zRoundtable X-Factor Poll

Our poll has it extremely close, with Tate Stevens winning our semi-scientific poll, but with Fifth Harmony's performance in the final bringing them neck and neck and neck with Carly Rose & Tate Stevens.

Enjoy the show.  

The X Factor -- 2012 (Prediction Poll)

Now that we are down to The X Factor finals, we're conducting one of our zRoundtable semi-scientific polls  to help us predict the winner of this year's X Factor competition.

Votes will be tabulated through the finals and up to about 3 hours before the results show.

We will publish results before the finale.

Last Second Holiday Gifts for Kids

For last second holiday gifts for kids, here are some good educational and craft magazines for children.  Highlights is an old-time classic and favorite.




American Girl has good arts & crafts + articles.



Muse is educational and great for 8 to 14 year olds.

Keyboards & Pianos

Here's some information if you are looking into pianos or keyboards.  Nowadays, the "key action" of higher-end keyboards is weighted and very similar to "real" pianos.  We like the "clean look" of the Yamaha P-series.  Casio also has highly-rated keyboards (or digital pianos).  Here are full-sized (88-keys) keyboards:







Smaller keyboards are less expensive -- and may interest some people.  However, the key action won't be the same, and there are fewer keys than an actual piano:




Of course, many prefer an actual "real" piano -- if they can afford one (or have the space for one).  Note, however, that the prices vary, as follows:

• Good quality keyboards - $499+
• Upright Pianos - $2,500+ 
• Baby Grand Pianos - $8,000 - $15,000+

If you get a keyboard, you will also need a stand like this:

Here's a good bundle of one of the best Yamaha keyboards -- that has a lot of things (stand, bench) you'd need:

Cyber Monday Deals

Here are a few good websites for Cyber Monday deals.  Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season!

Cyber Monday website



And, of course, Amazon always offers some of the best prices and service.

Election Results in 2008 and 2012

This year's election is still going on -- but we thought we'd look at the results four years ago.

2008 Electoral Map - Results Four Years Ago (365- 173)




We are following this year's elections at all of the major news sources, such as:
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.nbcnews.com/
http://www.foxnews.com/

This site has a nice Electoral Map tool:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/obama_vs_romney_create_your_own_electoral_college_map.html

2012 Final Electoral Results (332-203)

Frankenstorm Sandy

Here are various links and pictures from the megastorm Sandy.  We hope you are safe...  

In any case, here's a quick update on "Frankenstorm" Sandy.  The megastorm swept up along the entire US eastern seaboard and it's huge radius impacted everywhere from North Carolina to Maine -- eventually making landfall near Atlantic City, NJ and crossing almost directly over Philadelphia.  Almost 10 million are without power -- and many without water.  

The storm has really been a crazy one.  In addition to the heavy winds, rain, and flooding, a combination of storms and arctic winds from the north and west -- have also dumped up to a few feet of snow in areas as widespread as W. Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pittsburgh (and sleet in Virginia)...  Many major roads in the area are closed.      

Here's a scary video of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel getting flooded.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134146n&tag=api

Dr. Jeff Masters has some of the best information on hurricanes on his blog:

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2281

Additional pictures:

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at201218.asp

Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/10/29/millions-across-east-coast-brace-for-uperstorm-sandy/

NYC Pictures (Pics of subway floods; power outage)
http://www.policymic.com/articles/17532/hurricane-sandy-path-live-hurricane-tracker-and-damage-report-on-nyc-power-outages

Other Photos:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/hurricane-sandy-pictures-photos2-20121025

Electric Cars

Here's a round-up of some of the best electric cars out there (or coming soon):

• Chevy Volt: read more about the Volt and electric cars in our article here.
• Nissan Leaf
• Tesla's

It's interesting how the industry measures miles per gallon, etc.; hopefully there will be some industry standards as electric cars and hybrids become more popular.


Read more here:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/best-electric-cars-a-roundup-of-all-evs-out-now-and-coming-soon/

Chevy Volt and Electric Cars

The Chevy Volt has made news because its drivers average about 1,000 miles between fill-ups.  But what does this mean?

• The Chevy Volt can go about 35 miles on a fully charged battery.  Then, the car operates on gas (it has a 9.3 gallon gas tank).  
• Thus, the average Volt driver drives about 111 miles per gallon. 
• Some drivers go about 4,000 miles between fill-ups, because they drive short distances and recharge the car frequently.  
• In most of the U.S., electricity costs less than the equivalent usage of gas, per mile.  (about 1/3 the cost).  

Read more here:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/02/autos/volt_1000_miles/index.htm

And how does the Volt perform in crash tests?  Due to the extra weight of battery packs, the Volt, and Leaf (another electric car) -- perform well in crash tests.

Read more here:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/26/news/companies/leaf_volt_crash_tests/index.htm?iid=EAL

Fall TV Season - 2012

Tonight is the premiere of one of the most-hyped and most-talked-about new shows of the season: Revolution.  Here are some of our favorite shows for the upcoming TV season -- and their season premieres.

• X-Factor (Fox) - Wed, Sept 12
• Revolution (NBC) - Mon, Sept 17
• Grimm (NBC) - Friday, Sept 21 (new episodes started over the summer)
• The Middle (ABC) - Wed, Sept 26
• Revenge (ABC) - Sun, Sept 30
• The Good Wife (CBS) - Sun, Sept 30
• Homeland (Showtime) - Sept 30

For a complete listing, check out:

http://www.tvguide.com/special/fall-preview/calendar.aspx?wcid=15

Laundry Machines: To HE or not to HE..??

Are you looking for a new washing machine (and/or washer/dryer) to do your laundry?  We think the idea behind the new-fangled "High Efficiency (HE)" washing machines are great.  The machines use an "impeller" that pushes the clothes in a cyclone kind of motion in order to:

• use less water
• save energy -- especially heating up the (lower quantity of) water.

However, the execution of this newer technology currently seems lacking.  Many people complain about:

• clothes that do not get cleaned, 
• extra-wrinkly clothes, and
• machines are rough with clothes. 
• In addition, reviews are consistently mediocre -- across the board for the HE machines.  For example:  
• http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-high-efficiency-washing-machine.htm

Other laundry machine tidbits:

• Front-loading washing machines need the rubber gaskets cleaned from time to time to avoid mold/mildew.  In fact, many suggest leaving the doors open to avoid mold/mildew and the associated smells.
• Top vs. Front-loaders:  
• http://www.consumersearch.com/washing-machine-reviews/how-to-buy-a-washing-machine
• Recent reviews:   http://www.consumersearch.com/washing-machine-reviews/top-loading-washers

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is getting underway -- and Wunderground.com has some good coverage and easily clickable (findable) computer models for tracking various storms.  Currently, we are keeping an eye on Isaac, which has the possibility of hitting Florida or the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at201209_model_intensity.html?MR=1

Steve Carrell's Words of Wisdom for Princeton Grads

Be kind, make someone laugh and don't take yourself too seriously, Carell told Princeton seniors.

In his Class Day address, actor and comedian Steve Carell gave the graduating seniors a lighthearted scolding for relying too heavily on technologies like texting and tweeting in favor of personal interactions. "You are young," he told the students. "And because of that, you are wrong." 

When comedian Steve Carell went to college, girls rejected him in person.

Carell was once on track to attend law school. But the 1984 Denison University graduate became stumped while filling out his application to Stanford Law School. The essay question read:  "Why do you want to be an attorney?”

“I really had no idea,” Carell told Princeton’s graduating seniors. “It sounded good. My parents had worked extraordinarily hard to give me a great education, and I felt that I owed them some sort of valid career choice.

"So I sat down with my folks, and asked them what they thought, and they proceeded to give me the best advice that I had ever received, or would ever receive. Their words were profound, wise, and they completely altered the rest of my life.

“They said something like ‘blah, blah, blah, follow your dreams, blah, blah, blah.’ I don’t remember exactly what it was, but I didn’t go to law school.”

Read more here:

http://haddonfield.patch.com/articles/steve-carell-tells-princeton-seniors-dont-take-yourselves-too-seriously-c01f00b7#photo-10184501

Credits: 

Princeton University, Office of Communications, David Kelly Crow

Haddonfield Sun

Free Slurpees at 7-Eleven on 7/11!

Today is 7-Eleven's 85th birthday -- and you can get a free Slurpee at participating 7-Eleven's between 11am and 7pm!   7-Eleven has special-sized cups for the event; can you guess it?  Yes, 7.11 ounces of a free Slurpee of your choice!

Hurry in soon after 11am, local time, wherever you are: the offer is good while the special-sized cups last.  Did you know that the Slurpee was "invented" due to a mishap at a drive-in hamburger joint?

Read more here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/free-slurpees-7-11_n_1663293.html

A nice way to cool off during the summer!

Summer Reading List for Kids

We think that the Kindle Fire is a great device: tablet functions, nice handheld size, and the color makes reading from an e-reader more fun!  These books are all available on the Kindle -- but hardcopies of the book are also available, of course.

Here are some favorite reads for children in a wide range of ages (age 8 or so -- and up).  Happy reading!  and Happy 4th of July!

Interesting Music Stories: Rena Weishaar, female luthier & other stories

Here are some interesting stories about violins -- excerpted from an artfully-written article on Rena Weishaar, a great female luthier -- in the LA Times:

Only wood could explain the mysteries of this centuries-old craft, how Antonio Stradivari created masterpieces that improved in tone over 250 years, creating the ultimate voice for the works of great composers. And it is the nature of this craft that laureled makers die before their instruments, as the mother dies before the child. They never realize how time and virtuosity slowly bring forth full measure of their creations.

The wood could tell stories of legendary musicians and thieves, of a man named Erich Gruenberg, whose Stradivari violin was stolen as he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on July 24, 1990. His words expressed death-like devastation. "It is irreplaceable," he said. "It is my life." Police found it nine months later in Honduras.

It could tell the story of Julian Altman, a strolling violinist at a Russian restaurant in New York--how he entered nearby Carnegie Hall wearing a bulky overcoat and stole the Strad of Bronislaw Huberman while Huberman performed the Bach Concerto in E Major on another violin. Forty-nine years later, on his deathbed, Altman confessed his secret.

And it could tell the story of Vahan Bedelian, who in 1915 was to be sent to what is now the Syrian desert, where 1.5 million Armenians perished in an act of Turkish genocide. He defended himself not with gun nor sword. On the eve of his anticipated journey to death, Bedelian picked up his violin and performed mournfully and passionately before a Turkish general, who listened, then approached him with champagne and these words: "A talent like you we need. You should not be sent to the desert."

His life spared, Bedelian lived to teach the violin to many, including his son, Haroutune, who was accepted into London's Royal Academy of Music at age 15. For this son, Rena Weisshaar will make a violin, in part with this Bosnian maple, from ground now stained by blood of war and ashes of precious trees.

***

To make a violin is to walk a tightrope. disaster lurks with each step, with each millimeter. Each instrument is a journey fraught with unknowns. Expectations are high, but heartbreak is not far away.

The wedge-shaped maple slabs, 16.5 inches long and each barely half the width of a violin back, must be glued together seamlessly, thick ends in the center to allow for arching. When troublesome, the task can take a full day and reduce one to tears.

The wood begins with square corners and is systematically transformed into circular shapes. The two slabs of maple make up only the back of the violin. In all, 58 separate pieces compose this instrument, working together to transmit a precise traffic of vibrations.

Typically, Rena can complete an instrument with 300 hours' work. But to a violin maker, time is both meaningless and sublime. To spend a month making a feeble instrument is a wasted month. To spend a year or a lifetime making an excellent instrument, one that may produce superior sound for decades or centuries, is time well spent. The hours do not matter. "What's important," she says, "is that you feel it has been done right."

*******************

Read the entire article here:

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/aug/31/magazine/tm-27440

Summer: Do you know your Refrigerator's Temperature?

As the season's change, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your refrigerator's temperature settings.  Some refrigerator settings should be adjusted -- especially for summer and winter.  


Do you know what temperature your freezer and refrigerator are? Your freezer should be set to zero degrees F. Yes: that's way colder than the freezing temperature (32 degrees F) of water -- but certain yeasts and bacteria can start growing at 15 degrees F. Freezer temperatures shouldn't reach more than 5 degrees F. Note that if your freezer can't keep ice cream hard, then it is above the recommended level. Keep the freezer at 5 degrees or colder, preferably 0 degrees F. 

The temperature in your refrigerator should be between 35 degrees F and 42 degrees F. You don't want things to freeze, but you also want to keep your food from spoiling as much as possible. Bacteria can really start growing fast at 42 degrees or higher. 

Get a thermometer and move it around to different parts of your freezer and refrigerator. It's actually sort of fun and interesting -- and most importantly, will keep your food happier.

Right or Left-Brained?

Here's a fun link to test if you are right or left-brained.

• Left-brained: typically means logical and analytical
• Right-brained: creative, emotional, 

http://www.piano-lessons.net/news_item.php?id=11&page=5

Today is... National Doughnut Day (June 1)

One June 1, 2012, Krispy Kreme fans receive one free doughnut of any variety!

No purchase is necessary.

The day was established 75 years ago as a way to commemorate the work of the Salvation Army "doughnut lassies" who served the treat to soldiers during World War I.

American Idol Prediction Poll Results 5/23/12

We have tallied the results of our Prediction Poll -- and Jessica narrowed Phillip's lead tremendously -- but the poll has Phillip Phillips in a very narrow victory...  The results will be decided by voters thinking of the recent performance (Jessica) vs. the season (P2)...

American Idol Finale: Prediction Poll for 5/23/12

Our Prediction Poll for this year's season of American Idol have been accurate.  Please vote for your favorite American Idol -- and we will publish the results of our Prediction Poll before the finale on Wednesday.

Note that for "finale week" -- American Idol is airing Tuesday and Wednesday.  Wednesday will be the finale for the season.

 

American Idol 2012: 5/17/12 Prediction Poll Results

Here are the results of our Prediction Poll for this week.

1. Phillip
2. Jessica
3. Joshua

Please continue to vote in our zRoundtable Prediction Poll.  We will publish the results before the Finale next Wednesday.  Note that next week, Idol is on Tuesday & Wednesday. 

American Idol 2012: And then there were 3 (5/17/12 Results Show)

Our prediction poll had Phillip Phillips at the top last week -- with the other three contestants bunched up -- but a good distance behind Phillip.  Hollie was eliminated, leaving us with just three contestants.  Please vote in our zRoundtable Prediction Poll.  We will publish the results before the results show on Thursday.

American Idol: Prediction Poll - Results for May 10, 2012

Here are the results of our Prediction Poll for the Results Show on May 10, 2012.  In our poll, Phillip Phillips remains our leader.  Surprisingly, in some ways, the other three contestants are bunched up together, almost tied for second -- or last place -- depending on how you look at it.  Hollie & Jessica were tied, with Joshua just a touch behind...  We'll label the American Idol Final Four as follows:

• 1. Phillip
• 3a. Jessica
• 3a. Hollie
• 3b. Joshua.  

American Idol 2012 (Vote in our 5/10 Prediction Poll)

Someone had to go: it's part of the show...  But we liked Skylar...  Happily, she should have a good career in music as a modern country music gal with rock 'n' roll blood.

Our Prediction Poll was correct, although we were mildly surprised to see Hollie in the bottom two.  Hollie has been performing well, but American Idol IS a popularity contest to some degree.  

Please continue to vote in our Prediction Poll and we will publish results as the show progresses.  The Prediction Poll has a fairly decent track record over the years!

American Idol 2012 - Prediction Poll Results for May 3

Here are the results of our American Idol Prediction Poll for the week of May 3, 2012.

1. Phillip
2. Jessica
3. Hollie
4. Joshua
5. Skylar

Joshua and Skylar look like they are in danger...  

Please continue to vote in our Prediction Poll and we will publish results as the show progresses.  

American Idol 2012 (Prediction Poll for May 3)

In the past, we have done our own zRoundtable poll -- with good results in predicting winners (and contestants who might be eliminated).  For the 2012 American Idol, we are now down to the Final Five.  Please vote for your favorite Idols -- and we'll post the results before next week's result's show.

Out top five (in alphabetical order).  Please vote for your favorite Idol here.

• Hollie
• Jessica
• Joshua
• Phillip
• Skylar

Sharpening Your Cooking Knives

Are your good cooking knifes getting dull?

Make sure you "hone" your knives with a "steel" regularly....   Here's a good link on how to "hone" your knife and keep the edge sharp.
http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/culinarytools/ht/honing.htm




and sharpen your knives once in a while with a knife sharpener.  Honing ensures the micro-edge of the knife is sharp/not folded on itself (unfolded).  Periodic sharpening removes a weak edge and shapes a new, stronger, edge.



Some people prefer to use an electric sharpener like this highly-rated Chef's Choice sharpener.  However, we don't like the amount of metal that these machines remove from our good knives.



Note that knives that never need sharpening (often serrated knives) -- do, in fact, need to be sharpened.

Here is some good information on knives:
http://www.edgecraft.com/tips_myth_all.html

Gardening: Hardy Perennials

Along with lawn care, here is a list of some of our favorite hardy flowering perennials.

• Gaillardia; Blanket Flower - flowers much of summer and hardy; 2-3";   http://gardening.about.com/od/choosingperennialplants/ig/Perennials-for-New-Gardeners/Gaillardia--Blanket-Flower.htm
• Achillea; Growing Yarrow -  spreads; 6"-36" tall;  http://gardening.about.com/od/plantprofile1/p/Achillea.htm
• Geranium - colorful, blooms for several months
• Pinks

http://www.perennial-garden-plants.com/pictorial-flower-guide.html

Lawn Care: 2012 Notes

We had a mild and relatively short winter in the northeast US -- so we are preparing our lawn earlier than usual this season.  We have already laid down lime -- and fertilizer this year.  Here are some notes from previous blog posts.

Lime

• One of the first things I do each spring is lay lime down.  Here are more detailed tips about lime. 

Fertilizer Tips

• The fertilizer serves double duty: it fertilizes the grass and kills the weeds.  
• It's best to lay the fertilizer down when the grass is still damp: either during the early morning (so the morning dew catches the fertilizer) -- or after it rains. 
• The wetness helps the weed killer stick to the leaves -- killing the weeds.
• You do NOT want to lay the fertilizer down before an expected rainstorm or else much of the fertilizer will get washed away.  
• Do not lay the first feeding of the season down until it is consistently in the 60's.  You want the fertilizer to help grass when it is growing.  

Other Lawn Care Tips

• Aeration & Compost
• First lawn mow of season

• Mowing: Depending on the weather (temperatures, amount of rain, etc.) -- try to mow at least once a week. Cutting often (and not too short: rule of thumb is less than 1/3 of the blades of grass) leads to healthier grass.
• First mowing of the season: this first cut of the season should be on the short side. The shorter mowing will encourage the roots and grass to wake up and start growing.
• Water: only as needed. Again, this depends on your location and climate. If you need to water: water deeply and only once week or so (if there's no rain). Infrequent, but deep waterings will promote deeper roots and stronger/healthier grass (as opposed to frequent/shallow watering). Some people measure the water (putting out cans to see how much water the sprinkler is putting out) and aim for 1 inch per week. The best time to water is early in the day (avoids heat/evaporation).

Violins: New Instruments as Good as Old Masters

Many tests have been conducted in which an audience tries, usually unsuccessfully, to guess whether a violinist behind a screen is playing a new instrument or an old master. But Dr. Fritz said that to her knowledge, no one had conducted a well-controlled study putting the same question to the real experts: violinists.

 

Teaming up with the violin maker Joseph Curtin and others, she corralled violinists attending an international competition in Indianapolis and had them compare three high-quality modern violins with a Guarneri and two Stradivari instruments.

People asked to rate a wine will judge it more pleasant when told it costs more. To avoid any such effect, the violinists had to wear goggles so that they could not identify the violins. In one test they were allowed to play all six violins and asked to choose which they would most like to take home. In another, they were required to compare a pair of violins, without being told that one was a classic and the other a new instrument.

Despite a general belief among violinists that Stradivari and Guarneri violins are tonally superior, the participants in Dr. Fritz’s test could not reliably distinguish such instruments from modern violins. Only 8 of the 21 subjects chose an old violin as the one they’d like to take home. In the old-to-new comparison, a Stradivarius came in last and a new violin as the most preferred.

Read more here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/science/in-play-off-between-old-and-new-violins-stradivarius-lags.html?_r=3 

Business & A Moral Compass

The resignation of ex-Goldman executive Greg Smith has made big news -- but we wanted to take a look at the positive message that can be taken from this event.

... culture ... always a vital part ... of success... It revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. 
...
If clients don’t trust you they will eventually stop doing business with you. It doesn’t matter how smart you are.
...
Make the client the focal point of your business... Without clients you will not make money. In fact, you will not exist. Weed out the morally bankrupt people, no matter how much money they make for the firm. And get the culture right again, so people want to work here for the right reasons. People who care only about making money will not sustain this firm — or the trust of its clients.

Read more here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=opinion

DWTS -- Season 14 Pairings

The cast for the 14th season of "Dancing With the Stars" was announced Tuesday, and it features athletes, former child stars, TV hosts and more. With the show set to kick off on March 19, the new crop of celebrity dancers strutted their way onto the "Good Morning America" set in Los Angeles with their sights set on the coveted Mirror Ball trophy.

So, what celebrities will be dancing this season and with whom will they be dancing?

Read more here:

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680142/dancing-with-the-stars-cast-season-14.jhtml

Dental Tip

Here's a dental tip from a quality dentist in the South Jersey / Philadelphia area: Dr. Mereminsky, DMD.  Dr. Mereminsky is the owner of the private dental practice, Mereminsky Family Dental.

Dental Tip

Avoid sticky sweets, such as taffies, toffees, soft candies, and pastries. These types of foods stick to your teeth and feed decay-causing bacteria.

When you do eat sweets, eat them with or after a meal (when candies are eaten alone, they are more likely to remain stuck between your teeth).

Also, please try to brush your teeth within 10 minutes of consuming foods high in sugar, such as candy. This will greatly reduce the damage that decay-causing bacteria can do to your teeth!

Dr. Edward Mereminsky DMD - Mereminsky Family Dental

6021 Mansion Boulevard, Suite B - Pennsauken (or Merchantville) - NJ 08109

Phone: (856) 662-2333

http://www.mereminskyfamilydental.com/

The River: (Premieres Feb 7)

This is another promising new show, with a 2-hour premiere on Tuesday, February 7th.

Dr. Emmet Cole is missing.

The beloved host of The Undiscovered Country, which brought the wonder and magic of the natural world into our homes for so many years, has disappeared in the wilds of the Amazon. Gone for six months now, and thought by many to be dead, his emergency beacon went off two weeks ago. Now Dr. Cole’s wife and frequent co-host of The Undiscovered Country, Tess, has begun the search for her husband. With the help of her son, Lincoln, and crew members Lena Landry, Emilio Valenzuela and his daughter Jahel, and Captain Kurt Brynildson, Tess is looking to be reunited with her husband and save the rest of his missing crew.

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-river/about-the-show

Beauty & Women

Here's a nice article about women, beauty -- and a look at how fashion and beauty have changed over the years...  

... some aspects of a woman are as sensual today as they were thousands of years ago.  What has changed is the way these alluring attributes are either concealed or revealed.  From ancient Greek statues to today's latest stars, see how "sexy" has evolved...

Read more here:
http://glo.msn.com/beauty/what-is-sexy-7604.gallery?photoId=70590#!stackState=0__%2Fbeauty%2Fwhat-is-sexy-7604.gallery

4-Wheel-Drive and All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles

With the snow storm hitting many parts of the U.S., many folks are talking about four-wheel and all-wheel drive cars.  Here's some info...

Four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive systems are becoming popular options not only for SUVs, but cars as well. All SUVs and pickup trucks offer 4WD or AWD systems, and even some compact cars, like the Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Matrix, offer available AWD systems. Oftentimes, more than one system is available for any given vehicle, leaving consumers puzzled.

With so many options to choose from, it's easy for drivers to get confused by a barrage of acronyms, each more meaningless than the last. For most shoppers, there are three basic options: Full-time 4WD, part-time 4WD, or AWD. Although each system has its own merits, one thing is certain--any 4WD system will make your vehicle less fuel efficient and more complicated to repair and maintain. In many situations, it'll also add quite a few dollars to your vehicle's purchase price. 


http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/your-ride-4wd-vs-awd-cga.htm

List of cars:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/your-ride-4wd-vs-awd-cga1.htm

Hot Water Heater Settings

In the northeast US, we're in the middle of winter, so some folks are adjusting their hot water heater -- especially if this is used for heating the house.

• The difference between the high / low setting should be around 20-30 degrees apart for many systems.
• Increasing the spread slightly (5-10 degrees), and lowering the temperature of the min/max settings (try 5-10 degrees at a time) can save 5-10% of your heating bill.
• A common setting is 140/160, although 135/160 may be hot enough for some systems.  During the summer, 125/150 may be hot enough.
• Lower temperatures may make the heating / radiators quieter as they heat up.  They will also cause less mineral deposits, making the hot water tank/system last longer.
• During the winter, may need to adjust hotter if the hot water is used for heating.

Read more from this forum:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/forum-thread/98623/hi-lo-settings-for-oil-fired-boiler

Jan 2012 TV Premieres

We are in the midst of the January 2012 winter TV season premieres...  Here are some shows that we're keeping an eye on...  So set your DVRs:

• American Idol (Fox): Wed, January 18th.
• Touch (Fox): January 25th - Kieffer Sutherland

Other shows that have captured some of our attention:

• The Middle -- good stories that many families can relate to...
• Showtime's "House of Lies" & "Shameless" -- recently started new seasons

Recipe: Swedish Coffee

Want some nice, deep, rich-tasting coffee?  No coffee maker?  Or all of the above?  This recipe for Swedish Coffee can make "okay-to-good" coffee: "great" -- and make "great" coffee just a bit richer/less bitter.



Swedish Coffee Recipe

Ingredients:

1 egg

1 cup cold water, divided

1 cup regular grind coffee

6 cups boiling water

Directions:

1. Use a Graniteware (enamel) coffee pot.

2. Wash egg, break it into a smal bowl (reserving shell), and beat slightly.

3. Add 1/2 cup cold water, the 1 cup ground coffee, and the reserved (crushed) egg shell, and mix thoroughly.

4. Turn into coffee pot, pour on boiling water, and stir.

5. Place on front of range and boil for 3 minutes. (If not boiled, coffee is cloudy. If boiled too long, too much tannic acid is developed.)

6. Add remaining 1/2 cup cold water, which perfects clearing. (Cold water, which is heavier than hot, sinks to the bottom and carries the grounds with it.)

7. After coffee has settled, serve at once.

Read more here:
https://sites.google.com/site/juliarosechin/cooking  

Parenting: Achieving & Working Hard

One of our contacts, a sports psychologist and co-author of the "Who Will Win the Big Game?" book had a chance to interview Shannon Miller, the Gold Medal Olympic gymnast.  The interesting thing is that -- even at that high level -- she talks about:

• hard work
• focus (and getting into "the zone")
• mental toughness and not getting derailed
• performing "smart" (when you are not 100%)
• setting goals

http://whowillwinthebiggame.blogspot.com/2012/01/co-author-of-who-will-win-interviews.html