Heather A. McDonough

Cookie Madness Cookie Madness - Keeping Life Sweet One Cookie at a Time I don’t have one favorite type of cocoa powder and tend to use different brands for different recipes. Overall I prefer “natural” over Dutch in things like frosting and brownies, but I like Dutch processed cocoa in certain cupcakes and cookies — it really depends on the recipe and what brand of cocoa...

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Happy Friday! Loucinda McGary returns with advice on different ways to conquer writer’s block.

Writer’s Block – UGH! If there is anything worse, at the moment I don’t know what it is.

When I think of writer’s block, I see the image of a clogged bathroom drain. You know the one I mean, the one that leaves you standing in four inches of water halfway through your morning shower. The one you have to fish for with a piece of wire coat hanger and it comes out in a disgusting clump of hair, soap scrum, and heaven only knows what else. EWWW!

No wonder writer’s block leaves me shrieking with despair. And now you probably are too, but never fear! I’m going to suggest a few techniques that I’m hopeful will prove equally as effective as that piece of wire.

• Keep showing up! – We humans are creatures of habit. We thrive on doing the same things over and over again. We find comfort in routine. So train yourself to write at the same time in the same place and after awhile, your writing becomes automatic. You don’t even have to think about it, just show up. BICHOK (Butt in chair, hands on keyboard) really does work.
• Write anything. – Set a timer, sit down, and write everything that comes into your mind. It doesn’t have to make sense. It doesn’t have to be related to your work-in-progress. It doesn’t even have to be complete sentences. The point is simply to write some words and thereby thwart your block.

In her books about writing (Writing Down the Bones, and The Wild Mind), Natalie Goldberg calls this a ‘free write’ and she recommends writing with a pen and paper and doing it for ten minutes at a time. Many writers I know do ‘writing sprints’ where they write for thirty minutes or more and keep a record of how many words they wrote. Often, one or more writers compete in a sprint.

• Set goals and reward yourself. – We humans also respond well to rewards, especially when we have to earn them. Setting goals is a great way to motivate yourself, but be sure they are goals you can achieve. Long term goals (like completing three novels this year) are great, but if they take too long to achieve, your motivation can falter. Circumvent that nasty clog by setting a series of short term goals (monthly or even weekly). Use whatever form of measurement works best for you (number of words, pages, or hours), and make your reward concrete (chocolate, coffee, new shoes).
• Find a writing buddy. – Confession is not only good for your soul, but it can also chip away at writer’s block. Share your goals (short and long term) with another writer (or two or more) and ask him/her to hold you accountable for achieving them. Establish a method of reporting (email works great) on a regular basis, and then do it. Disappointing your writing buddy usually becomes a stronger urge than that nasty clog impeding your progress.

Writer’s block can be a stubborn hindrance, so don’t be afraid to go after it in one or more of these ways. Sometimes it takes a combination of techniques and repeated attempts, but once you make a few dents in that clog, pretty soon the whole mess will wash right down the drain and your writing process will flow smoothly again.

What’s your cure for writer’s block?

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Bio: A Golden Heart finalist, Loucinda McGary is the author of three contemporary romantic suspense novels, The Wild Sight, The Treasures of Venice and The Wild Irish Sea. Her later books, The Sidhe Prince, High Seas Deception, His Reluctant Bodyguard, Dead Girl in a Green Dress, and The Mozart Murders are available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.

Visit Loucinda’s website or connect with Loucinda via Facebook and Twitter.

If you haven't already seen Cherry Bombe's ninth issue, I encourage you to pick up a copy today - it's on newsstands now. Earlier this year, I was [&hellip...

Lately I find that much of my cooking inspiration comes from going out to restaurants with few vegan options and being forced by hunger to order something I wouldn’t ordinarily eat. Last Saturday, after a long day of marching and standing at the Women’s March on Jackson, I wound up with some friends at one of the few places in town that is open at 3pm on a Saturday.(...)
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Melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates have released a teaser trailer and the full track list for their highly anticipated comeback studio album, ‘At War With Reality’, which is now due to be released on October 27th, 2014 in Europe and October 28th, 2014 in North America via Century Media Records.

The Swedish legends hinted at the new album with a series of short, cryptic videos posted on their Facebook page earlier this year, before confirming they were indeed hard at work on on a new record with the same line up that was responsible for their 1995 masterpiece ‘Slaughter Of The Soul’. The recording sessions for ‘At War With Reality’ were held at Studio Fredman (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir) with Fredrik Nordström, and the material was then mixed with Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Amon Amarth, Kreator).

Vocalist Tomas Lindberg checked in with a report as follows:

“We are very excited to finally have finished this new album. An album that we’ve been working on for over a year now. It’s by far the most challenging record that we have made, but it’s an honest album and I think that you will feel that it is faithful to the legacy of At The Gates.

“We have, through the process of creating it, been true to ourselves and our art. From hearing the first demos that Anders presented to the band last summer, through the extensive stages of songwriting, pre-production, rehearsals, recording and mixing, we now finally got the finished album in our hands.

“We are very happy to have managed to produce an album that we feel is truly “us”. Something we can all stand behind one hundred percent. I can’t wait ’til you all get to hear it!”

Check out the teaser trailer below…

The full track list is as follows:

1. El Altar Del Dios Desconocido
2. Death And The Labyrinth
3. At War With Reality
4. The Circular Ruins
5. Heroes And Tombs
6. The Conspiracy Of The Blind
7. Order From Chaos
8. The Book Of Sand (The Abomination)
9. The Head Of The Hydra
10. City Of Mirrors
11. Eater Of Gods
12. Upon Pillars Of Dust
13. The Night Eternal

At The Gates have also just announced their next international touring runs for 2015, which include visiting South Africa for the very first time in May as well as shows in Greece and Turkey in January and also Norway in February.

The full list of tour dates is as follows:

AT THE GATES + Support:
TH 20.11.2014 Tampere (Finland) – Klubi
FR 21.11.2014 Jyväskylä (Finland) – Lutako
SA 22.11.2014 Helsinki (Finland) – Nosturi

AT THE GATES, GRAVE, MORBUS CHRON:
TH 27.11.2014 Göteborg (Sweden) – Trägårn
FR 28.11.2014 Stockholm (Sweden) – Arenan
SA 29.11.2014 Malmö (Sweden) – KB

AT THE GATES, TRIPTYKON, MORBUS CHRON:
TH 04.12.2014 London (UK) – Forum
FR 05.12.2014 Manchester (UK) – Academy 2
SA 06.12.2014 Glasgow (UK) – Garage
SU 07.12.2014 Birmingham (UK) – Academy
MO 08.12.2014 Cardiff (UK) – Solus
WE 10.12.2014 Essen (Germany) – Turock
TH 11.12.2014 Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle
FR 12.12.2014 Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Eindhoven Metal Meeting
SA 13.12.2014 Leipzig (Germany) – Conne Island
SU 14.12.2014 Wien (Austria) – Arena
TU 16.12.2014 Aarau (Switzerland) – Kiff
WE 17.12.2014 Munich (Germany – Backstage Werk
TH 18.12.2014 Antwerpen (Belgium) – Trix
FR 19.12.2014 Cologne (Germany) – Essigfabrik
SA 20.12.2014 Berlin (Germany) – Postbahnhof

AT THE GATES – Live 2015:
TH 08.01.2015 Istanbul (Turkey) – Jolly Joker
FR 09.01.2015 Athens (Greece) – Stage Volume 1
SA 10.01.2015 Thessaloniki (Greece) – Principal Club
SA 31.01.2015 Dublin (Ireland) – Academy
TH 26.02.2015 Oslo (Norway) – Vulkan Arena
FR 29.05.2015 Johannesburg (South Africa) – TBA
SA 30.05.2015 Cape Town (South Africa) – TBA

 

The post At The Gates Release Teaser For New Studio Album appeared first on Terrorizer.

The beta release of iTunes 12 is as much of a mess as ever, but Apple doesn't think it's worth rebuilding.

A tumorous coalescence of features added higgledy-piggledy over 13 years, iTunes is the definition of a Frankenstein app.

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“My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I’m from.”

Angelo Merendino / Via Getty Images

On July 11, LeBron James announced his decision to leave the Miami Heat — where he spent the past four years playing basketball — and his plan to return home to Cleveland. After growing up in Akron and helping put Northeast Ohio on the map with his tremendous talent and celebrity status, LeBron's controversial move to Florida in search for championship rings — which he ultimately achieved — was something that Ohio residents never really got over.

But now all seems to be forgiven, and not just because of what this means for the Cavaliers. The impact of LeBron's homecoming will have a significant economic influence over this Midwestern city — in some ways, it already has. According to Hopper, a travel search engine, more people looked up flights and travel information to Cleveland by 192%. LeBron is also well-aware of the effect he can have on the local economy. In his essay for Sports Illustrated, the NBA star wrote:

My presence can make a difference in Miami, but I think it can mean more where I'm from. I want kids in Northeast Ohio, like the hundreds of Akron third-graders I sponsor through my foundation, to realize that there's no better place to grow up. Maybe some of them will come home after college and start a family or open a business. That would make me smile. Our community, which has struggled so much, needs all the talent it can get.

BuzzFeed reached out to a number of businesses in the Cleveland area by email and phone and asked if they were happy about LeBron's return, and if they think his presence will benefit Cleveland business owners. Here are the responses we received:

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1972 Plymouth Duster 1973 Dodge Dart Sport 340. Photos courtesy Kustom King unless otherwise noted.

Murray King’s cabinet making business took him from one coast of Canada to the other, and rather than return to Spruce Grove, Alberta, with empty trailers, King began filling them up with interesting and derelict cars he found in his travels. Before long, his focus shifted from woodworking to metal working, and Kustom King automotive restorations was born. Now, after four decades of buying cars, King will sell the 550 cars in his collection (combined with another 87 cars from A-Riverside, his neighbor’s business) in a two-day auction set to begin on Saturday, August 16.

Most auctions of this scope focus on a single brand, but King’s collection is far more diverse than that. Chevrolets make up the largest percentage of his collection, with 141 Bowties from 1932 through 1977 set to cross the block, but Ford isn’t too far behind. The blue oval brand is represented by 106 vehicles, dating from 1928 through 1969, and other makes include Pontiac (70 cars, from 1937-’72), Buick (50 cars, from 1941-’72), Mercury (39 cars, from 1950-’68), Oldsmobile (36 cars, from 1935-’70), Cadillac (24 cars, from 1951-’64), Lincoln (15 cars, from 1954-’62), Dodge (14 cars, from 1937-’74), Chrysler (12 cars, from 1941-’62), Plymouth (11 cars, from 1932-’73), and GMC (four trucks, from 1941-’81).

Lumped into an “Other” category are brands like Essex, Fiat, De Soto, Packard, Fargo, REO, Willys, Hillman, Studebaker, Austin, Morris, Nash, Rambler, Mercedes and Nissan. Though this phrase is used a bit too much, the Kustom King sale really will offer something for everyone.

And then there’s the inventory of A-Riverside Auto Enterprises, located across the road from Kustom King. Though focused primarily on trucks, the 87 offerings from A-Riverside will also include both domestic and foreign automobiles from the 1940s through 2001. Still, truck collectors will want to take heed, as the lots are set to include everything from a 1929 Standard REO SpeedWagon Coca-Cola delivery truck through a 1997 GMC 3500HD, with a wide variety of heavy-duty inventory to choose from.

1957 Chevrolet.

Though Kustom King is selling off its used car inventory, the shop (which specializes in restorations and custom builds) isn’t going away. In fact, King advises that with Alberta’s current oil boom, business has never been better, as mechanics from the oil fields have plenty of discretionary income to spend on custom cars.

Though the shop once built rods and customs to sell at auctions in the United States, back when the street rod market was strong and the Canadian dollar was weak, the days of building cars on speculation are over. As King put it, “There’s too much risk and too little profit” in trying to anticipate what buyers will fight over at auction.

1969 Ford Mustang convertible.

Kustom King also houses So-Cal Speed Shop Canada, as King cut a deal with Pete Chapouris in 2008 to become the exclusive Canadian distributor for So-Cal Speed Shop products. Ultimately, that means the 550 cars on his 5.5-acre property are more of a distraction than a necessity because King doesn’t part them out to the general public. Now that he’s past the seven decade mark in age, King has also come to the realization that he won’t live long enough to see them all restored.

A few of the vehicles in the Kustom King inventory.

When asked, “Why sell the collection now?” King’s response was understandable. “I paid $35,000 for this property 35 years ago,” he said, “and I’ve been offered $1.3 million for a portion of it. The question isn’t ‘Why would I sell?’ but rather ‘why wouldn’t I sell?’”

1929 REO SpeedWagon. Photo courtesy Sekura Auctions.

As for any inventory that remains after the sale, King isn’t concerned. The city of Spruce Grove isn’t pressuring him to pare down his collection (which, King advises, undergoes environmental testing every few years), and even after selling off a portion of his land, King will still have three acres to house the inventory that doesn’t sell at auction.

1952 International cement truck. Photo courtesy Sekura Auctions.

A-Riverside is in a similar pressure-free position, but is taking advantage of the Kustom King sale to reduce its own inventory. As Sekura Auction’s Andrew Reeleder explained, “Ron Stropel (owner of A-Riverside) has always focused on trucks, while Murray King has focused on cars. When the Kustom King auction was announced, it just made sense for A-Riverside to capitalize on shared marketing and a shared auction venue.”

The Kustom King and A-Riverside sale will take place in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada, on August 16 and 17. For additional details on the sale, including a complete inventory list, visit SekuraAuctions.com.

The word Legend loses meaning in our current culture of evolution and innovation.  The "next best thing" rules our collective consciousness.  But it is men like Mr. Fugle who remind us of the values of heart, dedication, and a respect for the pioneers who paved the way for us to follow.  I personally am grateful for people like Mr. Fugle who remind us that devotion to our passions, especially to motorcycles, and the profound effect they have on our kind....matter.  I am glad he and those like him have found the recognition they are currently enjoying, it is long overdue.  Respect.

New Yorkers! Do you like poker? If so, you should go to tonight's Varsity Letters reading series, presented by Gelf Magazine. Eric Raskin, the editor-in-chief of All In magazine will be joined by Peter Alson, author of Take Me to the River. Doors open at 7 p.m. More details here. [Gelf]

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Here are your links for streaming today's matches live, either with U.S.-based English/Spanish commentary or home nations' local broadcasts.

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An opportunity to ditch an inconvenient channel. Shane Smith could be about to get his network.

A scene from Vice's coverage of the Ukraine crisis.

Via youtube.com

Time Warner isn't so much buying into Vice as getting rid of HLN.

The media conglomerate is "very close" to a deal with Vice, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to BuzzFeed. Under the deal, Time Warner would buy out the roughly 45% stake in the hipster digital media company held by The Raine Group and perhaps stakes held by other investors, including Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox. Precise terms of the deal (first reported by Sky News) are still being worked out, but it appears that Time Warner plans to contribute cash and its cable news network HLN into a newly formed entity that Vice would operate.

A Time Warner representative declined comment. Calls to executives or representatives at The Raine Group, 21st Century Fox, HLN, and Vice were not returned.

While much of the discussion of the deal has focused on Time Warner acquiring a piece of Vice, what it is really aiming to do with the deal is solve its perpetual HLN problem.

The cable news network sibling of CNN has always been something of an unwanted stepchild inside of Time Warner. Despite being fully distributed, reaching more than 100 million U.S. households, HLN receives no carriage fees — the payments made to the network by pay-TV distributors that frequently make up more than 50% of a given channel's revenue. On the advertising side, HLN generates considerably less than its peer group of CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC. According to SNL Kagan, on a cash flow basis FOX News is expected to generate $1.1 billion this year, CNN $337 million, and MSNBC $216 million. HLN, however, is on track to earn a paltry $73 million.

Strategically, HLN is inconsequential to Time Warner's larger corporate operation, which includes a film division, HBO, and other networks such as TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, and others that generate more advertising and carriage fees than HLN.

Jettisoning HLN would also fit the blueprint Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes has followed with some of the company's other assets. While Bewkes has been very vocal in his view that mergers and acquisitions don't create value for shareholders, he appears to be a huge fan of disposals and spin offs to get rid of lagging assets. AOL, Time Warner Cable, and Time Inc. were all spun out from the larger Time Warner under Bewkes' reign, the last just yesterday. The Vice deal, should it go through, is simply a spin out of HLN by another name.

Think of it as the opposite of John Malone's "trading up" philosophy, under which the legendary cable mogul would trade large stakes in small companies for small stakes in larger companies through a merger, acquisition, or spin-off. What Time Warner is trying to do here is to trade down — to peel off a wholly owned network and merge it into another company in which it would own a piece. HLN would still likely receive distribution through Time Warner's current contracts with pay-TV operators, and while the company would control less of the combined entity it would still be able to benefit from ratings and advertising gains generated from "giving HLN's content a facelift," the source said. The ultimate goal would be to rebrand HLN as Vice to attract a larger and younger audience — and eventually renegotiate its contracts with cable operators and start collecting carriage fees.

That, of course, is the best-case scenario. As Capital New York's Alex Weprin points out, "If Vice were to gain control of HLN, the channel would almost certainly have to be unbundled from CNN. That could be messy, as pay-TV providers could seek to cut CNN's carriage fee, or decline to carry HLN. If HLN were to continue to be bundled with CNN, Vice wouldn't be able to capitalize on carriage fees, which would still be tied to CNN. All in all it would be a messy transaction."

As it currently stands, nothing really defines HLN from a programming perspective. It has a few popular hosts such as Nancy Grace and Dr. Drew Pinsky, and has found a bit of a niche with courtroom coverage of sensational trials. But no programming strategy has really stuck, and earlier this year, the network announced yet another repositioning, this time around social media, with headlines ripped from Twitter and Facebook and a slogan telling viewers, "We're not the news. You are."

The potential deal with Vice has emerged before HLN has had a chance to implement its new programming strategy, which is perhaps the most telling indication of how Bewkes feels about the network. Meanwhile Vice co-founder Shane Smith has long been on the hunt for a television network — and what Bewkes appears to be saying is, "Here, take this one."

The 1962 Chevrolet Impala, following its recovery from the June 2013 High River flood. Photos courtesy Calgary Police Service.

In June 2013, Calgary, Alberta, and surrounding towns bore witness to flooding of historical proportions, which forced mandatory and long-term evacuations for many residents and destroyed billions of dollars in property. Now, a year later, the Calgary Police Service Auto Theft Unit has announced charges against a Vancouver man accused of VIN cloning a distinctive 1962 Chevrolet Impala convertible damaged by the High River flood and later sold for spare parts by a salvage company.

At the salvage yard, shortly after the flood.

Spotted by off-duty Calgary Police Service constable Wayne Suffesick as it prepared to cross the stage at a local auction, the 1962 Impala was hardly a car that would go unnoticed. Though its rear fender skirts and whitewall tires are common, its pronounced deck-style rear bumper and vertical Continental kit were unique enough to catch Suffesick’s attention, particularly because he’d spent time working as an auto body man before joining the police department and knew the Impala’s former owner personally. He also knew that the insurance company had written the car off as non-repairable, and that it had been sold as a parts car to a salvage company following the insurance payout.

The Impala’s stretched rear bumper was its most distinctive trait.

A subsequent check of the vehicle’s documentation revealed a forged safety inspection certificate from another Canadian province, and Suffesick was quick to notice the drill scratches on the car’s door jamb VIN tag, a sign that the original rivets had been drilled out. The VIN tag, it turns out, had been obtained from a donor 1962 Chevrolet Impala found at a Northern Alberta scrap yard. Based upon Suffesick’s investigation, Calgary police have charged 63-year old Youssef Yangui with forging documents, tampering with a vehicle identification number and fraudulent concealment in relation to the car’s “cloned” VIN.

The car’s interior, immediately following its recovery from the High River flood. Note the silt on the floor mats.

According to Calgary Police Service detective sergeant Mike Saunders (a classic car enthusiast himself, in the midst of a restoration on his 1949 Chevrolet pickup), the 1962 Impala convertible had sat in a flooded garage for nearly three weeks, the mandatory evacuation period for area residents. Labeled as non-repairable due to the extent of flood damage, the Impala was sold for spare parts use to a salvage company, from which Yangui allegedly acquired the vehicle. Per Saunders, the salvage company itself is blameless in the incident, as its bill of sale clearly indicated the Impala could not be certified for road use. The VIN cloning incident in Calgary is the first of its kind relating to the June 2013 floods, though with an estimated 10,000 vehicles damaged by the High River flood, it likely won’t be the last.

The Impala in the auction tent, awaiting its trip across the block; note the changed wheel covers.

Saunders reminds anyone shopping for a classic car (particularly from an unknown seller) to check for obvious signs of flood damage, such as musty odors, moldy carpet, rust in unusual places and organic debris in wiring looms or in heater vents. Those seeking to acquire a collector car should also verify that the windshield VIN plate (when present) matches the paperwork and other VIN plates or stamped numbers, and that none show signs of being tampered with. When possible, the VIN plate should be compared to that of a similar year, make, and model to verify similarities and note differences. Saunders also recommended the use of third-party vehicle history reporting services, such as Carfax or Carproof, with cars built after the early 1980s.

At auction. The car’s most distinctive feature was impossible to hide.

In the end, it comes down to “buyer beware,” particularly for buyers in the United States. Though this incident may be the first of its kind relating to the Calgary floods, Hurricanes Katrina, Irene and Sandy, coupled with rising collector car prices, have made VIN cloning and the sale of flood-damaged cars a not-uncommon occurrence elsewhere.

Vintage vans from the documentary Vannin’. Photo credit Andrew J. Morgan.

Depending upon one’s perspective, custom vans are either cool again, or they never stopped being cool, they just went underground. A staple of 1970s automotive culture, vintage vans have been making a comeback, as demonstrated by events like the upcoming Hootenanny 2014 van run in Hoquiam, Washington.

Organized by the Bustin’ Loose Early Vans club out of Tacoma, Washington, the July 4 weekend event starts with a CB-radio-linked convoy of vans heading to the weekend’s camping spot, Bubba’s place. Once there, the plans call for a bonfire, fireworks and plenty of partying, just like in the 1970s (though, perhaps, with fewer bell bottoms and mood rings).  Following a communal breakfast, the convoy departs for the Kurt Cobain museum before hitting the beach at the coastal surfing town of Ocean Shores, where plans call for an old school 1970s-style party on the beach. Afterwards, it’s back to the campsite for a group potluck dinner and still more partying, this time featuring a DJ and karaoke.

Therein lies the appeal of vanning. Unlike cruise-ins, which last for a few hours, van-ins last for an entire weekend (and generally, if our memory serves us correctly, require a week or so to recover from). No trophies will be handed out, no one will be hot-lapping their van on a racetrack or autocross course, and the modest $20 entry fee goes to cover the cost of the Port-O-John rentals on Bubba’s property. It’s very much a run-what-you-brung event, too, and while those rolling in a shag-carpeted, airbrushed mural bedecked sin bin will likely get more thumbs up, even those driving a clapped-out work van are welcome to participate, as long as their CB radio can transmit and receive on channel 2.

If the Hootenanny in Hoquiam sounds like your kind of trip, visit the North West Vanning Facebook page for more information.

About midway through the third quarter, Spurs Sports & Entertainment released a thoroughly unsatisfying statement about the broken air conditioning at the AT&T Center. It read:

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* I believe we’ve found the Michael Paul Smith of the off-road world. A guy named Headquake on Facebook scratchbuilds intricately detailed and weathered off-road trucks on RC chassis, then goes out and flogs them on rocks and dirt, in the process taking photos that make them look like full-size rigs. (via)

* Somehow Bill Hemenez never saw Pulp Fiction. Even if he had, he probably wouldn’t have known that the 1964 Chevelle that he reportedly sank tens of thousands of dollars into was the same car from the movie and the same car that was stolen from director Quentin Tarantino’s driveway in 1994. Now that the Chevelle is back in Tarantino’s hands, Hemenez says that he feels screwed by the director.

* Good Spark Garage this week took a look at the amazing photography of Bill Greene, whose family spent much of the 1960s and 1970s riding motorcycles off road in Southern California.

* Over on (recently deposed Automobile magazine editor) Jean Jennings’s Jean Knows Cars, Ron Ahrens recently profiled Kaylin Stewart, who plans to both celebrate her sweet 16 and run 200 MPH at Bonneville this year. Add land-speed racing to the means by which we can get youth interested in old cars.

* Finally, with the long-running Hindustan Ambassador going out of production, Murilee Martin wonders what vehicle now holds the title of longest in continuous production?

Merkel Weiss’s 1982 Scirocco, as featured in the April 2008 Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car. Photo by Jeff Koch.

Launched in the U.S. market in 1982, the second generation Volkswagen Scirocco was intended to improve upon the shapely original version by adding more cargo room, more passenger headroom and improved aerodynamics. Though it may not have carried the same Giugiaro-designed good looks as its predecessor, the Scirocco Mk II was undeniably a more sophisticated and comfortable daily driver, yet the anticipated market for the second generation coupe never really materialized.

Work on a replacement for the original model began in 1976, and Volkswagen solicited both internal and external proposals for the new car’s design. In keeping with tradition, Giorgetto Giugiaro and ItalDesign were given the opportunity to shape the Mk II, but the firm’s proposal was discounted for being too close to the car’s original design, and even a bit bland. Ultimately, the design proposal from Volkswagen’s own Wolfsburg styling studio, led by Herbert Schafer, won out, and the Mk II made its first public appearance at the March 1981 Geneva Auto Salon. Like the original Scirocco, construction would be handled not by Volkswagen, but by independent contractor (and former coachbuilder) Karmann in Osnabrueck, Germany.

Photo by Jeff Koch.

Though the Scirocco Mk II shared the same wheelbase and A1 platform as the original, the new car was a full 10 inches longer and 100 pounds heavier. The Mk I’s 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine also carried over, rated at the same 74 horsepower and 90 pound-feet of torque as before, which made the new Scirocco feel a bit sluggish compared to the one it had replaced. In mid-1983, Volkswagen addressed this issue by making the GTI’s 1.8-liter engine (rated at 90 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque) available in the Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco, and by the end of the year it was specified as the standard engine in all American Scirocco models. Performance improved notably: The run from 0-60 took 11.5 seconds in a Mk II with the 74 horsepower four, but the 90 horsepower engine cut the time back to a more sporting 9.7 seconds.

Underneath, the Scirocco Mk II didn’t carry the expected sports car hardware. Up front, Scirocco models used an independent MacPherson strut suspension, but out back the automaker relied on a money-saving beam axle. Anti-roll bars were used in front and rear (after late 1983, anyway), but the Scirocco relied upon front disc and rear drum brakes until the high-performance 16V model received four-wheel disc brakes in 1986. Suspension details and cost-saving measures aside, the Scirocco delivered a fair blend of handling and ride comfort, along the lines of the original version.

1983 Wolfsburg Edition Scirocco. Photo courtesy ProductionCars.com.

In addition to its semi-bulbous styling (which lowered the car’s coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.38), the Mk II featured a spoiler mounted atop the rear hatchback glass, initially with a tasteful “Scirocco” stenciled on the glass beneath the wing. Inside, the 1983 Wolfsburg Edition offered customers the option of leather seating surfaces for the first time, proof that Volkswagen was indeed intent on taking the car further upscale than the first generation. Its first refresh came in late 1984, a mere two years after its American debut, and the (minor) changes included deletion of the rear glass logo, addition of a larger rear spoiler, and a switch from a single front windshield wiper to two wipers for the first time since 1976. Under-skin changes were more extensive, including the adoption of a space-saver spare to make room for a larger fuel tank, and a change in the brake system master cylinder and proportioning valves.

The big news for the second generation Scirocco came in 1986, when the optional 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine joined the lineup, raising output to 123 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. Available only with a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission, the increased output lowered the Mk II’s 0-60 MPH time to 7.8 seconds, and to back up this added performance, 16V models also received a thicker rear anti-roll bar, bigger brakes (and four-wheel disc brakes), unique alloy wheels and a tastefully aggressive body kit that emphasized the model’s sporting potential (and further improved aerodynamics).

1987 Scirocco 16V. Photo courtesy ProductionCars.com.

Though the Scirocco Mk II now had performance and handling on par with the competition (not to mention tasteful styling and hatchback practicality), it never really found its niche among American buyers. In 1985, Volkswagen sold 13,500 examples here, but by 1988 the number of Scirocco buyers had plummeted to a mere 3,750, despite the expanded product line and the car’s competitive price tag. Blame it on stepped-up competition from Japanese rivals like Honda and Toyota, or blame it on Volkswagen’s indecisive market strategy, but by the end of 1988 the Mk II Scirocco was dropped from Volkswagen’s American product mix. Volkswagen’s Corrado sport coupe would follow in 1990, but the company again missed the mark by taking the car even further upscale; as it would learn (repeatedly), Volkswagen was not a brand Americans equated with luxury or status.

Once a fairly common sight on American roads, Scirocco Mk II models have all but vanished from the automotive landscape, most falling victim to age, mileage or owner indifference. Ironically, a design that seemed a bit disproportionate at launch has aged well, further proof that one never really appreciates something until it’s gone.

Chevrolet’s personal luxury coupe often gets short shrift from enthusiasts, but to own and drive a first-generation Monte Carlo is to love it. Smooth ride, almost-modern handling, rock-solid reliability and the typically bottomless Chevrolet parts availability make Monte Carlos a great choice for someone seeking a Chevelle or Camaro alternative. This Gulf green 1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Custom for sale on Hemmings.com is a particularly well-appointed example, built with RPO Z03 Custom equipment, which added a left-hand remote mirror, custom wheel covers on 15 x 7-inch wheels with blackwall tires, a custom four-spoke steering wheel, the auxiliary lighting group and sport suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars. The vinyl roof covering and white stripe tires would’ve also been options, as of course would’ve been the 240-hp (345-lb.ft.) 400 V-8 with 8.5:1 compression, four-barrel carburetor and factory dual exhaust. Checking off the big-block engine on the option sheet further upgraded an automatic transmission to the Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 and bought you an 8.875-inch axle with 2.73:1 gears (3.31 with the trailering package). This car also has air conditioning. What’s interesting is that this Monte Carlo is advertised as a West Coast car, but if the seller is referring to California, it must’ve migrated there at some point in its life. Neither the 400 nor the 454 were available in California when these cars were sold new. From the seller’s description:

Original Unrestored Survivor West Coast Monte Carlo with the Custom Package and 67,000 miles. Equipped with the 402 Big Block, Turbo 400, A/C, P/S, P/B, Factory AM/FM, PO2 Hubcaps, HD Suspension with Build Sheet and POP. Unbelievable undercarriage and rust free condition. Original engine compartment, paint, interior etc. Rare opportunity to purchase a survivor Big Block West Coast Monte with the Custom Package and low miles.

See more Chevrolets for sale on Hemmings.com.

Over at The Classical, Josh Tucker has a really nice writeup on why UFC contender and all-around terrifying man Daniel Cormier, who's fighting Dan Henderson this weekend, is "a great mockery of reasonable expectations." [The Classical]

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TVs that create ambient light behind the screen can make movie watching a bit more immersive, but it's kind of expensive to do. Blogger Christian Moser decided the best course of action was to build his own with a Raspberry Pi.

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Curbed Detroit and DetroitUrbex collaborated on an exploration of the Pontiac Silverdome, former home of the Lions, Pistons, and Wrestlemania III. Their photos of the ruined and abandoned stadium are depressing, but in way, there's also something serene about them.

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Aside from a large bath tub or two, new construction is usually not that impressive. In the days of antiquity, however, marvelous castles were commonplace. Japan is one of the oldest civilizations around, so they have a whole lot of those marvelous and crumbling castles lurking about. Here’s one that doubles as a swank coffee shop.

Daibosatsu Toge, located in Anan City, hasn’t been a functioning castle since the Middle Ages. It has, however, been a functioning cafe and restaurant for the past forty years. It’s covered in ivy, and bricks are liable to fall off at any moment. In other words, it’s the perfect place to while the day away as you sip coffee. They also offer a full range of food, from crepes to ice cream and baked goods.

RocketNews recently did a pretty in depth write up on the place, so if you are hankering for more pictures of this ancient java spot, point ye olde web browser over there.

The legen – wait for it – dary Body Count (featuring Ice-T on vocals) triumphantly returns with a new full-length album, titled "Manslaughter," which is set for a June 10th release.

Body Count will be performing a special, one-off record release headlining show at The Gramercy in NYC on June 12th with Madball as direct support. Details are avail… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

Consider me officially on-board with the NHL's new playoff format. Formerly, the second round was re-seeded based on regular season record, which may have been fairer, but paid no mind to familiarity or its cousin contempt. The new bracket format is designed to match up divisional rivals, and after just one season—especially in the East, where geography and history offer up multiple permutations containing genuine enmity—we got more than we could have asked for.

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Nothing happens quickly in the NHL. Fighting still exists. Visors were only mandated for incoming players last year. But the league is reportedly preparing to test player-tracking technology, and if it takes, we're not far away from a complete and sudden revolution in how we understand the sport.

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If you have a Raspberry Pi and big plans for it, one of the first things you'll need is a case for it. There are tons to choose from, but some offer durability, port access, easy-access to the board, and style. This week we're looking at five of the best, based on your nominations.

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You know we love the Raspberry Pi, but one of the first things you should do when you get one is find a decent case for it. A good case will keep it safe, keep the ports protected, fit nicely into your build project, and add a little style at the same time. This week, we want to hear about your favorite Pi cases.

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At this year's NFL draft, the songs that play when the draftees walk out on stage will be chosen by the players themselves. It's going to be great, or terrible, or just the same Jay-Z song 30 times in a row.

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A new online payment system promises its users no transaction fees.

Instead, a monthly fee from PayStand will allow your small business to accept credit cards, e-cash, e-checks, foreign currencies, and even Bitcoins. And you won’t lose a penny off your sale price. PayStand CEO Jeremy Almond spoke about PayStand in an interview with Small Business Trends recently. He says his company’s platform is one way for merchants to begin testing new currencies and expanding their customer base.

After being tested in beta, PayStand is now open to all. If your business sees profits consumed by per-transaction fees charged by other services like PayPal, Stripe, or Square, PayStand could compete with those well-known brands. The difference could be in the thousands saved in transaction fees by year’s end.

For example, if your business conducts $300,000 in credit card sales a year and is charged 3 percent in fees, that’s $10,000 a year directly to the payment platform. A $50 per month plan with PayStand would cost your business $600 a year instead. Almond says businesses considering a flat monthly fee over a per-transaction fee would need to be making at least $12,000 in annual credit card sales to see savings.

PayStand offers four different pricing tiers, based on your sales volume and other options, the company’s official website explains. Plans start at $24 per month but range up to $299 a month. The premium pricing tiers have more options available. They include live technical support, more customizable platform design, and more product listings and variations.

This may not be the right service for some business, though. If you’re a hobby business or a micro-business, Almond says PayStand’s monthly fee may eat away at more of your profits. But businesses that deal in big-ticket items, like a technical support specialist or other professional service, would likely see a benefit from a monthly fee. Non-profit groups that accept online donations and artists selling digital products could also benefit.

Almond says the key consideration is the amount of sales you make, explaining:

“Anything dealing in volume, this is the way to go.”

Here is how PayStand works and what your customers would experience in a transaction:

You enter your inventory on the PayStand dashboard.  Embed codes let you share the products you’ve entered into inventory on your website or in an email. There are also links that allow you to share the inventory you’ve entered on PayStand on your social media feeds. There’s even a free Facebook app that syncs with your business’ Facebook page. The code adds a button with each product which allows customers to place an order.

Customers on your site, social media pages or reading your email will not be taken to another site to complete the transaction. Instead, a pop-up window featuring your company logo appears to allow the transaction to be completed.

Almond compares this to the experience merchants may have had with other online payment systems, saying:

“The general PayPal experience is obtrusive. They’re your customers and coming to your site. Why does the payment company interject themselves in your transaction?”

All PayStand’s payment templates are optimized for PCs, tablets, and smartphones so your customers can access and pay for your products from any device. The company also offers all users a free online storefront if you wish to use that to generate sales.

Sales are linked to the bank account you provide through your PayStand account. Users have options to have earnings deposited daily or weekly. And unlike PayPal and others, there are no freezes or holds on the money your customers pay you.

Images: PayStand

The post PayPal Alternative PayStand Launches — No Transaction Fees appeared first on Small Business Trends.