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Zoohara-awesome new Travel Web Site

Just found this awesome new site, Zoohara for Travel Research. I'm going to use it to find out places to stay in Lake Tahoe!

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Feetz's 40th BDAY

Happy Birthday Feetz by Twain on GoAnimate

Awesome Infographic from FoodyDirect

Ultimate Guide To The Grill Master via foodydirect

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An even better version of Ennio Morricone's "Ecstasy of Gold" from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"

My Favorite Food on FoodyDirect.com

Sable's makes the most amazing smoked salmon; it's incredibly thinly sliced and delicate tasting. Here's how you get it at FoodyDirect.com! We are also doing a contest. And does this link work? Or does this from GK? Where is Demo?

List of "Pro" Car Reviews

2006 Shelby Mustang GLH           

2006 Toyota Highlander           

2007 Toyota Camry Hyrbrid           

2007 Toyota Corolla           

2007 Infiniti M35          

2007 Honda Civic Hybrid           

2008 Acura MDX           

2008 Subaru Tribeca           

2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid           

 2008 Honda Odyssey           

2008 Volvo XC70 Cross Country           

 2008 Ford Mustang Bullit           

2008 Jaguar XKR           

2008 BMW 335i           

2008 Honda Fit Sport           

2008 Buick Enclave           

 2009 Audi A4 Quattro           

2009 Audi A3 Quattro           

 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI           

 2009 BMW 750Li           

 2009-Top 10 Coolest Used Cars of All Time           

2010 Lincoln MKT           

2010 Mercedes Benz GLK350           

 2010 Suzuki Kizashi SLS           

2010 BMW X6 M           

Car colors-Black is the new Black           

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon           

2010 Acura TL SH-AWD           

2011 Ford Mustang V6-Automatic Transmission           

2011 Ford Mustang V6-Manual Transmission           

2011 Infiniti QX56           

 2011 Honda Odyssey           

2011 Jaguar R-Performance Academy          

2012 Audi A6 Supercharged

Jaguar R Performance Academy

March 28-30, 2011

As the cool Spring wind blew on this crystal clear, sunny day, a gorgeous white Jaguar XKR came to a screeching stop. The door flew open and a helmeted Adam Andretti got out of the car smiling, his passenger shaking his head and wobbly. Burnt tire smoke billowed from the car. They had just taken a “hot lap” at Las Vegas International’s 2.5 mile track. Andretti specializes in “drifting”—the practice of massive throttle-induced oversteer in which the tail end of the car hangs luridly out. Over do it, and the tail will come around, most likely ending in an uncontrolled spin which could have serious consequences. Incredibly, Andretti was doing these power slides at more than 90mph! And the poor car -- most tires are meant to last about 2 or more years, however, the brand new rear tires on this XKR were shot, done in by just three laps under Andretti’s helm as the cords were already showing.

I was at the Jaguar R Performance Academy, a program that is included with the purchase of the 510hp/461lbs torque Jaguar XKR and XFR models. Jaguar offers this free program for two primary reasons. First, 510hp in a regular street car is a lot of power, and though these cars have exceptional and incredible safety overrides such as traction control and automated braking (ABS), when these features are turned off, the docile Jag turns into a snarling race car. Jag wants to make sure that owners know the responsibilities and capabilities associated with owning such a powerful beast. Secondly, Jag also believes that this track school is a sort of “second honeymoon” as owners become familiarized with the stunning capabilities of the car they may have not known existed.

The Journey
I arrived at the Las Vegas airport and was warmly greeted in the “limo line” by a Jaguar representative. I was extremely nervous as I had never driven on the track and was petrified of what was to come. However, my nervousness was reduced as we went out to the awaiting XJL (stretched version of the XJ) and an assistant was in the expansive back seat. We hustled to THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay and, en route they demonstrated the navigation, seat massagers, and 1,200 watt Bowers and Wilkins sound system. I had a fantastic dinner with the Jaguar reps, professional drivers, and the rest of the 23 other press representatives who had come from Italy, Spain, Australia, the US, and England.

Day 1: Track Day
Bright and early, we drove out to the Las Vegas International Speedway in a fleet of XJLs. The race track was impressive with massive stands and we'd later see stock cars thundering through doing practice laps. We had an hour or so of instruction and were introduced to the nine professional drivers who would be our guides. These drivers included Davy Jones (placed second at the Indy 500 and won Lemans), Roberto Guerrero (placed second at the Indy 500 twice), and Adam Andretti (nephew of Mario and drifting savant).

We transferred from the XJs to the powerful XFR and XKRs, equipped with 510 thundering horsepower. Instruction began with a short autocross route, followed by a figure eight, then small oval course, and finished with laps on the high speed 2.5 mile course. The figure eight tested precise handling, acceleration, and braking. Initially, we drove the cars with the computerized safety settings turned on; they intervene when there is a loss of traction. In this mode, the XKR, though very powerful, was never uncontrolled. Once acquainted with the course, however, the instructor switched the traction control off. In an instant, the XKR was transformed into a beast. I was soon driving with the rear end sliding out, pouring smoke from the tires. I learned to (try) and control the oversteer by letting off the throttle and turning in to the slide. It was an absolute blast! Later, on the oval course, Adam Andretti was my guide as I shot toward the apex then hammered the throttle, tail out and grinning like an idiot as I became more familiar with the cars limits.



After lunch and some much needed down time, we headed back out to the high speed track. I settled in, turned the AC to 65 degrees and switched the seat coolers to max; amazing to have so much luxury in this performance car. We followed the lead car and spaced out three car lengths each. The lead car led us progressively faster, encouraging us to brake HARD before a turn, let the momentum carry toward the apex, and then hammer the throttle out. The goal was to take the shortest line. We had the XKR/XFRs in "track mode", which enabled the automatic transmission to consistently downshift to keep the engine at full boil. The traction control was also set at high limits which prevented dangerous oversteer-but just barely. I was able to keep up in the turns, but on the straight-aways, i was nervous as we hurtled up to 120 mph then slammed the brakes for the next turn. At one point, I entered a sweeping right turn too fast and slid out into the gravel. Needless to say, despite the A/C and seat coolers, I was sweating profusely at the end. The driving was incredibly intense, demanding both mental and physical attention while generating massive adrenalin. At the day's conclusion, we headed back to the hotel for yet another incredible meal and lively rehash of the days events.

Day 2: Hoover Dam
We got a much needed rest and left at 9AM the following day. We drove in the XJLs, the new Jaguar flagship for luxury and performance. Unlike the previous day, we were encouraged to maintain the posted speed limit as a squadron of these cars might seek attention from the local police on the open road.

The XJL had an incredibly smooth ride but also plenty of power as we headed out to Hoover Dam. We toured the structure then headed back out to the Ravella Resort on Lake Mead, where once again we had an incredible meal and enjoyed the crystal clear, sunny day.

Unfortunately, the journey had to come to an end. I was chauffeured in the XJL to the airport, and flew home with memories to last a life time.

The session gave me a new found appreciation for the track, along with improved skills that transfer to daily driving. I was also blown away at the incredible combination of luxury and performance that Jaguar offers across their entire product line.

Every Ride is a Race

Tribute to the Sunday ride crew.

Xtranormal "Movie"

Funny for those in the know

Ennio Morricone-Ecstasy of Gold - Live

This is truly Cool Sheesh. Live performance of the best song off of The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Soundtrack. Tell me this doesn't give you chills.

adidas ZX8000 re-release

According to Sneakerfiles, the original ZX8000 was released in 1988.
I had a pair of the blue ones; they were the best running shoe I'd ever had. Good support in the heel, excellent for anti-pronation, and one of the best trail running shoes ever. Not sure if it was because of their famous "torsion bar", but they were a bit firm, though. Regardless, my favorite running shoe of all time.
Here is a pic of the originals:


adidas re-released the ZX-8000 with an updated sole (see the blue one). Unfortunately, there is very little arch support. Shame because the shoe is very light and well made. I can't believe how many people comment on it.

Additionally, adidas has updated the series with a new "originals" version called the Mega Torsion RVI available in the original blue and a white/green/red version that is similar to the original. Unfortunately, these are strictly "casual" shoes and I wouldn't bother running in them. That said, also beautifully made.

Have a look at all three


and the different soles


I wish adidas would bring back the original in its true form!

Cool Way to Save Cash: Groupon.com

Our local San Francisco Bay Area news radio station, KGO, interviewed the founder of groupon.com, and the concept peaked my interest as one who does not turn down free or discounted opportunities. What's the catch? None. Just register at the site picking your city (or one very close to you), and away you go. What is a groupon? It's a portmanteau of "group" and "coupon" ... effectively, businesses will offer a discounted deal to a group of people for a finite time period (usually 24-hours); the actual groupon is good for about a year or less much like a gift certificate. What kind of things can you buy? The daily emailed offerings vary, but they have been for things such as:

• Farallon Island boat tour
• Yoga sessions
• Spa treatments
• Coffeeshops
• Restaurants
• Hotel stays
• Rafting trips
• Car services

The best part of all is they're all at a discounted price. For example, I bought a $50 (face-value) Groupon for Pucinella's restaurant in San Francisco for $20 (a 60% discount). This is great for my wife and I as we like to go out on a regular basis, and we're not breaking the bank. One of the best parts is that purchasing the current groupon is very easy. After logging in, you simply indicate the quantity that you want to buy, and click one button. Your credit card info is stored by Groupon so you won't have to enter each time. Today's San Francisco groupon (Dec 15, 2009) is for a 2010 Snowbomb Tahoe Card (regularly $40 on sale for $20); it includes a bunch of free stuff including a lift ticket at Dodge Ridge. Where can you find a lift ticket for $20??? If you're interested in gettting these deals, sign up here: Groupon

Three infectiously great things

1. Peter, Bjorn & John - Young Folks


2. Budweiser song "Anthem"


3. Glengarry Glen Christmas

VW Jetta Diesel

Driving Impressions: 2009 Jetta Diesel

Diesel: what’s old is new, only better
I’ve been unintentionally green for a few weeks now; my beloved 2000 Audi A6 is in the shop getting major surgery including a transmission rebuild, new power steering rack, and catalytic converters. So I’ve been cycling and train-riding to work for the past few weeks. Unfortunately, the train station is quite a ways from work, so I’ve been riding a minimum of 9 miles, and sometimes 40 miles a day depending so I’m pretty tired.

Luckily, my backside got a welcome break with the chance to test the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. But the “green” didn’t take a break with this frugal VW. It’s a fantastic car that offers plenty of room front and rear, fold down seats to easily put the bike into, excellent handling, and a thoroughly entertaining diesel engine. Entertaining? Diesel? Yep-this sucker features a turbocharger that kicks in for some prodigious torque. While the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder has only 140 horsepower, it packs a whopping 236 foot pounds of torque. While it lags a bit off the line, at highway speeds, the torque makes passing a joy. It is an ideal highway cruiser. Even more impressive, despite my notorious lead-footedness (I infamously logged just 22mpg in the ’08 Honda Fit), I averaged a stunning 37.5 mpg!

Then and now
In 1990, the president of the company I worked for swore by two things—PC’s instead of Macs and diesel instead of regular fuel. He drove a gargantuan Mercedes diesel 300 SEL and kept it for 15+ years. And he forbade Macs in the workplace. Years later, PCs have definitely dominated while diesels are just now coming back in to vogue. Back then, diesels were stinky, slow, and pumped out a lot of pollution. However, as my favorite mechanic points out, because of the trucking industry, getting diesel gas is relatively easy because the network of stations exists throughout the nation.

With the advent of the recent energy crisis and heightened awareness of conservation, European car companies, such as VW, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes Benz, are now re-testing the waters here with diesel offerings. Reportedly, over 50% of cars in Europe run on diesel, so the technology has already been widely deployed. Better still, diesel is now much cleaner; ultra-low sulfur diesel now burns 97% less sulfur and is widely available. And the CO2 emissions of this Jetta, while not the lowest, compare favorably to the miserly and clean burning Honda Civic, as seen in the chart below (statistics courtesy of : fueleconomy.gov)





The only real concern with newer “clean diesel” is the addition of ammonia (urea). Clean diesel engines require a separate source of ammonia which breaks down Nitric Oxide, a common air pollutant, into harmless nitrogen and oxygen. There concern is with maintenance issues and car owners making sure the ammonia is refilled.

What about alternative fuels?
Here in the U.S., though ethanol was broadly marketed, it’s nearly impossible to find a station that provides it. Elsewhere in the world, ethanol is popular and common-place in Brazil, and propane is used widely in India. But here in the US, we don’t really have another choice except electric or diesel. The vaunted hybrids such as the Prius and pure electrics like the Tesla, while very economical, pose a new question. What do we do with the batteries once they are “used up”? How long will they last? And how much will they cost to maintain? More importantly, how do we dispose of them? Suddenly, once stinky diesel seems appealing. With the pre-existing fuel network, lower emissions, excellent fuel economy, and the prospect of bio-diesel, diesel does have a lot working for it as a new standard of economy and efficiency. Perhaps there really is something here.

Life with a diesel.
So what’s it like to live with a diesel? This VW is impressive. While there is a slight “dieseling sound” at start up, it is not much louder than a standard engine. No smoke an no smell. Once underway, the diesel “clatter” is mostly muted and hardly noticeable. When I did have to find a station that offered diesel, it was slightly problematic. I visited three stations before I found one that carried diesel. If you are planning a trip in a diesel vehicle, it might be a good idea to look up gasbuddy.com to find stations along the route. Regardless, once at the station, I found the price to be $2.75/gallon, the same price as regular unleaded. Mid grade was $.10 more and Super was $.20 more per gallon. Only at the station did I detect the faint smell of petroleum jelly that is characteristic of diesel.. In any case, the price of diesel has come down, which is yet another reason to consider it. Additionally, with the VW’s 14.5 gallon gas tank and 30+mpg, you won’t need a fill up for close to 500 miles—that’s impressive!

So would I buy it? The Jetta was a very impressive car. It has great handling, plenty of space for four, and is a great freeway commuter. If I had to do long commute miles and used this car primarily for commuting, it would be extremely tough to beat.

2009 Tour de France predictions

What are your predictions for the TDF? Here's our little contest:
- 1 point each for naming the top 3 riders
- 1 point for each position
- 1 point each for green and polka dot.
Max of 8.

Steve LeFevre:
1. Sastre
2. Evans
3. Armstrong
Points: Devolder
Green: Cavendish

Conrad Essen:
1. Contador
2. Evans
3. Sastre
Points: Moncoutie
Green: Cavendish

Michael McHenry:
1. Armstrong
2. A. Schelck
3. Contador
Points: Moncoutie
Green: Freire

Twain:
1. Contador
2. Menchov
3. A. Schleck
Points: A. Schleck
Green: Cavendish

Gary Chan
1. Sastre
2. Contador
3. Amrstrong

Jimmy Dworkin
1. Amrstrong
2. Contador
3. Kloden

Derrill Stepp
1. Contador
2. Armstrong
3. Evans
Points: Gesink
Green: Tyler Farrar

Eliott Jones
1. Contador
2. Evans
3. Armstrong
"Menchov gets nailed for doping"

Cool Free Service: 4INFO

What's the address and phone number of that restaurant? What are the movie times? These are questions I often faced while out and about with my wife. I didn't have a data plan on my antiquated, push-button only phone nor did I want to pay $2 for a directory service call to my carrier. I was frustrated with a lack of options until I discovered 4INFO. 4INFO is a Silicon Valley startup that provides a free query service to find information (similar to a web browser on your pc) via text messaging. Did I mention that it's free! Okay, nothing is "free" so what's the catch? A small advertisement at the bottom of the resulting text message is all you have to endure. Say I'm at the Redwood City Starbucks on Whipple Avenue, and want to find the movies in Redwood City (California), I would text: movies 94062 (or a shortcut is M 94062) to 44636 (4INFO's short code). Subsequently, I replied "1" to the text message to get specific movie information at the Century Redwood City 20.

It's fast, free, and easy-to-use. There are shortcuts you can look at on their website. Here are some examples you could text to 44636:

• N CHI (for current news about Chicago)
• W 94062 (for weather in Redwood City) or W NYC (weather in New York City)
• STARBUCK 94062 (list of the Starbucks in Redwood City)
• AAPL (to get the current or closing price of Apple Computers)

Besides these simple queries, you can also set up alerts that are regularly delivered to your mobile phone for specific information such as weather conditions, stock prices, sports scores, jokes of the day, etc. When you no longer want the alert, you reply STOP to the specific alert or manage all of your 4INFO alerts through their management interface: Manage Alerts

Anyways, it's a cool service that I use all the time now. Try it out. You may get hooked (and it may save your marriage while trying to locate places!).