Our Guide to Quick Thanksgiving Recipes

 

We know cars, but we also know FOOD!  As Thanksgiving approaches, we know you’re working frantically to get things in order.  The Turkey and ham must be properly prepared and seasoned, family members are waiting at the airport, and beer must be supplied in plenty.  You’ve got a lot to do.  So, as time winds down, we’ve come to the rescue.  Check out our quick guide to a fast recipe you can put together under pressure.  Oh, and have a great Thanksgiving!

Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

6 medium sweet potatoes or yams (2 pounds)

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

3 tablespoons water

½ teaspoon salt

Step 1: Scrub sweet potatoes, but do not peel.  Place potatoes in 3-quart saucepan. Add enough water just to cover. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Drain; cool slightly. Slip off skins. Cut into 1/2-inch slices.

Step 2: Heat remaining ingredients in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly. Add potatoes. Gently stir until glazed and hot.(Courtesy of Betty Crocker)

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Automotive Advertising

Are Self-Driving Cars Coming Sooner Than We Think?

Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  According to Daily Finance: “This is no pipe dream. Google's (GOOG) well-publicized experiments with self-driving cars have shown the world that this is real technology, not a science-fiction dream. In fact, it's just one more step on a journey that has been under way for several years -- a journey toward taking the "driving" out of car ownership.”  Google has been hard at work at this process, you can check out their progress here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Fxp3HK6DI  The vehicle drives itself, maintaining speed and angles throughout. 

Other manufacturers like Mercedes are working on a system that will allow drivers to leave the car to drive itself at speeds of up to 30 mph (gotta start somewhere!).  The process is somewhat similar to radar cruise control, in which the autonomous driving system uses a series of cameras and sensors to control the speed of the car and the distance to the front of the other vehicle.  Mercedes-Benz engineer Dr Stefan Schweher told the website the technology "allows the driver to concentrate on other things" while they navigated morning or evening traffic.

Wow, sounds pretty cool! What do you think?  Would you want your car to drive for you?  Leave us feedback!

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Preventing Auto Theft

The restaurant is dimly lit; creating an ambiance that is both inviting and tasteful.  You bite into your steak, looking through the window outside as you measure the flavor of your first morsel.  It’s then; you see a shadowy figure huddled by the drivers’ side of your car.  You watch, as if in slow motion, as the individual quickly enters your car via force and drives off in your brand new car.  The scariest moment during theft is watching your hard earned vehicle being taken by someone who wanted a quick buck.

            In today’s blog, we discuss some solutions for protecting your car from theft.  Theft begins with opportunity, as we all know.  The thief sees a opportune moment to strike.  Diminish these opportunities by being prepared.  An alarm system is a good beginning, however most thieves have a full understanding of most theft systems.  Here are some ways to protect your vehicle:

Obviously, you should never do any of these things:

• Never leave the windows down or the sunroof open;
• Never leave the keys in the ignition, or someplace else in the car such as under the visor;
• Never leave the car running and unattended, even for only a few minutes;
• Never leave car unlocked

• Don't leave your spare key somewhere a thief is likely to look, like magnetically stuck to the exhaust pipe or sitting on top of the tire;
• Only leave the ignition key with the valet, and make sure that the key to the glove box is a different cut;
• When you park on the street, turn the front wheels sharply into the curb and always use the emergency brake;
• Disable the car in some way, either by removing the electronic ignition fuse or by some other method;

Stolen vehicles are usually sold as parts because it’s more difficult for police to track hundreds of vehicle parts, as opposed to an entire car.  Want to keep your car immune from theft?  Consider these options:

• Ignition and fuel kill switches;
• Floorboard, gearshift, tire/wheel and hood locks;
• Vehicle tracking device
• If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, back into the driveway; if you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, drive straight into the driveway;
• If you have a garage, clean it out and park your vehicle in there, and always lock your garage doors;
• Install a motion-sensor light or alarm system on your garage doors;

We hope that we provided some great tips for you, guys.  Have a great week! Feel free to share any experiences you might have had, or additional tips.  Thanks!

Roadside Assistance Tips

The road can be a dangerous place.  We all take the necessary precautions to create a safe vessel for our daily commute, but in some cases, things are unavoidable.  If you have been the victim of a flat tire, or mechanical mishap, then you’ve experienced that lonely feeling.  You’re stuck on the side of the road, all of your contacts are either busy or too far away for contact, and you feel stranded. Alone.  Roadside assistance has created a safe haven for daily commuters.  It’s a great service that provides assistance to motorists whose vehicles have suffered a mechanical failure that is significant enough to leave them stranded.  In today’s blog, we provide some tips for getting through it.

The first thing you should do is call and establish with the operator what the problem is.  The call is then relayed to the tow driver or emergency officials.  By popping the hood to see what’s wrong or getting out and checking the damage, you can survey the problem.  This gives the officials a general idea of what to expect.  Please, take caution, if you feel as if you’re taking a chance, stay in your vehicle!!

The next thing to do is describe your location.  According to eHow: “Tell the operator where exactly you were driving and where you think you may be on the road. This will help the operator call the closest tow truck company or emergency medical services so that they can get to you as quickly as possible. Turning on your flashers or your headlights and, if you feel safe doing so, put out reflective triangles behind your car to help the tow truck driver find you in a shorter amount of time.”

Information!  Information!  Information! Always keep a copy of all the info you would need for roadside assistance.  One should be in your wallet or purse, while the other should be easily accessible in your vehicle.  This should include the numbers that you would need for the operator, expiration date, and other details.

These are just a few tips for you guys to check out…feel free to comment!

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Automotive Advertising

The DeLorean is Back From the Future…and it’s ELECTRIC!

“McFly!” The phrase is well known in American society.  A quip that has been instilled in us since the eighties by a burly young man known by one syllable: Biff.  This man, Marty McFly’s arch-nemesis, made his life a living hell in the Back to the Future films by berating him with comments, abuse, and the fondling of his future mom (i.e. see film).  It’s an American classic.  Marty’s vehicle of choice for transcending the time space continuum was a 981 DeLorean DMC-12, a futuristic vehicle with gullwing doors and a fictional “flux capacitor”, the main cog in initiating time travel.  Now, in 2011, the manufacturers over at DeLorean have decided to bring this classic back…as an electric vehicle!  Check it out below:

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Automotive Advertising

Driving Cautiously in a Downpour

Rain is essential.  It helps vegetation flourish, provides nutrients to soil, and is an overall integral part of life here on Earth.  But when it’s hitting your windshield and the pitter-patter of raindrops causes you to clench your teeth, it’s time to take precaution.  Rain can be attributed to thousands of car accidents a year.  Accidents can be preventable by drivers who weather (pun intended) the conditions of the road, using their intuition and defensive driving skills to stay safe during their commute.  When the road is wet, a film is created on the asphalt, causing your tires to lose traction.  Another problem during a downpour is your perception.  You can’t see as far into the distance as normal, so this decreases visibility of other cars and the road itself.

In today’s blog, we discuss some options to driving safely when the roads are wet.

Be careful when it rains after a dry spell.  Engine and oil grease cake up on asphalt over time.  When this is mixed with rainwater, it can cause the road to be extremely slick. 

Allot more time for your commute.  This allows for a steady drive to your destination.  The last thing you want to do is rush, it also compensates for delays, flooding, and unexpected accidents.

No Cruise control!  If you go into a hydroplane, there’s a slight chance your car could accelerate.  Reaction time is crucial and you’ll need your foot close to the pedal at all times.

Turn on your headlights.  This helps you see the road, and also lets motorists see you.  Blasting your high beams however can prove detrimental.  It can obscure your view further, reflecting water droplets in the air. 

Hydroplaning.  The first rule to avoiding the dreaded hydroplane is to avoid braking suddenly or turning the wheel, which can cause your car to spin or skid off of the road.  According to Edmunds: “Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).”

Defog your windows.  Rain causes your windshield to fog up fairly quickly.  Turn on your defrosters and make sure you're A/C is turned on.  Most vehicles climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshields defrost is selected. 

Do you have any tips for us?  Feel free to provide them below, we love your feedback!

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Automotive Advertising

Awesome New Automotive Technology

When I close my eyes and picture the future of the automobile, several things come to mind.  Maybe a vessel that moves like a flying saucer that only George Jetson could maneuver, or a hovercraft that can traverse both land and sea? The state of vehicle technology has amazed me with each passing day.  In today’s blog, we discuss the future of car technology and how it will affect the way we roll. 

Emergency Steer Assist

To begin, this system does not take over and steer for you, it’s designed to compliment emergency braking systems.  According to Popular Mechanics: “ESA works with your electric steering rack to vary the torque by direction, thus very convincingly "suggesting" the proper steering wheel motion. Suppose you need to swerve left—the torque in the clockwise motion is greatly increased (resistance), but it's ridiculously easy to turn the wheel counterclockwise. Similarly, during the maneuver recovery phase (you may know this as the tank slapper), the inverse is true, the steering working in tandem with ESC (electronic stability control, mandatory on all cars in 2011) to control the aftereffects of the swerve.

Adaptive Cruise Control

ACC is only available on a few select vehicles, but by utilizing radar sensors on the front of a vehicle, adaptive cruise control can tell when an object is in front of it and if that object is moving and how quickly.  Thus, maintaining a constant speed, but also maintaining a set distance between it and the car in front.  Brilliant!

Self Parking Cars

Advance parking Guidance Systems use sensors all around the car to guide it into a parallel parking space.  So, if you’re in the drivers seat, and you remove your hands from the steering wheel and your feet from the gas pedal…viola! There are a couple stipulations, however.  One, the spot has to be at least 6 feet long, and you have to position the vehicle and tell it where to go, but still…this is something you would expect to see in a sci-fi movie! Thumbs up!  There are countless other new devices in the market!!  Feel free to add any that you’ve seen.

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Automotive Advertising

Finding the Right Vehicle…For You

Your palms are sweaty, your eyes are burning, and you’re nervously tapping your foot against the floor. “Click” the sound of your mouse causes you to sweat as you feverishly look for an ew car online.  It shouldn’t be THIS difficult! Having trouble deciding on what vehicle to purchase next? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back!  Choosing your next vehicle is a big investment that starts ahead with careful planning.  We can help.  Come in to see us any time for your questions and concerns, we’ll be happy to help you.  Until then, take a look at this brief video to help you decide what type of vehicle is right for you, then come in for great assistance from our sales team. 

 

Do you want a manual or automatic transmission?

Do you really need four-wheel drive? Or all-wheel drive?

What safety features do you want?

Do you require a lot of cargo capacity?

Will you be doing any towing?

Do you have a bad back and need flexible seating positions?

Will the car easily fit in your garage or parking space?

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Automotive Advertising

iPhone Automotive App is Awesome…and FREE!

We all take precautions while we drive.  Only answering the phone with a Bluetooth headset, keeping both hands on the wheel, and looking in our rear view mirrors when changing lanes to name a few.  Smartphones have decided to add to that safety regiment by improving voice recognition technology daily, creating apps that both help and ease the hectic lifestyles we live.  One app in particular, Dragon Go!, allows the user to ask for what they want…yes, literally.  The app notes your location via GPS, with that confirmed, you can say “sushi restaurants” or “movie theaters” and listings with reviews will populate on screen for your viewing pleasure.  A red bar bordering the top of the listings has three tabs that allow you to tailor your search by best match (the default setting), distance or rating.

You can command it to call a store, ask about events in your area, directions to a certain location, weather, and even where to rent a tux!  There’s a tutorial available in the app, so any and all of your questions can be answered.  Enjoy your FREE app!! (

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-go!/id442975871?mt=8

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Automotive Advertising

Carpooling Should be Called Car “Cool” ing

The carpool.  When this word comes to mind you can imagine four adults slowly sipping coffee, one on their phone having a lengthy conversation with a significant other, another half asleep, hot coffee spilling into their lap and…well you get the idea.  Carpooling isn’t ideal in a lot of individuals’ eyes.  People show up late, complain, and touch your radio settings without warning.  Many would call it a burden.  The carpool should be more popular than it is, but it hasn’t seemed to catch on or so WE think.  According to recent federal government studies, 10-16 million commuters use carpooling as their principal means of transportation to work every year. That's two to three times the number of people who use public transportation.  Not too bad if you ask me, but it could be better.

Carpooling isn’t as bad as you think, there are countless benefits to riding with a co-worker.  The best incentive is financial.  The AAA estimates that “operating costs (gas, tires and maintenance) average 14.1 cents per mile for 2005, all of which are shared in a carpool. If ownership costs — such as insurance, depreciation, finance charges, and taxes — are also shared, the economic benefits skyrocket. Additionally, many employers offer financial incentives for employees who share their rides to work.”  Websites like http://www.rideshareonline.com/ will match people based on location.  You should set ground rules to avoid conflict and follow these tips provided by Edmunds.com.

·      Print driver schedules

·      Create policies on stereo, AC, Cell phones…

·      Set rules for latecomers

·      Advance notice for vacation

·      Establish a back up plan

A successful carpool takes a bit of work, but can make life a whole lot easier.  Good luck, guys!!!

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Automotive Advertising

Bluetooth, How it Works To Your Advantage

Bluetooth.  It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s effective.  When it comes to mind you usually think of a quirky little device that fits in your ear, used by corporate executives to empathize their importance and LOUD speaking voice.  Bluetooth is more than that, and can be a vital companion for your daily commute.  If you have this available in your vehicle, or would just like to learn more about its wireless capabilities, check out the video from Edmunds below: 

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Automotive Advertising

 

Twitter: Awesome Quotes Under 140 Characters!

Follow us @DellaAuto.  Hello Fans! If you’ve come to our blog today, you’re in luck.  Twitter, the micro blogging social media site is an amazing little tool for self-promotion.  Through savvy, profound, and funny tweets, you can become a big player in an ever-growing market.  In today’s blog, from our friends over at allfamousquotes.weebly.com, we’ve got a great list of quotes for you to hit the site with, providing some fun and enticing quotes to increase your followers.  Check them out below:

 Best Twitter Quotes about marriage

Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, the 'Y' becomes silent.

~ Anonymous.

Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.

~ Anonymous.

Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't they'd be married too.

~ H. L. Mencken.

The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly.  

~ Peter De Vries.

A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet and two solos at the same time.  

~ Anne Taylor Fleming.

There is no such cozy combination as man and wife.  

~ Menander.

A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he's finished.

~ Zsa Zsa Gabor.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

~ Mignon McLaughlin.

Best Twitter Quotes about kids

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man.  

~Rabindranath Tagore

Children are unpredictable.  You never know what inconsistency they're going to catch you in next.  

~Franklin P. Jones.

Any kid will run any errand for you if you ask at bedtime.  

~Red Skelton.

If you haven't time to respond to a tug at your pants leg, your schedule is too crowded.  

~Robert Brault.

You can learn many things from children.  How much patience you have, for instance.  

~Franklin P. Jones.

Best Twitter Quotes Dads would love

Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!

~ Lydia M. Child.

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.

~ Anonymous.

A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.

~ Anonymous.

Daytime is ruled by mothers and fathers come out at night.

~ Margaret Atwood.

Best Twitter Quotes about Inspiration

Risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

~ Leo Buscaglia.

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.

~ John Madden.

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.

~ Oprah Winfrey.

What keeps me going is goals.

~ Muhammad Ali.

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.

~ Zig Ziglar.

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Automotive Advertising

Preparing for a Hurricane

Weathering the storm is a serious matter.  We’ve all been through some type of preparation for some kind of weather turmoil.  From putting up shutters, purchasing food in bulk, and having enough batteries to power a small village, we’ve all done what it takes to protect our families and property.  In today’s blog, we’re providing some quick tips to help you guys out.  If you have any tips to add, please provide them below, we love your feedback!

1.    Select a safe location for your family to weather the storm – it could be a place in your home, most likely with no window on a bottom floor.  If you don't have a safe area, make note of safe shelters in your area beforehand, contacting the building for arrangements.

2.    Stock up on food and water – make sure you purchase non-perishable foods, water, and MAKE SURE you restock up over time to avoid spoilage.

3.    Prepare your home – put up hurricane shutters, collect all of your screws/washers and tool kits ahead of time just in case.  If you don’t have shutters, stock up on plywood that’s precut for your windows.  Also, gather anything loose in your yard to avoid projectiles during the storm. 

4.    Develop a family communications plan. You might become separated before or after the storm. It's a good idea to have an out-of-state contact (a relative up north?) to act as the point of contact for all family members in the event of an emergency.

5.    Plan for your pets!! Maybe even evacuate them to a friend’s home in a safe area.

6.    Keep your car gassed up!!! When a storm approaches, lines get long and a lot of stations run out of gas.  Always have more than enough.

Supplies:

• Non-perishable food
• Drinking water
• Batteries
• Medication for all family members
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• Battery-operated radio
• Cash
• Toiletries
• Clothing

We wish you the best of luck!

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