Comm have almost always been able to get the speed advertised for my purchased package, at least to about 90-95%.
I want to know why I get disconnected every so often. When my "always on" connection gets disconnected for a 2 minute period several times a week, thats not always on and causes me some headaches. That's false advertising.
name, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:48pm
Re: Mostly satisfactory servicei have comcast and the same thing happens. dont know why though.
sir_teddy, 8 Aug 2007 @ 9:38am
Cable is sexy and DSL is uglyThis article made me test my connection speed so i did. My company advertises 30 mb down and 4 up. so i tested and the results are: 38.2 down and 4.2 up :) damn right better than advertisement.
sir_teddy, 8 Aug 2007 @ 9:45am
Cable is sexy and DSL is uglyThis article made me test my connection speed so i did. My company advertises 30 mb down and 4 up. so i tested and the results are: 38.2 down and 4.2 up :) damn right better than advertisement.
Rat, 8 Aug 2007 @ 10:35am
Standard stuff on ADSLAdvertising ADSL as "up to" is all well and goodly, but a better mention of the factors that adversely effect your connection really needs to be addressed.
ADSL speeds are determined by: Cable Distance between user-exchange. Cable quality user-exchange, internal wiring on the users' end, filtering of telephony devices, the technology of the modem (eg, G.DMT only), the technology of the DSLAM and ADSL equipment in the exchange, and the rate the ISP has set for the user.
Note that I didn't mention line-sharing. Fibre suffers from load, ADSL doesn't, or at least does to a negligible degree.
Here in Australia, with our poorly-maintained infrastructure, cable quality is the biggest killer of speed. The other factor that limits ADSL speeds is becoming Port availability on ADSL2/2+ DSLAMs. - even the 256kbps-1500kbps equipment is filling up.
From what I see of my employers' DSLAMs and the users connected to, most get around the 8mbps mark, with a few on the outskirts of an exchange limited to 2-7mbps.
Very few on the ISP's own equipment get under 1.5mbps, if any.
Generally speaking, it's not too hard to get "Up to 8mbps", but really, people expect too much magic from ADSL2 or 2+.
It uses higher frequencies. It dies out quicker, and has more signal to be interfered with. Short distance is critical.
I clock about 2km from my exchange, and get around 17mbps. Sure I pay for 24mbps, but really, no-one gets that speed.
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 11:43am
Re: Standard stuff on ADSLHow can you possibly measure that kind of performance? I used to work for an ISP that would push 30mbps through their core router (in the city that I lived in) at peak times of the day out a single DS3. I never found a speed test (at the time) that was able to show me more than 8-10mbps even when we were only using about 5mbps in the middle of the night. Once you hit a certain speed, they only true way to test such a connection is to initiate multiple concurrent uploads/downloads to multiple different locations. (ie: 1000+ isp customers going to different places all at the same time)
The problem with advertising "expected speeds" is that people somehow "expect" that they will get that speed everywhere. Also, everything from operating system, internet browser, amount of malware, etc can dramatically slow down an internet connection to a computer. I had customers that I would show up to that would only be able to download at 200kbps on their w95/98 computer and when I plugge my laptop into their connection I was getting 1.2mbps+.
As far as the comments on oversubscription. I guarantee that any major residential isp is oversubscribing a lot more than 10:1. If we did not oversubscribe we would almost have needed a 1gig connection to the internet, but we only used 30mbps peak. Even at DS3 and OC3 speeds the ports alone (no local loop) would cost us $30-60/meg. (we were getting pricing like that because we were in 14 states at the time) You can bet on another 25% in loop depending on the location.
4-80-sicks, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:09pm
feh!Here's my anecdote: I have "up to" 768kbps from AT&T (the fastest they offer in my area!) After midnight on a weeknight, according to bandwithplace.com/speedtest, I get an amazing 183kbps.
4-80-sicks, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:10pm
Re: feh!Forgot to mention, that's with only one computer in my house that's online.
name, 8 Aug 2007 @ 12:41pm
ballsCUMCAST SUCKS
Anonymous Coward, 8 Aug 2007 @ 1:04pmI work for a cable provider( which will remain nameless at this point)
but the particular region i work in. our rating is over 90% of the 'up to' speeds.
my previous employer, who i will freely name "BellCrap" was shoddy at best. if i recall, from when i worked there, about 25%-40% of the advertised "up to" speeds, (but this was over 2 years ago)
Rat, 9 Aug 2007 @ 1:01am
Re: Re: Standard StuffHow can ISPs determine connection speed a client gets?
A lot of ISPs have the ability to remote connect to the particular DSLAM and determine the exact statistics for the currently synched session - same as the data that would appear in your ADSL modem.
Hell, this data has enabled me to advise (judging by particular frequencies dying out in the ADSL curve) customers to have their filtering setup looked at, have their internal wiring checked (or their cable looked at) and has in a lot of those cases improved their sync rate by 2-5mbps!
Most, if not all clients get the appropriate download speed for the sync rate they get.
Where it really does fall flat, though, is international bandwidth.
Downloads from non-Australia locations result in bottlenecks around 100kB/s, or only 1mbps sync.
If memory serves, we only have the one pipe going out from this island, and with the amount of ADSL connected people there are now, there simply isn't enough bandwidth to go around.
What this translates to is complaining customers claiming their download speeds are a teeny-tiny fraction of their total connection speed. And they're correct!
Sadly, there's naught that can be done about it, aside from laying another $1bn or so for another pipeline. =(
RP, 17 Feb 2008 @ 8:07am
Average UK Broadband Speed is 2.95MbCheck out the latest broadband speed test results from Broadband Expert the average UK Broadband Speed is up to 2.95 Mb and there's a massive difference between providers, full article here: http://www.broadband-expert.co.uk/blog/orange-broadband/average-uk-broadband-speed-under-3-mb/
danlinks (profile), 27 Jun 2009 @ 1:25pm
I too don't get the advertised speeds, either service in AlbuquerqueNeither Comcast or Qwest deliver what they say MOST of the time. This is proven by the fact that HD video needs abou 4.5 Mb speeds, and it shows artifacts (boxiness) on the screen and "stutter", jerkiness.
Comcast varies from 5kbs to 19 Mb, with the vast majority of speeds tests showing only 3 Mb. This is even when directly hardwired to a Quad Core 2 Intel computer.
Qwest is more consistent at about a 4.5 Mb average, never going beyond 5.2 Mb on a 7 Mb plan.
I have proof. I use speedtest.net, speakeasy.net, during all times of the day. Complaining has yielded nothing, even after 8 trips by Comcast to my house. The techs don't know what they are doing, I have watched almost all of them. Comcast blames your equipment. I am still working with Qwest to resolve their speed claims.
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text:
|Rule: Silent e helps a vowel say its name.
A silent "e" at the end of a word makes the vowel in front say its own alphabetic name.
Directions: Select the correctly spelled words to complete the following sentences. Write five example words to show how a silent 'e' helps each of the vowels say its name.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
11 Desserts Perfect for Passover
This super-simple recipe quickly transforms simple matzos into an indulgent dessert.
For the Chocolate Caramel Matzo recipe, click here.istockphoto.com
Perfectly Squidgy Coconut Macaroons
These gluten-free macaroons, which are completely flour-free, are the perfect sweet treat.
For the Coconut Macaroons recipe, click here.istockphoto.com
Double Chocolate Sorbet
It may be vegan, but don't be fooled: This chocolate sorbet will be your new favorite ice-cold treat.
For the Double Chocolate Sorbet recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Easy, No-Bake Chocolate Matzo Cake
This recipe only has three ingredients, and it takes about 10 minutes to prepare. It requires no baking, because it sets in the refrigerator.
For the Easy, No-Bake Chocolate Matzo Cake recipe, click here.istockphoto.com
Flourless Chocolate Cake With Meringue Topping
This rich, meringue-topped chocolate cake makes for the most decadent Passover dessert.
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Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies
Made in one bowl, these simple meringue-style cookies are a dream for serving at Passover, or to gluten-free friends any time.
For the Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Matzo Brei
Alon Shaya's interpretation of the Passover classic, matzo brei, uses orange blossom water and is topped with a rosewater-fudge sauce.
For the Matzo Brei recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Pastel-Striped Meringue Kisses
Carefully piped, stripy meringues are the prettiest edible dessert.
For the Meringue Kisses recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Silky Olive Oil Chocolate Mousse
Extra-virgin olive oil replaces the cream in this dairy-free chocolate mousse recipe.
For the Olive Oil Chocolate Mousse recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Passover Pareve Apple Cake
Flour has been swapped for matzo cake meal in this kosher-for-Passover apple cake recipe.
For the Passover Pareve Apple Cake recipe, click here.Shutterstock
Rosemary Almond Cake With Olive Oil and Orange Zest
This light yet intensely flavorful cake is a perfect finishing point to your Passover meal. For some delectable main course inspiration, check out these 11 essential Passover recipes.
For the Rosemary Almond Cake With Olive Oil and Orange Zest recipe, click here.
More from The Daily Meal:
7 Passover Traditions Around the World
The Most Iconic Dessert from Every State
What to Serve for a Tasty Traditional Passover Feast
What Does That Passover Seder Symbolism Really Mean?
18 Better-Than-Boxed Cake RecipesElana Horwich


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NEW ORLEANS - Petrochemical giant BP didn't file a plan to specifically handle a major oil spill from an uncontrolled blowout at its Deepwater Horizon project because the federal agency that regulates offshore rigs changed its rules two years ago to exempt certain projects in the central Gulf region, according to an Associated Press review of official records.
The Minerals Management Service, an arm of the Interior Department known for its cozy relationship with major oil companies, says it issued the rule relief because some of the industrywide mandates weren't practical for all of the exploratory and production projects operating in the Gulf region.
The blowout rule, the fact that it was lifted in April 2008 for rigs that didn't fit at least one of five conditions, and confusion about whether the BP Deepwater Horizon project was covered by the regulation, caught the attention of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Following a tour of a boom operation in Gulf Shores, Ala., Salazar said Wednesday that he understood BP was required to file plans for coping with a blowout at the well that failed.
"My understanding is that everything was in its proper place," said Salazar.
But an AP review of government and BP documents found that the company had not filed a specific comprehensive blowout plan for the rig that exploded April 20, leaving 11 workers dead and spewing an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil a day.
Instead, a site-specific exploration plan filed by BP in February 2009 stated that it was "not required" to file "a scenario for a potential blowout" of the Deepwater well.
When questioned about the exemption claim, BP spokesman William Salvin said provisions for handling a blowout incident were actually included in the firm's 582-page region oil spill plan, though he had difficulty pointing to specific passages.
He later maintained that the Deepwater location was not subject to the blowout scenario requirements because it triggered none of the conditions cited in the MMS's April 2008 notice to operators about a loosening of the rules.
Still, Salvin insisted the company was prepared to handle a blowout and catastrophic spill at the project through provisions included in its regional plan.
"We have a plan that has sufficient detail in it to deal with a blowout," Salvin said, while acknowledging that the ongoing crisis at the Deepwater site is "uncontrolled."
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The lack of a specific plan for the Deepwater project raises questions about whether BP could have been better prepared to deal with the ongoing disaster and whether MMS is fulfilling its regulatory oversight.
Robert Wiygul, an Ocean Springs, Miss., environmental lawyer, said the lack of a blowout scenario "is kind of an outrageous omission, because you're drilling in extremely deep waters, where by definition you're looking for very large reservoirs to justify the cost."
"If the MMS was allowing companies to drill in this ultra-deep situation without a blowout scenario, then it seems clear they weren't doing the job they were tasked with," he said. "The MMS can't change the law just by telling people that they don't have to comply with it. I think it really indicates that somebody at MMS was asleep at the switch on this."
Brendan Cummings, a Joshua Tree, Calif.-based lawyer for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the exploration plan submitted by BP for Deepwater Horizon failed to adequately analyze the project's oil spill risks. Cummings has filed a notice of intent to sue the government over another offshore drilling operation, by Royal Dutch Shell in Alaska.
"The technology used on the now-sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf was supposed to be the most advanced in the world, including various mechanisms to prevent or cap a blowout," Cummings wrote in the filing. "None of these mechanisms worked, and the state-of-the-art technology completely failed to stop the spill."
In its 2009 exploration plan for the Deepwater Horizon site, BP strongly discounted the possibility of a catastrophic accident. Similarly, Shell's environmental impact analysis for its Beaufort Sea drilling plan asserts that the possibility of a "large liquid hydrocarbon spill ... is regarded as too remote and speculative to be considered a reasonably foreseeable impacting event."
The Deepwater Horizon disaster is not the first time MMS has been criticized as being too close to the oil industry.
In 2008, the Interior Department took disciplinary action against eight MMS employees who accepted lavish gifts, partied and - in some cases - had sex with employees from the energy companies they regulated. An investigation cited a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" involving employees in the agency's Denver office.
MMS workers were given upgraded ethics training.
Associated Press Writer Richard T. Pienciak reported from Atlanta; AP Writer Jay Reeves reported from Gulf Shores, Ala.


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About The Melanated Maven
Hi, I'm Joanna. Self Care Blogger & Freelance Writer. I went from stressed-out perfectionist to self-care enthusiast by finally choosing to make my intuition and my self-care top priority. That's why I created this sacred space to provide inspiration and motivation for black women struggling to make themselves a priority. And to empower themselves to create happier and more authentic lives through positive and actionable steps. You are worth finding your own freedom. Your happiness depends on it. Let's heal together. Click "Start Here" to read about my journey!View all posts by The Melanated Maven →


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The immigrant smuggler at the center of "Coyote" is hardly a cartel-hardened pollero. Rather, Brian (Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.) is a white, middle-class Angeleno pushing 30 and still living at home. When he loses his job teaching a food-handling course for being too explicit in his descriptions about how bacteria spread, his metalhead Uncle Jimmy (Dennis W. Hall) gives him a gig in construction — as well as dubious life advice.
In his new dirty job, Brian's germaphobia is swiftly replaced by a new obsession with his Latino co-workers, who, peddling in stereotypes, include a benevolent gardener working for a better life for his sons and a gangster electrician with a stash of loot left over from the riots. Brian grows especially close to Manuel (Carlos Pratts), who just recently crossed the border illegally, leaving his mother and sister behind. Brian hatches an ill-advised plan to rescue his new friend's family from the coyote keeping them hostage.
PHOTOS: Billion-dollar movie club
Writer-director Joe Eddy's debut is sincere but relies on obvious tropes: Look how shallow Brian's family is! Look how loving Manuel's is! At the height of his frustration with his health-nut mom (Jan Broberg) and salon-tanned sister (Augie Duke), Brian pours hot sauce on his dinner. Amid familiar jokes that fall flat, unaided by awkward pacing, Brian absorbs these life lessons with the earnestness of a Muppet.
"Coyote." MPAA rating: Not rated. Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes. At Arena Cinema, Hollywood. Also on VOD on Jan. 1.


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Ford, in re-examining its future line of crossover SUVs and minivans — recasting the lot of them as "people movers — confirmed plans to discontinue the current-model Freestyle after 2007. The poorly selling crosso-wagon-ute, apparently obsolete in Ford's paddock before it was introduced, will be dropped to make way for a new model of the same name. Still, as AutoWeek reports, a Mercury version of the current model will be produced in 2007, as planned. Other product changes in store include Volvo-derived minivans and new sport wagons based on the Mazda6 platform for Ford and Lincoln.
Ford to drop current Freestyle from van plan; vehicle name will likely survive [AutoWeek]


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3500HD Axle-Less Trailer Suspension With 4" Drop
The 3500HD series Axle-less trailer suspensions are ideal for off-road use. Hangers made from heavy-gage metal support the increased demands of a trailer used on off-road terrain. A softer rubber spring allows for more suspension travel without compromising strength of capacity.
This premium HD Axle-less trailer suspension comes with a 4" drop spindle for use with standard-width tires...for trailers that won't see much of the trail. Now you can lower the deck of your trailer without the restriction of a thru-axle. For added braking power, a brake flange is included giving you the option to install brakes.
Product Features
- No Thru Axle = No Hang Ups
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Product Accessories
Customer Reviews
"The Axle-Less system is one of the most popular options we offer with our off road camping trailers. The robust construction and flexible configurations allow us to dial in the setup to exactly the type of terrain our trailers are built to explore"
- Matt Broadbent, Kakadu Camping Inc.
"On the trail Timbren's Axle-Less suspension provides enough ground clearance and stability to follow the tow vehicle anywhere, yet keeps the trailer's deck and work surfaces nice and low for in-camp convenience."
- Chazz Layne, Expedition Portal


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- Premier League
Eto'o treble hands United seventh defeat
Chelsea inflicted a knockout blow on Manchester United's hopes of making a successful defence of their Premier League crown and kept their own title bid on track with a comprehensive 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho's side moved two points behind leaders Arsenal after Samuel Eto'o scored a hat-trick - his fourth, fifth and sixth Premier League goals of the season - in a win which exposed United's numerous shortcomings and left them 14 points adrift of the summit.
Perhaps more crucial for David Moyes and United, whose reply came from substitute Javier Hernandez, is the growing gap to the Champions League qualification places. Seventh-placed United sit six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and fifth-placed Tottenham with 16 games remaining after seeing their seven-match unbeaten away run end.
A miserable afternoon was compounded for Moyes and United when captain Nemanja Vidic was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Eden Hazard in stoppage time. Rafael was fortunate not to follow his skipper in being sent off for a two-footed lunge on Gary Cahill.
Both Chelsea and United are in transition, but it is clear who has more work to do after Mourinho's men claimed a sixth win in seven Premier League games.
Moyes was adamant his side are not a fading force following his appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor; Mourinho, meanwhile, insisted he would never write off United. If he will not, even after extending his home unbeaten Premier League run to 71 games with his 100th win in the competition, most now will.
Manchester United in crisis
United's attacking endeavours relied on an 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj and that, coupled with the gaping defensive holes Chelsea exposed, increased the sense Moyes must recruit top-class reinforcements this month to chase a top-four spot.
Should United overturn a deficit in Wednesday's semi-final second leg with Sunderland there may be some solace in the Capital One Cup, but that may not be enough to satisfy the likes of Wayne Rooney.
Mourinho has repeatedly insisted Chelsea, and not United, were always his first-choice destination last summer, and was mocked by visiting fans over the Old Trafford link. The self-proclaimed Special One insists he believes in the Chelsea project, even if he will target a "killer" striker in the summer.
Rooney was the subject of two bids last summer before Eto'o was recruited from Anzhi Makhachkala as a fall-back option. Eto'o was preferred to Fernando Torres in a side showing two changes following the win at Hull.
The other was in defence, where Branislav Ivanovic returned earlier than expected from a knee injury, Cesar Azpilicueta shifted to left-back and Ashley Cole was dropped in front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson.
United, with Rooney and Robin van Persie again out injured, made three changes following the win over Swansea - Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Ashley Young coming in - and began on the front foot.
But Chelsea went ahead when Jones backed off Eto'o, whose shot looped up off Michael Carrick's out-stretched leg and into the top corner.
David Luiz, again playing in midfield, was intimidating United physically and was booked for an over-zealous aerial challenge on Antonio Valencia which enraged the United bench.
If Luiz was the enforcer, Hazard's influence as sorcerer was increasing as he found space to run at United.
Januzaj, who could yet team up with Hazard for Belgium, was United's most creative force but no one was in the box to meet his dangerous cross. Another Januzaj cross evaded John Terry and reached Danny Welbeck, who got a shot away under pressure from Azpilicueta, but Petr Cech saved smartly. Januzaj then found a rampaging Patrice Evra, whose cross was poor, and Chelsea broke with Willian and Hazard influential on the counter.
Chelsea doubled their advantage when the visitors failed to clear a corner. Ramires found Cahill on the right side of the area and the defender centred around a static defence for Eto'o to sweep in.
It was a major blow prior to the interval, but the decisive one followed and featured more abject defending. Cahill was allowed a free header from Willian's corner and David De Gea saved on the line, but Eto'o poked in the rebound.
United, who saw Evra depart injured, threw on Hernandez alongside Welbeck, and the substitute pulled a goal back 12 minutes from time when he converted Jones' shot after Welbeck's pull-back.
But that was as good as it got for United, who saw Vidic sent off and Rafael booked in stoppage time as Chelsea triumphed.


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|Public Alert
|Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft.
Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.
Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?
A police report that provides specific details of the identity theft is considered an Identity Theft Report, which entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information. An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fruadualent information that results from identity theft, such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to collect deby that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.
You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute. Where an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.
In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft. You should file an ID Theft complaint with the FTC and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report. The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.
What can you do to help fight identity theft?
A great deal.
Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.
Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, you can make identity thieves' jobs much more difficult. You can also help fight identity theft by educating your friends, family, and members of your community. The FTC has prepared a collection of easy-to-use materials to enable anyone regardless of existing knowledge about identity theft to inform others about this serious crime. To learn more, click here.