For many pet owners, their animals are dearly loved members of the family. and when Christmas rolls around, it’s time to hit the mall to get a gift for little Fido or Fifi. so if you’re looking to give a gift to your pet, or to a pet lover in your life, consider some of these suggestions.

Garmin Astro Dog Tracking Collar: Few things are as nerve-wracking a losing a pet. Keep a pet-lover you care about from having to hit the streets in a frantic search for a lost dog with the Garmin Astro Dog Tracking Collar ($650). The collar has a built-in GPS, perfect for pet owners whose dogs have a tendency to bolt. Garmin’s device is particularly intended for hunting dogs, so the GPS system can track a hound that’s gotten lost in dense brush or run astray in search of a downed duck. 

Dyson Animal Vacuum: We love our pets, but they can be a lot of work to clean up after, especially when it comes to getting off of furniture and clothes. Dyson is famous for its innovative vacuums, and their Animal series ($600-$650) provides plenty of pet-centered cleaning features, include an added motor head and improved bristles to pick up all that hair and dander. You can also pair one of these vacuums with Dyson’s special pet hair accessory ($70) to make short work of grooming.

Game for Cats: for a free digital stocking stuffer, check out the Game for Cats, an iPad game that features a glowing orb and digital mice that dart around the screen, causing your cat to paw curiously at the screen. While the cat is sure to enjoy it, watching a cat bat around a virtual dot is oddly hypnotic for humans, too.

Litter Robot: Cats are lovely little creatures, but cleaning out the litter box is easily the worst thing about having to care for one. Thankfully, there’s the Litter Robot ($349), which is like a Roomba for your cat’s litter box. After you cat has done its business, the globe-like Litter Robot rotates, sifting out clumps and dumping them in a drawer below, which you can then easily remove and dispose.

Hanging Fish Bowl: for dorm-bound college kids or studio apartment dwellers, a lack of space and strict rules against most animals can make pet ownership an impossibility. The Hanging Fish Bowl ($20) is the perfect way to give a loved one with little space a bit of animal companionship, all without taking up a single square foot of floorspace. The gallon-sized fish bowl hangs off the wall and is big enough to accommodate a goldfish or Siamese fighting fish.

Petmate Automatic Feeder: for constant travelers and workaholics, there’s the Petmate Automatic Feeder ($51). The feeder allows pet owners to preprogram feeding times and amounts. give this gift to a loved one that’s always on the go and you’ll never have pet sit again.

FroliCat Dart: The red dot of a laser pointer sets a cat on “kill mode.” Few pet antics are as fun to watch as a cat chasing and pouncing on that digital menace. The FroliCat Dart ($35) automates this with a laser that cuts a random path around the room for a set amount of time, enabling you to kick back and watch some TV while the feline gets a workout.

High Tech Pet Door: Doggie doors are a great way to give your pet access to the great outdoors, but they can potentially also give skinny thieves, possums, and neighboring pets access to your home. Using an ultrasonic chip in the pet’s collar, the High Tech Pet Door ($300) only unlocks when your dog or cat is near the door, keeping out undesirables while giving your pet the freedom to roam.

Click here for more Holiday Gift Guides

<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/12/08/presents-for-pets-and-pet-lovers/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/12/08/presents-for-pets-and-pet-lovers/Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:08:15 GMT”>Presents for Pets and Pet Lovers

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Take a look at our list of gift ideas for the outdoors lover in your family December 09, 2011 from staff reports

The theme of this year’s Oregon Outdoors Christmas gift guide is water: Playing in it, drinking it, staying dry from it. and because we have plenty of it around — from the salty version in the Pacific to the running kind in the Rogue — the outdoorsy types on your gift list will be able to use at least one of the items described below.

Sometime water is a pain — especially if you’re traveling with expensive electronic gear. The Seattle company that produces popular dry bags and sacks for boaters and rafters has personal electronics covered, too. Its E-Cases feature tough, transparent, urethane windows and trademarked SealLock closures, which withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. yet the cases are soft enough to allow easy navigation of button-based electronics. Two corner lash points accommodate cords or other tie-downs to keep electronics secure. The small case fits iPhones and similar-sized devices, while the large could hold tablets and some laptops. E-Cases are stocked at Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford for $19.95 (small) and $29.95 (large). See www.seallinegear.com.

If your electronic device does takes a swim, the Bheestie Bag likely is your best hope for reviving it. The zipper-close bag contains highly absorbent but nontoxic beads that suck moisture from items sealed inside and left overnight. used on a regular basis, Bheestie can extend the life and improve the performance of cell phones, cameras, watches, game players and other small electronics. when used for 24 to 72 hours, the bags have restored electronic items that went through washing machines or were left out in a gale, the company says. Not surprisingly, Bheestie is based in Portland. The bead-filled bags, which can be used for up to year if properly sealed, cost $20 at Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford. See www.bheestie.com.

When you’re the one taking a dip in the outdoors, this small, light, fast-drying, microfiber towel should be a staple. Compared with other materials, trademarked Aquitex microfibers are twice as fine as silk and three times finer than cotton but have more surface area for absorption and evaporation, according to the San Francisco-based Britanne Corp., which also markets these towels to travelers. We’ve had ours for more than 10 years, and it’s still a must-have for any aquatic activity, particularly when we need to pack light. The large towel (19 by 39 inches) weighs less than 7 ounces and is available for $20.50 at Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford. See www.aquis.com.

Anyone with a driftboat or raft knows that wear and the weather can take a toll on oars, particularly the oar blades, and that you might need to sell a kidney to afford replacing them. but rehabbing those old oars not only adds years to the sticks, it’s also much cheaper than you think.

For $20, Sawyer Paddles and Oars of Talent can add what they call a “Pro Tip” to a frayed oar blade. It’s a layer of Kevlar covered by a tubular webbing called Dynel that rehabs the blade while adding just an ounce to its weight.

Considering that good, new oars start at more than $200 each, that’s a stocking stuffer worth the time it takes to actually find Sawyer’s shop (299 Rogue River Parkway, around the corner from Talent City Hall).

Anyone who has sloshed around Oregon streams and rivers long enough realizes that all waders leak at some point, and with gravity being what it is, that water always puddles around your feet. Short of buying new waders every year, a good interim move is to wear neoprene socks to keep those toes warmer and drier.

Seal Skinz makes a great waterproof sock that has a thin inner lining that’s perfect for those cold days standing in the chilly upper Rogue River during the coming winter steelhead season. They’re available at Black Bird Shopping Center in Medford for $30, and they’re worth every penny when you’re standing in the Rogue in January and can still feel your toes.

Just how are you supposed to remember exactly where last year’s hotspot was on Diamond Lake or Howard Prairie where you caught those big trout? Finding your “honey hole” by lining up that rock with this tree and that mountain peak are sooo 1990s.

Portable global-positioning system units can be carried on boats to pinpoint exactly where that sweet spot is on a lake. Ocean anglers love them as well, because you can program the locations of outcroppings or rock humps where all the rockfish hang out.

Garmin makes an eTrex 10 model for a little over $100 that’s available at Black Bird Shopping Center. It does all the nifty GPS things you need, plus it is waterproof, so it will survive that ocean storm so you do, too.

Channel your inner bill Dance with one of these nifty little portable waterproof video cameras that can capture remarkable footage of your outdoor adventures — and owning one of these nifty little cameras is quite do-able these days.

GoPro owns this market, and its Hero 1 is the perfect camera to chronicle your wet and wild adventures. The Black Bird Shopping Center has them for $200, and you can buy various mounts to put the camera on everything from skis and surfboards to kayaks and mountain bike helmets. The newer and better HD Hero 2 runs $300.

Mount it on a dowel and you can hold the camera under water to capture video of fish coming to your boat, then post the videos on Facebook and be the next smiling face of Oregon angling.

You are an Oregonian. therefore, you crab. but you’re not really a crabber if you have to rent rings every time you go to the coast.

If you have a wannabe crabber on your list, get them their own crab trap. The only decision you’ll have to make is whether to buy pots or rings.

Pots are best if you want to throw your trap off a dock and then come back a few hours later to pull it up and measure your catch. Rings are best if you enjoy sitting on the dock and watching the boats, sea lions and people — or maybe flipping the pages of a book and sipping some coffee — and pulling your rings up every 20 minutes or so to check the action. Either way, Sportsman’s Warehouse on Delta Waters Road has it covered. The store carries various options that run in the neighborhood of $32 to $55 for rings or collapsible traps.

Oregon State Parks day-use passes, good at state parks and state-operated boat ramps, are on sale through December for $25, which is $5 off. That’s a great deal considering it costs $5 a day without the pass. The permit is required at 26 Oregon state parks, including TouVelle State Park. It’s also good at Jackson County boat ramps along the upper Rogue River as part of a reciprocity agreement for river-users. The Oregon Coast Passport also is discounted by $5 in December. The passport is a multi-agency product, valid at Oregon State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service sites along the coast. The coastal passports are on sale for $30, also $5 off, in December. They’re available at most local sporting goods and outdoors stores, as well as the customer-service counters at many larger retail chains. (Correction: Stores that don’t sell passes but were included in a earlier version of this list have been removed from this version.)

Sometimes water in the backcountry will make you sick, which is where this tight little device comes in. SteriPEN’s Adventurer Opti is a lightweight unit that uses ultraviolet light to purify water. you insert the device into any water bottle or container to ensure safe drinking water. It exceeds U.S. EPA guidelines, destroying more than 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoa when used as directed. Operation is easy: just press a button and wait for the device to indicate it has completed the purification process. The optical sensor can also double as a flashlight. The Adventurer Opti weighs 3.6 ounces. It includes a UV lamp (good for up to 8,000 treatments), two nonrechargeable batteries and a neoprene case with belt loop. The price is $99.95 at Northwest Outdoor Store in Medford, which carries four other SteriPEN models, including the new Sidewinder, which includes a hand crank instead of batteries.

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<a href="http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111209/LIFE/112090309/-1/lifetag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111209/LIFE/112090309/-1/lifeFri, 09 Dec 2011 10:02:50 GMT”>Wet Christmas

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Bei den Updates gibt es nicht nur neuestes Kartenmaterial. Auch POIs (Points of Interest) von Geschäften, Restaurants, Tankstellen und Hotels, veränderte Geschwindigkeitsbeschränkungen oder Funktionserweiterungen der PhotoReal 3D-Kreuzungsansicht – je nachdem ob das Navi diese Funktion unterstützt – werden ebenfalls auf den neuesten Stand gebracht.

Wer sein Navi nur gelegentlich nutzt und das Kartenmaterial auffrischen möchte, für den ist nüMaps Onetime genau das Richtige. Das einmalige Update, dass es während der Weihnachts-Aktion für nur 44,95 Euro (unverbindliche Preisempfehlung, inklusive Mehrwertsteuer) gibt, hält sämtliche aktuelle Straßenkarten, POIs und PhotoReal 3D-Kreuzungsanischten für ganz Europa bereit und bringt das Navi wieder auf Touren.

Wer dagegen regelmäßig unterwegs ist und sein Navi immer dabei hat, für den empfiehlt sich nüMaps Lifetime. Bis zu viermal im Jahr kann der Nutzer Kartenupdates für ganz Europa auf sein Navi laden. Abzüglich der 20 Prozent kostet das lebenslange Kartenupdate jetzt nur 69,95 Euro (unverbindliche Preisempfehlung, inklusive Mehrwertsteuer). Info: www.garmin.de.

<a href="http://www.promobil.de/aktuell/rabatt-auf-garmin-update-483421.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.promobil.de/aktuell/rabatt-auf-garmin-update-483421.htmlFri, 16 Dec 2011 08:53:41 GMT”>Garmin-Navigation: Rabatt auf Kartenupdate – PROMOBIL

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FridayHoliday brunchThe whole family is invited to a free holiday brunch on Friday at 10 a.m. The brunch will be hosted by the Corona Christian Crossroads Church and held at the first Congregational UCC Church, 220 N. 2nd Ave. they will also be giving away free clothing. Bring the kids and enjoy a wonderful meal and good times! For information, call Desert Manna at 760-256-7797 or e-mail us at desertmannaoffice@yahoo.comBarstow Senior Thrift Store saleBarstow Senior Citizens Thrift Store, 929 E. Williams St., will be offering most items at 50 percent off on Friday and Saturday. Proceeds benefit local seniors. Christmas servicesCome Celebrate the Savior’s birth. Forerunner Christian Fellowship, 400 S Avenue H, will be having two Christmas services. The first service will be on Friday at 6 p.m. The second service will be Sunday at 11 a.m. Hot beverages and pastries will be served at both services. For information, call Brenda at 760-255-3927.Enchilada dinner at the VFWThe VFW Post 2143, 25190 W. Main St. will  be serving an enchilada dinner on Friday at 6 p.m. Donation is $6 and the meal includes refried beans, Spanish rice and salad. Come on down and enjoy your dinner with veterans. Open to the public. Donation helps support veterans causes. For information, call 760-253-2610.

SaturdayChristmas Candlelight serviceFirst United Methodist Church, 404 E. Mt. View, will celebrate Christmas Eve with a candlelight service on Saturday at 6 p.m.Christmas service at Calvary ChapelCalvary Chapel of Barstow, 412 Ave. a, invites all to a Christmas eve candlelight service on Saturday at 6 p.m. on Christmas Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., join to celebrate the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ by taking Communion and singing Christmas carols.Christmas Eve serviceFirst Baptist Church, 1320 Barstow Road, will hold a candlelight service on Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. For more information call 760-252-2949.Candlelight serviceHi Desert Word Center, 30918 Soapmine Road, is extending an invitation to the Christmas Eve candlelight service in the main sanctuary from 6 to 7 p.m., on Saturday. hi Desert Word Center would like to say Merry Christmas to all our Barstow neighbors and welcome you to a Sunday morning service at 10 to 11 a.m. in the main sanctuary to celebrate the birth of Christ. Coffee, tea and donuts will be available. Visit hi Desert Word Center’s book store located inside the main sanctuary. many selections are 20-30 percent off.Christmas ServicesBarstow Free Methodist Church, 800 Yucca Ave., invites all to this year Christmas services. The schedule is as follows: Saturday, Candlelight Christ-Mass. Join church family at 11:30 p.m. for an ancient and contemporary 90 minute candlelight service to anticipate the birth of Jesus. Sunday, Christmas Morning Service. Come to the 45 minute service at 10 a.m. for a wonderful way to keep Jesus in the center of your Christmas celebration.

<a href="http://www.desertdispatch.com/articles/friday-12146-brunch-dec.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.desertdispatch.com/articles/friday-12146-brunch-dec.htmlFri, 23 Dec 2011 09:58:44 GMT”>Weekend events for Friday, Dec. 23 through Sunday, Dec. 25

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12.12.2011, 12:46 Uhr | t-online.de

Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bei Lidl für 169 Euro. (Quelle: Garmin)

Discounter Lidl verkauft ab dem 12. Dezember das Navigationssystem Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT für 169 Euro. Der Preis ist akzeptabel, und das Navigationsgerät mit großem Bildschirm bewies sich bereits in mehreren Tests.

Ab dem 12. Dezember bietet Lidl das Navigationsgerät Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT für 169 Euro an. Der digitale Lotse besitzt einen 5 Zoll (12,7 cm) großen Bildschirm. Viel mehr Anzeigefläche muss auch nicht sein – der ADAC warnte unlängst gar vor riesigen Navigationsgeräten. Das Kartenmaterial des Navigationsgeräts umfasst 45 Länder in West- und Osteuropa. Dabei ist aber zu beachten, dass die Streckenabdeckung in der Regel nicht in allen Ländern identisch hoch ist. Weitere praktische Ausstattungsmerkmale des Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bei Lidl sind der Fahrspurassistent, die integrierte Fußgänger-Navigation und die Text-to-Speech-Ansagen.

Kartenupdates und Verkehrsfunk beim Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT inklusive

Das Kürzel LMT steht bei den Modellen von Garmin nüvi für Lifetime Maps and Traffic. Dies beinhaltet lebenslange Kartenupdates (nüMaps Lifetime) sowie ein Abonnement für den Premium-Verkehrsfunk Navteq Traffic, der aktuelle Stauinformationen zuverlässiger und schneller als Navigationsgerät übermittelt. Das Kartenmaterial lässt sich bis zu viermal pro Jahr aktualisieren. Regulär kostet das Angebot nüMaps Lifetime 89 Euro und eignet sich so nur für Vielfahrer. Laut ADAC ändern sich jährlich 15 Prozent der Straßen in Westeuropa.

Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT überzeugt in Tests

Das Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bewies sich bereits in mehreren Tests. Stiftung Warentest vergab die Note “gut (2,5)”, ADAC bewertete es mit der Note 2,3 und bei Computer Bild und Auto Bild erhielt das Navigationsgerät jeweils die Note “gut (2,31)”. Gelobt wurden die schnelle Routenberechnung und das Display. Allerdings sei der Akku des Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT laut Auto Bild nicht sehr ausdauernd. Den meisten Tests gemein war, dass das Gerät beim start und der aktuellen Standortbestimmung zu lange benötige. Mit einem Gewicht von 221 Gramm ist es auch vergleichsweise schwer.

Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bei Lidl nicht mehr aktuell

Der Preis von 169 Euro ist in Ordnung, bei großen Online-Händlern wie Amazon, Redcoon und T-Online Shop ist es für einige Cent weniger verfügbar. Wer auf die LMT-Variante verzichten kann, findet das Modell für etwa 139 Euro im Internet. Allerdings kommen bei Online-Bestellungen meist Versandkosten hinzu. Wichtig: Bei dem Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT von Lidl handelt es sich nicht um die aktuelle Mittelklasse des Navigationsgeräte-Herstellers. Mittlerweile sind die Nachfolge-Modelle Garmin nüvi 2495 LMT (4,3-Zoll-Display) und Garmin nüvi 2595 LMT (5-Zoll-Display) verfügbar, wenn auch zu höheren Preisen. Als günstigere Alternativen zum Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bieten sich das Navigon 70 plus (etwa 150 Euro) sowie das TomTom XXL IQ Routes Central Europe (120 Euro) an. Allerdings fehlen Kartenupdates sowie Navteq Traffic.

Quelle: t-online.de

<a href="http://computer.t-online.de/garmin-nuevi-1490-lmt-bei-lidl-navigationsgeraet-fuer-169-euro/id_52310208/index?newstag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://computer.t-online.de/garmin-nuevi-1490-lmt-bei-lidl-navigationsgeraet-fuer-169-euro/id_52310208/index?newsMon, 12 Dec 2011 11:47:47 GMT”>Garmin nüvi 1490 LMT bei Lidl: Navigationsgerät für 169 Euro

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David Germain, AP film writer

Date: Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011 10:52 AM ET

LOS ANGELES — Professor James Moriarty has taken a lot of heat the last century for crimes he didn’t commit.

The archrival of Sherlock Holmes, who called his nemesis the “Napoleon of crime,” appeared in only two of Arthur Conan Doyle’s tales about the great detective.

yet in post-Doyle fiction about Holmes and in many movies, including Robert Downey Jr.’s sequel “Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows,” Moriarty has loomed as the grandfather of all super-villains, the forerunner to Ernst Blofeld and many more James Bond baddies, along with legions of heavies that make life difficult for comic-book superheroes.

“I can’t think of a super-villain in a sort of obvious commercial sense before Moriarty in literature,” said Guy Ritchie, who directed 2009’s “Sherlock Holmes” and the sequel. “He really has become the most famous villain in literature, for not doing a great deal, either, by the way. But it is interesting how he’s carried so much momentum. He’s an elusive character, really, and he gained his equity as much by being elusive as for being potent.”

that elusive presence of Moriarty as a diabolical puppet-master of worldwide chaos, an evil doppelganger with an intellect possibly surpassing that of Holmes, was touched on at the end of Downey’s “Sherlock Holmes” two years ago.

The new movie, which opens Friday in North America, unleashes Moriarty in all his malice, played with quiet, chilling detachment by Jared Harris.

“You could say that Blofeld was a version of Moriarty in that he was created for the same reason by Ian Fleming,” Harris said. “You have Superman, you have to create a Lex Luthor or you have to have a kryptonite. Otherwise, there’s no jeopardy in your story. You have someone who’s invulnerable, who never loses. after a while, you get fed up with the stories. …

“He’s there for the reason that the audience would feel like somewhere out there lurking is this opponent for this character they’ve come to love, and they start worrying for the future of that character. Will he be all right? Will he finally meet this person? What’s going to happen?”

What happens in “A Game of Shadows” is that Holmes has come to obsess over the shadowy Moriarty and what he’s up to. Downey’s Holmes, aided by loyal but bickering buddy Watson (Jude Law), uncovers a scheme by the professor that could launch a World War I-style global conflict years earlier, in the late 1800s.

Ritchie is not exactly known for restraint in his crime romps, yet when it came to re-creating Moriarty, he settled on the low-key Harris, best known for a recurring role in “Mad Men.”

Harris brings cool menace to Moriarty, whose previous screen incarnations range from a holographic character on “Star Trek: The next Generation” to Laurence Olivier as a subconscious boogeyman for Holmes as the detective undergoes psychotherapy with Sigmund Freud in “The Seven-Per cent Solution.”

“How do you come back and reclaim the original gangster status of Moriarty?” Downey said. “For me, it was the subtlety and the implied threat.”

“He’s like the shark in ‘Jaws.’ You have to imagine him a long time before you actually meet him,” said Lionel Wigram, a producer on both “Sherlock Holmes” movies. “He’s the spider who sits at the centre of a web of crime. He’s the first organized crime boss, and you get the sense of this massive worldwide network of stuff that he’s into. You just sense that Holmes, were he not so horrified, would be mesmerized by how brilliant Moriarty is.”

“A Game of Shadows” sends Holmes and Watson out of England to continental Europe in pursuit of Moriarty, a voyage similar to their journey to escape the criminal overlord in the short story “The Final Problem.” that was the tale the Holmes-weary Conan Doyle used to kill off his detective along with Moriarty in a death match that sends them tumbling over Switzerland’s Reichenbach Falls.

Downey, Ritchie and their collaborators fashion their own clever take on how the Falls factor into Holmes and Moriarty’s fate in “A Game of Shadows.”

“We wanted some homage to it. It felt as though you had to,” Ritchie said. “If you’re going to deal with Moriarty, you’re going to deal with Holmes, and if there’s going to be a faceoff, then that would have to happen at the Reichenbach Falls. that was never really up for debate.”

<a href="http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20111214/professor-james-moriarty-sherlock-holmes-111214/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainment/20111214/professor-james-moriarty-sherlock-holmes-111214/Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:53:41 GMT”>Robert Downey Jr. meets his match in ‘Sherlock Holmes’ sequel

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Q. dear Lennard,

Love cyclocross and have two quick questions:

Is it cool to mount a cyclometer on your cyclocross bike, especially when racing?

Is it me or does it seem that a few ’cross pros use them, but maybe about 25 percent. Why or why not?

A. dear Scott,

My impression is that no pros use them, and I think it’s because they change bikes, so a computer on the bike only records the laps the bike does, not necessarily all of the ones the riders do. and of course, snapping it off in a crash or tangle with another rider’s bike is always a possibility. I personally keep a Garmin in my pocket to record everything regardless of what bike I’m on, and then I don’t worry about breaking the mount off, either.

Q. dear Lennard,

I was rooting through the garage looking for something approximating the small metal tube that you used in your article on removing sealant from cross tubulars. I ended up crudely duct taping a small inflation nozzle of the type that comes with floor pumps or small compressors to the hose on my shop vac. this setup turned out to be very effective and fast.

While I didn’t measure the amount of sealant recovered, there was quite a bit in the hose of the vacuum afterward, and since the nozzle is a clear red color, I could see it being sucked out of the tire. it took only about a minute or so per tire to get most of the sealant out.

Regarding shifting problems on a 2011 Roubaix SL3, I received a lot of mail, and following are some ideas for improving shifting on them, including some ideas that would improve shifting on any bike:

Q. dear Lennard,

I was just browsing your posts and saw the one with the guy having trouble with his Dura-Ace derailleurs and Ultegra shifters. we see lots of this sort of thing at the bike shop where I wrench, and there are several fixes, but a couple obvious ones his shop may not realize, and we have corrected another via Specialized.

He doesn’t say what chain or generation of derailleurs he’s using, which can make a big difference. although he’s not having issues (that he knows of), he may not realize that the new 7900 front derailleur is not compatible with anything but 7900 shifters.

Also, there seems to be a slightly noticeable difference in shifting depending on which chain is used with the new generation of Shimano parts, especially with something like a KMC versus a new Ultegra chain. Shimano really does seem to work best with the appropriate Shimano part.

The bars that are coming on many of the new Specialized bikes also have such a tight bend that the housing creates excess friction unless routed around the back of the bar, creating a wider bend.

You mentioned the hanger, so I might add that the majority of the derailleur hangers we see aren’t aligned on new Specialized frames, although this is usually not visible to the naked eye. it seems to take effect after the wheel is clamped and the hanger sits against molded carbon, which isn’t perfect.

If he’s not used to the new shift-lever feel, that will take some getting used to also. as they are not (in my opinion) anything like the older Shimano feel. These are the most frequent issues with new Shimano in the large amount of assembly and repair we do.

Q. dear Lennard,

I work at a very reputable bike shop that sells Specialized and I work on many of their models and significantly on the SL3 Roubaix. when one of these bikes is built up with the newest generation of Shimano Dura-Ace/Ultegra (6700 and 7800) we have noticed significant friction issues, especially between the rear derailleur and the rear shifter.

Specialized has informed (we told them) us to uncross the pre-run shift cables and replace the supplied plastic ferrules with metal ones. if that doesn’t work, they said to also replace the cables with Shimano-specific cables and housing. The use of Shimano-specific cable grease is also recommended.

It seems that the internal cables routing on from the levers to the downtube entry might be too high for the cables to run smoothly (too many harsh corners to create friction).

If this had happened to one bike, I wouldn’t have thought it a big deal but this has happened to almost every model we sell with a Shimano drivetrain in virtually every size run (I know because I have done all the work to fix this issue on customers’ bikes).

Also, when Specialized is pre-running cables on the Roubaix SL3, they are running the SIS cables on the inside of the handlebar. since Shimano now has two positions under the bar tape (inner and outer) most companies are running on the inside. where I work we have seen that contribute to shift cable friction and improper shifting.

—Your friendly neighborhood wrench (requesting anonymity)

Q. dear Lennard,

I have a 2011 SL3 Roubaix with the internal cable routing. at first I thought it would be great, but it’s a real PITA, and I had rear derailleur shifting issues as well.

After many frustrating hours, I finally got some consistent shifting by using a Jagwire cable set, and keeping the routing of the rear casing as short as possible.

You absolutely don’t want to use an in-line cable adjuster with it either. of course, it’s necessary on the front.

It may be that there is just enough flex in the downtube wall where the cable stop is to make the difference.

Q. dear Lennard,

In your recent column on the SL3 frame, if it is indeed a Roubaix, there is a 0.5mm spacer that needs to be installed between the derailleur and its hanger. Otherwise, try as you will, it will not shift right. it ships with the Ultegra bike and we have used it with success.

A. dear Brad,

I asked Nic Sims, the global marketing manager for Specialized Bicycles, about this. He told me: “There was a kit that is available from the customer service department that would rectify shifting problems with Roubaixes. The shim was a small piece that was used for SRAM only, and it pushed the derailleur over so that it would shift down into the 11 better.”

But if I understand you correctly, apparently it came with both in SRAM and Shimano bikes in some cases.

Adding space between the derailleur and the hanger increases the spring tension and essentially makes a derailleur pull harder on the cable.

Follow Lennard on Twitter

<a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-with-lennard-zinn-cyclometer-on-%E2%80%99cross-bike-removing-sealant-from-tubulars-shifting-on-a-roubaix_200728?utm_medium=whats-hottag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/12/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-with-lennard-zinn-cyclometer-on-’cross-bike-removing-sealant-from-tubulars-shifting-on-a-roubaix_200728?utm_medium=whats-hotTue, 20 Dec 2011 18:19:39 GMT”>Technical FAQ with Lennard Zinn: Cyclometer on ’cross bike; removing sealant from tubulars; shifting on a Roubaix

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Looking for that perfect gift for the Outdoors enthusiast in your life?

Here are some suggestions from Daily News staff members.

GoPro Hero

One of the coolest video cameras on the market right now is call the Hero, made by a company called GoPro. The camera is about the size of a pack of cigarettes, but can shoot HD quality video. it can be purchased with various accessories like helmet mounts, mounts that will allow you to attach it to a surfboard, motorcycle, boat, plane, whatever. The camera starts at $199, with various accessory kits going for around $299. this camera has developed a cult following among the “extreme” outdoor sports folks because you can take it just about anywhere you go. Devon Ravine – Staff Photographer

eTrex Venture HC from Garmin

You probably don’t even need to know that it functions because there are 24 satellites orbiting earth 12,000 miles above you, or that these satellites are shooting around at something like 7,000 miles per hour.

GPS’s are just cool to have.

They’re cool because they can help get you from one place to another, locate fishing holes, decide which golf club to hit or find your way around in the woods.

GPS’s have, over the years, gotten really reasonably priced too. one website estimated the cost range at “from about $70 to $400 or so depending on the brand and store you buy from.”

One example is the eTrex Venture HC from Garmin, an industry leader in the GPS world. this little beauty retails at $170, but we found it selling for $99.99 on a website. The Venture HC, according to its manufacturers’ press clippings, “locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons.”

That’s right, deep canyons.

“you can count on Venture HC to help you find your way when you need it the most,” the Garmin literature claims.

I don’t know about you, but this little beauty sounds like the GPS I want to find under my tree.

But not everyone wants to go into a deep canyon and thus have to find their way out. For that reason it’s key to know the industry has diversified enough that GPS’s can be purchased for specific interests like cycling, golf, running or finding fish.

Tom McLaughlin – Staff Writer and Avid Outdoorsman

Stocking Stuffers for Runners

As a runner, I know it’s important to have the right tools when you’re headed out to do a nine mile trek in the cold. some ideas for the athlete in your family are relatively inexpensive. Running socks help keep the feet from blistering when going long miles and are cut to form to the feet with some padding. Nike sells Dri-FIT socks that run from $12 to $14. Along those same lines are the Nike Dri-FIT running gloves. These range from $18 to $20 and help pull sweat away from the skin while reflective detail also offers visibility at night.

My last suggestion for runners is a good pair of head phones. Sony MDR-Q23LPPS are cushioned and clip-on and cost $20. Philips SHS3201 costs $13 and has earhooks that hold the headphones still. A final suggestion is the Arriva Active wear stereo headphones. The headphones are $30 and were designed for snowboarders and rock climbers so they won’t move.

Angel McCurdy – Staff Writer, Wanna-be Marathon Runner

Trek Bicycle’s Wahoo

In bikes you pretty much get what you pay for. A $175 bike is going to be made of the heaviest frame material and have the cheapest components available. If you’re looking for a bike you plan to keep around for a few years, it makes sense to spend the extra money and buy something that you will enjoy riding. however, a high-end mountain bike designed for racing can cost several thousand dollars.

Here’s one suggestion that hopefully won’t break the bank: Trek Bicycle’s Wahoo mountain bike, part of the Gary Fisher Collection. At a MSRP price of $579.99, the Wahoo is a solid entry level mountain bike whose components can be upgraded as time, inclination and budget allow.

Devon Ravine – Staff Reporter and Avid Cyclist

Kill those bugs

One of my favorite gifts I’ve received is an electric bug zapper. They may seem like a made-for-TV purchase but the glorified fly swatters come in handy indoors and outdoors.

Prices range beginning at $12 and they can be found at most sporting goods stores, such as Bass Pro Shop. They come in a variety of colors and have a safety feature if anyone is concerned about young children electrocuting themselves.

The electronic zapper is an environmentally friendly way to kill insects in seconds.

The zapper makes the perfect gift for anyone from the daughter leaving for college to your camping buddy. I guarantee they are going to use it and have fun killing the bugs.

Angel McCurdy – Staff Writer who Likes to Kill Bugs

Fisherman’s Favorites

Paul Darby’s one-man operation Quality Reel Repair in Shalimar offers everything from stocking stuffers to big-ticket items that can’t be found at big box Outdoors gear retailers for the fishing fanatic on your Christmas present list.

Darby, who’s also a fishing guide, caters to fishermen of all stripes, including those who enjoy fly fishing.

Pay attention to the photograph – the one of the big redfish with a small lure in its mouth – high on a wall to his reel repair cubby. The lure is the Darby spoon fly and, if its very sharp hook is secured properly, makes a great stocking stuffer.

Darby worked a long time to develop the durable coating that makes the fly long lasting, whether the opponents are dogged, heavyweight reds or ferocious toothy runners like Spanish mackerel and bluefish. He also designed the fly to cast farther by shaping its blade to reduce flutter in the air.

Darby spoon flies come in an assortment of patterns and colors and are hand built, like much of the small shop’s other inventory.

There’s a rack or two of custom-built rods and refurbished rods for sale. There’s even a reel or two and some clothing available for purchase.

And, there’s something that comes for free: Darby’s amicable manner and skillful story telling.

He’ll give you tips on when and where to go to find big fish and what to do and use to catch them, along with the unique gift for your fisherman.

The shop, located at the Shalimar Yacht Basin, opens when it opens – usually sometime before lunch. Call 200-3172 for more information.

Mladen Rudman– Former Daily News Outdoors Writer and Avid Fisherman

<a href="http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/camera-46061-gopro-various.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/camera-46061-gopro-various.htmlSun, 18 Dec 2011 03:02:39 GMT”>Daily News’ staffers offer must-have items for your Christmas list

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LinkedIn and Twitter for BlackBerry coming soon

RIM has said “Get ready” because “two Popular Business Apps are almost Here!”. they are speaking about Twitter for BlackBerry and also LinkedIn for BlackBerry. No word on when these will be officially dropping into the App World but it’s being communicated on the BlackBerry newsletter.

We’ve mentioned the Twitter app before, this gives you the ability to Tweet, search, direct messaging, retweeting and follow. The LinkedIn app RIM states the app will be able to “look up profiles, send messages right from your Messages folder, check network updates, and see profile photos in your Contacts—everything you need to become a mobile networking machine.”

Check it out here at BlackBerryVia: CrackBerry

1. Official Twitter for BlackBerry App gets quick video demo
2. LinkedIn now goes mobile: m.linkedin.com
3. Twitter now available to TELUS customers
4. Kevin Spacey uses BlackBerry to explain Twitter to Letterman

<a href="http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/12/05/wind-mobile-huawei-u8350-review/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/12/05/wind-mobile-huawei-u8350-review/Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:23:29 GMT”>LinkedIn and Twitter for BlackBerry app coming soon

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Share this story RADAR detectors could soon become useless annoyances for drivers after prefects were instructed to vastly increase the number of “danger zones” that they are now signalling. Used by six million drivers in France, detectors are now supposed to warn of dangerous roads to comply with the government’s ban on radar detectors. However, Le Parisien says it has seen documentation that prefects have been told to create a new list of “danger zones” with 10 times the number of alerts. That would mean detectors going off every time there was a significant change in road conditions: for example, a 70kph section of road where the rest is 90kph. The newspaper said a department with 25 speed cameras would have 250 “danger zones” – with only one in 10 containing a speed trap. From November 28 drivers were supposed to recalibrate their detectors – if possible – by connecting them to their internet-enabled computer to download new “danger zone” maps. Once done, the detectors would no longer signal the exact location of speed traps, merely danger zones covering 4km on a motorway, 2km on country roads and 300m in built-up areas. However, many cheaper detectors with preloaded maps either do not accept updates or are never updated as drivers have not paid the extra. In addition detectors from high-end manufacturers Garmin and Tom Tom are unchanged as they have not been involved in the discussions with the government. The new instructions to prefects suggests that wherever there is a warning sign on the road this should be considered a danger zone – and there are 28 such signs in the Code le la Route. This new list will be published in the middle of this month. Thierry Latger, of the highway and utility engineers union Snitpect-FO, told the newspaper that prefects had been given “absurd” criteria to work with and had not been given enough time to compile a proper list of the roads with real dangers. Road safety was not the motive, he said, just camouflaging the position of speed cameras.

<a href="http://connexionfrance.com/Radar-detector-speed-camera-danger-13271-view-article.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://connexionfrance.com/Radar-detector-speed-camera-danger-13271-view-article.htmlFri, 02 Dec 2011 09:28:59 GMT”>Radar detectors could be swamped with useless danger alerts – The Connexion

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