KFC

Ever hit a bird when driving? Ever done it at 100 km/h? How about 250 km/h in a Porsche?

KFC = Kars F Chickens.

The poet and the lawyer

The poet and the lawyer
Two people were once travelling
Inside a commercial plane
Their careers were very different
But their destination was the same.
One a lawyer, smug and smart
The other a poet bright
They were faced by a massive journey
All through the day and then the night.
The boredom quickly established itself
Both people felt the same
The lawyer proposed a solution
They’d play a little game.
The lawyer would ask a question
And if the poet got it right
The lawyer would then pay five dollars
Without a hint of fight.
The poet would ask a question
But the poet was street smart
He played on the lawyer’s ego
It was a work of art.T
he lawyer could use technology
And anything in its stead
But if the lawyer could not answer
He’s owe the poet 50 bucks instead.
The lawyer agreed in a trice
And asked his question soon
The lawyer asked about the distance
Between the earth and the moon.
The poet merely shrugged his shoulders
And into his pocket he did dive
He shuffled through his meager bills
And gave the lawyer five.
He then turned to the lawyer
And looked at the floor
Asking, “What goes up a hill on three legs
But then comes down on four?”
The lawyer used his laptop
He accessed the internet too
He asked every passenger on the plane
But there was nothing he could do.
The lawyer grimaced and grumbled
But took out his monetary stash
He broke out in a lather
As he handed over the cash.
Soon, the plane had landed
The poet got up to go
The lawyer screamed, “Don’t leave!
I just have to know!
What does go up a hill on three legs,
Then comes back down on four?
The poet merely smiled and gave him 5 dollars
And then walked out the door.

Fan-atacism

An young teacher starts a new job at a school in Holden's heartland and is trying to make a good impression on her first day. She explains to her class that she's a Holden fan. She asks the class to raise their hands if they too are Holden fans.
Everyone in the class raises their hand except one little girl.
The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says: "Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?"
"Because I'm not a Holden fan," she replied.
The teacher, still shocked, asks: "Well, if you're not a Holden fan, then which marque do you support?"
"I'm a Ford fan, and proud of it," Mary replied.
The teacher could not believe her ears. "Well Mary, might you explain why are you a Ford fan?"
"Because my mum is a Ford fan and my dad is a Ford fan, so I'm a Ford fan too!"
"Well," said the teacher, in an obviously annoyed tone, "that's no reason for you to be a Ford fan. You don't have to be just like your parents all of the time. What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict and a car thief, what would you be then?"
Mary said, "I'd be a Holden fan."

Teachers Love their Jobs

Teachers Love their Jobs - Despite High Stress (We wonder if this survey would have any different responses from Queensland teachers)
A poll of 1,000 Ontario teachers released by the Ontario College of Teachers today says that teachers love their jobs, but suffer stress brought on by time constraints, parent complaints, performance reviews and school politics.Eighty-one per cent of teachers said they would recommend teaching as a career - a marked jump from the 67 per cent who said the same three years ago. But 13 per cent of those polled said they felt stressed all the time, compared to seven per cent of the general public in a stress survey of Canadians done this spring. Almost half (45 per cent) of Ontario’s teachers said they experienced stress a few times a week compared to 29 per cent among Canadian workers.“Teachers love their jobs and want to do all they can for their students, but they’re experiencing enormous stress - most of it beyond their control,” says Doug Wilson, registrar of the teaching profession’s licensing body. Sixty-one per cent of those who responded cited time as their biggest stressor, followed by parents’ blame for student underperformance (56 per cent), school politics (46 per cent) and teacher performance appraisals (45 per cent).
The good old days
If you’ve ever told your child “Back when I was in school, we could spell a lot better,” you’ll be interested to know that teachers agree. The survey asked teachers to look back to the time when they were students in the grades they now teach. Among the survey’s findings: - 44 per cent of teachers think students’ basic spelling skills were better in the past than they are today- 61 per cent of the teachers think that textbook quality and other school resources are better today than when they were in school.- about half of the teachers polled feel that school facilities - and the quality of education today - are better too.
The age of consent
Eighty-four per cent of teachers supported proposed federal legislation to raise the age of consent to 16 from 14. Young people can consent to sexual activity at 14 now and the law prohibits everything from sexual touching to intercourse with anyone under that age. Raising the age targets adults who use the Internet and other new technologies to prey on vulnerable youth. “Clearly, teachers who spend a good part of their daily working lives interacting with teens care about students’ safety, protection and emotional development,” says College Chair Marilyn A. Laframboise. “Safeguarding young people against sexual predators makes sense.”
Respect at a premium
Teachers thought that while school resources and facilities are better today, student and parent respect for teaching has spiraled downward. COMPAS, Inc., a public opinion and market research firm, conducted the survey. Statistically, the sample is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20. (See the full survey on the College web site at www.oct.ca.)

Three words

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after-work cocktail with her girlfriends when an exceptionally tall, handsome, extremely sexy young man entered. He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes away from him.
The young man noticed her overly attentive stare & walked directly toward her.
Before she could offer her apologies for being so rude for staring, the young man said to her, 'I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $100, on one condition.'
Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The young man replied, 'You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words.'
The woman considered his proposition for a moment, withdrew from her purse and slowly counted out five $20 bills, which she pressed into the young man's hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes & slowly, meaningfully said, "Clean my house."

Aussie Muscle Car Museum

Taken from the Main Page:

"Welcome to the Aussie Muscle Car Museum Website
Australia's first dedicated musclecar museum opened late March 2005. For now, take a virtual tour through history as you view road-going examples of the legendary race cars that made put Australia on the world motorsport map. You're in for an exciting journey as you watch the evolution of the Australian musclecar from its inception in the early '60s to the present day.
Creator and collection owner Jeff Bloom has painstakingly combed the entire country, in the process forming the most diverse and largest privately owned collection of Aussie musclecars ever assembled in this country, deliberately choosing unusual colours and options to faithfully recreate the automotive fashion of the day.Whilst keeping very close to their original specification, occasionally Jeff breaks protocol with some non-original 'improvements' (for instance, he has a thing about Falcon hardtops needing very large wheels, particularly rear ones). Please forgive this small indiscretion, where possible all original parts are kept to be one day reunited.
Regardless, arranged in year/model formation together, the cars look breathtaking. This website cannot even come close to recreating the spectacle, but we've done our best through the miracle of technology. Do yourself a favour. Organise with your car club or association to get in and see the collection in the metal and do a guided tour. It's an event not to be missed.
Our website will be regularly updated with new photos, historical information and links to other sites."

Find it at: http://www.aussiemusclecarmuseum.com.au/

Politics

Late one night a mugger wearing a ski mask jumped into a path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his ribs. "Give me your money," he demanded. Indignant, the affluent man replied, "You can't do this – I am a Federal senator!" "In that case," replied the mugger, "Give me MY money."

Boys will be boys but there are ways to better educate them

The Margaret River News, Shane Desiatnik
Research shows that boys have been underachieving at school compared to girls since the 1980s and the gap has increased with time. But a $19.4 million Australian Government initiative called Success For Boys aims to change all that in 1600 schools by 2008 - and four schools in the NSW Blue Mountains will be among the first to implement it.
"Zip it!" That's the first thing University of Western Sydney's boys education expert Peter West tells teachers at professional development workshops to do more of in their lessons.
"Teachers should talk less at the beginning of lessons and get in there and get boys to do something straight away," he said. "Why? Because boys are not as good listeners when it comes to learning. "They like lessons with a structured action focus because they learn best by seeing and doing.
"It's not the same for all boys, but they do have preferred learning styles and these need to be incorporated more in lessons. "It won't disadvantage the girls. In fact, if boys' learning and engagement in class is improved, it will only benefit girls." Federal member for Macquarie Kerry Bartlett, who taught for 25 years and was chairperson of the House of Representatives Standing Committee overseeing an inquiry into the education of boys in 2002, agrees.
"Some people criticised the Standing Committee's recommendations because they thought it would have a negative effect on girls, but it was not putting boys up against girls, it was not a competition," he said. "The aim was to recommend ways to ensure education is tailored to better suit the differing needs of boys and girls." Mr Bartlett said he was staggered by the report's research that found boys are underachieving in average performance at school at a significant level on almost all indicators. The Success For Boys initiative was driven by the report's recommendations and aims to make a real difference in boys education.
Among the schools to secure $10,000 in program funds this year are Katoomba High School, Blue Mountains Grammar School, Our Lady of the Nativity School and St Columba's High School. "Success For Boys works on a number of fronts, including teachers' professional development, producing and sharing successful teaching and assessment strategies to take more advantage of boys' interests and strengths and developing male mentoring systems," Mr Bartlett said.
"It's not that some boys are intrinsically bad, they are just less engaged. "Underperforming boys need to feel a sense of belonging inside the classroom as much as in the playground. "Boys tend to like reading books about adventure, prefer writing about the story rather than describing how characters feel and favour a phonics-based approach to learning literacy."
Peter West stressed the importance of student-teacher relationships for boys. "Using humour to break things up and appealing to boys' interests is very important," he said. "Girls tend to study subjects and boys study teachers. "Writing is another key area to work on. Why? Because boys need to be assessed and tend to be poor at descriptives, yet many teachers like putting those sorts of things in tests. "Assessments are becoming more literacy-based across all key learning areas."
Katoomba High School boys education co-ordinator Lance Bones said the school will use half of their grant in 2007 to develop a formal male mentoring program and the other half will be used to ease the transition from primary to high school. Both programs will target boys who are at risk of underperforming or disengaging from school. "The idea of the mentoring program is to have males as role models within the school community, including teachers and local residents and businesspeople," Mr Bones said.
"It's about the three Rs of relationships, relationships and relationships. "If you don't have a relationship based on respect with boys, you are hitting against a wall. "Each boy has a different learning style and you pick up on this over time. When it clicks, everything works." Mr Bones said the transition program will see boys having trouble settling into high school life bonding together as a group doing a variety of team problem solving workshops.
"I've seen kids at one of these workshops not knowing anyone's names and coming away half an hour later knowing everyone in the group and having a ball. "This can help enormously because being in a new environment with six teachers a day instead of one can put some boys under a lot of pressure." Mr Bones said this will complement current strategies in the school like gifted and talented programs, literacy modules across all key learning areas and after school sessions offered in subjects like maths, industrial arts, drama and music.
"The school achieved excellent results in numeracy and literacy tests for years seven and eight this year and achieved a huge improvement, so we must be doing something right!"
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
*The difference between boys' and girls' average NSW TES (now called UAI) results widened from 0.6 marks in 1981 to 19.4 marks in 1996;
*Research indicates the gap between girls' and boys' performance at school increased between 1994 and 2000;
*About 80 per cent of students suspended or excluded from school are boys and this rate is consistent in each state;
*The gender gap in school retention rates remained stable between 11 and 12 per cent from 1991 to 2001;
*On average, boys do not perform as well as girls in each aspect of literacy, particularly in expressive modes like writing and speaking;
*Only 21 per cent of primary school teachers in Australian schools were male in 2001, down from 26 per cent in 1991;
*The senior school curriculum has become more language intensive in all key learning areas and this is likely to be a factor in boys' declining relative performance
(Source: Report on the Inquiry into the Education of Boys, 2002)

Two-pedal driving arrives...

THE year was 1956. Melbourne had secured the Olympic Games, television was launched in Melbourne and Sydney - and Ford released the Customline with automatic transmission.
The sexist ads of the day heralded this innovation as a wonderful thing for the 'little woman' and had headlines like 'Just think – no more stalling!'.
The automatics used on the early Customlines were American-sourced three-speed units and were extremely reliable. Just four years after the introduction of two-pedal driving, Ford launched the new XK Falcon which was also available with the US-designed and built Fordomatic, two-speed unit.
The two-speed autos were superceded in 1965 by the locally-made Borg Warner 35, a three-speed unit which was stronger and able to take the added horsepower and torque of the more powerful Falcon engines of that era. Not to mention the V8s the Falcon would get one year later...

Assistance

You know you're really drunk if you can't lie on the floor without holding on.

Detroit Auto Show: Ford Airstream Concept

PRESS RELEASE: FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT

Expanding the future of crossovers

Playing to win in the growing crossover segment, Ford has partnered with another iconic company to showcase how it could further expand its lineup of expressive crossovers. The Ford Airstream Concept is influenced by Airstream's iconic design and the optimism for the future that Stanley Kubrick captured in his 1960s cult film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The concept is powered by a plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell drivetrain that operates under electric power at all times. This advanced fuel cell system is half the weight and cost of today's fuel cells and can operate in the dead of winter. That's a major step forward because today's fuel cells don't do well when the mercury dips below freezing.

Continuous CUV growth Crossovers are at the intersection of trends in the economy and society and have been brewing for years. Couples are starting families later in life, while baby boomers are downsizing their lives and their vehicles. Fuel prices and intense competition are influencing vehicle choices as well. The crossover segment is expected to hit 3 million units by the end of the decade, vying to be the largest U.S. vehicle segment.

Bold designs will allow Ford to reach the customers in this competitive and fragmenting segment that already includes Ford Freestyle, Ford Edge and, in time, the full-size crossover based on the Fairlane concept.

See the future today

The Ford Airstream Concept captures the sense of optimism and adventure conveyed in American aircraft and spacecraft, right down to its organic, fuselage-inspired form language, the Ford-first unique reflective paint and 12 ceremonial rivets, which pay homage to Airstream's iconic construction. The concept's bold, futuristic front-end explores a new look for Ford, encapsulating the single-surface grille and headlamps into the same graphic.

Each of the concept's bold orange-trimmed window graphics is a unique shape, reflecting the purpose of the vehicle: looking out and remembering that the journey – not the destination – matters most. The Ford Airstream Concept's doors are asymmetric as well, allowing for easy loading of passengers and cargo. In addition to the driver's side hatch, the passenger side features a power clamshell door that runs two-thirds the length of the vehicle.

A three-door hatch finishes the rear of the crossover. Futuristic interior The futuristic theme carries through to the interior, as well.

The Ford Airstream Concept features a floating instrument panel with flush-mounted, touch-sensitive controls. A multi-function single gauge display provides the driver all primary information. A Sharp¨ dual-view screen centrally mounted on the instrument panel provides a camera view and secondary driver-oriented information, while allowing the front-seat passenger to view DVDs and post mobile blogs.

Modern, pod-shaped swiveling captain's chairs rotate so the driver and front-seat passenger can easily socialize. Ford Airstream Concept is a futuristic crossover capturing the sense of optimism and adventure conveyed in American aircraft and spacecraft.

In the rear, lounge-like seating is sculptural, creating a continuous cocoon-like environment wrapped in bold red B&B Italia fabric. The focal point of the rear seating area is a 360-degree screen for entertainment and games. The unique screen not only creates ambient mood settings including a modern lava lamp and virtual fire, but it also is an entertainment source featuring games and a live camera feed.

Safer journeys

Safety belts remain the most important safety technology in vehicles. Ford is researching several new safety belt designs for the future, including four-point safety belts aiming to help further reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. One of Ford's possible next-generation safety belts incorporates a four-point "belt and suspenders" design in lieu of the familiar three-point safety belt, which is featured on the Ford Airstream Concept.

The rubber meets the road

The new plug-in hydrogen fuel cell featured in the Ford Airstream Concept is much more than a concept. It is already on the road and driving in a Ford Edge prototype, created by scientists and engineers at Ford's Research & Innovation Center with partial funding from the United States Department of Energy. In this application, the fuel cell's sole function is to recharge the vehicle's lithium-ion battery pack as needed.

This allows it to work like a portable generator, instead of an engine, as had been the case in previous Ford fuel cell vehicles. The new fuel cell, supplied by Ford partner Ballard, operates in a steady state, allowing a significantly smaller, less expensive fuel cell and drastically improving the durability of the fuel cell. With this system, the fuel cell delivers the power needed to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, rather than to be the primary power source to drive the wheels, as in a typical fuel cell-powered vehicle.

Celebrating wanderlust

On the heels of Airstream's 75th birthday, Ford and Airstream have teamed up to deliver a futuristic crossover concept that could be used to navigate America's highways and byways.

Much like Ford, Airstream began because of one man's vision. In 1931, Wally Byam began leveraging aircraft-construction methods to make trailers aimed at feeding Americans' surging desire to travel.

FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT Inspired by American spacecraft, the Ford Airstream Concept features a unique 360-degree screen for entertainment and games.

Powertrain

Ford's new plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell

Chassis lengths

Overall length .......................185.0 in.

Wheelbase .............................125.9 in.

Overall width ..........................78.9 in.

Overall height at curb ..............70.6 in.

Track width Front .......................................67.6 in.

Rear ........................................69.2 in.

Suspension

Front ................. Double wishbone-independent suspension

Rear ..................Multi-link independent

Headroom

Front .......................................37.5 in.

Second Row ............................36.2 in.

Legroom

Front .......................................39.6 in.

Second Row ............................33.1 in.

These specifications are preliminary and subject to change.

Create happiness right now

"It is our basic right to be a happy person, happy family, and eventually a happy world. That should be our goal." -- Dalai Lama
Little adjustments to our attitude and approach each day can create a major difference in our appreciation of life. On the surface, nothing changes. At the same time, absolutely everything does. Use your awareness or your imagination to bring happiness to this moment. Find something to appreciate. Do this as often as you remember to do so, and your world will transform.
" ... we can no longer afford to throw away even one ‘unimportant’ day by not noticing the wonder of it all. We have to be willing to discover and then appreciate the authentic moments of happiness available to all of us every day." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach

The poet and the scientist

A poet and a scientist were traveling together on a plane.
The scientist was bored and said to the poet, "Hey, you, do you want to play a game? I'll ask you a question, and if you get it wrong, you give me $5. Then, you ask me a question, and if I can't answer it, I'll give you $5."
The poet thought about this for a moment, but he decided against it, seeing that the scientist was obviously a very bright man. He politely turned down the scientist's offer.
The scientist, who was really bored, tried again. "Look, I'll ask you a question, and if you can't answer it, you give me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if I can't answer it, I'll give you $50."
The poet agreed.
"Okay," the scientist said, "what is the exact distance between the Earth and the Moon?"
The poet, obviously not knowing the answer, didn't stop to think about the scientist's question. He took a $5 bill out of his pocket and handed it to the scientist.
The scientist happily accepted the bill and promptly said, "Okay, now it's your turn."
The poet thought about this for a few minutes, then asked, "All right, what goes up a mountain on three legs, but comes down on four?"
The bright glow quickly vanished from the scientist's face. He thought about this for a long time, taking out his notepad and making numerous calculations. He finally gave up on his notepad and took out his laptop, using his Multimedia Encyclopedia. As the plane was landing the scientist gave up. He reluctantly handed the poet a $50 bill.
The poet accepted it graciously, getting ready to stand up. "Wait!" the scientist shouted, "you can't do this to me! What's the answer?"The poet looked at the scientist and calmly put a $5 bill into his hand.

Free a Stuck Pig

Quick Tech Tip From the Garage of Tom Zuloaga. The following tip is for anyone with an 8-inch or 9-inch Ford pumpkin style rear-end that wants to have an easy way to remove it for gear changes or maintenance. No special tools are required to get the job done and say goodbye to stubborn center-sections that don’t want to budge. More importantly, alleviate the temptation to pry where prying with your heavy duty flathead screwdriver shouldn’t be done.

A

1. The first step is to mark the midway point between the two center vertical bolt holes on each side of the center section. It needs to be in the middle of the machined surface, and in the center of the two holes.
2. Each mark should be center punched to provide a pilot for the drill bit
3. Once punched the marks are drilled with a 5/16″ drill bit
4. Each hole is tapped with a 3/8″-16 tap
5. When the center section is to be removed, two 1-1/2″ long 3/8″-16 bolts are threaded into each hole and the center section will pop right out.

The gasket can usually be re-used if it was glued to the rear-end housing and some axle grease is thinly spread on the center section to prevent the gasket from sticking.
By Mikelonis @ 11:42PM PST. In: Quick Tech E-Mail It

Quotable quotes

You can't deny laughter. When it comes, it plops down in your favourite chair and stays as long as it wants." - Stephen King, author

“Humour is a rubber sword -- it allows you to make a point without drawing blood." --Mary Hirsch, author, humorist

"To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone." --Reba McEntire, singer and entertainer

WW2, and it's a gas (producer)

During World War II there was an acute shortage of petrol for domestic use. This was well before the days when Australia's Bass Strait oil fields were even thought of, and all fuel was imported.
The answer for private motorists, carriers, tradespeople and farmers was to install a gas producer on their vehicle.
These units burned wood, coal or briquettes to produce a gas which could be burned in place of petrol and thus power the engines.
Ford Australia worked with the University of Melbourne, the Vacuum Oil Co (later to become Mobil), Shell Oil Company, and the Powell Gas Producer Co to develop an efficient gas producer which would not gum up the engine with tar or cause excessive wear because of too many dust particles.
The result was a highly efficient version of the Powell Gas Producer, so Ford began mass production for fitting to new vehicles and for after market fitting to existing vehicles.

Need a boost?

Want to get more out of each day? Read these six tips to lift your energy and wellbeing reserves.
Summer has landed and you’re ready to take on your Christmas shopping, pre-holiday work out, and of course, those December deadlines. You’re going to need energy by the forklift load. Read on.

Energy booster 1: Discover the 'superfoods'
'Superfoods' are nutrient-dense foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals for good health, vitality and longevity. The secret to including superfoods in your diet is to eat rainbows! Choose the most vibrant, richly-coloured fruits and vegetables. Some of these are as follows:
Blueberries - These brightly coloured fruits deliver high levels of antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been shown to help prevent blood clotting, protect body cells and have anti-inflammatory actions.
Spinach - Popeye was half right and half wrong! He was right in eating spinach which is a true super food, but not because it is high in iron. Spinach does contain a mix of plant nutrients and antioxidants including folate, vitamin K, lutein and zeaxanthin. Folate is important for women planning a pregnancy and for heart health. Higher lutein and zeaxanthin intakes have been associated with a lowered risk of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
Kiwifruit - This is high in vitamin C and potassium, as well as being a low-fat source of vitamin E. It contains zinc, magnesium, folate and dietary fibre, as well as powerful antioxidants. Other fruits to include are tomatoes, sweet potato, broccoli and mangoes.
Oats - It is true that porridge is the perfect breakfast food! Oats are rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fibre which may help lower cholesterol, help control blood sugar levels and help your stomach to feel satisfied for longer.
Fish - Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fish offers protection for heart health and inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

Energy booster 2: Stay active
Be active every day in as many ways as you can! Benefits of exercise include better weight control, decreased depression, reduced disease risk, more energy, prevention of osteoporosis, better mood and improved body image. Put together 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week. Vary your activities to work your muscles, heart, bones and brain. Also combine stamina, strength and suppleness activities.

Energy booster 3: Top up your energy nutrients
Cars burn petrol to get the energy they need to move. Your body burns food to produce energy. Many nutrients play a vital role in making energy inside your cells. Deficiencies of these nutrients can cause fatigue, low blood sugar levels, sugar cravings, muscle twitches, insomnia and even hair loss. Some of the main nutrients are:
B vitamins - are essential for conversion of sugar into energy.
Chromium - which works with insulin in moving sugar into your cells, where it can be burned to produce energy.
Iron - is an essential part of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Oxygen is needed for energy production in cells.
Zinc - is important for growth, vision, smell, taste, immune health, skin and energy production.
Selenium - is an antioxidant that protects cells from free radical damage.
Magnesium - is essential for energy production in cells. Deficiencies can cause muscle twitches, cramps, fatigue, insomnia, stress.
Iodine - is used to make thyroid hormone, required for maintaining overall metabolic rate.
Beware the nutrient robbers! These include caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and some medications.

Energy booster 4: Do a detox
A detox program is designed to help you improve the functioning of your digestive system and help your body eliminate waste more effectively.
It is based on the naturopathic belief that health problems may be caused by the digestive system not working efficiently.
A detox program should work in four ways by:
1. Helping the entire digestive system function as it was designed to
2. Assisting sluggish liver function
3. Helping to maintain optimum levels of friendly bacteria in the intestines
4. Gently helping cleanse the bowel

Energy booster 5: Make some 'me time'
Taking time out is essential in maintaining balance and revitalising ourselves. It is important to recognise that we need time to relax in order to feel energetic! Consider these suggestions:
Hop into a warm bath - remember that the world won't stop if you don't get something done and by keeping stress at bay, things will be a lot easier to accomplish.
Plan well to help free up your time.
Delegate, prioritise and sometimes put your needs first.

Energy booster 6: Find your passion
The key to feeling fully vital is to be connected to a purpose, to have a passion. Your spirit will be ignited when you have a clear reason to live and work. As Petrea King says: "Your life matters. You are not here by accident. You are on the right planet. You are not here for the kids, the career, the mortgage. You are here to make the journey of your life, via the kids, the career, the mortgage. The journey matters more than the destination."

Collector car prices

It's funny how prices for cars don't seem to do anything, then go through a period of rapid growth. I guess that the real estate market does the same.

As an example, this car is listed at $100 000. It's an unrestored GT and I suppose it could be seen as a bargain. It all depends on your perspective.

Banned from course

Hawk and Tom were talking in the bar. Hawk said," I just got kicked off the course for breaking 60."
Tom looked at him, amazed. " Breaking 60? That's amazing!"
Hawk smiled and said," Yeah, I never knew a golf cart could go that fast!"

More Globes

The small centre Bathurst Globe, here fitted to one of the four XA PhaseIV GTs.

Things You'll Never Hear a Teacher Say:

"Our principal is sooooooooo smart. No wonder he's in administration."
"Thank goodness for these Report Cards."
"Today I’d like to wear each of your hats."
"I bet all the people in our administration really miss teaching!"
"Gosh, the bathroom smells so fresh and clean!"
"I'm so glad I gave my phone number to my students' parents. It makes keeping in touch so much easier."
"I can't believe I get paid for this!"
"I think the discipline around here is just a LITTLE too strict!"
"It's Friday already????"

Car pic

For something different, today I thought I'd post an image of a car. This is a Landau. Based on a coupe, it boasted an upmarket interior, vinyl roof and upgraded from sheet metal. The reult was an elegant car. Many people made them go and handle like their GT brethran.

You don't see many of them now, but they still make a statement.

A Proposal for Banning Pencils

By Doug Johnson
When it comes to "technology" use in schools, every responsible educator's first concerns should be student safety and educational suitability. I am suggesting that we ban one of the most potentially harmful technologies of all -- the pencil. We must eliminate them from schools because:
A student might use a pencil to poke out the eye of another student.
A student might write a dirty word or, worse yet, a threatening note to another student, with a pencil.
One student might have a mechanical pencil, making those with wooden ones feel bad.
The pencil might get stolen.
Pencils break and need repairing all the time.
Kids who have pencils might doodle instead of working on their assignments or listening to the teacher.
Oh, sure, kids might actually use a pencil to take notes or compose a paper -- but really, what's the chance of that?
Sounds pretty absurd, doesn't it? But listen to the reasons teachers and administrators on our district technology committee gave for banning iPods and MP3 players from the classroom:
They might get stolen.
They make kids who can't afford them feel bad.
Kids might listen to them instead of to the teacher.
Who knows what kinds of lyrics the kids might be listening to?
Kids might listen to test answers.
Oh, sure, kids might actually use them to study, to replay their French vocabulary lesson, or to listen to audio books, an NPR broadcast, or a teacher-created lecture -- but really, what's the chance of that?
I cringe whenever I hear a school "banning" cell phones, student blogs, e-mail, flash drives, chat, personally owned laptops, or game sites. Student access to the Internet itself was hotly debated in the mid-90s. Each of those technologies can and does have positive educational uses. Each of those technologies is a big part of many kids' lives outside of school. And yes, each of these technologies has the potential for misuse.
One of my biggest worries has always been that by denying access in school to technologies that students find useful and meaningful, we make school more and more irrelevant to our "Net Genners." When are we going to learn to use the kids' devices for their benefit rather than invent excuses to outlaw them? My experience is that the more familiar educators are with a new technology, the less likely they are to restrict its use by students. When we old-timers experience a technology's benefit ourselves, the more we understand its benefit to students.
Is an iPod on your holiday wish list? Add it -- for your students' sake.

When Ford sailed the ocean waves

THE name of Ford is always associated with cars and trucks yet, during World War II, Ford Australia had one of the foremost shipbuilding operations in the country.
The armed forces were desperately in need of landing craft, ocean-going cargo lighters, coastal surveillance ships and tug boats. Ford swung into action at its Geelong, Sydney and Brisbane plants, turning out ocean-going ships up to 30m long and capable of carrying 250 tonnes, troop landing craft and a host of smaller craft.
The large cargo vessels were 'D' Class ships and all carried female names beginning with the letter 'D'. Many of them survived the war and were used as coastal cargo ships for many years. These large ships were powered by a series of 50hp diesel engines while the smaller vessels depended on the reliable Ford and Mercury V8 petrol engines.
Ford built 455 Australian Landing Craft in sizes ranging from 106-foot long down to tiny 32-footers. There was even a tug boat built for the navy which was based on the ALC.
The US Army asked Ford to supply special 35-foot cargo lighters and more than 460 slid down the Ford slipways before the end of hostilities.
These welded steel ships proved to be very reliable and stable and certainly played a tremendous role in the Pacific Islands war theatre. And, of course, due to the fact that most of the male workforce was in uniform, they were mainly built by women.

Ashes jokes

Q. What do Geraint Jones and Michael Jackson have in common?A. They both wear gloves for no apparent reason
Q. What is the height of optimism?A. An English batsman applying sunscreen.Q. What does Ashley Giles put in his hands to make sure the next ball almost always takes a wicket?A. A bat.
Q. What would Glen McGrath be if he was an Englishman?A. An allrounder.
Q. What advantage do Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Strauss and Geraint Jones have over the rest of their team-mates?A. At least they can say they're not really English.
Q. What is the English version of a hat-trick?A. Three runs in three balls.Q. What do you call an Englishman with 100 runs against his name?A. A bowler.
Q. What is the most proficient form of footwork displayed by English batsmen?A. The walk back to the pavilion.Q. Who has the easiest job in the English squad?A. The guy who removes the red ball marks from the bats.
Q. Why is Andrew Flintoff the unluckiest English player?A. Because he was born in England.
Q. What does "Ashes" stand for?A. Another Sad Horrific English Series.
Q. What's the English version of LBW?A. Lost, Beaten, Walloped.
Q. Who spends the most time on the crease of anyone in the English team?A. The person who ironed the cricket whites

Mickey Thompson Killer Found Guilty

Former motorsports promoter Michael Goodwin was convicted today of two counts of murder Thursday in the 1988 killings of Mickey Thompson and the racing legend’s wife.
Goodwin was a former business partner of Thompson, a racer who pursued land-speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and drove everything from dragsters and funny cars to midgets, and was a major figure in popularizing off-road contests. The prosecution argued that his motive was to avenge a business partership that had gone sour and ended with the courts awarding a $700,000 judgment from Goodwin to Thompson.
While there was nothing but circumstantial evidence, Goodwin had apparantly commented to several people that he would “get rid of Thompson before paying a single dime.”
FordMuscle is happy for the Mickey Thompson family and business that justice was served.

Pupils who fight back are targets for bully, study finds

The Age, Melbourne, December 1, 2006 by CHEE CHEE LEUNG
It's not just the mild-mannered that fall victim to school bullies, research shows that "hot-headed" children are at a greater risk of being targeted. A Melbourne study of 400 bullying victims found students who reacted aggressively when provoked were up to 2.6 times more likely to be bullied than the "passive" victim. "There are two types of victims, the traditional passive victim . . . and there are others who tend to fight back," said researcher Jodie Lodge.
"Those that are more likely to react showed up not only as more likely to be bullied, but also more likely to be targeted for teasing by their peers." Children who fought back when bullied were also at a greater risk of remaining a victim of intimidation. "Their reacting perpetuates the cycle, so they get caught up in this bully-victim cycle," Dr Lodge said.
Dr Lodge, from the University of Melbourne's education faculty, said the findings showed that schools needed to ensure they had techniques available to help both types of victims.The results, based on bullying victims aged 10 to 13 years from several metropolitan schools, will be presented today at a university conference.

Top 10 Recent Car Innovations

Going back around 30 years, here is a list of the best car innovations. Thanks to all of these—now our driving pleasure is limitless.
1. Antilock brakes: Mercedes-Benz first installed the ABS on production cars, in ‘78. It helps in maintaining control while stopping, throw the door open to stability control and roll mitigation technologies.
2. Airbag advancements: Though the first cars with airbags debuted in the early ’70s; Chrysler is the first to make them standard in cars, in 1988. It protects you in a rollover, and cushions your knee.
3. Key fobs: Chevy’s ‘93 Corvette featured General Motors’ first Passive Keyless Entry system. It unlock doors, set off the horn and lights if you lose the car in the MegaMart parking lot and, in some cases, it lets you function key free.
4. Fold-flat rear seats: Debuted in the ’60s, but Honda made it mainstream in the late-90s Odysse. These seats that tuck out of the way are so much easier to deal with than those that have to be removed.
5. Electronic stability systems: BMW and Mercedes-Benz introduced them in ‘95 models.This computerized system applies the car’s brakes or cuts the throttle, or a little of both, to keep the car going where you want it to.
6. DVD players: Honda and Saturn first offered them as options in 2002 models.It minimizes the DVD player and TV you had in the family room.
7. Heated and cooled seats: Heated seats have been around for a while, but cooled seats debuted in the mid-90s.The electric coils warm the seat, air circulates to cool it.
8. Tilt/telescoping steering wheels and adjustable pedals: Tilt has been around for a while but telescoping steering wheels and adjustable pedals only became common in the last 10 years. It allows you to maintain at least 10 inches from airbags to avoid injury when they deploys.
9. Navigation systems: Honda claims the first nav system, in the 1990 Acura Legend. It acts as a co-pilot, telling you where to go and recalibrating themselves if you miss a turn.
10. Hybrid drivetrain: Honda’s Insight was the first mass-produced hybrid sold in the U.S., in the 2000 model year .It combine gas engines with electric motors for power.

Why Finnish Educational System Is the World’s No. 1

Arab News, Sunday, 26, November, 2006 (06, Dhul Qa`dah, 1427) Why Finnish Educational System Is the World’s No. 1 Jonathan Power
Two hours drive due north from Helsinki lies the Artic Circle. But in this town of 120,000 people one not only feels the bitter cold but also the white heat of the technological revolution.
Here are the principal research and development offices of Nokia. There are 800 other high tech companies, some overflowing their expertise into neighboring Russia where they see the future “beckoning”, in the words of Pertti Huuskonen, the boss of Technopolis, which is just building a big facility close to St. Petersburg airport. There are probably more Ph.D.s per square meter in this compact old paper-milling town than anywhere else on earth. This astonishing intellectual creation can be laid at the feet of the Finnish educational system, considered by all who survey it, including the OECD, as possessing the best school system in the world. Finland is also reckoned to be in the top three of the world’s most competitive countries.
Why? Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen reduces the explanation to one pithy observation. “The teachers are respected; high talent is attracted into teaching; it is considered to be one of the most important professions”, he told me.
But how did Finland get to such a happy state of being? Tapani Ruokanen, editor of Finland’s leading news weekly, Suomen Kuvalehti, argues that it goes back to 18th Century when the Lutheran bishops wouldn’t allow anyone to marry unless they could read the Bible. Then in the 19th Century there were a series a strong revivalists movements, which led to the creation of a flurry of newspapers and magazines.
The big departure that everyone refers back to was the decision by a Social Democratic government in the 1970s to turn what was then an elitist system into a comprehensive one. Before then the working class could only progress into the upper schools if they won a scholarship that covered their fees. But for the last thirty-five years the schools have been open to all, free and unstreamed.
Marie-Laure Foulon, the Stockholm correspondent of Le Figaro who has just published a book, “Le Rebond du Modèle Scandinavia” (The Rebound of the Scandinavian Model), argues that the critical ingredient in the 1970’s reform was “to decide it was better to push up the bottom level to the middle than to push the middle to the top.” She says that Finland’s success shows that a system based on equal opportunity is superior to one like the French, “with excellence at the top and mediocrity at the bottom.” She adds, “the top will go to the top anyway.” She tells of interviewing the head of the Finnish stock exchange who told her that although at the time when he was at school he felt he was not being stretched, he realizes because of the comprehensive system he now knows his peers better and that has enabled him to be a more effective businessman. “It appears”, she concludes, “that equality in education creates productivity, even if it doesn’t always create excellence.”
Day to day, the Finnish government keeps the pressure on, indeed to such a degree that the pupils complain of a lack of fun at school, a problem that the minister of education, Antti Kalliomنki, tells me is being worked on with new proposals to extend the short school day that often ends at 2 p.m. for another couple of hours where pupils can play sport and do their hobbies before they return home. Nevertheless, compared with say French or British children, the children should feel themselves lucky — there are no nationwide exams or big final tests. It is a system of continuous assessment by a mixture of monthly tests and teacher evaluations.
Much of success of the educational system lies in a detailed application to the problems that can arise in all educational systems — from making sure that all children get fed by providing free meals at school to subsidized travel. Likewise no student, however badly behaved, need fear expulsion. The school is simply responsible for getting on top of whatever behavior problems emerge. Only 15 percent of those who apply to be teachers are accepted, even though pay levels are about average for Europe. No teacher can teach at any level without a master’s degree. Once in a job, teachers are encouraged to keep abreast of the academic literature so that educational decisions are based on rational argument, not just everyday intuition. Moreover, they are constantly being sent on courses during their long holidays to upgrade their knowledge and skills.
In short, the Finns work at it and, unencumbered by a class-stratified educational system, they have shown that equality is a plus, not a hindrance to fast progress.

TRANSIT CONNECT X-PRESS

TRANSIT CONNECT X-PRESS - AN UNLIKELY MARRIAGE OF PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICALITY

Dunton , England – 3 January 2007. What would result from the unlikely "marriage" of a low-roof, highly practical Ford Transit Connect van with the power unit and brakes from Ford's legendary high-performance Focus RS? The answer is the 'vantastic' Transit Connect X-Press - the fastest and most dramatic version of Ford's tough and highly versatile small commercial to hit the tarmac.

Lower (by up to 70 mm), meaner (with 18-inch OZ alloys) and emitting an exhaust note more akin to that of Ford's Focus RS WRC, X-Press is an undeniably special Transit Connect. Even if you fail to spot the integral, "race-spec" roll cage fitted inside this one-off vehicle, it would be almost impossible to ignore the pearlescent white paint job set off with tri-colour X-Press graphics.

Built Ford Tough

Ford of Europe's Chief Engineer for Commercial Vehicles, Barry Gale, explained: "Transit Connect is such a strong and dynamically capable vehicle to begin with, that we knew this project would be feasible from the outset. Certain drivetrain and suspension components are common with the first generation Ford Focus, so the transformation was relatively straightforward from an engineering point of view. We now have a unique commercial vehicle that performs like no other. If pushed, it is capable of a 0-60mph time in less than 7 seconds and a 130mph top speed. As you might expect from a Ford, it handles, steers and stops like a sports car."

Once having seen and heard Transit Connect X-Press, the casual observer would be entitled to wonder why a small and otherwise apparently sensible group of Ford engineers, based at Ford of Europe's Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium, would have devised a plan to build such an unlikely machine. The same observer may be surprised to learn that there are perfectly credible reasons behind the creation of Transit Connect X-Press!

Above all, the team of dedicated engineers who developed the Transit Connect range was eager to demonstrate, in a memorable way, the inherent strength and versatility of the base vehicle. Clearly, it would not be possible to contemplate fitting a high performance, turbocharged and intercooled 215PS engine into such a vehicle with just minimal changes required, unless it was constructed very robustly in the first place.

In short, X-Press provides a clear reminder that Transit Connect is not based on a modified passenger car platform; rather, it was developed, from the ground up, to cope with the tough, unremitting demands made of hard-working commercial vehicles everywhere.

It also underlines the fact that Ford's commitment to developing vehicles that offer a rewarding driving experience applies not just to passenger cars, but equally to Ford commercials. Given that the production Transit Connect has been much praised for its overall driving quality the X-press team had no problems leaving the original suspension system largely intact.

Performance Van Heritage

Transit Connect X-Press joins a memorable line-up of dramatic, one-off Ford commercials created over the years both to entertain and to remind the general public of the roles these much-loved workhorses play in everyday commercial life.

These ranged from the original Transit Supervan of the late-1960s, with its mid-engined, Ford "big-block" V8, through the 1980s Cosworth-powered, Formula One-inspired Supervan 2 and 3 models. More recently, the rally-oriented Ford Transit WRT proved that Ford Transit is as tough as ever, even taking a key supporting role in a Playstation 2 rally computer game alongside the Ford Focus RS WRC. The latest Transit 'special' is the stretched Transit XXL limousine, which joins the Transit Connect X-Press in showing off the fun side of Ford's European CV range.

Classic Focus RS power still excites!

The base ingredients from the renowned yet still exciting 2004 Focus RS and the tough Transit Connect Light Commercial combine perfectly in the X-Press.

From the 2004 Ford Focus RS, engineers took the powerful 215PS 2.0 litre turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve Duratec RS engine. Its 310Nm of maximum torque is fed to the front wheels through a heavy-duty AP racing clutch, a robust, five-speed gearbox with a short-throw shifter and a motorsport-inspired Quaife limited slip differential. Also recognisable from the Focus RS are the Brembo 325mm ventilated front disc brakes teamed with 280 mm solid discs at the rear.

In terms of its suspension the X-Press is almost pure Transit Connect with the McPherson strut front end matched to a classic light commercial vehicle beam axle at the rear.

It has to be said, though, that the front suspension is redesigned and lowered with up-rated offset coil springs and Sachs-provided racing dampers. There are revised lower A-arms with increased roll-centre height and 23 mm anti-roll bar incorporating unique roller bearing locating fixings. At the rear, along with the lowered ride height there are up-rated leaf springs from Olgun Celik and a 22 mm anti-roll bar incorporating roller bearing locating fixings.

Inside, the cabin is unmistakably Transit Connect, but obvious changes like the Sparco race-style leather/Alcantara trimmed bucket seats in black and white, plus a Ford Racing driver / co-driver intercom give the game away. There is a unique-to-the X-Press steering wheel and a flocked interior and centre console with an engine start button, plus a revised instrument binnacle with new graphics and instrumentation incorporating a turbo boost gauge and change-up light.

Labour of Love

The Transit Connect X-Press was created by a small team of Ford engineers at Ford's Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium in 2004, and was updated in late-2006 to reflect the latest exterior detail changes to the Ford Transit Connect range. Since its creation, the Transit Connect X-Press has been seen all over Europe at key motor shows and Ford events, as well as starring in many magazine and newspaper stories at the hands of the media.

A team of key specialists gave up their spare time to develop the vehicle. "It wasn't difficult really," said Gale. "Once everyone understood what we were doing they all offered to help in their spare time to make special parts or work on the vehicle. It became a true labour of love and as we're basically all car nuts, we're very pleased with the end product."

Making life our own

“Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.” -- Stephen Vincent Benet

What’s needed for a new relationship with time and life?
Intention -- Get really clear about what you want.
Desire -- How much do you want something new for yourself? Know your motivation. Desire brings the energy for change.
Belief and/or willingness to trust you can have what you want. If belief is lacking, can you believe in the possibility that you can find a new way of living?
Perseverance, discipline -- It takes time and effort to change attitudes and habits. We can’t expect a new life overnight.
Acceptance, both of what’s happening now and of who we are. Until we honestly and openly accept our present situation, we cannot change it.
A willingness to try something new.

“It is so easy to waste our lives: our days, our hours, our minutes. ... It is so easy to exist instead of live. Unless you know there is a clock ticking. So many of us changed our lives when we heard a biological clock and decided to have kids. But that sound is a murmur compared to the tolling of mortality.” -- Anna Quindlen

Ford unveils pair of Transits for extra people and performance

FORD TRANSIT XXL – PROBABLY THE LONGEST TRANSIT IN THE WORLD!

Dunton, England – 3 January 2007. Ford of Europe's Commercial Vehicle development team, based at the company's Dunton Technical Centre in the UK, is celebrating the Ford Transit's status as International Van of the Year 2007, by creating an unusual one-off special – the Transit XXL. Transit XXL literally stretches the Transit Tourneo passenger vehicle to new lengths, and could well be the longest Ford Transit in the world! Designed and built by the Transit team at Dunton as a special project, Transit XXL uses 'off the shelf' Ford Transit components throughout.

It is based on two short wheel base Transit Tourneo models which have been meticulously joined together to deliver a bespoke limousine that carries the driver plus seven passengers in full 'first class' comfort. Every passenger benefits from a leather-trimmed, seven-way fully adjustable Transit 'Captain's Seat' complete with heating, lumbar adjustment and armrest. As you would expect, legroom and shoulder room are extensive!

This one-off vehicle has been designed to further demonstrate the Ford Transit's flexibility and capabilities. It measures 7.4 metres in length and has a wheelbase of 5.9 metres. This compares to the standard Tourneo length of almost 4.9 metres and wheelbase of 2.9 metres. Transit XXL also features four full sliding doors – two on each side – while the entire vehicle benefits from privacy glass allowing occupants to be transported in appropriate anonymity.

The four opening side doors of the Transit XXL are complemented by the fact that it's a right hand drive van. When used in left hand drive countries, the Transit XXL driver can stop at the kerbside and be ready quickly to help passengers get in to or out of the vehicle – something that drivers of long limousine vehicles understand and appreciate. The interior also features a fully fitted carpet made from the standard Tourneo item, and a floor to roof carpeted bulkhead behind the rearmost pair of seats which creates a separate luggage compartment accessible only through the tailgate-style rear door.

Passenger comfort is maximised through the use of front and rear air conditioning, with the rear being controlled via the passenger compartment making this literally the coolest Transit to travel in. The team isn't finished yet, and has plans to install a full in-vehicle entertainment system, including DVD player and games consoles, with individual monitors. Still a Transit at Heart Transit XXL is powered by a completely standard Ford 2.2-litre, 130PS Duratorq TDCi engine, though the 5-speed gearbox has been specially adapted and tuned for optimum gearing to deliver enhanced mid-range performance.

The braking system has also been upgraded and uses self-adjusting, servo-assisted front and rear discs. The body construction for Transit XXL features extensive strengthening under the floor and in the roof to ensure that the vehicle is torsionally rigid and safe. It has an unladen weight of 2500kg. Using an FT350 front wheel drive model, the suspension has been enhanced to give the necessary gross vehicle weight of 3500kg, enabling Transit XXL to be fully laden with passengers and their luggage Finished in Frozen White, the Transit XXL retains many of its original standard features, including satellite navigation, Bluetooth® capability, top-of-the-range Ford audio equipment, heated front screen and – perhaps most importantly – reversing sensors. "

The Transit team spent a huge amount of their personal time putting together the Transit XXL, and we're delighted with the result," said Barry Gale, Ford of Europe's Chief Engineer for Commercial Vehicles. "It was a challenging project but the core vehicle's strengths and flexibility have helped the end result to be easy to drive and very comfortable to ride in.

"Ford has a history of building unusual one-off, fun vehicles that have become legends – the Transit Supervan series, our World Rally Transit and most recently the Transit Connect X-Press which used the powertrain of the Focus RS to create a hugely entertaining vehicle," said Gale. "Transit XXL takes us in a different direction as we wanted to show that the refinement of the new Transit allows it to be a limousine. One thing is for sure – it provokes amazing reactions from all who see it!"

prep / primary school prayers....

"Dear God, thank you for the baby brother, but what I really prayed for was a puppy. Joyce"
“Dear God, did you mean for a giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma"
"Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well I just want you to know, but I am not just saying that just because you are God. Charles"
"Dear God, You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways. Dean"
"Dear God, Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter because there is nothing good in there now. Ginny"
"Dear God, I went to this wedding, and they kissed right in church. Is that okay? Neil"
"Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works with my brother. Larry"
"Dear God, If we come back as something, please don't let me be Jennifer Horton, because I hate her. Denise"
"Dear God, If you watch when I am in church on Sunday, I will show you my new shoes. Mickey D"
"Dear God, We read that Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said that you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. Donna"

Ford's big gun for Detroit: the Mustang-based Interceptor Concept

FORD INTERCEPTOR CONCEPT: CELEBRATING MODERN AMERICAN MUSCLE WITH 'BUILT FORD TOUGH' ATTITUDE

• American Muscle: The Ford Interceptor concept celebrates the best of American muscle with a four-door that marries "Built Ford Tough" attitude with the sporty elegance of 1960s sedans. • Legendary performance: The Interceptor concept's Ford Racing 5.0-liter Cammer engine runs on E-85 ethanol and produces 400 horsepower. This engine powered the Mustang FR500C to the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Championship in its first year of competition.

• Safety: Interceptor incorporates Ford's patented four-point "belt and suspenders" design in the front and rear seats. In addition, inflatable safety belts are included for rear seat passengers.

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 31, 2006 – Building on its legacy of bold muscle cars, Ford is introducing a modern, all-American sedan concept that combines "Built Ford Tough" attitude with the sporty elegance of its iconic 1960s sedans.

The Ford Interceptor concept comes equipped with a manual six-speed gearbox mated to a Ford Racing 5.0-liter V-8 Cammer engine that delivers 400 horsepower and runs on E-85 ethanol.

"This concept celebrates the best of American muscle, showing customers what 'modern muscle' is all about," said Peter Horbury, executive director – Design, The Americas. "The Interceptor concept is much like a Marine in dress uniform. He looks smart and elegant but you can see the raw power that lies beneath."

Flexing Modern Muscle The Ford Interceptor concept's exterior design features substantial, sometimes brutish, surfaces and sections that give the concept its modern, powerful look. The Mustang-based concept features a traditional rear-wheel drive proportion that includes a short front overhang, long rear overhang and extended dash-to-axle ratio. The Ford Interceptor also has a low cabin and higher beltline, adding to the vehicle's attitude and sense of mystery.

"The Ford Interceptor concept is a pure sedan that speaks to performance car lovers everywhere," said Freeman Thomas, director, North American Strategic Design. "These people might need more space, but they still appreciate the power and attitude that cars like this represent," Painted a deep blue, the Ford Interceptor concept's strength exudes from its strong, high shoulders. And much like on last year's Ford F-250 Super Chief pickup concept, a single character line runs the length of the body side, slightly sloping downward as it reaches the back of the sedan. This adds wedge to the car, making it dynamic, without detracting from its smooth, clean design.

Signature Ford touches include the horizontal three-bar grille, which has been structurally integrated into the bumper beam, as well as "squircles" – or professionally square circle-shaped graphics – inside and out.

As a nod to performance purists, the ultimate muscle lies under the powered clamshell "shaker" hood, which caps a thoroughly detailed engine compartment that houses a 5.0-liter V-8 Cammer engine. This is an upgraded variant of the 4.6-liter engine under the hood of the current production Mustang GT. The Cammer modular engine powered Ford Racing's FR500C race car to the top of the Grand Am Cup's GS class, achieving five victories on its way to the Drivers, Manufacturers and Team Championships in its first season of competition.

The Interceptor concept's Cammer engine is mated to a manual six-speed transmission. The car, equipped with 22-inch wheels, also features a solid rear axle for more hard-core performance feel. Attitude Within Inside, the Ford Interceptor concept is sleek and thoroughly modern, completed in contrasting black leather and metal finishes. The dash, headliner and thick steering wheel are leather-wrapped.

Plus, the Interceptor concept's four low-back bucket seats are wrapped in thick black belt leather with exposed-edge seams and contrasting caramel stitching. The seats are accented with Ford GT-inspired squircle grommets finished with Titan Metal painted inserts. Squircle accents are repeated in the concept's door trims, floor, console and instrument panel. Designed within a pair of squircles, the speedometer and tachometer are eye-catching.

The needles for both start at center and move opposite each other as the speed and RPM climb. Other clever touches include retractable headrests that deploy from the roof when the car is parked. They adjust fore and aft, as well as up and down for each occupant.

Audio control panel and climate controls also are stowable. On the other hand, the gated six-speed shifter is exposed, just waiting to be thrown into gear. "The Interceptor concept is a sedan – but with the heart and soul of a performance car," Thomas said. "This car is about restraint – and not clouding the driving experience with too much technology. There aren't a lot of layers between the driver and the road with this car."

Safer travels

For safety, the Interceptor concept incorporates Ford's patented four-point "belt and suspenders" safety belt design in all four seats and inflatable seat belts in the rear. While current three-point safety belts are extremely effective in reducing the risk of injury in a crash, Ford Motor Company is researching these two potential safety belt technologies as possible ways to further reduce injury risk in vehicle crashes.

A number of technical challenges still need to be overcome before such restraint systems could ever be used, but these technologies might one day further enhance safety belt effectiveness.

The four-point belt showcases a possible next-generation safety belt that is more comfortable and easier to use than traditional three-point belts, according to consumer research.

Additionally, inflatable belts have been included in the rear seat of the concept to help better protect occupants in a variety of crashes. "Our customer target for this powerful masculine sedan was a man with a family," Horbury said. "He's essentially a good guy, but a bit mischevious. He loves power and performance. But ultimately, he's responsible. When he has his family on board, he values new safety technology as well as a powerful engine that runs on E-85 ethanol."

Powertrain

5.0-liter Cammer V-8 Chassis lengths

Overall length...........................................201.6 in.

Wheelbase.................................................120.8 in.

Overall width..............................................76.4 in.

Overall height at curb..................................54.8 in.

Track width

Front...........................................................66.5 in.

Rear............................................................67.8 in.

Suspension Front....................... Double wishbone-independent

Rear.........................3-Link Design with Panhard Rod

Headroom

Front...........................................................37.5 in.

Second Row................................................35.9 in.

Legroom Front...........................................................42.3 in.

Second Row................................................35.6 in.

Conscious communication

“If we want to be compassionate we must be conscious of the words we use. We must both speak and listen from the heart.” -- Marshall B. Rosenberg
Conscious communication requires us to be truly present to what is occurring. When we are unconscious, we both speak to and react to others out of habit. And in the face of what we perceive as someone’s judgment and criticism, we automatically (and unconsciously) defend, withdraw or attack.

To communicate consciously requires attention to two areas:
I need to speak from awareness of what I am perceiving, feeling and needing, and
Through watching and listening, I need to be aware of those same needs in others.

“When we focus on clarifying what is being observed, felt, and needed rather than on diagnosing and judging, we discover the depth of our own compassion.” -- Marshall B. Rosenberg

Ford to Introduce Interceptor, A Muscle Car with a 1960 Sedan Look

Jolly, Shimla, INDIA Jan 1 2007, 7:23 am GMT

Ford is renowned as a company making muscle cars. It is now extending the fleet with a new muscle car known as Interceptor. This new car has a sporty elegance and a 1960 sedan look.
The car is powered by a 5.0-litre V-8 engine that is controlled by a manual six-speed gear box. The car has the same engine that can won the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Championship in the first year of the competition.

The engine has now been modified and the car now runs on E-85 ethanol and that makes the car deliver a whooping 400 bhp.

The car has a traditional rear wheel drive that includes a short front and a large rear overhang.
Other features such as a low cabin and a high beltline deliver the car a 1960 sedan look.
Ford has also given the car its signature by a three-bar grillthat has been integrated into the bumper beam.

The Interceptor is equipped with a 22-inch wheels and a tough rear axle for more sports performance feel.

Though the car has a 1960 look exterior but the interiors are ultra modern with leather and metal finishes.

Ford has also emphasized on the security of the passengers by integrating Ford’s patented four-point belt and suspenders system in all four seats and the rear passengers get some added safety with inflatable seat belts in the rear.
Via: gizmag

R2D2 XXXX

I know it's not my usual fare, but this beer keg R2D2 caught my eye - the best of two genres, you might say!

Quotable quotes

"The place where your greatest fears live is also the place where your greatest growth lies." - Robin Sharma

The Gift of You

What children of all ages want most is more of you. More special times. More pure delight. More whimsy. More shared laughter. More memories to store in their hearts. Give yourself to your child, again and again and again... Give redeemable coupons for each of the following gifts:

We will make banana splits for breakfast. (Or let your child choose the homemade sweet treat of their choice.)
We will stay up all night -- watching your favourite videos, playing your favourite games, eating junk food and looking at family photo albums. Then we'll watch the sun rise from any spot you choose within one hour of our home.
I will wake you up to watch a meteor shower, no matter what time of night the shooting stars begin to appear.
We will play your favourite board or card game at night, either on the beach or in the woods. We'll use a battery-powered lava lamp for light.
We will find out when a child living in a shelter has her birthday. On that child's birthday, we'll surprise her by bringing her a bouquet of balloons and a toy, and singing "Happy Birthday" to her.
We will dance outside in our bathing suits during a summer rain shower (as long as there's no thunder and lightning and that we do have some rain!).
We will go to a river or stream of your choice, or the ocean, and send a message in a bottle.
We will go to a movie and then out to eat in homemade costumes.

Falcon showed up Euro rally stars

When Harry Firth and his Falcon crews arrived at the starting line in the shadow of London’s Big Ben for the commencement of the Daily Telegraph London-to-Sydney Marathon in 1968, everyone laughed at the huge cars with massive steel bumper bars. (We call them kangaroo bars in Australia, and take them seriously!)

Experienced European rally crews scoffed at the huge cars saying they were too wide, too heavy and too cumbersome. The favourites amongst European rally drivers were the lithe Escorts and Hillman GTs, the sporty Porsches and the innovative Citroens.

It didn’t take long for the jeers to turn to amazement as these powerful V8 Falcons worked their way through the field as cars fell by the wayside in Yugoslavia, Iran and India.

When they got to Australia, the Falcons really shone. By the time they arrived in Sydney after days of stony desert tracks and icy alpine roads, the Falcons were placed third, fifth, and eighth, and had won the prestigious Teams Prize.

One of the drivers, a young engineer named Ian Vaughan, took out third place. 25 years later Ian drove the same car on the anniversary re-run and came home second! Ian is now vice president of product development at Ford and isn’t sure whether he’ll be at the wheel for the 50th anniversary in 2018, but that famous Falcon – KAG 002 – very well might be.
The car is on permanent display at the Ford Discovery Centre in Geelong.