Choosing the Right Aftermarket Springs for your Car

Springs, together with anti-roll bars, have a significant effect on the feel of a car and its responsiveness to steering input. Increasing spring rate at a particular corner of the car transfers more weight to that corner making it slide more. Hence, if your car is understeering, you can either decrease front spring rate or increase rear spring rate to correct the condition. You can increase front spring rate and decrease rear spring rate to correct oversteer.

Installing lowering springs on your car can provide a substantial improvement in handling. The center of gravity of the car will be lower, which will allow the four tires to stay more evenly planted to the ground. Lowering a car is more involved than just installing shorter springs. It is usually necessary to readjust the camber on the front and possible the rear suspension since it will change when the car is lowered. Generally, a car should have a full alignment after lowering the suspension. Although lowering a car will usually improve handling, lowering it too much will not allow for enough suspension travel, or stroke. The car may bottom out on the suspension (suspension reaches full travel) or the chassis may actually hit the ground, leading to loss of traction and possible damage to the underside of your car.

When lowering a car, you must consider what type of driving conditions the car will see and what spring rates are appropriate for you. If you significantly lower the car, you will need stiff springs to limit the suspension travel and prevent bottoming out. Also, if you plan to race on bumpy surfaces or do mostly street driving, I recommend avoiding a suspension setup with very small travel. You need a fair amount of suspension travel to absorb bumps. If you make your suspension too stiff because you have very little suspension travel, then small bumps will tend to lift the wheels off the ground instead of being absorbed by the suspension. If the car bottoms out, it will experience a sudden loss in traction that can easily lead to a spinout or crash. Therefore, on bumpy tracks, use softer springs and greater ride height to improve handling and avoid bottoming out.

Three Short Love Poems

Puisi Valentine Day - Here is a compilation of three short love poems written by twelve-year-old Emily. The first is a short poem about how Emily loves her teachers. During the school year, her literature class was given an assignment to write a letter to a departing teacher. Emily asked if she could write a poem instead and was given permission.

Puisi Valentine - The second poem was written for a hand made card that Emily made for her mother for Mother’s Day. Similarly, the third was written for a hand made card for her father for Father’s Day.

The Last Day
by: Emily

The saddest thing
It's hard to say
Is seeing you on
Your last day.

I take it for granted,
Though I see you a lot,
Just how much you do
And your kind thought.

You helped me understand
Things I couldn't before.
I can't bear to watch you
Walk out of that door.

Though I'll miss you,
I know indeed
You'll do great out there
Planting new seeds.

"What seeds", you are asking
"Why can't I see?"
But you have already
Planted one in me.

It will grow and grow,
As I learn more and more.
Each day I'll remember
What you taught me before.

I'm happy for you
To plant more seeds.
I know they will grow
Without any weeds.

There won't be weeds.
Yes, of that I am sure.
For you have touched them.
Now they are pure.

The saddest thing,
It's hard to say,
Is seeing you on
Your last day.

A Mother’s Day Poem
by: Emily

Mom, I love you.
That is true.
All the way
To infinity, too.

Now that I’m older
And wiser, too,
I realize just
How much you do.

Most of the time
I don’t look to see
How many things
You do for me.

For this I am sorry.
Next time I’ll try.
You are wonderful,
And I’m glad you’re mine.

(Emily really can put out what she feels in a love poem, even at age twelve. I hope you see this in time for your next Mother's Day because it is probably how your child feels about you, whether spoken, written or acted.)

A Father's Day Poem
By: Emily

This is for you,
Dear Daddy of mine
To let you know
I think you're devine.

A bunch of years
Have flown by real fast
But do not worry,
I'll always keep our past.

It'll travel with me
Wherever I go.
I'll remember the times we've had
So long ago.

Please don't be sad,
Dear Daddy of mine
For there are more to come,
You will find.

I'll always remember
Those things we did
Like snowmobiling
(When Mommy was hid).

Riding our bikes,
Hitting golf balls,
Getting up on skis,
Without a fall.

Driving the golf cart,
Nicktoons Racing,
Jumping on the trampoline,
And later your back aching.

No matter where we go
Or what we do,
In my heart always
There's a place for you.

I hope this card helped
You to see
Just how much
I love you, Daddy!

(More telling than the exact words are the eyes of the daughter as she watches her father read the personally prepared poem.

I feel that all children can write down their feelings. Some may not be able to put in poem format, but I see them as poems anyway as they are from the heart. This may be the best way for them to express themselves.

When you see some spare time for your child coming up, why not give some space, and provide pencil and paper. Ask your child to write about how he or she feels about birds, or snow, or the blue sky, or you, or whatever. My guess is that you will be surprised!

Nasib Sammy Kerispatih

Sammy Kerispatih yang terlibat masalah narkoba akan mendapat pemerikasaan siang ini, apakah dia akan bebas atau pada kahiranya harus diam di jerujii besi.Hendra Samuel Simorangkir atau Sammy Kerispatih hingga kini belum dipecat dari manajemennya atas kasus narkoba yang menimpanya. Manajemen Kerispatih sendiri akan membahas persoalan ini dalam rapat rapat internal Jumat (5/2) siang.

"Ini menindaklanjuti pernyataan polisi yang sudah menetapkan Sammy sebagai tersangka," kata manajer Kerispatih, Ingga dalam perbincangan di tvOne, Jumat (5/2).

Menurut Ingga manajemen 'Kerispatih' belum membahas hal itu. Namun, pihak manajemen juga harus memikirkan tanggung jawab label dan kontrak kerja lainnya. Akan ada pilihan-pilihan yang diambil agar Kerispatih tetap bisa berjalan profesional

Kasus Sammy, lanjut dia, membuat manajemen bingung menyelesaikan pekerjaan. Mereka juga merasa terganggu.

Personel Kerispatih, Badai, mengatakan jika beberapa calon pengganti Sammy telah diusulkan dari teman-teman bandnya.

Seperti diketahui, polisi menangkap Sammy bersama seorang perempuan berinisial RA saat menggunakan narkoba di tempat kosnya di daerah Bilangan Kuningan, Jakarta, Selasa

sammy kerispatih Dapat Shabu Dari NS

Sammy Kerispatih Ditangkap polisi, Vokalis grup band Kerispatih, Hendra Samuel Simorangkir (28) alias Sammy, mengaku mendapatkan barang "setan" jenis sabu dari seorang teman berinisial NS. Berdasarkan hasil informasi tersebut, pihak aparat Polrestro Jakarta Pusat langsung mengembangkan ke kawasan Manggabesar, Jakarta Barat, Selasa (2/2/2010) pukul 19.00. Di sana polisi menangkap NS. "Dari NS kami menyita barang bukti berupa 4 gram sabu," ujar Kapolrestro Jakarta Pusat Kombes Hamidin saat memberikan penjelasan kepada wartawan, Selasa (2/2/2010) malam.

Sammy Kerispatih ditangkap aparat di rumah kosnya di Jalan Pedurenan Sawit No 62 kamar A5, Setiabudi, Jakarta Selatan, Selasa (2/2/2010) pukul 02.30. Dari tangan Sammy polisi mengamankan satu paket sabu dan sebuah alat isap (bong).

Hamidin menjelaskan, polisi sudah lama mengendus kebiasaan Sammy mengonsumsi sabu. Sammy kerap mengonsumsi barang haram itu di sebuah hotel kenamaan di Jalan Letjen Suprapto, Cempakaputih, Jakarta Pusat.

Tertangkapnya NS bisa membuat posisi Sammy sebagai pemakai atau pengguna atau korban akan sangat jelas sesuai Undang-Undang (UU) Nomor 35 Tahun 2009 tentang Narkotika, serta Surat Edaran Mahkamah Agung Nomor 7 Tahun 2009 tentang Menempatkan Pemakai Narkoba ke dalam Panti Terapi dan Rehabilitasi.

Surat edaran antara lain menyebutkan, mereka yang tertangkap tangan membawa sabu maksimal 0,25 gram diposisikan sebagai pemakai dan bukan tersangka. Dengan catatan, dia bukan residivis kasus narkoba dan tidak ada bukti bahwa yang bersangkutan merangkap menjadi pengedar atau produsen narkoba.

Selanjutnya, seperti disebut surat edaran, sesuai Pasal 41 UU Nomor 5 Tahun 1997 tentang Psikotropika dan UU Nomor 22 Tahun 1997 tentang Narkotika, hakim dapat memerintahkan pengguna psikotropika menjalani pengobatan atau perawatan.

Sementara itu, Undang-Undang Nomor 35 Tahun 2009 Pasal 54 menyebutkan, pecandu narkotika dan korban penyalahgunaan narkotika wajib menjalani rehabilitasi medis dan rehabilitasi sosial

Caressa Cameron , I love You!

Miss America 2010| Miss America Winner 2010 Fotos Video, Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron won the 2010 Miss America title last night after strutting in a yellow dress, belting Beyoncé's "Listen" from Dreamgirls and telling children that they should get outside more often.

Miss America 2010 Winner is Cameron, 22, of Fredericksburg, won a $50,000 scholarship and the crown in Las Vegas after a pageant yesterday that started with 53 contestants. Cameron outlasted her opponents in swimsuit, evening gown, talent, and interview competitions.

Cameron is a broadcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University and wants to become a TV anchor. Miss California Kristy Cavinder was the first runner-up, winning $25,000. - AP

Storm snarls roads in South
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A snowstorm blanketed the South yesterday, with drivers warned to stay off slippery roads as officials worked to clear a mess of wrecks and downed power lines.

Nearly a foot of snow had fallen in parts of western North Carolina, and nearly 10 inches had fallen in some areas north of Memphis, Tenn. A central Tennessee woman was killed when a tree weighed down with ice crashed into her mobile home, a fire department official said.

To the northeast, the Washington-Baltimore area was preparing for 4 to 8 inches of snow. About a foot of snow was reported in the Richmond area, the National Weather Service said. In northern Virginia, the storm caused several multi-vehicle crashes along Interstate 81, state police said. Four people were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. - AP

Fire kills at least five in Brooklyn
NEW YORK - A deadly fire tore through a building that housed Guatemalan immigrants, gnawing gaping holes in its backside, partially collapsing the roof, and killing at least five people yesterday.

The early-morning blaze at the Brooklyn building is being investigated as a possible case of arson because it started behind the door of the first-floor entrance to the building, New York City Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said.

Four people in the building were injured, including an infant and an older child who were tossed out the window by a woman frantically trying to save them. The infant was in critical condition with a fractured skull after bystanders below failed to catch him, officials and witnesses said. The other child landed on an awning. - AP

Elsewhere:

There was a familiar voice booming into the microphone during the Duke-Georgetown basketball game - that of Barack Obama. The president, attending as a fan, provided about seven minutes of nationally televised hoops commentary in the second half of yesterday's matchup at the Verizon Center near the White House. Seventh-ranked Georgetown topped No. 8 Duke, 89-77.

The Washington Times has appointed Sam Dealey, 36, a journalist and fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution, as its next top editor, the newspaper said yesterday.

Skating On Rough Surfaces

Nancy Kerrigan - Unlike those lucky Paris Skaters with their smooth wide pavements and even smoother wider roads, us poor neglected London Skaters aren’t so lucky, with our bumpy narrow pavements, potholes, overcrowded roads and miles upon miles of rough surfaces. Ok, so it’s not that bad everywhere in London, but for the most part it isn’t too far from the truth.

But if you follow this simple guide and combine it with regular street skating practice you’ll master skating on rough surfaces in no time:

1. Keep your strides short, maintaining a long stride on rough surfaces isn’t easy and can lead to some embarrassing tumbles.

2. Bend your knees more to absorb the impact, this will also improve your overall balance.

3. Go faster not slower, it’s much easier to cross a rough surface going fast than it is slowly, plus if you go too slow you risk walking in your skates and it will be difficult to get a decent stride going again.

4. Bring your skates back under your body as quickly as possible (Higher Cadence) after each stride, this again helps with balance and overall control.

5. Keep those toes loose and wiggly, because less weight on your toes means greater control for your skates and it helps you to move more naturally over rough surfaces.

6. If the rough surface is only short and you think you can cross it in one push, then get that speed built up and cross it with one skate in front of the other (aka the Scissor), you should also make sure that your legs are roughly one fist width apart, not too far apart or you’ll lose your balance. Remember to keep those knees bent!

7. Ultimately the only way to master rough surfaces is through practice. Rough surfaces are a major hazard though, so please be careful and wear your protective gear.

Dell Studio XPS 8100 Desktop PC

Dell Studio One 19 Desktop Computer Baru DPR - Dell just dropped a new desktop PC. The Dell Studio XPS 8100, which is powered by either an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The system is equipped with either a standard ATI 4350 or Radeon HD 5770, a GeForce GT 220, GTS 240 or GTX 260 graphics card, up to 16GB RAM, and up to a 3TB hard drive.

It also has a 19-in-1 card reader, optional DVD writer or Blu-ray drive, THX TruStudio PC sound and Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Some other options include a Samsung 2233R2 22-inch monitor and a NVIDIA 3D Vision kit for 3D at home.
Prices start at $649.

I neither hate nor love Apple, but the company tends to have those that are at each extreme of the love hate relationship. I have an iPhone I really like, but I am not a fan of Mac computers. If you are a Mac fan and have wished for more screen sizes in the iMac line, your wish may be coming true.

A rumor floating around has Quanta building a new 22-inch iMac computer for Apple that is set to hit this year. There are no hard details on the rumor, but the screen size would fit in between the two existing models.

The part that makes me wonder is that I can’t see the trouble of a new model being warranted for an extra half-inch of screen space compared to the existing 21.5-inch model. Only time will tell if the rumor is true.