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Head-to-Head : Ford Capri vs Triumph TR8
29 May 2011 Keith Adams 51
Richard Truett
The final Triumph TR and the Ford Capri are two of Britain's most iconic 'affordable' sports cars of the 1980s.
One, caught up in corporate financial turmoil and never developed to its full potential, died prematurely in October 1981. It is only now being appreciated for its advanced styling, excellent handling, sensible cockpit and other good qualities.
The other lived out its natural life and remained in production until 1987. Then it received a classy send-off with the stunning Brooklands Green 280i edition. Yes, the Capri coasted into retirement with honours and then immediately took its place among the classics. Meanwhile the TR7/8 struggled for years unloved and unwanted by sports car cognoscenti.
Okay, so this means the Capri is the better sports car, right?
Not necessarily…
The top spec Capri, the 2.8 Injection Special, and the range-topping TR, the TR8 should have had a long and healthy rivalry but the race was over not long after it started. The TR8 was never launched in Britain and the 2.8 Capri never came to the USA, so rarely have the two cars been compared.
Before we get into those details, a little background information is in order to explain how I came to own both cars here in the USA.
No matter where I have worked, it has never been a problem – until recently – to proudly boast that I am a Triumph man. I love the cars from Coventry. I have immense respect for the trailblazing technology Triumph brought to the mass market on such limited development funds – disc brakes, IRS, petrol injection, the first 16 valve engine – to name a few.
Triumph was scrappy and forward-thinking. Triumph consistently built stylish cars with character. How could you not admire that?
Yet a job change has forced me to curb my Triumph enthusiasm a bit. That's because I now work for Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Michigan, and, even though it's okay to admire the products of another company, it's decidedly not a good thing to boast continually about someone's else great cars, classic or new.
Not long after I started at Ford, I knew one of my Triumphs would have to go to make room for a classic Ford. One of the Stags therefore went to Canada, clearing space in the garage for something with a 'proper' Blue Oval badge. Which, though, would it be? I have already done the classic 1960s Mustang thing. Twice. I have no interest in an old truck and I wouldn't be caught dead in a Thunderbird, Lincoln or Mercury. Those huge cars are just not my style.
That's why I turned down a road less travelled and looked across the sea for a classic European Ford to bring to the USA. I always liked the style of the mid-1980s Capri 2.8 Injection and so, with a little help from my English boss – a veteran Ford employee who drove Capris as company cars in the UK back in the day, one was located, purchased and shipped to Detroit. It now lives in the garage next to a 1981 TR8 with a 4.0-litre fuel injected Land Rover Disco engine.
I didn't quite know what to expect of the Capri. The final European Capri was sold here in 1977. It was leaden with heavy, overgrown bumpers and strangled with emissions equipment. We Yanks never got the hotted up revamped Mk III Capri.
My Capri, a grey 1986 2.8 Injection Special with just 36,000 original miles, sports a Recaro interior and five-speed gearbox. It is in unmodified condition and has had only three previous keepers. It's had some rot fixed, but the repairs were to a high standard.
Not long after the Capri arrived and winter began to fade, I started taking the TR8 and the Capri on back-to-back high speed runs over the same roads. I won't keep you in suspense. I will tell you right now that, even though the Capri was the more successful car in terms of sales and production, the TR8 has it pipped in nearly every area.
Even if my TR8 were not modified with its bigger engine and stronger brakes, it would still be better on the road in every way than the Capri. I can say this with some degree of certainty because I have owned an unmodified, fuel-injected TR8.
Here's how the cars compare:
The Capri's 160-horsepower Cologne V6 outfitted with Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection is a sweet little motor. My car is fitted with a sports exhaust. The deep, guttural, bass sounds it makes are surprisingly throaty – it sounds like a much larger engine. The Capri's gearing is nearly perfect and is well matched to the engine's torque. The clutch pedal is light and the five-speed gearbox snicks through the gears smoothly. You could drive the Capri all day easily without it beating you up. The Capri's performance can be summed up as quick, capable and civilized.
The TR8 is in another league.
When you twist the key in the TR8 after stepping out of the Capri, your senses are attacked with a series of sights and sounds that lets you know you are in something a bit more special. There is the subconscious knowledge of the TR8's rarity, which amplifies its feeling of uniqueness.
Triumph and Rover engineers got the TR's mechanical sounds just right. Not only do you hear that famous Rover burble from twin exhaust pipes in the rear, but the engine itself sounds terrific and, at around 4500rpm, you hear a turbine-like whoosh. When looking over the TR's still futuristic dash and down the dramatically sloping bonnet, this engine makes the perfect soundtrack for the TR8.
More than that, the Rover engine is completely unstressed in the TR8. It moves the 2600 pound car effortlessly. Even though the clutch is a bit heavier and the gearchange is not so precise as the Capri, the TR8 is more entertaining, more involving to drive. With bags of torque available, the engine's ample thrust pulls the TR8 away cleanly no matter the gear. The TR8 is a real British muscle car and feels like it.
Not much needs to be said here. Yes, both Capri and TR8 use a live rear axle. However, it is the way the axles are attached that tells the story. The Capri's axle, with its leaf springs, is not much more evolved than what you'd find on a wagon from the horse and buggy era. The TR's four-link rear axle was such a smart design that the basic layout was used under Ford Mustang until 2004.
The Capri's rear suspension is busy and you can feel it struggling when the going gets rough. The car is fine on flat roads and on gentle sweeping curves, but it loses composure quickly when the surface becomes uneven while, in the wet, the Capri is famous for its rear end coming around.
The Capri's brakes are also disappointingly poor. The pedal requires a lot of effort and there is not a confidence-inspiring amount of bite unless you press hard on the middle pedal. Mind you, to be fair, the TR8's brakes aren't much better. The TR does have more initial bite, but fades fast under hard braking. My own TR8 uses Rover four-pot calipers and an SD1 brake booster and master cylinder, so braking is addressed in my car.
Steering is another strong point for the TR8. The PAS is nicely weighted and provides good feedback. I especially appreciate the TR's tight turning circle, aided no doubt by the short wheelbase. The Capri's PAS is numb. It gets the job done, but it doesn't impress.
The TR wins on over bumpy surfaces, too. The suspension isolates the commotion from surface inconsistencies very well compared with the Capri.
This is a toss-up. To my eyes, the TR8's dash is one of the best matched to a car's overall design that I've ever seen – that dash is a big reason why the TR has such character. I love the wire mesh in the air vents at the base of the windscreen, the way the needles on Smiths tacho and speedo taper at the ends and the switchgear for the lights.
Everything is easy to reach and operate but the TR8's seats are subpar. Ford was smarter with the Capri's interior furnishings, using frequent udpates and upgrades to keep the car fresh. The half-leather Recaros lend the Capri's cabin a touch of class. Similar seats would have really raised the TR8's game. The Capri's clocks are nicely styled, but the steering wheel blocks the view of the temperature and fuel gauges. No such issues in the TR.
The Capri is much-loved classic the world over and there is no controversey about swage lines and styling themes. Its proportions are perfect and the looks like a fast, fun car standing still. Much like the TR6, the Capri is a car you love to be seen in. You tolerate the ancient suspension and adequate brakes because you like the attention the car attracts because of its looks. However, the TR8 is the car you prefer to drive, the one that more often brings smiles to your face because of the way it delivers its delightful performance.
The TR8 – somehow – still does not look like a car that was laid down nearly four decades ago. It was a real leap forward. Not long ago, I took a 30-something friend of mine for a ride in the car. The first thing she noticed was the TR8's dash and instruments. "Wow, that's really back to the future," she said.
Too bad BL's dire financial situation prevented the Triumph from exploiting the interior's great design with high quality materials. Based on the Lynx at Gaydon, we know Triumph was exploring ways to upgrade the interior. I recently purchased on eBay UK a wood applique kit that came from the Canley design studios circa. 1980-81. The letter of authenticity that came with the pieces stated that Triumph were considering interior upgrades when the end came.
The wood trim pieces are a fascia panel for instrument case, a cover for console lid and a new facing for the center section of the dash that has cutouts for what appear to be power window switches. Such improvements would have added a touch of class and kept the TR fresh. Imagine the TR with a leather-trimmed interior, for instance, along with the wood trim.
Okay, so which car do I find myself driving most, the TR8 or the Capri? Right now, it is the Capri. Much like the Dolomite Sprint, the 1980s Ford Capri has a reputation in the USA. Everyone who is into cars know what it is and, for many who fondly remember the Mk 1 and Mk II which were sold here, seeing my car is like seeing an old friend.
That said, if I ever must reduce my car collection to one, there is no doubt which car stays and which one goes. For a person on a modest budget who wants a true classic British sports car, you could not ask for better value for money, better performance, cooler looks and a more fun experience than what the TR8 offers. Despite not having a lot of money to develop the TR8, Triumph once again made a car that, decades on, people are still fascinated with.
Bahar blows credibility, loses Lotus?
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Marty B says:
I suggest that you fit the Capri Club's rear axle A-frame kit – that will improve the handling no end.
The Capri loses out 1.2 litres and 2 pots to the cheese wedge and so, to be honest, this is an unfair comparison.
Andrew Elphick says:
Yes, and grab some Contour (Mondeo) calipers next time you pass a wrecking yard.
Oh, and of course, the Capri wins – it's the Daddy! (I must point out I am from Essex and Essex through and through!)
Mike Humble says:
That's a tough one as they're both lovely cars. However, if I had to choose… Oddly, it would be the 280i.
Alexander Harris says:
Well, having owned two, it's the TR8 for me…
Mind you, how about adding this MG ZT-T 260 to your collection? The Dealers, Wire Wheel Classic Sports cars, Inc. in Vero Beach, Florida, claim that the car is the only one in the US.
Clive Goldthorp says:
@Alexander Harris
Richard is really more of a Triumph man but that MG ZT-T 260 would certainly be a neat way of combining his BMC>MG interests with a nod to his employers at Ford Motor Company…
Nick, Vienna says:
I would have sleepless nights deciding which one I'd prefer. However, in the end, I think it's the summer ahead that would make it the TR8 for me.
Simon Hodgetts says:
30 May 2011 at 11.12 am
Much as I love the Capri, the damn thing just doesn't like corners (used to get taken out in one by a neighbour for a Sunday blast when I was a kid – it just wouldn't go round bends at any speed), so, just for the superb styling, wonderful (second best BL interior, after the SD1?) interior and the fact that it's aged so well, I'd put my money into the TR8.
I'll have one of each. Cheers! 🙂
Jon.
Simon Woodward says:
This is a good comparison test because, had the Lynx TR7/8 come out, the Scimitar GTE and the Capri would have been its nearest rivals. It's also interesting because the Capri and the Hot Hatches effectively killed off the traditional mass-produced British sports car.
I have and always loved both of these cars – they were the cars you most wanted your Dad to buy in the 1970s. I have very fond memories Bodie/Doyle in 3.0-litre 'S' chasing the baddies on ITV and who didn't want to be Tony Pond's Co-driver blasting a TR7/8 around Wales in the RAC Rally in the late 1970s!
The cars are a credit to you, Richard.
It's a tough choice… My dad did buy a brand new silver 3.0S in 1978 which was just like the one used in The Professionals, so I am swayed towards the Capri. I'd rather have them both though.
Ajax Soixantedix says:
Well, as one possessed of Triumph tendencies and Coventry considerations, then it's the TR8 for me. No question.
I agree with Simon Hodgetts – the TR7/8 has aged very well. Yet, for me, it is the coupe that has aged better than the convertible. I know this seems odd when the convertible is generally deemed more attractive than the coupe, but the coupe is one of those few cars which is so quintessentially of its era – the 1970s, in this case – but whose looks still stand up to scrutiny good today.
Anyway, for a car whose conception was potentially compromised by a host of (transatlantic) issues, it's quite an achievement when you think about it.
Richard Truett says:
I know that so much has been made of BL's poor build quality but the Capri's seems about the same.
I wonder how the four-cylinder versions of these cars match up? That is a comparison which was probably made many times and I would guess the TR7's engine failed to impress…
@Simon Woodward
Actually, Doyle also drove a blue TR7 in The Professionals and Bodie and Doyle sometimes drove a Dolly Sprint. I really must get out more…
@Simon Hodgetts
Doyle drove a rather brown P6 in the first series as well – it's great watching the re-runs on ITV4 and doing a bit of childhood car spotting!
Hilton Davis says:
The Professionals sometimes drove an Escort RS2000 too. I prefer the Capri to the TR7(8) but Richard is lucky enough to have both so he can enjoy the best bits of each and forget about each's shortcomings.
Graham Evans says:
Both are interesting cars but it's got to be the Capri every time.
Having owned a 2.8i. I would agree that the brakes were only just about up to the job, but even going to the shops put a smile on your face…
@Marty B
The Capri Club won't ship spares to the USA. I was going to join, but the Club Secretary told me that I wouldn't be eligible to buy spares.
Richard Truett :
WHAT! Tell them to get stuffed and stick to eBay.
@Richard Truett
That's a bit tight – DHL will ship anything, I use them all the time. The hardest place to ship is Russia but even that's possible.
Anyway, if you want a UK supplier to supply you tell them to use Parcels2go – they get the best price on the carriers, sort out any customs issues and collect from your door step.
I trust them as I ship antique clocks all over the world, so a lump of Capri shouldn't be a problem. Mind you, sometimes due to weight, it's cheaper to split the items and send stuff as two parcels.
Keith Adams says:
Anyone else wondering why classic car clubs are on the wane in the UK?
That's a kick in the crotch for you, because the A-frame really does transform the handling, making it much less tail happy. You could do with a third party member here in the UK to buy a set for you and ship it over. That's strange behaviour from an Owners' Club to be honest – perhaps they are worried about the American 'sue everyone' culture?
A friend of mine has a concours 280 Brooklands which looks like it has just left the Cologne factory – the car makes me drool when I see it. He paid an insane price for it though, but I'd say it was worth it. The price would get you a top line MG6, with enough change to tax it, fill it with fuel for a month and insure it!
I'm happy to buy and ship if you need a hand…
Legal reasons are why they won't send spares to the USA.
I plan to make a few changes/upgrades to the Capri this fall after the Classic Car Show season. I won't change the looks but, like the TR8, I will upgrade the brakes and improve the handling… so, yeah, I may need help with getting the axle locating kit over here.
Kent make a cam for the 2.8 that adds about 12 horsepower and I will fit A tubular exhaust. That ought to do it…
Jonathan Carling says:
The TR8 looks fabulous in those pictures – it's that much more special.
@Hilton Davis
Bodie and Doyle also drove a Dolly Sprint and a TR4 in the first series of The Professionals and Cowley had a beige (!!!) SD1.
The TR8 was not as a good looking as the Capri but was a better drive. Build quality was about the same – that says something about German engineering! The last Capri was built in December, 1986.
I always love seeing UK-plated cars in the US!
It's great to see a once-humble (albeit the V6 2.8) Capri now appreciated as a rare classic across the pond. Somewhat ironic too, given that it was originally intended to be the European Mustang!
Were there any conditions which had to be complied with when you imported the car? Usually, going the other way (US-UK imports), involves at least changing indicator behaviour/colour, changing the direction of the headlights and fitting a fog light.
Do the new rules on personal imports (effectively backed by Bill Gates who wanted a Porsche 959) make things easier in this regard?
Ken Strachan says:
The TR8 is an intriguing classic, but the wheelbase is a bit short; the Capri is an underdeveloped and overpowered Mark 1 Escort. I would take a Manta (especially a 400 or a 2.0-16V) or a ZT-T 260 over either.
I was right – frightened of the 'sue everyone culture' in the USA.
There are shedloads of mods out there for the Capri, many of them not that expensive either. Good luck with it.
The Capri is my all time fave Blue Oval product and, as you may know, was only sold in the UK for the last years of its life. The very last 280s were on 1987 'E' plates.
Incidentally, I have seen many a modded Capri with V8 power, often using TVR engines… Yup, the venerable ex-Buick Rover V8 fits in the engine bay fairly easily. Oh no, what have I just said? I bet that gets Richard's grey matter going now.
@Ken Strachan
Actually, the Capri was (all variants) Cortina-based, not Escort but at least they didn't fit the Capri with that god awful void bush set up which the Cortina ended up with.
Shep says:
Do you know the complete history of your Capri, Richard? Going by the 'KP' registration, it was supplied new within a few miles of the part of South-East England where I was brought up. 🙂
@Shep
I did know the registration had something to do with the region in which it was purchased. The car still has the original Main Dealer's sticker on the rear window – it was supplied by KT Group Limited in Dartford, Kent.
I have all the paperwork, including the original sales invoice. I paid as much for the car as the original buyer!
Ross A says:
1 June 2011 at 3.44 am
That's an interesting comparison. Here, in Europe, the closest comparison was always between the Opel Manta GT/E and the Capri 2.8 Injection.
The problem was that, although the Capri smashed the Manta on power and interior space and, perhaps, even on looks, it never came anywhere near close on handling and ride.
The Manta also used a live-axle with all the trimmings (ie, anti-tramp bars, anti-sway bars, Panhard rod, and struts and coil springs) and, when fitted with a LSD, it seemed to stick to a dry road.
My only concern when I had both of mine was the understeer in the wet if the tyres were anything less than perfect – the tyres of choice (which I never managed to obtain) were Goodyear Eagle NCT2.
Enterprising engine transplanters got more power by replacing the standard engine with a Carlton 2.2-litre engine or a Frontera 2.4-litre (they were the same basic CIH engine as the Manta GT/Es) – and very heavy they were too. Even the Carlton/Omega GSi engine mated to the Getrag 'box.
Some switched to the 1.8 GM gearbox, ditching the Getrag one, and using the Astra GT/E 1.8 or Cavalier SRi130 engine. Eventually, and perhaps inevitably, they used the infamous 16v (20XE?) engine.
Some even went as far as using BMW straight sixes – but, of course, one transplant which seemed to come up quite commonly was the Manta V8. A few were Chevy V8s but most used the, well what else, Rover V8. Interestingly, the V8 weighed about the same as the straight four CIH engine, so no real changes to the front end were necessary (front subframe with double wishbone for those interested) and, when I removed the half-shafts to change to a LSD, you could tell they'd be tough enough to take the torque!.
I miss my Mantas…
Later Capris were based on the Cortina – Mk1s were Escort-based.
@Ross A
Funnily enough I did the Manta/Capri comparison when working at Practical Classics, driving the 280i to Frankfurt to meet the last Manta off the line. I liked the Capri, but came away preferring the Manta – just, I think, because it had a better engineered feel.
You've probably been asked this loads of times but how difficult was it to get the Capri registered in the US? Do different states have different rules?
Engineer says:
1 June 2011 at 12.14 pm
We had both a Capri 2.8i and Manta GT/E allocated to Directors at the company I worked for. I always prefered the Manta. The Capri was the head-turner though – it was the only non-turbo Tickford Capri in existance… My employer was Tickford and the car was built for one of the Directors – it was very 1980s, white and with a big body kit, which made it far too noticable for my taste.
1 June 2011 at 2.06 pm
There are no problems at all importing any car into the USA provided that it is at least 25 calendar years old – once it reaches that age, there are no smog or crash requirements that it has to comply with.
All you do is pay a small customs fee, about 2 per cent of what the car's selling price was. The 25 calendar years refers to the date of manufacture, not registration so, right now, any 1986 or older vehicle can come to the USA. Hope that helps.
Stewart says:
I wanted my dad to buy a new Capri Mk3 in the late 1970s. Instead, he went and bought an ancient (in my eyes) 1967 S1.5 Jaguar E-type Roadster.
The Capri has a five digit odometer – very telling.
JH Gillson says:
3 June 2011 at 12.20 am
I have found a CAR Magazine test from back in the day comparing the Capri 2.8i with the Alfa GTV6 of its era, and – strange to report – the clumpy old Ford with its ancient iron engine and antediluvian leaf sprung rear end emerged the victor.
This, despite the Alfa having what was universally regarded as the best V6 of its era, an elaborate rear transaxle and De Dion rear end.
I guess that only goes to show how Ford's SVO turned a sow's ear into a silk purse.
However, it made me wonder if the MGB died too soon and whether a V8 B with suspension appropriately tuned by people who knew what they were doing might have been a contender. Then again, they tried that with the RV8.
I'd still have the TR8, though, because… well, because I'm a snob and don't like F**d, the worst four-letter word in my vocabulary.
Mind you, if the wedge had survived the Edwardes era and if we'd been treated to an injected V8 and the larger-capacity V8s that followed, I reckon we'd all revere it today as a bone fide TR rather than as a milk-sop BL contrivance that killed the brand.
@Keith Adams
You are right. I drove my friend's Manta 2.0S back from Barnstaple up to Coventry years ago and he'd had it lowered.
You'd normally expect a low slung car to be unstable when lowered but this thing gripped to the road. It stayed at a sustained phenomenal speed for a good 1 hour along the M5 and I can honestly say that it was the only old car I have ever felt confident about driving without things dropping off or going pop – even some my Jags have made me feel a bit weary of pushing it in case the valves jump out of the bonnet and smack me around the head (either that or the gearbox). It just felt solid.
Contrasted with a Capri at full pelt, well, there was no way I could sustain phenomenal speeds for more than 5 minutes before bottling it – even with a well kept and serviced example. (I'm an Essex boy so I knew at least one person who had one). The rear end felt jittery, especially over old-style concrete trunk roads.
Oh, and don't get me started on the cornering – even Martin Shaw (Doyle from The Professionals) said that it might have looked dramatic, even at low speeds. However, that was how you had to drive them just to keep them on the road. Those leaf-springs didn't like all that torque applied to them – those rear wheels were more active than a demonic pogostick on each side. My god, though, it was a sexy beast…
The trouble with the Manta was that it looked way too much like a tarted up Cavalier Mk1 (which, in reality, is exactly what it was). The Capri looked like nothing else in the Ford range.
The 'brows' over the headlamps on the Mk3 Capri gave it a mean and moody look too. The Capri had the Manta licked for one reason. There was a model for everyone up until the end, with smaller engined 'tepid' models, through to serious cooking models.
My all time favourite Capri though is the Mk1 RS3100, which is uber rare now.
Kev Sharp says:
How do all your European spec imports run on US spec dishwater (low octane) fuel?
@Kev Sharp
We get 93 RON octane here and that's fine for engines of 9.5:1 compression.
However, right down the street from me is a petrol station that sells leaded 110 octane gas called Turbo Blue. It's super expensive at $6.50 a gallon but I mix that in sometimes to get the octane up to around 100.
I have found that, when I use the 110 only, everything works better – and I mean everything. The clutch pedal is smoother. The brakes have more bite. The light in the cubby box is brighter. The windscreen wipers clean better – even the radio picks up stations further away.
Fred Geiger says:
An interesting read BUT, come on, how can a 2.8-litre 4-seater rationally be compared to a 4.0-litre 2-seater? It's apples versus oranges. I don't know what the pricing was in Britain but I would bet that the Triumph was much more expensive as well!!
Oh, by the way, the i400 Rally car is in Dirt3 for the PS3 and Xbox360 – it's even got a Metro 6R4!!
Thanks Richard, so a Maxi 1750 on 8.75:1 should have no problems then? By the way, I love the number plate on the Capri, well cool!
Two R8s says:
A better comparison with the Capri would be a Marina 1.8TC Coupe.
Richard Kilpatrick says:
I had both Mantas and Capris in the 1990s – I liked Mantas a lot, but I loved my Capris. I never had a V6, something I'll probably never rectify now, but I did have a Manta with a straight-six in it for a little while. Well, long enough to scare myself and friends silly, before deciding the conversion wasn't quite up to scratch.
The Manta was a competent, well put together car. The Capri made you feel like a hero for just getting from A-B, no matter how quickly you did it. Back then, I was more Manta than Capri but now I think I miss the Capris a lot more!
Sean Sweeney says:
15 June 2011 at 9.00 pm
Tell Ford to build another Capri. I love the Mk III… I grew up in Ireland and moved to the US in 1987 – the last year of the Capri. I want one so, if you ever want to sell… I'm in NYC now.
Phil Simpson says:
17 October 2013 at 8.44 am
@Richard Truett: I doubt that there would be much between a 2.0 litre Capri & a TR7 in the engine stakes as both pump out the same power (assuming no emission mods are added).
However I guess the TR7 would be quicker in everyday driving as, due to the superior handling, one would get a head start so to speak by virtue of being able to come out of a corner quicker.
@Sean Sweeney
The Probe, and the Cougar were Capri replacements (the latter to the Mondeo as the Capri was to Cortina).
They sold slowly in Europe and weren't replaced.
Manufacturers would rather you now buy some SUV tank instead of a coupe – Ford have even tricked people by using the similar 'Kuga' name.
Should be fair and say that Ford are bringing the new Mustang to Europe, but not sure if it'll get proper marketing, or if it'll be a niche product like a VXR8.
My Dad had a TR7 back in the day, I used to love getting ran into school in it. Was like a spaceship compared to the Escorts and Corollas of other school runners 🙂
Unfortunately it wasn't much cop as a family car, and had to go.
Loving the Capri, he had the 2.8 in the mk2 Granada – fondly remember the burble and the roar at full chatter.
Also love that you've brought a UK car to the states, and managed to get a local plate the same mark as the original UK plate (which you've kept on! Great stuff!) Must turn some heads from sheer rareness!
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Satmar Hatzaloh Member Gets 21 Traffic Tickets For Reckless Driving
A Kiryas Joel ambulance corps member faces charges of reckless driving for allegedly running a patrol officer and other motorists off the road in a frantic dash to get to a traffic accident where other ambulances were already on scene. Officers arrested Menachem Kramer and cited him for 21 violations of vehicle and traffic laws in the Feb. 18 incident. He is scheduled to appear in village court April 7.
Kiryas Joel ambulance driver cited for 21 traffic violations
By John Sullivan • Times Herald-Record
CHESTER — A Kiryas Joel ambulance corps member faces charges of reckless driving for allegedly running a patrol officer and other motorists off the road in a frantic dash to get to a traffic accident on Route 17.
Officers arrested Menachem Kramer and cited him for 21 violations of vehicle and traffic laws in the Feb. 18 incident. He is scheduled to appear in village court April 7.
According to a police report, Kramer's gray 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe sped head-on toward a Village of Chester patrol officer on Brookside Avenue, forcing the officer to quickly maneuver his vehicle out of the way.
Kramer had his lights and sirens on in an apparent attempt to get to a Route 17 rollover that already was in the process of being cleared by Chester rescue workers, according to the report.
The victims in that rollover also had been determined to be uninjured, and they had refused medical attention, the police report said.
It was unclear Tuesday who had made the call to Kiryas Joel Ambulance, but it is well known that EMS workers from the Hasidic village rush to calls from members of their religion, even if other first responders already are at the scene tending to the wounded.
According to the report, Kramer drove at excessive speeds, as well as down the center of Brookside Avenue, forcing cars in the turning lanes to quickly veer out of the way — some into the path of oncoming traffic.
The Hasidic EMS worker then went through the red light at the intersection of Brookside and Summerville Way, where he made a left to get to the Route 17 Exit 126 on-ramp, the report said.
The pursuing Village of Chester officer called ahead to State Police, who were at the scene of the rollover, and asked them to detain Kramer upon his arrival.
Kramer was given 15 different traffic tickets by Chester village police, as well as an additional six tickets from state police, whose troopers also cited Kramer for driving recklessly.
Kramer and his attorney declined comment. Calls to the Kiryas Joel Ambulance Corps, known as Hatzolah in its community, went unreturned.
[Hat Tip: SW.]
Posted at 02:47 PM in Crime, Litigation, etc., Haredim | Permalink

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


WHAT: House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), sponsor of the Pennsylvania Voter Identification Protection Act (Act 18 of 2012), will participate in a panel discussion about the merits of presenting a photo ID for voting.
Other panelists include Michael Dimino, a professor at Widener University School of Law, and Witold Walczak, legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
INFORMATION: Visit PCNTV.com for a list of additional air times.


text:
Hedwig And The Angry Inch Hedwig And The Angry Inch R
USA / 2000 / Color / 95mins
A German emigrant living in a trailer in Kansas is the victim of a botched sex-change operation. Adapted from the critically acclaimed off-Broadway rock theater hit, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" tells the story of the "internationally ignored" rock singer, Hedwig, and her search for stardom and love.
John Cameron Mitchell (born April 21, 1963) is an American actor, writer and director, best known for originating the title role in the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and reprising it in the 2001 film adaptation directed by him, as well as for directing the films Shortbus (2006) and Rabbit Hole (2010). He is currently directing How to Talk to Girls at Parties, a screen adaptation of Neil Gaiman's punk-era short story of the same title starring Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp and Nicole Kidman
Video of qG-Iulnd7Xg


Known in his lifetime primarily to readers of science fiction and fantasy, Fritz Leiber is now recognized as one of the finest writers of popular fiction of the twentieth century. An intimate of H. P. Lovecraft, Leiber crafted the twentieth century's first great stories of urban horror, created the sword and sorcery tale almost singlehandedly, and wrote strong, resonant science fiction. Nothing less than a visionary American author, Leiber is considered by critics and fans alike to be one of our most original and versatile storytellers.
The seventeen tales selected for this volume showcase Leiber's virtuoso range and unforgettable characters: from the fabled, decadent streets of god-haunted Lankhmar to the eerie underworld of a Martian gambling hall; from a sunless, frozen Earth to the shattered, bombed, and violent wreckage of a post-atomic New York, and beyond. Edited by master anthologist Jonathan Strahan and Locus magazine founder Charles N. Brown, Fritz Leiber: Selected Stories presents a wide sampling of his best short fiction so that a new generation of twenty-first-century readers can continue to discover and enjoy his groundbreaking and memorable fiction.


Olympos is a manga by Aki, which has two volumes or one omnibus that makes up the entire series. It's an alternative look on Greek mythology, with the story based on the sun god, Apollo. Throughout the story Apollo is always learning things about himself and the world around him, but still seems to think that he himself is all knowing. While there is one central story line, one in which Ganymede, the prince of Troy, is abducted by Apollo, there are added stories in which others are introduced into the story, such as Poseidon and Heinz, but have little to no impact to the story line itself. They seem to be more or less added filler.
The first thing that I found about the manga was that the bubbles were sometimes hard to follow. This, to some, may just be user error; but with my many years of experience reading manga I found it irritating that I would have to read and reread passages to get the sequencing right because the speech bubbles were in a peculiar arrangement. A reader shouldn't have to second guess themselves to whether they are reading their novel the right way or not.
The second thing that was irritating was the way characters who would have a somewhat large impact onto the story were introduced, but then dropped after the episode was done. Heinz and Artemis are the main characters that have a brief appearance, and then disappear. Why introduce these characters if you don't plan on using them within your story? Yes, the episode with Artemis allows Apollo to learn something about himself (and was one of my favorite episodes within the whole story), but the story would have had the same impact whether it was included or not.
And speaking of emotional impact, this story has little to none. With how Ganymede felt about Apollo and the other gods, once he found a glimmer of hope, I felt it too. A way out. A way to try actually live his life instead of being the plaything of bored gods. But when the end of the story came, there was nothing. He decides to stay in the garden to witness the end of that world, but this just won't happen (due to reasons that I will leave out in case some wish to read the story). I was upset with the overall story line. There was no point. Why tell this story? Why end it here? Why not just continue on to explain the end of the garden and have a concrete ending? The story left its audience hanging; and that is, in my opinion, the biggest of let downs that a story, whether it be a manga, anime, or whatever, can have.
Despite all the negative things, the story did have its moments. Like whenever Apollo is talking to Poseidon, and the episode when Apollo becomes close to a mortal girl offered to him as a sacrifice. They are moments that make reading the story almost worth while. And aside from that the art style was beautiful, and the dialogue between characters believable and eloquent (especially with Hades). The alternative on the traditional Greek mythology was also very refreshing. I recommend that you borrow this one from the library or a friend if you plan on reading it, as the story was definitely not worth the almost $20 you would have to pay to buy it.
While I know it's been a long while since I last posted anything, it should be said that my old computer had died. The screen blacked out, and I barely was able to get all of my software and files onto my new computer. My husband and I are all moved into our new apartment, and I've actually had time to read and now post. Blog entries probably won't be daily like they used to be, but somewhat regular at least.
Now, I bet you read the title of the of this post and was like, "Ummm…. Are you smoking something, and why are you not sharing?" Well I'm not smoking anything, and even if I was…. Why would I share? I'm a greedy mofo. But that's beside the point. I've always had a habit of talking with my hands and flailing my arms about during the exciting parts, but it was recently that I had started this weird thing of talking more through my pointer finger and thumb. That and using my pinky to point at things, but I think that's something else.
Anywho, the thumb pointer finger thing. I think I figured out why I do this. It's from this new anime that I've been watching on Crunchyroll called Shugo Chara. I've read the manga, and just haaaad to watch the anime. It's like a new version of Sailormoon kind of, but not really. In the show, she transforms into these different characters and she has this nifty little hand movement to "unlock" each character. I've found a video on youtube of it (Sorry about the audio, but this is the best I could find).
Yeah, that index finger and thumb movement is what I'm talking about, and I can't stop doing it! This anime is affecting me on a sub-conscience level, and it makes me wonder…. What other weird and quirky things has watching anime or anything for that matter made me do? And am I really that gullible? So many questions. . . . . . .


House Science Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.
For more than a year, Rep. Lamar Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, has been hounding federal climate scientists about a landmark scientific study, published in 2015, whose results he didn't like.
Now comes proof from an independent group of scientists that affirms those findings.
The original study, which the new data confirms, was published in the journal Science. It addressed a so-called pause in global warming that scientists had observed from 1998 to 2012. Up until that study, the "warming hiatus" had been a prominent talking point for those arguing that manmade global warming either didn't exist at all, or is less of a problem than most climate scientists make it out to be.
That study, however, said that the global warming slowdown never really happened — it was just an artifact of improperly adjusted surface-temperature data.
When the NOAA researchers corrected their temperature datasets, the results showed that Earth's climate had warmed by a larger amount than previously assumed.
Climate trends from the 2015 NOAA study that generated controversy on Capitol Hill.
The new NOAA record produced for that study showed nearly twice the warming over the past 18 years than the previous data did.
That finding struck Smith, a Republican from Texas who maintains that human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases are not causing global warming, as suspicious, and he began a dogged effort to determine if the scientists had manipulated data to arrive at politically-motivated results.
"The American people have every right to be suspicious when NOAA alters data to get the politically correct results they want and then refuses to reveal how those decisions were made," Smith said in a statement in 2015.
"NOAA needs to come clean about why they altered the data to get the results they needed to advance this administration's extreme climate change agenda," Smith, who has received funding from the oil and gas industry, including ExxonMobil, added.
New NOAA (ERSST v4), old NOAA (ERSST v3) and UK Hadley Center (HADSST3) data differ in recent years.
Image: hausfather et al. 2016.
NOAA denied those accusations, and refused to offer up some of the records that Smith asked for, such as all email correspondence about the climate study in question.
Now comes new research that NOAA's data may have been correct. The new study, published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday, used an independent dataset of ocean temperatures to check the NOAA study.
The new research, from an independent group of scientists, concluded that NOAA's temperature adjustments were accurate.
The research, led by Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the nonprofit organization Berkeley Earth, used different sets of data than the NOAA scientists had.
Hausfather conducted the study with colleagues at York University in the UK, NASA and George Mason University, as well as one independent researcher.
Specifically, the group relied on data from satellite radiometers, floating buoys and robotic Argo floats to create three separate ocean temperature records during the last two decades.
The NOAA surface record, on the other hand, are what is known as composite records, which takes temperature information from a variety of sources — surface weather stations, satellites, ocean buoys and more — and combines them. This can create challenges when making adjustments as methods of recording temperatures change over time, Hausfather said.
Temperature departures from average during fall 2016 in the Arctic.
"We found all three agree almost perfectly with the new NOAA record, [and] show a strong cooling bias in the old NOAA record."
"The challenge with this is that it creates uncertainties and judgement calls about how best to account for and correct changes in instruments (like the changing composition of the shipping fleet) or the change from one instrument to another (e.g., ships to buoy-based measurements)," Hausfather said in an email.
The NOAA study in 2015 had wrestled with just such a change, specifically differences between temperature readings gathered from buoys and those from ships.
The buoy data was more reliable, NOAA's researchers concluded, leading to an adjustment that increased temperatures in recent years, when buoys have become more prevalent.
In an effort to double check if that adjustment was correct, the new study relies on records that were each created from one type of instrument, avoiding the need for any such adjustments.
"We found all three agree almost perfectly with the new NOAA record, [and] show a strong cooling bias in the old NOAA record," Hausfather said. The study also showed that the UK's global surface temperature database and the one maintained by the Japan Meteorological Agency may be underestimating global warming.
"Our results provide a robust validation of NOAA's study. They show that NOAA scientists were not manipulating data or 'cooking the books,' and that their new record is the most accurate composite record over the past two decades," he said.
As for Smith, who has yet to let up in his criticism of NOAA's temperature readings, Hausfather suggests that he ask the National Academy of Sciences to convene a group of researchers to validate the information independently.
"In general, if folks like Lamar Smith think that scientists are getting it wrong, they should ask other scientists (or the National Academy of Sciences) to review and try and replicate their findings, rather than demand scientist emails," he said. "Science advances through replication."
Smith has tried and so far failed to prove any scientific misconduct at NOAA, at one point even issuing a subpoena of the NOAA director, which had never been done in his committee's 56-year history.
The subpoena sought internal NOAA communications related to global temperature datasets and monthly climate reports, among other information that NOAA deemed essential to the unimpeded conduct of its scientific mission.
"Under normal circumstances, this paper would be of interest to very few people — just the people that focus on the details of the instrumental record," said Andrew Dessler, a climate scientist at Texas A&M University. "The only reason this paper is of any interest outside the specialist community is because of Lamar Smith," he said in an email to Mashable. Dessler was not involved in this study, and said he suspects it was "written specifically to rebut" Smith's claims, which gained traction among the broader climate denial community.
Another outside researcher, Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said the conclusions of the paper clearly support NOAA's temperature adjustments, which were led by the top climate official at the agency, Thomas Karl.
"This paper further allays any qualms that there may have been scientific errors or any non-scientific agendas," he said via email. "Lamar Smith owes Tom Karl an apology."
With Smith continuing as the committee chairman in the new Congress, it's possible that this investigation will continue. Posts on the committee's Twitter account in recent days have continued to raise questions about NOAA's surface temperature data, this time casting doubt on the claim that 2016 is the warmest year on record, as U.S. and international agencies are set to announce in coming days.
The past year eclipsed the record warmth set in 2015 and 2014, making the last three years the warmest since at least 1880. In addition, levels of carbon dioxide, the longest-lived global warming pollutant, hit record levels this year, at the highest in all of human history.
It's unlikely such findings will be recognized by the Republican majority on Smith's panel, however, at least without a fight.


Creating name badges in an instant is easy with Avery pre-printed dispenser labels. These removable labels are pre-printed with 'HELLO I'm' and can be personalised in minutes by writing a name underneath the pre-printed text.
They can be applied straight from the dispenser which can be carried around to quickly deliver labels wherever they are required. The box keeps the roll neat and labels protected for handy storage.
These removable rectangular labels in 58 x 43mm format in a 100 labels pack are the perfect badge for use at events, meetings or parties.
Avery Labels in dispensers are a compact way of delivering labels one at a time, quickly. The pre-printed labels are available in a variety of messages and label sizes that are perfect for marking important documents, mail, boxes or even filing systems.


would you miss me too?
this past weekend i had the amazing opportunity to record on a beautiful album created and produced by a lovely soul of a friend, who just happens to also be a Grammy-award winner. and while my soul mate was away during that time (yes, i missed him so much even though he was gone for less than 50-ish hours), i realized how much i love, miss, and fear recording vocals and writing songs. have you ever felt that juxtaposition? you love something so much that you fear it...and vice versa, you fear it so much but you can't help but absolutely love it even more? but either way, you miss it when you're not doing it?
perhaps that "fear" stems from expectations i lay upon myself and not being able to succeed.
and perhaps that "love" is so deep that no matter what i do to distract myself from it, consciously or subconsciously, i will always return to it like a boomerang.
so, as with most things in life, why not remove the expectations, accept the love, and enjoy the process while at it? easier said than done, but this is certainly a mission worth pursuing.
in the meantime, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to you dear friend for including me on your masterful project...i simply can't wait to see what becomes of it!
and thank you my dear love for safely returning to me as we gear up to embark upon an entirely new chapter in our lives!


text:
Q: Does Django have a plugin/app that handles "levels" for users? And certain permissions/rankings for each? I want to promote users to moderators, admins, etc.
What about scoring and game mechanics? What app takes care of that?
What about moderation?  When someone changes a title of a post, it needs 3 more moderators to approve it before it takes affect.

A: Using django's built in authentication module, you could create specific "Groups" to assign permissions to, and then promote users by re-assigning the groups they belong to.
http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/topics/auth/
For specific approvals and use cases you will probably need to write your own handling.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


LOS ANGELES – Stormy weather on Saturday continued to threaten flooding and mudslides in areas of Southern California.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood watches through Saturday afternoon for burn areas, as well as for valleys, foothills and coastal areas from Ventura to San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.
The second wave of a Pacific storm front was expected to dump an inch of rain or more, with showers, isolated thunderstorms and possible lightning strikes in parts of parched Southern California, meteorologists said. Forecasters predicted another storm to arrive after midnight on Sunday and early Monday.
Some Los Angeles County foothills received more than 4 inches of rain since the first wave of storms moved in.


The Madhya Pradesh transport department has always been ahead in using information technology to provide services to the people of the state. Computerisation of the data available with the department was started about a decade back when the state transport department had started issuing smart card driving licences to the citizens. Over time, most processes are being digitised and people can now access information through SMSs and the internet.
Legal permission: The driving licence will act as a proof that the concerned government authorities have conducted the necessary tests to give permission to the person to drive on the roads.
Personal ID: The driving licence can be used by the owner as a personal identification document. It can be used any time a person needs to provide proof of identity, proof of residence, or proof of age.
Identification in an accident: If a person is involved in an accident and he/she is unconscious, people can use the person's driving licence to identify the person and alert his/her family members about the mishap.
To use a gearless vehicle with an engine capacity less than 50cc, the person should be at least 16 years old and he/she should be given a written consent.
To use a vehicle with an engine capacity above 50cc or a light motor vehicle, the individual should be minimum 18 years old.
Those who want to drive a transport vehicle should be at least 20 years old and should have completed education up to standard 8.
Anybody who wants to drive a passenger vehicle or a medium or heavy good vehicle is required to have held a permanent driving licence for at least a year earlier.
To apply for a driving licence in Madhya Pradesh, an individual will have to first obtain a learning licence. A learning licence is a 6-month permit that allows an individual to learn how to use a vehicle and then apply for a permanent driving licence.
Visit the official website of the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department.
Find the 'Licence Appointment' link and click on it.
On the redirected page, under the heading 'LL – Learner's Licence', click 'New'.
Fill in all the details such as your name, contact details, document details, etc., on the next page.
The fee payable for each category of vehicle for which the learning licence is applied for is Rs.150. The fee for the learning licence test is Rs.50.
The learning licence is valid for a period of 6 months. The individual has to apply for a driving licence within the 6-month period but after completion of 1 month's time.
Go to the official website of the transport department of Madhya Pradesh.
Click on the 'Licence Appointment' box on the home page.
Under 'DL – Driving Licence', click on 'Fresh'.
Enter your learner's licence number and date of birth.
The fee payable to apply for a driving licence is Rs.300 for each vehicle category. The fee for a smart card is Rs.200.
The driving licence is valid for 20 years or until the person turns 50 years old, whichever is earlier.
1.Is physical presence mandatory to apply for licence?
Yes, it is necessary for the person to be present in person to apply for the learning licence and take the learning test.
2.What documents can I submit as proof of address?
You can submit your passport, voter ID, LIC policy, or a pay slip offered by any state/central government body as a document of proof of your residing address.
3.What documents can I submit as proof of age?
You can submit your birth certificate or your school certificate as proof of your age.
4.Will I have to apply for another driving licence if I move to another state or want to drive in another state?
No, the permanent driving licence issued by the RTO will be valid throughout India.
5.What is the validity period of the driving licence issued for transport vehicles?
For transport vehicles, the licence expires after completion of three years from the day the licence is issued.


text:
Parafia Świętych Apostołów Piotra i Pawła w Kaliszu - rzymskokatolicka  parafia w dekanacie Kalisz II. Erygowana w roku 1988. Mieści się przy placu Bohaterów Westerplatte. Duszpasterstwo prowadzą w niej księża diecezjalni.

Linki zewnętrzne
 Informacje o parafii w internetowym katalogu Diecezji kaliskiej

Kalisz
Piotra i Pawła

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


In case you missed this, here is the Ruffle/Rosette shirt I posted over at Craftaholics Anonymous.
So, with Valentine's Day coming up, I thought all us girls need a cute shirt to wear. I made this for my daughter, but you could easily make it for yourself too. Enter the Ruffle/Rosette Heart shirt!
First, you need a t-shirt to use as your base, and either fabric or another t-shirt to cut up for your heart. Knit fabrics are great because they won't fray. $5 dollar Target shirts are great for this if you want them the same color! I decided to repurpose, and used an old red tank top my daughter had outgrown. She has two little brothers, so no need to save it for hand-me-downs!
Next, open the shirt at the seam so you can cut nice, long strips.
I cut my strips about 3/4" wide. Adjust your width to how big you want your ruffles, and how many layers you want to do.
Ruffle your strips. For this shirt, we are sewing along the edge of the fabric, not down the middle.
1. Set your top thread to the highest tension and your stitch length to the longest setting. Sew. Your fabric will automatically ruffle.
2. Set your stitch length to the longest setting and sew. Leave both ends of the thread long. Remove fabric from sewing machine. Pull the bobbin thread gently to gather fabric. Spread ruffles evenly throughout the strip until you get the look you want.
Once your strips are ruffled, pin them into a heart shape. You can cut out a template to use as a guide, but I am lazy and just eyeballed it. I used one strip for each side, then cut off the excess. It just seemed cleaner that way. Also, make sure to trim your threads. They just get in the way.
Two helpful hints: #1- Put a piece of cardboard or cardstock inside the shirt before you pin. This way you can keep from pinning the layers together without having to distort the shirt with your hand.
#2- When using stretchy knits, USE A LOT OF PINS! I get frustrated easily, and this helped me keep things where I wanted them. It may sound obvious, but if you tend towards the lazy crafting, as I do, trust me-- it's worth it to take the extra time.
Sew your heart in place, following the stitch line from your ruffle.
Now, you can stop here if you want. This is pretty cute on it's own. But let's keep going, just for fun!
Pin another layer of strips into a smaller heart shape, making sure your new layer of ruffles slightly overlaps the first. Sew in place. Continue for as many layers as you want. I went with three.
Now for the fun part. You can just make hearts all the way in, if you want. Or, you can use your extra ruffle strips to create ruffle rosettes. Following the technique I learned here, I hot glued a whole bunch of rosettes together.
Then, using a combination of hand stitches and fabric glue, I attached them to the center of the shirt. I made little buds by wrapping fabric around my finger to fill in the gaps. When I got the placement the way I wanted, I took a book and smashed them all flat.
Now you have a striking shirt for that special girl in your life. I went with a contrasting heart because I wanted to match her tutu, but you could make yours the same color for a totally different look.
I won't say this was quick, but it was actually pretty easy. I'm not a great sewer/seamstress by any means, so if I can do it, so can you!
Adorable! It's stuff like this that makes me want a daughter. I'm 34--do you think I can get away with wearing something like this? :) Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Adorable! I don't remember how I found your blog, but so glad I did! I will be making this.
Absolutely darling. I highlighted this at somedaycrafts.blgospot.com tonight! Grab my "featured" button.
ADORABLE!! Thanks for auditioning for American Crafter!
That's really cute! Great idea for valentine's day!
very cute. looks similar to a shirt I saw at boden.com. great repurpose.
Never heard of Boden- I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the kind words!
That looks really great. I made a ruffled-heart shirt for my girl, too. Come check it out. Both our girls are kind of doing the same thing in their pictures. I'm going to be your newest follower because great crafty minds think alike!
Now that's just adorable!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Valerie, nice to meet you. I caught your guest blog over at CA and was thrilled to read your bio! I myself am an "RA enduring" crafter at heart. Stay strong sister.
This is super adorable! I think you did a fabulous job! I would love for you to link this to my Sew Crafty Party!
And make sure you enter my giveaway from Bella Boo's Bowtique!
LOVE it! I featured you today!
That is so cute! I'll have to make at least 3 of them.
Cute! I did a No Sew version the other day!
Thanks Kristina! Your onesie is adorable! I love using the chiffon rosette ribbon. Talk about making it easier!
How did I miss this at CA? This is awesome! i am sucker for anything ruffly and rosettey. It looks beautiful and your daughter is going to be a heart breaker!!!


text:
Grammar 4-06 | Low Intermediate | CEFR B1
Would like to / Want to
Listen to four short conversations about talking about wants and wishes.
Conversation #1
Man: What do you want to do in the future?
Woman: I'd like to be a chef. I want to have my own restaurant.
Man: What kind of food would you like to cook?
Woman: I'd like to cook Greek food.
Man: Oh, if you do that, I want to eat there.
Woman: I'd like that!
Man: Who would you like to meet someday?
Woman: I'd like to meet Bill Gates.
Man: What would you ask him?
Woman: I'd ask him about his life. I want to know his secret to success.
Man: I'd like to know that too.
Woman: Here's hoping!
Man: Where would you like to live in the future.
Woman: I'd like to live in the country.
Man: What would you do?
Woman: I'd have a farm.
Man: That would be fun!
Woman: Yeah, I want to grow my own food.
Man: What would you like to drink?
Woman: I'd like an iced tea please.
Man: Do you want sugar with that?
Woman: No, but I'd like some lemon.
Man: Would you like a straw?
Woman: No, thanks.
Point 1: Use both 'would like to + verb' and 'want to + verb' to express desires.
I would like to buy a new car.
I want to buy a new car.
I'd like to travel overseas.
I want to travel overseas.
Point 2: Use both structures to make questions.
Would would you like to eat? (more polite)
What do you want to eat?
Would you like some coffee? (more polite)
Do you want some coffee?
Point 3: Use both structures to make affirmative statements.
I would like to sit down. (more polite)
I want to sit down.
I'd like to leave. (more polite)
I want to leave.
Point 4: Usually speakers only use 'want to + verb' in negative statements.
I don't want to watch TV.
I don't want to study.
She doesn't want to work here.
They don't want to go out.
Point 5: In Yes / No questions, the auxiliary verb must match the question form.
Would you like to have a pet?
No, I wouldn't.
Do you want a pet?
Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
INT 4 | B1
06 Would like to / Want to
Listen to how people discuss their wishes.
07 Present Perfect Experienes
Two people talk about things they have done.
08 Have to / Must
Two people talk about obligations.
Rachel Todd
09 Zero Conditionals
Listen to conversations using "if" statements.
Darcy Todd
10 First Conditionals
Hear people make "if" statements.


text:
Ayla case now in state police hands
WATERVILLE -- The search for 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds is now a criminal investigation and the Maine State Police are taking the lead, Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey said Friday.
By Ben McCanna and Doug Harlow Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE — The search for 20-month-old Ayla Reynolds is now a criminal investigation and the Maine State Police are taking the lead, Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey said Friday.
"At this point, we believe that foul play has occurred in connection with Ayla's disappearance," Massey said in a written release. "We base our conclusions on evidence gathered by investigators during the past two weeks. This case has evolved from the search for a missing child to a criminal investigation."
Photo by Jeff Pouland CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION: Standing in a neighbor's yard, authorities continue their investigation into the disappearance of Ayla Reynolds near her home on Violette Avenue in Waterville on Friday. staff photo by Jeff Pouland
For that reason, Massey said he has asked the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit to assume the lead role in the investigation.
Massey added that Waterville police will continue to work on the case along with other angencies until Ayla Reynolds is found.
"Our commitment to finding Ayla and explaining the circumstances surrounding her disappearance is as strong as it was on December 17th," he said.
Department of Pubic Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland said the Major Crimes Unit is the new name for the Criminal Investigation Division, or CID.
McCausland said the unit is tasked with investigating homicides, suspicious deaths and major investigations.
"This case would fall into that latter category," he said.
Earlier on Friday, a state police evidence response team truck returned Friday to the Violette Avenue home where was reported missing from her bed two weeks ago today.
State troopers using surveying equipment appeared to be taking measurements from the driveway to the home at 29 Violette Ave. where Ayla lived with her father, Justin DiPietro.
A window of the modest vinyl-sided house on the driveway side of DiPietro's house had been removed and appeared to be part of the measuring detail.
A pickup truck with Massachusetts license plates was parked nearby, as was a Maine detective's car. A man wearing a Massachusetts State Police jacket also was on the scene.
McCausland said Massachusetts detectives offered special investigative equipment to aid in the investigation.
"And we took them up on the offer," he said.
McCausland declined to provide details on the equipment and its uses.
A growing shrine of stuffed animals left in support of the missing child served as a backdrop to Friday's police activity.
Ayla was last seen sleeping the night of Friday, Dec. 16.
Police said DiPietro, 24, reported his daughter missing just before 9 a.m. Dec. 17, some 10 to 12 hours after she was put to bed. They said the toddler did not wander off on her own and she was taken from the home by someone, though police have stopped short of calling it a kidnapping.
A $30,000 reward offered Monday for information leading authorities to the missing toddler remains unclaimed, police said. There have been no arrests and Ayla, who was last seen in polka dot pajamas and her left arm in a cast, has not been found.
Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey said The Maine Warden Service, which has conducted exhaustive searches of the entire area, have suspended operations but will be on call. Any other searches will be based on new information, he said.
At its peak, the search area measured five miles in width — north to south from the epicenter on Violette Avenue — and 2 1/2 miles in depth, from Messalonskee Stream west past First Rangeway.
Ayla's mother, 23-year-old Trista Reynolds, of Portland, filed for sole custody Dec. 15, a day before her daughter was last seen in Waterville.
Massey said both parents have been interviewed by police and have been cooperative. Details of the investigation have not been released by police.
Police on Thursday confirmed that two vehicles seized from the driveway by police Dec. 19 have been returned to their owners. One is a Ford Explorer registered to DiPietro and the other a Hyundai registered to a Portland woman whose name is not being made public. Police declined to say what they were looking for in the vehicles.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367


As I mentioned last week I recently attended a few beauty events with one of them being the Seventeen Blogger Network event. I have tried the brand in the past & I've been part of their blogger network for quite some time now. Anyone can join the network and it's a fantastic platform for bloggers to not only stay connect with the brand & their new releases, but also a great way to connect with other bloggers, as well as being able to see what they are recommending etc. I loved being able to visit Seventeen UK offices in central London, such a beautiful place (definitely a bloggers dream) and it was perfectly set up for an evening of fun & beauty.
Apart from checking out all the various Seventeen UK products which we found beautifully displayed around the room, we were also able to take part in three chats?! All very informative for beauty bloggers. Firstly we chatted to Katie Snooks as she told us all about her blogging journey to how she has now made it into her career. Then we talked to Youtube/Google expert about his tips for building a great YouTube channel, which was actually really interesting. Lastly we had live makeup demonstrations with celebrity makeup artist Vanesa Guallar, focusing this year's hottest makeup trends. I particularly fell in love with the dark lip trend for upcoming AW season. For this look she used the brand new Mega Matte Lipstick range, which retail at £4.49 and you can find in 12 beautiful shades for stunning statement lips. I definitely recommend you check these out next time you find yourself in Boots because they are amazing especially considering the budget prices. For today's post I've created my own version of the simple makeup look focusing on dark autumn lips with radiant skin.
The most important step to your skin looking radiant and healthy starts off with your skincare. This week I was sent out the luxurious Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Global Anti-Aging Wake Up Balm* from House of Fraser and even though it's early days so far I have been loving it. First of all I love the packaging and the fact that it comes with a pump, much more hygienic and simple to use. Second of all I love the radiant finish it leaves to my skin without actually using a highlighter, it's just that healthy glow from within that everyone craves. It also leaves my skin feeling firm, plumped and hydrated all day so I am extremely happy. At the moment House of Fraser have a fantastic offer where you receive £10 off when you spend £50 so it's the perfect excuse to treat yourself to some luxurious skincare or beauty treats... but be quick as the offer ends this Sunday.
I then used a light layer of my current favourite base, the BareMinerals BAREPRO Powder Foundation, along with concealer to even out my skin tone and create a flawless finish. Then I bronzed my skin for that sun kissed look using the natural Dusty Girls Bronzing Powder, perfect for warm bronzed skin. I skipped on blush and opted for a touch of highlight along the cheekbones using an old favourite MAC Soft & Gentle, which has been completely ignored in the past couple of months. To keep things simple I used the same bronzer & highlight duo to add a touch of colour to my eyes. I then applied a few coats of mascaras for a natural lashes and my go to Benefit Gimme Brow for softly defined brows. Lastly the focus was on the star of the show, the Seventeen Mega Matte Lipstick in shade Rioja Your World* which is the perfect dark red lippie for autumn. The lipstick has a semi-matte finish but as you can probably see from the photos it is not drying at all. It does transfer however and will wear off with time/through eating, but considering how comfortable it feels on the lips I don't mind too much.
I also wanted to quickly mention that I'm currently doing a Twitter giveaway (sadly it's UK & Europe only) with some of the Seventeen beauty goodies I picked up at the event, so don't forget to head over to enter. So that's my quick makeup tutorial, super simple and perfect for the AW16. It doesn't take much effort to create but you will sure make an impression with the statement lips. I'm really enjoying using these new beauty products in my daily routine and they are definitely ones worth checking out. What's your go to autumn makeup look? Do you love wearing a bold lip?


Top dermatologists near West Allis.
There are many dermatologists near West Allis such as Barbara D Wilson, MD on Wisconsin Ave, Dr. Ruben P. Romero, MD on National Ave, and Thomas J Russell, MD on Wisconsin Ave who are able to diagnose and treat various skin conditions.
You can read reviews about West Allis dermatologists on many websites such as Yelp and Zocdoc.


ICANN has started the clock ticking on the mandatory industry-wide deployment of RDAP.
gTLD registries and registrars have until August 26 this year to roll out RDAP services, which will one day replace the age-old Whois spec, ICANN said this week.
Registration Data Access Protocol fulfills the same function as Whois, but it's got better support for internationalization and, importantly given imminent work on Whois privacy, tiered access to data.
ICANN's RDAP profile was created in conjunction with contracted parties and public comments. The registries and registrars knew it was coming and told ICANN this week that they're happy for the 180-day implementation deadline to come into effect.
The profile basically specs out what registrars and registries have to show in their responses to Whois (or RDAP, if you're being pedantic) queries.
It's based on the current Temporary Specification for Whois, and will presumably have to be updated around May this year, when it is expected that the Temp Spec will be replaced by the spec created by the Whois EPDP.
Registrars will be obliged to send out even more Whois accuracy emails, under a set of recommendations being considered in ICANN.
Assuming recent recommendations out of the Whois policy working group are accepted, every registrant of a gTLD domain with something listed in the "Organization" field will receive a one-off mail from their registrar asking them to confirm its accuracy.
It's Recommendation 12 of the EPDP Team Final Report, which was published last week (pdf) by ICANN's first Expedited Policy Development Process working group.
In general, the Organization field would be redacted in the public Whois under the proposed policy, but registrants will be proactively asked if they want to opt in to having it published.
While registrars can pick their own methods to conduct this outreach, email seem like the most likely medium in the vast majority of cases.
These mails would be sent out the registrants of the over 192 million gTLD domains (if they have something in their Org field) at some point between May 2019, when ICANN is likely to formally adopt the policy, and February 29, 2020, which is EPDP group's recommended implementation deadline.
In theory, the Org field is perhaps the main indicator of whether a domain is registered to a natural person (and therefore subject to the General Data Protection Regulation) or a legal person (and therefore not).
But it's not uncommon for registrants or registrars to simply populate the field with the name of the natural-person registrant, even when there's no actual organization involved.
That's a GDPR problem, as it means personally identifiable information could leak into the public Whois.
Under the EPDP's recommendation, registrars would be obliged to reach out to their customers to confirm whether the contents of their Org field are correct, and to ask whether they want that information to be made public.
Opting in would mean the registrar would begin to publish Org data in the public Whois. Ignoring the email or actively refusing publication would mean your registrar would redact or delete this field.
After this mass outreach has finished, registrars would stop redacting the Org field, unless the registrant has not consented to its publication.
For new registrations, registrars would have to show you a prominent warning that the Org data will be published and get your consent for it to do so.
The recommendation is among 29 that were arrived at following over six months of intensive discussions in the EPDP group.
Others we've previously reported on include the total elimination of the Admin Contact, making the Technical Contact both smaller and completely optional, and the mandatory introduction of an anonymous means for Whois users to contact registrants.
The recommendations have been submitted to the GNSO Council, which will vote on them March 4.
The EPDP report will then be opened for 30 days of public comment, before being sent to the ICANN board of directors for a full, final vote.
The policy will replace the current Temporary Specification governing Whois, which the board rushed through on an emergency basis last May in order to make the DNS ecosystem as GDPR-compliant as possible when the EU law came into effect.
The EPDP group is expected to shortly enter "phase two" of its work, which will look at whether there should be a unified access mechanism for security and intellectual property interests to snoop on otherwise private Whois data.
Kurt Pritz has quit as chair of the ICANN group working on Whois policy for the GDPR era.
He informed the Whois Expedited Policy Development Process working group in a notice to its mailing list today, saying he was leaving for "a set of personal and professional reasons".
He said he will stick around until his replacement is selected.
I understand three people had put themselves forward for the role when Pritz was originally selected last July, so there may be a couple of alternates already waiting in the wings.
The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the EPDP, and whoever takes over is going to have to have some seriously masochistic tendencies.
The 30-odd member group just this week put the finishing touches to its "phase one" initial report, which primarily sets out the formal legal purposes for which Whois data is collected and processed across the domain name ecosystem.
That's going to be voted on by the GNSO Council in a vote delayed from this week to March 4 at the request of the Intellectual Property Constituency and Business Constituency, which want more time to review and comment on it.
For the EPDP WG, it's soon time to move on to phase two, which will cover the creation (or not) of a unified access mechanism that trademark owners and the like could use to snoop on redacted Whois data.
Even the relatively easy tasks in phase one have been absolute murder on the volunteers and ICANN staff, who have been putting in four or more hours of teleconferences per week since August.
I've just been dipping in and out of the mailing list and listening to the odd teleconference, and the level of nitpicking over language has been agonizing to listen to.
Essentially, virtually every debate comes down to a face-off between the IP interests who want to insert as much language concerning access as possible, and those, such as non-commercial users, who oppose them. It sometimes comes across like a proxy war between Facebook and the Internet Governance Project.
More than once, naturally mild-mannered Pritz has had to delegate control to firm-handed mediators drafted in from a specialist outside agency.
Whoever takes over as chair has got his or her work cut out.


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Fredericton Entrepreneur Facilitates Easier Caregiving for Seniors
Vikram Devaguptapu not only witnessed close friends act as caregivers for their senior relatives, but served as a caregiver for his grandfather himself before he moved to Canada. It was this experience that allowed him to identify a universal problem that disproportionately affects our province.
Increased demands for caregiving have caused the task to becoming overwhelming. "The research indicates that, socially, we are quickly arriving at a situation where family caregiving is quite difficult due to time and mobility constraints of caregivers and lack of support," he says. Vikram has found that it is particularly difficult to find information about support services.
Not only does this impact the quality of life of both older adults and their overworked caregivers, but Vikram sees how this problem affects the business world. "Because of employee caregiver responsibilities, my ex-employer lost productivity," he says. When employees are committed to providing care—and the ratio of caregivers to seniors is insufficient to accommodate the growing need—employers and businesses may begin to lack productivity due to other outside responsibilities.
Vikram recognized these problems while living across the world in Singapore, the UK, and his home country of India. However, when he moved to Fredericton to participate in the University of New Brunswick's Master of Engineering in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship program, the issues became clearer than ever.
New Brunswick's population is rapidly aging, and there is a gap between our province's demographic realities and the growing demands of our aging population. As of 2011, every senior had 3.9 family caregivers, yet estimates for 2020 predict only 2.6 family caregivers for each senior. This ratio means the 5.4 million Canadians currently providing care to a senior family member or friend will experience further stress and constraints.
The significant gap between resources and seniors our province continues to face suggests that the above problems will affect New Brunswick more severely.
It was this combination of personal experience and research that led Vikram to a solution. In 2017, he developed a software solution prototype, now known as ServUs Health Inc. Headquartered in Fredericton, ServUs simplifies the process of navigating and coordinating services, programs, and resources for seniors and their caregivers. The platform allows seniors and their family members to connect with their caregivers through secure chatlines.
So far, ServUs has seen success. The product goes beyond a mere communication tool and differentiates itself as a navigation tool, connecting caregivers, both formal and informal, with marketplace listings. ServUs has acquired exclusive partnerships with organizations, advocacy groups, and strategic partners in order to source their listings.
Vikram credits his success in part to the strength of various community resources. A Planet Hatch member since September 2018, he is a part of Fredericton's startup community and recognizes the support offered by UNB and Fredericton's business ecosystem.
Moving forward, Vikram and ServUs continue to recognize the importance of staying connected with your target audience. Currently, the company is reaching out to seniors across the province, providing presentations, and performing outreach activities.
Want to connect with Vikram or ServUs?
vikram@servusapp.com ServUs Health Inc. @ServUs_Health ServusHealth
About ServUs
ServUs has been a Planet Hatch member since September 2018 and offers a platform for caregiving navigation and coordination. Seniors and their formal and informal caregivers can access exclusive marketplace listings and networks.
Interested in becoming a Planet Hatch member? Provide your contact information and we'll be in touch to share all the benefits of becoming one of our members.
Planet Hatch is an entrepreneurship centre located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. We support entrepreneurs and startups grow into well-positioned, internationally competitive companies. We do this through programs, mentorship & coaching, funding, events, and our facility.
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50 Crowther Lane, Suite 140, Fredericton NB E3C 0J1
info@planethatch.com


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Early spring is the time of year us fly fishermen start getting the itch to fish real bad. With less than six weeks left until many Ontario Rivers open for the season there is lots to look forward to. One thing we need to keep in mind is just how dangerous blown or swollen rivers can be. I took a walk with my kids down for a look at the local trout river the other day and she was a raging force of water, mud and debris. The bridge in the park where we were is normally 2 feet above the average summertime water level. The other day it was fully submerged by about 4 feet of water. That's a difference of 6 feet. The depth to river bed would be well over any full grown persons head, let alone a child's and falling in would be deadly.
The river was flowing at 22 cms on the day that I was there. To demonstrate for my kids just how fast the water was moving, I took a large branch and tossed it in. It was only a matter of seconds until before it was whisked away in the current. Most Children love to splash in what ever water they can get to, so it is extremely important that they learn how one slip could take them away forever. Every year people drown in swollen rivers, some of them are even experienced waders who know what precautions to take. Children may not know if they are doing something dangerous and need to be taught river safety at a very early age.
Teenagers are among the highest at risk of drowning for a number of reasons. In the 2009 Drowning fact sheet, people age 12-17 years are listed as a high risk group for drowning. Because kids in this age group are more likely to be unsupervised by an adult while fishing, or boating, or swimming we need to ensure that they know how to do these activities safely. Teenagers also have that "invincible" attitude and simply do stupid and unsafe things sometimes.
Never ever let young children near any water without an adult paying full attention to them, and being within arms reach.
Always make sure your children have a PFD or life jacket when they are near any water, it only takes a split second to loose them forever.
Demonstrate to kids of all ages how powerful flowing water is. Even the strongest swimmer is helpless in an undertow or current.
Enroll your children in swimming lessons at an early age. Everyone should know how to swim.
Teach your older children, who would be more likely to be fishing unsupervised, how wade safely and when not to go in the water.
Teach children the dangers of going on frozen lakes and rivers. Show them when it is safe and when it is not.
Have knowledge of first aid and water survival skills. Be a strong swimmer so that you can save someone if you ever needed to.
With a little care and caution we can enjoy our water safely, both young and old, for years to come.