Arrive Safely This Winter

Friends,

The heart of winter is no laughing matter here in North Dakota. Because of the vastness of our home, a reliable automobile is as important here as it is anywhere.

That’s why we’re offering this quick checklist of “to dos” for your car to ensure you and your family arrive safely to your destinations all winter long.

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to “winterize” your car, including a thorough checkup that includes:

·         Checking the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.

·         Changing and adjusting the spark plugs.

·         Checking the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.

·         Inspecting the distributor.

·         Checking the battery.

·         Checking the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth.

·         Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze line.

·         Your car should have a tune-up (check the owner's manual for the recommended interval) to ensure better gas mileage, quicker starts and faster response on pick-up and passing power.

Additionally, as every good boy scout knows, it’s critical to be prepared. In North Dakota winters, that means having the following tools at the ready should the unforeseen happen: a properly inflated spare tire, shovel, jumper cables, tool kit, first aid kit, working flashlight and batteries, matches and non-perishable food and drink.

Following these simple steps will help ensure we all arrive safely this winter.

Consumer Reports Pulls Recommendation for Toyota Camry

By Ben Klayman

DETROIT, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp's reputation for quality took a hit on Monday when influential magazine Consumer Reports pulled its recommendation on three of the Japanese automaker's vehicles, including its popular flagship Camry sedan, due to poor crash test results.

While Toyota's luxury Lexus and namesake brands were ranked most reliable in the U.S. auto industry in Consumer Reports' annual new-car reliability survey, the magazine said it will no longer recommend the Camry, Prius v model or RAV4 sport utility vehicle because they received "poor" ratings in a crash test started last year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

"We're a year into it, we've got over 50 vehicles tested and there's enough that are doing adequately on this test that now we're making the shift and pulling recommendations from any car that gets a poor" rating, Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, said of the IIHS test.

"Honestly, we don't take this lightly, but virtually every vehicle now in the family sedan category has been tested and the only one that has gotten a 'poor' is the Camry," he added. "At this point, we don't feel we can continue to recommend people buy a Camry when there's other good choices out there that do better on the test."

Consumer Reports is one of the most widely trusted names for consumers shopping for cars, and companies try to ensure their vehicles earn the magazine's coveted "recommended" rating.

Last year, the IIHS, a non-profit group funded by the insurance industry, increased the rigor of its tests to include crashes that involve only a front corner of a vehicle. Consumer Reports waited to adjust its buyer recommendations until it saw how the entire industry was affected by the test.

The magazine does not recommend consumers buy a car that fares poorly in any crash tests.

In the first nine months of the year, the Camry was the third-most-sold vehicle in the United States, behind two full-size pickup trucks. Its sales were up 1.3 percent from the year-ago period to 318,990 cars, compared with an increase of almost 14 percent by rival Honda Motor Co's Accord sedan.

Toyota has made changes to the Camry to improve its performance in the crash tests and IIHS is planning to retest the car in December, IIHS spokesman Russ Rader said. Companies that have modified a vehicle design sometimes seek a retest.

Last December, when IIHS gave the Camry its "poor" rating, it said the company's engineers had "a lot of work to do to match the performance of their competitors." Toyota officials said on Monday they "are looking at a range of solutions" to address the car's performance in the crash test.

Last month, Toyota's Corolla small car, which was redesigned for the 2014 model year, received a "marginal" rating on the IIHS crash test.

In addition to the three Toyota vehicles, Consumer Reports also dropped Volkswagen's Audi A4 car from its recommended list due to a "poor" rating on the IIHS test, Fisher said.

Ten other vehicles also lost their recommended status, but that was due to the overall quality of vehicles in their segments and not related to their crash test performances, he said.

The IIHS, which continues to score vehicles on side, rear, roll-over and front-end crashes, added an overlap test because nearly one-fourth of U.S. front-of-vehicle crashes that result in serious injury or death involve a single corner that strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole.

In the overlap test, IIHS crashes a vehicle at 40 miles per hour into a 5-foot-high barrier on the driver's side that overlaps one-quarter of the vehicle's width.

 

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Helpful Household Tips: Different Uses for Tea Bags

Tea tastes great, but did you know that it can be used outside the body as well!  Tea has a multitude of personal uses including:

·       Soothe Sunburn- If your skin has been burned badly then wet a few tea bags and place them on the affected area.  The tea will help to relive the sting. 

·       Subdue Razor Burn- Razor burn is no fun at all.  Apply a moist tea bag to the burned area and feel the awesome relief!

·       Reduce Foot Odor- Bathe your feet in a tea bath for about 20 minutes every day to reduce any foot odor you may have.  The stronger the bath, the better the results.

·       Homemade Mouthwash- If you have a toothache or other mouth pain then try rinsing with peppermint tea mixed with a pinch of salt. 

·       Dry Poison Ivy Rash- As summer approaches so will poison ivy season.  Dip a cotton ball or other towel in tea and apply to the rash.  Let the moisture dry on its own.  Repeat the process as needed.

This information was gathered from the following Reader’sDigest site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Quick Dinner Recipe: Pizza Pasta Bake

Italian food rocks!  How can you combine two of the best Italian foods in one simple entrée?  Simple, just use the Pizza Pasta Bake recipe below.  It is quick, easy to make and combines all the necessary ingredients for a great night around the dinner table!

Ingredients:

1 package (16 oz) penne pasta

3 links sweet Italian sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen® organic pizza sauce

1 can (6 oz) pitted ripe olives, drained, sliced

1 can (4 oz) Green Giant® mushrooms pieces and stems, drained

1 large bunch fresh basil, stems removed, leaves coarsely chopped

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup sliced pepperoni

Directions:

1.) Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, using minimum cook time.

2.) Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook sausage, bell pepper and onion over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are crisp-tender.

3.) In baking dish, mix pasta and pizza sauce. Add sausage-vegetable mixture, olives, mushrooms and basil; toss until well combined. Sprinkle with cheeses; top with pepperoni.

4.) Bake uncovered 8 to 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.

This recipe was found at theattached site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

What is Memorial Day?

Since 1971, Memorial Day has fallen on the final Monday in the month May.  Although most people know Memorial Day has something to do with men and women in the armed services, they do not know the true meaning or origin of the national holiday.  Originally called Decoration Day, many military members and family of those who served began honoring those who passed during the Civil War.  Decoration Day was originally scheduled to fall on May 30, but was eventually changed the final Monday in May to ensure a longer weekend for those who chose to celebrate the lives of their lost friends and family.  Memorial Day became an official national holiday in 1971.  Although all members of the service should be honored, Memorial Day serves as a time to recognize those who have fallen.  The White House flag is raised to half-staff for a portion of the day to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving our country.  The entire Ryan Family is extremely grateful to all the men and women who have passed, served or will serve our country in the armed services!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Helpful Household Tips: Different Uses for Dental Floss

Have you been flossing?  Apart from minimizing dental bills and creating a brilliant smile, dental floss has some great uses that most people do not know about.  Floss is cheap and can be used all over your house…

·       Cut Delicate Food-Sometimes a knife is hard to come by, or maybe you do not have the right size to cut delicate food like cake.  Try using floss next time to get a clean cut!

·       Remove Cookies- The most delicious cookies are always the ones that don’t want to come off the baking sheet.  Slide floss underneath them after baking to remove them with ease and no mess left behind!

·       Lose the Ring- Ever had a ring stuck on your finger?  Whether you need to take it off for good or bad reasons, if it’s stuck then wrap the rest of your finger tightly with floss and slide the ring right off.

·       Hang Things- When the holiday season rolls around use mint dental floss to hang ornaments on the tree. 

·       Un-Stick Photos- If you have two photos stuck together try using floss to get them apart.  Ripping them apart with your hands can cause damage to both, so slide floss between them and savor each picture for another day!

·       Floss- The most important use has to do with your beautiful teeth.  Keep a healthy smile by flossing every day.

These uses were found at the following link.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

No Email After Work

The average work day is filled with dozens of emails, phone calls and even text messages.  Communication with others is constant and this continuous back and forth can wear on you as the day comes to a close.  Unfortunately, we know that sometimes you check your work email on the weekend, on the way home, or even worse…at home!  A recent study found that some of the most successful people do not open their email, or even answer their phone once the work day has concluded.  Why is this?  The study showed that when people are constantly in “work mode” they get burned out, crabby and their creativity tends to run out.  It is understandable.  The human body naturally gets tired around 3-5pm as it needs rest and relaxation.  The founders of 5 Hour Energy capitalized on this notion as they discovered that most people need a boost in the afternoon.  So, what can turning the computer or cell phone off after the work day do for you?  It can recharge your brain so you come to work energized.  It can re-boot your creative side so new ideas flow out of you.  Most importantly, keeping work at the workplace can dramatically change your health as it can reduce stress in your life.  We know you work hard, just keep it at the workplace so you can continue to shine!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.