Cash for Clunkers Program 2009-- Green Giant Government at your service

Just when you think you may have heard enough of the Green Giant Government Cash for Clunkers program-- you might as well get comfortable because there's still 135 more pages to discuss.

What matter is it that the EPA has determined that your perfectly functional car is a clunker? Fret not because the more you read of the Cash for Clunkers program-- the better it gets.

Well, better unless you own or work at a car dealership because now "dealers must disable the trade-in vehicle’s engine prior to transferring the vehicle to a disposal facility" because

"the agency believes that the statutory interest in ensuring that the vehicle is not returned to use on the road in this or any other country is largely met before it leaves the dealer’s possession. Prior engine disablement reduces the likelihood that a trade-in vehicle will be returned to use as an on-road automobile."

Never mind that these cars function perfectly as, well-- cars. Meh, who needs them? Crush 'em and shred 'em.

"The CARS Act specifies that while many parts of the trade-in vehicle are permitted to be removed and sold, in the end the residual vehicle, including the engine block, must be crushed or shredded. Therefore, the trade-in value of the vehicle is not likely to exceed its scrap value."

Miami City Buzz Examiner conducted a telephone interview with a local Miami car dealership to specifically garner feedback on the new NHTSA CARS rule. Aside from conveying the massive difficulties that he and other dealerships are experiencing logging into and using the government's website system for trade-ins (See U.S. News & World Report), the dealership representative (who asked to remain anonymous) responded that the 136-page document was "pedantic and very comprehensive".

Could he have been referring to this?

"The agency has decided to implement this process in the rule, requiring a dealer that receives an eligible trade-in vehicle under the CARS program to disable that vehicle’s engine prior to transferring the vehicle to a disposal facility, and to provide a certification to the agency that it has done so at the time the dealer submits its request for reimbursement. Section 599.300(d)(2) specifies the requirement for the dealer to disable the engine, Appendix B sets forth, in a simple and precise manner, the procedures that the dealer must follow to disable the engine and the workplace precautions that should be taken, and Appendix A, certifications section, contains the required dealer certification.
The rule contains one exception to the general requirement that the dealer disable the engine prior to transferring the vehicle to the disposal facility. With regard to transactions that occurred prior to the effective date of this rule, the dealer may have (17 Expert Report of Margaret H. Whittaker, Ph.D., M.P.H., D.A.B.T., July 23, 2009.43) already transferred the vehicle to a disposal facility, whether or not using a salvage auction to transfer the vehicle. In that case, the rule permits the dealer to locate the vehicle at the disposal facility and either disable the engine at that location or, if the vehicle, including the engine block and drive train (unless the transmission, drive shaft, and rear end are sold separately), has already been crushed or shredded, to obtain proof, in the form of the affidavit, from the disposal facility that the crushing or shredding has occurred. Section 599.300(e) implements this exception. The agency is making this allowance only to accommodate dealers who, rather than waiting for the final rule to be issued as the agency had advised, proceeded to conduct transactions that were otherwise completely in accordance with this final rule. Dealers should note that all other requirements of this rule, except for the disposal facility certifications, apply to these transactions."

Yet another controversial issue surrounding the Cash for Clunkers program is how both the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) have argued against new guidelines requiring dealerships to use sodium silicate in disabling engine blocks.

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), which represents more than 4,500
scrap and junk yards, contends that

"the use of sodium silicate will damage more than the engine block and jeopardize the resale of parts such as pistons, cams, and cylinder heads."

The ISRI who represents, among others, companies that shred vehicles that have previously been crushed, either at their facility or at another disposal facility that lacks a shredder--.
states that

"the use of sodium silicate could pose hazards to workers at shredders and could cause certain metals to corrode, which could lead to excess metal ions in storm water runoff, which in turn could make storm water compliance more challenging."

Thankfully, the NHTSA was able to debunk the concerns of both organizations.

Here's what car dealerships must now do to execute EPA-defined clunkers:

Engine Disablement Procedures for the CARS Program
THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT TO BE USED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER
Perform the following procedure to disable the vehicle engine.
Since the vehicle will not be drivable after this procedure is performed,
consider where the procedure will be performed and how the vehicle
will be moved after the procedure is complete.
1. Obtain solution of 40% sodium silicate/60% water. (The Sodium Silicate
(SiO2/Na2O) used in the solution must have a weight ratio of 3.0 or greater.)
2. Drain engine oil for environmentally appropriate disposal.
3. Install the oil drain plug.
4. Pour enough solution in the engine through the oil fill for the oil pump to
circulate the solution throughout the engine. Start by adding 2 quarts of the
solution, which should be sufficient in most cases.
CAUTION: Wear goggles and gloves. Appropriate protective clothing
should be worn to prevent silicate solution from coming into contact with the
skin.
5. Replace the oil fill cap.
6. Start the engine.
7. Run engine at approximately 2000 rpm (for safety reasons do not operate at
high rpm) until the engine stops. (Typically the engine will operate for 3 to 7
minutes. As the solution starts to affect engine operation, the operator will
have to apply more throttle to keep the engine at 2000 rpm.)
8. Allow the engine to cool for at least 1 hour.
9. With the battery at full charge or with auxiliary power to provide the power of
a fully charged battery, attempt to start the engine.
10. If the engine will not operate at idle, the procedure is complete.
11. If the engine will operate at idle, repeat steps 6 through 10 until the engine
will no longer idle.
12. Attach a label to the engine that legibly states the following:
This engine is from a vehicle that is part of the Car Allowance Rebate
System (CARS). It has significant internal damage caused by operating
the engine with a sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) instead of oil.

The Miami dealership who discussed the Cash for Clunkers program with Miami City Buzz Examiner has also weighed-in on the use of sodium silicate to disable car engines. He explained how one of the servicemen vows that plain old Karo syrup would have worked much better to render engines inoperative-- being both cheaper and safer.
Caution: Karo syrup has not been scientifically proven nor endorsed by the Green Giant Government; neither has it been approved for car engine decimation. But, the corn-based Karo syrup does make for delicious pecan pie-- the kind that doesn't require appropriate protective clothing to eat.

___________________________

Photo: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Monday, July 27, 2009, promoting a car buyer incentive program designed to help consumers purchase new fuel efficient vehicles if they trade in their old gas-guzzling cars or trucks.

THE BACHELORETTE FINALE : JILLIAN AND ED : WATCH ONLINE HERE

Finnaly, The Bachelorette Finale. After getting her heart broken on last season’s installment of ‘The Bachelor,’ who did ‘Bachelorette’ Jillian Harris choose to be her mate for life (that’s in reality TV years, of course) on tonight’s season finale? Was it Ed, the walking poster boy for erectile dysfunction, or Kiptyn, the man whose name sounds like something Superman is allergic to? Jillian Harris choose Ed Swiderski on The Bachelorette Finale.

In what host Chris Harrison had warned in the beginning would be “the most emotional season finale ever,” Jillian chose …. Ed, the technology consultant who had dumped her earlier in the season to return home to his job, before coming back a month later when he realized he’d made a mistake.

Keeping Harrison’s words in mind, second chances would become one of the evening’s recurring themes: Ed returning to the show, Ed returning to the bedroom for another shot at rocking Jillian’s world and Reid, the Philadelphia realtor she’d rejected in the penultimate episode, returning to … well, more on that in a minute. It basically came down to this: Did Jillian and Ed have any spark? She felt he loved her, but worried they had a lack of chemistry that would make him a great best friend, but not necessarily husband material. She professed to wanting to rip Kiptyn’s clothes off, on the other hand, but wasn’t always sure of his feelings for her outside the Fantasy Suite.

Said Jillian to Kiptyn, the first guy who’d arrived via limo in the season premiere: you’re the perfect guy … but I love someone else.

So it’s Ed, right?

Said Jillian to Ed: uh, wait a minute … suddenly, a new – or rather, a new old – contender emerged.

Yes, Reid came back. Wearing an ill-fitting sport coat and sneakers and arriving in an oh-so-romantic minivan, Reid returned to say he’d made an oopsie. “I just came back to tell you that I love you, and hopefully you feel the same way,” he said. And then he proposed.

“I need to think about the fact that I was thinking about spending the rest of my life with someone else today,” she responded. And then, after much fretting, chatting with Harrison and a commercial break or two, she kicked Reid to the curb once again.

Meanwhile, that “someone else,” Ed, was in a limo and on his way to the busiest Bachelorette pad this side of Paris Hilton’s hacienda.

“Ed better not f***ing disappoint me,” said delicate flower Jillian.

And he didn’t.

“There’s something aboot (hey, she’s Canadian) Ed that makes me smile from ear to ear,” Jillian said, as she waited for Ed to make his way to her, where he told her she had “changed him as a man, helped me reprioritize my life” and then flashed a super blingy Neil Lane ring on her.

“Jillian, will you marry me?” Ed asked.

“Absolutely!” Jillian answered.

Squeals, hugs, kisses, and cue the Martina McBride tune (“I Just Call You Mine“) as Jillian gives Ed her final rose and tells him they’re going to have “the funnest wild ride.”

List of Top Party Schools 2009

Each year, investigations of review of Princeton more than 120.000 students at the universities and universities through the United States.Based on these outlines,they provide a list of rows of university which evaluate these schools based on all kinds of criteria,all the quality of student's teaching to the diversity of the population to the food of campus.

By far,the row which obtains the majority of publicity is the row of schools of part of top. The news agencies everywhere the selection of country this high and give him the insurance particularly if the university or the local university is on this list! But what east does it mean to be has ,school part and it a row which should be taken with serious by students in the search of a campus of part or a quiet campus?

List of Top 20 Party Schools

According to The Princeton Review, here are the top 20 party schools in the United States:

1. University of Florida
2. University of Mississippi
3. Pennsylvania State University
4. West Virginia University
5. Ohio University
6. Randolph-Macon College
7. University of Georgia
8. University of Texas
9. University of California Santa Barbara
10. Florida State University
11. University of New Hampshire
12. University of Iowa
13. University of Colorado
14. Indiana University
15. Tulane University
16. University of Illinois
17. Arizona State University
18. University of Tennessee
19. University of Alabama
20. Loyola University New Orleans

For More Information Click Here

School district dissolutions raise local officials' ire

ROCKY HILL -- If the experience in this tiny Somerset County borough is an indication of future trends, state officials pushing for consolidation of local government bodies around New Jersey can expect a difficult path ahead.

After "non-operating" districts in Rocky Hill, Millstone Borough and 11 other towns were eliminated July 1 in the name of cost savings and tax relief, local officials were quick to denounce the move and the two towns sued the state.

The Department of Education (DOE) has further plans to eliminate the remaining 13 districts around the state that send their students to larger districts. Separately, Gov. Corzine and some legislators have pushed for the consolidation of municipalities as well, such as the Princetons.

Municipal and educational consolidations move on separate tracks and differ in important ways. One major difference is that towns may only consolidate after voters give approval, whereas the DOE simply ordered the school districts eliminated under a measure Corzine signed in June.

Even so, the negative reaction to the dissolutions means that future cost-saving efforts could meet increased resistance, said Marvin Reed, former mayor of Princeton Borough and a member of a state commission studying municipal mergers.

"In this case, where you had mandated consolidation in Rocky Hill, there is this feedback from people that they're unhappy at being made to do it," Reed said. "They'll be more sensitive if we raise questions with them about municipal consolidation."

The state's July 1 order dissolved the Rocky Hill and Millstone Borough districts so they can be fully merged with the much larger neighboring districts they pay to educate their students -- Montgomery and Hillsborough, respectively.

Before the order, the state had 616 districts, a number that reformers have described as duplicative and wasteful. The 26 tiny non-operating districts had no schools of their own.

The two Somerset districts launched a legal counterstrike earlier this month challenging the state's move as an unconstitutional power grab and seeking a court order to reverse their dissolution.

"The big issue is that this was forced upon them by people in Trenton. There was no public vote on this," said Mike Yaple, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, which opposed the legislation that let Education Commissioner Lucille Davy order non-operating districts dissolved.

But backers of school district realignment, like state Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Lawrence, contend that reform aimed at gaining property tax relief has to start somewhere and the non-operating districts are a logical choice.

"The situation is screaming out for reform," said Turner, a co-sponsor of the enabling legislation. "We've got to find new ways to provide tax relief for our residents in New Jersey. We've got to consolidate, and we've got to regionalize the districts and a lot of these towns."

The NJSBA isn't a party to Rocky Hill's lawsuit, but is critical of the premise that school district consolidation is an all-around win for New Jersey taxpayers.

"So much of this is being done under the banner of property tax relief," Yaple said. But "typically, when you combine these districts, you find one town's taxes go up, the other town's taxes go down. That's not property tax relief when you're raising taxes on half the communities -- so that's a big issue, too."

In Rocky Hill's case, the projected cost savings squeezed out through consolidation with the Montgomery school district is a mere $37,500 -- less than 1 cent on the borough's tax rate -- according to an analysis by Somerset County Executive Superintendent of Schools Trudy Doyle.

A revised tax levy that will go into effect in the 2010-2011 year, based 61.5 percent on enrollment and 38.5 percent on equalized property valuation, has been designed to keep both communities' tax levies "as close to what they have been as possible," Doyle said.

But Rocky Hill Mayor Edward Zimmerman said it's not at all clear what Rocky Hill or Montgomery stand to achieve from the Rocky Hill School District's dissolution.

"I don't know that there is any financial gain to be had from this," said Zimmerman, whose wife, Randie, was one of the five members of the Rocky Hill school board until it was dissolved. "It's more political -- 'Look what I did.'"

Gov. Corzine, he said, essentially "allowed one of his appointees (Doyle) to fire five elected officials without any input from the community."

Doyle conceded that the savings are minor, but said streamlining district operations is an issue of statewide importance.

"Although it didn't look like a lot of money, those functions that the money represented can so easily be absorbed by the (larger) district that already had the children," she said.

"It's not just a matter of money," added Doyle, who became Somerset County's executive superintendent in February 2008. "It has more to do with the issue of governance and of, 'Should we have a governing body for a school district that has no students?'."

DOE spokeswoman Kathryn Forsyth said the overall objective of eliminating the non-operating school districts is "to create pre-K-to-12 districts throughout the state as a more efficient way of running education."

Like all school boards in New Jersey, Rocky Hill's elected board members are unpaid volunteers, so neither Zimmerman nor his wife have any financial stake in reinstating the Rocky Hill school board.

Zimmerman said voters in his community merely wanted a say in the matter of dissolving their school district and the opportunity to reserve a meaningful voice on the Montgomery school board under a fully merged district.

He complained there were no public meetings on the subject, Doyle's analysis wasn't sent to the borough until the day before the district was discontinued, and Rocky Hill voters were unable to vote on the change.

"They weren't given the opportunity, and they are upset by it," he said.

Doyle said the state legislation authorizing the dissolution does not allow for a vote. However, she met Zimmerman and district officials in May 2008 to review the district's prospects and informed the business administrator as soon as the legislation was drafted and she learned the dissolutions were coming, she said.

Doyle also noted that the former Rocky Hill school board had no power in the Montgomery district, whereas Montgomery's board will be expanded from nine to 10 members in August to give Randie Zimmerman a temporary post on the panel through April, when elections will take place.

Marvin Reed said he and his fellow members of the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission have been following the school district consolidation process closely and will meet with Davy later this month for an update.

"We want to get a picture of what they're actually doing and how they're going about it, because it would be logical that any analysis we did of municipal consolidation would follow those same regional lines," he said.

Similar objections could arise as well, such as claims that consolidation will not save money or will deprive a merged community of a voice in government, Reed said.

Since consolidation requires approval by the residents of affected towns, those objections must be addressed. Communities must do realistic financial analyses of the effect on their tax rates and of the actual amount of services they are currently getting for their taxes, he said.

"Part of the problem is that people seldom do that," Reed said.

Staff writer Ryan Tracy contributed to this report.

by : www.nj.com

Nation/World briefs

Nation

Astronauts complete final spacewalk

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- Astronauts completed the last spacewalk of their shared shuttle and station mission Monday, breezing through some rewiring, camera setups and other outdoor chores. Christopher Cassidy and Thomas Marshburn got so far ahead on the flight's fifth spacewalk that they even took on extra work. The spacewalk ended up lasting just under five hours and set the stage for shuttle Endeavour's scheduled departure today.

Bunning will not seek re-election

Washington-- Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky said Monday he will not run for a third term in 2010, citing a lack of campaign money and interference from Senate Republicans who were pushing for him to exit the race. In a statement issued by his office, Bunning said his GOP colleagues had done "everything in their power to dry up my fundraising."

Advertisement

Audit finds need for Iraq oversight

Washington-- The government has kept a closer eye on U.S. contractors in Iraq since a deadly 2007 shooting by Blackwater guards, but it still needs to do a better job tracking and investigating when private security guards fire their guns, two new Pentagon audits have found. The reports were released today by the Pentagon's special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.

In other headlines

• Penn St. takes top party school title in survey: An annual survey says Penn State University is the nation's No. 1 party school. It snatched the title away from last year's winner, the University of Florida, which finished second in the 2009 Princeton Review survey.

• Judge orders guardian for octuplets' finances: A California judge has appointed a guardian to oversee the estate of Nadya Suleman's octuplets.

• Kalamazoo gets $2M for police: The city of Kalamazoo will get nearly $2 million for 10 officer positions from a $1 billion federal economic stimulus program to help cities avoid laying off police officers, officials told the Associated Press on Monday.

• Michigan firm recalls tea: Fireside Coffee Co. of Swartz Creek, Mich., is recalling some packages of Fireside chai tea because it may be contaminated with salmonella. No illness has been reported.

World

U.K.: Afghanistan mission a success

London -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared Monday that a mission to oust Taliban fighters from an Afghan stronghold has been a major success, despite a mounting death toll and public skepticism over the campaign.

• U.S. military stops publicizing Taliban body count: The U.S. military in Afghanistan has stopped releasing body counts of insurgents believed killed in operations because the tolls distract from the U.S. objective of protecting Afghans, a spokesman said Monday. Nearly 3,800 insurgents were killed in 2008.

In other headlines

• Karzai: Afghans want rules for troops changed: A confident President Hamid Karzai on Monday offered peace talks to Taliban militants if they renounce violence and called for a new relationship with the West if he wins a second term in next month's presidential election. Karzai is considered the favorite in the Aug. 20 vote

• Sarkozy out of the hospital: French President Nicolas Sarkozy left a military hospital Monday after overnight observation for a fainting spell.

From Detroit News wire services

Oh! Calcutta: Musical viedo

Oh! Calcutta was a totally different idea a blend of creativity, nudity and dance, backed up by excellent choreography by Margo Sappington. It was a landmark on sexual revolution.

As said by Broadway.com.

It was actually an experimentation for the returning of the period of sexual freedom.

Oh! Calcutts, runs successfully for a record 14 years (Debuting in 1970) challenging the social obstructions by representing the sexual revolution in a series of uproarious short comical dramatic performances, dance, and musical numbers written by popular figures including John Lennon, Sam Shepard, and Samuel Beckett.

This adult musical video actually matches the magic of Broadway with the exhilaration of a peep show over a rock score performed by a live band.

Directed by Jacques Levy, OH! CALCUTTA! never took sex too seriously. In 1989, the musical “Oh! Calcutta!” closed on Broadway.

Lincecum strikes out career high 15 to lead Giants past Pirates 4-2

Lincecum dazzles to beat Pirates, Ks 15

SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Lincecum looked like his old self, pitching a four-hitter and bouncing back from a rough outing with a career-high 15 strikeouts in the San Francisco Giants’ 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award (11-3) winner provided the Giants with a much-needed boost on the heels of a disappointing 3-7 road trip that saw them lose their wild card lead. The hard-throwing right-hander earned his fourth complete game this season and sixth of his career, finishing his 115-pitch gem in 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Lincecum, the All-Star starter for the National League earlier this month, dazzled on a night the Giants paid tribute to late owner Sue Burns, who died July 19 of complications from lung cancer only nine days after being diagnosed.

This marked the sixth time this season and 17th in his career that Lincecum struck out 10 or more. He walked three.

He had two strikeouts in each of the first five innings before giving up a pair of unearned runs in the sixth following a throwing error by shortstop Edgar Renteria. He also got some help from the Giants’ defense when left fielder Eugenio Velez — called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Fresno — made a diving catch of Andrew McCutchen’s sinking line drive to end the seventh.

Pablo Sandoval had his seventh three-hit game of the year, Bengie Molina doubled in a run and Randy Winn added an RBI single.

Lincecum had to wait a while to finish this one. Pirates reliever John Grabow complained about the mound and the grounds crew came out to work on it for several minutes. But Lincecum walked back out to a roaring standing ovation, a mist hovering just above the field. He struck out his final two in the ninth — fanning Andy LaRoche for the third time to end the game — and retired the last eight batters he faced.

The Pirates took two of three from the Giants last week and had won 10 of the last 14.

Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm (6-5) was tagged for eight hits and four runs in six innings. The left-hander hadn’t lost in five starts since June 21 at Colorado, but had three no-decisions during that span. He was charged with all four San Francisco runs and has allowed 11 earned runs over his last 10 2-3 innings.

Pittsburgh All-Star second baseman Freddy Sanchez was a late scratch with a lingering sore knee.

Sanchez, who went 0 for 12 with seven strikeouts during the team’s recent four-game series at Arizona and is 3 for 34 over his last eight games, also sat out Friday night’s game against the Diamondbacks with the same problem.

Before the game, San Francisco acquired first baseman Ryan Garko from the Cleveland Indians for Class-A left-hander and talented prospect Scott Barnes. Garko was with the Indians in Anaheim before being scratched late and he should be in uniform and playing for San Francisco on Tuesday night.

NOTES: Giants CF Aaron Rowand missed his seventh straight start with a forearm injury. An MRI on the arm revealed a slight tear and he likely will be out another four or five days. Rowand is in pain when he throws. … Injured LHP and 303-game winner Randy Johnson had an MRI on his shoulder and was waiting to discuss the results with team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki. Johnson didn’t travel on the last road trip and worked out and rehabilitated in Arizona. While Johnson is feeling better, he said: “One step at a time. The big test will be when I can play catch.” … Pittsburgh lost for only the third time in its last 10 games in San Francisco’s waterfront ballpark and is 12-5 here since the 2004 season. … Home run king Barry Bonds was among those in attendance for the tribute to Burns, a close friend of the slugger’s. Bonds sat in the owner’s box near the Giants’ dugout.

Watertown, Wisconsin, the Midwest Destination for Year-Round Family Friendly Fun

This August 6-9, Watertown will host its
annual Riverfest gathering which celebrates local arts and crafts, cuisine
and the best the Midwest has to offer. In addition to numerous family
friendly activities during Riverfest, the town offers year-round activities
for the family, including countless arts and crafts destinations, 275 acres
of lush-green parks and historic destinations, such as America's first
Kindergarten.

The 23rd annual Riverfest celebration will feature numerous musical acts,
including Think Floyd USA, which features Daryl Stuermer, the legendary
guitarist with Genesis and Phil Collins. Also performing will be country
singer Joe Diffie, who has more than 20 top-10 hits, including "Pickup
Man," and "John Deere Green." In addition to live music and fireworks,
close to 100 arts and crafts booth will be packed with independent artists,
and a "Taste of Watertown" will feature the freshest local produce and
unique culinary offerings from more than 25 local businesses.

Watertown is not only a must-visit destination during the annual Riverfest
activities, but it's also a unique and scenic destination that can be
enjoyed by Midwest residents year-round, with hundreds of local businesses
to engage visitors including a candle manufacturer, three state-of-the-art
bowling alleys that host countless tournaments from across the Midwest, a
premier country club and numerous artisan meat and cheese shops. The town's
five affordable hotels range from major national chains to a charming bed &
breakfast.

In addition to the annual Riverfest festivities, the Food Network recently
visited Watertown to profile one of its popular businesses, Berres Brothers
Coffee Roasters. The coffee shop, which offers behind-the-scenes tours of
how coffee goes from international fields to coffee mugs across America, is
set to be profiled on the network's flagship program, "Unwrapped," hosted
by Marc Summers. Coffee lovers from across Wisconsin can drop in anytime
for a taste of the coffee that brought the Food Network to the Midwest.

About Watertown, Wisconsin

Located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison, the city of Watertown is on
the border of Dodge and Jefferson Counties in the southeastern U.S. state
of Wisconsin. Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Rock River, the heart
of Watertown is surrounded with 275 acres of parks, a hundred-plus
restaurants and pubs, as well as numerous antique and artisan shops. Home
of the first kindergarten in the United States, Watertown is also the host
of the annual Riverfest Celebration. Many of the town's unique shops also
offer tours and family friendly hands-on experiences, such as Berres
Brothers Coffee Roasters, which has been profiled by the Food Network and
offers its "Behind the Beans" tour, which gives an inside look at how
coffee goes from the fields in various countries to coffee cups across the
America. For more information on the town, visit www.watertowntourism.com

Berres Brothers Coffee Is On The Food Network

Wisconsin will be featured in the show Food Network tonight at 8:00 CST. Yeah! Wisconsin’s gourmet coffee sipped, savored and brewed now will be seen in TV. So to all Berres Brothers Coffee drinker don’t dare to try it out.

I am sure you agree with me, coffee isn’t about status. It’s about feeling good and enjoying life your way. If you are looking for the best-tasting coffee around, you’ve come to the right place, it’s Berres Brothers Cafe.

Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters offers over 100 types of specialty coffee, including more than 50 flavored varieties, as well as single origins, blends and Fair Trade certified organics from around the world – all roasted fresh daily.

Edible Antics has covered Berres Brothers’ appearance in tonight’s Food Network saying “No more sly slurping in Wisconsin backrooms by java junkies. Berres Brothers bares it all. See them show off their best beans. Watch the roasting, grinding, and brewing. Maybe they’ll divulge their brewing secrets, maybe not. It’s all up for grabs at this Watertown, Wisconsin brew fest.”

Berres Brothers Coffee offers its “Behind the Beans” tour, which gives an inside look at how coffee goes from the fields in various countries to coffee cups across the America. So, your are coffee lover, don’t miss this program.

Berres Brothers Coffee: Family Friendly Fun

Family Friendly Fun . Watertown will host its annual Riverfest gathering which celebrates local arts and crafts, cuisine and the best the Midwest has to offer this August 6-9. In addition to numerous family friendly activities during Riverfest, the town offers year-round activities for the family, including countless arts and crafts destinations, 275 acres of lush-green parks and historic destinations, such as America’s first Kindergarten.

The 23rd annual Riverfest celebration will feature numerous musical acts, including Think Floyd USA, which features Daryl Stuermer, the legendary guitarist with Genesis and Phil Collins. Also performing will be country singer Joe Diffie, who has more than 20 top-10 hits, including “Pickup Man,” and “John Deere Green.” In addition to live music and fireworks, close to 100 arts and crafts booth will be packed with independent artists, and a “Taste of Watertown” will feature the freshest local produce and unique culinary offerings from more than 25 local businesses.

Watertown is not only a must-visit destination during the annual Riverfest activities, but it’s also a unique and scenic destination that can be enjoyed by Midwest residents year-round, with hundreds of local businesses to engage visitors including a candle manufacturer, three state-of-the-art bowling alleys that host countless tournaments from across the Midwest, a premier country club and numerous artisan meat and cheese shops. The town’s five affordable hotels range from major national chains to a charming bed & breakfast.

In addition to the annual Riverfest festivities, the Food Network recently visited Watertown to profile one of its popular businesses, Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters. The coffee shop, which offers behind-the-scenes tours of how coffee goes from international fields to coffee mugs across America, is set to be profiled on the network’s flagship program, “Unwrapped,” hosted by Marc Summers. Coffee lovers from across Wisconsin can drop in anytime for a taste of the coffee that brought the Food Network to the Midwest.

About Watertown, Wisconsin

Located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison, the city of Watertown is on the border of Dodge and Jefferson Counties in the southeastern U.S. state of Wisconsin. Nestled on the banks of the beautiful Rock River, the heart of Watertown is surrounded with 275 acres of parks, a hundred-plus restaurants and pubs, as well as numerous antique and artisan shops. Home of the first kindergarten in the United States, Watertown is also the host of the annual Riverfest Celebration. Many of the town’s unique shops also offer tours and family friendly hands-on experiences, such as Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters, which has been profiled by the Food Network and offers its “Behind the Beans” tour, which gives an inside look at how coffee goes from the fields in various countries to coffee cups across the America.
SOURCE:pr-canada.ne

Princeton Review Party Schools 2010

Penn State University is at the top of the list this year on Princeton Review Party Schools 2010, check out the full list below!


Princeton Review Party Schools 2010:
1. Penn State University, State College, Pa.
2. University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
3. University of Mississippi, Oxford, Miss.
4. University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
5. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
6. West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.
7. University of Texas, Austin, Texas
8. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
9. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
10. University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.
11. University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo.
12. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
13. Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.
14. Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
15. DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.
16. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
17. Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.
18. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
19. Tulane University, New Orleans, La.
20. Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.

Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition

How cool is a new wine competition that features only sommeliers judging wines?

• They’ve got great palates.


• They’ve been classically trained.


• They’ve been brought together by Robert Whitley, master of wine competitions. (Monterey, San Diego, Critics Challenge, and now this one.)

The Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition is another option for a credible third party endorsement. Yes, more and more people are depending on their peers for wine reviews; however, once they hit that supermarket shelf, they’re still wowed by numbers and medals. Another endorsement, beyond their own friends, still has a way of sealing the deal. Most people still don’t want to purchase something as a gamble, most especially on higher priced ticket items.

Top Sommeliers Focus of New Wine Competition

San Diego, Calif. – Having wines tasted by some of the nation’s top restaurant sommeliers is the wine salesperson’s hope. Receiving a Platinum, Gold or Silver award from this same elite group is the marketer’s dream. Both opportunities are presented in a new international wine competition – the Sommelier Challenge, debuting the weekend of September 26-27, 2009.

Created by respected competition director and syndicated wine writer Robert Whitley, the Sommelier Challenge is the second in his “challenge” series of wine competitions. Whitley created the Critics Challenge six years ago, featuring noted wine journalist judges who issue quotable comments to award-winning wines. Whitley also directs the San Diego and Monterey international wine competitions, and is publisher of Wine Review Online, the Internet’s respected wine journal.

“Sommeliers are on the front line with consumers. They are the wine mavens who influence what wines you try and what wines end up on a restaurant list. The Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition gives wineries a chance to put their wines in front of these influencers and receive an award they can market,” says Whitley.

Twelve sommeliers will judge this year’s competition representing restaurants such as The French Laundry (Yountville), Per Se ( New York City ), Charlie Trotter’s ( Las Vegas ), and Sona ( Los Angeles ), among others. The competition deadline is August 31, 2009. A complete list of judges, entry information and form can be found at www.sommelierchallenge.com.

DETAILS:

Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition

September 26 and 27, 2009

www.SommelierChallenge.com


Entry forms and fees: 302 Washington St #139, San Diego, CA 92103 USAFax to 619-294-4878, Email to SommelierChallenge@yahoo.com

Wine Shipments:

Sommelier Challenge

c/o The Westgate

1055 Second Ave

San Diego, CA 92101 USA

Results will be posted on www.WineReviewOnline.com

I endorse what I believe in, and I believe in Robert Whitely and all he’s done for the wine business. In a recent blog, I mentioned that this would be coming up. Click Here for that story, and best wishes with your wine brands in this wine competition.

If you’re a consumer and you see a card attached to a wine bottle in a supermarket that states that that wine received a medal from the Sommelier Challenge, you can purchase with confidence that the wine is without flaws… How it tastes to you will be for you to decide with your own taste test. All of this is meant to make your purchase a bit easier in what’s a daunting decision… Which of the 10,000 world wide brands that exist will float your boat. Just have a lot of fun in the process, as that’s what it’s all about – quality of life enhanced!

Cheers to the process, and to Robert for bringing us anther third party endorsement.

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TEXSOM, DrinkLocalWine: excellent wine two-fer slated mid-August

Mid-August is an excellent time to polish your wine creds with two back-to-back conferences. www.DrinkLocalWine.com hosts a one-day conference 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 with an in-depth look at the state of Texas wines and winemaking. And the 2009 Texas Sommelier Conference returns to Dallas Aug. 16-17, with more opportunities for in-depth exploration of specific varietals and regions.

DrinkLocalWine, the Web site that focuses on domestic wines not made in California or Washington, hosts its first conference in conjunction with GO TEXAN Wine in Dallas at Le Cordon Bleu; price is $35. Skip to the jump a more detailed description of the day. Local wine curmudgeon Jeff Siegel is helping to organize the event.

The 2009 Texas Sommelier Conference at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas is geared to the wine professional (Aug. 17 is open only to the trade). But wine enthusiasts can attend the Sunday sessions, 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., which will cover sake, the Rioja region of Spain, pinot noir, Austria and the Northern Rhone. It's $75 for the day (lunch is $45 extra), or $25 per session. Go to www.texsom.com for details and registration.

Software sommelier brings wine advice home

SAN FRANCISCO—Building it took eight months and the combined brainpower of math, code and food-and-wine geeks.

The result is a new computer-generated wine pairing service that developers say uses cutting edge technology to answer an age-old question: What wine to serve with dinner?

"We think it's going to be tremendously helpful for people," says James Oliver Cury, executive editor of food recipe site Epicurious.com, which recently partnered with wine database Snooth to add the pairing suggestions to thousands of its recipes.

The recommendations are based on an algorithm that involved breaking down the recipes into hundreds of categories, including flavor profiles, ingredients and preparation techniques.

Among other things, the algorithm looks for words in proximity. Boiled beef with baked potatoes, for instance, is not the same as baked beef with boiled potatoes.

Pairings are listed at the bottom of recipes, along with the price of the wine—the majority are under $20. Clicking on photos of the bottle or label brings up reviews and shopping information.

But can an algorithm replace the human touch in the very subjective decision of what wine to have with dinner?

Not really, says master sommelier Geoff Kruth, wine director of the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in Sonoma County's Russian River Valley. The trouble with software pairings, he says, is that they only factor in the food.

"Just as much of the wine and food pairing is about the person that's drinking it," he says.

Kruth says he looked at a few Epicurious recipes and found several recommendations for Oregon pinot noirs. Not a bad choice, but one that made him wonder about the scope of the recommendations. "It seemed there were a lot of the same styles of wine that were repeated," he says.

Snooth CEO Philip James says there was an effort to come up with wines that are widely available, but notes there are multiple recommendations for each dish, with some wines being more esoteric choices for the adventurous.

Beyond that, he notes there was a concerted effort to base recommendations on the expertise of real-life experts.

"It was important for me to get across that we were not building a sentient, thinking machine. This is not the Terminator," he says. "This is basically cracking open the heads of the finest food and wine critics that we could find and basically scooping their brains out and putting them into a database."

On the plus side, Kruth likes the way the system gets people talking about wine options.

"Things like that are exciting because they can lead consumers to try things that they otherwise wouldn't have tried. I like that people are thinking about food and wine pairings," he says.

New York-based Snooth (the name is derived from a town in James' native Cornwall in the south of England) is an interactive database of wines with more than 500,000 monthly users. Snooth doesn't sell wine directly but provides access to a network of more than 11,000 merchants.

Epicurious has more than 25,000 professionally tested recipes as well as 75,000 member-submitted dishes. Pairings will be available for the tested recipes, except for breakfasts and meals labeled as kid-friendly.

A recipe for grilled chicken breasts with honeydew salsa, for instance, yielded a dozen wine recommendations, including some roses and chardonnays, as well as grenache, a red wine.

The wine recommendations also have an advertising component in which companies can be showcased as the "featured partner." However, Cury says such matches will always be clearly marked as ads and will be appropriate for the recipe.

Although the service has been launched, Cury says improvements will continue to be made. User comments also will probably influence adjustments.

Cury concedes that trying to turn computer code into a connoisseur was daunting.

"It's hard enough to get wine experts to agree on what one wine or even kind of wine might pair with a particular dish. How are you going to create an automated way to do this for 25,000 recipes?" Cury says. "That was the challenge that Snooth with our coordination was able to meet."