Car Wax Explained: What It Is, Why Your Car Needs It, And How Often You Should Do It
What exactly is car wax, and why should you use it? We headed over to the HQ of Autoglym for a wax education, to find out the answers to these questions and more
When should I apply wax?
There are two parts to this question: when during your wash regime should you use wax, and how often should you use the stuff? The first one is easier to answer - it should always be the last thing you apply. After washing the car and applying treatments like polish, the wax goes on to ‘seal’ and protect your hard work. Paul warns against the common mistake of waxing and then polishing - doing so simply strips off the wax.
The question of how often you should apply wax is a little more tricky to answer, but Paul suggests around three times a year, depending on the sort of driving you’re doing. Between then simple shampoo washes (or even a snowfoam treatment, if the car’s not too mucky) will be sufficient, and good car shampoos shouldn’t strip away the layer of wax.
(CarThrottle.com)
Thursday, January 28, 2016
I Can't Wait To Try These
CALLAWAY: Callway continues its aggressive push in the ball market with its new Chrome Soft and Superhot 55 balls. Phil Mickelson is among the pro players who have been using prototypes of Chrome Soft model on tour.
The four-piece Chrome Soft ball introduces a proprietary Dual SoftFast Core, which leads to fast ball speeds off the driver for exceptional distance. The core also lets golfers compress the ball on irons shots for long, straight flight, the company says. The ball also includes a mantle layer and a Tour Urethane Cover for even more control throughout the bag, especially with the scoring clubs.
Perhaps the most intriguing ball out new this year is the TruVis version of the Chrome Soft. It's the same ball as the Chrome Soft, but with a TrueVis cover – a distinctive red and white pattern that makes it look like a tiny soccer ball. It's not a gimmick, though – the pattern helps you identify the ball's spin and roll far better than you can with a one-color cover. This kind of visual feedback is invaluable, and this ball has the potential to become a true breakout hit.
(PGA.com)
The four-piece Chrome Soft ball introduces a proprietary Dual SoftFast Core, which leads to fast ball speeds off the driver for exceptional distance. The core also lets golfers compress the ball on irons shots for long, straight flight, the company says. The ball also includes a mantle layer and a Tour Urethane Cover for even more control throughout the bag, especially with the scoring clubs.
Perhaps the most intriguing ball out new this year is the TruVis version of the Chrome Soft. It's the same ball as the Chrome Soft, but with a TrueVis cover – a distinctive red and white pattern that makes it look like a tiny soccer ball. It's not a gimmick, though – the pattern helps you identify the ball's spin and roll far better than you can with a one-color cover. This kind of visual feedback is invaluable, and this ball has the potential to become a true breakout hit.
(PGA.com)
Front Office Stability & Cohesion Is Important For Every Pro League
Ranking the NHL’s best, worst general manager-coach combinations
2. Los Angeles Kings (Dean Lombardi GM, Darryl Sutter coach)
2. Los Angeles Kings (Dean Lombardi GM, Darryl Sutter coach)
- A pair nearly as simpatico as Bowman and Quenneville, they’ve combined for two Stanley Cups in the past four years. Proof of their genius: say “LA Kings hockey” and everyone knows exactly what it means. Lombardi is an astute judge of talent, loading up on size and skill through the draft (Drew Doughty, Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson) and the trade market (Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Vincent Lecavalier) then filling the holes with capable, heavy bangers. Last year’s stumbles notwithstanding, Sutter knows how to deliver a message and keep the group focused. Another Cup is well within their reach.
Did You Know - Andre The Giant Edition
Goliath's Fall: What You Never Knew About The Late Life And Career Of André The Giant
The WWE Hall of Fame was created solely to honor André the Giant.
Back in 1993, WWF had no particular plans for a Hall of Fame, but when André the Giant passed away, something truly special had to be done to honor the man who carried the company on his broad shoulders for years. The WWF Hall of Fame was hastily established and in its first year; André was its only inductee, because come on – there ain’t room on the ballot for anybody else when André is on there.
Obviously André never got to give an acceptance speech, but this quote seems like a good substitute, “I have had good fortune. I am grateful for my life. If I were to die tomorrow, I know I have eaten more good food, drunk more beer and fine wine, had more friends and seen more of the world than most men ever will.” Damn straight, boss.
Complete list (Yahoo.com)
The WWE Hall of Fame was created solely to honor André the Giant.
Back in 1993, WWF had no particular plans for a Hall of Fame, but when André the Giant passed away, something truly special had to be done to honor the man who carried the company on his broad shoulders for years. The WWF Hall of Fame was hastily established and in its first year; André was its only inductee, because come on – there ain’t room on the ballot for anybody else when André is on there.
Obviously André never got to give an acceptance speech, but this quote seems like a good substitute, “I have had good fortune. I am grateful for my life. If I were to die tomorrow, I know I have eaten more good food, drunk more beer and fine wine, had more friends and seen more of the world than most men ever will.” Damn straight, boss.
Complete list (Yahoo.com)
Like The Mail, It's Gotta Make It Through Rain & Snow
All The Crazy Ways Automakers Test Cars So They Can Handle Nasty Weather
Types Of Cold Weather Tests
Types Of Cold Weather Tests
- Warmup
- Dynamics and Engine Performance
- Durability, Corrosion and Other Cold Testing
Doing These Are Routine For Me Now
The 5 Things You Should Do Before Leaving Your House Every Morning
Get up the first time
Not only does hitting the snooze button repeatedly give you shitty, interrupted sleep that leaves you groggy and makes anyone sleeping next to you hate you, but it also gets you off to a pretty miserable start. As you drift in and out of sleep, terrifying things pop into your head: “No food in the fridge... texting that girl from last night… getting in early today for that call you completely forgot about… fuuuuck!”
Therapist Melissa Parks strongly advises against this approach: “That extra time in bed can lead your mind to wander and obsess and worry about everything you have going on that day.” It might feel bad in the moment, but you'll wind up feeling worse if you lie there for an hour stuck between sleep and consciousness, dreading the day.
Avoid email
Not really the best advice in life these days, but doing it while you’re still in bed is A) definitely going to take longer than you think and B) will also most likely make you freak out. “It’s not your to-do list,” writes productivity expert Sid Savara. Seriously -- those emails are the things that everyone else wants you to do, but for the first 5% of your day, they can go screw themselves. Never Check E-mail in the Morning is even the title of a real book by "Oprah's favorite organizing expert," so, yeah, what more do you need? You can recommend this approach to anyone who takes issue with your lack of timely responses first thing in the morning, but it's probably best to make this change on the sly.
Move your body
Sleep… or exercise… sleep… or exercise? If you’re one of those motivated people who’s going to skip out on a full hour of sleep to get into your workout clothes, get fit, and get showered, great, that makes one of us. Otherwise, you should give up on the idea of turning your morning routine into a killer ab workout.
All you need to do is take literally a few minutes to do something a little bit active. “Getting your blood pumping in the morning is a good kick start to your cardiovascular, respiratory, and… metabolic systems,” says nutrition and fitness expert Juli Huddleston. The idea isn’t to get in shape, but to get your body into gear. “Doesn't have to be much: a few jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, walking the dog, or doing some stretches and yoga poses.” If you can roll out of your bed and onto the floor for a stretch, congratulations! You're already getting somewhere.
Eat something, even if it's not a classic breakfast
Look, you don't have to wake up, put on a starched shirt and sit down for a full breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and toast. You're trying to wake up, not enter a food coma. Plus there's that whole thing about not having enough time. Huddleston’s answer? “Made-ahead breakfast sandwiches! Make several at once, individually wrapped and ready to go.”
If you're not the breakfast sandwich type, a piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg will help get you going, which makes you less likely to double up on lunch or dive into that box of donuts someone brought to work.
Take a few moments to do nothing
It’s easy to focus your morning routine on getting your hand on the doorknob at a time that won't lead to a termination of your employment. But your best bet for setting yourself up for a good day is to make sure you feel centered before going out there. Stopping the rush -- just for 60 seconds, if that's really all the time you have -- and taking a moment to close your eyes and not think about all the stuff you have to do that day will go a long way toward reducing your stress and improving your overall cognitive performance. Beyond the mental benefits, how often do you really get to do absolutely nothing? Build it into your mornings, and you'll start to look forward to it.
(Thrillist.com)
Get up the first time
Not only does hitting the snooze button repeatedly give you shitty, interrupted sleep that leaves you groggy and makes anyone sleeping next to you hate you, but it also gets you off to a pretty miserable start. As you drift in and out of sleep, terrifying things pop into your head: “No food in the fridge... texting that girl from last night… getting in early today for that call you completely forgot about… fuuuuck!”
Therapist Melissa Parks strongly advises against this approach: “That extra time in bed can lead your mind to wander and obsess and worry about everything you have going on that day.” It might feel bad in the moment, but you'll wind up feeling worse if you lie there for an hour stuck between sleep and consciousness, dreading the day.
Avoid email
Not really the best advice in life these days, but doing it while you’re still in bed is A) definitely going to take longer than you think and B) will also most likely make you freak out. “It’s not your to-do list,” writes productivity expert Sid Savara. Seriously -- those emails are the things that everyone else wants you to do, but for the first 5% of your day, they can go screw themselves. Never Check E-mail in the Morning is even the title of a real book by "Oprah's favorite organizing expert," so, yeah, what more do you need? You can recommend this approach to anyone who takes issue with your lack of timely responses first thing in the morning, but it's probably best to make this change on the sly.
Move your body
Sleep… or exercise… sleep… or exercise? If you’re one of those motivated people who’s going to skip out on a full hour of sleep to get into your workout clothes, get fit, and get showered, great, that makes one of us. Otherwise, you should give up on the idea of turning your morning routine into a killer ab workout.
All you need to do is take literally a few minutes to do something a little bit active. “Getting your blood pumping in the morning is a good kick start to your cardiovascular, respiratory, and… metabolic systems,” says nutrition and fitness expert Juli Huddleston. The idea isn’t to get in shape, but to get your body into gear. “Doesn't have to be much: a few jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, walking the dog, or doing some stretches and yoga poses.” If you can roll out of your bed and onto the floor for a stretch, congratulations! You're already getting somewhere.
Eat something, even if it's not a classic breakfast
Look, you don't have to wake up, put on a starched shirt and sit down for a full breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and toast. You're trying to wake up, not enter a food coma. Plus there's that whole thing about not having enough time. Huddleston’s answer? “Made-ahead breakfast sandwiches! Make several at once, individually wrapped and ready to go.”
If you're not the breakfast sandwich type, a piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg will help get you going, which makes you less likely to double up on lunch or dive into that box of donuts someone brought to work.
Take a few moments to do nothing
It’s easy to focus your morning routine on getting your hand on the doorknob at a time that won't lead to a termination of your employment. But your best bet for setting yourself up for a good day is to make sure you feel centered before going out there. Stopping the rush -- just for 60 seconds, if that's really all the time you have -- and taking a moment to close your eyes and not think about all the stuff you have to do that day will go a long way toward reducing your stress and improving your overall cognitive performance. Beyond the mental benefits, how often do you really get to do absolutely nothing? Build it into your mornings, and you'll start to look forward to it.
(Thrillist.com)
Sometimes The Price Doesn't Reflect The Quality
Jonathan Gold Muses On Grand Harbor's $10,000 Tasting Menu
The critic doesn't order the thing, but is pleased with the restaurant's more economical offerings.
This week, Jonathan Gold heads to Temple City to review Grand Harbor, a new Chinese restaurant that specializes in rather pricey seafood dishes. On the menu is a $9,388 tasting menu (at least it feeds 10), that exists as "a statement of purpose, an inference that a meal there might be worth that kind of money, as well as a hint that you may be out of your league."
(LA.Eater.com)
The critic doesn't order the thing, but is pleased with the restaurant's more economical offerings.
This week, Jonathan Gold heads to Temple City to review Grand Harbor, a new Chinese restaurant that specializes in rather pricey seafood dishes. On the menu is a $9,388 tasting menu (at least it feeds 10), that exists as "a statement of purpose, an inference that a meal there might be worth that kind of money, as well as a hint that you may be out of your league."
(LA.Eater.com)
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
The 90's Was The Last, Great Decade For JDM Super Cars
12 Mind-Blowing Cars That Prove The 90s Were JDM’s Golden Era
The 1990s was a great time for cars, with the last of the truly mechanical performance vehicles rolling off the production line before the electric revolution began. It also happened to be the time when Japan was really into making enthusiast cars . . . . .
Mazda RX7 (1991-2002)
It’s not often a car’s styling stands the test of time quite as well as the RX7’s has. Just imagine how it must have felt to first lay eyes upon this gorgeous, curvaceous machine in the early 90s. More than 25 years after it was first revealed, it still looks fantastic, and not in a ‘because retro is, like, so in right now’ kind of way, either.
But it’s not just a pretty silhouette that the Mazda RX7 is famed for. The 1.3-litre twin-rotor engine is a unique little thing, and has won many fans for the way it revs to the stratosphere and sounds like nothing else. Couple that engine to a car that has 50/50 front/rear weight balance, a low centre of gravity, and a lightweight construction, and it’s no surprise it’s won plaudits for being one of the best driver’s cars ever made.
Honda NSX (1990 - 2005)
When you think of Japanese performance cars, you tend to think of fairly low budget cars, but the Honda NSX is the glittering exception to that rule. It was designed to show the likes of Ferrari that you could have supercar performance and great looks at a lower price point and with actual reliability. It succeeded, and went down as a legend.
When we drove one last year, we instantly fell in love with that engine; 276bhp might not sound like a lot these days, but the way it howls its way to the red line after VTEC kicks in is addictive. Its handling dynamics may give away its age, but it’s still great fun to throw around your favourite road, and makes you realise the horsepower war is really rather pointless.
Toyota Supra (1992-2002)
For the A80 model, the Toyota Supra was completely redesigned. Gone was the old boxy styling from the 80s, and in was in-yer-face curvaceous styling and a massive rear wing. It was with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre 2JZ engine that this car really made its name, offering 276bhp from the factory but coming with a ridiculous appetite for being tuned. It quickly became the darling of the aftermarket scene, and in 2016, not a lot has changed in that regard.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 - 2002)
Three generations of GT-R actually spanned this decade, with the R32 running between 1989 and 1994, and the R33 seeing production between 1995 and 1998, at which point the R34 took over the GT-R reigns.
Like so many of the greatest road cars ever built, the GT-R’s resurrection in 1989 was down to Nissan’s desire to dominate motorsport. The R32 was designed to win Group A racing, and the now-iconic 2.6-litre RB26DETT was a result of its determination to use regulations of the time to its advantage. The R33 then came along, updating the styling and improving on a few areas of the previous generation, such as the all-wheel drive system.
With the R34, the styling changed much more radically, and became the symbol of the PlayStation generation thanks to its in-depth on-board analysis systems. As the culmination of a decade’s worth of motor racing knowledge, it was the ultimate incarnation of Nissan’s racing project, moving the game on significantly from the R33 and cementing its place in history.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
The 1990s was a great time for cars, with the last of the truly mechanical performance vehicles rolling off the production line before the electric revolution began. It also happened to be the time when Japan was really into making enthusiast cars . . . . .
Mazda RX7 (1991-2002)
It’s not often a car’s styling stands the test of time quite as well as the RX7’s has. Just imagine how it must have felt to first lay eyes upon this gorgeous, curvaceous machine in the early 90s. More than 25 years after it was first revealed, it still looks fantastic, and not in a ‘because retro is, like, so in right now’ kind of way, either.
But it’s not just a pretty silhouette that the Mazda RX7 is famed for. The 1.3-litre twin-rotor engine is a unique little thing, and has won many fans for the way it revs to the stratosphere and sounds like nothing else. Couple that engine to a car that has 50/50 front/rear weight balance, a low centre of gravity, and a lightweight construction, and it’s no surprise it’s won plaudits for being one of the best driver’s cars ever made.
Honda NSX (1990 - 2005)
When you think of Japanese performance cars, you tend to think of fairly low budget cars, but the Honda NSX is the glittering exception to that rule. It was designed to show the likes of Ferrari that you could have supercar performance and great looks at a lower price point and with actual reliability. It succeeded, and went down as a legend.
When we drove one last year, we instantly fell in love with that engine; 276bhp might not sound like a lot these days, but the way it howls its way to the red line after VTEC kicks in is addictive. Its handling dynamics may give away its age, but it’s still great fun to throw around your favourite road, and makes you realise the horsepower war is really rather pointless.
Toyota Supra (1992-2002)
For the A80 model, the Toyota Supra was completely redesigned. Gone was the old boxy styling from the 80s, and in was in-yer-face curvaceous styling and a massive rear wing. It was with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre 2JZ engine that this car really made its name, offering 276bhp from the factory but coming with a ridiculous appetite for being tuned. It quickly became the darling of the aftermarket scene, and in 2016, not a lot has changed in that regard.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989 - 2002)
Three generations of GT-R actually spanned this decade, with the R32 running between 1989 and 1994, and the R33 seeing production between 1995 and 1998, at which point the R34 took over the GT-R reigns.
Like so many of the greatest road cars ever built, the GT-R’s resurrection in 1989 was down to Nissan’s desire to dominate motorsport. The R32 was designed to win Group A racing, and the now-iconic 2.6-litre RB26DETT was a result of its determination to use regulations of the time to its advantage. The R33 then came along, updating the styling and improving on a few areas of the previous generation, such as the all-wheel drive system.
With the R34, the styling changed much more radically, and became the symbol of the PlayStation generation thanks to its in-depth on-board analysis systems. As the culmination of a decade’s worth of motor racing knowledge, it was the ultimate incarnation of Nissan’s racing project, moving the game on significantly from the R33 and cementing its place in history.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
NHL Power Rankings: Capitals reclaim top spot as Blackhawks sputter - SI.com
HOW THEY STACK UP AFTER WEEK 16
3. Los Angeles Kings
3. Los Angeles Kings
last week: 3
record: 30-15-3
The Vincent Lecavalier
deal is paying quick dividends for the Kings. The veteran center has
three goals in five games, including a last-second equalizer against the
Sharks on Sunday that sparked a 3–2 Los Angeles win in OT. That was
their 30th W of the season, the fastest they’ve reached that mark (48
games) in franchise history. Last week: 2-2-0
5. San Jose Sharks
last week: 5
record: 25-18-4
The Sharks are 7-0-2 in their last nine games, and
finally seem to have found some traction at home, where they’re 4-0-2 in
their past six games after starting the season 5-12-0 there. Joe Pavelski
might be the best player no one talks about. The veteran center picked
up his league-leading eighth game-winner on Saturday against Minnesota. Last week: 2-0-1
13. Anaheim Ducks
last week: 16
record: 21-18-7
The Ducks have won four of their last five games to
move back into playoff contention, and their offense seems to be
clicking. Anaheim still ranks 30 in goals per game (2.02), but the Ducks
have scored at least four goals in five of their past nine. Last week: 2-0-0
I Completely Agree
Until the US Fixes its Backwards Transportation Spending It Should Stop Building New Roads
#NoNewRoads is asking Americans to document places where cities and states have committed to big transportation projects like widening freeways, which continue to degrade the quality of life in our cities without providing any tangible benefit. Most importantly, there is no evidence that adding capacity in the form of more lanes actually improves vehicular congestion—in fact, it makes it worse. And all at a tremendous cost for taxpayers.
(Jalopnik.com)
#NoNewRoads is asking Americans to document places where cities and states have committed to big transportation projects like widening freeways, which continue to degrade the quality of life in our cities without providing any tangible benefit. Most importantly, there is no evidence that adding capacity in the form of more lanes actually improves vehicular congestion—in fact, it makes it worse. And all at a tremendous cost for taxpayers.
(Jalopnik.com)
This Alone Drove Up Prices 10x Over For The Car
7 Reasons The AE86 and The Miata Are Overrated
TWO If it weren’t for Initial D, the AE86 wouldn’t be very popular. A stock Delorean was a terrible car, but ever since it starred in the Back To The Future movies, it’s become a car people drool over; the same thing has happened to the AE86. Because Takumi delivered tofu and raced in an AE86, people are willing to buy them for big amounts of money. AE86’s in good condition cost about $14,000, a bit much considering it’s a 40 year old car with 128 horsepower. If Initial D never aired, I’m sure AE86’s would be selling for half the price, and half of us car guys would never know about the Takumi mobile.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
TWO If it weren’t for Initial D, the AE86 wouldn’t be very popular. A stock Delorean was a terrible car, but ever since it starred in the Back To The Future movies, it’s become a car people drool over; the same thing has happened to the AE86. Because Takumi delivered tofu and raced in an AE86, people are willing to buy them for big amounts of money. AE86’s in good condition cost about $14,000, a bit much considering it’s a 40 year old car with 128 horsepower. If Initial D never aired, I’m sure AE86’s would be selling for half the price, and half of us car guys would never know about the Takumi mobile.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
Hell Yah, Porsche!
Porsche Sticking with Manual Transmissions to the Bitter End
Thankfully, Porsche doesn’t intend on phasing out a manual transmission option for its 911 lineup anytime soon. Speaking to Car and Driver, the Porsche engineering boss for the 911 Turbo, Carrera 4 and Targa promised that a manual transmission will be used in the 911 for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a unique selling proposition for Porsche to have a manual in the 911 range, and I think we will fight for that as long as possible,” said Erhard Mössle. “Even if it’s only 10 percent of the market, it’s important for some customers and for some markets, especially the U.S., to have that kind of gearbox.”
(AutoBlog.com)
Thankfully, Porsche doesn’t intend on phasing out a manual transmission option for its 911 lineup anytime soon. Speaking to Car and Driver, the Porsche engineering boss for the 911 Turbo, Carrera 4 and Targa promised that a manual transmission will be used in the 911 for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a unique selling proposition for Porsche to have a manual in the 911 range, and I think we will fight for that as long as possible,” said Erhard Mössle. “Even if it’s only 10 percent of the market, it’s important for some customers and for some markets, especially the U.S., to have that kind of gearbox.”
(AutoBlog.com)
I Wish I Had The $ For This
Aston Martin Vulcan For Sale For a Mere $3.4 Million
Claimed to be the first in the U.S., it's for sale—for $1.1 million more than Aston's original asking price.
(Road&Track.com)
Claimed to be the first in the U.S., it's for sale—for $1.1 million more than Aston's original asking price.
(Road&Track.com)
Steak Sauce, The Lost Sauce Of The 70's & 80's
Why Doesn't Anyone Use Steak Sauce Anymore?
Meat quality has improved dramatically, says meat guy
Naturally the folks from Certified Angus Beef have an interest in claiming that today's beef is of higher quality than yesteryear, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. When chatting with corporate chef Michael Ollier, he stressed that what was on the table at steakhouses in the '70s doesn't hold a romantic votive candle to what's being served today.
“More ranchers are raising higher-quality beef, which we can tell because Certified Angus Beef has a much higher acceptance rate of cattle today.”
When CAB launched in 1978, it was the first branded beef company in the world, but it's now joined by over 100 others who all set distinct quality benchmarks on their products that simply didn't exist for older generations of cattle. He thinks that the more heavily marbled meat has shifted diners' tastes.
“Before, you were masking something that was inferior, but as people gain a palate for higher-quality beef, they're more hands off and letting the flavors of the beef sing,” says Michael. “Or, they're finding more adventurous ways to balance a fatty cut like a ribeye,” he says, citing the popularity of sauces like chimichurri.
It's even out of fashion at chain steakhouses
As a child I was a picky eater, but loved dangerously rare steaks. At Outback, my dad would jokingly ask the waiter to just wave the steak over the flames, then I'd make a little puddle of A.1. in the corner of my plate and dunk the barely cooked filet into that sickly sour well. To find out if the mainstream had really turned on A.1., I hit up a local chain steakhouse to relive my youth with a filet mignon lunch special.
When I arrived there was no steak sauce on the table, but with the type of hospitality that only comes from people who serve overpriced tenderloins to businessmen, my waiter happily obliged my request. He even brought out a gallon-sized container for photo purposes. But despite all the accommodating, he quickly threw A.1. under the bus. In his two months at the restaurant, only one other customer had asked for it, and even that was more than he'd seen at his previous steakhouse gig.
Just asking for steak sauce was already embarrassing, and using it was even more so. I felt like everyone was watching me, as I ruined 6oz of presumably Select beef by dunking bites into a ramekin of sauce that black-holed all the beef flavor and replaced it with an encompassing sourness that actually made me physically pucker.
The manager, who'd obviously been alerted to my mission, did a polite table-touch to ask me how I liked the steak. I thanked him and said that everything was great. He smiled and smugly added, “Even without the sauce?”
(Thrillist.com)
Meat quality has improved dramatically, says meat guy
Naturally the folks from Certified Angus Beef have an interest in claiming that today's beef is of higher quality than yesteryear, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. When chatting with corporate chef Michael Ollier, he stressed that what was on the table at steakhouses in the '70s doesn't hold a romantic votive candle to what's being served today.
“More ranchers are raising higher-quality beef, which we can tell because Certified Angus Beef has a much higher acceptance rate of cattle today.”
When CAB launched in 1978, it was the first branded beef company in the world, but it's now joined by over 100 others who all set distinct quality benchmarks on their products that simply didn't exist for older generations of cattle. He thinks that the more heavily marbled meat has shifted diners' tastes.
“Before, you were masking something that was inferior, but as people gain a palate for higher-quality beef, they're more hands off and letting the flavors of the beef sing,” says Michael. “Or, they're finding more adventurous ways to balance a fatty cut like a ribeye,” he says, citing the popularity of sauces like chimichurri.
It's even out of fashion at chain steakhouses
As a child I was a picky eater, but loved dangerously rare steaks. At Outback, my dad would jokingly ask the waiter to just wave the steak over the flames, then I'd make a little puddle of A.1. in the corner of my plate and dunk the barely cooked filet into that sickly sour well. To find out if the mainstream had really turned on A.1., I hit up a local chain steakhouse to relive my youth with a filet mignon lunch special.
When I arrived there was no steak sauce on the table, but with the type of hospitality that only comes from people who serve overpriced tenderloins to businessmen, my waiter happily obliged my request. He even brought out a gallon-sized container for photo purposes. But despite all the accommodating, he quickly threw A.1. under the bus. In his two months at the restaurant, only one other customer had asked for it, and even that was more than he'd seen at his previous steakhouse gig.
Just asking for steak sauce was already embarrassing, and using it was even more so. I felt like everyone was watching me, as I ruined 6oz of presumably Select beef by dunking bites into a ramekin of sauce that black-holed all the beef flavor and replaced it with an encompassing sourness that actually made me physically pucker.
The manager, who'd obviously been alerted to my mission, did a polite table-touch to ask me how I liked the steak. I thanked him and said that everything was great. He smiled and smugly added, “Even without the sauce?”
(Thrillist.com)
As A Car Maker, Is It Really Worth It?
Mercedes-Benz Opts Out Of $10 Million Super Bowl 50 Spot
It is reported that Mercedes-Benz has decided not to produce an ad for Super Bowl 50, saving itself some serious cash.
Last year, the German automaker spent about $9 million making and airing its spot for the Mercedes-AMG GT.
While after this searches for the brand's range-topping sports car soared by 3,107 per cent, the most of any brand advertised at the 2015 game, Mercedes Blog , apparently there won't be a follow-up.
A 30-second ad costs about $5 million, while a 60-second advertisement can run for as much as $10 million.
Merc might be absent from what is shaping up to be one of the most watched Super Bowls ever, but a number of automakers have already confirmed their presence. These include Acura, Audi, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Mini.
(CarScoops.com)
It is reported that Mercedes-Benz has decided not to produce an ad for Super Bowl 50, saving itself some serious cash.
Last year, the German automaker spent about $9 million making and airing its spot for the Mercedes-AMG GT.
While after this searches for the brand's range-topping sports car soared by 3,107 per cent, the most of any brand advertised at the 2015 game, Mercedes Blog , apparently there won't be a follow-up.
A 30-second ad costs about $5 million, while a 60-second advertisement can run for as much as $10 million.
Merc might be absent from what is shaping up to be one of the most watched Super Bowls ever, but a number of automakers have already confirmed their presence. These include Acura, Audi, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Mini.
(CarScoops.com)
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
They See Me Rollin' - Renault Edition
The Renault RS 01 is no Audi R8. It’s a mid-engined GT-R with Renaultsport’s know-how. Photo credit: Renault
(Jalopnik.com)
And I'm Sure Hockey Die Hards Want 1, Too
Hockey Night in Canada towel is the must-have for players
The way Shannon, a former HNIC executive producer, tells its history, the towel first moved toward its iconic state after the 1994-95 lockout ended, as the broadcast searched for better branding. “We wanted Hockey Night in Canada all over the place,” Shannon says. And since each intermission interviewee received the same two things—bottled water to drink and a towel to wipe his face—Shannon smacked the HNIC logo right on the thing present in every shot. “While simultaneously ending the practice of paying players a modest sum for the interview segments ($75 or so, Shannon says), the broadcast offered a token for their troubles.
At first, players ditched the towel like it belonged in the laundry, hurling it back to whichever associate producer stood nearby. “No, no,” they were told. “You can keep it.” Some would. Others ignored the offer. “But by the time the playoffs took place in 1995,” Shannon says, “the players weren’t only wanting the towel, but they wanted to be interviewed to get the towel.” On several occasions, public relations officials have approached Shannon asking for another towel, alleging that the player lost it. They often left disappointed. Broadcast rule holds that only three towels are brought to the rink each night—no extras.
Buzz quickly spread. At rink level, Oake found himself fielding offers from players hoping for a score. “You get the towel, you got me,” they would say. One asked Oake for his autograph. A few requested towels to give their fathers, though were often rebuffed out of the desire to maintain exclusivity. (For this reason, towels aren’t sold to the general public either.) Others earned theirs on merit. “I think Eric Lindros ended up with enough for a bathrobe,” Oake says. “He quite liked getting the towels. He said he used them in the boat house at his cottage.”
During the 1998 Stanley Cup Final, Capitals star Adam Oates asked longtime HNIC producer Kathy Broderick if she could send a towel to his friend, a professional golfer in Canada. Broderick hemmed and hawed but eventually agreed. The golfer, it turned out, was Mike Weir, who went on to win the 2003 Masters. “As a jock, you get spoiled and you get a lot of cool trinkets, and to have that with the logo on it is a really cool thing,” Oates says. “It’s the emblem. It’s something you grew up your whole life watching.”
(SI.com)
The way Shannon, a former HNIC executive producer, tells its history, the towel first moved toward its iconic state after the 1994-95 lockout ended, as the broadcast searched for better branding. “We wanted Hockey Night in Canada all over the place,” Shannon says. And since each intermission interviewee received the same two things—bottled water to drink and a towel to wipe his face—Shannon smacked the HNIC logo right on the thing present in every shot. “While simultaneously ending the practice of paying players a modest sum for the interview segments ($75 or so, Shannon says), the broadcast offered a token for their troubles.
At first, players ditched the towel like it belonged in the laundry, hurling it back to whichever associate producer stood nearby. “No, no,” they were told. “You can keep it.” Some would. Others ignored the offer. “But by the time the playoffs took place in 1995,” Shannon says, “the players weren’t only wanting the towel, but they wanted to be interviewed to get the towel.” On several occasions, public relations officials have approached Shannon asking for another towel, alleging that the player lost it. They often left disappointed. Broadcast rule holds that only three towels are brought to the rink each night—no extras.
Buzz quickly spread. At rink level, Oake found himself fielding offers from players hoping for a score. “You get the towel, you got me,” they would say. One asked Oake for his autograph. A few requested towels to give their fathers, though were often rebuffed out of the desire to maintain exclusivity. (For this reason, towels aren’t sold to the general public either.) Others earned theirs on merit. “I think Eric Lindros ended up with enough for a bathrobe,” Oake says. “He quite liked getting the towels. He said he used them in the boat house at his cottage.”
During the 1998 Stanley Cup Final, Capitals star Adam Oates asked longtime HNIC producer Kathy Broderick if she could send a towel to his friend, a professional golfer in Canada. Broderick hemmed and hawed but eventually agreed. The golfer, it turned out, was Mike Weir, who went on to win the 2003 Masters. “As a jock, you get spoiled and you get a lot of cool trinkets, and to have that with the logo on it is a really cool thing,” Oates says. “It’s the emblem. It’s something you grew up your whole life watching.”
(SI.com)
Happy 55th To The Great One!
55 shades of Great: Random facts about Wayne Gretzky on his 55th birthday
6. Being around The Great One: It never ceases to amaze how Gretzky handles himself around fans; it is routine for him to be interrupted repeatedly for an autograph or a picture. He never says "No." He always makes time for fans. What he learned from Howe and Jean Beliveau was to remain humble and always make sure to sign a proper autograph. He earned his nickname for his brilliance on the ice but the moniker also reflects the manner in which he has been an ambassador for the game off it. To this day.
9. Never drafted: With all the hype surrounding big-name prospects today, you would think that Gretzky would have been a No. 1 draft pick. But he was actually never drafted by an NHL team. Gretzky was playing in Edmonton in the WHA when it merged with the NHL in March 1979. Each NHL team was allowed to claim two players from its WHA roster, so Gretzky moved to the NHL without going through the draft.
31. Legends on Ice: Getting a "Legends on Ice" T-shirt that featured Gretzky and Howe was usually a big thrill for hockey fans.
39. Helping hand: Gretzky also holds the record with 1,963 career assists. His assist total alone is enough to make him the leading points scorer.
Complete list (ESPN.com)
6. Being around The Great One: It never ceases to amaze how Gretzky handles himself around fans; it is routine for him to be interrupted repeatedly for an autograph or a picture. He never says "No." He always makes time for fans. What he learned from Howe and Jean Beliveau was to remain humble and always make sure to sign a proper autograph. He earned his nickname for his brilliance on the ice but the moniker also reflects the manner in which he has been an ambassador for the game off it. To this day.
9. Never drafted: With all the hype surrounding big-name prospects today, you would think that Gretzky would have been a No. 1 draft pick. But he was actually never drafted by an NHL team. Gretzky was playing in Edmonton in the WHA when it merged with the NHL in March 1979. Each NHL team was allowed to claim two players from its WHA roster, so Gretzky moved to the NHL without going through the draft.
31. Legends on Ice: Getting a "Legends on Ice" T-shirt that featured Gretzky and Howe was usually a big thrill for hockey fans.
39. Helping hand: Gretzky also holds the record with 1,963 career assists. His assist total alone is enough to make him the leading points scorer.
Complete list (ESPN.com)
It's Because They're A Big Business
The Real Reason Apple Won't Fix Its Crappy Charging Cables
When looks trump function, though, you end up with designers opting for a particular aesthetic, even when it goes against the engineers’ advice -- or massive complaints from users. Simply put: an elegant design is more important to Apple than one that prolongs the life expectancy of a product.
So that, very likely, is why the chargers fray and fall apart -- and will continue to do so. It's not just because they want us to keep sinking money into replacement cords. One former Apple employee claims on Reddit that the Industrial Design team just hates the look of popular “strained relief”-style cords, which exist specifically to prevent cords from bending at harsh angles, and they insist on sticking with the more elegant-looking white brick with USB cord.
The other obnoxious thing at play here is that all the frustrated customers like myself are left pretty much optionless -- Apple cautions against using non-Apple chargers for laptops and iPhones because they can be detrimental to the machine and fry your battery.
(Thrillist.com)
When looks trump function, though, you end up with designers opting for a particular aesthetic, even when it goes against the engineers’ advice -- or massive complaints from users. Simply put: an elegant design is more important to Apple than one that prolongs the life expectancy of a product.
So that, very likely, is why the chargers fray and fall apart -- and will continue to do so. It's not just because they want us to keep sinking money into replacement cords. One former Apple employee claims on Reddit that the Industrial Design team just hates the look of popular “strained relief”-style cords, which exist specifically to prevent cords from bending at harsh angles, and they insist on sticking with the more elegant-looking white brick with USB cord.
The other obnoxious thing at play here is that all the frustrated customers like myself are left pretty much optionless -- Apple cautions against using non-Apple chargers for laptops and iPhones because they can be detrimental to the machine and fry your battery.
(Thrillist.com)
Monday, January 25, 2016
This Awesome Facility Has An Unlikely Location
This Is How The Pentagon Knows Its Combat Aircraft Can Withstand A Blizzard
While the East Coast turns into a less-than-wonderful winter wonderland, the Department of Defense can rest assured that even their most advanced and finicky aircraft left out in the cold will be just fine. This piece of mind comes from testing done at the U.S. Air Force’s one-of-a-kind torture chamber: the McKinley Climatic Lab.
This huge testing facility was built in 1947 as part of a World War II-era initiative to take cold-weather aircraft testing away from the control of mother nature in Alaska and into a scientifically controlled environment. Oddly enough, the facility was built in one of America’s warmest climates at Eglin Air Force Base near the beach city of Destin, Florida. The facility is named after the person who proposed building it, Colonel Ashley McKinley.
(Jalopnik.com)
While the East Coast turns into a less-than-wonderful winter wonderland, the Department of Defense can rest assured that even their most advanced and finicky aircraft left out in the cold will be just fine. This piece of mind comes from testing done at the U.S. Air Force’s one-of-a-kind torture chamber: the McKinley Climatic Lab.
This huge testing facility was built in 1947 as part of a World War II-era initiative to take cold-weather aircraft testing away from the control of mother nature in Alaska and into a scientifically controlled environment. Oddly enough, the facility was built in one of America’s warmest climates at Eglin Air Force Base near the beach city of Destin, Florida. The facility is named after the person who proposed building it, Colonel Ashley McKinley.
(Jalopnik.com)
Old Wins Over New Here
Are old trucks better than new trucks?
But would life be a little better if you had a new truck instead of an old truck? Would you be willing to pay, say, $30,000 for a new truck that has an MSRP at $34,000 and keep it for the long haul? Or are you more of an old-truck enthusiast who is willing to put up with more repairs and a healthy bit of rattles and interior cosmetic issues in exchange for having the tool aspects of a truck?
It's your truck to choose. You can make it loaded from the ground up, or as stripped out as a bare-bones commercial truck that can be hosed down and aired out with crank windows and a long road trip. You can even have it with no A/C and manual steering if you like. So tell us, since it's your money and not ours, would you choose a new truck or an old one?
(AutoBlog.com)
But would life be a little better if you had a new truck instead of an old truck? Would you be willing to pay, say, $30,000 for a new truck that has an MSRP at $34,000 and keep it for the long haul? Or are you more of an old-truck enthusiast who is willing to put up with more repairs and a healthy bit of rattles and interior cosmetic issues in exchange for having the tool aspects of a truck?
It's your truck to choose. You can make it loaded from the ground up, or as stripped out as a bare-bones commercial truck that can be hosed down and aired out with crank windows and a long road trip. You can even have it with no A/C and manual steering if you like. So tell us, since it's your money and not ours, would you choose a new truck or an old one?
(AutoBlog.com)
I'm Taking Advantage Of This
Hidden Cell Phone Contract Perks You Should Be Taking Advantage Of
Verizon
Push for a Loyalty Plan
Verizon
Push for a Loyalty Plan
- Like its competitors, Verizon's been known to pull out all the stops for customers who might walk away after their contract's up. If you're at the end of your current contract and have been a customer for years, you owe it to yourself to call them up to see what they're willing to do to keep you around. If you're lucky you might end up on the storied Loyalty Plan.
Hell No!
Should you tip beyond the 18% service charge?
A restaurant automatically adds 18% of the bill so their workers 'can earn more than minimum wage' (as noted on receipt). I'm fine with that. Then, below that, it says, 'anything more will be split evenly among workers.' Is it customary to pay a little more than the 18% they added or just leave it at their 18%.
(LA.Eater.com)
A restaurant automatically adds 18% of the bill so their workers 'can earn more than minimum wage' (as noted on receipt). I'm fine with that. Then, below that, it says, 'anything more will be split evenly among workers.' Is it customary to pay a little more than the 18% they added or just leave it at their 18%.
(LA.Eater.com)
Thursday, January 21, 2016
The 'R' Now Stands For Rear Seats, Not Race Car
Ford Mustang GT350R gets back-seat option for $999
Damn it, now Ford is doing it. It used to be the Germans were the only folks that would sell you a four-seat version of a two-seat version of a four-seat car. But now the Blue Oval has gotten on board, albeit in a far more limited form with the new GT350R.
The two-seat, high-performance Mustang can now be had with a new Ford Performance accessory that will transform the car back into a proper two-plus-two for just $999, not counting installation. The new back seat kit adds a pair of chairs, complete with seatbelts and the same Alcantara upholstery and red accent stitching found on the big-kid seats up front.
Now, there are a couple ways of looking at this decision on Ford's part. For one, it could be adopting the Porsche model – charging to remove stuff and then charging again to put it back. Or, there are some clever Ford engineers that realize a GT350R with actual back seats is just as capable of entertaining kids as annual trips to Disneyworld, but will cost a lot less. The reality, according to Ford, is much more mundane.
"We always listen to customer feedback," Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak said in a statement. "So when many requested a back seat for their GT350R, we acted quickly to make it available."
Answering customer concerns is always good, but if you really need room for four people, why even buy a two-seat car in the first place? Seems like people are missing the point of a GT350R. Read on for the official press release from the Blue Oval.
(AutoBlog.com)
Damn it, now Ford is doing it. It used to be the Germans were the only folks that would sell you a four-seat version of a two-seat version of a four-seat car. But now the Blue Oval has gotten on board, albeit in a far more limited form with the new GT350R.
The two-seat, high-performance Mustang can now be had with a new Ford Performance accessory that will transform the car back into a proper two-plus-two for just $999, not counting installation. The new back seat kit adds a pair of chairs, complete with seatbelts and the same Alcantara upholstery and red accent stitching found on the big-kid seats up front.
Now, there are a couple ways of looking at this decision on Ford's part. For one, it could be adopting the Porsche model – charging to remove stuff and then charging again to put it back. Or, there are some clever Ford engineers that realize a GT350R with actual back seats is just as capable of entertaining kids as annual trips to Disneyworld, but will cost a lot less. The reality, according to Ford, is much more mundane.
"We always listen to customer feedback," Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak said in a statement. "So when many requested a back seat for their GT350R, we acted quickly to make it available."
Answering customer concerns is always good, but if you really need room for four people, why even buy a two-seat car in the first place? Seems like people are missing the point of a GT350R. Read on for the official press release from the Blue Oval.
(AutoBlog.com)
I Think These Are the Best Kind Of Chopsticks
Korea: Why Metal Chopsticks?
Korea is the only country in the world to use metal chopsticks. Other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, use chopsticks made of wood, or bamboo. Not only are Korean chopsticks made of metal, but they’re also flatter, square in shape, and often more of a ‘middle length’ than the chopsticks you’d find elsewhere.
But why did Korea develop the tradition of using metal chopsticks? One major theory is that royalty during the Baekje period began using silver chopsticks as a way of protecting themselves from being poisoned by their enemies, as the silver would change color when in contact with a poisonous chemical. It is said that the common people then began to use steel chopsticks themselves, as a way of emulating the King.
Other theories state that, because Koreans used a spoon to eat their rice (unlike other Asian countries) it was not necessary to use stickier, wooden chopsticks. It is generally believed in Korea that metal chopsticks are more hygienic than wooden ones, too.
(GastroTourSeoul.com)
Korea is the only country in the world to use metal chopsticks. Other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, use chopsticks made of wood, or bamboo. Not only are Korean chopsticks made of metal, but they’re also flatter, square in shape, and often more of a ‘middle length’ than the chopsticks you’d find elsewhere.
But why did Korea develop the tradition of using metal chopsticks? One major theory is that royalty during the Baekje period began using silver chopsticks as a way of protecting themselves from being poisoned by their enemies, as the silver would change color when in contact with a poisonous chemical. It is said that the common people then began to use steel chopsticks themselves, as a way of emulating the King.
Other theories state that, because Koreans used a spoon to eat their rice (unlike other Asian countries) it was not necessary to use stickier, wooden chopsticks. It is generally believed in Korea that metal chopsticks are more hygienic than wooden ones, too.
(GastroTourSeoul.com)
Did You Know - American Cheese Edition
Things You Didn't Know About American Cheese
1. It isn't technically cheese Less than 51% of a Kraft Single is cheese, so it can't technically be labeled as such. Milk, whey, and milk protein concentrate are the three biggest ingredients, all of which Fooduc
3. It was invented in Switzerland in 1911 There are scarce details on its origins, but the consensus is that the first iteration of American cheese was developed using Emmentaler cheese and sodium citrate in order to improve shelf life.
4. The original Kraft version used cheddar The New York Times reported that although the original Kraft version applied the same concept as the Swiss method, it eschewed Emmentaler in favor of cheddar heated at 175 degrees for 15 minutes.
11. The generic store-bought version might actually be meltier The patriots over at Serious Eats did a serious investigation into different brands, and although Kraft is the innovator and most ubiquitous, SE actually preferred the generic version.
12. There is an American Cheese Society And they're probably very tired of people making Kraft jokes.
Complete list (Thrillist.com)
1. It isn't technically cheese Less than 51% of a Kraft Single is cheese, so it can't technically be labeled as such. Milk, whey, and milk protein concentrate are the three biggest ingredients, all of which Fooduc
3. It was invented in Switzerland in 1911 There are scarce details on its origins, but the consensus is that the first iteration of American cheese was developed using Emmentaler cheese and sodium citrate in order to improve shelf life.
4. The original Kraft version used cheddar The New York Times reported that although the original Kraft version applied the same concept as the Swiss method, it eschewed Emmentaler in favor of cheddar heated at 175 degrees for 15 minutes.
11. The generic store-bought version might actually be meltier The patriots over at Serious Eats did a serious investigation into different brands, and although Kraft is the innovator and most ubiquitous, SE actually preferred the generic version.
12. There is an American Cheese Society And they're probably very tired of people making Kraft jokes.
Complete list (Thrillist.com)
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
These Weren't All That Bad
8 Cars That Were Worse Than Their Predecessors
In a perfect world, each new car model would be better than the last. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world
2002 Subaru WRX
Lucky for Subaru the bug-eyed WRX was a stout performer, otherwise it may have died before designers had a chance to frantically develop a face lift for 2004. Still, the second-generation WRX was bigger, heavier, not as sharp in the handling department, and the two-door version everyone loved from the first-generation disappeared. And as far as the styling is concerned, even if you like the 2002 design, I question the visual acuity of anyone who says it looks better than a 22B.
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
The Evo VI is a very hard act to follow, so I need to defend the VII by saying it isn’t bad, just not as good. The Evo VII suffered some of the same issues as the second-generation WRX in that it got a little bigger and a little heavier, and as a result the proportions of the car weren’t as well adjusted as they could’ve been.
And for the first time the Evo was offered with a freaking automatic gearbox, which makes as much sense as using a mesh parachute to save weight. I understand Mitsubishi trying to broaden the Evo’s appeal, but I have to think that was a decision made by bean counters who have no concept of passion or performance.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
In a perfect world, each new car model would be better than the last. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world
2002 Subaru WRX
Lucky for Subaru the bug-eyed WRX was a stout performer, otherwise it may have died before designers had a chance to frantically develop a face lift for 2004. Still, the second-generation WRX was bigger, heavier, not as sharp in the handling department, and the two-door version everyone loved from the first-generation disappeared. And as far as the styling is concerned, even if you like the 2002 design, I question the visual acuity of anyone who says it looks better than a 22B.
2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII
The Evo VI is a very hard act to follow, so I need to defend the VII by saying it isn’t bad, just not as good. The Evo VII suffered some of the same issues as the second-generation WRX in that it got a little bigger and a little heavier, and as a result the proportions of the car weren’t as well adjusted as they could’ve been.
And for the first time the Evo was offered with a freaking automatic gearbox, which makes as much sense as using a mesh parachute to save weight. I understand Mitsubishi trying to broaden the Evo’s appeal, but I have to think that was a decision made by bean counters who have no concept of passion or performance.
Complete list (CarThrottle.com)
Luckily He Can Afford It
Mickelson loses $5K bet to 17-year-old Aussie amateur
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, during a practice round while trying to recruit 17-year-old Aussie Ryan Ruffels to Arizona State University where Lefty's brother Tim is the head coach, Mickelson proposed a friendly wager, and then promptly lost.
“We get on the first tee, it’s pretty early in the morning and he says, ‘I don't wake up this early to play for any less than $2,500,’” said Ruffels.
The 42-time PGA Tour winner gave Ruffels 2 to 1 odds, offering him $5,000 if he lost and letting the amateur defer his payment until he turned pro, decisions that proved costly considering the kid shot an opening-round 66 at last year's Canadian Open and made the 36-hole cut.
"I was a few down through nine but then I birdied six of my last seven to win by one shot and took his money, so that was pretty cool," Ruffels said.
Not only did Mickelson lose the bet, but he also lost the prospect. Ruffels has since turned pro and will make his first two PGA Tour starts on special exemptions at the Farmers Insurance Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
(GolfChannel.com)
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, during a practice round while trying to recruit 17-year-old Aussie Ryan Ruffels to Arizona State University where Lefty's brother Tim is the head coach, Mickelson proposed a friendly wager, and then promptly lost.
“We get on the first tee, it’s pretty early in the morning and he says, ‘I don't wake up this early to play for any less than $2,500,’” said Ruffels.
The 42-time PGA Tour winner gave Ruffels 2 to 1 odds, offering him $5,000 if he lost and letting the amateur defer his payment until he turned pro, decisions that proved costly considering the kid shot an opening-round 66 at last year's Canadian Open and made the 36-hole cut.
"I was a few down through nine but then I birdied six of my last seven to win by one shot and took his money, so that was pretty cool," Ruffels said.
Not only did Mickelson lose the bet, but he also lost the prospect. Ruffels has since turned pro and will make his first two PGA Tour starts on special exemptions at the Farmers Insurance Open and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
(GolfChannel.com)
I Want This One
Jerry Seinfeld is selling three rare and valuable Porsches
1974 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR once driven by Peter Revson in the famous Roger Penske International Race of Champions. It should bring something north of $1m.
(AutoBlog.com)
1974 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR once driven by Peter Revson in the famous Roger Penske International Race of Champions. It should bring something north of $1m.
(AutoBlog.com)
Did You Know - NFL Edition
Factoids of the Week That May Interest Only Me
III
After a 37-year absence, the Rams will resume playing football games in the Los Angeles Coliseum next fall. The winning quarterback in the last NFL game played by the Rams in the Los Angeles Coliseum, in 1979?
Archie Manning.
Saints 29, Rams 14.
(MMQB.SI.com)
III
After a 37-year absence, the Rams will resume playing football games in the Los Angeles Coliseum next fall. The winning quarterback in the last NFL game played by the Rams in the Los Angeles Coliseum, in 1979?
Archie Manning.
Saints 29, Rams 14.
(MMQB.SI.com)
These Are Easy To Do
15 Tips And Tricks To Make Your Life A Whole Lot Easier
- Make your sandpaper last ten times longer by putting duct tape on the back
- Potatoes are cheaper than Ramen, have more nutritional value, and will keep you full longer
- Enjoy tastier frozen microwaved foods by using your microwave’s power settings. Double the time and halve the power and you’ll notice a delightful difference in taste and texture
- If you come across an unexpected increase in money, don’t go telling people about it
Say What?
Chunks of whale puke sell for as much as $150,000. After aging, the chunks become known as ambergris, developing a sweet musky smell. The material is highly sought after by high-end perfume manufacturers. (article)
(CavemanCircus.com)
(CavemanCircus.com)
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Another OC Landmark Shuts Its Doors
Foxfire, Legendary Anaheim Hills Cougar/MILF Den, to Close
Foxfire, the legendary Anaheim Hills restaurant-cum-bar that served as a den for three generations of MILFs, cougars, and the 20-some-year-old men who loved them, is closing at the end of the month. And with that, an era for every male and recently divorced middle-aged woman in Southern California is coming to a (hopefully temporary) close.
I had been hearing rumors of Foxfire's demise for a while now, but sources tell the Weekly the shopping center wants the revered place out by the end of the month for reasons unknown. Sure ain't 'cause it's dead: since its opening over 30 years ago, Foxfire has been one giant armada of experienced beauties ready to have fun and not ashamed of it. They were so aggressive, they made their rivals at The Quiet Woman and Gulfstream seem as meek as nuns. Foxfire became code in the male Southern California world for fun, for men to try their Leykis 101 moves and get lucky again and again. And there was fun for ladies who were looking for sugar daddies, too!
(OCWeekly.com)
Foxfire, the legendary Anaheim Hills restaurant-cum-bar that served as a den for three generations of MILFs, cougars, and the 20-some-year-old men who loved them, is closing at the end of the month. And with that, an era for every male and recently divorced middle-aged woman in Southern California is coming to a (hopefully temporary) close.
I had been hearing rumors of Foxfire's demise for a while now, but sources tell the Weekly the shopping center wants the revered place out by the end of the month for reasons unknown. Sure ain't 'cause it's dead: since its opening over 30 years ago, Foxfire has been one giant armada of experienced beauties ready to have fun and not ashamed of it. They were so aggressive, they made their rivals at The Quiet Woman and Gulfstream seem as meek as nuns. Foxfire became code in the male Southern California world for fun, for men to try their Leykis 101 moves and get lucky again and again. And there was fun for ladies who were looking for sugar daddies, too!
(OCWeekly.com)
It's A Lot More Complicated Than You Think
How A Race Car Gets Its Paint Job
We debate the best and worst race car liveries–the decorative schemes that make race cars look distinctive and give visibility to sponsors—to the point where punches are thrown and tears are shed. But how are they made? To answer that question, we asked graphic designer Andy Blackmore to take us through the process.
The folks at CJ Wilson Racing were happy to let us use their car as an example, as they just took delivery of a new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport to run in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
Blackmore, who you my recognize from the helpful Spotter Guides for various sportscar series, did the all-new dark grey livery for the car, which the team has dubbed “Darth Cayman.” Blackmore’s background is in car design and styling, which he’s successfully translated into dressing race cars up for competition, as well as a number of other things race teams need, like clothing design, sponsorship decks, team identities, and hero cards.
Here’s how Darth Cayman came to be.
(Jalopnik.com)
We debate the best and worst race car liveries–the decorative schemes that make race cars look distinctive and give visibility to sponsors—to the point where punches are thrown and tears are shed. But how are they made? To answer that question, we asked graphic designer Andy Blackmore to take us through the process.
The folks at CJ Wilson Racing were happy to let us use their car as an example, as they just took delivery of a new Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport to run in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.
Blackmore, who you my recognize from the helpful Spotter Guides for various sportscar series, did the all-new dark grey livery for the car, which the team has dubbed “Darth Cayman.” Blackmore’s background is in car design and styling, which he’s successfully translated into dressing race cars up for competition, as well as a number of other things race teams need, like clothing design, sponsorship decks, team identities, and hero cards.
Here’s how Darth Cayman came to be.
(Jalopnik.com)
Top Gear 2.0 Continues To Experience Some Unwanted Vibrations
Chris Evans loses lunch during Top Gear segment
And A Key Exec Behind New Series Leaves BBC
Poor Chris Evans. Besides having to deal with constant rumors that his version of Top Gear is in turmoil, it seems the new host's stomach wasn't quite up to the task of riding with co-host Sabine Schmitz.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ was riding shotgun alongside Schmitz as she drove the twisting tarmac of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10 Plus. It seemed the German's vigorous driving didn't agree with Evans, though, as he was captured reintroducing his lunch to the world. Evans was shown hunched over and green around the gills in a series of photos published on The Daily Sun. Additional shots published on The Daily Mirror showed some of the crew on hand found the entire affair rather amusing.
"It would be unfair to expect him to be perfect right from the word 'Go,'" an unnamed source told The Sun. "But how can someone who gets car sick possibly host Top Gear?"
In Evans defense, though, it was rare to see Clarkson, Hammond, or May sharing a car on the track, and none of the former hosts were a match for Schmitz's driving skills. Placed in a similar position, there's no guarantee the former Top Gear trio wouldn't blow chunks either.
In other Top Gear news, there's been yet another high-profile firing related to the show, as The Sun reports that Controller Kim Shillinglaw has left the Beeb. She was a key figure in the reintroduction of TG following Clarkson's firing, but a Sun report from late December claimed that she'd developed a reputation as a meddler and was at odds with the "unpredictable" Evans.
(AutoBlog.com)
And A Key Exec Behind New Series Leaves BBC
Poor Chris Evans. Besides having to deal with constant rumors that his version of Top Gear is in turmoil, it seems the new host's stomach wasn't quite up to the task of riding with co-host Sabine Schmitz.
The BBC Radio 2 DJ was riding shotgun alongside Schmitz as she drove the twisting tarmac of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10 Plus. It seemed the German's vigorous driving didn't agree with Evans, though, as he was captured reintroducing his lunch to the world. Evans was shown hunched over and green around the gills in a series of photos published on The Daily Sun. Additional shots published on The Daily Mirror showed some of the crew on hand found the entire affair rather amusing.
"It would be unfair to expect him to be perfect right from the word 'Go,'" an unnamed source told The Sun. "But how can someone who gets car sick possibly host Top Gear?"
In Evans defense, though, it was rare to see Clarkson, Hammond, or May sharing a car on the track, and none of the former hosts were a match for Schmitz's driving skills. Placed in a similar position, there's no guarantee the former Top Gear trio wouldn't blow chunks either.
In other Top Gear news, there's been yet another high-profile firing related to the show, as The Sun reports that Controller Kim Shillinglaw has left the Beeb. She was a key figure in the reintroduction of TG following Clarkson's firing, but a Sun report from late December claimed that she'd developed a reputation as a meddler and was at odds with the "unpredictable" Evans.
(AutoBlog.com)
The PGA Of America Turns 100
Jan. 17, 1916: Creating the PGA of America
On this date 100 years ago, a lunch invitation to the Taplow Club in New York evolved into what's now known as the Professional Golfers Association of America.
Based on the PGA's own historical records, here's a summation of the events that led up to what took place on Jan. 17, 1916.
Rodman Wanamaker was an ardent golfer and heir to Wanamaker's, a well-known Philadelphia department store. In 1916, there were fewer than 50 golf courses nationwide and the majority of the clubs at that time refused to admit professionals.
But Wanamaker saw the public's growing enthusiasm for golf as the beginning of a national trend. He also saw a business opportunity: more golfers means more equipment, and if they bought that equipment at Wanamaker's, even better.
So what if there was a national organization of golf professionals, who could help promote interest in the game and grow the sport? On Jan. 17, 1916, Wanamaker invited a group of New York-area golf professionals, accompanied by several prominent amateur golfers, to a luncheon at the Taplow Club in New York's Martinique Hotel, on Broadway and West 32nd Street.
(PGA.com)
On this date 100 years ago, a lunch invitation to the Taplow Club in New York evolved into what's now known as the Professional Golfers Association of America.
Based on the PGA's own historical records, here's a summation of the events that led up to what took place on Jan. 17, 1916.
Rodman Wanamaker was an ardent golfer and heir to Wanamaker's, a well-known Philadelphia department store. In 1916, there were fewer than 50 golf courses nationwide and the majority of the clubs at that time refused to admit professionals.
But Wanamaker saw the public's growing enthusiasm for golf as the beginning of a national trend. He also saw a business opportunity: more golfers means more equipment, and if they bought that equipment at Wanamaker's, even better.
So what if there was a national organization of golf professionals, who could help promote interest in the game and grow the sport? On Jan. 17, 1916, Wanamaker invited a group of New York-area golf professionals, accompanied by several prominent amateur golfers, to a luncheon at the Taplow Club in New York's Martinique Hotel, on Broadway and West 32nd Street.
(PGA.com)
Monday, January 18, 2016
The Same Probably Could Be Said For SEMA & CES
Auto Shows Are Filled With Car Companies Spying On Their Rivals
But these contrasts aren’t reserved for car journalists to notice. The car companies themselves spend much of the auto show peeking at what their neighbors are up to.
“This is our chance to check out everyone else’s cars,” one unnamed auto executive told me at a competitor’s stand, “without getting hassled.”
You see tons of executives high up and low down striding across the show floor. Take a careful look at the name tags at flashy new car unveils and you’ll see that much of the big crowds are made up of junior German car execs, mostly making snide comments about how hard their rivals are trying to look eco friendly or whatever. And after these presentations die down, you’ll find those same bosses sitting in their competitor’s cars, often making snide comments about fit and finish. There are lots of lines about how panel gaps at Company X would be unacceptable at their Company Y.
The most famous instance of this is when the now-ousted boss of Volkswagen berated his staffers about the quality of a rival Hyundai at the Frankfurt Auto Show a few years back.
These exchanges are never meant to be heard by car journalists, and are very quickly dismissed as off the record if anyone catches an earful.
Most of the time these interactions are quite chummy, though. I watched Audi give an entire tech presentation to Mercedes bosses Erik Hauppenberger and Mahmoud Malek. I talked with Hauppenberger, who used to work on Maybach back in the day, and he was extremely casual about the interaction.
He’d been poking and prodding Audi’s dashboard of the future, running his fingernails along the edges of the touch screens, testing to see if the same swipe motion that worked on the volume also worked on the phone controls. (It didn’t.)
But still, he was quite keen to say that what Audi showed him was far from secret. They’d wheeled out this demonstrator to be used, and they were using it. The auto show is a show for them, too.
(Jalopnik.com)
But these contrasts aren’t reserved for car journalists to notice. The car companies themselves spend much of the auto show peeking at what their neighbors are up to.
“This is our chance to check out everyone else’s cars,” one unnamed auto executive told me at a competitor’s stand, “without getting hassled.”
You see tons of executives high up and low down striding across the show floor. Take a careful look at the name tags at flashy new car unveils and you’ll see that much of the big crowds are made up of junior German car execs, mostly making snide comments about how hard their rivals are trying to look eco friendly or whatever. And after these presentations die down, you’ll find those same bosses sitting in their competitor’s cars, often making snide comments about fit and finish. There are lots of lines about how panel gaps at Company X would be unacceptable at their Company Y.
The most famous instance of this is when the now-ousted boss of Volkswagen berated his staffers about the quality of a rival Hyundai at the Frankfurt Auto Show a few years back.
These exchanges are never meant to be heard by car journalists, and are very quickly dismissed as off the record if anyone catches an earful.
Most of the time these interactions are quite chummy, though. I watched Audi give an entire tech presentation to Mercedes bosses Erik Hauppenberger and Mahmoud Malek. I talked with Hauppenberger, who used to work on Maybach back in the day, and he was extremely casual about the interaction.
He’d been poking and prodding Audi’s dashboard of the future, running his fingernails along the edges of the touch screens, testing to see if the same swipe motion that worked on the volume also worked on the phone controls. (It didn’t.)
But still, he was quite keen to say that what Audi showed him was far from secret. They’d wheeled out this demonstrator to be used, and they were using it. The auto show is a show for them, too.
(Jalopnik.com)
I Agree That It's A Super Dumb Idea
Nissan Has A Dumb Idea For The Next GT-R Supercar
Speaking to Top Gear, Nissan’s head of Advanced Product Strategy Richard Candler reiterated the company’s goals of offering semi and fully autonomous capabilities by 2020 in ten models. One of those models may be the next GT-R, because nothing says elite supercar like not-driving.
Speaking to Top Gear, Nissan’s head of Advanced Product Strategy Richard Candler reiterated the company’s goals of offering semi and fully autonomous capabilities by 2020 in ten models. One of those models may be the next GT-R, because nothing says elite supercar like not-driving.
“One of the things I like to think about is turning up to the Nürburgring in your GT-R, and being able to select one of the famous laps and the car just taking over.”(Jalopnik.com)
The Man Continues To Make Some Awesome Machines
Tokyo Auto Salon 2016: RE-Amemiya's Buzzing Rotary Rockets
20B FD3S Time Attack Rx-7
Appart from noticing all the weight reduction work that has been done on this one, with full carbon door interior, made with this “hand-made” feeling so typical of Amemyia weight reduction products, and that massive carbon fiber wing as wide as the car, I don’t know much about the car as we have yet to see it run. It is absolutely monstrous looking, and knowing how Amemiya’s time attack cars are, this 700hp+ turbo-charged monster will be amazing to witness for sure. I can only hope we’ll get to see Tsuchiya behind the wheel in a test video in the near future!
(OpppositeLock.Kinja.com)
20B FD3S Time Attack Rx-7
Appart from noticing all the weight reduction work that has been done on this one, with full carbon door interior, made with this “hand-made” feeling so typical of Amemyia weight reduction products, and that massive carbon fiber wing as wide as the car, I don’t know much about the car as we have yet to see it run. It is absolutely monstrous looking, and knowing how Amemiya’s time attack cars are, this 700hp+ turbo-charged monster will be amazing to witness for sure. I can only hope we’ll get to see Tsuchiya behind the wheel in a test video in the near future!
(OpppositeLock.Kinja.com)
I Want One
LOVE Porsche 911 GT3s? LOVE Sound? The PERFECT Gift . . . . .
Porsche Design has developed the 911 Soundbar for whom the sound of a high-performance sports car is not enough: a 2.1 virtual surround system subwoofer boost converted from the original rear silencer and twin exhaust from a 911 GT3. 200 watt system performance, DTS TruSurround™, Bluetooth® radio technology for wireless audio transmission from your tablet or smartphone, and much more – for the ultimate audio experience with the rhythms of the race track.
(AutoSpies.com)
Porsche Design has developed the 911 Soundbar for whom the sound of a high-performance sports car is not enough: a 2.1 virtual surround system subwoofer boost converted from the original rear silencer and twin exhaust from a 911 GT3. 200 watt system performance, DTS TruSurround™, Bluetooth® radio technology for wireless audio transmission from your tablet or smartphone, and much more – for the ultimate audio experience with the rhythms of the race track.
(AutoSpies.com)
MGM Resorts, A Big F U To You, You Greedy Mofos
MGM Resorts to charge for parking at Las Vegas Strip casinos
MGM Resorts International will break from a long-standing Las Vegas tradition and begin charging customers to park at the company's Strip resorts as part of a $90 million strategy to "expand and enhance" the company's parking infrastructure.
The parking fees will go into effect sometime between April and June the company said in a Friday statement, which also announced plans for a $54-million, 3,000-space parking structure MGM will construct near the northwest corner of the Excalibur.
The parking structure will help serve visitor growth and attendance at the company's nearby resorts and entertainment venues, including the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena, The Park retail and restaurant complex, and the new 5,000-seat Theater at Monte Carlo.
Construction of the new parking facility is scheduled to begin later this spring with completion scheduled in the second quarter of 2017. An MGM spokesman said customers using the new garage will be able to access the T-Mobile Arena and other nearby locations via a short walk along Frank Sinatra Drive, which runs underneath Tropicana Boulevard.
As part of the vehicle program, MGM Resorts will charge parking fees at all its Strip resorts. The company operates nine Strip developments, including the CityCenter complex, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage. Circus Circus will continue to have free self-parking, but there will be a fee to valet park. The Signature Towers and the Crystals and Mandalay Bay Place shopping malls will be exempt from the parking fees.
Overnight guests utilizing a self-park facility will pay $10 or less. Las Vegas locals will be given a grace period for free parking after the program begins and can maintain their free-parking status by enrolling and earning privileges through M life, the company's customer loyalty program. Nonresident guests can also earn free-parking status through the M life program.
MGM Resorts called the parking fees "moderate" when compared with similar fees in other "high-demand" tourist and convention markets, such as New York, Los Angeles and Orlando.
(ReviewJournal.com)
MGM Resorts International will break from a long-standing Las Vegas tradition and begin charging customers to park at the company's Strip resorts as part of a $90 million strategy to "expand and enhance" the company's parking infrastructure.
The parking fees will go into effect sometime between April and June the company said in a Friday statement, which also announced plans for a $54-million, 3,000-space parking structure MGM will construct near the northwest corner of the Excalibur.
The parking structure will help serve visitor growth and attendance at the company's nearby resorts and entertainment venues, including the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena, The Park retail and restaurant complex, and the new 5,000-seat Theater at Monte Carlo.
Construction of the new parking facility is scheduled to begin later this spring with completion scheduled in the second quarter of 2017. An MGM spokesman said customers using the new garage will be able to access the T-Mobile Arena and other nearby locations via a short walk along Frank Sinatra Drive, which runs underneath Tropicana Boulevard.
As part of the vehicle program, MGM Resorts will charge parking fees at all its Strip resorts. The company operates nine Strip developments, including the CityCenter complex, MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage. Circus Circus will continue to have free self-parking, but there will be a fee to valet park. The Signature Towers and the Crystals and Mandalay Bay Place shopping malls will be exempt from the parking fees.
Overnight guests utilizing a self-park facility will pay $10 or less. Las Vegas locals will be given a grace period for free parking after the program begins and can maintain their free-parking status by enrolling and earning privileges through M life, the company's customer loyalty program. Nonresident guests can also earn free-parking status through the M life program.
MGM Resorts called the parking fees "moderate" when compared with similar fees in other "high-demand" tourist and convention markets, such as New York, Los Angeles and Orlando.
(ReviewJournal.com)
I Wonder If It Has An Eco Mode
Toyota Giving Prius Much Needed Street Cred With GT300 Hybrid Racer
Believe it or not, the Prius actually has some racing pedigree in its blood, having competed in Japan's GT300 championship.
On the back of the latest-generation Prius debuting, the GT300 variant has just been revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Developed by APR Racing, the all-new Prius GT300 uses some technologies from the new road car and mates them to systems from the, now retired, previous-gen racer.
Toyota says that the electric motor of the new GT300 is derived from the one of the production model but, at this stage, no further details about the electric motor have been released.
(AutoSpies.com)
Believe it or not, the Prius actually has some racing pedigree in its blood, having competed in Japan's GT300 championship.
On the back of the latest-generation Prius debuting, the GT300 variant has just been revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Developed by APR Racing, the all-new Prius GT300 uses some technologies from the new road car and mates them to systems from the, now retired, previous-gen racer.
Toyota says that the electric motor of the new GT300 is derived from the one of the production model but, at this stage, no further details about the electric motor have been released.
(AutoSpies.com)
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