"Posted by lindac ------------------- Sorry...I was confused...hydraulics has to do with the mechanical properties of liquids not the expansion co-efficient of a liquid. " Hydraulics: many thermostats/thermometers inside an oven use the expansion of a fluid to mechanically actuate control systems to adjust/limit oven temperature. This is similar to the thermostat in your cars radiator in action, or a self-powered vent in a greenhouse. "A BTU is a measure of energy....specifically the energy needed to heat a pound of water one degree...Farenheit. It is not a measure of heat. Someone with more of a physics background than either of us, please weigh in here? " It has been a long time since Physics 101. I may be terminologically incorrect in the precise definition of units. You have said exactly what I was trying to convey, a measure of energy, as you indicated. The energy contained in the specific heat of whatever metal the thermometer is converting to the specific heat of the meat it is trying to measure. No, it is not a measure of heat. We all know the unit to measure heat is degrees in C or F. "But I do feel qualified to state that "calorific value" is a term applied to things that produce energy not store it as a hot probe may....and "irregardless" is a "non standard word"....that is to say not considered good form nor standard usage. " 1 calorie = 0.00396566683 btu. I agree "irregardless" is to be used in informal wrting only. I am sorry. Just curious, shouldn't there be a hyphen in "non-standard"? Or spelled "nonstandard"? "I know...I am quibbling...but so did you with the whole business of the conductivity of the metal used in an oven temperature probe. " I believe I have mostly been answering questions you have raised all along because I respect your wisdom and knowledge. "The conclusion (if I may be so bold) seems to be, that a plug-in thermometer may be less than spot-on exact, but in the grand scheme of food preparation it doesn't matter a whit. For the most part they work just fine, they are standard on many appliances and accuracy depends largely on the placement of the probe." I have said it, I will say it again. I was only inititally answering the question raised by plllog . I dont believe I have said that mechanical oven thermometer can never be made functional. I have point out some inherent limitations possibly manufacturers will need to address. I have pointed out that my concern is only for food safety in low temperature meat cooking with mechanical thermometers, because, as far as I know, none of them are required to be calibrated to be accurate. If you are off by 10 or 20 degrees in low temperature cooking, you can be in serious trouble. And I apology to all you experts here who find this thread to be boring and excessive. I believe many of us are not as knowledgeable as your are, me included, and we are all members of this fine forum. dcarch

Here in the Denver area our temps have been colder than usual but overall snow totals are below normal (single digits daytime and negative temps at night). The mountains are getting amazing snow totals and it seems I-70 shuts down for at least a few hours once a week due to weather conditions. We do have quite a bit of snow on the ground now, but our temps are finally up in the 40's today and lots of sunshine so snow will melt fast. They say we'll be in the high 50's, maybe even 60 by Sunday. To those in the midwest and northeast, this beautiful sunshine should be heading your way--I only hope and pray it doesn't cause flooding by melting your snowpack too fast. Although I love living where there 4 seasons (lived in LA many years ago and it just wasn't for us), I will be happy when my crocuses pop up through the lingering snow and show their lovely purple and lavendar faces.

My house is painted many colors and all our trim is BM white dove (or is it dove white?) I found that is can look "white" against some colors, such as gray or yellows, and have a slightly creamy finish against others (blue, pink.) I had china white on all my trim in my last house - it also looked great - but a little grayer but you really only noticed that when it was compared to a purer white swatch.

I really think you made the right decision. Brandy sounds exactly the same as the rescue my sister has. Though not a Yorkie, George is great with my sister, and mostly great with my brother-in-law, is the perfect traveling dog and they love him. But he will bite anyone else that comes in the house, especially children. He was described as a "pocket beagle". He only weighs about 10 lbs. and came from a hoarding situation so had no socialization. My sister only made minimal attempts to change his behavior and does not do what the trainer has instructed so they are all living together the best they can. I cut their grass so when I go over there I always wear jeans because I know George will try to bite me and he never fails to try. Most family members just won't come to their house now. When they know someone is coming, they keep him on a leash in their lap and cannot be approached. I guess it works for them. Cricket is adorable and I wish you many years of happiness with her.