Apr
28
Ford Ranger Posts February Sales Gain
Filed Under Visual Art | Comments Off
Anthony Fontanelle asked:
Ford Ranger’s days are numbered. But Ranger, exiting production assembly line, is showing some life. It wasn’t that sad at all. Ford February sales report reflects notable sales gain of the Ranger. The gain is driven in part by incentives that keep pickups moving.
February was the second month in a row the truck has seen sales gain, reported Ford Motor Co. Prior to January, it had been years since the truck had recorded a month-to-month sales gain. Last month, the Dearborn-based automaker sold 7,431 Rangers compared to 5,850 it sold in the same month last year. On the contrary, the F-Series full-size truck saw sales dived five percent last month.
“That little Ranger that could is still doing well,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for marketing and communications. Equipped with quality Ford Ranger parts, the truck is expected to lure more shoppers in its last days.
Ford is offering special incentives on the Ranger in America’s Sun Belt, extending from Florida to Texas and California. In those territories, “the compact truck market continues to be robust,” Farley said in a conference call, especially for shoppers buying 4×2 models.
The incentives “are not something we’re going to offer every month,” he said, but the automaker is happy with how sales have performed recently.
According to watchers in the industry, escalating gasoline prices may also have contributed to the brisk sales of Rangers. Currently, the automaker’s lineup of small cars and crossover utility vehicles are selling better than its full-sized trucks and SUVs.
“We don’t have very many (Rangers). We’re just sold out,” beamed Roger Kamp, new car sales manager at Power Ford in North Scottsdale, Ariz. “I’m waiting for more to come in.”
All the Ranger buyers he sees want the larger crew-cab models, Kamp said. Bearing price stickers that start under $20,000, “it’s a great price point for all customers, for someone who doesn’t want to spend $30,000 for a full-sized (truck).”
Dan Zeller, a manager at Metro Ford in Dallas, said that from his experience, the sales spike was related to commercial orders for Rangers. Several of his large commercial fleet customers took delivery of Rangers in February, following what Zeller thinks was a backlog of orders, TwinCities reported.
Ford extended the life of the St. Paul plant in November, saying it would shut sometime in 2009 instead of later this year.
ADRIAN
Ford Ranger’s days are numbered. But Ranger, exiting production assembly line, is showing some life. It wasn’t that sad at all. Ford February sales report reflects notable sales gain of the Ranger. The gain is driven in part by incentives that keep pickups moving.
___________________________________________________________________
February was the second month in a row the truck has seen sales gain, reported Ford Motor Co. Prior to January, it had been years since the truck had recorded a month-to-month sales gain. Last month, the Dearborn-based automaker sold 7,431 Rangers compared to 5,850 it sold in the same month last year. On the contrary, the F-Series full-size truck saw sales dived five percent last month.
“That little Ranger that could is still doing well,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for marketing and communications. Equipped with quality Ford Ranger parts, the truck is expected to lure more shoppers in its last days.
Ford is offering special incentives on the Ranger in America’s Sun Belt, extending from Florida to Texas and California. In those territories, “the compact truck market continues to be robust,” Farley said in a conference call, especially for shoppers buying 4×2 models.
The incentives “are not something we’re going to offer every month,” he said, but the automaker is happy with how sales have performed recently.
According to watchers in the industry, escalating gasoline prices may also have contributed to the brisk sales of Rangers. Currently, the automaker’s lineup of small cars and crossover utility vehicles are selling better than its full-sized trucks and SUVs.
“We don’t have very many (Rangers). We’re just sold out,” beamed Roger Kamp, new car sales manager at Power Ford in North Scottsdale, Ariz. “I’m waiting for more to come in.”
All the Ranger buyers he sees want the larger crew-cab models, Kamp said. Bearing price stickers that start under $20,000, “it’s a great price point for all customers, for someone who doesn’t want to spend $30,000 for a full-sized (truck).”
Dan Zeller, a manager at Metro Ford in Dallas, said that from his experience, the sales spike was related to commercial orders for Rangers. Several of his large commercial fleet customers took delivery of Rangers in February, following what Zeller thinks was a backlog of orders, TwinCities reported.
Ford extended the life of the St. Paul plant in November, saying it would shut sometime in 2009 instead of later this year.
ADRIAN
Apr
28
Our Adventure Apprehending Paiche Poachers In Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
Filed Under Travel | Comments Off
William Grimes asked:
Most of you know that the Amazon River is by far the largest in the world, with more fresh water discharge than the next six largest rivers combined, but to appreciate that volume of water, you should join us going upstream in Dawn on the Amazon.
Tucked up tight to shore in the slack current at three quarter throttle, we watch life on the river unfold as it has for centuries, with the native inhabitants living a subsistence lifestyle in harmony with their environment.
We see most people still live like their ancestors, in thatch roof houses built on stilts to stay above the flood, with no doors or windows, and frequently with no walls, with strips of soft bark for floors. A machete, a bucket, and a few pots and pans are their only manufactured implements.
Men and women work together tending a patch of yucca, a small grove of banana trees, with a few lemon, lime, orange, papaya, mango, cashew, or cocoa, and other exotically delicious jungle fruit that most of you have probably never heard of let alone tasted, such as zapote, mamey, ubilla, guaba, shimbillo, macambo, copoazu, caimito and camu camu.
The typical mode of transportation is still the dugout canoe, and nearly always a fisherman is in sight working his net, or an individual or family are canoeing. Women wash clothes in the river, carry water in buckets to their houses, cook over open fires, and nurse babies. Children run up and down the bank waving and yelling at us.
My two favorite guides, Edson and Beto, hurry back to report to our guests that our most important geographical landmark, the confluence of the Maranon and Ucayali Rivers is just around the bend. With cameras in hand, everyone moves to the bow of the boat to record our passing through the beginning of the majestic Amazon River. Our course is the Ucayali fork, to the left going upstream. The north bank of the Ucayali River is the southern boundary of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (PSNR).
It is difficult to comprehend that the reserve is larger than some countries without cruising to the far, remote entrance, the Pacaya River. After miles of jungle go by, interspersed with rice planted in the flood plains and peanuts planted in the sandy soil uphill from the rice, and we pass many boats and villages, eventually over five million acres begins to take on meaning.
When Dawn on the Amazon turns up the Pacaya River we enter one of the great wetland environments on earth. Within ten minutes it is like being in another world. We see giant Paiche near the opening to a lake. Paiche are the largest freshwater fish with scales. They are unusual for their size and because they have lungs. It is common to find them two meters long and weighing 125 kilos when they surface to breath.
Edson and Beto rush to 84 year old ‘Abuelita’ Eileen, pointing to make sure she sees the cloud of parakeets, I guess there are a hundred, followed moments later by eight to ten large parrots. Before we left Iquitos Eileen told us she hoped to see parrots in the wild. She saw a lifetime worth of parrots along the Pacaya River.
When we came through this stretch of river a month ago we saw fifty sloth, this time only one; curious the ebb and flow of wildlife. We know birds and monkeys easily move to a new tree full of ripe fruit, but it is hard to imagine sloth moving so slowly through the jungle to a new food source.
Hawks are hunting. Horned Screamers honk their loud, liquid call, mixed flocks of Snowy and Great Egrets, cormorants, ducks, and herons, fly or fish close to the boat as we glide upstream. But our unique adventure in PSNR is not about seeing the seven species of monkeys, or the hundred species of birds, nor several dozen pink dolphins, or the iguanas, caimans, capybara, or sloth. We expect to observe them when we enter the reserve. Our adventure is with the most interesting and dangerous primate of all, Homo sapiens.
The ranger in charge of the second check point, Jose, immediately informs us there is an emergency. Six paiche poachers have been spotted hidden away at a lake twenty minutes upstream. With only four rangers in the area, he asks for our assistance. A few years ago the reputations of everyone in the village of Bretana were tarnished when paiche poachers from that village murdered three rangers who tried to confiscate their nets and canoes. Because of that crime, the village is considered dangerous and our boats never stop at Bretana.
Jose wants me to go with them, but with six guests on board I believe my first responsibility is to them. I ask Beto if he would go with the rangers and take our VHF hand-held radio to maintain contact with Dawn on the Amazon. He reluctantly agrees, but is not pleased with these unexpected events. He knows the story of the murdered rangers as well as I do.
Jose has a plan. The poachers have set up camp next to a small stream connecting the largest lake in PSNR to the Yarina River. That stream is too small for Dawn on the Amazon III so we tow the ranger’s boats behind us, and when we come to the stream the rangers and Beto paddle up the stream to the camp. The poachers hear our boat go past and believe they are safe.
We go on to block the only possible escape route, and if necessary to ram their boats and prevent their escape however we can. Beto takes the hand-held radio to maintain communication and one of our cameras to record the evidence.
Beto tells the story: “It was difficult to get through the stream because it was choked with aquatic vegetation. We had to push pole through the water grass, and get out pushing the canoes and Jon boat. It took over an hour to get to the camp. I noticed buzzards pecking at a pile of fish heads and carcasses.
“I saw the infractories, packing their gear to escape. Jose jumped out of the boat to confront them. I heard the conversation get louder and louder. The leader said they were only trying to have a system to survive. Jose argued that it is easy to survive without poaching. The other infractories whispered suspiciously while getting their machetes.
“The rest of the rangers saw the threat and sprang out of the boats as one of the poachers attacked Jose with a machete, aiming a killing blow to the back of his neck. Someone shouted a warning and Jose spun around just in time to grab the attempted murderer’s wrist.
“As they fought for the machete, the poacher screamed, ‘Here we will kill each other.’ Jose wrestled the machete away and threw it in the water. The other rangers formed a circle around Jose and the attempted murderer on the ground fighting.
“The other poachers were closing in threatening with their machetes when I shouted into the radio, ‘Officina, officina, base, base, we have trouble. Send in the other rangers, send help, send help, over.’
“Everyone heard the reply, ‘Help is on the way. Rangers on the way. Keep us informed, over.’ That was all it took to take the fight out of the poachers. They laid down their machetes. That is when I radioed back, ‘It is over. We are OK. Negotiations have begun, no reinforcements necessary, over.’
“I could not understand these negotiations. The infractories always spoke as if they had done no wrong, that we were wrong to bother them. The man who spotted the infractories and informed Jose of their location works for the rangers but lives in the village.
The leader of the infractories shook his finger at him as he threatened, ‘You are the person who let them know we are here! Our trouble is your fault! Make sure I do not see you tomorrow…’
“They were allowed to keep their nets, canoes, spears, and half of the paiche. They had eight large turtles and four medium size turtles in a bag. Jose ordered them to release the turtles. They refused. They argued that since they were allowed to keep half the paiche, they should be allowed to keep half of turtles. After much arguing, all of the turtles were released.
“They were absolutely positive that they should be allowed to stay and fish like honest fishermen. They argued with Jose for an hour, but Jose was insistent that they leave. They refused to go.
“Jose explained that every ranger in the reserve has been notified by radio of their activities and they would be followed and monitored the entire fifty kilometers to the entrance. Still they argued so forcefully to stay that Jose became suspicious and a search was conducted around the perimeter of the camp.
“One of the rangers discovered a freshly killed, fifty kilo paiche covered with leaves. They had the nerve to argue that half of that fish should also be theirs, but even Jose’s patience was running out, and he ordered them to leave immediately.
“As they started paddling downstream, the leader turned and threatened, ‘This is not the end of it. It will not stay like this.’ Jose replied with a threat of his own, ‘I can not believe you would be stupid enough to cause more trouble now that every ranger knows your name, where you and your family live, and what you have done.’”
It is quite possible that Beto’s quick thinking with our VHF radio saved the lives of all the rangers, as well as his own. The rangers rewarded him with a big slab of the fresh paiche. He was kind enough to share with all on board Dawn on the Amazon III. We all agreed that the paiche made some of the best ceviche we have ever eaten, and no one ever ate better fish than the fresh fillets of paiche fried in palm oil.
I have been thinking about men willing to kill or be killed for a fish, and thinking about a system of punishment that lets an attempted murderer go free. I remember near Mayo, Florida, around thirty-five years ago, three game wardens were murdered on an old logging road in the swamp. Many of the mothers of deer hunters in town feared that the murderers might be their sons.
I have personally known poachers in Indiana. The poachers I know are never motivated by survival. Most often it is wildness, a belief that the law does not apply to them, and in some instances, laziness. What is the easiest, fastest way to put meat on the table? Should our paiche poachers be allowed to keep half of their catch? Should they keep their spears, nets, and canoes? These are hard questions to ponder as we continue our journey.
We are escorted upstream by a pod of pink river dolphin. They are protected by legend and custom. The people of the river believe pink dolphins have supernatural powers and it is the worst kind of luck to harm one. They swim at will without fear of poachers.
At the third ranger station we learn that no one has visited since we signed the log book two months ago. This wilderness between the second and third ranger stations seems to be Dawn on the Amazon’s private reserve. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to enjoy this nature experience and is more marvelous still if you know how to value it.
Now if we can just catch the poacher who cut down the Big Leaf Mahogany…
LUKE
Most of you know that the Amazon River is by far the largest in the world, with more fresh water discharge than the next six largest rivers combined, but to appreciate that volume of water, you should join us going upstream in Dawn on the Amazon.
Tucked up tight to shore in the slack current at three quarter throttle, we watch life on the river unfold as it has for centuries, with the native inhabitants living a subsistence lifestyle in harmony with their environment.
___________________________________________________________________
We see most people still live like their ancestors, in thatch roof houses built on stilts to stay above the flood, with no doors or windows, and frequently with no walls, with strips of soft bark for floors. A machete, a bucket, and a few pots and pans are their only manufactured implements.
Men and women work together tending a patch of yucca, a small grove of banana trees, with a few lemon, lime, orange, papaya, mango, cashew, or cocoa, and other exotically delicious jungle fruit that most of you have probably never heard of let alone tasted, such as zapote, mamey, ubilla, guaba, shimbillo, macambo, copoazu, caimito and camu camu.
The typical mode of transportation is still the dugout canoe, and nearly always a fisherman is in sight working his net, or an individual or family are canoeing. Women wash clothes in the river, carry water in buckets to their houses, cook over open fires, and nurse babies. Children run up and down the bank waving and yelling at us.
My two favorite guides, Edson and Beto, hurry back to report to our guests that our most important geographical landmark, the confluence of the Maranon and Ucayali Rivers is just around the bend. With cameras in hand, everyone moves to the bow of the boat to record our passing through the beginning of the majestic Amazon River. Our course is the Ucayali fork, to the left going upstream. The north bank of the Ucayali River is the southern boundary of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (PSNR).
It is difficult to comprehend that the reserve is larger than some countries without cruising to the far, remote entrance, the Pacaya River. After miles of jungle go by, interspersed with rice planted in the flood plains and peanuts planted in the sandy soil uphill from the rice, and we pass many boats and villages, eventually over five million acres begins to take on meaning.
When Dawn on the Amazon turns up the Pacaya River we enter one of the great wetland environments on earth. Within ten minutes it is like being in another world. We see giant Paiche near the opening to a lake. Paiche are the largest freshwater fish with scales. They are unusual for their size and because they have lungs. It is common to find them two meters long and weighing 125 kilos when they surface to breath.
Edson and Beto rush to 84 year old ‘Abuelita’ Eileen, pointing to make sure she sees the cloud of parakeets, I guess there are a hundred, followed moments later by eight to ten large parrots. Before we left Iquitos Eileen told us she hoped to see parrots in the wild. She saw a lifetime worth of parrots along the Pacaya River.
When we came through this stretch of river a month ago we saw fifty sloth, this time only one; curious the ebb and flow of wildlife. We know birds and monkeys easily move to a new tree full of ripe fruit, but it is hard to imagine sloth moving so slowly through the jungle to a new food source.
Hawks are hunting. Horned Screamers honk their loud, liquid call, mixed flocks of Snowy and Great Egrets, cormorants, ducks, and herons, fly or fish close to the boat as we glide upstream. But our unique adventure in PSNR is not about seeing the seven species of monkeys, or the hundred species of birds, nor several dozen pink dolphins, or the iguanas, caimans, capybara, or sloth. We expect to observe them when we enter the reserve. Our adventure is with the most interesting and dangerous primate of all, Homo sapiens.
The ranger in charge of the second check point, Jose, immediately informs us there is an emergency. Six paiche poachers have been spotted hidden away at a lake twenty minutes upstream. With only four rangers in the area, he asks for our assistance. A few years ago the reputations of everyone in the village of Bretana were tarnished when paiche poachers from that village murdered three rangers who tried to confiscate their nets and canoes. Because of that crime, the village is considered dangerous and our boats never stop at Bretana.
Jose wants me to go with them, but with six guests on board I believe my first responsibility is to them. I ask Beto if he would go with the rangers and take our VHF hand-held radio to maintain contact with Dawn on the Amazon. He reluctantly agrees, but is not pleased with these unexpected events. He knows the story of the murdered rangers as well as I do.
Jose has a plan. The poachers have set up camp next to a small stream connecting the largest lake in PSNR to the Yarina River. That stream is too small for Dawn on the Amazon III so we tow the ranger’s boats behind us, and when we come to the stream the rangers and Beto paddle up the stream to the camp. The poachers hear our boat go past and believe they are safe.
We go on to block the only possible escape route, and if necessary to ram their boats and prevent their escape however we can. Beto takes the hand-held radio to maintain communication and one of our cameras to record the evidence.
Beto tells the story: “It was difficult to get through the stream because it was choked with aquatic vegetation. We had to push pole through the water grass, and get out pushing the canoes and Jon boat. It took over an hour to get to the camp. I noticed buzzards pecking at a pile of fish heads and carcasses.
“I saw the infractories, packing their gear to escape. Jose jumped out of the boat to confront them. I heard the conversation get louder and louder. The leader said they were only trying to have a system to survive. Jose argued that it is easy to survive without poaching. The other infractories whispered suspiciously while getting their machetes.
“The rest of the rangers saw the threat and sprang out of the boats as one of the poachers attacked Jose with a machete, aiming a killing blow to the back of his neck. Someone shouted a warning and Jose spun around just in time to grab the attempted murderer’s wrist.
“As they fought for the machete, the poacher screamed, ‘Here we will kill each other.’ Jose wrestled the machete away and threw it in the water. The other rangers formed a circle around Jose and the attempted murderer on the ground fighting.
“The other poachers were closing in threatening with their machetes when I shouted into the radio, ‘Officina, officina, base, base, we have trouble. Send in the other rangers, send help, send help, over.’
“Everyone heard the reply, ‘Help is on the way. Rangers on the way. Keep us informed, over.’ That was all it took to take the fight out of the poachers. They laid down their machetes. That is when I radioed back, ‘It is over. We are OK. Negotiations have begun, no reinforcements necessary, over.’
“I could not understand these negotiations. The infractories always spoke as if they had done no wrong, that we were wrong to bother them. The man who spotted the infractories and informed Jose of their location works for the rangers but lives in the village.
The leader of the infractories shook his finger at him as he threatened, ‘You are the person who let them know we are here! Our trouble is your fault! Make sure I do not see you tomorrow…’
“They were allowed to keep their nets, canoes, spears, and half of the paiche. They had eight large turtles and four medium size turtles in a bag. Jose ordered them to release the turtles. They refused. They argued that since they were allowed to keep half the paiche, they should be allowed to keep half of turtles. After much arguing, all of the turtles were released.
“They were absolutely positive that they should be allowed to stay and fish like honest fishermen. They argued with Jose for an hour, but Jose was insistent that they leave. They refused to go.
“Jose explained that every ranger in the reserve has been notified by radio of their activities and they would be followed and monitored the entire fifty kilometers to the entrance. Still they argued so forcefully to stay that Jose became suspicious and a search was conducted around the perimeter of the camp.
“One of the rangers discovered a freshly killed, fifty kilo paiche covered with leaves. They had the nerve to argue that half of that fish should also be theirs, but even Jose’s patience was running out, and he ordered them to leave immediately.
“As they started paddling downstream, the leader turned and threatened, ‘This is not the end of it. It will not stay like this.’ Jose replied with a threat of his own, ‘I can not believe you would be stupid enough to cause more trouble now that every ranger knows your name, where you and your family live, and what you have done.’”
It is quite possible that Beto’s quick thinking with our VHF radio saved the lives of all the rangers, as well as his own. The rangers rewarded him with a big slab of the fresh paiche. He was kind enough to share with all on board Dawn on the Amazon III. We all agreed that the paiche made some of the best ceviche we have ever eaten, and no one ever ate better fish than the fresh fillets of paiche fried in palm oil.
I have been thinking about men willing to kill or be killed for a fish, and thinking about a system of punishment that lets an attempted murderer go free. I remember near Mayo, Florida, around thirty-five years ago, three game wardens were murdered on an old logging road in the swamp. Many of the mothers of deer hunters in town feared that the murderers might be their sons.
I have personally known poachers in Indiana. The poachers I know are never motivated by survival. Most often it is wildness, a belief that the law does not apply to them, and in some instances, laziness. What is the easiest, fastest way to put meat on the table? Should our paiche poachers be allowed to keep half of their catch? Should they keep their spears, nets, and canoes? These are hard questions to ponder as we continue our journey.
We are escorted upstream by a pod of pink river dolphin. They are protected by legend and custom. The people of the river believe pink dolphins have supernatural powers and it is the worst kind of luck to harm one. They swim at will without fear of poachers.
At the third ranger station we learn that no one has visited since we signed the log book two months ago. This wilderness between the second and third ranger stations seems to be Dawn on the Amazon’s private reserve. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to enjoy this nature experience and is more marvelous still if you know how to value it.
Now if we can just catch the poacher who cut down the Big Leaf Mahogany…
LUKE
Apr
27
Texas Rangers, A Challenging Course
Filed Under Sports And Fitness | Comments Off
Rick Grantham asked:
When you hear the word rangers, the first thing that comes to your mind is the people responsible for keeping everyone safe back in the days. The rangers have played a significant role in the history of Texas. Stephen Austin formed the rangers in 1823. It temporarily ended after the Civil War. However, it lived again shortly after the reconstruction era. From 1935, they became part of the Texas Department of Public safety.
Another famous Texas Rangers is the major league baseball team in Arlington, Texas. The team became a part of the American League in 1961. They were formally known as the as the Washington Senators. The team is different from the original Washington Senators who moved to Minnesota. They are an expansion team since the first Washington team just changed their name to Minnesota Twins and not their stat. They became the Rangers after they transferred at Arlington in 1972.
Replacing the first Washington team was a challenge. The team had difficulty because of mismanagement. The owners experienced financial losses in their first few years of inception. Bob Short bought the team from James Lemon who also became the general manager of the team. Short hired a Hall of Famer in the person of Ted Williams.
Williams managed to make improvements in the performance of the team. However, business got in the way. Financial problems led to the trading of valuable players to other teams. Because of this, the winning season that Williams tried to managed eventually stopped. After the approval of the American League, the team moved to Texas. Leaving Washington was not easy though. Fans were furious about the decision.
When they moved to Texas, the team officially became the Rangers. It took a while before they have fully adjusted to their new home. Billy Martin managed the team. In 1974, he received the Manager of the year award after leading the team to second place, behind the Oakland Athletics who won the World Series that year.
The league recognized several players of the Texas Rangers that year too. Their first baseman Mike Hargrove won the Rookie of the year award. Jeff Burroughs won the Most Valuable Player award as well. In addition, Hall of Famer, Ferguson Jenkins received the Comeback Player of the Year.
However, this did not last. The ensuing year was nowhere near their 1974 season. This led to the firing of Martin.
The team will not have a winning season until 1977 to 1979. After that, they went to winning hiatus again. They would only experience their next winning season in 1986. However, it was in the late nineties that they would experience the prime of their team. It was not enough to give them the stature they want though.
The Rangers are one of the least successful teams in the American League. Their highest achievement would be their three West Division titles in 1996, 1998, and 1999. They have not won an American League pennant. Consequently, they have never appeared in the World Series as well.
ERNIE
___________________________________________________________________
When you hear the word rangers, the first thing that comes to your mind is the people responsible for keeping everyone safe back in the days. The rangers have played a significant role in the history of Texas. Stephen Austin formed the rangers in 1823. It temporarily ended after the Civil War. However, it lived again shortly after the reconstruction era. From 1935, they became part of the Texas Department of Public safety.
Another famous Texas Rangers is the major league baseball team in Arlington, Texas. The team became a part of the American League in 1961. They were formally known as the as the Washington Senators. The team is different from the original Washington Senators who moved to Minnesota. They are an expansion team since the first Washington team just changed their name to Minnesota Twins and not their stat. They became the Rangers after they transferred at Arlington in 1972.
Replacing the first Washington team was a challenge. The team had difficulty because of mismanagement. The owners experienced financial losses in their first few years of inception. Bob Short bought the team from James Lemon who also became the general manager of the team. Short hired a Hall of Famer in the person of Ted Williams.
Williams managed to make improvements in the performance of the team. However, business got in the way. Financial problems led to the trading of valuable players to other teams. Because of this, the winning season that Williams tried to managed eventually stopped. After the approval of the American League, the team moved to Texas. Leaving Washington was not easy though. Fans were furious about the decision.
When they moved to Texas, the team officially became the Rangers. It took a while before they have fully adjusted to their new home. Billy Martin managed the team. In 1974, he received the Manager of the year award after leading the team to second place, behind the Oakland Athletics who won the World Series that year.
The league recognized several players of the Texas Rangers that year too. Their first baseman Mike Hargrove won the Rookie of the year award. Jeff Burroughs won the Most Valuable Player award as well. In addition, Hall of Famer, Ferguson Jenkins received the Comeback Player of the Year.
However, this did not last. The ensuing year was nowhere near their 1974 season. This led to the firing of Martin.
The team will not have a winning season until 1977 to 1979. After that, they went to winning hiatus again. They would only experience their next winning season in 1986. However, it was in the late nineties that they would experience the prime of their team. It was not enough to give them the stature they want though.
The Rangers are one of the least successful teams in the American League. Their highest achievement would be their three West Division titles in 1996, 1998, and 1999. They have not won an American League pennant. Consequently, they have never appeared in the World Series as well.
ERNIE
Apr
27
The Wildlife of the Western Cape of South Africa
Filed Under Travel | Comments Off
James Camstock asked:
There are dozens of wildlife parks and reserves for residents and guests to explore within the Western Cape of South Africa. Hundreds of varieties of wildlife can be found in the Western Cape of South Africa including birds, reptiles, fish and mammals. For many visitors to these reserves the main attractions are the mammals such as the lions, buffalo, elephants, and leopards.
The Wildlife Reserve of Sanbona
The San were some of the first indigenous peoples to live in the Western Cape of South Africa. These people were the inspirational in the naming of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. With more than one hundred thirty thousand acres, the reserve is located at the bottom of the Wamwaterberg. The only privately owned reserve in the area that allows lions to roam about freely is the Sanbona.
The Western Cape of South Africa was home for thousands of years to the San people. During their stewardship of the land they created religious artwork on the local rock formations that can now be viewed by guests of the reserve. There are seven different piece of rock art to be seen, some of which are thirty-five hundred years old.
The owners of this wildlife reserve in the Western Cape of South Africa have been breeding a rare form of white lion. This type of lion has always been rare in the area, however, now they are almost totally gone from most locations. By breeding the lions in captivity the owners hope to be able to renew the population and eventually place them back into the wild.
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve gives guided tours through the Western Cape of South Africa. With such a vast area and a huge range of wildlife guests are sure to have a unique experience. At the end of their excursions guests can look forward to returning to their comfortable rooms on the reserve.
The Wildlife Reserve of Ko-Ka
Located near thecity of Cape Town in the Western Cape of South Africa is the Ko-Ka Tsara Game Reserve. This reserve stretches across thirty thousand acres and is home to about twenty separate species of animals in additionto two hundred varieties of birds.
Guests staying at the Ko-Ka Tsara Game Reserve in the Western Cape of South Africa can go on guided tours of the area either at night or during the day. Guests who wish to explore the area by themselves or in a smaller group can do so by hiking the trails or watching birds in the blinds. After a long day of exploring the wildlife guests can watch for shooting stars beside the campfire before returning to their rooms.
This Western Cape of South Africa reserve has seven lovely chalets as well as a lounge and a conference center. Each of the chalets was constructed with local stone and lumbar to keep the experience as true to the wilderness experience as possible. Guests can cook their own meals in their chalet or have meals prepared by a chef.
The Western Cape of South Africa has more than a dozen parks and wildlife reserves for visitors to explore. With so many options and such a variety of wildlife with the Western Cape of South Africa each visit is sure to be a new and exciting adventure.
BOB
There are dozens of wildlife parks and reserves for residents and guests to explore within the Western Cape of South Africa. Hundreds of varieties of wildlife can be found in the Western Cape of South Africa including birds, reptiles, fish and mammals. For many visitors to these reserves the main attractions are the mammals such as the lions, buffalo, elephants, and leopards.
The Wildlife Reserve of Sanbona
The San were some of the first indigenous peoples to live in the Western Cape of South Africa. These people were the inspirational in the naming of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. With more than one hundred thirty thousand acres, the reserve is located at the bottom of the Wamwaterberg. The only privately owned reserve in the area that allows lions to roam about freely is the Sanbona.
The Western Cape of South Africa was home for thousands of years to the San people. During their stewardship of the land they created religious artwork on the local rock formations that can now be viewed by guests of the reserve. There are seven different piece of rock art to be seen, some of which are thirty-five hundred years old.
The owners of this wildlife reserve in the Western Cape of South Africa have been breeding a rare form of white lion. This type of lion has always been rare in the area, however, now they are almost totally gone from most locations. By breeding the lions in captivity the owners hope to be able to renew the population and eventually place them back into the wild.
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve gives guided tours through the Western Cape of South Africa. With such a vast area and a huge range of wildlife guests are sure to have a unique experience. At the end of their excursions guests can look forward to returning to their comfortable rooms on the reserve.
The Wildlife Reserve of Ko-Ka
Located near thecity of Cape Town in the Western Cape of South Africa is the Ko-Ka Tsara Game Reserve. This reserve stretches across thirty thousand acres and is home to about twenty separate species of animals in additionto two hundred varieties of birds.
Guests staying at the Ko-Ka Tsara Game Reserve in the Western Cape of South Africa can go on guided tours of the area either at night or during the day. Guests who wish to explore the area by themselves or in a smaller group can do so by hiking the trails or watching birds in the blinds. After a long day of exploring the wildlife guests can watch for shooting stars beside the campfire before returning to their rooms.
This Western Cape of South Africa reserve has seven lovely chalets as well as a lounge and a conference center. Each of the chalets was constructed with local stone and lumbar to keep the experience as true to the wilderness experience as possible. Guests can cook their own meals in their chalet or have meals prepared by a chef.
The Western Cape of South Africa has more than a dozen parks and wildlife reserves for visitors to explore. With so many options and such a variety of wildlife with the Western Cape of South Africa each visit is sure to be a new and exciting adventure.
BOB
Apr
26
[JAPANESE PARODY]POWER RANGERS
Filed Under Comedy | 25 Comments
Rajibu asked:
This is a parody of Power Rangers! Made by Tetsuya Nakashima! ITS HISTARICAL!!^^
TAYLOR
Apr
26
Car Audios in Full Bloom for 2007
Filed Under Automotive | Comments Off
Jay Stevens asked:
What could be more interesting than having your own shiny vehicle, having the best Ford Ranger performance parts in your car, driving around your favorite spot and having your car’s audio system blaring out your favorite piece of music? Wouldn’t that be the best?
Well, one group made out a study and they have found out that for the 2007 model year, a huge amount of the vehicle units would be offering car audio systems as part of the whole deal. This study was done by the Telematics Research Group, or the TRG. According to the mentioned group, some eighty per cent of the 2007 vehicle models that would be going on sale in the United States auto market would be having car audio systems as part of the equipment. However, this is not where the fun ends. These eighty per cent of the vehicles would be actually offering those audio systems with brands.
Phil Magney is the principal analyst of the TRG and he does stress, “As the name implies, branded audio is when Original Equipment Auto Manufacturers partner with a known audio brand to sell premium audio solutions. Well known brands in the consumer audio space such as Harman/Kardon, Bose, and Boston Acoustics top the list, but the list of partners is growing as more automotive OEMs strike up unique marketing partnerships with famous names in audio.”
With consumers and vehicle owners wanting to use their portable media players like MP3s and iPods, most vehicle manufacturers have also made sure that the vehicle units that they would be sending out to the market would be able to play such devices. In fact, TRG was able to find that some three quarters of the whole 2007 model vehicles would be coming with support for such audio files. iPod integration has also been made possible with almost half vehicles for 2007 having an auxiliary input for this musical device.
Magney does continue, “The rapid adoption of available solutions from automotive OEMs is a stark contrast to the normal multi-year product development cycle in the automotive industry. The variety of solutions reflects the swiftly changing landscape of the mobile audio market where branded audio solutions, premium quality and device integration are driving market growth.”
DAMIEN
What could be more interesting than having your own shiny vehicle, having the best Ford Ranger performance parts in your car, driving around your favorite spot and having your car’s audio system blaring out your favorite piece of music? Wouldn’t that be the best?
Well, one group made out a study and they have found out that for the 2007 model year, a huge amount of the vehicle units would be offering car audio systems as part of the whole deal. This study was done by the Telematics Research Group, or the TRG. According to the mentioned group, some eighty per cent of the 2007 vehicle models that would be going on sale in the United States auto market would be having car audio systems as part of the equipment. However, this is not where the fun ends. These eighty per cent of the vehicles would be actually offering those audio systems with brands.
Phil Magney is the principal analyst of the TRG and he does stress, “As the name implies, branded audio is when Original Equipment Auto Manufacturers partner with a known audio brand to sell premium audio solutions. Well known brands in the consumer audio space such as Harman/Kardon, Bose, and Boston Acoustics top the list, but the list of partners is growing as more automotive OEMs strike up unique marketing partnerships with famous names in audio.”
With consumers and vehicle owners wanting to use their portable media players like MP3s and iPods, most vehicle manufacturers have also made sure that the vehicle units that they would be sending out to the market would be able to play such devices. In fact, TRG was able to find that some three quarters of the whole 2007 model vehicles would be coming with support for such audio files. iPod integration has also been made possible with almost half vehicles for 2007 having an auxiliary input for this musical device.
Magney does continue, “The rapid adoption of available solutions from automotive OEMs is a stark contrast to the normal multi-year product development cycle in the automotive industry. The variety of solutions reflects the swiftly changing landscape of the mobile audio market where branded audio solutions, premium quality and device integration are driving market growth.”
DAMIEN
Apr
25
Rockmankb asked:
First Trailer of Power Rangers Super Legends for the DS and PS2
ROBIN
Apr
25
malcbear asked:
I’m just posting this because I don’t see it anymore. disclaimer: All credit of Power Rangers goes to their creators. I am not the creator of Power Rangers
ISRAEL
Apr
22
How to Attract Wildlife
Filed Under Landscaping | Comments Off
Hanne Klein asked:
Wouldn’t it be spectacular if you could design your landscape in a way that attracted and assisted wildlife? What if you could cut cost at the same time? What if you could break out of the mould and have a property that was truly beautiful.
You can! In fact you can do all of those things no matter where you live in an apartment, city, suburbs or country you can create a wildlife-friendly landscape design if you live in the heart of an urban centre. You can attract birds and wildlife suited to your area to take up residence in your backyard.
Wildlife does not just randomly appear in a given area. They arrive when there is favourable habitat. Wildlife landscaping allows you to attract beautiful songbirds, cheerful butterflies and other interesting wildlife to your yard.
As wildlife areas are lost to development, wildlife depends more and more on homeowners to provide food for them. If you want to attract a variety of wildlife to your yard, the most important thing you must do is to provide food.
Food for wildlife is easy to provide. A variety of food sources will invite a variety of wildlife. Food sources include seeds, berries, nuts, flower nectar, insects, and other wildlife.
Choose a variety of native plants that produce seed or fruit at different times of the year. Most songbirds require insects in their diet so do your best to avoid the use of insecticides as these are toxic to most wildlife.
Select plants that are adapted to the growing conditions in your area. Generally native species and their selections from nearby sources are a good first choice because they are adapted to local conditions.
TERENCE
Wouldn’t it be spectacular if you could design your landscape in a way that attracted and assisted wildlife? What if you could cut cost at the same time? What if you could break out of the mould and have a property that was truly beautiful.
You can! In fact you can do all of those things no matter where you live in an apartment, city, suburbs or country you can create a wildlife-friendly landscape design if you live in the heart of an urban centre. You can attract birds and wildlife suited to your area to take up residence in your backyard.
Wildlife does not just randomly appear in a given area. They arrive when there is favourable habitat. Wildlife landscaping allows you to attract beautiful songbirds, cheerful butterflies and other interesting wildlife to your yard.
As wildlife areas are lost to development, wildlife depends more and more on homeowners to provide food for them. If you want to attract a variety of wildlife to your yard, the most important thing you must do is to provide food.
Food for wildlife is easy to provide. A variety of food sources will invite a variety of wildlife. Food sources include seeds, berries, nuts, flower nectar, insects, and other wildlife.
Choose a variety of native plants that produce seed or fruit at different times of the year. Most songbirds require insects in their diet so do your best to avoid the use of insecticides as these are toxic to most wildlife.
Select plants that are adapted to the growing conditions in your area. Generally native species and their selections from nearby sources are a good first choice because they are adapted to local conditions.
TERENCE
Apr
21
The 2007 Ford Ranger: More Options for Buyers
Filed Under Automotive | Comments Off
Terry Brown asked:
Ford Motors has been giving the public what can be seen as one of the best compact sized pickup since it released the Ford Ranger. Numerous buyers appreciate the driving capability and the over all performance of the vehicle, not to mention its conservative styling that commands attention from onlookers. The 2007 version of the Ford Ranger is no exception to the continuing excellence exhibited by the company in producing quality vehicles.
The latest installment from the automotive giant is now available either in a 4 cylinder engine or one of the two V6 engines available. The buyer can also choose from either a manual or a five speed automatic transmission. Aside from these choices, buyers are also given the option to choose what they would like to have, from audio systems to skid plates.
The size of the truck is also an option; buyers can choose from three different sizes, with a choice of two cabs and bed lengths. The difference between the models can be seen on their bumpers. The XL models sports a black bumper and a black bar-style grille while the XLT variation has chrome bumpers and a chrome grille surround. Another model available is the Sport which gets a honeycomb grille and body-colored bumpers. This model is aimed at the younger generation and can be equipped with a Tremor MP3 audio and a wheel package, this exudes the assertive look and ride height of the Ranger at a reasonably lower price.
Common to all trim packages of the 2007 model of the Ranger is a tire pressure monitoring system. Also common among most of the models is an audio input jack for all stereo; the only exception is the base AM/FM receiver.
Comfort for the driver and the passenger as well is provided by either a bucket seat or a 60/40- split bench. In the Ford Ranger SuperCab model (an extended cab version of the Ranger) a pair of jump seats can be added, but like most jump seats, it is best left for children.
Engine choices include a 2.3 liter four-cylinder with a maximum output of 143 horsepower; a 3.0 liter V6 with 148 horses; and a 4.0 liter V6 engine capable of producing 207 units of horsepower. Transmissions can either be a five speed manual or a five speed automatic one. The cars can either be a rear wheel drive or an all wheel drive with a dashboard switch that can engage the all wheel drive configuration while the vehicle is running.
All these new models no matter what the trim package is, is a great car to drive, exhibiting steering responsiveness that only precision engineering can bring to life. The suspension is also enough to make any ride comfortable even on off road conditions. But if you are looking to make this an urban vehicle, just exchange the stock coil springs for Eibach springs and increase the stability of your car and make increase its “coolness” factor.
COLEMAN
Ford Motors has been giving the public what can be seen as one of the best compact sized pickup since it released the Ford Ranger. Numerous buyers appreciate the driving capability and the over all performance of the vehicle, not to mention its conservative styling that commands attention from onlookers. The 2007 version of the Ford Ranger is no exception to the continuing excellence exhibited by the company in producing quality vehicles.
The latest installment from the automotive giant is now available either in a 4 cylinder engine or one of the two V6 engines available. The buyer can also choose from either a manual or a five speed automatic transmission. Aside from these choices, buyers are also given the option to choose what they would like to have, from audio systems to skid plates.
The size of the truck is also an option; buyers can choose from three different sizes, with a choice of two cabs and bed lengths. The difference between the models can be seen on their bumpers. The XL models sports a black bumper and a black bar-style grille while the XLT variation has chrome bumpers and a chrome grille surround. Another model available is the Sport which gets a honeycomb grille and body-colored bumpers. This model is aimed at the younger generation and can be equipped with a Tremor MP3 audio and a wheel package, this exudes the assertive look and ride height of the Ranger at a reasonably lower price.
Common to all trim packages of the 2007 model of the Ranger is a tire pressure monitoring system. Also common among most of the models is an audio input jack for all stereo; the only exception is the base AM/FM receiver.
Comfort for the driver and the passenger as well is provided by either a bucket seat or a 60/40- split bench. In the Ford Ranger SuperCab model (an extended cab version of the Ranger) a pair of jump seats can be added, but like most jump seats, it is best left for children.
Engine choices include a 2.3 liter four-cylinder with a maximum output of 143 horsepower; a 3.0 liter V6 with 148 horses; and a 4.0 liter V6 engine capable of producing 207 units of horsepower. Transmissions can either be a five speed manual or a five speed automatic one. The cars can either be a rear wheel drive or an all wheel drive with a dashboard switch that can engage the all wheel drive configuration while the vehicle is running.
All these new models no matter what the trim package is, is a great car to drive, exhibiting steering responsiveness that only precision engineering can bring to life. The suspension is also enough to make any ride comfortable even on off road conditions. But if you are looking to make this an urban vehicle, just exchange the stock coil springs for Eibach springs and increase the stability of your car and make increase its “coolness” factor.
COLEMAN