2012 Toyota Prius PHV to get selectable EV mode, full battery regeneration

We just got back from test-driving the 2012 Toyota Prius V (the new, bigger Prius). You'll be able to read our first impressions on it later this week, but in the meantime, we picked up some news related to the forthcoming 2012 Toyota Prius PHV, the plug-in hybrid version that we recently drove in prototype trim. As we noted in that firsthand review, the plug-in Prius we drove is part of a test fleet. Toyota's collecting all kinds of data and feedback that will help it shape the final production car, which we learned will be unveiled to the public this September at an event in California. Look for it in showrooms sometime early next year.  In talking to the Toyota folks at today's Prius V event, we also learned of two crucial changes being made that should improve the Prius PHV's all-around usability and will likely tweak its fuel efficiency for the better.

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Source: http://rss.consumersearch.com/~r/product-reviews/~3/8wJdVO9WAvE/2012-toyota-prius-phv-to-get-selectable-ev-mode-full-battery-regeneration

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Need A New Camping Stove To Include In Your Outdoor Equipment Gear?

                                I remember, back in November, talking about all the ?soft deep fluffy snow blanketing our mountain trails?. Well, here it is, the 26th of January, and the local mountains are almost bare. I just got back from walking the dog and realized that the grass is very green, there are fat buds on the bushes and tulips are shooting up all over the place? AND? there is next to no snow on the mountains! This isn?t actually very good since we?re hosting the Winter Olympics in a couple of weeks; however, it is affording us an excellent opportunity to get in some early spring camping. So, here we go on our first outdoor camping trip of the year (and decade!). We?ve decided to take two weeks and do a little exploring on some of the local hills (away from the Olympic venues). We?re going to set up a base camp and do a few two-day outdoor hiking forays. Because we?re still recuperating from the indulgences of the Christmas holidays and are a little bit (ha, ha) out of shape, we are going to go as light as we can on the hiking camping gear. There are a few things I can skimp on but a good camping stove is not one of them. For a change we are going to try the EtaPower EF Trail Stove. This stove is the lightweight version of the original Eta Power EF stove. A net stuff sack and a lid have replaced the storage bag and frying pan. It weighs only 27 ounces and it?s about the same size as the Jetboil GCS but it is reported to boil water faster and be more fuel-efficient. They say that a 220-gram gas container (sold separately) will heat enough food for two people for at least 6 days, which will be just perfect for us. As well as the net stuff sack and lid, this EtaPower EF Trail Stove comes with a Piezo electric ignition, windscreen, burner stand, a 1.7-liter pot and handle. I am really looking forward to using this stove for the first time to make the first cup of hot chocolate on our first outdoor camping hiking adventure in the first year of this new decade. Let the games begin!

Source: http://www.campingandequipment.com/index/need-a-new-camping-stove-to-include-in-your-outdoor-equipment-gear-

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Bicycle Camping ? An Ideal Way to Combine Fitness and Fun

One of the most enjoyable, exciting, interesting, popular, and affordable types of camping these days is bicycle camping. This is where you basically pack up all of your gear and throw it over your back and head out into the countryside on your bicycle. There are several benefits to this style of camping such as [...]

Source: http://www.campingtourist.com/camping-styles/bicycle-camping/

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New Park: Mt Desert Narrows Camping, An Encore Resort Bar Harbor, ME

Mt Desert Narrows Camping, An Encore Resort is now a participating Passport America Discount Campground. Highlights: Come enjoy a panoramic ocean view. 221 total RV sites, can accommodate RVs up to 40', 30/50 amp service, water and electric hookups, Cable TV, Wi-Fi ($), restrooms and showers, laundry facility, outdoor heated pool, well-stocked resort store, propane, wood, ice, basketball court, playground, game room, horseshoes, volleyball, and in-season live entertainment. Area attractions: George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History and Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Acadia Zoological Park in Trenton, Asticou Terraces in Northeast Harbor, and Mount Desert Island Historical Society Somesville Museum in Mount Desert.

Source: http://www.passportamerica.com/campgrounds/me/mtdesertnarrowscampinganencoreresort

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Glacier Bay National Park Guest Blog by Sprinter Tour

Gradually the fog lifts a bit, and we see bears roaming a beach; then puffins, eagles, seals. The seals are like blobs of blubber, splayed on rock formations jutting out of the ocean. This morning there is a small amount of stirring by some of these obese creatures braying at each other. It's minor stuff, and not many sleeping seals bother to raise their heads or even nod in notice.

Source: /blog/guest-blog/sprinter-tour-glacier-bay-national-park.html

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Fly Fishing - A Michigan Tradition

Go ahead, take the challenge. Fall for fly-fishing. Cast your line in one of our many lakes and streams to catch that illusive trout, bass or pike.

Source: http://www.michigan.org/news/detail.aspx?contentId=0925e365-9733-4f83-862c-c7... "> http://www.michigan.org/news/detail.aspx?contentId=0925e365-9733-4f83-862c-c7...

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Green Pea Soup

I held off writing about this until I was fairly confident it was a sure thing. And now that I'm sitting here amongst towers of boxes, I think it is safe to say...we're moving. Just up the street though! Nothing too dramatic. But yeah, it's a move. And let me tell you, I don't love moving. I've been happy to avoid doing it for seven? eight? years. But the prospect of a proper guest room, a bit more space to work, and extra, extra tall ceilings - all just a hop and skip from where we currently live (and love) - was too much to pass up. So, in addition to wrapping Champagne flutes one by one - and boxing up tights, toothbrushes, and tart pans - cleaning out the freezer was on my hit list. And that's where today's pea soup comes into play.

Pea Soup Recipe

I wish I could tell you I made today's pea soup with fresh spring peas. I didn't. It was made with peas found in the back left-hand corner of my freezer. And, even so, it was good. I'm sure it would be exponentially good with fresh market peas. Here's how it works. You make an Indian-inspired garlic ginger paste, then use it as the base of the soup along with some onion. There's also some green chiles in there to contribute some kick, along with a couple other spices. The ingredient list is based on one from this book, but I went off-road beyond that, and turned it into a one-pot soup.

Pea Soup Recipe

There are many things coming with me in the move. And many things that aren't :). I thought I'd share some pics of a few things I've come across that have made the cut. Up top, I love this antique cookie press that I purchased a while back at Heritage in Napa. And below that are some snapshots of my family, and my grandma's copy of The Joy of Cooking.

Pea Soup Recipe

And Heather, this is a note for you - those little spoons up above were Metne's. It's hard to see, but they all have M, for Metlar, on them. I think they must have been part of her wedding silver? I wonder if mom is hiding the rest of the M's somewhere? And then below those are some H's and a small menagerie of cookie cutters.

I'm looking forward to doing some shooting in the new apartment soon - the light there is stunning - although it will be the first time I'll be shooting from a place where I suspect the morning light will trump late afternoon. Fingers crossed.

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Source: http://feeds.101cookbooks.com/~r/101Cookbooks/~3/x3gt-H-FJxs/green-pea-soup-recipe.html

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