1. Beer conditions the hair.
2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish.
3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes.
4. Mayonnaise! will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair.
5. PVA Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads (if any).
6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea.
7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water.
8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste.
9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!
10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too.
11 Bee stings - meat tenderizer.
12. Mosquito bite - Preparation H.
13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H.
14. Paper cut -chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals).
15. Stinky feet – jelly.
16. Athletes feet – cornstarch.
17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub.
18. Cordial to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)
19. Cordial can be used as a dye in paint also cordial in plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper.
21. Sticking bicycle chain - no-stick cooking spray.
22. Cooking spray will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby
23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls.
24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on.
25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar !
26. Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the microwave, pour in to an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!
27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of cordial in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak.
28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years! !
29. A Slinky will hold toast and CD's!
30. To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste.
31. Wine stains, pour on the baking soda and watch it absorb into the salt.
32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.
33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter !
34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it. Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets, soak overnight!
35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!
36. Dirty grout – Listerine.
37. Stains on clothes – Colgate.
38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup.
39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola , it will also remove grease stains from the driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!
40. Fleas in your carpet? Borax - sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.
41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add 2 Bayer aspirin, or just use 7-up instead of water.
42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red Friday = White and Saturday = Yellow So if today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow , Monday through Saturday.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Another Top Gear Official ‘Goes Crashing’
Sunday Nov 19 2006, 7:36am PDT Atul
As if the Richard Hammond Incident was not enough, another Top Gear Driver met with a car crash in a Lamborghini Murcielago. The degree of injuries received was not as severe as the Hammond Incident but it does put the Top Gear programs relay under jeopardy.
Hammond met with a similar fate as he lost control of the car, this time though over-speeding was not an issue. The reportedly Professional Driver overturned the car on a rain-drenched runway in Dunsfold Park, Surrey.
People who witnessed this incident mentioned that the driver lost control in bad weather, which made the car spin heavily, ultimately landing on the ground and coming to a halt. Luckily, the Driver survived without any major injury as confirmed by BBC officials.Incidentally, a similar Lamborghini model crashed during the pre-production process, which raised a question about the cars reliability, back in June. Was it the Cars fault or the Drivers is another issue, the focus here should be on the risk at which these officials are pelting these cars.
No hard Feelings, but why is Top Gear so desperate to Shoot these cars hitting high velocities with so much risk involved? If at all it was a rainy day, any driver be it a professional or not , will know that Pelting a Car on High Speeds could spell Doom for him.This incident leaves copious questions unanswered!
Image Credit : AllCarWallpapers
Via : Motorauthority
Sunday, November 19, 2006
BE THANKFUL......... for so much…
FOR THE WIFE…………..WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND, WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENTBECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOTBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURSBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
FOR THE HUSBAND, WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENTBECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOTBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURSBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
The Falcon convertible?
Yes, it did exist(HRB 333, where are you?!)
LEWIS Bandt, Ford's famous designer who was the father of the coupe utility, was also famous for having produced a Falcon convertible with a steel retractable top.
This little-remembered milestone occurred when he was given the task of producing six special cars for the Miss Australia Quest of 1964.
Working in conjunction with Geelong bodybuilding company, Bodycraft, Lew designed the convertible using a Falcon utility as the base.
The utility back was ideal for storing the steel roof which folded in two and slid back into the tray. This was then covered by a steel panel which was hinged at the back.
But the electrics division obviously wasn’t called in for such a limited production run, because the roof was raised and lowered manually, quite a task considering the weight of the steel top.
As the utility only had the front bench seat, Lew designed a panel to separate the rear section which held the top and installed a rear bench seat from the sedan.
Unfortunately, no-one knows exactly what happened to these six very special Falcons. The only existing photos show one had the Victorian registration number HRB 333.
Perhaps someone knows where one of these unique convertibles is today!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Take Hold of Every Moment
A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:
“This,” he said, “isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on; was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it.”
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:
”Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".
I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less.I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.
I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day.
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.
The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come. I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... letters that I wanted to write "one of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons, daughters and sisters, not times enough at least, how much I love them. Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.
And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.
“This,” he said, “isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on; was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it.”
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:
”Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".
I still think those words changed my life. Now I read more and clean less.I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.
I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day.
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if I feel like it.I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.
The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now. I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food. It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come. I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... letters that I wanted to write "one of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons, daughters and sisters, not times enough at least, how much I love them. Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.
And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.
Positive Imaging
One of the most effective ways to prevent rumination is to replace it with positive self-talk, together with imaginal thinking or 'image-ination'. Imaginal thinking involves constructing a desired future model of a situation you would like to experience and then running that model several times over so that it is programmed into your mind. The 'movie' you create should also have a sound track containing the words you would like to hear yourself saying. The trick is to become your own 'Steven Spielberg' and create the blockbuster movie of all time, starring yourself! As well as vision and sound, your internal movie must also create a feeling for you. You need to decide how you would like to be feeling during the future event you are creating. Do you want to feel relaxed, confident, powerful, happy, forceful etc? If you want to be confident and relaxed throughout the 'movie' then you need to edit into your sound track a repetitive 'feelings' track where your movie-self repeats over and over again, "I am relaxed. I am confident…."
Ford Mods
Cunningly devoted to Ford modifications, the Ford Mods site is called exactly that. If you can't find something interesting at this site and you're a Ford fan, check your pulse...
http://www.fordmods.com/forums/portal.php
http://www.fordmods.com/forums/portal.php
Friday, November 17, 2006
Teacher's PAY rates
I, for one, am sick and tired of those highly paid teachers. Their hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year!
It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do, Baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right! I would give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked, not any silly planning time. That would be $15.00 a day. Each parent should pay $15.00 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.
Now, how many do they teach in a day? Maybe 25?
Then that's 15 x 25 = $375.00 a day.
But remember they only work 200 days a year! I'm not going to pay them for any vacations. Let's see? That's 375 x 200 = $75 000.00. (Hold on, my calculator must need batteries!)
What about those Leading Teachers or the ones with Masters Degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be that fair. Let's round it off to $6.00 an hour. That would be $6.00 times five hours times 25 children times 200 days =$150 000.00 per year.
Wait a minute, there is something wrong here!
THERE SURE IS, HUH?
It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do, Baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right! I would give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked, not any silly planning time. That would be $15.00 a day. Each parent should pay $15.00 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.
Now, how many do they teach in a day? Maybe 25?
Then that's 15 x 25 = $375.00 a day.
But remember they only work 200 days a year! I'm not going to pay them for any vacations. Let's see? That's 375 x 200 = $75 000.00. (Hold on, my calculator must need batteries!)
What about those Leading Teachers or the ones with Masters Degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage just to be that fair. Let's round it off to $6.00 an hour. That would be $6.00 times five hours times 25 children times 200 days =$150 000.00 per year.
Wait a minute, there is something wrong here!
THERE SURE IS, HUH?
Knowledge vs Wisdom
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit,
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Ford to eliminate gas caps…
Mark Fields, Ford’s president of American operations, announced at a Center for Automotive Research meeting that Ford will begin eliminating gas caps on all production vehicles. No it is not some bizzare strategy to save on fuel costs, but rather an engineering and design upgrade. The tried and true twist off gas cap design will be replaced with a “capless fuel filler “. This first appeared in 2005 on the GT supercar but will go mainstream beginning with the 2008 Lincoln MKS sedan.
The idea has practicality in addition to elegance. It is said to eliminate the potential of losing the gas cap, but also offer a more secure seal and prevent fume emmisions into the environment. When the nozzle of a conventional gas pump is put into the fuel filler point, it pushes on two tabs that open a spring-loaded metal flap. That allows the pump to sit in the tube that delivers gas to the tank, just as a pump does after the cap is unscrewed. After the nozzle is removed, the spring-loaded door seals the pathway shut.
Apparantly Ford’s marketing research has shown that people of all ages and drivers of all makes and models dislike touching their fuel cap and the potential of gasoline smell on their hands. It also eliminates the hand pain for arthritis sufferers.
Ford may likely be the first auto-maker to put this technology on all production vehicles in the near future.
Ford may likely be the first auto-maker to put this technology on all production vehicles in the near future.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Out of the mouths of babes
If you haven't worked it out from the blogs on education, that's the profession I have chosen. When you work with kids, they often surprise you with what they say. Two things caught me by surprise yesterday:
One seven year old student was referred to me by a teacher for swearing at other students. She told me that he was using the two "b words". He said, "No I wasn't! I was calling them bastards and bitches."
One little guy has a disability and part of helping him is going to the doctor and getting a prescription for medication. His mother was talking to him about me as someone else who could help him. He thought about if for a moment and said, "Mr Ymir is a bit cranky. I think he needs to go to the doctor too."
One seven year old student was referred to me by a teacher for swearing at other students. She told me that he was using the two "b words". He said, "No I wasn't! I was calling them bastards and bitches."
One little guy has a disability and part of helping him is going to the doctor and getting a prescription for medication. His mother was talking to him about me as someone else who could help him. He thought about if for a moment and said, "Mr Ymir is a bit cranky. I think he needs to go to the doctor too."
Quotable quotes
I say luck is when an opportunity comes along, and you're prepared for it." --Denzel Washington, actor
S197 Boss Mustang On The WayBy
(DEARBORN, MICHIGAN) StangsUnleashed.com -
Gear heads can prepare to rejoice - the dormant muscle car slug fest is about to be rekindled by Detroit’s Big Three. This coming January, The Chrysler Group (C.G.) will introduce the Dodge Challenger concept - complete with a 6.1L Hemi engine. Not to be left out, Chevy will bring out their Camaro concept, and even possibly a supercharged Corvette.Meanwhile, here in Dearborn, Ford will unveil the production version of the venomous 5.4L powered, 475 horsepower GT500.Yep, it is going to be a a muscle car blood match this January. Who ever said that history is not cyclical? Team Mustang likes history, especially that of their Mustang, of which they have successfully offered in various feature cars.
According to Team Mustang members, former Team Mustang boss Art Hyde (now with Ford’s quality office) laid much of the thought process for upcoming feature Mustangs. Thus far, those feature cars have included the Bullitt, Mach1 and the Shelby GT500. Each of those models have generated positive publicity for Ford and further enhanced the Mustang’s heritage.
Photographed in Dearborn with prototype graphics. Since the introduction of the S197 Mustang (2005+) and its subsequent success, Ford Executives have taken notice of the Mustang - especially the money it is putting into the company coffers. Ford figures that they might sell close to 200,000 Mustangs (1998-2005 Ford sales figures) this year - adequate plant capacity might be the only constraint preventing them from meeting that mark. Due to the upcoming competition from the C.G. and GM though, it might be difficult for Ford to continue that sales pace without resorting to cash rebates or frequent redesigns to keep the Mustang fresh. The problem with frequent redesigns is that they consume considerable resources (time + money) and rebates drastically alter the balance sheet.Team Mustang is keenly aware that they have to keep the Mustang on top of the game and they are doing just that with a slew of feature cars.
First, BlueOvalNews reported the existence of the Shelby Mustang back in 2001 and TheMustangSource first reported the California Special earlier this year. So what’s next? Maybe the question should be - what could even be better for the Mustang? How about a Boss in S197 clothing?Sources here in Dearborn familiar with the S197 Boss program told StangsUnleashed.com that a Boss Mustang feature program exists and a Boss is coming our way within the next few years.
Ford manufactured both a Boss 302 and a 429 from 1969-1970. The last Boss Mustang, a 351, was last available in 1971.While American muscle car nameplates have come and gone, the Boss Mustang has remained a constant facet among consumers and collectors. Take a stroll into any department store or hobby shop and count how many different Boss Mustang models line the shelves. Consumers like Cam Gillespie have not had the patience to wait for Ford to make a new Boss Mustang, so they are making their own - and Ford has taken notice.
Cam Gillespie's 2005 GT "Boss".The S197 BossSources familiar with the S197 Boss (S197 Boss Message boards) program said that the original plan was to use the 5.0L DOHC engine, however, Ford dropped plans to use that engine in regular production vehicles, such as F-Series trucks. While Ford does manufacture a 5.0L DOHC engine, it is costly and regulated for after-market use through their Motorsport catalog.It would be possible for Ford to use the 5.0L DOHC engine in an S197 Boss, but it is unlikely due to a wide array of issues. Some of those issues include emission certification, durability testing and warranty considerations. In order for Team Mustang and Ford to make the S197 Boss program feasible, it has to be cost effective.
Photo Ford: The 5.0 DOHC engine was introduced on 03 November 1999 with the introduction of the FR500 concept.
The 4.6L DOHC engine has proven to be more than capable of serving the appetite for horsepower for years, but that was before the Challenger and Camaro were on Dearborn’s radar screen. Consider that the Challenger will use the 5.7L and 6.1L Hemi engines while the Camaro will make use of the Corvette’s engine and it quickly becomes apparent that the entry price to performance is now rooted in cubic inches. This was a key factor as to why Ford chose the 5.4L for the upcoming GT500. View the GT500 message boards.Enter the Boss 329Due to the increased competition and the GT500, the 4.6L DOHC engine may have been essentially regulated to GT status only. Maybe even more importantly, Ford and Ford dealers simply won’t be able to charge a nice premium for a feature car unless it is something, well, special.
Unless Ford creates something other than a 4.6L DOHC Boss tape and paint package. . .i.e. road Mustang, it simply will not be enough to command a premium in the market or compete with Dodge or Chevy. . . .on the other hand, a solid Boss 329 package will. Aside from that, the 5.4L engine has already gone through the engineering and certification processes, so it is basically on "off the shelf" piece.As for the Boss Mustang name, according to Ford legal it is still the property of the Ford Motor Company. What’s next? 1) Wipe the drewl from your chin. 2) Don’t hassle your dealer, at least not too much.3) Check back for more Boss news and special announcements on the S197 Boss Mustang message boards.
COPYRIGHT 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. STANGSUNLEASHED.com. DEARBORN, MICHIGAN.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Symbol of hope
N. Phila.’s Stanton Elementary wins a national honour for finding what students need and helping them succeed.
By Martha Woodall , The Philadelphia Inquirer : Inquirer Staff Writer - 30 October 2006
An elementary school in the heart of North Philadelphia has grabbed the national spotlight for dramatically improving its test scores. The initial jumps were so large the Philadelphia school district verified them by having some students retake the tests. Over four years, the number of fifth graders scoring at the highest level - advanced - soared from 1.2 percent in math and reading to 42.1 percent in math and 29.8 percent in reading.
How did M. Hall Stanton Elementary School do it? "It's all about challenging people to move to the next level," Principal Barbara Adderly said. Adderly inspired her staff to carry out her vision to boost student achievement using test data to identify struggling students and improved teaching methods to help them. The school, which was among the district's lowest-performers in 2002, has met the standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act for the last three years. Stanton, where 86 percent of the students come from low-income families, challenges academic research that links family income with academic success.
For Education Trust, a nonprofit that seeks to improve education for minorities and low-income students, Stanton "is a symbol of urban educational promise." Stanton is "proof positive that through hard work and a laser-like focus on curriculum and instruction, schools serving even the most disadvantaged students can see dramatic improvement in student learning," said Daria Hall, senior policy analyst at the trust. "Stanton shows what's possible," Paul Vallas, the district's chief executive officer, said last week.
Adderly, a hands-on principal who is rarely in her office, was assigned to Stanton for the 2002-03 school year. The school was one of 21 of the lowest-performing schools selected by the School Reform Commission for extra help and money. Adderly made immediate changes. "The kids were out of control," she said. Adderly reorganized the school, dividing it into three academies, each with kindergarten through sixth grade.
To upgrade instruction, she tapped two of the school's best teachers to be math and literacy leaders and to coach other teachers. Every day, the coaches and Adderly work with teachers from a different grade and brainstorm how to help struggling students. Because many students also come to school with family, emotional and behavioural problems, Adderly set up three meetings a week to deal with them.
For those meetings, Adderly introduced videotaping to capture students' classroom behaviour. The tapes are shown when counselors, parents and teachers meet to devise plans to help. But a key component of the Stanton turnaround is using test data to determine whether students are learning. "You can't teach them if you don't assess," Adderly tells teachers.
There's nothing new about some of Adderly's ideas. Many are practiced in the district and across the country. But Adderly has elevated the use of data so it is now part of the school culture. On hallway and classroom walls, there are graphs and multicoloured bar charts showing test results. "Children need to know where they have to go," Kathleen Shallow, the school's literacy leader, said. "So if they are looking at the assessment line in their room and they see a star, they know this is where they need to be."
Christina Taylor, the math leader, said teachers also used the data to critique themselves. "If you taught it wrong the first time, and the kids didn't get it, you don't want to teach it the same way again," she said. Student Shakeeya Addison, 10, takes the testing in stride. "There are a lot of tests, and sometimes they're hard," she said. "But once you think about it, if the teacher has taught it before, then we get it right." The fifth grader says she likes to learn and especially enjoys spending 30 minutes every day reading. "School is also fun," she said. "My teacher is very nice. She helps us a lot."
One afternoon last week, Stanton's three first-grade teachers gathered in a first-floor room. Each teacher carried a plastic file case with test results for his or her class. Adderly came up with the idea for these "diagnostic tool kits" this year. She believes the ready information will help teachers focus on struggling students.
They gather in a large conference room, where colour-coded index cards on the walls show at a glance how well Stanton's 487 students are doing so far this year. The cards are placed on an assessment line showing reading levels. The cards will be moved as children advance. "These kids are going to be fine," Adderly said during last week's meeting, referring to first graders testing at grade level or above. But several cards were clustered at the low end of the line. "You have this troop of kids right here who are going to be struggling," Adderly warned.
The teachers talked about individual students who were having trouble connecting letters with their sounds. They brainstormed ways to help them, including using magnetic letters and a computer game. Teacher Andrea Boris described how she gets her students to review the sounds of letters even while they are eating breakfast.
"I'll just pick a random letter and say, 'What's this letter?' " she said. "I'll call on somebody. It takes not even a minute." Stanton's structured approach and its relentless focus on data and improved instruction can be daunting, especially for new teachers. "At Stanton, there is not a minute that is not covered by something," said Janet Sato, a first-grade teacher who joined the staff this fall. "They have certain ways to do things, and it is already set. It's like a game plan. You just go." Last week, two other new teachers wept in front of Adderly, saying they had doubts they could make it at Stanton. Adderly calmed them and told them she realized she demands a lot.
But she knows what Stanton is up against. From her office, Adderly has an unobstructed view of a neighbourhood with boarded-up homes and vacant properties. Fewer than half of the adults in the neighbourhood graduated from high school. "The children live the way they live, and some live in pretty dire circumstances," she said. "But we can't dwell on that because we can't change it. So when we come here, we have to dwell on that which is going to move our kids. I think that has made a tremendous difference, too."
By Martha Woodall , The Philadelphia Inquirer : Inquirer Staff Writer - 30 October 2006
An elementary school in the heart of North Philadelphia has grabbed the national spotlight for dramatically improving its test scores. The initial jumps were so large the Philadelphia school district verified them by having some students retake the tests. Over four years, the number of fifth graders scoring at the highest level - advanced - soared from 1.2 percent in math and reading to 42.1 percent in math and 29.8 percent in reading.
How did M. Hall Stanton Elementary School do it? "It's all about challenging people to move to the next level," Principal Barbara Adderly said. Adderly inspired her staff to carry out her vision to boost student achievement using test data to identify struggling students and improved teaching methods to help them. The school, which was among the district's lowest-performers in 2002, has met the standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act for the last three years. Stanton, where 86 percent of the students come from low-income families, challenges academic research that links family income with academic success.
For Education Trust, a nonprofit that seeks to improve education for minorities and low-income students, Stanton "is a symbol of urban educational promise." Stanton is "proof positive that through hard work and a laser-like focus on curriculum and instruction, schools serving even the most disadvantaged students can see dramatic improvement in student learning," said Daria Hall, senior policy analyst at the trust. "Stanton shows what's possible," Paul Vallas, the district's chief executive officer, said last week.
Adderly, a hands-on principal who is rarely in her office, was assigned to Stanton for the 2002-03 school year. The school was one of 21 of the lowest-performing schools selected by the School Reform Commission for extra help and money. Adderly made immediate changes. "The kids were out of control," she said. Adderly reorganized the school, dividing it into three academies, each with kindergarten through sixth grade.
To upgrade instruction, she tapped two of the school's best teachers to be math and literacy leaders and to coach other teachers. Every day, the coaches and Adderly work with teachers from a different grade and brainstorm how to help struggling students. Because many students also come to school with family, emotional and behavioural problems, Adderly set up three meetings a week to deal with them.
For those meetings, Adderly introduced videotaping to capture students' classroom behaviour. The tapes are shown when counselors, parents and teachers meet to devise plans to help. But a key component of the Stanton turnaround is using test data to determine whether students are learning. "You can't teach them if you don't assess," Adderly tells teachers.
There's nothing new about some of Adderly's ideas. Many are practiced in the district and across the country. But Adderly has elevated the use of data so it is now part of the school culture. On hallway and classroom walls, there are graphs and multicoloured bar charts showing test results. "Children need to know where they have to go," Kathleen Shallow, the school's literacy leader, said. "So if they are looking at the assessment line in their room and they see a star, they know this is where they need to be."
Christina Taylor, the math leader, said teachers also used the data to critique themselves. "If you taught it wrong the first time, and the kids didn't get it, you don't want to teach it the same way again," she said. Student Shakeeya Addison, 10, takes the testing in stride. "There are a lot of tests, and sometimes they're hard," she said. "But once you think about it, if the teacher has taught it before, then we get it right." The fifth grader says she likes to learn and especially enjoys spending 30 minutes every day reading. "School is also fun," she said. "My teacher is very nice. She helps us a lot."
One afternoon last week, Stanton's three first-grade teachers gathered in a first-floor room. Each teacher carried a plastic file case with test results for his or her class. Adderly came up with the idea for these "diagnostic tool kits" this year. She believes the ready information will help teachers focus on struggling students.
They gather in a large conference room, where colour-coded index cards on the walls show at a glance how well Stanton's 487 students are doing so far this year. The cards are placed on an assessment line showing reading levels. The cards will be moved as children advance. "These kids are going to be fine," Adderly said during last week's meeting, referring to first graders testing at grade level or above. But several cards were clustered at the low end of the line. "You have this troop of kids right here who are going to be struggling," Adderly warned.
The teachers talked about individual students who were having trouble connecting letters with their sounds. They brainstormed ways to help them, including using magnetic letters and a computer game. Teacher Andrea Boris described how she gets her students to review the sounds of letters even while they are eating breakfast.
"I'll just pick a random letter and say, 'What's this letter?' " she said. "I'll call on somebody. It takes not even a minute." Stanton's structured approach and its relentless focus on data and improved instruction can be daunting, especially for new teachers. "At Stanton, there is not a minute that is not covered by something," said Janet Sato, a first-grade teacher who joined the staff this fall. "They have certain ways to do things, and it is already set. It's like a game plan. You just go." Last week, two other new teachers wept in front of Adderly, saying they had doubts they could make it at Stanton. Adderly calmed them and told them she realized she demands a lot.
But she knows what Stanton is up against. From her office, Adderly has an unobstructed view of a neighbourhood with boarded-up homes and vacant properties. Fewer than half of the adults in the neighbourhood graduated from high school. "The children live the way they live, and some live in pretty dire circumstances," she said. "But we can't dwell on that because we can't change it. So when we come here, we have to dwell on that which is going to move our kids. I think that has made a tremendous difference, too."
Quotable quotes
“Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned -- not to see what is not.” -- Maria Mitchell
The Hammerhead Futuristic Flying Car Concept
Monday Nov 13 2006, 8:12am PDT Vishal
There is always less of roads for the ever growing traffic. There is only one alternative and that is to develop cars that leave the crowded roads and float in the sky.
Jeff Allen Case is hoping to make this Sci-Fi a reality with his Hammerhead prototype.
His prototype has a three fan configuration with the front fans delivering the thrust and lift. Case did not comment on the engine configurations of this flying car but hopes whooping speeds of 250 mph at 8,000 ft and a range of 300 miles.
The car will take off and land vertically and will be easy to operate and quite safe as well.The first prototype will have a one-seater cockpit.
Case is still waiting for some funding but it will be really interesting to see the car of the future!
Via: autoblog
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Optimism
In his book, Optimism: The Biology of Hope, Lionel Tiger (Tiger, 1995) argues cogently that optimism is not an optional characteristic in humans; it is as 'natural to man as his eyes that see, and as irreplaceable as hair.' Through evolution we have developed a species-wide tendency to overestimate moderately, the odds in our favour. In other words, optimism is a biological phenomenon. It seems that optimism has been central to the process of evolution. It has greatly influenced the way humans think, work, play and respond to fundamental issues such as birth and death. It is a force that has been used as a lever in the hand of politicians and a weapon in the hands of dictators. Both groups use optimism as a way of controlling people and harnessing them to a cause. If indeed, Tiger's belief that optimism is a biological phenomenon rooted in the genes is true, then it gives us another technique to use in people management processes.
Optimism appears to be socially desirable in all communities. Purveyors of optimism are generally accepted whereas those who spread doom and gloom, panic and hysteria, are treated with contempt. Many of the world's religions are adherents to the doctrine of optimism. The sufferings of this world, the vicissitudes of life, the pain of disease and death are all mitigated by the expectancy of some future favorable outcome, maybe not in this world but certainly in some other. Religions allow communities to organize their fears and their futures by establishing a set of rules and beliefs for everyone to follow. In this way earthly fears are relegated to the arena of trivia and society becomes more manageable.
Seligman (1991) has spent many years researching the concept of optimism and pessimism through his work on attributional styles. He has found that people with an optimistic attributional style will attribute negative events differently to those with a pessimistic explanatory style. When setbacks occur, pessimists blame themselves. 'I am just no good,' or 'Nobody wants me,' are phrases that soon flow from the lips of such people. They believe the cause of their misfortune lies within them rather than being due to external or extenuating circumstances. Pessimists also believe that misfortune is long lasting ('Things will never get better') or repetitive ('If I have failed once, it will happen again'). It is also global or 'pervasive', that is, 'If misfortune befalls me in one part of my life, then it will happen to my whole life.' These three characteristics of the pessimistic explanatory style for negative events are known as the three Ps – Personal, Permanent and Pervasive.
Optimism appears to be socially desirable in all communities. Purveyors of optimism are generally accepted whereas those who spread doom and gloom, panic and hysteria, are treated with contempt. Many of the world's religions are adherents to the doctrine of optimism. The sufferings of this world, the vicissitudes of life, the pain of disease and death are all mitigated by the expectancy of some future favorable outcome, maybe not in this world but certainly in some other. Religions allow communities to organize their fears and their futures by establishing a set of rules and beliefs for everyone to follow. In this way earthly fears are relegated to the arena of trivia and society becomes more manageable.
Seligman (1991) has spent many years researching the concept of optimism and pessimism through his work on attributional styles. He has found that people with an optimistic attributional style will attribute negative events differently to those with a pessimistic explanatory style. When setbacks occur, pessimists blame themselves. 'I am just no good,' or 'Nobody wants me,' are phrases that soon flow from the lips of such people. They believe the cause of their misfortune lies within them rather than being due to external or extenuating circumstances. Pessimists also believe that misfortune is long lasting ('Things will never get better') or repetitive ('If I have failed once, it will happen again'). It is also global or 'pervasive', that is, 'If misfortune befalls me in one part of my life, then it will happen to my whole life.' These three characteristics of the pessimistic explanatory style for negative events are known as the three Ps – Personal, Permanent and Pervasive.
Fast Lane
Recently I stumbled across a sire called Fast Lane. With forums for Ford and Holden that include build up stories, finished cars, buy swap and sell, as well as some excellent news, road and weather alerts, fuel prices and other features, this site is excellent.
Find it at:
http://www.fastlane.com.au/default.asp
Find it at:
http://www.fastlane.com.au/default.asp
Monday, November 13, 2006
Results that are recognized get repeated
Whenever you praise, be it work or at home, you will reinforce the behaviour and make it much more likely that it will be repeated in the future. In today's competitive world criticisms will nearly always outnumber praise and a shortage of time often leads managers and parents to give both praise and criticism at the same time. This is not an effective strategy to encourage or discourage a particular behaviour: e.g. "you did a great job on the dishes but your bedroom's a real mess!" However, we do need a mixture of both. Since there is no perception without contrast, praise is diminished without criticism and vice versa. Praise tends to have a motivating effect on people's performances as well as doubling up as feedback from which to learn
New initiative makes Ford dedicated LPG vehicles an even more attractive proposition
The Federal Government's contribution of $1000 towards the purchase cost of a new factory-fitted LPG powered vehicle for private use has made Ford's range of dedicated LPG models an even more attractive proposition.
"A new dedicated LPG Ford Falcon, with the grant, represents an outstanding offer for Australian families," said President of Ford Australia, Tom Gorman.
"At current fuel prices, motorists can expect to save approximately $40 per tank with an LPG vehicle versus an equivalent petrol model."
Falcon is the only Australian built car to offer a dedicated LPG system, and Ford recently expanded the LPG range to nine models, including ute, wagon and sedan variants. All come with Ford's full three year/ 100,000 km warranty as standard.
"Sales of our LPG Falcons have increased significantly since the first introduction of a dedicated option in 1999," said Mr Gorman.
In 2004 LPG Falcons accounted for 6% of annual Falcon sales. In 2005 it had risen to 11%, and so far this year, approximately 21% of all Falcon sales are LPG.
"An ever increasing number of Australians are coming to realise our dedicated LPG Falcon offers all the power and comfort of a large family sedan but with the fuel costs of a small car," said Mr Gorman.
Presently, Ford is participating in the 'Around Australia for around $1000' LPG challenge, which arrives in Darwin tonight.
The 23-day trial commenced on August 3 and will take in all mainland states, covering more than 13,500 kilometres in a dedicated LPG Falcon.
"The challenge will attempt to circumnavigate Australia for around $1000, and demonstrate LPG is a cheaper and readily available alternative fuel," said Mr Gorman.
As of this afternoon, the challenge had travelled more than 7700km from Melbourne to Darwin via Perth and the West Coast, for a total fuel cost of $562.
A dedicated website accessible via the Ford Australia homepage (www.ford.com.au) will follow the Ford LPG Challenge, and provide regular updates from around the country.
In addition to the LPG grant announcement, Ford Australia also welcomed the Government's new incentives to accelerate the distribution of E10 fuel. All new Ford passenger vehicles are suitable to run on E10 fuel blends.
"A new dedicated LPG Ford Falcon, with the grant, represents an outstanding offer for Australian families," said President of Ford Australia, Tom Gorman.
"At current fuel prices, motorists can expect to save approximately $40 per tank with an LPG vehicle versus an equivalent petrol model."
Falcon is the only Australian built car to offer a dedicated LPG system, and Ford recently expanded the LPG range to nine models, including ute, wagon and sedan variants. All come with Ford's full three year/ 100,000 km warranty as standard.
"Sales of our LPG Falcons have increased significantly since the first introduction of a dedicated option in 1999," said Mr Gorman.
In 2004 LPG Falcons accounted for 6% of annual Falcon sales. In 2005 it had risen to 11%, and so far this year, approximately 21% of all Falcon sales are LPG.
"An ever increasing number of Australians are coming to realise our dedicated LPG Falcon offers all the power and comfort of a large family sedan but with the fuel costs of a small car," said Mr Gorman.
Presently, Ford is participating in the 'Around Australia for around $1000' LPG challenge, which arrives in Darwin tonight.
The 23-day trial commenced on August 3 and will take in all mainland states, covering more than 13,500 kilometres in a dedicated LPG Falcon.
"The challenge will attempt to circumnavigate Australia for around $1000, and demonstrate LPG is a cheaper and readily available alternative fuel," said Mr Gorman.
As of this afternoon, the challenge had travelled more than 7700km from Melbourne to Darwin via Perth and the West Coast, for a total fuel cost of $562.
A dedicated website accessible via the Ford Australia homepage (www.ford.com.au) will follow the Ford LPG Challenge, and provide regular updates from around the country.
In addition to the LPG grant announcement, Ford Australia also welcomed the Government's new incentives to accelerate the distribution of E10 fuel. All new Ford passenger vehicles are suitable to run on E10 fuel blends.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Opportunity
“We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.” -- Margaret Mead
“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” -- Francis Bacon
"What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no knocking. None at all. You are opportunity, and you must knock on the door leading to your destiny. You prepare yourself to recognize opportunity, to pursue and seize opportunity as you develop the strength of your personality, and build a self-image with which you are able to live -- with your self-respect alive and growing." -- Maxwell Maltz
“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” -- Francis Bacon
"What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no knocking. None at all. You are opportunity, and you must knock on the door leading to your destiny. You prepare yourself to recognize opportunity, to pursue and seize opportunity as you develop the strength of your personality, and build a self-image with which you are able to live -- with your self-respect alive and growing." -- Maxwell Maltz
High Performance Mustangs
By TERRY BOX / The Dallas Morning News
Make my next Mustang yellow or red, bolt a blower on it and give me a suspension as stiff as Laura Bush's smile.
JIM MAHONEY/DMN This modified 2007 Mustang, the Foose Stallion, puts out 400 to 420 horsepower on a supercharged 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
The check's in the mail.
I recently sampled one of each – a retina-searing yellow GT designed by California hot-rod builder Chip Foose and modified with the help of Unique Performance of Farmers Branch; and a traffic-stopping, arrest-me-officer red Shelby GT 500.
I am happy to report that I am not filing this column from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. But both cars can quickly – and let me emphasize quickly –land you there.
Though different in personality, the Mustangs have more in common than might be immediately apparent: Both are distinctive, limited-production, high-performance cars that can be used as daily drivers but probably won't be. Both should appeal to buyers who want unusual, high-profile Mustangs. Both are powered by supercharged V-8s that struggle to get more than 12 or 13 miles per gallon in town but pump out 400-plus very healthy horsepower. And both deliver big thrills.
Both 2007 models also are expensive for Mustangs. The Foose, which is available in this area from one of Sam Pack's Ford stores, has a base window sticker of about $46,000. The hard-to-find GT 500 has a theoretical base price of $40,930, but many Ford dealers are demanding as much as a $30,000 premium on top of the window sticker.
Can either of these cars – assembly-line Mustangs that are descendants, after all, of the lowly Ford Falcon – possibly be worth that kind of money? That's a call you'll have to make.
But just try to resist the loud, lowered hot-rod-infused Foose, which is officially named the Foose Stallion. The one I drove for a few days had been dropped 1.5 inches and rolled on 20-inch Foose wheels. It never went unnoticed.
With 245/40 tires up front and 275/35s in back, it doesn't give you a ride like a Town Car – or even a Taurus. The ride was resolutely firm, occasionally lapsing into roughness on uneven pavement. But I drove the Foose in rush-hour traffic and made multiple trips on Dallas' ragged streets, and it was fine. I always emerged with a smile.
Besides installing Baer brakes and buttoning down the handling, Foose and Unique fitted a small supercharger to the stock 300-horse 4.6-liter V-8.
Doug Hasty, president of Unique Performance, estimates that the excitable engine produces 400 to 420 horsepower. It revs quickly, kicking the rear end out in first or second, and pulls hard with an edgy shriek from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm.
The stylish Foose felt faster and more composed than my mostly stock GT, blurring the lines between modern muscle car and heavily wrenched hot rod. You'll want to invite it inside. But as much as I liked the Foose, the GT 500 heavyweight was the real surprise here.
Last summer, I drove a pre-production Shelby from Dearborn to Dallas and found the 500-horsepower car oddly lacking in sizzle at times. The Mustang's boost gauge suggested that its 32-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 wasn't getting much push from the supercharger.
That's been fixed – with relish. On the production GT 500 I had for a week, any aggressive stab of the accelerator summoned at least 5 pounds of boost and gobs of tire-shredding, tail-wagging thrust. I now have no doubts about Ford's claim of 500 horses in the Shelby.
In my view, the GT 500 doesn't look quite as good as the Foose. I've never cared for the cheesy stripes on the lower portion of the car's sides. And I dislike the Shelby's clumsy rear-in-the-air, dog-burying-bone stance. If BMW can get its $40,000 cars to sit perfectly atop 18-inch wheels and low-profile tires, why can't Ford?
That said, once you're inside, the GT 500 is a terrific big car – even at a paunchy 3,900 pounds. Everything is stiff or firm. The clutch, for example, will make your leg quiver in traffic, and the six-speed manual can be as notchy and challenging as a screwdriver in a bucket of wet cement.
But once you get accustomed to their high effort levels, you quickly learn to live with them. (Sound like anyone you know?) The ride is well-controlled and precise but still true to its solid-axle, muscle-car lineage. Think of it as heavy-duty sophistication.
And you will be able to think while driving the Shelby. The exhaust system is way too quiet and timid for a 500-horse car. Ignore it until you can order something more immature from the aftermarket. Meanwhile, you can revel in the fact that this is a solid, tight, seriously fast car.
If you hand-wash your car, dry it off with multiple towels and use a soft brush to remove any lint, Griot's Garage is throwing your kind of party Saturday.
The car-care specialist will be demonstrating products at the Complete Garage at 6045 Forest Lane in Dallas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Best of all, Griot's is supposed to give away a few samples.
The Complete Garage, by the way, designs garages and sells flooring, storage systems, garage doors and car care items.
E-mail tbox@dallasnews.com
Make my next Mustang yellow or red, bolt a blower on it and give me a suspension as stiff as Laura Bush's smile.
JIM MAHONEY/DMN This modified 2007 Mustang, the Foose Stallion, puts out 400 to 420 horsepower on a supercharged 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
The check's in the mail.
I recently sampled one of each – a retina-searing yellow GT designed by California hot-rod builder Chip Foose and modified with the help of Unique Performance of Farmers Branch; and a traffic-stopping, arrest-me-officer red Shelby GT 500.
I am happy to report that I am not filing this column from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. But both cars can quickly – and let me emphasize quickly –land you there.
Though different in personality, the Mustangs have more in common than might be immediately apparent: Both are distinctive, limited-production, high-performance cars that can be used as daily drivers but probably won't be. Both should appeal to buyers who want unusual, high-profile Mustangs. Both are powered by supercharged V-8s that struggle to get more than 12 or 13 miles per gallon in town but pump out 400-plus very healthy horsepower. And both deliver big thrills.
Both 2007 models also are expensive for Mustangs. The Foose, which is available in this area from one of Sam Pack's Ford stores, has a base window sticker of about $46,000. The hard-to-find GT 500 has a theoretical base price of $40,930, but many Ford dealers are demanding as much as a $30,000 premium on top of the window sticker.
Can either of these cars – assembly-line Mustangs that are descendants, after all, of the lowly Ford Falcon – possibly be worth that kind of money? That's a call you'll have to make.
But just try to resist the loud, lowered hot-rod-infused Foose, which is officially named the Foose Stallion. The one I drove for a few days had been dropped 1.5 inches and rolled on 20-inch Foose wheels. It never went unnoticed.
With 245/40 tires up front and 275/35s in back, it doesn't give you a ride like a Town Car – or even a Taurus. The ride was resolutely firm, occasionally lapsing into roughness on uneven pavement. But I drove the Foose in rush-hour traffic and made multiple trips on Dallas' ragged streets, and it was fine. I always emerged with a smile.
Besides installing Baer brakes and buttoning down the handling, Foose and Unique fitted a small supercharger to the stock 300-horse 4.6-liter V-8.
Doug Hasty, president of Unique Performance, estimates that the excitable engine produces 400 to 420 horsepower. It revs quickly, kicking the rear end out in first or second, and pulls hard with an edgy shriek from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm.
The stylish Foose felt faster and more composed than my mostly stock GT, blurring the lines between modern muscle car and heavily wrenched hot rod. You'll want to invite it inside. But as much as I liked the Foose, the GT 500 heavyweight was the real surprise here.
Last summer, I drove a pre-production Shelby from Dearborn to Dallas and found the 500-horsepower car oddly lacking in sizzle at times. The Mustang's boost gauge suggested that its 32-valve, 5.4-liter V-8 wasn't getting much push from the supercharger.
That's been fixed – with relish. On the production GT 500 I had for a week, any aggressive stab of the accelerator summoned at least 5 pounds of boost and gobs of tire-shredding, tail-wagging thrust. I now have no doubts about Ford's claim of 500 horses in the Shelby.
In my view, the GT 500 doesn't look quite as good as the Foose. I've never cared for the cheesy stripes on the lower portion of the car's sides. And I dislike the Shelby's clumsy rear-in-the-air, dog-burying-bone stance. If BMW can get its $40,000 cars to sit perfectly atop 18-inch wheels and low-profile tires, why can't Ford?
That said, once you're inside, the GT 500 is a terrific big car – even at a paunchy 3,900 pounds. Everything is stiff or firm. The clutch, for example, will make your leg quiver in traffic, and the six-speed manual can be as notchy and challenging as a screwdriver in a bucket of wet cement.
But once you get accustomed to their high effort levels, you quickly learn to live with them. (Sound like anyone you know?) The ride is well-controlled and precise but still true to its solid-axle, muscle-car lineage. Think of it as heavy-duty sophistication.
And you will be able to think while driving the Shelby. The exhaust system is way too quiet and timid for a 500-horse car. Ignore it until you can order something more immature from the aftermarket. Meanwhile, you can revel in the fact that this is a solid, tight, seriously fast car.
If you hand-wash your car, dry it off with multiple towels and use a soft brush to remove any lint, Griot's Garage is throwing your kind of party Saturday.
The car-care specialist will be demonstrating products at the Complete Garage at 6045 Forest Lane in Dallas from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Best of all, Griot's is supposed to give away a few samples.
The Complete Garage, by the way, designs garages and sells flooring, storage systems, garage doors and car care items.
E-mail tbox@dallasnews.com
Saturday, November 11, 2006
America's Greatest Living Car Designer
Auto legend Carroll Shelby talks about Mustangs past and present, what ails Detroit, his favorite American cars, racing, and Texas
by Matt Vella
In the American auto industry, few things stay golden very long. Boom times go bust, and turnarounds become downturns. But if there’s one name that has managed to maintain positive buzz and consistently represent driving excitement, it’s Carroll Shelby.
Shelby first came to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a race-winning, maverick tuner. He was an upset victor at Le Mans in 1959. The 260/289 Cobra, which he designed and built, was the fastest car on earth in the mid-1960s. And, with his help, Ford turned the original Mustang into an automotive legend.
Since then, Shelby has worked with all of the Detroit Three, having helped create some of the most recognizable cars of the last 50 years, from Ford’s GT and Mustang revival to the Dodge Viper and Charger models. With his help, Ford has remade the Mustang into one of its most popular sellers.
Shelby, now 83, is launching a line of performance parts and opening a custom modification center. Enthusiastic fans will be able to send their newly purchased Shelby GT500s to be souped up and modified to specification. BusinessWeek.com’s Matt Vella spoke with Shelby from the annual Specialty Equipment Market Assn. (SEMA) aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Nev.
You’ve been at the heart of the American automotive industry in one way or another since the 1960s. In this time of considerable upheaval for each of the big three, what do you think of the U.S. automakers’ situation?
The companies are working on the three big problems. The foreign companies that come over here don’t have unions like ours, they don’t have health care on the order that American companies have, and they don’t have pensions.
I don’t know exactly where it will end up. I feel sure that the American companies are going to survive. But it’s a tough fight right now. The playing field is a little uneven. But for more than that, you’ll have to call Detroit.
Here you are at SEMA, what do you make of the current trend to customize, personalize, and "pimp" our rides?
There are probably 100,000 people here, and not any two of them would agree on what a car should be. And yet, every one of them wants to bring their car up to something that they dream of, what a car should be to them. They want to individualize it so when they drive that car down the road, it’s obvious that somebody cares about it. They want to be identified with that car. I think it’s great and those are the people we want to reach and the people we want to work with.
Looking back at the repeated success of Mustang—from the originals in the 1960s to this most recent revival—why do you think American consumers have fallen love with the car again and again?
I think the main reason that they have is because it’s been around for 40 years now. We’re here at SEMA and more people manufacture pieces and parts and modifications for the Mustang than any car on earth. I think that explains why it is so popular, because so many of the modders, so many of the tuners, so many of the parts manufacturers, well, they build for Mustang.
What place do you think the new GT500 would hold in Mustang history?
Well, I can’t tell you for sure. But I’ve never heard of a car that stickers for $42,000 and is bringing $45,000 over list price. My heritage has always been affordable performance. That’s what I like to think I stand for. And when you take a $40,000 car and it’s selling for $90,000—I don’t [know] whether that means we underpriced it or that, historically, it’s a very significant car.
What were your feelings seeing the Ford GT supercar cease production this fall?
I’ve always said that when you build a car that’s a halo car like that, that you shouldn’t keep on building it. I begged Dodge not to keep on building the Viper and they’ve built it and built until nobody wants it anymore.
Ford built a limited number of GTs, and I think that’s a smart way to increase the value of the car over the years.
In my opinion the Ford GT is the best sports car that’s ever been built. The Corvette has been a wonderful, wonderful sports car. I really wish Zora Arkus-Duntov [the Corvette’s early engineer] was still alive to see what’s happened, what they’re building now. But ultimately I think that the Ford GT will go down in history because there are only so many of them, and it’s a very unique automobile.
What do you think is unique about the relationship Americans have to their automobiles?
I think that it’s the first thing that a young boy or girl wants. The first thing that they want to buy is an automobile; they want to be mobile.
I go up the 405 every day. It’s absolutely amazing how many pickup trucks are jacked up two feet high, with 25-inch wheels that will never ever go off-road. But that guy is very, very proud of the fact that he drives that thing up and down the freeway on the way to work every day. He is making his statement: "This is what I want, this is what I work for." He expresses himself through his automobile and that’s all over America.
What do you think was the influence of your Texas upbringing on the way you’ve raced, the way you’ve made your cars?
I loved cars all my life. I had a little 1938 Willis that wouldn’t outrun anything when I was a kid. But I used to try like hell. I always wanted to build my own car and I saw in 1960 that I had to move to California where the hot-rodders were.
When we built these cars years ago—the Mustangs and the Cobras—we had hot-rodders from Japan, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, England, even a couple from Poland. I guess I feel that Texas just wasn’t big enough for me at that time.
What gets you worked up creatively?
I’m 83. And, if I live to be 183, I wouldn’t be able to put out all of the ideas that I have. I just wouldn’t be able to build all those vehicles. Every morning I wake up with new ideas. Unfortunately not a lot of them will ever get done. But I never get tired of dreaming up exactly what the automobile should be.
You got your start in white-knuckle racing. What qualities do you most admire in other race-car drivers?
When I started driving race cars there was no future in it and you did it because of the passion. Race-car drivers have to focus on so many different things. It takes an unusual person to do that—both being able to focus for long periods of time and being able to endure constant hardships like heat. You have to be able to keep your mind focused for three or four hours, otherwise you’re probably going to die.
Finally, over the course of your long career, who has been your greatest influence?
The biggest influence on me? Well, me.
Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.
by Matt Vella
In the American auto industry, few things stay golden very long. Boom times go bust, and turnarounds become downturns. But if there’s one name that has managed to maintain positive buzz and consistently represent driving excitement, it’s Carroll Shelby.
Shelby first came to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a race-winning, maverick tuner. He was an upset victor at Le Mans in 1959. The 260/289 Cobra, which he designed and built, was the fastest car on earth in the mid-1960s. And, with his help, Ford turned the original Mustang into an automotive legend.
Since then, Shelby has worked with all of the Detroit Three, having helped create some of the most recognizable cars of the last 50 years, from Ford’s GT and Mustang revival to the Dodge Viper and Charger models. With his help, Ford has remade the Mustang into one of its most popular sellers.
Shelby, now 83, is launching a line of performance parts and opening a custom modification center. Enthusiastic fans will be able to send their newly purchased Shelby GT500s to be souped up and modified to specification. BusinessWeek.com’s Matt Vella spoke with Shelby from the annual Specialty Equipment Market Assn. (SEMA) aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Nev.
You’ve been at the heart of the American automotive industry in one way or another since the 1960s. In this time of considerable upheaval for each of the big three, what do you think of the U.S. automakers’ situation?
The companies are working on the three big problems. The foreign companies that come over here don’t have unions like ours, they don’t have health care on the order that American companies have, and they don’t have pensions.
I don’t know exactly where it will end up. I feel sure that the American companies are going to survive. But it’s a tough fight right now. The playing field is a little uneven. But for more than that, you’ll have to call Detroit.
Here you are at SEMA, what do you make of the current trend to customize, personalize, and "pimp" our rides?
There are probably 100,000 people here, and not any two of them would agree on what a car should be. And yet, every one of them wants to bring their car up to something that they dream of, what a car should be to them. They want to individualize it so when they drive that car down the road, it’s obvious that somebody cares about it. They want to be identified with that car. I think it’s great and those are the people we want to reach and the people we want to work with.
Looking back at the repeated success of Mustang—from the originals in the 1960s to this most recent revival—why do you think American consumers have fallen love with the car again and again?
I think the main reason that they have is because it’s been around for 40 years now. We’re here at SEMA and more people manufacture pieces and parts and modifications for the Mustang than any car on earth. I think that explains why it is so popular, because so many of the modders, so many of the tuners, so many of the parts manufacturers, well, they build for Mustang.
What place do you think the new GT500 would hold in Mustang history?
Well, I can’t tell you for sure. But I’ve never heard of a car that stickers for $42,000 and is bringing $45,000 over list price. My heritage has always been affordable performance. That’s what I like to think I stand for. And when you take a $40,000 car and it’s selling for $90,000—I don’t [know] whether that means we underpriced it or that, historically, it’s a very significant car.
What were your feelings seeing the Ford GT supercar cease production this fall?
I’ve always said that when you build a car that’s a halo car like that, that you shouldn’t keep on building it. I begged Dodge not to keep on building the Viper and they’ve built it and built until nobody wants it anymore.
Ford built a limited number of GTs, and I think that’s a smart way to increase the value of the car over the years.
In my opinion the Ford GT is the best sports car that’s ever been built. The Corvette has been a wonderful, wonderful sports car. I really wish Zora Arkus-Duntov [the Corvette’s early engineer] was still alive to see what’s happened, what they’re building now. But ultimately I think that the Ford GT will go down in history because there are only so many of them, and it’s a very unique automobile.
What do you think is unique about the relationship Americans have to their automobiles?
I think that it’s the first thing that a young boy or girl wants. The first thing that they want to buy is an automobile; they want to be mobile.
I go up the 405 every day. It’s absolutely amazing how many pickup trucks are jacked up two feet high, with 25-inch wheels that will never ever go off-road. But that guy is very, very proud of the fact that he drives that thing up and down the freeway on the way to work every day. He is making his statement: "This is what I want, this is what I work for." He expresses himself through his automobile and that’s all over America.
What do you think was the influence of your Texas upbringing on the way you’ve raced, the way you’ve made your cars?
I loved cars all my life. I had a little 1938 Willis that wouldn’t outrun anything when I was a kid. But I used to try like hell. I always wanted to build my own car and I saw in 1960 that I had to move to California where the hot-rodders were.
When we built these cars years ago—the Mustangs and the Cobras—we had hot-rodders from Japan, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, England, even a couple from Poland. I guess I feel that Texas just wasn’t big enough for me at that time.
What gets you worked up creatively?
I’m 83. And, if I live to be 183, I wouldn’t be able to put out all of the ideas that I have. I just wouldn’t be able to build all those vehicles. Every morning I wake up with new ideas. Unfortunately not a lot of them will ever get done. But I never get tired of dreaming up exactly what the automobile should be.
You got your start in white-knuckle racing. What qualities do you most admire in other race-car drivers?
When I started driving race cars there was no future in it and you did it because of the passion. Race-car drivers have to focus on so many different things. It takes an unusual person to do that—both being able to focus for long periods of time and being able to endure constant hardships like heat. You have to be able to keep your mind focused for three or four hours, otherwise you’re probably going to die.
Finally, over the course of your long career, who has been your greatest influence?
The biggest influence on me? Well, me.
Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Old Car Woes
My car has been ill-tempered for some time
But with old cars that’s not enough
To take them to the mechanic
For its then they sound so tough.
But, relent I did reluctantly
A leak in the exhaust so severe
That the dinosaur chewed through gasoline
And pedestrians lived in fear.
Now, two gaskets for the job were needed
Only one could be sourced in town
My mechanic scoured up and he scoured down
Our regional kind of town.
So, three days later it returned
For the second gasket to be installed
But, yet another problem surfaced
I was quite appalled.
The extractors were now leaking
And needed to be welded from the inside
This chase down the rabbit hole was wearying
But the mechanic I did not deride.
The ignition leads were also arcing
They do this when they’re old
And they need to be separated better
Well, at least this is what I’m told.
And now everything’s half fixed
More parts are on the way
It’s rough and under-powered
And booked in again next Thursday.
So, I’ve gone from a tough sounding car
That ran really quite well
To a problematic piece of machinery
That takes joy in giving me hell.
So, now from now on I’ll be content
With the old car – warts and all
For, even though it wasn’t perfect
At least when I drove it I had a ball.
But with old cars that’s not enough
To take them to the mechanic
For its then they sound so tough.
But, relent I did reluctantly
A leak in the exhaust so severe
That the dinosaur chewed through gasoline
And pedestrians lived in fear.
Now, two gaskets for the job were needed
Only one could be sourced in town
My mechanic scoured up and he scoured down
Our regional kind of town.
So, three days later it returned
For the second gasket to be installed
But, yet another problem surfaced
I was quite appalled.
The extractors were now leaking
And needed to be welded from the inside
This chase down the rabbit hole was wearying
But the mechanic I did not deride.
The ignition leads were also arcing
They do this when they’re old
And they need to be separated better
Well, at least this is what I’m told.
And now everything’s half fixed
More parts are on the way
It’s rough and under-powered
And booked in again next Thursday.
So, I’ve gone from a tough sounding car
That ran really quite well
To a problematic piece of machinery
That takes joy in giving me hell.
So, now from now on I’ll be content
With the old car – warts and all
For, even though it wasn’t perfect
At least when I drove it I had a ball.
Getting everything done
A friend shared this moment of awakening. She was moaning, “I never get anything done.” Her companion replied, “Perhaps you never get EVERYTHING done.” Oh… of course! A shift in perspective can bring both understanding and release.
The I -Want (and Expect)-It-NOW Generation
By Regina Barreca
Schools may well have a new function: Schools may be the last place where children learn that they can’t have everything that they want the moment they want it. I’m here to reassure you that this is a good thing. Not that it will make the job of teaching easier or more fun -- but it will make it even more important.
Everything else in our culture seems to encourage kids to believe that, at the push of a button, the blink of an eye, or the snap of their little fingers, all they desire can and should be theirs. (Okay, I should offer a caveat here: the rest of this column might make me sound as if I am older than Methuselah, or even Joan Rivers, and that my expectations in life have been formed by nothing later than the Code of Hammurabi. In other words, I’m very well aware that I’m speaking not only from an individual perspective, but from a generational point of view. Having said all of this, however, I’m also quite certain I’m right.)
Let’s face it: iPods, T.V. monitors in cars, cell phones, etc., are not going to help teachers have a better time in the classroom -- at least, not when these devices are what kids are brought up depending upon, replacing, it seems, sippy-cups and blue security blankets as agents of comfort. Children -- from almost every class except the poorest -- have at their fingertips what they desire. They can, for example, watch T.V. and movies in the car. Assistant Melissa, a 28-year-old Ph.D. reassures me that it might not simply be my age that makes me nervous about watching T.V. in the car. “Look, even at my age, I’m disturbed by the lack of boundaries between activities that used to have their discreet venues. It’s the thing that first freaked me out about cell phones. You talk to people at work or home but not in between. You watch T.V. in the living room after dinner or on Saturday morning. You watch movies in the movie theater. You buy a record and listened to all the tracks…not just the ones you heard on the radio. And you don’t do all these things at once.”
If you find televisions in cars disturbing, my student Greta tells us that they’re now installing video screens into shopping carts as well. Swell. These days, you can see an 8-year-old sitting in the back of a mini-van looking at a screen, talking on a cell phone pressed to one ear, with an Ipod bud in the other ear, while being handed a bag of corn chips by his mother who’s driving him to get some one-on-one time with the tennis coach. All the kid needs is a cigar and a pin stripe suit to complete the impression of him as a tiny tycoon. So imagine this kid’s horror at being told to wait his turn in a classroom or during gym class.
They come from a generation of children who are unaware of the fact that patience has, historically, been considered a virtue. These kids will stand in front of the microwave tapping their little Sketchers-clad feet, yelling at the microwave, “I don’t have all minute!” while their Hot Pockets heat up.
Tim, our 32-year-old computer-guru colleague -- a man not intimidated by technology -- argues that, “From infancy, kids are brought up watching T.V….They don’t watch it just the way we used to watch it. They watch it all the time. They’re accustomed to the idea that life goes on -- at least on screen -- no matter what happens to the kid himself. The problem is the character on screen keeps doing whatever he or she is doing whether the child claps her hands in delight, wails like a Banshee, or crawls under the sofa searching for old gum. The kid is not encouraged to consider that his or her responses matter or are even recognized.”
It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that our students often act as if we are merely figures projected on a screen. Many kids act as if instructors can’t possible see what they’re doing even if they are two feet from your nose -- as if you can’t see what they’re doing from the front of the room. Because, in terms of the world they understand, nobody witnesses or responds to their actions. They’re startled when you say “Hey, stop poking Taylor and get back to work.” How did you know he was poking Taylor? You saw it? How? You’re all the way up there.
The fact that you can choose not to comment on what a kid is doing -- even when you’ve still seen it -- is nearly impossible for them to process. In part, this is because these kids have never had an unexpressed thought. Or unexpressed emotion for that matter. These are kids for whom it is not unusual to make a quick leap from the first awakening of sexual awareness to the first consummation of sexual experience. They haven’t had to wait for anything else; why wait for that?
But what happens when a generation no longer understands the delight of anticipation or the creativity of imagination, but instead only knows immediate gratification? If you don’t learn to wait your turn, you will become outraged anytime you have to look for a parking space. If you expect to be entertained by somebody else every minute, you will not develop alternative routes to your centers of joy or satisfaction. If you always get focused attention from the best teacher in school, you will never learn how to deal with (or survive, for that matter) a problematic boss. And, after all, it could turn out that the song you like best is a cut that wasn’t played on the radio.
Schools may well have a new function: Schools may be the last place where children learn that they can’t have everything that they want the moment they want it. I’m here to reassure you that this is a good thing. Not that it will make the job of teaching easier or more fun -- but it will make it even more important.
Everything else in our culture seems to encourage kids to believe that, at the push of a button, the blink of an eye, or the snap of their little fingers, all they desire can and should be theirs. (Okay, I should offer a caveat here: the rest of this column might make me sound as if I am older than Methuselah, or even Joan Rivers, and that my expectations in life have been formed by nothing later than the Code of Hammurabi. In other words, I’m very well aware that I’m speaking not only from an individual perspective, but from a generational point of view. Having said all of this, however, I’m also quite certain I’m right.)
Let’s face it: iPods, T.V. monitors in cars, cell phones, etc., are not going to help teachers have a better time in the classroom -- at least, not when these devices are what kids are brought up depending upon, replacing, it seems, sippy-cups and blue security blankets as agents of comfort. Children -- from almost every class except the poorest -- have at their fingertips what they desire. They can, for example, watch T.V. and movies in the car. Assistant Melissa, a 28-year-old Ph.D. reassures me that it might not simply be my age that makes me nervous about watching T.V. in the car. “Look, even at my age, I’m disturbed by the lack of boundaries between activities that used to have their discreet venues. It’s the thing that first freaked me out about cell phones. You talk to people at work or home but not in between. You watch T.V. in the living room after dinner or on Saturday morning. You watch movies in the movie theater. You buy a record and listened to all the tracks…not just the ones you heard on the radio. And you don’t do all these things at once.”
If you find televisions in cars disturbing, my student Greta tells us that they’re now installing video screens into shopping carts as well. Swell. These days, you can see an 8-year-old sitting in the back of a mini-van looking at a screen, talking on a cell phone pressed to one ear, with an Ipod bud in the other ear, while being handed a bag of corn chips by his mother who’s driving him to get some one-on-one time with the tennis coach. All the kid needs is a cigar and a pin stripe suit to complete the impression of him as a tiny tycoon. So imagine this kid’s horror at being told to wait his turn in a classroom or during gym class.
They come from a generation of children who are unaware of the fact that patience has, historically, been considered a virtue. These kids will stand in front of the microwave tapping their little Sketchers-clad feet, yelling at the microwave, “I don’t have all minute!” while their Hot Pockets heat up.
Tim, our 32-year-old computer-guru colleague -- a man not intimidated by technology -- argues that, “From infancy, kids are brought up watching T.V….They don’t watch it just the way we used to watch it. They watch it all the time. They’re accustomed to the idea that life goes on -- at least on screen -- no matter what happens to the kid himself. The problem is the character on screen keeps doing whatever he or she is doing whether the child claps her hands in delight, wails like a Banshee, or crawls under the sofa searching for old gum. The kid is not encouraged to consider that his or her responses matter or are even recognized.”
It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that our students often act as if we are merely figures projected on a screen. Many kids act as if instructors can’t possible see what they’re doing even if they are two feet from your nose -- as if you can’t see what they’re doing from the front of the room. Because, in terms of the world they understand, nobody witnesses or responds to their actions. They’re startled when you say “Hey, stop poking Taylor and get back to work.” How did you know he was poking Taylor? You saw it? How? You’re all the way up there.
The fact that you can choose not to comment on what a kid is doing -- even when you’ve still seen it -- is nearly impossible for them to process. In part, this is because these kids have never had an unexpressed thought. Or unexpressed emotion for that matter. These are kids for whom it is not unusual to make a quick leap from the first awakening of sexual awareness to the first consummation of sexual experience. They haven’t had to wait for anything else; why wait for that?
But what happens when a generation no longer understands the delight of anticipation or the creativity of imagination, but instead only knows immediate gratification? If you don’t learn to wait your turn, you will become outraged anytime you have to look for a parking space. If you expect to be entertained by somebody else every minute, you will not develop alternative routes to your centers of joy or satisfaction. If you always get focused attention from the best teacher in school, you will never learn how to deal with (or survive, for that matter) a problematic boss. And, after all, it could turn out that the song you like best is a cut that wasn’t played on the radio.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Volvo and Ford to Develop Their Own Dual Clutch Gearbox
Monday Nov 6 2006, 4:24am PDT - Atul
Volvo and Ford are following the steps of Mitsubishi and Porsche to design their Own Dual Clutch Gearbox… Mitsubishi’s Next Edition of the Evolution, the Evolution X will feature a Twin Clutch Automated Gearbox, similarly Porsche has filled Patents for their seven-speed Dual Clutch Gearbox … Its better late than never for these Auto Giants as this step definitely brings down the cost of production for them simultaneously enhancing their profit making .
If everything works well for both these Automakers, we will soon see a DSG version of the Ford Focus ST and the Volvo C30 Hatches (both pictured). A 2.5-liter inline -5 Turbocharged engine with a five Speed Gearbox will feature in both the models.
DSG has already worked wonders for Volvo to an extent that they are going to phase out a conventional torque converter automatics for a pure DSG line-up across the range … I just hope that the DSG technology brings some good fortune for Ford Motor Co. as well.
Check DSG Video :Paultan
Automobilemag:Image courtesy:Lsd
Via : Paultan
Volvo and Ford are following the steps of Mitsubishi and Porsche to design their Own Dual Clutch Gearbox… Mitsubishi’s Next Edition of the Evolution, the Evolution X will feature a Twin Clutch Automated Gearbox, similarly Porsche has filled Patents for their seven-speed Dual Clutch Gearbox … Its better late than never for these Auto Giants as this step definitely brings down the cost of production for them simultaneously enhancing their profit making .
If everything works well for both these Automakers, we will soon see a DSG version of the Ford Focus ST and the Volvo C30 Hatches (both pictured). A 2.5-liter inline -5 Turbocharged engine with a five Speed Gearbox will feature in both the models.
DSG has already worked wonders for Volvo to an extent that they are going to phase out a conventional torque converter automatics for a pure DSG line-up across the range … I just hope that the DSG technology brings some good fortune for Ford Motor Co. as well.
Check DSG Video :Paultan
Automobilemag:Image courtesy:Lsd
Via : Paultan
Cinderella
After a fulfilling life with the now dead prince, she happily sits upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat named Bob for companionship.
One sunny afternoon out of nowhere, appeared the fairy godmother. Cinderella said, "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years"? The fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"
Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, she uttered her first wish: "The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability checks, and I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension. Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold.
Cinderella said, "Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother" The fairy godmother replied, "It is the least that I can do. What do you want for your second wish?" Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said, "I wish I were young and full of the beauty and youth I once had." At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful young visage returned.
Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her that had been dormant for years. And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: "You have one more wish; what shall it be?" Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat in the corner and says, "I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind and handsome young man."
Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up that, when he stood before her, he was a man so beautiful the likes of him neither she nor the world had ever seen. The fairy godmother said, "Congratulations, Cinderella, enjoy your new life."
With a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, the fairy godmother was gone as suddenly as she appeared. For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes. Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, stunningly perfect man she had ever seen. Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, & held her close in his young muscular arms. He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath as he whispered...
"Bet you're sorry you neutered me."
One sunny afternoon out of nowhere, appeared the fairy godmother. Cinderella said, "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years"? The fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"
Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, she uttered her first wish: "The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability checks, and I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension. Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold.
Cinderella said, "Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother" The fairy godmother replied, "It is the least that I can do. What do you want for your second wish?" Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said, "I wish I were young and full of the beauty and youth I once had." At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful young visage returned.
Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her that had been dormant for years. And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: "You have one more wish; what shall it be?" Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat in the corner and says, "I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind and handsome young man."
Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up that, when he stood before her, he was a man so beautiful the likes of him neither she nor the world had ever seen. The fairy godmother said, "Congratulations, Cinderella, enjoy your new life."
With a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, the fairy godmother was gone as suddenly as she appeared. For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes. Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, stunningly perfect man she had ever seen. Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair, & held her close in his young muscular arms. He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath as he whispered...
"Bet you're sorry you neutered me."
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A Small School In India - Kathy McKenzie.. from very small beginnings…..
As a child I like many other rural children listened to the ABC children’s hour – my title was Athens 28. I loved that hour each evening and was glued to the set between five and six each night.A well-known writer had the title of Icarus and was a favourite of mine. One day he hosted a gentleman who told the story Dr Graham’s School in Kalimpong, India. He told of the work there and the desperate need for young people to write to the students there who were being educated in the English language. I begged my mother to allow me to write. Enthusiastically I sent off my name and address.
This small act was to lead to a lifelong friendship and the eventual commitment to St Andrews School Teesta.I was about seven when I commenced writing to Marina Malvern, the daughter of a man who had passed away due to a lung disease. Marina and I corresponded throughout our school years, our young adult years, our early married years and now our middle years. We share secrets one only shares with the closest of friends.
We shared the pain of her breast cancer, the loss of a child, the births of our children the purchase of Dashwood and the 1983 drought in Australia. We have shared our hopes our fears, our troubles and our joys all with the use of a pen. At times there have been long gaps in our correspondence as the mail can be erratic but we continue to be there for each other. In the mid 1990’s a friend of mine visited her and that was a great pleasure to both of us.
He found her living in the poorest circumstances with little or no comforts at all. Food was a day to day issue and he was able to supplement with meat which was greatly appreciated. I had sent her an opal – an opal was a lot of good to a lady who had nothing. John walked throughout India from one of Marina’s contacts to another and was made welcome wherever he went.
In 2000 Kevin and I had a good wool cheque and on the way home from the sale he said to me “you’d better buy a ticket” to where? ‘India you goose.” Well I did and what a joy it was to finally meet this little dynamic lady, her husband and daughter. It was truly the trip of a life time – and that is a story on it’s own. Dr Grahams Homes which I had imagined being a bit like Glastonbury or St Augustine’s’, is a complex catering for 5000 children at a time with a farm, pharmacy and hospital amongst its training facilities – that man had vision. Marina and I caught up on forty years of gossip, love and companionship.
One would start a sentence with the other giving replies before the end. leaving Philip and my friend Caroline completely bamboozled to such an extent that they would happily share a smoke away from those two chattering women.Kevin and I have always sent money as we could afford it to support Marina and her family, as they are very poor by Australian standards but rich in spirit. I have sent her money, books and teaching equipment in small parcels for years.
As we were about to leave I asked her if there was anything I could give her that would make her life easier. She paused for a while and rubbing her chin said wistfully “A fridge would be nice”. I thought of living here without a fridge let alone living there in the heat of an Indian climate. Now silly me gave Marina the $’s for the fridge and now that enterprising lady moved herself swiftly down the mountain to another village and started St Andrews – a tiny school with about ten pupils, English and craft classes for ladies and English and 1st aide classes for men.
My sister and I investigated the possibility of bringing this lovely family to Australia and while it was possible the impediments were such that we decided to support the school there. With small assistance Marina has now purchased land on which to build a proper school which h will serve the district and provide quality education to those who seek it. Some are paying students but places are made available to promising young people with no means of support.
Rotary have kindly provided me with school texts which I send most weeks – a parcel of printed matter 500gms costs $6.00. These texts provide much needed variety to the syllabus. Small bamboo huts are being constructed and from what I can glean these then have a roof of iron and are rendered to keep out the monsoon rains. I think we now have three of these.
The next project is to have the electricity connected, a tank and Marina’s real desire – a proper western sewerage system and toilet. Well that’s about the story of our little school and a friendship which is a bit of an “Australian Story” with a twist. Life takes us in many strange directions and it is nice to think that such a small beginning as a mere talk on a childrens’ radio show almost 45 years ago could lead to a school being established in the mountains of India many miles from a farm in Western Victoria with a few dollars meant for a fridge.
People of all walks of life donate to this unassuming project. A local man quietly appeared in the yard one day with a cheque for $500, another pensioner lady and her friend send $40 each year, the Australian cartridge collectors had a raffle and so on it goes and little by little the school is becoming established. I send generally two transfers a year as to transfer money cost the same amount, no matter the amount being transferred, about $28 per time. People like the personal face and knowing exactly what their $ is achieving.
It seems that those children who are able will probably progress to Dr Grahams to complete their education. I am planning to return this coming year provided our crops yield well enough.My mother, now in her late 80’s, remarked the other day, “you still writing to that child? I never thought you would keep it up!”
This small act was to lead to a lifelong friendship and the eventual commitment to St Andrews School Teesta.I was about seven when I commenced writing to Marina Malvern, the daughter of a man who had passed away due to a lung disease. Marina and I corresponded throughout our school years, our young adult years, our early married years and now our middle years. We share secrets one only shares with the closest of friends.
We shared the pain of her breast cancer, the loss of a child, the births of our children the purchase of Dashwood and the 1983 drought in Australia. We have shared our hopes our fears, our troubles and our joys all with the use of a pen. At times there have been long gaps in our correspondence as the mail can be erratic but we continue to be there for each other. In the mid 1990’s a friend of mine visited her and that was a great pleasure to both of us.
He found her living in the poorest circumstances with little or no comforts at all. Food was a day to day issue and he was able to supplement with meat which was greatly appreciated. I had sent her an opal – an opal was a lot of good to a lady who had nothing. John walked throughout India from one of Marina’s contacts to another and was made welcome wherever he went.
In 2000 Kevin and I had a good wool cheque and on the way home from the sale he said to me “you’d better buy a ticket” to where? ‘India you goose.” Well I did and what a joy it was to finally meet this little dynamic lady, her husband and daughter. It was truly the trip of a life time – and that is a story on it’s own. Dr Grahams Homes which I had imagined being a bit like Glastonbury or St Augustine’s’, is a complex catering for 5000 children at a time with a farm, pharmacy and hospital amongst its training facilities – that man had vision. Marina and I caught up on forty years of gossip, love and companionship.
One would start a sentence with the other giving replies before the end. leaving Philip and my friend Caroline completely bamboozled to such an extent that they would happily share a smoke away from those two chattering women.Kevin and I have always sent money as we could afford it to support Marina and her family, as they are very poor by Australian standards but rich in spirit. I have sent her money, books and teaching equipment in small parcels for years.
As we were about to leave I asked her if there was anything I could give her that would make her life easier. She paused for a while and rubbing her chin said wistfully “A fridge would be nice”. I thought of living here without a fridge let alone living there in the heat of an Indian climate. Now silly me gave Marina the $’s for the fridge and now that enterprising lady moved herself swiftly down the mountain to another village and started St Andrews – a tiny school with about ten pupils, English and craft classes for ladies and English and 1st aide classes for men.
My sister and I investigated the possibility of bringing this lovely family to Australia and while it was possible the impediments were such that we decided to support the school there. With small assistance Marina has now purchased land on which to build a proper school which h will serve the district and provide quality education to those who seek it. Some are paying students but places are made available to promising young people with no means of support.
Rotary have kindly provided me with school texts which I send most weeks – a parcel of printed matter 500gms costs $6.00. These texts provide much needed variety to the syllabus. Small bamboo huts are being constructed and from what I can glean these then have a roof of iron and are rendered to keep out the monsoon rains. I think we now have three of these.
The next project is to have the electricity connected, a tank and Marina’s real desire – a proper western sewerage system and toilet. Well that’s about the story of our little school and a friendship which is a bit of an “Australian Story” with a twist. Life takes us in many strange directions and it is nice to think that such a small beginning as a mere talk on a childrens’ radio show almost 45 years ago could lead to a school being established in the mountains of India many miles from a farm in Western Victoria with a few dollars meant for a fridge.
People of all walks of life donate to this unassuming project. A local man quietly appeared in the yard one day with a cheque for $500, another pensioner lady and her friend send $40 each year, the Australian cartridge collectors had a raffle and so on it goes and little by little the school is becoming established. I send generally two transfers a year as to transfer money cost the same amount, no matter the amount being transferred, about $28 per time. People like the personal face and knowing exactly what their $ is achieving.
It seems that those children who are able will probably progress to Dr Grahams to complete their education. I am planning to return this coming year provided our crops yield well enough.My mother, now in her late 80’s, remarked the other day, “you still writing to that child? I never thought you would keep it up!”
Job cuts at Ford Australia
The Ford Motor Company will ax 640 jobs in its Australian plants as declining sales cause it to cut new car production.
The automobile manufacturer employs about 5,500 workers at two plants outside Melbourne and Ford said the job cuts would be voluntary and come from across the business. Most of the redundancies will take place before Christmas.
Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary, however, said at a news conference that Ford was still investing in Australia and still planned to build the next Falcon car.
"It is simply about making our production rates an d the size of our business match the current market demand," she said. Last month, Ford announced it was cutting its daily new auto production from 450 to 360 vehicles, blaming the high cost of gasoline and increased global competition for the demand for large cars.
United Press International
The automobile manufacturer employs about 5,500 workers at two plants outside Melbourne and Ford said the job cuts would be voluntary and come from across the business. Most of the redundancies will take place before Christmas.
Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary, however, said at a news conference that Ford was still investing in Australia and still planned to build the next Falcon car.
"It is simply about making our production rates an d the size of our business match the current market demand," she said. Last month, Ford announced it was cutting its daily new auto production from 450 to 360 vehicles, blaming the high cost of gasoline and increased global competition for the demand for large cars.
United Press International
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Respond - Don't React
Most people would agree that the loss of both arms for a three year old would be a tragedy beyond belief. That's what happened to Jon Paul Blenke. He and his parents quickly accepted the fact that he would be without his arms for the rest of his life and decided to adapt and use what was left and not moan about what was lost.
Unfortunately, when most people lose part of a physical or financial asset, they take the "I've lost it all and there's nothing I can do" approach. Jon Paul instinctively knew better, his parents encouraged him, and the results speak for themselves. Any parent would be delighted to have him on his team. Today, Jon Paul is an outgoing, enthusiastic, highly motivated youngster who has an incredible attitude. When someone tells him what he can't do, he starts figuring out a way to do it. He plays soccer, writes with his feet, drives the lawn mower with his legs, swims, skates, skis and plays football.
Coach Bob Thompson of the Leduc Bobcats says that Jon Paul is a capable player, and his team mates say "he really hits like heck." His team mates have respect for him, and the coach says he is a super athlete. "In his mind, he doesn't have a disability. The only position he won't play is a quarterback, but if there's a way, He'll find it." There are few hurdles in his mind he can't overcome. If there's frustration. It's short-lived, and very seldom will he give up.
I have an idea this young man is going to do well in his life and he already serves as a marvellous role model. I encourage you to learn from this enthusiastic youngster.
Author John Maxwell writes, "There is great dignity in simplicity. Most of the immortal works of literature not only have the brilliance of brevity, but also the dignity of simplicity. The Lord's Prayer consists of only 57 words, none more than two syllables. The Declaration of Independence, which revolutionized the thinking of the entire world, can be read by a fourth grader in less than five minutes. Simplicity is eloquent; it speaks loud and clear without insulting the intelligence of the listener."
As I read those words, I was moved to look up the word dignity in my trusty 1828 Noah Webster dictionary. Here is what Webster wrote: "True honour. Nobleness or elevation of mind. Consisting in a high sense of proprietary, truth and justice, with an abhorrence of mean and sinful actions. It's elevation; honourable place or rank of elevation; degree of excellence, either in estimation or in the order of nature."
A parent or teacher who treats a child with dignity builds the self-esteem of the child and automatically increases the child's performance, which generally improves the child's conduct. An employer who treats employees with respect and dignity builds loyalty and increases productivity. You treat another person, regardless of age, with dignity when you courteously listens to him or her and respond in a thoughtful manner. You treat others with dignity when you show them respect, regardless of their occupation, sex, race, creed, or colour. And when you treat others with respect and dignity, your own self respect and sense of dignity improve.
Simplicity and dignity make a powerful combination. When you strive for dignity and use simplicity as a yardstick, you've just elevated your possibilities for accomplishment.
Unfortunately, when most people lose part of a physical or financial asset, they take the "I've lost it all and there's nothing I can do" approach. Jon Paul instinctively knew better, his parents encouraged him, and the results speak for themselves. Any parent would be delighted to have him on his team. Today, Jon Paul is an outgoing, enthusiastic, highly motivated youngster who has an incredible attitude. When someone tells him what he can't do, he starts figuring out a way to do it. He plays soccer, writes with his feet, drives the lawn mower with his legs, swims, skates, skis and plays football.
Coach Bob Thompson of the Leduc Bobcats says that Jon Paul is a capable player, and his team mates say "he really hits like heck." His team mates have respect for him, and the coach says he is a super athlete. "In his mind, he doesn't have a disability. The only position he won't play is a quarterback, but if there's a way, He'll find it." There are few hurdles in his mind he can't overcome. If there's frustration. It's short-lived, and very seldom will he give up.
I have an idea this young man is going to do well in his life and he already serves as a marvellous role model. I encourage you to learn from this enthusiastic youngster.
Author John Maxwell writes, "There is great dignity in simplicity. Most of the immortal works of literature not only have the brilliance of brevity, but also the dignity of simplicity. The Lord's Prayer consists of only 57 words, none more than two syllables. The Declaration of Independence, which revolutionized the thinking of the entire world, can be read by a fourth grader in less than five minutes. Simplicity is eloquent; it speaks loud and clear without insulting the intelligence of the listener."
As I read those words, I was moved to look up the word dignity in my trusty 1828 Noah Webster dictionary. Here is what Webster wrote: "True honour. Nobleness or elevation of mind. Consisting in a high sense of proprietary, truth and justice, with an abhorrence of mean and sinful actions. It's elevation; honourable place or rank of elevation; degree of excellence, either in estimation or in the order of nature."
A parent or teacher who treats a child with dignity builds the self-esteem of the child and automatically increases the child's performance, which generally improves the child's conduct. An employer who treats employees with respect and dignity builds loyalty and increases productivity. You treat another person, regardless of age, with dignity when you courteously listens to him or her and respond in a thoughtful manner. You treat others with dignity when you show them respect, regardless of their occupation, sex, race, creed, or colour. And when you treat others with respect and dignity, your own self respect and sense of dignity improve.
Simplicity and dignity make a powerful combination. When you strive for dignity and use simplicity as a yardstick, you've just elevated your possibilities for accomplishment.
Teen's wish is for a replica '51 Ford pickup
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 1951 Ford pickup truck spent 20 years standing in a field in Dansville, sinking into the ground up to its frame. When Justin Lilly was about 13, he started pestering his dad about it. The truck had been in the family a long time _ Doug Lilly's dad bought it in 1975; Doug and his wife, Shawn, used it for dates decades before their youngest son took an interest in it. Eventually, Doug Lilly agreed to haul the old truck over to his father-in-law's barn in Pleasant Lake so Justin and his grandpa could work on it.
The truck was in woeful shape, and 1951 Ford truck parts are hard to come by. Progress was slow _ until Justin made a wish.
Because of a condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Justin's lungs never fully developed. While most people use about 75 percent of their lung capacity, Justin, now 18, has _ at best _ 30 percent lung capacity.
When he was 16, his doctor referred him to another specialist, anticipating a lung transplant. Instead of getting Justin on a transplant list right away, the new doctor suggested physical therapy to strengthen Justin's lungs. An administrator at the hospital where Justin was doing his therapy remembered him from when he was a little boy and told the family that Justin was eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. Eventually, Make-A-Wish agreed to grant a wish for Justin. After some thought, he asked ask to have the truck painted. He wasn't looking for anything fancy; he just knew he couldn't do it himself because of the chemicals involved in the process.
In December 2005, the Lillys, who live near Jackson, received a call from Make-A-Wish. The automotive services department at Washtenaw Community College was interested in working on the truck _ and not just painting it. A crew from the college picked the truck up in February for an extreme makeover.
"It looks like it's been sitting in a junkyard or a farmer's field for about 100 years," said college instructor and adviser Gary Sobbry in April. "We're basically going to build the baddest '51 Ford truck that's ever roamed the streets."
In the end, Sobbry's students used just two parts from the Lillys' truck _ the front grille and the metal piece between the fenders and hood. The rest is a testament to what can happen when creativity and generosity collide.
With $5,500 from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, $5,000 from Haggerty Insurance Agency, a handful of private donations and lots of donated parts, time and expertise the students at the college will turn out a tricked-out replica '51 Ford truck worth about $100,000. It should be finished in time for the 2007 Detroit Autorama March 9-11.
Ford Motor Co. donated a $40,000 drivetrain that includes a 4.6-litre, 608-horsepower prototype racing engine. Justin got to go to Ford's prototype shop and help put the engine together.
When Doug Lilly asked if they were going to give Justin driving lessons, too, he was only half joking. The truck weighs about as much as a Chevrolet Cavalier, with an engine akin to what's under the hood of a new Mustang GT.
"It's going to make that truck crazy," Sobbry says. "We're going to have to de-tune it a little just so Justin's mom doesn't kill us."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press.
The truck was in woeful shape, and 1951 Ford truck parts are hard to come by. Progress was slow _ until Justin made a wish.
Because of a condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Justin's lungs never fully developed. While most people use about 75 percent of their lung capacity, Justin, now 18, has _ at best _ 30 percent lung capacity.
When he was 16, his doctor referred him to another specialist, anticipating a lung transplant. Instead of getting Justin on a transplant list right away, the new doctor suggested physical therapy to strengthen Justin's lungs. An administrator at the hospital where Justin was doing his therapy remembered him from when he was a little boy and told the family that Justin was eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. Eventually, Make-A-Wish agreed to grant a wish for Justin. After some thought, he asked ask to have the truck painted. He wasn't looking for anything fancy; he just knew he couldn't do it himself because of the chemicals involved in the process.
In December 2005, the Lillys, who live near Jackson, received a call from Make-A-Wish. The automotive services department at Washtenaw Community College was interested in working on the truck _ and not just painting it. A crew from the college picked the truck up in February for an extreme makeover.
"It looks like it's been sitting in a junkyard or a farmer's field for about 100 years," said college instructor and adviser Gary Sobbry in April. "We're basically going to build the baddest '51 Ford truck that's ever roamed the streets."
In the end, Sobbry's students used just two parts from the Lillys' truck _ the front grille and the metal piece between the fenders and hood. The rest is a testament to what can happen when creativity and generosity collide.
With $5,500 from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, $5,000 from Haggerty Insurance Agency, a handful of private donations and lots of donated parts, time and expertise the students at the college will turn out a tricked-out replica '51 Ford truck worth about $100,000. It should be finished in time for the 2007 Detroit Autorama March 9-11.
Ford Motor Co. donated a $40,000 drivetrain that includes a 4.6-litre, 608-horsepower prototype racing engine. Justin got to go to Ford's prototype shop and help put the engine together.
When Doug Lilly asked if they were going to give Justin driving lessons, too, he was only half joking. The truck weighs about as much as a Chevrolet Cavalier, with an engine akin to what's under the hood of a new Mustang GT.
"It's going to make that truck crazy," Sobbry says. "We're going to have to de-tune it a little just so Justin's mom doesn't kill us."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press.
Monday, November 06, 2006
The smaller beatitudes by Joseph Folliet
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves: they will have no end of fun. Blessed are those who can tell a mountain from a molehill: they will be saved a lot of bother.
Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses: they are on the way to becoming wise.
Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and listen: they will learn a lot of new things.
Blessed are those who are sane enough not to take themselves too seriously: they will be valued by those about them.
Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown: you will walk on the sunny side of the street.
Happy are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitude of others: you may be taken for a fool, but this is the price of charity.
Happy are you if you know when to hold your tongue and smile: the Gospel has begun to seep into your heart.
Blessed are they who think before acting and pray before thinking: they will avoid many blunders.
Blessed are those who know how to relax without looking for excuses: they are on the way to becoming wise.
Blessed are those who know when to be quiet and listen: they will learn a lot of new things.
Blessed are those who are sane enough not to take themselves too seriously: they will be valued by those about them.
Happy are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown: you will walk on the sunny side of the street.
Happy are you if you can be kind in understanding the attitude of others: you may be taken for a fool, but this is the price of charity.
Happy are you if you know when to hold your tongue and smile: the Gospel has begun to seep into your heart.
Blessed are they who think before acting and pray before thinking: they will avoid many blunders.
BOSS 302 Engines for 2007
Ford today announced at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show that it is reviving the legendary 5.0-liter 302 cubic inch V-8 engine for the aftermarket with a new line of BOSS 302 crate engines, which will go on sale in early 2007.
“The original BOSS 302 was a race winning engine. Sharing the DNA from the original BOSS 302, the new BOSS 302 begins with a block designed with racing in mind from the beginning,” said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. “Whether racing in a sealed engine class, building an all-out drag racing engine or looking for a street performer, the BOSS 302 block and engine family meets the needs of all Ford 302 enthusiasts at a price that is comparable to a performance-prepped stock 302.”
The new Ford Racing Performance Parts BOSS 302 line was conceived because there was an unmet need for engines built from a block stronger than original regular production 302 blocks but more affordable than full race-prepped blocks. The new BOSS 302 engine block features greater strength than most race blocks and offers a street-capable cooling system design, something that race specific blocks tend to sacrifice.
Despite its strength and capability, the new BOSS 302 line is surprisingly affordable because of its high volume production. And since it was designed within Ford Motor Company, the engine also benefits from the improved quality and durability that comes with a production type engine.
“The original BOSS 302 delivered less than 300 hp. Today, enthusiasts are making 500 hp street cars and they need a robust block. Race-specific blocks offer the strength required but cool poorly for street use and are very expensive for the average enthusiast,” says Allison.
Built from the all new BOSS 302 block, the BOSS crate engines feature performance and packaging that accommodate displacements from 302 to 363 cubic inches. Entry level engines feature the Ford Racing GT-40X Xtra Performance Turbo Swirl aluminum heads to retain stock exhaust locations and are rated at 340 and 345 hp. Higher performance versions include Ford Racing’s “Z”-head equipped 302 and 347 cubic inch engines rated between 360 and 450 hp, depending on configuration. The BOSS engine series is capped by a 500 hp 331 cubic inch engine that showcases the capability of the new block by breathing through all new ported Z-heads.
Features that separate the new BOSS 302 from its competition include:
* 4-bolt mains for lower-end stability at high power outputs
* High-tin 41,000 PSI tensile strength iron alloy for ultimate strength
* Nodular iron main caps for additional strength
* Screw-in freeze plugs for additional more strength and stability
* Front cross-over lifter oiling for high RPM valvetrain capability
* Siamese bores with specifically engineered drillings between cylinders for maximum wall stability and gasket sealing with street capable cooling performance
The suggested retail price for the BOSS 302 block is and affordable $1,759, with BOSS engines ranging from $4,650 to $10,000 for the 500 hp BOSS 331 cubic inch engines. The engines come with a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty.
Like the original Boss 302 that was engineered for Trans Am racing, the new BOSS 302 features trickle down performance from racing in the American Speed Association (ASA) Late Model circle track series. A sealed circle track version of a 347 cubic inch BOSS engine will be available both for ASA and NASCAR circle track racers in time for the 2007 season.
“The original BOSS 302 was a race winning engine. Sharing the DNA from the original BOSS 302, the new BOSS 302 begins with a block designed with racing in mind from the beginning,” said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. “Whether racing in a sealed engine class, building an all-out drag racing engine or looking for a street performer, the BOSS 302 block and engine family meets the needs of all Ford 302 enthusiasts at a price that is comparable to a performance-prepped stock 302.”
The new Ford Racing Performance Parts BOSS 302 line was conceived because there was an unmet need for engines built from a block stronger than original regular production 302 blocks but more affordable than full race-prepped blocks. The new BOSS 302 engine block features greater strength than most race blocks and offers a street-capable cooling system design, something that race specific blocks tend to sacrifice.
Despite its strength and capability, the new BOSS 302 line is surprisingly affordable because of its high volume production. And since it was designed within Ford Motor Company, the engine also benefits from the improved quality and durability that comes with a production type engine.
“The original BOSS 302 delivered less than 300 hp. Today, enthusiasts are making 500 hp street cars and they need a robust block. Race-specific blocks offer the strength required but cool poorly for street use and are very expensive for the average enthusiast,” says Allison.
Built from the all new BOSS 302 block, the BOSS crate engines feature performance and packaging that accommodate displacements from 302 to 363 cubic inches. Entry level engines feature the Ford Racing GT-40X Xtra Performance Turbo Swirl aluminum heads to retain stock exhaust locations and are rated at 340 and 345 hp. Higher performance versions include Ford Racing’s “Z”-head equipped 302 and 347 cubic inch engines rated between 360 and 450 hp, depending on configuration. The BOSS engine series is capped by a 500 hp 331 cubic inch engine that showcases the capability of the new block by breathing through all new ported Z-heads.
Features that separate the new BOSS 302 from its competition include:
* 4-bolt mains for lower-end stability at high power outputs
* High-tin 41,000 PSI tensile strength iron alloy for ultimate strength
* Nodular iron main caps for additional strength
* Screw-in freeze plugs for additional more strength and stability
* Front cross-over lifter oiling for high RPM valvetrain capability
* Siamese bores with specifically engineered drillings between cylinders for maximum wall stability and gasket sealing with street capable cooling performance
The suggested retail price for the BOSS 302 block is and affordable $1,759, with BOSS engines ranging from $4,650 to $10,000 for the 500 hp BOSS 331 cubic inch engines. The engines come with a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty.
Like the original Boss 302 that was engineered for Trans Am racing, the new BOSS 302 features trickle down performance from racing in the American Speed Association (ASA) Late Model circle track series. A sealed circle track version of a 347 cubic inch BOSS engine will be available both for ASA and NASCAR circle track racers in time for the 2007 season.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Ford Shelby GT 500 Wins Vehicle Design Award
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The high-performance Ford Shelby GT 500 was recognized as the most accessory friendly car at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, capturing one of four SEMA Vehicle Design Awards and joining a prestigious list of past winners.
Each SEMA Vehicle Design Award recipient was part of a selection process that encompassed several SEMA member companies and automakers who regularly participate in technology sharing programs. These programs consist of various data sharing, measurement sessions and technology transfer initiatives which provide valuable information for each specialty equipment manufacturer to be in sync with the launch of new vehicles.
The SEMA Vehicle Design Awards were established to honor those newly introduced vehicles that best exemplify the alliance between the OEMs and SEMA-member companies. The awards recognize and celebrate the vehicles that a select group of voting members has chosen as the most accessory-friendly vehicles of the year. The Ford Shelby GT 500 received nearly 22 percent of the votes for 2006.
"The value of the increased collaboration with SEMA members is good for both our businesses and it's good for the customer," said John Clinard, Western Regional Manager, Ford Motor Company. "Our attitude about vehicle personalization is just pure enthusiasm, we share that with the people who buy our cars and with those who buy SEMA accessories and parts to put on our cars."
"Our participating manufacturing members had early access to the Ford Shelby GT and discovered that its unique design and muscular engineering provides several options for customer personalization," said Carl Sheffer, SEMA vice president, OEM Relations. "Based on feedback from the automakers, we are having a positive impact on the design and marketing of future vehicles."
SEMA reveals the winners of the Accessory Friendly Car, Truck, SUV and Hybrid categories at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the largest automotive specialty equipment trade event where thousands of new products are unveiled to visiting trade professionals.
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SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
Copyright © 2006 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
Each SEMA Vehicle Design Award recipient was part of a selection process that encompassed several SEMA member companies and automakers who regularly participate in technology sharing programs. These programs consist of various data sharing, measurement sessions and technology transfer initiatives which provide valuable information for each specialty equipment manufacturer to be in sync with the launch of new vehicles.
The SEMA Vehicle Design Awards were established to honor those newly introduced vehicles that best exemplify the alliance between the OEMs and SEMA-member companies. The awards recognize and celebrate the vehicles that a select group of voting members has chosen as the most accessory-friendly vehicles of the year. The Ford Shelby GT 500 received nearly 22 percent of the votes for 2006.
"The value of the increased collaboration with SEMA members is good for both our businesses and it's good for the customer," said John Clinard, Western Regional Manager, Ford Motor Company. "Our attitude about vehicle personalization is just pure enthusiasm, we share that with the people who buy our cars and with those who buy SEMA accessories and parts to put on our cars."
"Our participating manufacturing members had early access to the Ford Shelby GT and discovered that its unique design and muscular engineering provides several options for customer personalization," said Carl Sheffer, SEMA vice president, OEM Relations. "Based on feedback from the automakers, we are having a positive impact on the design and marketing of future vehicles."
SEMA reveals the winners of the Accessory Friendly Car, Truck, SUV and Hybrid categories at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the largest automotive specialty equipment trade event where thousands of new products are unveiled to visiting trade professionals.
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SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
Copyright © 2006 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
What Kind of Beer Do You Drink? Ford Marketing Wants to Know.
According to an article from CNN.com, Ford’s “extreme” marketing effort profiles potential cars buyers by the clothes they buy and the beer they drink. While profiling is a legitimate technique used to get an entire marketing team in sync with the customer they are after, something makes me wonder if we’d finally get what we want if Ford profiled a dude who drinks Pabst and shops at Mervyn’s.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Greg is a 30-year-old regional manager for Rite-Aid, and he and his wife make about $60,000. They don’t have any children, but they plan to soon. Greg shops at The Gap and Target.
Phil, a marketing manager, is a little older than Greg and a little better educated. He and his wife pull in $85,000. Phil buys his clothes at Banana Republic and drinks Samuel Adams beer.
When Ford unveils the redesigned Escape in Los Angeles next month, think of Greg - Ford designed it just for him.
When you see a Ford Edge, a new car-like crossover SUV, that’s Phil’s car. Everything about the Edge was made specifically with Phil in mind.
America is filled with Phils and Gregs - and also Mikes, Ricks, Jennifers and Kellys.
Ford has a car designed specifically for each of them. It’s not unusual for a car company to design cars and trucks with specific demographic groups in mind. A new SUV might be targeted at men between the ages of 25 and 35 with a household income of $70,000 and an interest in outdoor sports, for example.
Companies also engage in field research, riding around with potential customers in their cars.
See complete article at www.cnn.com
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Greg is a 30-year-old regional manager for Rite-Aid, and he and his wife make about $60,000. They don’t have any children, but they plan to soon. Greg shops at The Gap and Target.
Phil, a marketing manager, is a little older than Greg and a little better educated. He and his wife pull in $85,000. Phil buys his clothes at Banana Republic and drinks Samuel Adams beer.
When Ford unveils the redesigned Escape in Los Angeles next month, think of Greg - Ford designed it just for him.
When you see a Ford Edge, a new car-like crossover SUV, that’s Phil’s car. Everything about the Edge was made specifically with Phil in mind.
America is filled with Phils and Gregs - and also Mikes, Ricks, Jennifers and Kellys.
Ford has a car designed specifically for each of them. It’s not unusual for a car company to design cars and trucks with specific demographic groups in mind. A new SUV might be targeted at men between the ages of 25 and 35 with a household income of $70,000 and an interest in outdoor sports, for example.
Companies also engage in field research, riding around with potential customers in their cars.
See complete article at www.cnn.com
Australian Ford Site
Find specifications, desktops, wallpapers etc.
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137384250199&pagename=FOA%2FDFYPage%2FDefault1024&c=DFYPage
This is from the Australian Ford page.
Cheers
http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1137384250199&pagename=FOA%2FDFYPage%2FDefault1024&c=DFYPage
This is from the Australian Ford page.
Cheers
Blog change
Well, things have blogged, er, bogged down a bit of late, so I thought I'd introduce a new theme to what I've been doing.
In the interests of a more dynamic experience, along with all things Ford, I thought that this blog could be a bit more like a message board around Ford cars and life as well.
All things being equal, it will take submissions for this to happen, but it's worth a try.
Feel most welcome in contributing and I'll attempt to do the same.
Cheers
In the interests of a more dynamic experience, along with all things Ford, I thought that this blog could be a bit more like a message board around Ford cars and life as well.
All things being equal, it will take submissions for this to happen, but it's worth a try.
Feel most welcome in contributing and I'll attempt to do the same.
Cheers
Monday, October 30, 2006
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.
1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Bad and Worse
IT COULD BE WORSE...
Bad: You can't use your classroom after school because parents and administrators are meeting in there.
Worse: They are meeting to talk about you.
Bad: Eight of your students complained of nausea and had to go to the nurse's office.
Worse: Six other nauseous students didn't make it that far.
Bad: Someone keeps calling the principal to complain about how poorly supervised your students are.
Worse: The phone calls are coming from your classroom.
Bad: A parent is driving you crazy with her endless complaints about your classroom and your teaching.
Worse: She already has requested you for her younger child next year.
Bad: You can't use your classroom after school because parents and administrators are meeting in there.
Worse: They are meeting to talk about you.
Bad: Eight of your students complained of nausea and had to go to the nurse's office.
Worse: Six other nauseous students didn't make it that far.
Bad: Someone keeps calling the principal to complain about how poorly supervised your students are.
Worse: The phone calls are coming from your classroom.
Bad: A parent is driving you crazy with her endless complaints about your classroom and your teaching.
Worse: She already has requested you for her younger child next year.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Quotable quotes
“When a boy or girl thrust their small hand into yours, it may be smeared with chocolate ice cream, or grimy from patting a dog. There may be a wart under the right thumb and a bandage around the little finger. But the important thing about their hand is, that it is the hand that one day will be holding a bible or a revolver.... play a piano or spin a gambling wheel... gently dress a lepers wound or tremble uncontrolled by an alcoholic mind.. right now that hand is yours... - It asks for help and guidance” - (Unknown).
Monday, October 23, 2006
Slow Dance
The following inspirational poem was written by a teenager with cancer for her doctor. It’s message is one for us all to ponder when we consider what is really important in our lives…..
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids on a merry go round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Or ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask “How are you?”
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You’d better slow down – don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow”?
And in your haste, not seen his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,
Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi.”
You’d better slow down – don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift…… thrown away.
Life is not a race. Do take it slower.
Hear the music, before the song is over.
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids on a merry go round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Or ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask “How are you?”
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You’d better slow down – don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow”?
And in your haste, not seen his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,
Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi.”
You’d better slow down – don’t dance too fast.
Time is short. The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift…… thrown away.
Life is not a race. Do take it slower.
Hear the music, before the song is over.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Learn to be aware
“You can live a lifetime and, at the end of it, know more about other people than you know about yourself.” -- Beryl Markham
Who am I? To answer this, we must first learn to become more aware of ourselves. To be aware, we must STOP and PAY ATTENTION! We need to STOP and objectively watch ourselves in action. We live most of our lives by habit. These habits keep us stuck in patterns that limit our experience of life. Once we detect a pattern we were previously unconscious of, we can choose differently, if we want. With awareness comes choice and with choice, we gain freedom.
“To be authentic is literally to be your own author …, to discover your own native energies and desires, and then to find your own way of acting on them.” -- Warren G. Bennis
“Self-knowledge is the great power by which we comprehend and control our lives.” -- Vernon Howard
Who am I? To answer this, we must first learn to become more aware of ourselves. To be aware, we must STOP and PAY ATTENTION! We need to STOP and objectively watch ourselves in action. We live most of our lives by habit. These habits keep us stuck in patterns that limit our experience of life. Once we detect a pattern we were previously unconscious of, we can choose differently, if we want. With awareness comes choice and with choice, we gain freedom.
“To be authentic is literally to be your own author …, to discover your own native energies and desires, and then to find your own way of acting on them.” -- Warren G. Bennis
“Self-knowledge is the great power by which we comprehend and control our lives.” -- Vernon Howard
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Belief
"What you believe yourself to be, you are."
-- Claude M. Bristol
Do you believe, deep down inside of you, that you can succeed in what you want to do? Beliefs are strong, and they have the power to attract what is believed to us. If we doubt our ability to succeed, if we in fact believe we WON'T succeed, then sure enough, that’s what will happen.
What do you believe about yourself? You have the power to change your beliefs, and that will change your outcome. Set goals you believe you can accomplish. Your beliefs will shape your actions. As you achieve these goals, you'll begin to believe you are capable of succeeding and of doing even more.
"It is better to believe than to disbelieve; in so doing you bring everything to the realm of possibility."-- Albert Einstein
"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution."-- Dr. David Schwartz
Henri Frederic Amiel "We could hardly wait to get up in the morning”
-- Claude M. Bristol
Do you believe, deep down inside of you, that you can succeed in what you want to do? Beliefs are strong, and they have the power to attract what is believed to us. If we doubt our ability to succeed, if we in fact believe we WON'T succeed, then sure enough, that’s what will happen.
What do you believe about yourself? You have the power to change your beliefs, and that will change your outcome. Set goals you believe you can accomplish. Your beliefs will shape your actions. As you achieve these goals, you'll begin to believe you are capable of succeeding and of doing even more.
"It is better to believe than to disbelieve; in so doing you bring everything to the realm of possibility."-- Albert Einstein
"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution."-- Dr. David Schwartz
Henri Frederic Amiel "We could hardly wait to get up in the morning”
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Education Article
The Age, Melbourne, April 24, 2006 A new study reveals what makes a great teacher, reports Caroline Milburn.
THE difference between the best teachers of young children and ineffective teachers is not what they do, but how they do it. A landmark study of Australia's primary schools has revealed that all prep and grade 1 teachers tend to teach the same literacy activities, such as shared book reading, modelled writing and phonics. But their success depends on how they present the activities.
The study, commissioned by the Federal Government, sought to identify effective teaching practices that lead to improved literacy of students in the first two years of school. The literacy skills of 2000 children in every state and territory were assessed at the start and the end of the year. A team of researchers then visited schools in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania to observe children and their teachers in the classroom.
The study found all of the teachers were able to get their students to take part in classroom activities and have some fun. However, the most effective teachers - those whose students made the biggest literacy gains over the year - drew on a much wider repertoire of teaching practices. They explained activities more clearly, had deeper subject knowledge, maintained a high level of intellectual challenge for their students and had more fun than did less-effective teachers. "Good teachers are able to figure out where every child is at and set them a task that's hard for them," said Professor William Louden, dean of education at the University of Western Australia, who led the team of researchers, together with Associate Professor Mary Rohl, of Edith Cowan University.
"Good teachers had the most fun in their classrooms: the lessons were lively, fast-paced, and full of jokes and little classroom games. Good teachers put on a fabulous show and clearly they're the best thing to look at in their classroom. "Some of the other teachers could get their kids' attention but they did not secure that deep engagement that the most effective teachers did."
The study, In Teachers' Hands, revealed all teachers paid attention to the teaching of letter-sound relationships or phonics. But the less effective teachers were more likely to teach phonics as an isolated activity without linking it to books and themes the children were studying. Their understanding of phonics was weak and their explanations often confused their students.
Overall, the less effective teachers had a limited view of early literacy teaching and tended to rely on "busy-work" activities that were not tailored to their students' different abilities and needs.
THE difference between the best teachers of young children and ineffective teachers is not what they do, but how they do it. A landmark study of Australia's primary schools has revealed that all prep and grade 1 teachers tend to teach the same literacy activities, such as shared book reading, modelled writing and phonics. But their success depends on how they present the activities.
The study, commissioned by the Federal Government, sought to identify effective teaching practices that lead to improved literacy of students in the first two years of school. The literacy skills of 2000 children in every state and territory were assessed at the start and the end of the year. A team of researchers then visited schools in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania to observe children and their teachers in the classroom.
The study found all of the teachers were able to get their students to take part in classroom activities and have some fun. However, the most effective teachers - those whose students made the biggest literacy gains over the year - drew on a much wider repertoire of teaching practices. They explained activities more clearly, had deeper subject knowledge, maintained a high level of intellectual challenge for their students and had more fun than did less-effective teachers. "Good teachers are able to figure out where every child is at and set them a task that's hard for them," said Professor William Louden, dean of education at the University of Western Australia, who led the team of researchers, together with Associate Professor Mary Rohl, of Edith Cowan University.
"Good teachers had the most fun in their classrooms: the lessons were lively, fast-paced, and full of jokes and little classroom games. Good teachers put on a fabulous show and clearly they're the best thing to look at in their classroom. "Some of the other teachers could get their kids' attention but they did not secure that deep engagement that the most effective teachers did."
The study, In Teachers' Hands, revealed all teachers paid attention to the teaching of letter-sound relationships or phonics. But the less effective teachers were more likely to teach phonics as an isolated activity without linking it to books and themes the children were studying. Their understanding of phonics was weak and their explanations often confused their students.
Overall, the less effective teachers had a limited view of early literacy teaching and tended to rely on "busy-work" activities that were not tailored to their students' different abilities and needs.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Rules of Chocolate
If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly. Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.
The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.
Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy? If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?
If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves. Money talks. Chocolate sings. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done. Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.
The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.
Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy? If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?
If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves. Money talks. Chocolate sings. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done. Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Saving the Easter Bunny
A man was blissfully driving along the highway, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place. The driver, being a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulled over to the side of the road, and got out to see what had become of the Bunny carrying the basket. Much to his dismay, the colorful Bunny was dead. The driver felt guilty and began to cry.
A woman driving down the same highway saw the man crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong. "I feel terrible," he explained, "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?" The woman told the man not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal.
Miraculously the Easter Bunny came to back life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. 50 yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hopped on down the road another 50 yards, turned, waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!
The man was astonished. He said to the woman, "What in heaven's name is in your spray can? What was it that you sprayed on the Easter Bunny?" The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label. It said: "Hair spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave."
A woman driving down the same highway saw the man crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong. "I feel terrible," he explained, "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?" The woman told the man not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal.
Miraculously the Easter Bunny came to back life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. 50 yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hopped on down the road another 50 yards, turned, waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!
The man was astonished. He said to the woman, "What in heaven's name is in your spray can? What was it that you sprayed on the Easter Bunny?" The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label. It said: "Hair spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave."
Friday, September 08, 2006
Satan goes to church
People were in their pews talking at church when suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God's ultimate enemy was in his presence.
Satan walked up to the old man and said, "Don't you know who I am?"
The man replied, "Yes."
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Satan asked.
"No" said the man.
"Don't you realize I can kill with a word?" asked Satan.
"Don't doubt it for a minute," returned the old man, in an even tone.
"Did you know that I could cause you profound horrifying agony for all eternity?" persisted Satan.
"Yes," came the calm reply.
"And you're still not afraid?" asked Satan.
"No," said the old man.
More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, "Well, why aren't you afraid of me?"
The old man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for 44 years."
Satan walked up to the old man and said, "Don't you know who I am?"
The man replied, "Yes."
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Satan asked.
"No" said the man.
"Don't you realize I can kill with a word?" asked Satan.
"Don't doubt it for a minute," returned the old man, in an even tone.
"Did you know that I could cause you profound horrifying agony for all eternity?" persisted Satan.
"Yes," came the calm reply.
"And you're still not afraid?" asked Satan.
"No," said the old man.
More than a little perturbed, Satan asked, "Well, why aren't you afraid of me?"
The old man calmly replied, "Been married to your sister for 44 years."
Monday, September 04, 2006
Experience stillness
"My greatest wealth is the deep stillness in which I strive and grow and win what the world cannot take from me with fire or sword." -- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
If our minds are always busy, they don’t get time to do basic maintenance – to sort, tidy up and take out the trash. If we don’t periodically clear out space in our minds, there’s no room for new ideas to take root.
Where do you find stillness each day and each week? Plan for quiet time, relaxation and stillness daily, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes. “For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe.” -- Larry Eisenberg
If our minds are always busy, they don’t get time to do basic maintenance – to sort, tidy up and take out the trash. If we don’t periodically clear out space in our minds, there’s no room for new ideas to take root.
Where do you find stillness each day and each week? Plan for quiet time, relaxation and stillness daily, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 minutes. “For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe.” -- Larry Eisenberg
Friday, August 11, 2006
Quotable ideas
"Ordinarily, everything we do is in our self-interest. Everything." -- Anthony de Mello
"Remember, most of the things you think you need are ego trips designed to bolster your image and your perception of security.... You'll waste a lot of energy satisfying your ego only to find that, as soon as it's got what it wants, it ignores all your efforts and promptly nails another list of demands to your forehead. The ego will always try to force you to slave for its vision. I wouldn't stand for that BS if I were you." -- Stuart Wilde
"We have no need to teach pure motives to the mind. All that is necessary to make the mind pure is to undo the negative conditioning to which it has been subjected; then we will be left with pure, unconditioned awareness." -- Eknath Easwaran
"Remember, most of the things you think you need are ego trips designed to bolster your image and your perception of security.... You'll waste a lot of energy satisfying your ego only to find that, as soon as it's got what it wants, it ignores all your efforts and promptly nails another list of demands to your forehead. The ego will always try to force you to slave for its vision. I wouldn't stand for that BS if I were you." -- Stuart Wilde
"We have no need to teach pure motives to the mind. All that is necessary to make the mind pure is to undo the negative conditioning to which it has been subjected; then we will be left with pure, unconditioned awareness." -- Eknath Easwaran
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