text:
2010 Pickup Truck Of The Year
Ram 2500 Vs. Power Wagon Vs. Tundra vs. Raptor
This year's Pickup Truck of the Year competition had more hype leading up to it than an after-school bout between a high-school quarterback and the student body president. Not to minimize the attendance of the Toyota Tundra 4.6L or the Cummins-powered Ram 2500 Mega Cab, but they were opening acts to the marquee's main match-up. Real money was on two of the competitors and lines in the sand were drawn immediately as staffers got behind their choice. Was it going to be Ram Power Wagon or Ford F-150 SVT Raptor?
The eligibility requirements are simple and remain unchanged from years past. Each vehicle is invited to participate based on it being all new or substantially revised for the upcoming model year. Each vehicle is also required to have a two-speed transfer case, have a production run of at least 1,500 vehicles available in the U.S., and must be available to the consumer by January 15, 2010.
For 2010, our field of vehicles included the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, Ram Power Wagon, Ram 2500 Mega Cab, and the Toyota Tundra 4.6L.
As always, we score each of the vehicles based on a testing criteria of five weighted categories that include Trail Performance (30%), Empirical (25%), On-Pavement (20%), Interior (15%), and Exterior (10%).
The Players
Representing the new-school thinking of what an off-road package should be, Ford entered its all-new F-150-based SVT Raptor. The Raptor has been all the rage since its introduction. No doubt because it comes standard with bulging bodywork, a Baja-inspired suspension utilizing Fox reservoir shocks, 35-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires, an electronic rear locker, and around a foot of wheel travel-all for an incredible base price of $38,020; ours managed to hit $46,020 with a number of optional goodies, such as the Luxury Package, navigation system with Sync, and the integrated trailer brake controller. The standard 5.4L SOHC V-8 puts out 310 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque (or 320/390 on E85) through Ford's 6R80 six-speed automatic and 4.10:1 axle gears.
Bringing to the table a more old-school approach, albeit with a modern twist, was Ram, with its duo of solid-axled heavy-dutys. The Ram Power Wagon sets the standard in the HD category for off-road equipment, while the Cummins-powered 2500 Mega Cab is considered by many Ram loyalists to be the tow rig to have.
The 2500 Mega Cab starts at $43,150 in the luxurious Laramie trim. The Ram's giant cab has more than enough room for everyone to stretch out, and rivals some staffers' apartments in amenities. One of those amenities, arguably the most important one, will set you back $7,615. But what you'll get with that is Cummins' excellent 6.7L OHV turbo diesel I-6 with 350 horsepower and an earth shearing 650 lb-ft of torque matched to an excellent 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission and 3.73:1 gearing. Don't forget that this clean diesel also includes an integrated exhaust brake, a must-have feature when towing the weight this truck is capable of. Other options, such as navigation, reverse backup camera and leather buckets, sunroof, and 32-inch BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A tires pushed the Mega Cab's as- tested price to $56,895.
Ram's Power Wagon, with its 33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires, Bilstein shocks, front and rear lockers, electronically disconnecting front sway bar, and Warn 12,000-pound winch now comes as a Crew Cab only (the previous generation was available as a regular or Quad Cab) and starts at $38,480. Like the Raptor, it is a lot of truck for the money and now has 383 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque from the 5.7L OHV Hemi V-8, which is mated to a five-speed automatic spinning 4.56:1 gearing. The as-tested price of our tester was $51,375 after adding a host of options that included navigation, bedliner, rear-view camera and rear-seat video system that can keep the kiddos happy in the back by broadcasting three channels of live TV via Sirius satellite radio.
Toyota entered the other 1/2-ton in this year's test. The aging Tundra is now available with a substantial powertrain improvement in the form of an all-new 4.6L DOHC V-8 making 310 horsepower and 327 lb-ft of torque partnered with Toyota's A760F six-speed and 4.10:1 axle cogs. Our example, a Double Cab SR5, was the most affordable vehicle in the test with a base price of just $28,690, but adding options brought the price to $33,435, well below the base prices of the other trucks. Part of the reason the Tundra was so affordable is because it lacked the TRD off-road package, which can only be had on 5.7L trucks. However, the P275/65R18 rolling stock do equate to 32 inches in diameter.
Testing Begins
As always, our weeklong test begins with a day at the track---in this case, the Auto Club Dragway at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, to measure acceleration (0-60 mph, quarter-mile) and braking (60-0 mph) numbers.
Performance testing was impressive with this group of trucks. Each pickup was within one second of each other from zero to 60, narrowing that spread through the quarter-mile to under a half second. Braking was also within 15 feet of each other.
Leading the field to 60 mph was the lightest truck with the smallest engine, as the 5,385-pound Tundra hit the mark in 8.62 seconds, while crossing the line after a quarter mile in 16.84 seconds at 84.98 mph. The slowest truck, but not by much, was the Raptor which hit 60 in 9.47 seconds and crossed the quarter in 17.17 seconds at 82.85 mph, just a tick behind the Mega Cab, which hit 60 in 9.36 seconds and did the quarter mile dash in 17.09 seconds at 81.87 mph. The Power Wagon, with its times of 8.68 seconds to 60 and 16.88 seconds in the quarter with a trap speed of 81.72 mph, was solidly mid-pack.
Surprisingly, it wasn't the lightweight Tundra that won the braking honors; it was the heaviest truck in the test, the 7,495-pound Mega Cab that defied known physics to come to a complete stop from 60 mph in only 143.33 feet. The Tundra came close by doing the same in 144.35 feet. The 5,863-pound Raptor stopped in 153.10 feet, while the 6,621-pound Power Wagon brought up the rear in an even 158 feet.
For those of you who need a helping of fuel economy with your pickup, nothing in the test came close to the 15.09 mpg average that the Tundra delivered, despite our incredibly aggressive testing procedures. In fact, the Tundra's best tank was 17.3 mpg, the highest single tank in the test. The Raptor had the next best tank at 16.32 mpg, but averaged 12.07 mpg in a test in which it was flogged mercilessly. The Mega Cab was like Old Faithful, churning out consistent fuel economy numbers, no matter the use. The overall average for the Mega Cab was 13.67 mpg, with a tank best of 14.47 mpg. The Power Wagon only averaged 11.74 mpg in our testing, but surprisingly delivered its best tank with 15.36 mpg.
Overall Impressions
We are no strangers to the SVT Raptor at Four Wheeler, having been the ones to have broken the story about the existence of the program. And as such we have followed the development of this truck closely, and the collective staff has been waiting impatiently to finally test one in Pickup Truck of the Year.
In person, the design is especially gripping, with a presence that no other truck can compete with. Muscular bodywork bulging at the corners, tires akin to clenched fists, and a toothy grin that screams "purpose" define the Raptor's stance. The Raptor is one tough-looking truck that appears ready to pounce on command.
The functionally tough look transfers in to the interior, where the staff judged the Raptor tops in terms of the interior's quality and look. About half of us could do without the gaudy orange inserts, but there is no denying the function of the gauges and the secondary controls. The stereo may be the best you can get from the factory in any truck, and the Microsoft Sync system, when mixed with Sirius satellite radio and navigation, offers an unrivaled amount of user-friendliness and features. Curious about sport scores, gas prices, or movie information? Check the screen. Want to see weather radar imagery overlaid on top of where you are on the navigation map? No problem. Want to sync your iPhone to take calls and play music wirelessly over Bluetooth? You got it. And don't forget that navigation will also display current traffic info. We just love it.
On the road, the generously bolstered seats were judged excellent by all but one dissenting tester, and the overall driving experience on-road was given kudos. As we have stated before, the Raptor isn't as supple and you might also wish the steering were a tad quicker and there were less understeer. Those two things, coupled with an only adequate 5.4L and merely adequate transmission shifts, make the Raptor drive heavier than it should.
Another truck with exceptional seats was the Ram 2500 Mega Cab. With leather and Viper-like bolsters to hold you comfortably in place for hours, it is hard to imagine a seat getting much better. That is, until you find the heating and cooling feature. And that is just the front seats. Those riding in the back row won't feel relegated when they discover more legroom than an NBA locker room and an entertainment system that streams TV. Don't forget that the reclining rear bench . . . er, couch. It makes the rear cab a lot nicer space than many of our living rooms. No plywood and cinderblock bookshelves here-those get relegated to the bed in this truck, which incidentally can haul 2,100 pounds of the stuff.
When you can haul a ton and can tow over six tons, you better have the firepower, and the Cummins in the Mega Cab doesn't disappoint. With 650 lb-ft of torque on tap and an integrated exhaust brake, the Mega Cab was the truck everyone wanted to tow their project vehicles around with. We loved that Dodge has finally included an integrated trailer brake controller. However, we felt that it is mounted too low on the dash and on the wrong side of the steering wheel (unless you are a lefty).
Unsurprisingly, the Mega Cab had the firmest ride in the test, but was remarkably smooth over the majority of roads. Engine noise was minimal, and the cabin was a great place to be on the highway. This is a big truck, but one that is easy to drive and live with. And it doesn't look half bad, either.
The Power Wagon also carries the critically acclaimed Ram styling, but adds a goofy sticker package that is about as apologetic to criticism as Mr. T is about his mohawk. Nevertheless, we didn't let a few flat-black and red stickers ruin our love for this truck. From the moment we hopped in it and took it down the road, we were thrilled with the refinement and ride. Seriously, the guy at Bilstein who tuned these shocks should be getting a raise, or at least a large bonus with many zeros. Our 2005 Power Wagon was a vast ride improvement over the then-current 2500, and this truck is so much better than that Power Wagon that it is hard to put into words. Hands down, what we have here is the best-riding 3/4-ton available.
We also found the Power Wagon to be surprisingly maneuverable for such a big truck. It has great visibility and just feels right when you climb up in to it and take it for a drive. Steering is nicely weighted, and the brakes have a wonderful pedal feel.
Like the Mega Cab, the Power Wagon features a well thought out interior that easily holds its own to any truck on the market. There is more room than the previous generation and we finally have a vehicle with enough storage compartments and cubbies to exceed our needs. Fit and finish is great, and the interior looks good and works well.
This is a large contrast to the overall experience of the Tundra, which features an expanse of cheap-looking plastics that are no longer suitable in the 1/2-ton segment. The Tundra feels dated, with the gray mouse-fur seat covers and hard plastics all around. Ergonomically speaking, the Tundra could be better. Dials and controls are spread out across the expansive dash, and the whole package is beginning to feel dated.
Out on the road, the Tundra does everything you could ask of it. It has a nice, smooth ride, and it is quiet and comfortable enough. It is just that it doesn't feel like there is any character to it. In this test full of vehicles packing personality, the Tundra just feels like a rental. It's pleasant enough, but you don't go home wanting to spend your money on it.
Trail Testing
Trail testing takes place at various locations throughout the California desert. This year's test took us from our secret test loop in Johnson Valley to points north in order to get a wide variety of terrain under the tires of these four rigs. From sea level to trails at 10,000 feet in elevation, we took these trucks through the wheeling gamut.
As expected, the Raptor was a favorite in the dirt, with editors keeping score of who had been in what and for how long in order not to get screwed out of "Raptor Time." On the majority of desert two-tracks, washes and roads, the Raptor delivered on its promises of awesome off-highway performance. The Off-Road Mode really allows the driver to dial in the Raptor's performance in differing terra firma, and the any-speed rear locker was appreciated in two-wheel drive and high-range.
Testers commented on how solid the Raptor chassis felt, although the clamshell doors were a source of vibrations, especially on rippled sand. Through dirt, whooped-out washes and sand, the Raptor went wherever we wanted, and usually at speed. We found its wider-than-an-H1 girth and lack of a mechanical front diff added challenges to tight technical trails, but with a little finesse, the Raptor did what was asked of it and never got stuck. Although if it had, we could have used the exceptional tow hooks to get it unstuck.
The Raptor is one tough truck. We jumped our tester over 20 times for photos and video and we discovered just how durable the truck is as we drove away with the steering wheel pointed straight and no creaks or rattles in the cab. If there are some deficiencies to report, we'd like to see additional grab handles added to the interior, as well as some sort of mechanical front traction aid.
The anti-Raptor in this test had to be the Mega Cab, with its 160-inch wheelbase. Driving it on the trail is about as appropriate at taking a school bus to the local autocross. With a lack of underbody protection, harsh axle hop from the inability of the suspension to control torque, and open differentials, the driver just has work too hard to make sure all 248 inches of truck are on the trail at all times. Those big axles move around a lot over rough terrain, and the driver feels every bit of it. It isn't that the Mega Cab isn't able in the dirt, but it just isn't going to be a good pick for recreational wheeling. It will, however, get your trail rig to the trailhead and home in style.
Which brings us to the Power Wagon; it's the same basic truck as the Mega Cab, but with all of the trimmings any avid wheeler could want. Sure, it is almost as big, but the Power Wagon is an entirely different machine, going anywhere and everywhere with no drama. It just flat kicks ass on rocks and dirt, though it could be better in sand, where it does exhibit axle hop. Otherwise, just as we were on the highway, we found the tuning of the flexy suspension to be impressive on the trail. With approach and departure angles that beat everything in the test, there wasn't a spot we were hesitant to take the Power Wagon.
Comments in the logbook gave props to the manual transfer-case lever, along with all of the 4WD controls, and switchgear for the lockers and sway bar disconnect being logically placed near each other and easy to use. And unlike the Raptor, which is open in the rear when the locker is disengaged, the Power Wagon has a tight helical limited-slip, giving the driver the best of both worlds.
If we could make a few suggestions to Ram, the 33s seem small on such a large truck. Now that the Raptor (and Hummer H2 SUT) has set a precedent of factory pickups with 35s, we challenge Ram to upgrade the rolling stock. We also wish our test truck had the excellent Mopar rock rails that our 2005 Power Wagon did.
The Tundra, without an off-road package to speak of, was clearly a surprise in the dirt. It came to the party with the highest ground clearance and with very good shock tuning. The Tundra was a blast to drive in sand with its revvy V-8, and we found that on fast fire roads and washes, the suspension was able to soak up moderately-sized whoops just fine.
Unfortunately, without a mechanical traction aid and over-aggressive electronics, the Tundra quickly fell out of favor in more rocky terrain. The overly sensitive throttle also made driving difficult in technical situations.
We feel that the Tundra is clearly begging for the TRD package, and we think that Toyota should offer it on the 4.6L trucks. It would certainly have given the our tester an advantage in several additional scoring categories.
So after a week on the road, accumulating hundreds of miles of testing data and logbooks full of scores, it was time to add up the totals so that we could reveal to you, the 2010 Four Wheeler Magazine Pickup Truck of the Year.
Staff Picks
Douglas McColloch, Editor
Gotta be the Ram Power Wagon. Much as I love the Raptor's daring aesthetics, gorgeous interior, and premium parts list, I just couldn't find a comfortable seating position it, and found its overall ride quality somewhat harsh. It's also not the quietest-running truck to ride in, either. The Power Wagon, on the other hand, soaked up highway miles effortlessly for me, with its softly tuned, compliant coil-sprung Bilstein front suspension and a relatively quiet, well-insulated cab. And once off the pavement, the Power Wagon can simply do things, and go places, that no other fullsize pickup truck can-not even the Raptor. Solid axles at both ends, front and rear lockers, and electronic swaybar disconnect will do that for you.
Ken Brubaker, Senior Editor
I have a wife and three kids and live on a farm in the Midwest. Out here, it's all about the "Four C's" (cows, corn, combines, and, uh, corn). It would seem that I would have no need for the extended cab SVT Raptor and its pre-run-ready, big wheel travel, broad-shouldered, in-your-face characteristics. Whatever. I want the Ford Raptor. It's a blast to drive both on- and off-highway, but it still knows how to work.
Sean P. Holman, Tech Editor
Man, was this one hard. I am a huge Power Wagon fan, but the Raptor picks up where our RangeRunner project left off. As much as I love the Power Wagon, it sure got big. Yes, it has everything we have always loved, but no more rock rails and no shorter Quad Cab configuration available and I am afraid it is just too big for me. I can add a front locker to the Raptor and a winch if I wanted, and with 35-inch tires from the factory, it'll do everything I want, like haul ass over dirt roads, right now. For me, I have to go Ford Raptor.
Robin Stover, Feature Editor
Despite a very capable field, I have to pick the all-new Ram Power Wagon as the vehicle I would most like to own. You simply can't ignore such a trail-ready arsenal packaged in such a comfortable and versatile pickup truck.
Jason Gonderman, Web Editor
"We had such a solid field of contenders this year that it is difficult to chose only one. If I had to pick one truck to take home this year, it would have to be the Ram Power Wagon. With all of the off-road features and the ability to still tow a sizeable load, this is the jack-of-all-trades pickup that a guy like me could use. I only wish it had a Cummins."
|Previous Pickup Truck of the Year Winners
|Toyota SR5
|Mitsubishi Mighty Max
|Dodge Dakota Club Cab
|Ford Ranger Supercab
|Chevrolet S-10 ZR2
|Ford F-250 Supercab Power Stroke
|Toyota Tacoma XtraCab
|Dodge Dakota Club Cab
|Toyota Tacoma XtraCab TRD
|Chevrolet Silverado Z71
|Dodge Dakota Quad Cab
|Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab TRD
|Dodge Ram Quad Cab
|GMC Sierra Quadrasteer
|Nissan Titan
|Dodge Ram Power Wagon
|Dodge Ram TRX4
|Chevrolet Avalanche Z71
|Ford F-350 Super Duty FX4
|Hummer H3T
4th Place Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5
What's Hot: Fuel economy, rev-happy V-8, good suspension tuning
What's Not: Cheap interior, no TRD package, lacks personality
Our Take: The fullsize to choose when economics are the driving factor
From the Logbook:
"It is pleasant on the highway, but doesn't have any character to it."
"The 4.6L feels great, I am not missing the power of the 5.7L."
"Interior is uninviting and drab."
"Needs a better tire, but otherwise she wheels quite competently."
"Fuel economy is impressive for a full-size truck."
3rd Place Ram 2500 Mega Cab
What's Hot: Cummins power, opulent cabin, room to spare
What's Not: Enormous size, not equipped for recreational wheeling
Our Take: When you have to tow something to the trailhead, look no further
From the Logbook:
"A giant in every sense of the word."
"Tow your toys to the trail in this truck, but don't go wheeling."
"Can the Mega Cab be my new living room?"
"Too big on the trail, wears you down after a while."
"Great audio system for a diesel pickup truck."
"Dodge did a great job on the new Ram HD."
2nd Place Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
What's Hot: Stance, styling, suspension, sync, so cool
What's Not: Needs more power, no front traction aid, lacking grab handles
Our Take: Take away the graphics and stickers, and this is a damned good truck
From the Logbook:
"Drives heavy on the road."
"5.4L feels overmatched, the 6.2L could have made this truck a winner."
"I still can't believe you actually go out and buy this truck, awesome!"
"Save almost $1,500 by skipping the orange inserts and bed graphics."
"At heart, it's still an IFS truck, and it reminds you of the fact on the trail."
"I could listen to the exhaust note all day."
Ram Power Wagon
Consider us big Power Wagon fans. In fact, the Power Wagon won this very award back in 2005 when it debuted, and we liked it so much that after spending a year with our long-termer, we ended buying it from Chrysler and turning it in to a project vehicle.
We had high hopes that this new version of the truck would deliver big and carry on the Power Wagon name. As we interacted with the 2010 Power Wagon for the first time, we were immediately hit with how perfect the driving position feels, how nicely the interior is laid out, and how comfortable the seats are. Everything is right where we expect it to be, and the interior is huge with the feeling of quality everywhere.
Luxuries aside, we also expect a 3/4-ton work ethic, and with a 1,900-pound payload capacity and a 10,250-pound tow rating, this truck can do just about any work chore we can think up. Features such as a rear vision camera and integrated trailer brake controller make hooking up and towing a trailer a simple exercise.
But just because the Power Wagon is a real 3/4-ton truck doesn't mean it has gone soft on trailability, as the Power Wagon comes from the factory with a host of standard equipment that would make any modified truck owner envious. With a manual transfer-case shift lever, front and rear lockers, 4.56:1 gearing, flexy suspension with Bilstein shocks, BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires, forged wheels, a disconnecting sway bar and a 12,000-pound Warn winch, the Power Wagon is nearly unstoppable off the pavement.
Having a 383hp Hemi V-8 underfoot means power is never a problem, and the 34-gallon tank offered a highway range of 500 miles. This truck can haul family, haul gear, and tow a trailer all at the same time. Of course, all of that sounds great, but the real surprise is how well this truck performs in the role as a daily driver. We can tell you that the Power Wagon is the most comfortable riding 3/4-ton you can buy-and that is unloaded. Fill up the bed, and it gets even better.
As perfect as the Power Wagon is, we do miss our proper chrome badging on the old truck, and wish the flashy A-Team graphics took a page from the Raptor playbook and were optional. We'd also like to see 35-inch tires in the future, especially now since the Power Wagon has gained nine inches in wheelbase.
Those small critiques aside, the Power Wagon has rightly earned its place Four Wheeler history by beating out fierce competition and winning the 2010 Pickup Truck of the Year award. Ram has given us almost everything we'd ever want from a full-size truck, and it one of those rare vehicles that just plain does everything well. Yes, the new Power Wagon has our blessing.
What's Hot: Hemi power, incredible 3/4-ton ride, a beast on the trail
What's Not: Only one body style, no rock rails, should have 35s
Our Take: Our 2010 Four Wheeler Pickup Truck of the Year
From the Logbook:
"Hands down my favorite truck to date."
"Just add 35s and we have perfection."
"The interior and controls are well thought out and easy to use."
"Lose the A-Team graphics, and bring back my Power Wagon badging."
"I pity the foo' who doesn't love this truck."
"I just love driving this truck. You can just hop in and go; it just feels perfect."
Specifications As Tested
|Ford F-150 SVT Raptor
|Ram 2500 Laramie Mega Cab
|Ram Power Wagon Crew Cab
|Toyota Tundra Double Cab SR5
|Base price
|Price as tested
|Options as tested
|Preferred equipment package 517A ($495); Luxury Package ($1,950); Graphics Package ($1,075); Sony navigation radio ($2,430); trailer brake controller ($230); rear view camera ($450); Raptor Orange Accent Seat ($395); destination ($975)
|Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat exterior paint ($225); leather-trimmed bucket seats ($500); Customer Preferred Package 2FH ($405); 6-spd automatic transmission ($325); 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engine ($7,615); power sunroof ($850); roof-mounted clearance lamps ($80); Media Center 730N CD/DVD/HDD/NAV radio ($800); LT265/70R17 OWL on/off road tires ($100); ParkView rear back-up camera ($200); rear seat video system ($1,695); destination ($950)
|Premium cloth 40/20/40 bench seat ($900); Customer Preferred Package 26P ($6,350); Luxury Group ($345); Technology Group ($495); security alarm ($150); Media Center 730N CD/DVD/HDD/NAV radio ($1,255); ParkView rear back-up camera ($200); power adjustable pedals ($125); remote start system ($185); under-the-rail box bedliner ($245); rear seat video system ($1,695); destination ($950)
|18-inch aluminum alloy wheels w/P275/65R18 tires ($1,020); Deck Rail System with four adjustable tie-down cleats ($135); multifunction autodimming rearview mirror ($285); front and rear mudguards ($60); power cloth bucket seats ($605); anti-theft alarm system ($220): daytime running lights ($40); SR5 Package ($915); tow mirrors ($90); power horizontal sliding rear window with defroster and privacy glass ($425); destination ($950)
|Displacement (ci/liter)
|Bore x stroke (in)
|3.55 x 4.16
|4.21 x 4.88
|3.92 x 3.58
|3.70 x 3.30
|Compression ratio
|Sequential multi-port electronic
|Common rail, turbocharged, intercooled
|Sequential multi-port EFI
|Mfg.'s power/torque rating @ rpm
|310 @ 5,000/365 @ 3,500
|350 @ 3,000/650 @ 1,500
|383 @ 5,600/400 @ 4,000
|310 @ 5,600/327 @ 3,400
|Mfg.'s suggested fuel type
|Regular unleaded or E85
|Ultra-low sulfur diesel
|Regular unleaded
|Regular unleaded
|6R80 6-speed automatic
|68RFE 6-speed automatic
|545RFE 5-speed automatic
|A760F 6-speed automatic
|Ratios: 1st
|1.67:1 (upshift), 1.50:1 (kickdown)
|Axle ratio
|Transfer case
|B-W 4419 part-time 2-speed
|NV273 part-time 2-speed
|NV271 part-time 2-speed
|JF1A part-time 2-speed
|Low-range ratio
|Crawl ratio
|Coil-on-shock, long-spindle double-wishbone independent, aluminum lower control arm, forged steel upper arm/Ford 8.80 inch
|Quadra-Link leading arms, track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers/American Axle 9.25 inch
|Quadra link leading arms, track bar, coil springs. Stabilizer bar, gas-charged shocks/American Axle 9.25-inch, TracRite electric locking differential
|Independent high-mounted double-wishbone with stabilizer bar and low-pressure nitrogen gas shock absorbers/SD22AD 8.70 inch
|Hotchkiss-type, leaf springs, outboard shock absorbers/Ford 9.75-inch, GKN ELD (electronic locking differential)
|Longitudinal leaf springs, stabilizer bar, gas-charged shock absorbers, auxiliary springs/American Axle 10.5-inch helical-gear-style limited-slip differential
|Longitudinal leaf springs, stabilizer bar, gas-charged shocks, auxiliary springs/American Axle 10.5-inch, TracRite electric locking differential
|Trapezoid multi-leaf springs, outboard-mounted low- pressure nitrogen gas shock absorbers/BD24B 10.5 inch
|Power rack-and-pinion
|Power recirculating ball
|Power recirculating ball
|Power rack-and-pinion
|Turns (lock-to-lock)
|13.8-inch vented disc, dual-piston calipers
|14.17 x 1.54 vented disc, dual-piston calipers
|14.17 x 1.54 vented disc, dual-piston sliding calipers
|13.9-inch vented disc, four-piston calipers
|13.7-inch vented disc, single-piston calipers
|14.09 x 1.34 vented disc, dual-piston calipers
|14.09 x 1.34 solid disc, dual-piston sliding calipers
|13.6-inch vented disc, single-piston calipers
|Wheels (in)
|17 x 8.5
|17 x 8
|17 x 8
|18 x 8
|LT315/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A
|LT265/70R17 BFGoodrich Rugged Trail T/A
|LT285/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A
|P275/65R18 Bridgestone Dueler H/T
|EPA city/highway
|Observed city/highway/trail
|Weight (lb)
|Wheelbase (in)
|Overall length (in)
|Overall width (in)
|Height (in)
|Track f/r (in)
|Minimum ground clearance (in)
|Bed dimensions LxWxH (in)
|67.0 x 50.0 (between wheelwells) x 22.4
|76.0 x 66.4 x 20.1
|76.0 x 66.4 x 20.1
|78.7 x 66.4 x 22.2
|Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft)
|Approach/departure angles (deg)
|Breakover angle (deg)
|GVWR (lb)
|Payload (lb)
|Maximum towing capacity (lb)
|Fuel capacity (gal)
|0-60 mph (sec)
|Quarter-mile (sec @ mph)
|17.17 @ 82.85
|17.09 @ 81.87
|16.88 @ 81.72
|16.86 @ 84.98
|Braking 60-0 mph (ft)
|Ramp Travel Index
|381 (swaybar connected), 579 (swaybar disconnected)


text:
Next alumni tour to Israel/Palestine – March 20 – 29, 2020
Hands of Peace piloted our first ever alumni tour of the region in March, 2017 and it was a huge success. This will now be a core part of our alumni programming, offering yearly trips to Israel/Palestine for our American Alumni.
The program includes cultural touring, with a heavy emphasis on multi-narrative exposure. Participants stay two to three nights in Palestine/the West Bank and the rest of the time in homestays and hotels throughout Israel. During their travels, participants will spend multiple nights with host families whose children have participated in Hands of Peace.
Tour highlights include:
- A visit to the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Via Dolorosa, followed by a delicious lunch in the Muslim Quarter
- Crossing into the West Bank and walking though Hebron, exploring the Tomb of the Patriarchs, and visiting a refugee camp
- Traveling to Haifa, visiting Bahia Gardens and an engaging tour of Beit Hagafen, an Arab Jewish Cultural Center in the heart of the city
The most exciting part of this experience is the opportunity for our participant families in the region to host our American alumni in their homes, and to experience firsthand the Dual Narrative that they hear about in dialogue during our Summer Program. It is also amazing for the Americans to reconnect with their Jewish Israeli, Palestinian Citizen of Israel, and Palestinian counterparts from the summer. The goal of this tour is to enhance the Americans' understanding of the struggles that their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts live with on a daily basis.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Science Simulation
One reason to create artificial life is to experiment on it – to see in what way it behaves like real life and what, if anything, it can tell us about real life. While considering what sort of experiments I would like to do, and, what tests I would require to ensure that the simulation was working as expected, it occurred to me that in order to test the artificial cells, I would have to build various tools – additional programs that could slot into the simulation and extract and display information about what was going on. For example, I might want to test the function of various proteins by removing them and measuring the effect on the cell (growth rate, metabolite concentrations etc.).
It struck me that an interesting way to display the information would be to mimic the output a real-life, analogous experiment would give. For example, if I wanted to see where various proteins bound the DNA, I could simulate a DNA footprinting experiment. I then thought that this idea could be expanded to simulate a complete basic molecular toolkit for a biochemist or molecular biologist. This would of course make analysing the organism much harder that simply peering into the code and getting a print out of the variables I was interested in, but it might be more fun and could be used to teach students about various laboratory techniques. It could even be the basis of a game in which players basically play at being microbiologists (although I'm not sure how many people would find that fun, or what the competitive element would be).


text: racial disparities Protests Follow Arrest Of Young Man In The University At Albany Campus Center By Dave Lucas • Nov 11, 2019 Composite Image by Dave Lucas (ualbany/twtter) Listen Listening... / 3:57 Members of the University at Albany campus community are reacting to the arrest of a visitor of color last week. Community Reaction To Police Tasings By Dave Lucas • Apr 28, 2015 Junglecat/Wikimedia Commons Parts of Baltimore are smoldering after violent demonstrations last night, the latest in a string of flare-ups between protestors and police across the country. Closer to home, Albany Police are taking a close look at their use of stun guns after a second incident this month in which a black man suffered a medical issue after being Tased by police. On April 2, 39-year old Donald "Dontay" Ivy died after an encounter with police near his Arbor Hill home after he was subdued with a stun gun. That incident is under investigation by the District Attorney. Report Finds Racial Disparities In Connecticut Traffic Stops By Jim Levulis • Apr 7, 2015 wikipedia.org Listen Listening... / 0:39 Connecticut's first analysis of police traffic stops across the state has found racial and ethnic disparities that may suggest bias on the part of officers, but stops short of declaring that racial profiling is going on. Healthcare System Failing Young African-American Men By Dave Lucas • Mar 20, 2015 Elizabeth Anderson A new report by the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that young African-American men have better survival chances in prison than on the street because they have better access to health care. Meanwhile, a group based in Albany is rolling out a new program to address the intersection of race, crime, criminal justice policy, and health. Mario Cuomo And Racial Matters By Dave Lucas • Jan 5, 2015 During Mario Cuomo's time as Governor of New York he dealt with racial issues very similar to the ones making headlines today. "We owe one another an obligation of dignity and fairness and respect. You understand that, because that's the way you treat brothers and sisters. So remember that." Mario Cuomo was hailed as "a man of the people," a governor who worked and lived in the Capital City. #ICantBreathe #Ferguson Demonstrations Today By Dave Lucas • Dec 4, 2014 commons.wikimedia.org A group of some 75 University at Albany students shut down part of Washington Avenue on Wednesday afternoon in a peaceful protest, joining thousands of other Americans turning out in a show of solidarity against what's perceived as police violence targeting black men. Events already were scheduled for today tied to Ferguson, but with Wednesday's grand jury decision not to indict a white New York City police officer caught on video putting a deadly chokehold on Eric Garner, the number of protests has multiplied. A Community Divided By Dave Lucas • Feb 10, 2014 WAMC Composite Photo by Dave Lucas A community march sparked by a bar brawl in Troy has initiated debate and division in the Collar City and beyond. Security and mobile phone videos of a late-January nightclub brawl seem to show police overpowering patrons at Kokopellis, including the severe beating of one individual. Police say they followed procedure. After The Zimmerman Verdict By Dave Lucas • Jul 15, 2013 Since a Florida jury cleared neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who faced murder charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, on Saturday, demonstrations on both sides have sprung up across the country. Demonstrations large and small have been held in places like Burlington, Albany and Poughkeepsie after a Florida jury on Saturday night cleared Zimmerman of all criminal charges in the February 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin. Midday Magazine - Dr. Alice Green, the Center for Law and Justice By Brian Shields • Apr 25, 2012 A forum will be held this evening at 6 p.m. at the stockade room at Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady on racial disparities in law enforcement. For more on the community forum on race and criminal justice in Schenectady WAMC's Brian Shields spoke today with the organizer, Dr. Alice Green, executive director of the Center for Law and Justice in Albany.


text:
Professional Community for Car Dealers, Marketing, Advertising and Sales Leaders
I have written about the influence of Jim Lecinski's book "Winning The Zero Moment of Truth" and the data that confirms that consumers are actively researching online during the Zero Moment of Truth prior to contacting a local car dealer.
This first contact, called the First Moment of Truth (FMOT), can be elusive for car dealers. Whether a consumer makes initial contact by phone, a website lead form, or a chat session getting the consumer to come in for a test drive does not happen without considerable effort.
Internet BDC employees know the truth better than most. A lead submitted can take numerous calls or emails to make contact. Lead to show ratios are unpredictable and can vary based on the BDC agent. I won't even start to go into the other challenges that include fake phone numbers and names!
I'm not talking about introducing BDC phone scripts, training, recording and inspection of lead/phone processes. That should be standard operating procedure at your store and if it not the case, get help!
Consider that the contacts that come through your website are based on previously committed marketing costs. Anything that improves lead to show ratios should stand on its own merits. What is it worth to get someone from behind their computer into your store? Is it worth $25 to you?
Our consulting team has been exploring this question and have been very pleased with the data and results from a new product strategy from HookLogic. Behind this great product is the passion and BDC/Internet experience of Jeff Kershner who many know through his DealerRefresh.com community website.
Jeff helped develop this product over the past three years while working at the Younger Automotive Group and the end product is just fantastic. The product uses targeted incentives to get consumers to show up for a test drive. Research has shown that the test-drive is an important "step" in a car purchase so the dealer who gets the test drive is most likely to win the sale.
One way this is done is by IMPROVING your lead forms with the option to receive a gift card, normally $25 in value, to stores like Starbucks, Home Depot, or even an Amex gift card.
When you visit their website, you will see that they practice what they preach. The image on the right is an enhanced lead form using the HookLogic technology. This product is called "Web to Show".
The second part of the strategy is to filter and score UNSOLD LEADS, which we all have, and offer these leads a reason to come in for a test drive if they score properly.
This product is called "Lead to Show". Considering that many dealers buy third party leads, this scoring and activation can "data mine" great prospects without the tedium of calling everyone.
Reports show an average increase of 5-7% closing ratio on 3rd party leads alone. The case studies, which Jeff can share with you, are impressive.
You can reach Jeff via email at: firstname.lastname@example.com and it would be a mistake not to get a webinar demo if you are not attending NADA. Snooze you lose! You can read more at http://www.leadtoshow.com
I've known Jeff for a number of years and last year I was pleased to present him with the Lighthouse Award for his passion and contributions to the Automotive Industry.
I am not a partner or equity stakeholder in HookLogic nor have I accepted commissions for referrals for this product. I am sharing this product because the PCG Consulting team has found this to be a great product to recommend to dealers.
Brian Pasch, CEO
PCG Digital Marketing
Text PCGedu to 75674 get information on our upcoming conferences
Brian Pasch
Views: 382
Thanks for the dealer feedback Zach.
We've been using HookLogic at our store and we've had nothing but great experience with both the product and the team behind it. They are always available when there are questions and extremely helpful. Would definitely recommend to anyone, it has truly been a great experience working with HookLogic.
All the best to Jeff, Ryan and the HookLogic team. I think you have a winner there. Good Selling! DTG
Great post Brian
© 2020 Created by Ralph Paglia. Powered by


text:
David Hornillos
Editing: Antonio Xoubanova, David Hornillos
Design: Eloi Gimeno
Prepress: Víctor Garrido
128 pages
18.8 x 13.2 cm
28 € + shipping
"Mediodía presents an enveloping world of orange brick bathed in a vibrant light that irresistibly draws in and traps all living beings like a dragnet. With the colour orange in a leading role, David's work faces the viewer against this brick wall, drawing him into the atmosphere of a stifling and hypnotic mental state."
website / to order


text:
Spitzer Kills His Proposed Ban on Double-Dipping by Fellow Supervisor
County Government
When the item came up for discussion Tuesday, Spitzer killed his own proposal, saying it was really about teaching his fellow supervisor a lesson.
Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/aqmd/)
When the item came up for discussion Tuesday, Spitzer killed his own proposal, saying it was really about teaching his fellow supervisor a lesson.
Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer has escalated his long-running feud with fellow Supervisor Shawn Nelson, introducing measures this week that ban the kind of double-dipping from taxpayer funds that Nelson and his chief of staff have long engaged in.
In addition to earning $177,000 in salary in benefits last year for his full-time county job, Denis Bilodeau received another $83,000 in payments and benefits from other public agencies, records show.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District board's newly minted Republican majority voted Friday to oust the agency's longtime top executive, a clear sign of its desire to create a more industry-friendly regulatory environment.
Miguel Pulido's ouster is part of a behind-the-scenes effort by state Republicans leaders to make regional regulatory agencies more business-friendly.
Since first being elected nearly two decades ago, Mayor Miguel
Pulido has put together a well-oiled political operation in Santa
Ana. But in the year of the Bell scandal, his latest challenger is
banking on the public taking a more skeptical view of the Pulido


text:
eid mubarak 2 u too
9 Answers · Society & Culture · 05/01/2007
you ov at middle of you cycle. so have lots of sex.. 2days before your mid cycle and after. ofcourse at your mid cycle day too... good luck and baby dust since you are 32days that's 11th day frome 1st day of your period. so have sex 9-14thday
1 Answers · Pregnancy & Parenting · 20/03/2009
food lol lots of it. Plus keep him active with a wheel. My hamster loved those tube mazes and play stations. Except when she got too big for them, still loved them though, then wed love getting her out...
5 Answers · Pets · 10/03/2008
No. Dunn is so consist at around 40 HR a year and Webb should be at least decent again. I would not be afraid to trade either guy if it was a little better offer though.
5 Answers · Sports · 28/03/2010
Same reason people ask if I am my girlfriends dad and my mother has been told her husband (me!!!) went back to the car....cos sometimes people don't think straight!!!! Don't stress about it, people see two people...
9 Answers · Family & Relationships · 23/06/2010
if your bf is in a room with another woman with the door shut and light off and his gf is there did anyt. happ
i would think something did happen and he is using you as a second fiddle.I WOULD get out of this situation and run run run.it is easy to say but hard to do if you love him,but this hurt you have gotten now,could give way to bigger hurts in the future.god...
11 Answers · Family & Relationships · 19/10/2006
My yahoo answers page just reduced in width by 1/2 and when I answer a question everything overlaps. What happ ?
I m having the same problem. I just think someone seriously fucked up over at Y!A main servers.
5 Answers · Yahoo Products · 02/12/2008
I Know of a person who's been drinking rubbing alcohol compound for years but is still living. How's this happ ?
By the grace of God. I live in the US and I had an uncle in Kentucky who talked about during prohibition he and his friends would strain rubbing alcohol through 2 pieces of bread and drink it. They called it...
5 Answers · Food & Drink · 30/06/2012
So J.A Happ has 17 wins and he just needs 3 more to win 20 games. There are 26 games left, how many starts does he have left?
Probably six.
3 Answers · Sports · 04/09/2016
happ obviously. he just went on the DL
7 Answers · Sports · 24/04/2010


text:
Office 2019 in easy steps – ebook (PDF)
The easy way to get up and running with Office 2019!
Information about In Easy Steps ebooks and PDFs, terms and conditions - please read before purchasing
By Michael Price
(+VAT where applicable)
Pages: 240
Publication: December 2018
Paperback version also available
View or download first chapter and Table of Contents - FREE!
About the book
Are you making the most of Microsoft Office? Whether you're upgrading to Office 2019 from a previous version or using it for the very first time, Office 2019 in easy steps will take you through the key features so you can be productive straight away. In bite-size chunks, it shows how to:
- Create reports, newspapers, cards and booklets
- Calculate and manage your financial matters
- Perfect your presentations and slide shows
- Email, keep in touch and stay organized
- Access your notes anywhere on any device
- Collaborate with others to work on documents
This concise guide fully demonstrates the five core Office 2019 apps and then introduces other useful apps such as Access, OneDrive and Office Online web apps to show how to get more out of Office.
Packed with handy tips and time-saving shortcuts, Office 2019 in easy steps is a great investment for all Microsoft Office 2019 users!
Table of Contents
- Introducing Office 2019
- Create Word Documents
- Complex Documents
- Calculations
- Manage Data
- Presentations
- Office Extras
- Time Management
- Manage Files and Fonts
- Up-to-Date and Secure
- More Office Apps
About the author
Michael Price is an accomplished author, IT journalist and systems consultant with a wide experience of computing systems ranging from mainframes to personal computers. He's also a successful author with several best-selling In Easy Steps books to his credit, including earlier editions of Office in easy steps.


text:
Your Search Results
AdTech, Transportation, Commuter Benefits, Dental Benefits, Generous PTO, Microsoft SQL Server, Disability Insurance, Family Medical Leave, Relocation Assistance, Team based strategic planning, Pair programming, 500K-1M amount, 501 - employees
0 Companies
Ah shucks, we have no results for your search.
Try using less filters. Here's some helpful links to help too.


text:
As a business we're always trying to consider new and better ways of promoting our business and making it stand out from others. How about considering custom printed tape?
What's an inexpensive way of making a small business look larger and more substantial in the eyes of the consumer? It may even help provide confidence in your brand. Even a larger business must consider ways of promoting their brand. This is where custom printed tape can work so well.
Think about when you send out those packages and boxes to your customer and the package they receive is the first solid impression they get of your business. Simply turn your plain paper packaging into advertising resulting in instant recognition or your parcels.
Get Packed can arrange custom printed tape from 24mm up to 144mm wide to be printed with your company logo, a promotional message, a website or phone number - or anything you want. We can print on polypropylene, PVC and even filament tape in both hand rolls or machine rolls of tape. Tape colours available are clear, white, brown, yellow, red, fluro orange and green. Standard printing colours available are black, green, yellow, red, light blue, dark blue, medio blue as well as brown purple and orange.
Colour match options are also available.


text:
Note : These are very very personal thoughts and struggles and experience, that I can't believe I'm sharing so freely on my blog. But I hope it will inform / inspire some of you.
Yes, I'm pregnant!
I contemplated writing this post for a really long time. Wanted to keep this blog as tech-related as possible, but realised some of you enjoy the personal anecdotes into my life. Why? I don't know.
Considering it's been awhile since I wrote a personal blogpost, I figured I'll write this series of blogpost on the current state that I'm in – pregnant.
So, here's an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) / Confessions / Factoid / Insight of me being a first time (biological) mom.
Never wanted kids for a long time
Everyone goes through the stages in life with nosy friends and relatives with the constant questions at festivities and family gathering.
When you're single – "When are you getting married?"
When you're married – "When will you be having kids?"
When you have kids – "When will you have more kids?"
It's never ending, very annoying and really none of anyone's business. Confession though – I have been guilty of asking some of these questions (albeit in different phrasing) mostly because … well….errr… I have nothing else to say to the person. 😛
I've been married for (almost) 7 years now, together for 11 years, and counting. Went through enough "When are you having kids?" questions for the last 7 years. My mom, bless her, stop asking after Year 1 of being a newlywed, because she finally accepts it as our choice whether we choose to have kids or not. Also helps that she already have 2 grandsons, so she can stop pestering me for awhile. My mother-in-law, on the other hand, never stop asking… and praying.
Truth is…
- I'm already a step mother. My husband has 2 sons from previous relationships. I've been a part-time step mother (they don't live with us) to 2 grown boys, aged 23 and 17.
- I've never really wanted kids. I always feel like I'm not grown up enough to care for another human being. I have so much to sort out personally before I take on such a huge responsibility. Hubby has 2 kids already, and the call is mine if I wanted to start our own family, or not.
- I really don't like kids. The picture I always have in mind when I think of kids are unruly, bratty kids running around, unattended in public areas or restaurants, kicking and screaming, while bad parents allow them free roam without discipline. Ugh. The only kids I like are my nephews, of course.
- Confession : I have only held a baby in my arms like once… or twice. Babies are delicate, wrinkly little mini beings. I feel like I'll drop them and they'll shatter to pieces or suffer from some brain damages, all caused by Auntie Winnie. 😛 Plus, I can't, for the life of me, understand how a baby is cute??? That wrinkly thing? So, why shove your baby in my arms and scare me? Absolutely no maternal instincts.
- No ticking biological clock. The only fear I have is NOT that it's too late to have babies. The fear is whether my career and financial position is secure enough for upcoming retirement age.
- Me and Hubby both kinda like our selfish lifestyles. We love each other and love the thought that we'll grow old together, do all sorts of things together, just the 2 of us, without kids.
Why do I want kids now?
2 years ago, I had some "woman medical issues", as Hubby calls it. Being really open and honest now with medical drama, so here's a summary of what transpired :-
- Bad period cramps for months led to discovery of ovarian cysts. One night when I couldn't manage the excruciating pain, I drove myself to the A&E (Accidents and Emergencies) at the nearby hospital. After some morphine (love morphine), several specialist visits, ultrasounds, imaging scans and follow-ups, they found a rather big cysts in my ovaries. (Funny, that was how I discovered I had gallstones years back.)
- Left it and it came back with a vengeance. I left it for a few more months, hoping it'll go away. It didn't. Pain came back, stronger and worst than before.
- Second opinion & off to surgery I went. 6 months later, found an amazing OB GYN and discovered in a scan that the ovarian cyst has more than doubled in size and grew another friend. So, had to undergo a laporoscopic (keyhole) surgery to remove the 2 parasites.
- Diagnosis : Stage 3 Endometriosis. It's a condition where the tissue that lines the uterus is found growing outside and around areas where it's not supposed to. It causes chronic pain, sometimes manifests in cysts and affects a woman's fertility.
- "Induced menopause". Afterwards, took a Lucrin Depot injection to stop my menses for 6 months. I call it "induced menopause", cause I literally went through all the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, bloating, fatigue, night sweats, etc. It wasn't pleasant.
- Waking up my ovaries with fertility drugs. My "menopause" lasted 8 months instead of 6. So, doc gave me fertility drugs, to wake up my ovaries and start to boost my egg (ovum) production again. Now hoping that my ovarian cyst and endometriosis doesn't flare up again.
After about 18 months of all these drama, it suddenly hit me that this condition means I might not be able to have kids naturally.
All these years, all my single life, I've been trying NOT to get pregnant. Single ladies – you'd understand – going on the pill, practising safe sex, family planning (aka "Don't Get Pregnant"), etc. All the trouble, only to find out now, in my mid 30s, that…
Hey, you thought you were controlling your life so you don't get pregnant, but now you know that you might not even get pregnant if you wanted to.
That's a bit of a jolt for me.
Being a control freak that I am, I wasn't in control now. It's biological, and I can't control it. Maybe I should try to have, at least ONE baby.
We're having an IVF baby
The struggle begins.
My close friends and family knows about my struggles. I'm just opening up to all of you blog readers now.
It started off as a Period Tracker app on my smartphone, to track that my menses is regular again. Then, I started to worry that the fertility drugs I was taking for 3 months "should" make me fertile, so I started charting dates and Basal Body Temperature for ovulation and (ahem) "optimised conception". Nothing happened.
After consulting with my OBGYN, for another 6 to 9 months, I went through a series of fertility treatments – from fertility drugs to IUI to IVF and/or ICSI.
- Clomid fertility pills are basically pills I take to simulate ovulation. Depending on the dosage, it can force the ovaries to release more eggs, making you more fertile.
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
- The cheaper procedure, around RM 2,000 to RM 5,000 per cycle.
- Essentially, you simulate more egg (ovum) production with a series of injections you jab on your belly daily for 14 days.
- Then you add another HCG injection to release the eggs (ovulation).
- Hubby deposits sperm in a cup the day of ovulation. Semen gets "washed" (to sort out the sperms from other impurities) and tested (count, motility and morphology).
- Sperm gets transfered back to the uterus via a catheter.
- Hope for natural conception and implantation!
- Blood test in 2 weeks to test if you're pregnant.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
- The pricey option, costing from RM 15,000 to RM 50,000 per cycle.
- Basically, what's commonly referred to as "Test Tube Baby", but perhaps more accurately, "Petri Dish Baby".
- Varies for each patient's condition, you could start injections 7 days before menses to Day 14 of menses, average of 2-3 injections daily, to simulate follicles and produce more eggs in one cycle. Performed at home, on yourself, injecting into your belly every day at the same time. You also visit the OBGYN almost every other day for ultrasound scans to track your progress along the way.
- Then, you do the HCG trigger shot to release the eggs.
- Couple of days later, go into the IVF Operating Room for Egg Retrieval (Ovum Pickup) procedure where you're slightly under anesthesia, and the doctor and embryologist will extract all mature eggs from your uterus.
- Hubby deposits sperm for washing & analysis again.
- Both sperm and eggs are placed in a petri dish in the lab for a couple of days for fertilisation. If it doesn't happen naturally, ICSI is performed to force fertilisation. Lab observes & optimised the condition for fertilised eggs to mature.
- Day 3 or Day 5 after fertilisation, go back into the IVF Operating Room for Embryo Transfer. Only the successful, good grade, mature embryos gets transfered.
- Hope for successful implantation in your uterus wall!
- Blood test in 2 weeks to test if you're pregnant.
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
- Additional step to an IVF cycle.
- If the sperms not great swimmers or not fertilising the egg, the embryologist will use a syringe to force fertilisation by injecting the sperm into the egg.
*Phew* If that sounds exhausting to you, imagine me having to go through all that!
So, I did 3 months of fertility drugs, 2 cycles of IUI with a month rest in between and 1 cycle of IVF.
The process is tiring, not only because of the scheduled injections and countless OBGYN visits and scans. The injections to simulate my egg production is basically hormone injections and makes my mood swings and hormonal symptoms go crazy through the roof. This is like PMS X 100 million worst.
It takes a toll on me physically, emotionally, biologically, mentally and any other way you can think of.
I now have great appreciation for ladies like me who have been suffering from infertility and have to go through what I've been through, or worst. For this, I have better respect for ditsy celebrities like Guiliana Rancic and Kim Kardashian West for opening up about their fertility struggles.
IVF was an expensive procedure and I prepared for 2-3 cycles attempt, over a 6-9 months period. If it didn't work, then me and Hubby have discussed adoption.
In my first cycle, things were not looking optimistic. There weren't as many follicles / eggs "harvested" as the doctor had hoped. During Egg Retrieval procedure, there were less that matured and retrieved. Out of the few retrieved, lesser fertilised and matured. During Embryo Transfer, I only have 2 embryos deemed good enough to transfer (Doc was hoping for 4-6)- 1 was a good grade, the other was mediocre. We proceeded with the transfer anyways, since we came this far. I wasn't optimistic.
2 weeks later, blood test, and the nurse called to inform me that it was a success!
My HCG hormone levels shows that I have 1 successful implantation and that I AM PREGNANT!
It was great news, of course. I didn't think it would happen.
Then, I had to go back in to the IVF clinic to continue another series of injections and pills. For the next 3 months, until I past my first trimester and the baby is safe.
Gah! More injections!!!!!
When I announced it 3 months later (past my first trimester) on my personal Facebook Page to my family and friends, I get a bunch of congratulatory notes.
When I opened up about it being an IVF baby, instantly I received personal notes from a few other friends who have conceived IVF babies. I appreciate the share and feel better to personally know a few others ladies who have struggled like me. On the other hand, where were you ladies when I was going through the treatments and feeling like shit???
In summary, #babyHEAD is a product of 2 years of trying to have a baby
I'm not a religious person. While I appreciate some congratulatory words along the lines of "God Bless", "Alhamdulillah" etc, I appreciate that this was a successful scientific procedure. Understand why some people are against assisted fertility treatments, as it may seem like the doctors and nurses are playing God to manipulate biology to produce a baby. When you're struggling to naturally conceive and make the major life decision to go through fertility treatments, you'd appreciate how science has helped humankind in the medical field.
While my IUI and IVF progress wasn't promising along the way, and we learnt that my fertility problems were more serious than anticipated, we did achieved a successful outcome of one successful implantation resulting in a pregnancy.
And for that, I am thankful and grateful – to my amazing Husband who stuck by me through the hormonal rage and tedious procedures and treatments, to the supportive nurses at the Prince Court IVF Clinic, my amazing OBGYN and IVF specialist, Dr Paul Tay at Prince Court Medical Centre, who answered all my silly queries, concerns and walk me through the options and procedures, yet remain more positive than me at most times.
Now, we're brewing the little one in my belly! And we wait…


text:
The US dollar has exhibited one of the most impressive trends that the currency market has seen over the last year, as the greenback has risen close to parity relative to the euro on several occasions. Since the dollar maintains its position as the world's reserve currency, this creates ripple effects in a number of different markets. For investors, this is important because it means not all markets are likely to perform at the same rate into the final months of the year.
When we look at the commodities space, two of the most commonly traded assets are gold and oil. These trends events in the dollar have extended into these areas as well. Both gold and oil commonly trade using the United States currency and this essentially means that these assets have an inversely correlated relationship. Market situations where dollar is rising tend to mean that gold and oil fall, and this rule has held up under the current environment.
But the real keys to understanding the intricacies of the market lie in the ways each asset class performs internally and one way of doing this is to compare the relative performance of both gold and oil.
Chart View: Gold Prices vs. Oil Prices
Source: Alpari Markets
In the chart, we can see the relative performance of gold (shown in dark blue) and oil (shown in light blue) over the last year. As the US dollar has strengthened, both assets have seen declines but here we can see that there is a much more pronounced impact in oil. This is important, and it shows the ways that oil markets can be much more volatile.
For conservative investors, this can mean that it might be less advisable to select portfolio assets directly tied to the value of oil. This is because oil-backed investments can bring greater fluctuations in value over the short term. Having said that, there is an argument that oil markets have fallen too far, too quickly -- and that we are now positioning for what is likely to be a strong rebound. Which way the market goes, well, we will have to wait and see.
Keep in mind that oil is still a valuable world commodity, even with the recent cultural changes that have asked for a shift toward green energy from sustainable resources. Consider this factor whenever we see major price declines like the ones we see now. In all, we are likely to see these trends continue as long as the US dollar is holding its position in the market. Key influences like the Federal Reserve will be a determining factor in whether or not the rest of the market has the incentive to continue with this year's trends.
Either way, it can hardly be denied that these trends impact the commodities space in ways that are somewhat surprising and more extreme that might otherwise be expected. Currently, the underlying framework is in place for these assets to continue in these directions for the remainder of this year.
Changing Dollar Disproportionately Impacting Commodities is republished with permission from MBM Research


text:
'LOST' and Video Games
At the end of the fourth season, LOST abandoned mimicking the content of video games and instead focused on how they characterize space.
An excellent article at PopMatters by Elwyn Palmerton details the many similarities of the first four seasons of LOST with adventure games. One of the show's creators, Damon Lindelof, has noted that the game Myst was a big inspiration, and it makes sense. A remote island filled with unexplained mechanical gadgets, the slow process of gaining access to these areas, and other video game plot devices are scattered throughout the show. Keys and objects are often the focus of the plot, characterization occurs during the static flashbacks, and much of the show is spent moving from different locations. The show's first four seasons so heavily resemble a classic adventure game narrative that several spoofs have appeared suggesting what a Lucasarts version would be like. There are a few other video game aspects of the show that I thought were worth pointing out, particularly ones that develop after the period of the show that Palmerton's article covers. At the end of the fourth season, LOST abandoned mimicking the content of video games and instead focused on how they characterize space.
Due to the inherent disembodied nature of games, they lean heavily on player action to create a sense of space and location. You engage with the space as you look for things to do or dangers to avoid. Past actions and physical limitations define the meaning of a game world. If you go over here, you'll die; if you fight that monster without the proper weapon, it will kill you. Everything in a game is defined by its relationship with other elements. This starts to enter the realm of theoretical architecture and phenomenology because while buildings or locations can be defined by the concept of their relationships, in video games it is so intrinsic that it's impossible to ignore. Bernard Tschumi, a noted architect in the field of Decontructivism, explains in his book Architecture and Disjunction, "Any architectural sequence includes or implies at least three relations. First, an internal relation, which deals with the method of work; then two external relations – one dealing with the juxtaposition of actual spaces, the other with program (occurrences or events)" (153). He clarifies these ideas into concepts like representing procedure, variation, and sequence of events, respectively. In video games, these elements are often perceived simultaneously, but I'm going to risk a broad assertion and say that linear media can only do one at a time effectively.
You can always point to Ulysses by James Joyce or David Lynch's films to prove me wrong, but the clarity in a video game when communicating these perceptions simultaneously is hard to not notice. A traditionally linear format trying to represent three relations of space simultaneously is very difficult to keep coherent. Inevitably the authors' experimenting with the concept would have to detach the narrative from characters to focus on location or the passage of time. Story has to suffer as a consequence. On the other hand, if I die in a game, I load my save and go back to a prior point in the sequence of events. I don't wonder if something is dangerous or helpful, I know it. A character is no longer defined as brash or bubbly, I can plow through a dialogue tree by saying every pleasant or nasty thing allowed to see variant reactions. I don't know who characters are in the storyline. I know who they are as a conceptual whole. Actions and time are bound in a game, and events do not move forward until a player performs a certain action that defines that area. By contrast, linear media typically relies on characters and events to drive itself.
From zedomax.com
In a show that is distinctly linear, this kind of storytelling would have little to no narrative weight. Would it matter if the events from Season 1 of 24 were retold from a different character's perspective? Would there be any purpose to Jack Bauer going back in time (other than a few hilarious Kiefer Sutherland exchanges)? Probably not without some sort of equally linear motivating force because the only thing that a time travel story could be about is just a continuation of the original linear plot. By contrast, LOST repeatedly emphasizes that the cast cannot change the events of the past. They are reliving the show's mythology first hand, and in the process, redefining the spaces of the island not as discovered secrets but as lived in spaces. Going back to Tschumi's argument about architectural space, the show is redefining the juxtaposition between the locations of the island by imposing a different perception of the show's sequence of events. The Dharma Initiative is no longer a cryptic group that we know little about, they are now a friendly but crazed group of scientists. The Incident is not just the force that created the button, it's where Juliet met her tragic end. The show redefines its space and in doing so demonstrates a kind of inter-related storytelling. Given the numerous Ulysses references scattered throughout the Fifth and Sixth season, it seems likely the creators are aware of what they're doing.
There are several films and Star Trek episodes that have juggled this concept (the finale to The Next Generation comes to mind), but LOST is unique in the scale of its redefining of a space. In LOST, the island was always the central character. Once the cast returns to the present at the start of the Sixth Season, the show begins the "Wrap it Up" sequences that have dragged down all of the great shows this past decade. Questions people stopped caring about a long time ago were answered, character arcs that were abandoned were resumed, and giant plot holes were created as unanswerable questions were given their final answers. I enjoyed the Sixth Season as the only reasonable ending that the show could have had, but it was a shame to see it abandon all of its experimental storytelling for a linear story contrasted with character vignettes in an alternate universe. Which certainly is still experimental, just not very video game oriented.
There are a lot of different explanations for these narrative techniques that don't involve video games because almost every medium has explored the concept of space. Modernist literature like Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse or James Joyce's Ulyssess are examples of books tackling the concept. A film like Mulholland Drive or Lost Highway explores characterization through the act of fantasy and changing the process of events in a person's life. The difference is that video games are much easier for a casual observer to understand. The official game for the show, LOST: Via Domus, is an example of this issue because when confronted with making a game about the show, there is nothing else to really do except make it about location. You can talk to various characters for the sheer novelty and take pictures of various events, but like the time travelers of Season 5, the player can't have any real impact. There's not much of a story to tell that hasn't already been in the show. Elliott is just another character with a past. The game's main virtue instead is finally letting people interact with the island for themselves, even if it's something as simple as not pushing the button.


text:
Drivers exceeding the speed limit on British roads caused almost 6,000 accidents in 2010, and people driving too fast for the conditions were to blame for over 10,000 accidents. Because women tend to take less risks than men, they are less likely to cause these crashes. These and many other driving stats represented in the following infographic by Tesco Bank.
[Click here for full size version]
Share On Social Media


text:
LONDON (Reuters) - Activists urging American expats in Britain to vote in the upcoming US presidential election took to the streets of London on Wednesday (Sept 21) in a red open-top double-decker bus adorned with anti-Donald Trump posters.
The organisers, online activist network Avaaz, put up flags, balloons and posters reading "American Abroad: Vote to Stop Trump" on the bus, referring to the Republican presidential nominee who faces Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov 8 vote.
Some 30 activists filled the top of the bus as it made its way around the British capital, chanting "Stop Trump" and singing along to Bruce Springsteen song Born In The USA.
The bus made stops along the way, with campaigners using tablets to help some expats register for the vote.
Some eight million Americans live abroad, of which more than 220,000 live in Britain. However, just 12 per cent of them vote, Avaaz said in a statement.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week, Clinton leads Trump by 4 percentage points, with 42 per cent of likely voters supporting her and 38 per cent backing the Republican.


text:
Prev | Next
Occupational and lifestyle factors
The way you go about your life can have a profound effect on mechanical spine and joint problems, as well as your general health.
- Most joint problems are adversely affected by being generally less fit and generally deconditioned.
- Carrying too much weight increases the mechanical strain on joints and the consequences are clear
- Work life balance issues can result in anxiety stress and depression. The effects of these will infuence your ability to improve or recover
Often the above are combined with addictions to smoking alcohol or drugs. These too, are not helpful.
Many patients have difficulties with one or more of the above. It is important to realise that, if you recognise some of it in yourself ,you are far from alone.
Having recognised contributory problems, some patients are able to address them on their own. Others need help from a professional practitioner. There are a variety of ways forward and three of them are offered below:-
1) Dr Simon Rudland is a general practitioner with a depth of experience in providing individualised and proactive solutions for patients having these problems. He practises at 10 Fonnereau Rd on Wednesdays.
2) Mrs Bev Karia is a Psychologist experienced in these matters. She practises at 10 Fonnereau Rd.
3) Mr Hugh Clover is an experienced Hypnotherapist practising at Stratford St Mary and can be found at www.hughclover.co.uk
|Send to friend
|Ask a question
Prev | Next


text:
Music has long had a powerful connection to social and political movements. The Women's Suffrage in Sheet Music collection spans the years 1838-1923 and includes over 200 pieces of sheet music written by notable composers and everyday citizens and representing the views of both suffragists and anti-suffragists. Collection items Essays Music in the Women's Suffrage Movement Highlighted Sheet Music Selections Learning integration resources Singing for Women's … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Women's Suffrage in Sheet Music
Collection Spotlight: All American News
Spanning from 1942-45, All-American news were the first newsreels produced for a black audience and were originally intended to encourage black Americans to participate in, and support the war effort, as well as to reflect an African-American perspective on world and national events. 1942 All-American news [1942-08]: includes segments about a Baltimore merchant marine who survived when his ship was sunk and the Navy's Great Lakes Band. 1944 All American news III [1944-03]: includes … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Tracy K. Smith
Tracy K. Smith was appointed the Library's 22nd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry on June 14, 2017 and began serving on September 13, 2017. Her mission the Library's chief poet is to bring poetry to rural areas. "I wanted to go into the more rural communities that don't have programming on a consistent basis, where people's lives are equally affected by the kinds of questions and memories that poems can draw upon. If writers and scholars are only talking to each other, we're missing out on a … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Works by Civil War Era African American Women
These digitized works were written by and about African American women who lived during the U.S. Civil War and include autobiographies, biographies, children's books, novels, poetry, speeches and more. The authors and the works are listed below; click the section headers to access links to the online works. Some authors also have related resource links. Autobiographies & Biographies Sarah H. Bradford 1818-1912 Harriet, the Moses of Her People 1886 Scenes in the Life of … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Women Photojournalists
Below you will find links to biographies, images, and more resources related to women photojournalists from the Library of Congress. Late 1800s and early 1900s Jessie Tarbox Beals (1870-1942) bio Ladies Behind the Lens Library of Congress Blog November 29, 2016 Birches at the Sprague Smith Studio (source record | curator note) More Jessie Tarbox Beals photographs Photographs by Jessie Tarbox Beals in New York newspapers historical newspaper coverage of Jessie Tarbox … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor received a B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from Yale Law School where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. She served as Assistant District Attorney in New York County, then litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt. President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York in 1992. President Bill Clinton then nominated Sotomayor to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: National Press Club Luncheon Speeches 1954-1989
The National Press Club, with more than a century of history behind it, is known for its luncheon gatherings that have featured U.S. presidents, visiting world leaders, and other prominent persons to address the media members and answer questions about current affairs. Now, with the collection Food for Thought: Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Other National Press Club Luncheon Speakers, the Library of Congress provides online access to digital recordings of the National Press Club lunchtime … [Read more...]
Today in History: Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner
Today in History–June 21–the Library of Congress features Samuel H. Gottscho and William H. Schleisner. On this date in 1934, Samuel Herman Gottscho snapped a photograph of the north facade of the Nebraska state capitol in Lincoln. A photography enthusiast, Gottscho was a traveling salesman for 23 year before becoming a professional photographer in 1925 at the age of fifty. His son-in-law William H. Schleisner joined him in the business in 1935. Find out more by visiting … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Katherine Dunham Selections
This collection contains moving and still images, highlighting the dancer's early explorations as an anthropologist observing movement types and dance forms in Haiti, Trinidad, Martinique, and Jamaica as well as Dunham performing and teaching. Collection resources Images Videos Notes on Dunham's Work Katherine Dunham Timeline Katherine Dunham: A Life in Dance article Additional Dunham resources A Life in Dance: Dunham Created New Forms in Choreography Library of Congress … [Read more...]


text:
The 2015 "Reach the Decision Makers" Training Program – Program and Application Info
Announcing the 2015 "Reach the Decision Makers" Training Program
Are you a scientist, community member, public health professional or clinician with experience in environmental or reproductive health? Do you want to effect change at the public policy level and engage the US EPA on issues that impact
your community? Then join the Reach the Decision Makers training program!
Reach is an innovative program that trains scientists, community members, clinicians and public health professionals to effectively promote science and health-based policies at the US EPA. Our 6th fellowship year starts in April,
Here's what past fellows have said about the program:
"- And very important to always do … provide [US EPA] with an informed, unquiet constituency determined to let them know that we're not going to go home. We'll always be there pushing them and supporting them."
"I also learned that advocating for change, particularly around administrative policy, is a lot different from working in the legislative end of things… I learned a whole lot more about EPA and I also can appreciate the administrative
policy process and how daunting it can be."
Here's a brief video with testimony from former Reach the Decision Makers fellows:
Informational conference calls will be held on the following dates and times. Please join us during that time to learn more about Reach and to have your questions answered:
Monday, March 9, 2015 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST; 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST; 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm PST; 3:00 – 4:00pm EST
Please join us during one of these times to learn more about Reach the Decision Makers and to have your questions answered. Please register for one of these calls by sending an email to:
email@example.com. Call-in information will be provided at the time of registration.
Through Reach the Decision Makers you will:
Learn to educate the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) on reproductive environmental health issues of importance to you and/or your community.
Develop the skills and tools necessary to effectively engage US EPA policy makers.
Begin to establish relationships and partnerships with US EPA staff.Become a powerful communicator on environmental and reproductive health science.
We encourage both individuals and pre-formed teams to apply.
Pre-formed team. This could be an existing coalition or any group of individuals who want to form a team of four to six individuals. Reach would prefer teams that include a diverse mix of community
members, scientists, clinicians, and public health professionals.Individuals. Scientists, community members, public health professionals, and clinicians with experience in reproductive or environmental health are encouraged to apply. Individuals who are chosen
for the program will be placed into teams based on issues of concern.
Reach the Decision Makers is a program of the UCSF Program for Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE). PRHE's mission is to create a healthier environment for human reproduction and child development through advancing scientific
inquiry, clinical care and health policies that prevent exposures to harmful chemicals in our environment. PRHE applies respected scientific expertise to answer complex environmental health-related questions and to develop science-based policy strategies.
This one-year training program is made possible through a grant from the Kresge Foundation. Costs associated with the program (travel, shared housing, food, teleconference costs) will be covered by the program and each fellow will receive
a $500 stipend for participating. Out-of-pocket costs to participants are expected to be minimal beyond the time commitment required for participation. Please see the
application for exact dates of in-person and webinar trainings.
To date, the Reach the Decision Makers fellowship has trained over 100 scientists, community members, public health professionals and clinicians! Reach fellows represent 24 of the 50 United States and we're hoping to reach more states in
If you are interested in applying for the 2015 Reach the Decision Makers fellowship, please complete the application available at
http://bit.ly/1d4X4VT and submit it to
firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have any questions about the program or eligibility requirements, please email the program at
firstname.lastname@example.com. Applications are due March 20, 2015 at 5:00pm PST. Selection notices will be sent to applicants on March 27, 2015.
Note: This fellowship is only open to citizens of the United States and Canada.
Tracey Woodruff PhD, MPH Marj Plumb, DrPH, MNA
Director, UCSF Program on Reproductive Health Director, Reach the Decision Makers
and the Environment


text:
What freaks you out?
After reading a post about hotels by domermom, I was immediately reminded of things that go ick in the night. Starting with hotels – five-star or no star – hotel rooms freak me out. When I enter one, there are activities I am forced to perform. First, get hanger out of closet and remove bedspread using hanger. Toss anywhere out of view. Not a fan of gizz monsters/leftovers. Unpack socks. Lots of socks. Which come in handy when I need to walk on hotel room floor. There is no way in hell I would put my bare foot down on the carpet. See "leftovers". Unpack flip-flops – for shower. Flush toilet with foot. I'm freaky that way.
Other Stuff that Gags Me
- Food troughs, as in all-you-can-eat establishments
- Sitting in traffic and looking over at the car next to me. The driver is digging for nose gold.
- My dog trying to cozy up to my minimal chesticles. I didn't breastfeed my babies; he is freaking me out.
- Smells: scrambled eggs, wet puppies, ground beef cooking, chicken boiling, cig smoke in cars, b.o., Asiago cheese
- People scratching their privates in public – get a room
- Chaos – some people love an environment filled with ringing phones, slamming doors, loud convos – all fine, but not for me
- Borrowing from Peter to pay Paul (I do this regularly)
- Intentional disrespect – i.e. ugly scuffle on DWTS last night,
BitchesHousewives of Beverly Hills always ganging up on one woman
Enough! Let's end this on a positive note! Playing Words With Friends the other night, Lady Di used "ergo"; I LOVE that word. Other faves include scathing, magical, lilting, and – when strung together – you have just won 100 billion dollars. Haven't heard that last one yet. Ergo, I'd best get back to work.


text:
We have so much to do's these days and are constantly on the go trying to get everything done.
Life has definitely sped up or I should say that 'we' have sped up. There are still 24hrs in a day, but where does it all go?? For some reason we love habit as humans and find it hard to change or do more of what we know is right.
I'm also a living example.
But it doesn't have to be this way, as to be truly happy we need to take some time realising what we have and to stop and appreciate our loved ones and life all around us.
As life's events are purely out of our control, what we can control is our mind and what we focus on.
Fill your heart up with love and gratitude next time you're putting on your kids dirty washing for the 2nd or 3rd time in the week and just be grateful that you have them in your life. Give your partner a warm and big hug just because he or she is just so beautiful.
Allow yourself some time in the day or night to relax and give your body and mind what it needs. If you find that you're always doing everything, then don't and get help from your family, friends or neighbours.
Life's way too short to burn to the ground and to not look after yourself.
We want to do it all, but realistically we can't and it's best to share it all around.
When you get help, life is so much better. You're happier and those around you are and you're living a much better quality of life, one that is worth living for!


text:
In class today (Wed/Thu Jan 5/6) we will use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and discuss it in socratic groups. We will discuss the meanings of each of the articles and rank them in importance.
On Monday, students will need to turn in their answers on a separate sheet of paper. This gives Mr. Duez and opportunity to check your progress on the project and be sure you understand your article.
Download the UDHR here:


text:
Twitter Experiencing Hiccups Today; Engineers Busy Burping It
Yes, Twitter has been up down and all around today. Moving sloooow for many and completely offline (for a little bit) for others.
If you'd read our other post, you knew (immediately) when Twitter was down today. If you didn't, you may have panicked and thought the Syrian Electronic Army scored big.
But not today, SAE! Not . . . yet.
Did you see this today?
Or . . . THIS?!
Twitter wasn't just down today, mind you. According to GotSiteMonitor, it has experienced many (brief) outages over the past two months; lucky 13 to be exact:
So what happened today? Here's Twitter's explanation:
Due to an error in a routine change, Twitter was not available from 1:08pm PDT to 1:33pm PDT. We rolled back the erroneous change as soon as we identified the issue. Additionally, some users may have experienced Tweet delivery delay from 1:33pm PDT and 1:53pm PDT. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Some users may be experiencing issues accessing Twitter. Our engineers are currently working to resolve the issue.
Those dang erroneous routine change errors!
But rest assured, it will be back to normal soon. Just save those witty nuggets of nonsense as drafts somewhere and let's see if we can't crash it again with our words. Such power.
(Image from Shutterstock)


text:
CND Shellac™ application and Marine SPAPEDICURE® is completed in following steps:
|CND Shellac™ and Marine SPAPEDICURE®
CND Shellac™ and Marine SPAPEDICURE® (60 minutes approx.)
|£50.00 £33.00
Interested in Shellac™ application only service? Please checkout the CND Shellac™ application only page.
Shellac™ Colour Stability:
All cosmetic formulas, including the Shellac™ formula, are regulated to cosmetic approved ingredients. Unfortunately, some pigments that are approved for cosmetics are more likely to fade than others. Just like when wearing nail polish or other cosmetic products, you may experience slight fading when wearing some Shellac™ colours over time.
Not all Shellac™ colours will fade, but some colours have a greater tendency to fade than others. In general lighter colours are less colour stable than darker colours. Negligee, Romantique, Strawberry Smoothie and Rosebud are most common colours that may show signs of fading within the Shellac colour range. These lighter shades have one thing in common – pink. The pigmentation used to create pink is more prone to fading. The good news is that even through Shellac™ pink may fade when worm over time, they do so at a much slower rate than nail polish under the same condition.
Shellac™ is generally less chemically resistant than gels, liquid & powders or other enhancement products. Some pigments in Shellac™ can be easily attacked by chemical exposure during daily activities such as bathing, house cleaning, laundry, gardening, car washing, swimming, etc. Sun light exposure can also make colours fade faster. Heat and humidity have less effect on fading, but can accelerate fading when combined with chemical or sunlight exposure.
Shellac™ should not limit daily activity, however to minimise fading and maximize long-term wear of Shellac™ please follow the following guidelines.
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.mybeautybasics.com/
Salon Address:
Tel: 0203 282 1515
Mob: 07825 372 963
We are open:
Mon - Fri10:00am - 7:00pm
Sat10:00am - 6:00pm


text:
Sawn Timber
As well as our manufactured timber products Hales Sawmills can supply an extensive range of sawn timbers and constructional grade timbers, including C16 and C24.
Whether you are looking to order regular stocks for your merchant business or simply undertaking your own fencing project we have all the timbers you will require.
We stock general construction timbers such as treated lath and carcassing and a wide range of PSE profiles.
We offer a special rebated feather edge board which has proved popular for cladding projects as well as both shiplap and tongued and grooved traditional profiles.
Undertaking your own fencing project?
We have all the timbers you will require. Rails, boards, feather edge, palings, stakes and posts are all pressure pre-treated and available in a wide range of sizes and lengths. Planed and treated 4 way hedge stakes and pointed pegs provide versatile components.


text:
For those of you who are looking for a three row mid-size crossover, you have to try to experience 2016 Toyota Highlander. 2016 Toyota Highlander has big redesigned. There are a couple of minor changes of 2016 Toyota Highlander. A couple of additional features and many exterior color selections are different from the previous model.
Based on a couple of sources, Toyota is scheduling to launch a 2016 Toyota Highlander in the range of SUV, and the release of this prototype is scheduled to launch in the next two years. This model can be expected to be a step up from the previous version which is completed with new technology, futuristic design, better performance and better engine line.
Because of the three-row seats, the redesigned 2016 Toyota Highlander is very spacious. 2016 Toyota Highlander is the midsize crossover SUV which is suited for 8 persons to enjoy the comfortable ride and a panoramic sunroof.
Toyota Highlander is now ready to hit the market with a brand new model which is 2016 Toyota Highlander. 2016 Toyota Highlander will get a durable and stylish design long with a powerful and efficient engine.
2016 Toyota Highlander will offer two drive units. Four-cylinder engine with 2700cca will be the basic engine. This engine will produce 185 horsepower and completed with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The second engine which will be offered is V6 with a 3500cca that generate 270 horsepower. This engine will offer identical transmission and the drive will be on all four wheels. In terms of fuel economy, 2016 Toyota Highlander gets an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg in the highway. According to some automotive critic, the hybrid model will combine an electric motor with a V6 engine which produces power via the battery. Toyota is very popular for its hybrid model which is the number one product in this company.
2016 Toyota Highlander Price
There is no accurate information about 2016 Toyota Highlander price. In order to know the 2016 Toyota Highlander price, you have to follow the development of this car at the website of Toyota. You will get a couple of information about the price of 2016 Toyota Highlander as soon as possible.
2016 Toyota Highlander Specs
The exterior of 2016 Toyota Highlander features a couple of great refurbishments which includes fitting new headlights, lifting the front fascia, reshaping the wings, and restructuring the back surface


text:
RFID Radio Podcasts
I just came across this great site the other day-RFID Radio. It's an educational site with podcasts that provide general information about Radio Frequency Identification technology, RFID current events, RFID case studies, and more. Here's a sample of one of the podcasts that I found quite interesting. It's an interview with Bill Hardgrave the Director of the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas. Just hit the play button on the box below to hear "Promising RFID Business Applications." You may need to install Adobe Shockwave Player to hear the podcast.


text:
Kids yoga made fun
Bring your child for a free first trial lesson to one of our Saturday Classes.
Need to find Little Yogis?
How can Little Yogis develop your child?
I am a mother of two, who is a qualified kids yoga instructor. I am passionate about shaping 4 dimensional kids who are mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually sound.