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How To Identify All Those Different Late-Model GM V8 Engines
Hunting The LS
Since this magazine is in your hands, it means you're one of those forward-thinking car crafters who appreciates a powerful street engine and wants to learn more. Ever since the first LS1-powered Corvette hit the streets in 1997, the LS engines have become synonymous with late-model horsepower and torque and have become the go-to favorite of engine swappers around the world. But with this popularity brings questions concerning the natural progression of change that has accompanied this engine family's 15-year-plus production span. These changes represent much more than just expanded displacement and power. With the incredible variety of engines now out pounding the pavement, we thought it might be a good idea to chart this evolution with easy-to-use identification techniques that can be of benefit to the boneyard and swap-meet hunter. Plus, we have some just-released photos of the new LT1 Gen V engine that will debut with the 2014 C7 Corvette. Knowledge, as the old saying goes, is power, and if you know more than the next guy, you can turn that to your advantage.
A Brief LS History
A friend recently asked what the letters "LS" stand for, and we related that GM referred to the overall engine family as the Gen III and, after a revision, Gen IV engines. Since Gen III/IV contains way too many syllables, the shorthand version quickly evolved into the far simpler LS moniker that was shortened from the first Corvette engine that carried the RPO (regular production order) LS1. This was literally the next GM RPO code available for this new family of engines. From its modest 5.7L LS1 '97 Corvette beginnings, there are now dozens of different engine RPO codes that we will not even begin to list for the sake of our sanity and yours. To categorize the entire engine family, it's best to break them up into two basic divisions of iron and aluminum-block engines. The LS family was originally designed around an aluminum block that was almost immediately converted to iron for truck and SUV applications. Beyond this quick and easy delineation, recognizing the differences that separate an LS2 from an LS3, for example, become much more subtle, but the cues are there. To break down this family of engines into categories beyond iron and aluminum blocks, we'll focus on cathedral versus rectangle-port cylinder head engines, the change from mechanical to electronic throttle, and then the wave of subtle variations such as variable valvetrain technology (VVT). As for the future, the rumors from Detroit are true about the Gen V family of direct-injection engines. Let's start with the big differentiations, and then we'll break 'em down into the smaller variants. The more you know, the faster you'll go.
|Bore / Stroke
|4.8L 293ci
|3.78 / 3.27
|5.3L 325ci
|3.78 / 3.62
|5.7L 346ci
|3.89 / 3.62
|6.0L 364ci
|4.00 / 3.62
|6.2L 376ci
|4.065 / 3.62
|7.0L 427ci
|4.125 / 4.00
The following is an abbreviated list of popular LS cylinder-head casting numbers followed by a short description. We have lumped some casting numbers together when there may be small differences, but the major components such as valve and chamber sizes are consistent.
|Casting No.
|Valve Sizes Int./Ex.
|Chamber (cc)
|Cathedral Port
|2.00 / 1.55
|67 cc
|243 / 799 / 823
|2.00 / 1.55
|65 cc
|706 / 862 / 895
|1.89 / 1.55
|61 cc
|853 / 806 / 933
|LS1 (perimeter)
|2.00 / 1.55
|67 cc
|Rectangle Port
|317 / 035
|2.00 / 1.55
|71 cc
|373 / 873
|2.00 / 1.55
|71 cc
|364 / 716 / 823
|2.165 / 1.59
|68 cc
|2.20 / 1.61
|70 cc
1. This LS2 engine swap into Jim Brink's orange second-gen Camaro is a classic representation of the thousands of engine swaps into older cars that drive the demand for new and used LS engines. To determine the specific LS engine you want, you need to know the crucial differences among the various configurations.
2. The attractive thing about used 4.8/5.3L iron-block truck engines is their dirt-cheap availability. The 4.8/5.3L motors are easy to identify by their large 4.8/5.3 casting mark on the front of the block, but there is no simple, external way to differentiate the 4.8 from the 5.3. The best way is to yank a head and measure the stroke. We know because we've been burned.
3. All LS passenger-car blocks are aluminum and most truck powerplants use an iron block, although there are several exceptions with aluminum truck blocks. Iron blocks allow larger overbores but add roughly 100 pounds to overall weight.
4. A quick way to tell the Gen III from the Gen IV is to look for the cam-sensor position. Gen III engines place the cam sensor at the rear of the block...
5. ...while the Gen IV repositioned the sensor up on the front timing cover.
6. Though the crankshaft-sensor position has not changed, the sensor is different between Gen III and IV. The Gen III engines use a black sensor.
7. The later Gen IV engines employ a gray sensor. They are different because Gen III engines use a 24x tooth trigger wheel and Gen IV uses a finer 58x tooth wheel.
8. Truck and SUV engines generally employ the taller manifolds (left), while passenger-car engines use a shorter-height manifold (right). Don't immediately dismiss the truck manifolds, as they make excellent torque with the longer runner length and still make decent horsepower.
9. An easy way to spot a Gen IV engine such as an LS3 or L99 is to look for the electronic throttle compared with the earlier engines that were equipped with cable throttle actuation.
|LS327, 5.3L, 327 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS3, 6.2L, 430 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS3 EROD, 430 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS376, 6.2L, 525 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS7, 7.0L, 505 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS9, 6.2L, 638 hp
|Summit Racing
|LS3 / 4L65E combo
10. One of the best-known differences among LS engines is with cylinder heads. Most passenger-car and many truck engines came with what are called cathedral intake ports, so called for their peaked-roof configuration.
11. Within a few years, the Corvette and later Camaro LS3 engines began using rectangle-port heads equipped with monster 2.165-inch intake valves. These larger heads can only be used on 4.00-inch-or-larger bore diameters.
12. GM has also changed fuel injectors over the past 15 years. The original tall-injector design with a Minitimer connector (not shown) was used on the LS1/LS6 and truck engines. With the LS2, the height remained but the connector changed to a USCAR style (left). LS7/L76/L92 injectors became shorter but used the same USCAR connector (right). With each of these styles come multiple fuel-flow rates ranging from 24 to nearly 70 lb/hr.
13. The 427ci (7.0L) LS7 is distinctive for several reasons. Its cylinder heads feature a unique intake bolt pattern, and while the intake rocker arms are offset like an LS3 or L92, the rocker ratio increased from the stock 1.7:1 to 1.8:1. The LS7 also uses a different aluminum block with larger bores and longer cylinder sleeves to accommodate its longer stroke.
14. Roughly around 2004, GM changed from using two different-length head bolts to making them all the same length. The change occurred with later cylinder blocks placing all threads deeper in the block.
15. There is an entire story waiting to be written just on the various LS accessory drives. Among the popular LS engines, there are at least six configurations with the truck systems (shown here), Corvette systems, the new '10 Camaro LS3 configuration, the original LS1 Camaro version, and the separate drive systems for the new CTS-V and Corvette supercharged engines.
16. Another new branch on the LS engine tree is the variable valve timing (VVT) L99 engines, as used in the 2011 Camaro. The system employs high-pressure hydraulic circuits to advance and retard the cam timing to enhance both power and emissions. The L99 also incorporates active fuel management (AFM—formally known as DOD or displacement on demand). AFM drops four cylinders by deactivating the fuel injectors and the lifters so the valves don't open. This is done to enhance highway-cruise fuel mileage.
17. If a new GM crate engine better fits your plans, Chevrolet Performance has a slew of options, including the 5.3 and 6.0L EROD engines as well as a new system called Connect and Cruise. This packages an LS3 with a new GM 4L65E transmission, converter and flywheel kit, engine and trans controllers, and an electronic throttle pedal. All you do is plug everything in, and it's ready to go. The LS3 system is PN CPSLS34L65E. The price is steep, but literally all you do is connect and cruise.
18. Just as this story was going to press, GM released preliminary photos of the new LT1 Gen V small-block that will be used in the 2014 Corvette. The 450hp engine is a 6.2L, with direct injection being the biggest change. The basic LS architecture remains the same but with taller intake ports and high-pressure injection nozzles directed into the combustion chamber. Other details include VVT and 11.5:1 compression.


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ASAP Garage Door Service
ASAP Garage Doors is a San Antonio-based company offering full-service garage door solutions including installation, repairs, spring and opener services, and commercial options for dock levelers and doors.
ASAP Garage Doors is a full service garage door company located near San Antonio, Texas. We are capable of providing a variety of services such as garage door installation or repairs, spring repair or installation, and garage door opener installation or repair. We also offer commercial services for those who have dock levelers and commercial garage doors.
Business Name:
ASAP Garage Door Service
707 Sonnet Dr.San Antonio Texas 78216United States
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About San Antonio
San Antonio ( SAN an-TOH-nee-oh; Spanish for "Saint Anthony"), officially the City of San Antonio, is a city in Bexar County, Texas. The city is the seventh most populous in the United States, the second largest in the Southern United States, and the second most populous in Texas. It is the 12th most populous city in North America, with 1,434,625 residents as of 2020.Founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the city in 1731 became the first chartered civil settlement in what is now present-day Texas. The area was then part of the Spanish Empire. From 1821 to 1836, it was part of the Mexican Republic.
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subset: commoncrawl


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I'm an interactive media and video games producer from the Boston area, and I want to talk about my blog comments from the week of Jan 25 – Feb 1st — and the differences between regular online discussion and trolling comments.
(Click for bigger/clearer images.)
Since it's relevant to this presentation; I am a rape survivor and I have a personal blog. I wrote a series of posts, but the specifics aren't really important here. In general, I presented the idea that rape culture and video game culture intersect with one another.
Apple MacBook Air Laptop
Powerful performance
The M1 chip delivers 3.5x faster performance than the previous generation all while using way less power. Get up to 18 hours of battery life.
And that turned into a giant fight. I decided to take the comments and analyze them to look at how why and how this discussion was happening. I suspect some of the trends that I am seeing could be relevant to other websites and online discussions.
I decided to classify the first week of comments, over 900 of them, in a binary fashion, based on three different variables. These classifications were all subjectively applied by me. One is whether or not they agree with my post or disagree with it. Pretty basic.
The second was whether people were passively forwarding an idea or making an observation as opposed to aggressively trying to generate a response. Essentially, did what they say seem to demand a reply or not? The vast majority of trolls can be classified as aggressive.
The third variable was whether or not they looked to be sharing information or whether they were just insulting the person they were replying to with personal attacks. So for example, a fully-classified "troll" comment would be disagreeing with me aggressively and insultingly.
For the purposes of my blog, I define trolls as people who aren't adding anything to the conversation at hand. That can be giant blocks of text, like repeating "John Madden" over and over, or vicious personal attacks. Trolling is not people who are just disagreeing with me.
If you look at the traffic that each post has gotten it's been increasing over time. After posting on January 30th, I had well over 400 comments just two days later on February 1st. More posts on the subject didn't decrease comments – it increased them.
Two of the conversations that I didn't ever participate in exceeded WordPress.com's ability to thread a comment, which is ten levels of commenting. Both of those were on the most recent post, and neither of those were trolling each other, so that was real conversation between commenters.
67% of all responses are actually responses to other commenters. People are way more likely to talk to each other than to me. However, most of the troll comments are made directly to me. Clearly, insulting, aggressive disagreement with the original poster isn't necessary to drive the conversation.
That said, there were 102 comments that were categorized like troll comments – but I let them though moderation. It's more likely for those to be in response to other people. So, I guess I'm more okay with people trolling each other than trolling me, especially if they've already commented once before.
This is a map of all of the trolls that I got. These are the IP addresses for all the comments that didn't make it through the moderation queue. Unsurprisingly the US and Europe were the highest locations of activity, given that it's broadly a conversation about video games and feminism.
So, we did some word visualizations on how people are using words in discussion versus how the trolls are using those same words. There is quite a bit of strong language coming up, so brace yourselves or close your eyes. Also, these come from IBM's Many Eyes.
This is the conversation on my blog as of February 1st. Remember, two thirds of this discussion isn't even aimed at me. It's the intersections between video games, rape survivors, and rape culture. While "rape" is used frequently, it isn't exclusively showing up as a verb.
And yet when you look at the trolls that is basically all they're saying, and they're saying it overwhelmingly to me. All they're contributing to the discussion is insults and perceived insults, specifically around being raped and the word "fat". I thought that was a little off-topic.
So if you look at the word "fat" in comments, it does come up, but it has more concepts tied to it, whereas "fat" is wholly a derogatory term for a troll commenter. They're very consistent about that, despite the fact that none of my posts address fat or body size.
Expressive phrases also highlight how different actual discussion is. "I hope" in comments is the front of a sentence expressing normal human hopes. The trolls only have one hope and it's like they're reading from a script.
The comments have been about 50/50 whether or not people agree or disagree with me. So you can put a less than neutral idea out on the Internet and people will just show up to debate you. I don't think it's possible to avoid disagreement, and allowing it adds to your traffic and comments.
And so I have found that simultaneously allowing dissent while denying trolls an audience has led to more engagement. I've had multiple commenters say that they are not commenting anymore and in 24 hours they are back and generating more comments for people to respond to.
If you're looking for more blog traffic, I've accidentally discovered that if you aren't afraid of negative responses and just let people disagree with you and with each other, that will lead to more engagement and traffic than only approving "positive" comments. Thank you!
I realize that's a cock-eyed way of looking at everything, and it's certainly a more cynical point of view about my blog's traffic and comments than I have most of the time. I've spent a lot of time lately feeling numb, though, and when I pull back from all this and try to put things into a larger context, I do think there are some lessons in here for those who actually want 10,000 - 20,000 people reading their blog on a given day, regardless of subject matter.
Also, as I've said before in odd corners – I'm never going to think communication is the bad choice. Letting people "talk back" to you via comments is something I would like to encourage in both personal and business websites, even if what you're hearing from a commenter is negative. That just creates situations you can respond to, which will hopefully improve the commenter's opinion of you. At the very least it will give you practice honing your content/message so it says what you intend it to say.
I was planning on doing a name-and-shame of the idiots who harassed me on Facebook using their real accounts. However, it just makes me too sad. If you've messaged me with gross images or the word "RAPE" repeated over and over in the body of the message or whatever, please consider revisiting your Facebook privacy settings. For several of you, I can see where you live and work. And one of you in particular is who I'd like to talk to right now:
Kid, due to your disregard for the overlap between your online trolling and real life, I now know what your high school colors are. I know your hometown, your entire employment history and what community college you attended. I can also see your girlfriend's profile and the fact that you two now live in her hometown, not yours. I can see the names and profiles of your parents, your brother, and your three sisters. I can see your phone number.
I get that when you're recently 22, you might feel like nothing you do could ever have consequences. I suppose if I really wanted to demonstrate how wrong that feeling is I could get in touch with your family or girlfriend to let them see how you treat women you disagree with. However, you're a stranger, you're several states away, and even though we're both apparently fans of How I Met Your Mother, I don't really worry about you having an impact on my day-to-day life.
But kid, let me promise you right now: if you ever try and use the computer programming skills you got in community college to work in the video game industry, I will be expecting an apology from you about the harassing tweets and disgusting images. I can have a long memory when I choose to, and since you made such a compelling case for me to do so, I'm choosing to now. I hope you eventually grow up, but in the meantime your behavior shows you to be exactly what this industry doesn't need. I'm not afraid of making that fact known should you attempt to enter it. You wanted my attention; you got it. Enjoy the consequences.
And that is pretty much everything I can bring myself to say about This Dickwolves Shit. I'm clicking the "close comments after 2 weeks" box on the WordPress settings page, so one way or another, my inbox won't be flooded with tired, repeating arguments anymore.
Because people are asking, and because credit where credit is most definitely due – these slides and all of the visualizations were put together by the fantastic Darius Kazemi. He's an excellent coworker, and I'm not just saying that because he's my partner. <3
This post originally appeared on Here Is A Thing. Republished with permission.
Want to see your work here? Email us!


text:
This post is about coding/geekery and girls. Yes, that much-hectored subject that we love and loathe to discuss. I would like to share four short videos with you from our YouTube channel that I think contain some very simple facts about learning programming, to help inform those who are focusing on bringing more girls into this field. They were all filmed at this year's Young Rewired State: Festival of Code and our first Young Rewired State event in New York City; they are only a few snatched minutes, but the girls (of varying ages) are consistent in their message.
At the end of this post I have listed what I took from these, but obviously you are free to draw your own conclusions and I hope that by getting this stuff on camera, it helps raise awareness and understanding of what really matters.
Here is 16 year old Emma Corlett, this is her second year at the Festival of Code:
Introducing Nadine Shaalan, NYC, aged 15
Amy Marshall aged 11 shares her thoughts and a small dance…
Finally the lovely Jenny Lea (16) I dare you not to be at least smiling by the end of this video…
Here are the highlights for me from what they are saying:
- it's a useful skill for future jobs, even if not in tech
- it is more a life skill/interesting skill to have
- the community is the best thing about being with other kids who are discovering coding
- the other kids are not weird
- it's free to learn and peer-to-peer is an effective way to get to know whatever you might choose to learn
- it's not a MASSIVE thing, but it is fun so why not?
"Why not?" is the persistent message, but keeping it social is important too.
These interviews are available thanks to the inspiration of Gemma Cocker from Rosy Cheeks Productions, our forever champion and a great film-maker, who roamed free and asked some great questions of the young people we had at the Festival.


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Feb. 11, 2009— -- Since ABC's "Nightline" aired a story last week about Salma Hayek's goodwill trip to Sierra Leone, there has been a world-wide outpouring of reaction. Newspapers from Europe to Australia have made headlines out of a portion of the story in which Hayek breastfeeds another woman's newborn son on camera.
The clip of Hayek nursing a very hungry baby boy (ironically born on the same day as her own daughter) has surfaced on YouTube as well as on dozens of other web sites, drawing thousands of comments.
The actress and producer was told by doctors in Sierra Leone that many mothers stop breastfeeding their infants within the first few months after birth because of pressure from their husbands. Tradition has it, in some areas, that it is not acceptable to have sexual relations with breast feeding women.
Sierra Leone has the highest infant mortality rate in the world, in part fueled by malnutrition. Physicians there told Hayek they would like to see mothers breastfeed for a full two years but that stigma too often gets in the way.
Hayek said her decision to breastfeed another woman's child was an attempt to diminish the stigma placed on women for breast feeding. At the time she was still breastfeeding her 1-year-old daughter.
She told "Nightline" co-anchor Cynthia McFadden that she thought her daughter wouldn't mind sharing her milk. "Am I being disloyal to my child by giving her milk away?" Hayek said. "I actually think my baby would be very proud to share her milk. And when she grows up I'm going to make sure she continues to be a generous, caring person."
Hayek told McFadden that that the idea of helping a child in this way had a long tradition in her family. She related a story about her great-grandmother many years ago in Mexico saving the starving baby of a stranger by breastfeeding the child.
A blogger on EW.com, the web site for Entertainment Weekly, declared the video clip winner of the "biggest eyebrow-raiser award" and called Hayek cool "because her left breast has now done more for humanity in a few minutes than I've done in roughly my life."
People commenting on mom and parenting web sites also had kudos for Hayek. "I got warm fuzzies when I saw this video," wrote Ribbiee78 on iVillage.com. "Awesome, just awesome. Even that little bit will help this baby boy."
Jennifer Perillo, who is the food editor at Working Mother magazine and writes blogs for NYC Moms Blog, The Mama Chronicles and The Daily Juggle, called Hayek's act "one of the greatest gifts you can give...a piece of yourself." Perillo is currently nursing her nine-month old baby.
She's also happy to see the attention shifted away from the octuplets mom. "Here's one person using her body to feed whatever emotional issues she has," Perillo said about Nadya Suleman, who added eight babies to the six she already had. "The flip side is a woman whose body is producing something naturally who is actually using it in such a powerful and positive way."
Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, the OB-GYN expert on momlogic.com, finds the whole thing an ironic twist on America's history of breastfeeding, which includes black wet nurses forced to breastfeed the slave owners' children during slavery and Victorian-era women who paid other women to nurse their children so they didn't have to be stuck at home.
"God bless Salma Hayek, who can go stick her boob in some poor African baby's mouth," Dr. Gilberg-Lenz said. "I think it's completely crazy. But I say, 'You go." She made a point and she made it loud and clear. And look, it's started a conversation about how breastfeeding is good and women should have a choice about it and we shouldn't be so afraid of our bodies."
Here's the originial "Nightline" story about Hayek's trip:
When actress and producer Salma Hayek arrived in Sierra Leone in September, she was not whisked off to a movie set.
She was there not as a celebrity, but as a humanitarian, to see firsthand a leading cause of death in the developing world: tetanus.
"Nightline" co-anchor Cynthia McFadden went along to document the journey.
To most people in the United States, tetanus brings to mind rusty nails and a quick trip to the doctor's office for a shot. But in developing countries like Sierra Leone, maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) is a top cause of death among mothers and their babies.
Hayek said that she didn't know what to expect from the trip.
"I was just open to this experience and it's been quite an amazing one," she said.
Hayek's 'Exciting' Work
Sierra Leone has the highest infant and child death rate in the world. One in five children die before reaching their fifth birthday and tetanus is a big contributor -- 21 percent of all infant deaths are related to tetanus.
Tetanus deaths are preventable with routine vaccinations. UNICEF has launched an initiative to eradicate the disease worldwide by 2012. In Sierra Leone the cost of immunizing one person is about 74 cents.
Once a woman is immunized, her children will be protected from the disease at birth, before needing immunizations of their own.
In 2008, Hayek became a spokeswoman for the Pampers "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign to support UNICEF's efforts to eliminate tetanus. For each pack of specially marked Pampers diapers sold, parent company Proctor and Gamble donates the cost of one tetanus vaccine to UNICEF. The North American campaign has generated funding for more than 45 million vaccines since the beginning of 2008.
"What really excited me about this was the concept of mothers from around the world working together to protect children," said Hayek, who is the mother of a 16-month-old daughter named Valentina.
"The thought of somebody in Los Angeles, where I come from, purchasing the one pack of Pampers ... by doing this that they were going to do anyway, they could ... provide one vaccine for another mother somewhere else in the world, someone they don't know ... these anonymous women around the world coming together to protect women and to protect children was really exciting."
As soon as she landed in Sierra Leone, Hayek was taken to a hospital in the capital, Freetown, where she saw the painful reality of tetanus. A 7-day-old baby girl named Fatima lay dying. There were no medications to give her but the serum given to horses with the disease.
"I was talking to this little girl and I was touching her and there was the slightest reaction, like she took a couple of breaths," Hayek said. "And then I felt guilty to be in that room because I felt we were taking away oxygen. And as I walked out, I knew it. I felt it, the baby passed away. "
"Her mother was so young and to lose a baby within one week at the age of 19, I cannot think of a worse thing to happen to someone than to lose a baby," she said.
In countries like Sierra Leone, still recovering from an 11-year civil war that ended in 2002, high death rates are due to a combination of deficient health services and education.
Most women have not been vaccinated because of insufficient resources or a lack of information about the preventive measure.
These factors -- together with a lack of transportation in rural areas to bring pregnant women to health clinics -- cause most women in Sierra Leone to give birth at home, in unsanitary conditions that are the breeding grounds for the bacteria that cause tetanus.
The bacteria are spread when dirt enters the body through a cut or wound. Mothers are often infected by contaminated instruments during childbirth. It similarly spreads to their infants when traditional birth attendants cut the umbilical cord with an unsanitary knife, or, as is often the case, the umbilical cord is dressed by the traditional method of packing it with dirt, clay or cow manure.
Once tetanus has been contracted, the most notable symptom is stiffness of the jaw, which leads to stiffness in the throat and difficulty in swallowing.
In babies, that makes feeding impossible because the infant loses the ability to suck. Soon after, the other muscles become stiff and the infant experiences muscle painful spasms and contractions. Death is virtually certain.
Hayek: Bringing 'a Little Bit of Hope'
"It's heartbreaking," Hayek said of the situation. "As sad as it is, it makes it extra sad that there is so much that can be done and it's not done. At the same time there is a little bit of hope in knowing there is a lot you can do."
Hayek hopes her trip will show those who have participated in the campaign by purchasing Pampers that they are making a real difference on the ground in countries like Sierra Leone.
"I want all the people that bought the Pampers and were hoping that their contribution got to the right place and to the right people and wondered if this actually happened to know that I can testify that it did. And that I unfortunately was able to testify [to] what happens when it doesn't get here in time."
An estimated 386 million vaccines are needed to wipe out tetanus in the remaining 26 countries yet to eliminate the disease. Pampers expects to donate at least $10.8 million during the next three years and that will fund more than 200 million more tetanus vaccines, but the work has just begun.
"I think the needs are well identified by the government and by UNICEF ... definitely more facilities. ... There is a huge need for more doctors," Hayek said. "And then you have to understand there's no electricity. So these medications have to be put in cool places; you need to refrigerate them. So if you just get the medication, there might not be a place to store them. And if you get the refrigerator, there might not be electricity for them."
Hayek on Motherhood
Hayek's daughter, Valentina, turned 1 year old before the trip and the actress spoke about the importance of breast-feeding, especially in underdeveloped countries such as Sierra Leone. In fact doctors there say that because malnutrition is so rampant they would like to see women in Sierra Leone breast-feed for two years. But such behavior is rare. The reason? Men urge their wives to quickly stop breast-feeding because of cultural mores that forbid sexual intercourse with breast-feeding women.
"It is the best thing you can do for your child, not only the bonding, that's how you build the immune system, so in a country like Africa imagine how important it is for the mothers do that," she said. "But here, there is the belief that if you are breast-feeding you cannot have a sexual life so the husbands, of course, of these women are really encouraging them to stop and this is just a taboo."
Despite all the challenges in Sierra Leone, Hayek is hopeful.
"It's a very complicated but very doable, very doable project," she said, one that she hopes to share with her own daughter one day.
"When she grows up I'm going to make sure ... when I continue to do this work that she comes with me and that she is in touch with all of these beautiful people and all of the different kids of people around the world and that she continues to be a generous and caring person," Hayek said. "I think that's the best thing I can give her as a mother."
For more information on the "1 Pack = 1 Vaccine" campaign and UNICEF's efforts to eradicate tetanus worldwide, visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4-UNICEF.


text: I love this bassinet. It made it through all my parents children, including me. It worked perfectly in the color scheme, and the cover, pad, and sheet are all from my friends bassinet- the ones you can get at Walmart. I just tucked up the other two ruffle layers so it wouldn't cover the basket weave.


text:
A double CD featuring all of Wandelweiser composer Jurg Frey's music for solo acoustic guitar, beautifully interpreted by the Chilean guitarist Cristian Alvear, including a new piece written specially for Cristian Alvear; beautifully unfolding, concentrative music.
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Label: Another Timbre
Catalog ID: at94x2
Squidco Product Code: 22140
Format: 2 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2016
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard box with slide in CD sleeves
Recorded by Alfonso Perez.
Jurg Frey-composer
Cristian Alvear-guitar
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Artist Biographies:
• Show Bio for Jurg Frey
"Jürg Frey was born in 1953 in Aarau, Switzerland. Following his musical education at the Concervatoire de Musique de Genève, he turned to a career as a clarinetist, but his activities as composer soon came to the foreground. Frey developed his own language as a composer and sound artist with the creation of wide, quiet sound spaces. His work is marked by an elementary non-extravagence of sound, a sensibilty for the qualities of the material, and precision of compositional approach. His compositions sometimes bypass instrumentation and duration altogether and touch on aspects of sound art. He has worked with compositional series, as well as with language and text. Some of these activities appear in small editions or as artist's books as individual items and small editions (Edition Howeg, Zurich; weiss kunstbewegung, Berlin; complice, Berlin). His music and recordings are published by Edition Wandelweiser. Frey has been invited to workshops as visiting composer and for composer portraits at the Universität der Künste Berlin, the Universität Dortmund and several times at Northwestern University and CalArts. Some of the other places his work has developed are the concerts at the Kunstraum Düsseldorf, the Wandelweiser-in-Residence-Veranstaltungen in Vienna, the Ny music concerts in Boras (Sweden), the cooperation with Cologne pianist John McAlpine, the Bozzini Quartet (Montréal), QO-2 (Bruxelles), Die Maulwerker, incidental music, as well as the regular stays in Berlin (where during the last years many of his compositions were premiered). Frey is a member of the Wandelweiser Komponisten Ensemble which has presented concerts for more than 15 years in Europe, North America and Japan. Frey also organizes the concert series moments musicaux aarau as a forum for contemporary music."-Other Minds (http://www.otherminds.org/shtml/Frey.shtml)
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• Show Bio for Cristian Alvear
Chilean musician dedicated to the performance, premiere and recording of new music. He serves as co-curator of the Experimental Music Festival Relincha, in Valdivia, Chile.
Since the beginning of his career he has been constantly performing in the main auditoriums and concert halls of his country, as well as international festivals and concert venues. In recent years he has concentrated its efforts in performing educational concerts in rural areas of the Los Lagos region, in Southern Chile.
His work has been published by edition wandelweiser records (germany), irritable hedgehog (usa), cathnor (uk), rhizome.S (france), potlatch (france), 1000f�ssler (germany), lengua de lava (mexico), caduc (canada), melange editions (japan), b-boim records (austria) and erstclass (usa)."-Cristian Alvear Website (http://www.cristianalvear.com/p/bioeng.html)
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1. 50 Sachelchen 79:30 CD 2
1. Relikt 9:38
2. Wen 23 32:21
3. Guitarist, Alone 33:28
sample the album:
"Not one for the impatient listener, this softly entrancing double-disc set contains all the solo guitar music by the Swiss composer Jürg Frey - and that means an awful lot of silence and not a huge number of notes. The first piece, Abendlied, contains exactly 10 notes in two minutes, and that's comparatively hectic. Frey is master of exquisite slow-fi; as a Wandelweiser artist, he considers quietness to be as expressive as noise, and the way a note decays as crucial as how it is struck. Apparently in preparing for this recording, guitarist Cristián Alvear worked to finesse the art of making no noise whatsoever as his hands moved over the instrument while playing - these things matter in music that's stripped back to absolute essentials. His attention to detail pays off, and he really sinks into the hypnotic pacing. There's a sense of thoughts being worked out in real time, of musical statements being made, pondered and responded to without an iota of hurry."-Kate Molleson, The Guardian
"Decades of heavily amplified popular music have ingrained the idea of the guitar as a loud, swaggering vehicle of individualism at its most potent - an image that extends from rock and blues to the unvarnished grit of flamenco and folk singers. The title of Another Timbre's new album of Jürg Frey's music, guitarist, alone, carries a similar connotation of outspoken defiance.
It's easy to forget the reason why the guitar is so often amplified in the first place. Without supporting technology, the guitar is a frail-voiced instrument. The plucked notes decay quickly, the dynamic range struggles to reach past what other musicians would consider mezzo forte, sustain and resonance is limited to a few natural harmonics on the lowest strings. Frey's writing for guitar takes precisely the opposite route almost every other composer would follow, eschewing continuous flows of notes, strummed chords and secure bass. On these two CDs, he demands the instrument be presented at its weakest, unaccompanied, its technical shortcomings mercilessly exposed.
Frey almost exclusively demands the guitar play single, unsupported notes, only occasionally allowing harmonies to appear. At first, it would seem that we have a situation similar to that of Michael Pisaro's Mind is Moving IX for solo electric guitarist, discussed here recently: a series of isolated incidents, exquisitely timed. With a classical acoustic guitar, such an approach becomes almost impossible. The sounds are too faint and fleeting to significantly establish their presence.
Unlike some of Frey's more recent, "figurative" music, guitarist, alone leaves us back in the position of being able only to suddenly listen. relikt, from 1987, works simply by juxtaposing one note against another, in succession. It's a work of tremendous restraint, both in composition and interpretation, setting sound against silence in a carefully maintained equilibrium.
Cristián Alvear's playing is a beautiful study in concentration throughout the collection. There are no extended techniques called for here, and so he produces each sound cleanly and clearly, with extraneous noise on the strings, neck or body of the instrument (that "authentic" grit of folk music) almost entirely eliminated even when the music is near silent. At the same time, the playing and recording never sounds so polished as to be sterile. Tiny, inevitable incidents in the sound and the background give the music a physical presence. For wen 23 Alvear stretches the piece out to half an hour, a mere dozen or so notes suspended on a sea of silence. (I'm not Joseph II so I'm not going to count them.)
The most recent work is the title piece, from 2014. It shares a title and a style close to that of his two works titled Pianist, Alone. The title now seems more plaintive than defiant. Contrasted with the piano, the thinness of the guitar's sound suggests a less certain, more tenuous narrative behind the musical meandering. The guitar is a private, intimate instrument.
The 50 Sächelchen from 1989 take up the entirety of the other disc. These bagatelles, arranged in alphabetical order, imply a playfulness that might seem at odds with Frey's typically hushed aesthetic. Funnily enough, this is exactly the case. These brief, sometimes very brief, pieces move from closely-studied miniatures to jaunty little stings (Jürg Frey ringtones?) and even snatches of music that are fast and even, as much as it is possible, loud. But only for a little while, now and then."-Ben Harper, Boring Like a Drill
Compositional Forms
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Solo Artist Recordings
New in Compositional Music
Search for other titles on the label:
Another Timbre.
Frey, Jurg (performed by Cristian Alvear)
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One of my students landed her first A1 story on Monday. Amanda Ash's story on auditions for the sequel to the teen vampire blockbuster "Twilight" was splashed across the front page of the Vancouver Sun. But she first alerted me, and her 130 other followers on Twitter, to the tears and tantrums at the event on Sunday evening when it was published on the Sun's website.
Amanda is among a handful of journalism students at the j-school at the University of British Columbia who have taken Twitter as part of their journalist's toolkit. Her tweets mix the personal and the professional, discussing whom she is interviewing or asking where to watch the Grammy awards ceremony online. Another student, Dawn Paley, who contributes to a grassroots news co-operative, recently joined the micro-blogging service. In her Twitter stream, she shares her experiences as part of a media co-op and highlights alternative stories missing in the mainstream media. They are taking part in the world of social media.
Twitter is just one example of the new social media avenues available to student journalists to build up a profile while they are preparing to enter the profession. When I did my journalism degree at City University in London 20 years ago, I would send out my CV and cuttings to prospective employees and hope to get noticed. Today's students should be building up their professional persona online through social media, creating a digital identity as an ambitious, engaged and curious reporter.
Selling social media to students
Social media platforms such as Twitter enable budding reporters to be part of a more open journalistic culture. Traditionally, the work of journalism has been hidden behind the walls of the newsroom. Through social media, journalists can be more open about their work, offering insights into the process of news, and connect with audiences in a way that simply wasn't possible a generation ago.
Yet as other journalism profs have discovered, some students hesitate to adopt the tools of social media. Paul Bradshaw uses Twitter in his online journalism module at Birmingham City University and gets his students to set up accounts, but still admits that it's often a struggle to demonstrate the usefulness of Twitter. This is more than just about Twitter. Andy Dickinson who teaches at the University of Central Lancashire summed it up in one of his New Year resolutions:
I'm convinced that if you are journalist who isn't curious about the web then you may find yourself seriously limited as the industry shifts or worse still, not being a journalist for very long.
In social media, a budding journalist has an incredible platform to demonstrate their talents and engage with others in a way that just wasn't possible when I was in journalism school. At the very least, students should have a website that contains everything they produce, better still if they have a blog which invites comments and discussions.
Your blog as your business card
Quite a few students are doing this now. Brent Wittmeier, Jesse Kline and Rosemary Keevil-Fairburn are just three who run comprehensive sites where they blog and showcase their professional and academic work.
They were smart and snatched up their names as web addresses. This is one of the first things I asked new students to do at the start of the term in September. It usually sets off a flurry of activity in the classroom as they race online to see if someone else has already grabbed this important chunk of online real estate.
It seems like an obvious point, but I am surprised by how few students realize the importance of establishing your digital identity, starting with your domain name, at a time when the website is the business card of the 21st century.
Running a blog has additional benefits. Not only does writing on a regular schedule make you smarter, it also shows spirit and attitude and a thirst for learning and sharing. Just about every news editor I talked to now expects a journalism student to have blogged.
Understandably, some students may be wary about exposing their writing while they are still learning the profession. But a blog can show how their writing and ideas have improved over time, providing a living example of the evolution of a student's skills. And it almost goes without saying that it is a way to show passion and knowledge about a particular topic, such as Sarah Berman's blog on music, art and culture in Canada's poorest zip code.
Blogging can also help open doors. One enterprising student turned a class blog assignment into a gig blogging for Canada's newsweekly magazine, Macleans.ca. Josh DeHaas pitched his class blog idea on the cost of a university education to the Maclean's On Campus editor and was taken on as a student blogger. It's a wonderful opportunity for DeHaas, who hopes to join Macleans when he graduates. It also means that he can add his voice as a student to the debate in Canada over how to pay for a university education.
Being active online, sharing experiences and engaging with audiences is fundamental for students looking to enter journalism. It is even more important at a time when journalism students are uneasy about their job prospects. Budding journalists have always had to work hard to get themselves established. But the emergence of social media, through platforms such as Twitter, has added a new dimension to this, one that the reporters of tomorrow cannot afford to ignore.
Alfred Hermida is an online news pioneer and journalism educator. He is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Journalism, the University of British Columbia, where he leads the integrated journalism program. He was a founding news editor of the BBC News website. He blogs at Reportr.net.


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March 4, 2013— -- A Mississippi baby born with HIV more than two years ago appears to be the first documented case of a child's being cured of the virus, according to doctors and scientists.
The unidentified child has now been "functionally cured" and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of the HIV infection. If the child remains healthy, it would mark only the second time in the world's history that a person has been cured of HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS.
The landmark case was announced Sunday at the 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Atlanta.
Dr. Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore was one of the lead researchers and author of the report, which was released by The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
The infant was diagnosed with HIV at birth to a mother who did not receive prenatal care or HIV treatment, Dr. Rowena Johnston, director of amfAR, told ABC News.
The infant was transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center and started on antiretroviral treatment about 30 hours after birth. Doctors took the apparently unusual step of prescribing three aggressive drugs (AZT, 3TC, nevirapine) at once after birth.
Johnston points to the early intervention of the three medications as the difference-maker.
"If one had to make an educational guess, the difference was receiving the treatment dose very soon after birth, earlier than standard of care in the U.S.," Johnston said.
Initial HIV viral load tests were high and then expectedly decreased in the first month. Viral loads were detectable three times and became undetectable by one month of age.
The baby was on treatment and in care until 12 to 15 months of age, at which point the baby was lost to follow-up after doctors lost contact with the mother and the baby stopped receiving any medication. The baby returned for care at 23 months of age.
Surprisingly, viral loads were still undetectable, despite being off treatment for almost a year.
Johnston said the results were all the more shocking because doctors do not usually recommend stopping treatment at any time in children with HIV from birth.
The results surprised Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi, who was treating the child.
"My first thought was to panic. I thought, 'Oh my goodness, I have been treating a child who is not actually infected,'" she said.
A battery of "highly sensitive" tests confirmed the absence of HIV, according to a news release.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, with the National Institutes of Health, cautions that more studies are needed before calling the results a breakthrough.
"You have to be careful because this is just a single case and although the data looked pretty convincing that you got to be careful that this may not be broadly applicable to other situations," Fauci told ABC News Radio.
In Mississippi, Gay gives the child a check-up every few months. "I just check for the virus and keep praying that it stays gone," she told The Associated Press.
The mother's HIV is being controlled with medication and she is "quite excited for her child," Gay added.
The only other documented case of an HIV cure to date remains that of Timothy Brown, the so-called "Berlin patient."
Brown's story -- arguably one of the most followed in the realm of HIV research -- began in 1995 when he was diagnosed with HIV while attending school in Berlin. For the next 11 years, doctors treated him with anti-retroviral therapy, to which he responded positively.
His oncologist, Dr. Gero Hutter of the Charite Hospital in Berlin, opted to give Brown a stem-cell transplant to treat his leukemia. But rather than choosing a matched donor, he used the stem cells of a donor he found who had what is known as a CCR5 mutation, a mutation that makes cells immune to HIV.
After the transplant, Brown was able to stop HIV treatment without experiencing a return of his HIV disease.
The Mississippi case will likely spark new directions of research for adults, too.
"This could prevent a lifetime of treatment," Johnston said. "We want people to understand just how game-changing this may be."
Fauci of the National Institutes of Health says the results could have a global impact if they can be replicated.
"About a thousand babies a day are born HIV infected throughout the world," he said.


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Editor's Note: Neil Richards is a professor of law at Washington University. He tweets about privacy at @neilmrichards and is the author of the recent Harvard Law Review article, "The Dangers of Surveillance."
Story highlights
Lavabit, a secure e-mail service, chose to shut down rather than give customer data to the state
Neil Richards: E-mail privacy matters because our intellectual privacy matters
He says time and again governments that secretly watch their citizens abuse power
Richards: In a democracy with civil liberties, people have a right to know about surveillance
You may have never heard of Lavabit and Silent Circle. That's because they offered encrypted (secure) e-mail services, something most Americans have probably never thought about needing, or wanting.
In recent days, Lavabit closed shop reportedly in response to U.S. government pressure to hand over customer data, including those of Edward Snowden, who used the e-mail provider. Silent Circle, which is used by activists, journalists and diplomats, shut down its e-mail service on its own volition because it wanted to prevent spying.
While these small companies have the courage to stand up for their customers' privacy, big companies like Google and Microsoft and others seem to be on the sidelines.
Opinion: The Internet is a surveillance state
We seem to be of several minds about government surveillance of our communications. Most people want privacy. But most people want the government, at least in justified cases, to be able to read the e-mail of those legitimately suspected of planning serious crimes. And most people also find the details of electronic surveillance worrying and complicated, and would prefer not to think about them at all.
It's easier to stick your head in the sand. But that would be a mistake.
E-mail privacy matters because our intellectual privacy matters. The ability to confidentially share ideas and information between friends, confidantes and loved ones is the hallmark of a free society.
Our communications are the foundation of our political freedoms. They must be inaccessible to the government unless it can prove to a neutral judge that surveillance is warranted, which means more than "relevance" to an investigation and more than mere curiosity.
Opinion: NSA secrets kill our trust
Governments that have the power to secretly watch their citizens and are not subject to meaningful legal constraint have proven, time and time again, that this power can be abused.
Just look at our own history. J. Edgar Hoover's FBI put the Rev. Martin Luther King under surveillance, seeking to discredit him politically. This was part of a broader program called COINTELPRO. Hoover told FBI agents to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities of a wide range of individuals and groups, including communists, civil rights organizations, anti-Vietnam War groups, and so on.
When earlier this year Edward Snowden leaked to the world NSA's massive surveillance programs such as PRISM and Boundless Informant, we were shocked. But more revelations kept coming. Just the other day, the Washington Post reported that the NSA had broken its own permissive rules on surveillance thousands of times each year since 2008. This is unacceptable.
A society that cannot trust its citizens with ideas – dissenting, different, or even dangerous – is a society that is incapable of governing itself.
It's in this context that we should understand the importance of the recent closures of Lavabit and Silent Circle's e-mail service.
Our government has the power to secretly compel e-mail providers to allow surveillance. These secret powers are frequently subject to minimal legal checks, and they allow the government to put gag orders on e-mail providers who object to turning over the records of their customers' communications.
When e-mail providers build their systems in ways to ensure privacy (such as by not collecting metadata or by using strong encryption), they come under government pressure, as Lavabit found out to its dismay.
How can we protect e-mail privacy in ways that give the government the power (subject to the meaningful rule of law) to investigate serious crimes?
We could let the government record everything, see everything and know everything. This seems to be the position of some government officials, but it would be the end of privacy (and self-government) as we know it. If we know the state is watching, we will censor what we do, what we say, and possibly even what we think.
On the other hand, we could put our communications under strong legal or technological protection (like cryptography) subject to no government access. This would guarantee strong privacy, but it could unreasonably handicap the government from legitimate law enforcement and counter-terrorism purposes.
There is a middle way. We should presume the privacy of e-mail and other communications, and we should require the government to get warrants supported by probable cause before it can read our mail, track our movements and use our communications data to construct a map of everyone we know and when we talk to them. This is the traditional way we've protected communications privacy, and it's a good way. But this requires recognizing a few things.
Total surveillance of our communications is illegitimate, but so is secret surveillance.
In a democracy committed to civil liberties, the basic contours of government power must be known by the people, so that the people can agree to them. It's not enough for government agencies to raise the specter of public safety and say "trust us."
A common response to this argument is the idea that making government surveillance powers public makes it easier for criminals and terrorists to commit crimes, and harder for the police to do their jobs.
This is correct, but we need to acknowledge that privacy is a civil liberty, and civil liberties are inefficient.
We tolerate free speech, the freedom from searches and seizures, jury trials, and the privilege against self-incrimination (among others) in spite of these costs because we've learned the hard way that the alternative is worse. Governments that are too efficient abuse their powers, often by trampling political dissent and civil liberties.
It's the difference between a police state and a free state.
We can't ignore the threat to our civil liberties by giving the government vast powers any more than we can ignore the fact that we live in a dangerous world. Striking the right balance might be hard, but it is part of the price we have to pay for political freedom.
Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.
Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Neil Richards.


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Obama administration says Egypt upholding Israel peace treaty, can get some US military aid
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration said Tuesday it has certified that Egypt is upholding its 35-year-old peace treaty with Israel and therefore qualifies for some military and counterterrorism assistance.
"Today, Secretary Kerry spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister (Nibil) Fahmy to inform him that he is certifying to Congress that Egypt is sustaining the strategic relationship with the United States, including by countering transnational threats such as terrorism and weapons proliferation, and that Egypt is upholding its obligations under the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty," department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a emailed statement.
The decision clears the way for the release of Apache helicopters to Egypt, which the United States has held up since July when the Egyptian military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood-led government.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed Egypt's defense minister, Col. Gen. Sedki Sobhi, of President Barack Obama's decision to deliver the Apaches in support of Egypt's counterterrorism operations in the Sinai, the Pentagon said.
"The secretary noted that we believe these new helicopters will help the Egyptian government counter extremists who threaten U.S., Egyptian and Israeli security," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said in outlining Hagel's call to his Egyptian counterpart. "This is one element of the president's broader efforts to work with partners across the region to build their capacity to counter terrorist threats, and is the United States' national security interest."
Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, the chairwoman of the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing foreign aid, said in a statement late Tuesday that she was encouraged by the decision to deliver the helicopters, saying it was a critical time to support Egypt as it moves toward elections and deals with security challenges.
"As Egypt continues its transition toward a new democratic government, the United States must work with the government of Egypt and support the Egyptian people," Granger said.
Beyond the Apaches, the move allows the U.S. also to release some of its annual $1.3 billion military assistance package to Egypt, specifically those parts dealing with security in the Sinai Peninsula and counterterrorism efforts.
Kerry was to meet Egypt's intelligence chief in Washington on Wednesday.
The notification deals specifically with Egypt's adherence to the Camp David Accords and not its progression toward democratic rule.
Psaki said Kerry "noted that he is not yet able to certify that Egypt is taking steps to support a democratic transition. He urged Egypt to follow through on its commitment to transition to democracy, including by conducting free, fair and transparent elections, and easing restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and the media."
The administration notified Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees foreign aid. Leahy has written legislative language restricting military aid to Egypt. He has argued that U.S. law is clear: When a military coup occurs, U.S. aid should be cut off.
The administration's decision means aid is now flowing to the Egyptian military.
Sending a full certification to Congress for the resumption of Egypt aid would signal U.S. approval for Egypt's path toward a return to democracy.
Once Kerry issues that certification, the U.S. can resume other military and civilian assistance programs.
Associated Press writer Donna Cassata contributed to this report.


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If you are happy with your weight you can skip this post. Normal programming will be resumed soon.
We all know how to lose weight: eat less and move more. So why do so few people succeed? You only have to spend a few minutes walking around any wealthy western country to see that obesity is a huge problem. The human body is truly an incredible thing, evolved over millions of years. It is so much more than just a mere transport and fuelling system for the brain. We only get one body, it is a tragedy to neglect it.
The past is always with us
Our evolutionary past is working against us. Agriculture is less than 10,000 years old. That is only about 400 generations. A blink of an eye in evolutionary terms. While our technology and culture may have changed beyond all recognition in that time, our bodies and brains are still very similar to those of our palaeolithic ancestors. Their innate drives to eat salty, fatty and carbohydrate rich food and minimize their energy consumption helped to keep them alive on the hostile African savannah. But these ancient drives do little to help urban humans with almost unlimited access to food and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Hence the burgeoning waist lines we see all around us today.
Tightening trousers
Over the last few years I had put on a few kgs. I have been spending a lot of time in front of the computer; working on my software product, doing consulting and writing this blog. Having a young child also reduced the time available for exercise. The 32 inch waist trousers I have been wearing for the last 20+ years (not the same pair, I would like to point out) were starting to feel uncomfortably tight. I either had to lose weight or go clothes shopping. Surely anything is better than clothes shopping.
But how to lose the weight? Previous attempts to lose weight have never lasted:
- I went trekking in the Himalayas, spending 16 days walking up to the top of Mera Peak (6,476 metres). Weight loss wasn't the goal, but the extreme exertion at high altitude meant I had the beginning of a 'six pack' when I got back. It didn't last though.
- I wrote down everything I ate on a spreadsheet and worked out the calories by weighing the food and using the calorie information on the packet or the CalorieKing website. I tried to eat less than 1800 calories a day[1]. It worked for a while, but the bookkeeping was tedious and I got bored and hungry. I gave up after a few weeks.
- I tried the Zone Diet. Again it worked for a while, but I found the constraints (maintaining certain proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates) tedious. I was also less than convinced by the science. I gave up after a month or two.
I decided to try a different approach. It is based on the same approach I take to my business – learn the concepts and measure the results. 8 months later I have dropped from 17.5% body fat to 13.0% body fat and lost over 6 kg (13 lb) in weight. I will spare you the before and after photos, but suffice to say that I can now easily fit into 30 inch waist trousers (damn – I still had to go clothes shopping!). And I never went hungry. I wasn't even particularly disciplined, taking a week off here and there when I went on holiday. I won't be appearing on the cover of a men's fitness magazine or slimmer of the year. But I think it's not bad for a 45 year old with a sedentary job, a distinct lack of 'thin genes' and a weakness for most fattening things.
I don't claim to be an expert nutritionist or physiologist. Even if I was, the knowledge in this field seems to be constantly changing. But here is the approach that worked for me. It might work for you.
The slow carb diet
The cornerstone of my new approach was inspired by (but didn't follow the letter of) Tim Ferriss' slow carb diet. You should go and read his article, but the key elements are:
- diet 6 days per week – eat lots of lean protein, beans, pulses and veggies, no high energy carbs (e.g. sugar, bread, rice, pasta, potato, fruit, beer and sugary drinks)
- binge 1 day per week – pig out and eat whatever you like, all-you-can-eat buffet here I come!
There is more detail in his Four Hour Body book [2].
This approach makes sense in terms of our evolutionary heritage. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors wouldn't have had access to refined carbohydrates, such as bread, and fruit would only have been available in season. They would also have regularly alternated between feast and famine.
A typical diet day's intake for me is:
- 2 eggs for breakfast with chilli sauce (fried with a tiny amount of oil sprayed into a non-stick pan)
- a big salad for lunch
- cajun style fried white fish with lots of veggies for dinner
- several teas, coffees and glasses of water plus a glass of red wine
The binge day helps both physiologically (it presumably stops your metabolism slowing down in response to the reduced calories) and psychologically (you are never more than 6 days from eating what you want).
Pick an exercise regime you can stick with
I also increased the amount of exercise I do. The key to this was doing things I found enjoyable and a combination of routine (doing some exercises the same day every week) and variety (varying what I did on other days). I have found that a routine of capoeira, running and kickboxing pad work plus some swimming, weights and cycling for variety suits me. I average 3-4 30-60 minute exercise sessions per week.
I really enjoy capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian fusion of martial art, dance and music. It is very strenuous, but the fact that I am learning a skill (and trying to avoid getting kicked in the head) stops me thinking too much about the exertion. I also find running and weight training quite bearable when I am listening to an interesting podcast. I am lucky enough to live near a beautiful park with a lake. Running around the lake is even quite enjoyable on a sunny day. The fitter I get, the more enjoyable it becomes. Different things work for different people. People have even lost weight combining World of Warcraft with a treadmill or exercise bike. Don't try to force yourself to do stuff you hate, you won't stick with it.
Your body burns mostly glycogen stored in the muscles for the first 30 minutes of exercise. So you need to exercise for more than 30 minutes to start burning fat.
It takes a lot of exercise to burn off a small amount of food. About 15 minutes of running is required to burn the calories from a single slice of bread. I knew someone who was significantly overweight despite cycling 10 miles a day. It was only when he changed his diet as well that he started to lose weight.
Any form of exercise that builds muscle mass (e.g. weight training) is good, because extra muscle will increase your metabolic rate which will burn more calories.
Weigh yourself every day
If you weigh yourself every day, you will soon see a direct correlation between weight loss and how well you stick to your diet/exercise regime. I found this daily feedback very helpful for motivation. If you only weigh yourself once a week your progress may get lost in the noise, e.g. due to the varying content of your digestive tract. I weigh myself every morning, as soon as I get out of bed. Here is a graph of my daily weight over the last 8 months:
You can see the sawtooth pattern of the weekly binge day. It is easier to see overall progress using a 7 day moving average:
Each peak was a suspension of the diet and exercise regime for holidays, birthdays and conferences.
A bit of science
Different foodstuffs vary hugely by the amount of calories per gram. You could eat 10kgs (22lbs) of green vegetables per day and not exceed your daily calorie intake (you might get a divorce though). Look at the side of the packet when you buy food, you'll be surprised. For example, 1 gram of:
- spinach = 0.2 cal
- onion = 0.4 cal
- kidney beans = 1 cal
- bread = 3 cal
- french fries = 3 cal
- sugar = 4 cal
Try to avoid food where you don't know what goes into it. For example, a lot of home delivery pizza contains vast amount of hidden salt, fat and carbs.
All calories are not equal. One would think that eating fat makes you fat. But there is increasing evidence that carbohydrates, not fat, is enemy number one when it comes to losing weight. Particularly carbohydrates with a high GI (ones that are quickly absorbed into the blood stream). Carbohydrate intake affects insulin levels, which in turn affects fat deposition. I was moderately active before and I didn't eat excessively, but I ate a fair amount of bread, rice and potatoes. Reducing the amount of carbs has been the biggest change for me and I believe the main cause of my weight loss. Note that many 'low fat' foods (e.g. low fat yoghurts) contain large amounts of added sugar.
Protein makes you feel full. Studies show that x calories of protein will make you feel less hungry than x calories of carbohydrates or x calories of fat. High GI carbohydrates can even make you feel hungry (as you will know if you have ever felt starving after drinking lots of carbohydrate rich beer).
Low carb doesn't have to be boring. Pickles, chilli sauce and balsamic vinegar liven things up without adding calories. The amusingly named Ring of Fire ('so hot it will burn you twice') is my favourite chilli sauce. It's not actually that hot.
It is easy to underestimate how much you are eating. Studies show that overweight people tend to be worse at estimating their calorie consumption. I watched a TV documentary in which they asked an overweight women to work out her daily calorie intake. She calculated 1000 calories per day. Precise measurements showed it was, in fact, 3000 calories per day. The large bowl of fruit she ate every morning was 1000 calories on its own.
Smaller plates=smaller portions. Studies have shown that simply reducing the size of your plate can reduce overall calorie intake.
Starving yourself doesn't work. Not only does it require willpower that few of us possess, but also the body simply adapts to the lower calorie intake by reducing metabolic rate. This can then cause you to put on weight if you return to your old eating habits.
Studies show that most overweight people do not have low metabolic rates. In fact, they typically have higher than average metabolic rates due to their increased mass requiring more work to maintain. If you are fat, the chances are that you are eating too much and not doing enough exercise, rather than it being due to a slow metabolism.
Watch what you drink
Watch what you drink, as well as what you eat. Drinks can contain surprisingly high amounts of calories. A single small can of cola contains around 5% of your daily energy intake. Alcoholic drinks and milkshakes can also contain a lot of calories.
Drink more water. A lot of rubbish is talked about hydration. But water does make you feel more full. So it is a good idea to have a big glass of water between and/or during meals. I find it easier to drink water if it is chilled in the fridge with a squeeze of lemon. No need to waste money on bottled water. It works even better if the water is in the food. Soup is a good way to make yourself feel full without consuming too many calories.
Food supplements
Tim Ferriss also recommends PAGG (Policosanol, Alpha lipoic acid, Garlic extract and Green tea) food supplements for weight loss. But these are about £70/$100 per month and I haven't been able to find any peer-reviewed, double-blind trials that shows that it actually works. I won't be spending that sort of money without some proper scientific evidence. I am not aware of any other food supplements that are proven and without side effects.
Social factors
Get your partner or house mate to diet with you. It is much harder to stick to your diet if the fridge is full of things you can't eat. Declaring your intention to lose weight publicly can also provide extra motivation. Feel free to post your current weight and target weight in the comments. ;0)
Be realistic
Have realistic expectations about how fast you will lose weight. I came nowhere near losing the '20 lbs. of Fat in 30 Days' that Tim Ferriss claims. I averaged around 0.3 kgs (0.7 lbs) lost per week over the initial 4 months, and less after that. If it has taken you years to put on the weight, you are unlikely to lose it in a month or two. Despite claims to the contrary by people with books to sell.
The long term
Losing weight and keeping it off requires a long term change of lifestyle. Only time will tell if I can improve on, or even maintain, my current weight loss. I expect I will put a bit of weight back on over the winter. But I think I have found a regime that works and that I can live with. Putting this article in the public domain gives me a bit of extra incentive!
A call to action
If you need to lose some weight, then today is as good a day to start as any. If you do, it would be interesting to get some additional data for a follow-up post in a few months. Email me (andy at oryxdigital dot com) if you are interested in taking part. You can remain anonymous, if you wish.
[1] Note that I am following the (ridiculous) convention of referring to kilo calories (kcal) of food energy as 'calories'.
[2] It is an interesting and entertaining book. But beware that:
- a lot of it is controversial, as you will see from the comments in Amazon
- I find many of his claims of results of weight loss and weight gain hard to believe, and I think they certainly aren't representative of what most people will achieve
- experimentation is good, but self-experimentation is not as reliable as formally conducted, peer-reviewed, double-blind experimentation, especially when the author has a book to sell
Capoeira photo by HoveringDog.


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Help Save a Fishy Life with a Limited Time "Sharky" Shark Dash Skin
It's hard to work up sympathy for one of nature's most efficient aquatic killing machines (a few species, anyway), but I think it's do-able. Sharks might not be cuddly, and they have been known to attack and/or kill people, but that's no reason to hunt them to extinction. Especially for some overpriced soup. Which is why WildAid, The Discovery Channel, and Gameloft have joined forces for Shark Week to raise awareness and do a bit of fund raising through Shark Dash.
For the rest of the month and a few weeks in August, players of both the iOS and ad-supported Google Play versions of Shark Dash will be able to purchase special "limited time only" content – most notably a new skin for Sharky – for a monetary show of support. Proceeds will go toward raising awareness and hopefully reducing the demand for shark fin soup; a luxury dish with rapidly growing demand and a rapidly diminishing source. Over 70 million sharks per year, in fact.
The special content will be available until August 18th, and I urge anyone with the means to do their part. Sharks may not be cute, fuzzy, or huggable (I sure as heck would never go swimming with one, except possibly a whale shark), but they don't deserve to die out over something like this.


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Walking During Lunch
These last several weeks have been unseasonably warm. I enjoy walking during lunch for my exercise and thought you might like to see Brown's Island and the canal off the James River in downtown Richmond.
This is the bridge I take across to get to the island, shown from the far end. Click here for a close up picture of the bridge from last year.
Of course, I like to check the sky and see what the clouds are doing. It's one of my favorite things about taking pictures. They're all different too.
The trees have started budding, which I don't think is a good sign. Our maple and oak trees in the backyard are waking up. So are the mosquitoes and the flies. My herbs never died back.
Instead of crossing on the bridge, I can also go down these stairs instead and walk on the near side. I usually don't as it's just benches and concrete. Some days if if I'm not walking and the weather isn't too nasty, I'll eat my lunch on one of the benches just to get away from my desk for a while.
This is the view from the left of the bridge (looking east). There are several restaurants down that way and I can cross back over the canal and walk on the sidewalks into Shockoe Slip. To see some pictures I posted last year of walking along the canal in that direction, click here and here.
This is the view from the right of the bridge (looking west). I posted pictures from when that white bridge was put into place here.
This cool sculpture is along the walking path. It's called "The Headmen" and is a tribute to the African-American boatmen who were part of the development of commerce in the city. The city has other sculptures around it and I will post those a different time.
This beautiful building behind the sculpture is actually a corporate headquarters. Several times a year, tourists try to get in, thinking it's a museum.
The trains still run along here. This one rumbled by as I was walking.
Here's a view of the river. The water was very sparkly the day I took it, but my camera didn't quite catch it. Along with the warm days, the humidity has come back. My distance pictures have a fair degree of haziness because of that.
Shortly after I took this picture, a kayaker came through. I thought it was a bit fast and choppy in this section, but he made it through without a problem.
There are some interesting things to see during my walk, although when the leaves are down it's pretty barren.
While everything has a beauty to it, the winter makes it more difficult to find the beauty. I have to work hard to make it look pretty, by being selective about the angle of my shot and cropping closely when possible.
This is what I see from the far side of the island. My employer is in the far building to the left.
The river is full of seagulls. These were so big that I thought they were turkey vultures until they took off. I took several pictures as I walked until I got one where they weren't so black against the sky and I could see the gray coloring of the gulls.
I took my walk about 1:30 pm. The sun is angled low at this time of the year. I miss the endless summer days of living in the Midwest, but I do not miss the endless winter nights. The sun may be low, but it is light longer at this time of the year.
From here, I can either go back through the island to get to the bridge or I can continue up the sidewalk. If my time is getting short, I'll just take the sidewalk back. I'll sign in at the health club that I worked out on the outside trails.
A lot of people are used to seeing me come back into work with the camera. It's a great conversation starter as people are curious what I took a picture of during my walk. All kinds of things, I'll say. All kinds of things.
Virginia Walking boatmen sculpture bridge Brown's Island canal clouds James River New Market The Headmen Virginia walking work
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I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.


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We Will Miss Jack Arute
The last couple of days have produced a flurry of news items regarding the IZOD IndyCar Series. Most of it pertains to who has signed a last minute deal or what driver is left on the outside looking in as the 2011 season is about to get underway. On Monday, we got the official word from Versus as to who the on-air talent will be.
The good news was that Bob Jenkins, Jon Beekhuis and Lindy Thackston would all be returning. It was also revealed that Versus will have a weekly show, beginning May 3, that will be co-hosted by none other than Robin Miller. I'm a Miller fan, although I realize others are not. He tells it like it is, or how he sees it – but most of the time, he ends up being right. Versus also announced that Robbie Buhl and Robbie Floyd would not return. Not to sound insensitive, but whichever way they went with those two made little difference to me one way or the other. One change they made did upset me, however – Jack Arute will not be returning.
Like most bloggers, I have picked on Jack from time to time and had some fun at his expense. His props ranging from cheese graters to bowling balls got a little ridiculous, and at times he gave the appearance that he thought he was the reason that fans tuned in. We bloggers were also relentless at poking fun of his sweat-soaked blue shirt at Motegi that was only overshadowed by his poor sense of geography on the same telecast. But did I think Jack should be fired? Never.
If you take Jack Arute at face value and underestimate his knowledge or passion for open-wheel racing, you are making a serious mistake. His trade may be broadcasting, but his love is the Indianapolis 500. Like Paul Page, he was living the dream – being able to get paid doing something that he actually loved doing.
Up until last year, Jack Arute had been behind a microphone for every Indianapolis 500 since 1986. He did double-duty in 2009, serving as a pit reporter for the ABC telecasts, and into a more expanded role for the Versus races. For 2010, Arute moved over and did the Versus races exclusively. Whether or not that was his choice, I'm not sure. I have been led to believe that Jack voluntarily left ABC after 24 seasons in order to focus strictly on IndyCar racing and the fledgling Versus channel.
If that is the case, then Monday's announcement is even more troubling. To make a career move and cast your lot with a network you plan on helping to grow is noble. To have new owners come in and tell you that your services are no longer needed or wanted is despicable. Despite his playfulness, Arute is no longer a young man. In today's world, where a Paul Page is cast aside in favor of a Todd Harris, it's apparent that experience and knowledge no longer matter in the booth, so long as you look like you're under 25.
Aside from his props, it has been Jack's passion for racing that has been his earmark. It was that passion that led him to cover Danica Patrick's win at Motegi, Japan in 2008, then hop on a plane and be in Long Beach the very next day to cover the Champ Car finale. He wasn't told to do that for ESPN – it was his idea.
During his time at ABC/ESPN, Arute served in many roles. He was an excellent college football sideline reporter for years, but it was always open-wheel racing that stirred his blood. At the Indianapolis 500 last year, it was odd not having Jack Arute in the customary role of interviewing the winning driver in victory lane for ABC. Still, he had a large role with Versus throughout the month of May with their excellent qualifying coverage and their post-race show.
Now, that's not to say that I'm displeased with his replacement. Kevin Lee has been added to cover the pits alongside Lindy Thackston. Kevin has earned this shot over the years. He has been on the IMS Radio Network since 2001 covering the Indianapolis 500, then covering the series full-time since 2004. He and Curt Cavin are co-hosts of Trackside on 1070 The Fan. Kevin is also a sideline reporter for the Colts and covers the Indiana Pacers as well. Most recently, he has helped create an excellent 10-part radio documentary heard on Sunday mornings at 10:00 EDT on 1070 The Fan entitled "The Centennial Celebration". He likes to have fun on the air, but takes his job very seriously. His hard work has paid off and he'll do well in this role. Lindy Thackston has proven herself for the last two years and I think they will make a great team.
But somehow, Jack Arute needs to have a presence on someone's airwaves at some point this season. I don't know if a return to ABC/ESPN is possible, but if it is – both parties should jump at the chance. Like Paul Page, Gary Gerould and Dr. Jerry Punch – Jack Arute's voice is synonymous with the Indianapolis 500 over the past twenty years.
I've said many times that I live by the code "Change is Bad". I understand that change is the one constant we all live by. Sometimes it's for the better, many times it isn't. While I welcome the paring of Lindy Thackston and Kevin Lee, I want Jack Arute to land on his feet. Hopefully that will happen somewhere involving the IZOD IndyCar Series. It would be a winner for everyone.
George Phillips
29 Responses to "We Will Miss Jack Arute"
I am going to miss his passion and his comraderie with the drivers, team members and officials. Arute is a character who is enjoyable and honest. You can tell that he loves the sport and his segments were always fun as well as interesting for this viewer. I will miss Jack Arute. By the way, his book on Indy anecdotes is an enjoyable read as well.
Hmm, I think i agree, but I enjoyed Arute more in the traditional pitlane reporter role than the pitlane-analyst role (what was the need for that when there's analysts in the studio…) – i'm guessing the powers that be agrees since there doesn't seem to be someone to fill that role again.
Good riddance, and don't let the door hit you on the way out, Jack. I'd like to be more charitable toward a guy who's been put out to pasture, but honestly, I found his on-air style annoying and insulting to anyone with even a modicum of enthusiasm for open wheel racing. While he obviously has passion, experience and knowledge, his tendency to pander to the "casual fan" made him the weak link on the VS broadcasts. IndyCar needs a reporter who speaks the language of the hardcore fan, without dumbing it down for a general audience. Someone like … Robin Miller!
Xrunner is dead on. Jack constantly insulted my intelligence and I always felt like everything he said was targeted toward the first time viewer. His continued presence was the biggest dissapointment to me with the move to Versus. It is one thing to talk at a level that reaches a broad audience and another to go out there and be a clown. Regardless of his passion or (well hidden) knowledge of the sport, he was just a clown.
And one other thing: Arute needs to pick up a dictionary sometime and learn the actual meaning of the word 'nominal.' I cringe every time I hear him say 'a nominal pit stop.' What a dope.
George, you're quite the hypocrite aren't you? You were always one of the first to pile on Jack Arute when he made a goof or if you just didn't like his style. You and every blogger out there made yourself look like TV experts kicking Jack while he was down. Now that he's been canned you act like he's been mistreated. Bloggers make me want to puke!
Why is it "Doctor" Jerry Punch and not "Mr." Paul Page, etc. On TV it's always the "Dr. Jerry Punch" and not just his first name and last name? Happens all the time on television. If racing were a medical show I'd better understand it. I know some doctors and they all want to go by their first names. Period. One even told me if my mother wanted me to be called "doctor", she'd named me that. I don't understand why Jerry Punch gets more "respect" than the other coommentators.
Because he has actually done some things in the capacity of a doctor that have endeared him to many of those that work with him…. e.g.
Punch worked as an emergency room physician before moving to ESPN in 1984 as a pit reporter for NASCAR races. In 1988, in two separate incidents, he helped with the rescue efforts after the serious wrecks of Rusty Wallace and Don Marmor. In the case of Rusty Wallace's front-stretch crash at Bristol Motor Speedway, Punch happened to be on Pit Road at the time, and as a result, was the first person on the scene before the rescue crew could be scrambled. Punch's medical training proved pivotal, as Wallace was initially unconscious following this practice-session crash. Punch revived Wallace, who was able to start the following night's race with only minor injuries, driving for about half the race before giving his seat up to a relief driver. Wallace now works with Punch in ESPN's coverage of NASCAR.
Punch is also credited with helping to save Ernie Irvan following a practice crash at Michigan International Speedway in August 1994. Punch also had aided injured pit crew members on pit road in several races in the 1990s.
While Punch was addressing a Nashville Superspeedway media luncheon he was interrupted by a loud crash from the back of the room. Punch immediately rushed from the podium to the back of the room where Jenny Gill (daughter of singer/musician, Vince Gill), a Nashville Superspeedway intern, had fainted. Punch helped revive the Middle Tennessee State graduate student. She was taken to a local care center for observation and soon recovered, according to Sean Dozier, the Superspeedway's public relations director. Punch returned to the podium and resumed his speech. He is also a renowned neurological physician.
For some people, placing the doctor in front of someone's name is still a show of respect and in this case I believe also a sign of affection and admiration. Personally, I wish that both he and Jamie Little were still working the pits at the IRL, however, I also like Kevin and Lindy quite alot and will miss Jack to a certain degree…
I think the new Versus crew might be better balanced and I look forward to watching their coverage.
On the other hand, the boring ABC bunch (I'll exempt Vince Welch) could use Jack Arute.
Bob Jenkins puts me to sleep. He comes across like a mid 1990s computer voice program. Paul Page has me watching NHRA from time to time. Hopfully Jack comes back to espn and does a few races and covers College Football again.
Definitely glad to hear Bob Jenkins & Jon Beekhuis will remain, love those guys and when it comes to racing Beekuis actually knows WTF he is talking about…. I am simultaneously gleeful about the departure of one Robbie and not so gleeful about the departure of the other… Can you guess which?
Kevin Lee is brutal. Granted Jack Arute is a little funny sometimes, but he is way better than Lee. I thought maybe he still had a contract with ABC and with the merger they couldn't have him. I would look for him to work at the speedway if he is totally out of work like Jenkins did a few years ago. Speaking of Jenkins I hope he can just get the cars right this year.
What in the world is wrong with Kevin Lee?? How can you say he's brutal and not give examples? Can it be…you CAN'T??!?
Arutes role (as uh… host? propman?) on the Versus broadcasts just never worked. Like Brent Musburger "hosting" the Indy 500 broadcats, it never felt necessary. I do not understand why he wasn't given more traditional pit reporting duties, that was always what he was best at.
While I always appreciated Jack's knowledge, passion, and experience covering the sport, I never cared for his roles outside of pit reporting. He can come across as brash, too often to the point of obnoxiousness. I think traditional pit reporting duties reigned this in, and his time as a "booth" member or host of a broadcast might wind up showcasing it.
He would do well hosting a recap or commentary show, where being brash is good entertainment.
I will miss Jack, though I don't think we've seen the last of him. He was very good in the pits, and one of the sport's few visible links to the sunny days of the past. It's good to have guys like that.
I'm still missing Paul Page as he really was passionate about open-wheel racing. He understood the IndyCar stars and created interest and provided inspiration for the fan to follow the sport. I will also miss Jack Arute although I would write that he was getting too funny at times. If we want to connect to the 15-20MM fans "lost" we should have familiar voices and faces that those people recognize.
Arute and Robin Miller. Together? Okay–I could see it. The show would be in black & white and sponsored by Aqua Velva or Hamm's beer. Jack would have a catchphrase like "ring-a-ding-ding" everytime Danika appeared. And Robin would hit him with his hat.
Ugh, I think I am the only one but I hate Lindy Thackston! I think she is like nails on a chalk board!
Would like to hear Bobby Unser, Paul Page, Danny Sullivan, Bob Varsha and Jon Beekhus in any combination. I think that the crew last year sounded stale and glad to hear they are moving some of them around but I don't get the feeling that any of them know about racing as much as they want to promote what is cool and hip (Danica, the big 2). Not much useful strategy or history lessons with this crew!
Get Arie L. or Eddie Cheever in the booth. They have both contributed to the local Indianapolis race coverage and are a real hoot to listen to. Honest, frank, and yet down-to-Earth.
Lindy Thackston is brain dead. Jck Arute has finally gone to the Chris Economaki How Was It Out There Mario? Graveyard, and rightfully so. Bob Jenkins needs a teleprompter, Dallenbach has no basis of information from which to narrate the action since he never raced open wheel. That leaves Jon Beekhuis as the only decent guy in the booth. How could these idiots get it so wrong? Oh right it's the TV morons in charge. I forgot.
A lot of good things were said above. For me, living in Indiana, the 500 is about a lot of things and you can't deny one of the things the 500 is about is tradition. Florence Henderson, the Hullman family, Jim Nabors and so forth. Jack Arute is part of that tradition and it's just a shame that people can't see that. People who probably have no ties to Indiana or who probably make decisions based on something that has nothing to do with racing. I wish Jack all the best and hope he reappears very soon.
Just saw Brent Musberger in the 500 booth and I( asked my wife, where's Jack Arute) came on this site and found out. very sad to see both of these things.
Bring Back Jack! If you miss @JackOnSports on #IndyCar broadcasts, "Like the "Bring Back Jack Facebook page http://tinyurl.com/42mqad6 Pass it on!
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