Which cinematic version of "A Christmas Carol" is your favorite?

Countless cinematic renditions of Charles Dickens' classic tale have been told, but everyone has their own favorite!  Some have been live action, others were animated, and others still have been done partially (or completely) in CG.  Some have tried to hold true to the book, others borrowed only certain elements in a satirical fashion.  Here are a few of the more popular versions:

Scrooge - 1951, starring Alastair Sim

A classic rendition of the tale.  Held by many as the "gold standard" for the many versions to follow.

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol - 1962, starring Mister Magoo (Jim Backus)

Thought by many to be the only worthy animated version of the classic tale, done in a distinctly Mister Magoo style!

A Christmas Carol - 1984, starring George C. Scott

A somewhat darker telling of the story.  George C. Scott's gruff and emotionally damaged Scrooge is a favorite to many!

A Muppet Christmas Carol - 1992, starring Michael Caine (and the Muppets!)

Another Muppet classic!  Enough said!

A Christmas Carol - 2009, starring Jim Carrey

An unlikely/strange choice of cast lent itself surprisingly well to this modern retelling.

There are so many more!  Tell us your favorite on our Facebook post, and why!

There’s no place like home for the holidays—make sure you arrive safely!

Ready or not, we are smack-dab in the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle. When you know you’ll be on the road for the holidays, stress takes over and many of us can’t think of anything besides that to-list. Between coordinating outfits for the family photo, nailing that fudge recipe, packing all the gifts into the car, finding road trip music everyone in the family enjoy, we sometimes forget the most important thing: Safety. 

We want your holiday season to be merry and bright. If you follow any checklist at all this year, let it be this one:

BEFORE YOUR TRIP:

• Map your route and make sure you understand all your directions clearly
• Look up weather forecasts for your current location, final destination, and a few points here and there along your journey
• Tell someone at your destination what time you set out on your trip and an estimated arrival time.

THINGS TO TRAVEL WITH:

• Emergency Kit: Fleece blankets, water, batteries, granola bars—stock up your emergency kit with the basics. For a comprehensive list of must-haves, click here.
• Patience! Remember that being in a hurry causes already-high stress levels to skyrocket. An emotionally distressed driver is just as distracted and dangerous as a driver under the influence of alcohol. 
• A backup plan. When you’re across the winter wonderland, it’s important to expect the unexpected. Set out on your journey with a few different options if weather doesn’t permit you to follow the route you originally planned on.

Here are 10 of some of the most amazing roads the world has to offer!

There are roads that draw people from all over the world. Whether its the sporty experience they offer, or simply the amazing views, these 10 roads are definitely worth visiting if you have the chance!

1. Great Ocean Road - Australia

This beautiful route is a 150 mile stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford.




2. Highway 1, aka "Big Sur" - California

Hwy 1 is carved out of the Pacific cliffs and spans almost all of California's coast. Enjoy picturesque views including the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge. 




3. Deals Gap, aka "Tail of The Dragon" - Tennessee

This road is famous among motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts for its serpentine nature. It is part of the U.S. Route 129 in Blount County, Tennessee.




4. White Rim Trail - Utah

This trail is used by off-road travelers, as well as hikers and bicyclists. Perched precariously above Canyonlands National Park in Utah, its expansive views and switchbacks make it a destination for many outdoors enthusiasts. 




5. Ruta 40 - Argentina

At more than 3,000 miles long, it is one of the longest roads in the world. Much of it is unpaved, but those daring enough to venture here will be gratuitously rewarded with awe-inspiring landscapes.




6. Conor Pass - Ireland

This road epitomizes the Irish countryside, offering views of vast green meadows situated between craggy cliffs. 




7. Touge Roads of Mount Fuji - Japan

Quite possibly the birthplace of drifting, this road winds its way up Japan's highest mountain and has been a destination for racing enthusiasts for many years. 




8. Stelvio Pass - Italy

Regarded as the sports car world's holy grail, though encountering some criticism with that distinction, it only takes one look to understand why this road is high on every list.  




9. Guoliang Tunnel Road - China

This road is known as one of the most dangerous in the world, quite possibly only challenged by Bolivia's "Yungas Road" in terms of sheer annual casualties. With no other options, engineers decided to carve the tunnel road out of the mountain starting in 1972. 





10. Trollstigen, aka "Troll Ladder" - Norway

Another famous road among sports drivers, its 9% grade and numerous hairpin curves offer a unique driving experience. 

 

Let us know what are some of your favorite roads to drive on!

"Will higher octane or premium fuel give me better gas mileage and/or more power?"

No, not necessarily. You see, sportier cars typically have higher compression engines.  "Octane", as it pertains to fuel, is an additive that actually prevents combustion-- that is, it prevents premature combustion from compression.  If the fuel/air mixture in these high-performance engines is detonating too early from the sheer pressure inside the cylinder, then the engine will not produce optimal power.  Higher octane gasoline prevents the mixture from detonating until it is provoked into doing so by the spark plug.  That's where the myth of "premium = more power" came from. If your handbook says "regular", use regular-- you will see no benefit in using higher octane fuel.

Here are 5 brilliant ideas to help make your life easier!

Here are some things you can do to make various parts of your everyday life easier-- in the most clever and deceptively simple ways possible!

1.)  Have a microwave that's just a little too small for two of your favorite bowls or plates?  No big deal!  Elevate one with a cup to fit both in!

2.)  Want to separate the egg yolk from the rest?  Use the suction from an empty water bottle!

3.)  Prefer to drink your canned drinks from a straw?  Use the tab to lightly wedge the straw into place-- this will keep it from floating up out of the drink!

4.)  Use a straw to pop off the tops of strawberries quickly and easily!

5.)  Want to cool a warm drink down quickly?  Wrap it in a wet paper towel and then stick it in the fridge.  This increases thermal conductivity between the warm liquid inside of the bottle/can and the cool air inside of the fridge.  Your drink should be cold in around 20 minutes!

5 interesting facts about Thanksgiving that you may not have known!

The American Thanksgiving feast is one of the world's most iconic holidays, but there is a lot most people don't know about it!  Here are 5 things that you may or may not have known about Thanksgiving and its origin in America!

1.)  Of the Mayflower's original 102 passengers, only 40 of them were "Pilgrims" as we would recognize them.  The rest were called the "Strangers", men and women just looking to hitch a ride to the new world.  In fact, the Mayflower wasn't even originally intended to be a human transport vessel; it was supposed to be a wine transport.

2.)  Despite Macy’s being the largest, the oldest Thanksgiving parade was held in Philadelphia in 1920 by Gimbels department store. The parade was very small, with only about 50 people.

3.)  The Pilgrims didn't actually dress in full-black attire with metal buckles on their hats and shoes.  In reality, metal buckles would've been too expensive for the incredibly destitute Pilgrims.  It is more likely that they would've used leather laces and straps instead of the buckles.

4.)  Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, feeling that the eagle was a creature predisposed to "bad moral character".  He wanted to instead pay homage to the bird that had more historical significance to the young country.

5.)  When George Washington advocated for a national Thanksgiving celebration, a number of other founding fathers and statesmen were supportive of the measure. Thomas Jefferson was not one of them. Jefferson referred to the idea as “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard."  Guess he wasn't a fan of cranberry sauce!

Should you get your tires filled with pure nitrogen? Maybe!

We are often asked the question:  "Is it worth filling my tires with nitrogen instead of air?"  We're here to shed some light on the topic.

First of all, we have to look at the terms in question.  "Air", meaning our natural atmosphere here on Earth, is actually mostly nitrogen anyway-- about 70-80% nitrogen, in fact.  The rest is oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other trace elements and compound.  Does that fraction of oxygen really make a difference in your tire pressure's reliability?

The answer is yes.  Sort of.  Although oxygen is the heavier element, nitrogen molecules (N₂) are actually slightly larger than oxygen molecules (O₂).  That means it's more difficult for nitrogen molecules to permeate the walls of your tires.

In reality, however, filling your tires with nitrogen is less about the nitrogen and more about removing oxygen, water vapor, and other contaminants from the mix.  Water in particular is a particularly malleable molecule that will create vast discrepancies in tire pressure as the temperature changes.

Long story short, filling with pure nitrogen will yield a more stable tire pressure, leading to better fuel economy, longer lasting tires, and more reliable ride quality!

Which of these terrifying traveling tales is YOUR worst nightmare?

Sometimes, traveling can mean more tricks than treats.  Between planning your finances, making sure you don’t miss any fun activities, and navigating a new place, spooky situations are bound to arise. Which of these vacation nightmares have you experienced?

#1. WRONG TURN

You needed this solo road trip to clear your head, and it’s working so far.  You’re making great time—you’re practically the only one on the road!  But as the miles drag on, fellow travelers become few and far between.  Just as you glance down to see that your cell phone doesn’t have reception, an alarming realization sweeps over you: you’re lost.

#2. THE BIRDS

Not only have you escaped the chill of autumn with this beachside vacation, you scored the ONLY parking spot in the shade.   You hit the hay thinking, “I can’t believe I lucked out!”  The next morning, you stroll out to your car to see that your car has been…er…. “decorated” by the local wildlife.

#3. REST STOP: DEAD AHEAD

You’ve hit a rather desolate stretch of road, but you’re using the opportunity to enjoy the landmarks and scenery.  Suddenly, a shrill cry erupts from the backseat, “I need the bathroom!” immediately followed by a chorus of, “Are we there yet?” “I’m bored!” “I feel carsick!”  You sigh as you pass a sign that reads, “Next Service Station: 100 Miles.”

 

#4. THE FLY

You don't know how the little guy got in your car, but you know he's got to go.  Problem is, he darts away from every opportunity to escape!   How can such a tiny thing be so annoying?  Before you know it, your nerves are shot and your hair is disheveled from zipping down the highway with all four windows down.  Just as you close the windows and regain composure, you feel a familiar tickle on the back of your neck...

Don't let your next vacation turn into the stuff of nightmares!  Plan a service appointment with us ahead of time and we'll make sure you're ready to hit the road safely!

Can you tell if this car-related "fact" is actually true or not?

Here is the myth:  You should always let your car warm up before driving off.  What do you think-- myth or fact?  Highlight the text below to see the truth of the matter!

Here's the truth:  For yesteryear's cars, letting your vehicle warm up was always a good idea.  But the same does not necessarily hold true for today's cars and trucks.  Advances in technology and build materials allow modern engines to warm up more quickly--thus offering the best efficiency and fuel economy--when they're driven, all without sacrificing any durability.  That's not to say you should go pedal-to-the-metal right as soon as your engine turns over, but you should feel free to make the drive to work as you normally would!