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I recently visited CCL computers at 9am on May 16th to buy a new graphics card to upgrade a home PC that I have for 80% business and 20% personal use
I was advised to go for a specific card, so I bought it and left to install on the same night. Having fit the graphics card, I damaged the motherboard's PCI slot so had to replaced it the next morning. I was advised to go for a specific type of motherboard, so I bought it and decided to fit it there and then considering I need to use my PC every day.
I kept myself to myself in the repair room, and was struggling with fitting the equipment as I'd never done it before and didn't have time to leave it with anyone. I was occasionally helped by a member of staff there who was constantly getting in trouble for coming over and seeing how I was doing.
I found this incredibly frustrating as throughout the 3 hour period of me trying to fit the motherboard, I had looked into the store room a couple of times to see if anybody was there (once for a screwdriver, once for any spare screws) and there must have been 4/5 members of staff sitting down chatting having a laugh both times.
Anyways, I managed to fit the motherboard only to discover that I needed a new power supply unit as mine was not capable of running everything required, so I bought it and was helped to fit it - great.
A secondary member of staff took the PC in the back to test it and came back to tell me that Windows wasn't working and it was to do with switching the motherboard. I had no idea doing this would damage the HD, so I was really annoyed, but took it home and tried to boot it to the repair screen that the staff told me it got to.
The repair screen didn't show, and it wouldn't boot from the HD, so the computer was useless. I phoned CCL and the member of staff who told me it was damaged said the cables must have been loose, so I opened the PC again and everything was secure. I called back, he told me to bring it in to the showroom and he would look at it on the same day.
I got to the showroom and was greeted by a third member of staff who told me that the person who was looking at my computer had gone out for a sandwich, and he doesn't know when he'd be back and that I'm better off leaving my computer for a few days because that's how long it'd take anyway. He then went on to accuse me of lying when I said that the PC was to be looked at today and that 5/6 other people were listening in at the time (obviously a complete load of rubbish, because that's exactly what he said!)
This came as no surprise, because it seemed like nobody wanted anything to do with me once the sales had gone through, aside the one member of staff who tried helping me fit the equipment. Luckily, the person who said he'd look at the computer today showed up mid conversation and confirmed that he said he'd look at it. The third member of staff disappeared and was nowhere to be seen.....
I left the computer for an hour, and it was fixed, so I returned to CCL and picked it up at around 4pm this lasted ALL day) to be greeted by a £50 charge for getting it back to normal to top everything off.
This was incredibly frustrating for me. Having been with CCL since 2004 for both my business and personal accounts and being treated like somebody there to take the p*. However, I'm ever grateful for the one member of staff who was constantly trying to help and at the same time getting it in the neck from the CCL managers, he was the only person in the whole store who acted like he cared about the customer and deserves a promotion and an award!
After searching the web for a AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz Quad Core Processor
I find CCL had listed on their website and I quote "100+ available to order for delivery in 2-3 days"
On the 29th of Apr i paid the extra £5.99 for 2-3 day delivery. This should have been 2nd may.
Upon checking my account it was showing in the status bar "Awaiting Stock" which was confusing as the website had led me to believe that they were in stock, although I appreciate the wording stipulates otherwise.
On the 3rd of may I queried this and was told that "Their supplier had let them down and ideally you should be with me on the Tue 7th May (Mon was bank holiday) and they DO NOT DELIVER AT WEEKENDS (just highlighting this to readers)
I complained that I didn't think this was good enough and they agreed to refund the extra postage. This was duly carried out promptly!
On Wednesday 8th I checked the status and this was finally listed as "IN STOCK" Ta Da ……………… Brilliant so I phoned again (Wednesday) yes they will be leaving this evening to be delivered for the Thu 9th May (A week after expected delivery)
Thu arrived and the website still showing "In Stock" This was enough and after a phone call the service agent couldn't understand why this has happened in which case I requested to talk to a manager to which I was informed this wasn't possible.
Enough was enough and I requested that the order be cancelled, he was happy to do this and refund my money via paypal which should show in my account today….. Lets hope this is the case!!!
The Website led me to believe that the items were in stock and I would have them in 3 days, order placed on the 29th of Apr and on the 9th May it still hadn't turned up. Shocking!, no information, no updates. Although the staff were in all fairness quite helpful.
I would never recommend this company to anyone. BE CAREFULL TO HOW THE WEBSITE IS WORDED. AND CHECK STOCK AVAILABILITY BEFORE PURCHASE!!!!
I ordered an AOC I2267FW from CCL two days ago and paid for next day delivery.
Yesterday, when I tried to track my order, City Link's site said that my "consignment" did not exist, so I called them and found out that it didn't.
I phoned CCL's customer services line and spoke to Noel, who after looking into it, found that the Courier had come earlier than expected. Since I was inconvenienced Noel arranged to have my Delivery Charge refunded!
The Monitor came today and after setting it up, I had an issue where it wasn't displaying the resolution properly (it was set to 1920, but wouldn't take up the entire screen!).
Again, I called Customer Services and spoke to Noel, who transferred me to a colleague of his, who managed to solve the problem straight away (apparently AMD graphics cards need a slight tweek to display full HD!)
Anyway, I don't see why there are all the bad reviews, I got my Monitor pretty quickly and had GREAT customer services who helped me sort out a minor problem I should have probably known myself!
Below is a review of a Gaming PC recently purchased from CCL. I doubt it will make it on their site so I thought a copy published here might help. Plus I've corrected the typos.
The company I work for in Bradford holds an account at CCL and spends a lot on peripherals but we don't buy PC's; from my recent experience I'm glad we don't.
Their support department have accused me (and other ICT professionals) of all sorts during the 10 years+ I've shopped there in effort to wriggle out of warranties. Thankfully I am well armed technically and fully exercise my consumer rights when I go in to do battle with CCL returns.
I have no issue with the sales side of the shop in fact I think it's well run. The team are always helpful and if you call and collect you can be in and out in minutes. The phone service can be hit and miss.
Anyway, this is the review. I'm pretty sure had I not noticed the faults the machine would have been on its knees in summer as clearly CCL have some quality assurance problems…
A family member purchased this PC on my recommendation. Luckily it was brought to me for the OS install so I took the opportunity to pop the case open to check everything was as it should be. For a £400+ PC base I was very disappointed to find a number of issues with its construction and function:
1) Graphics card power cables run between the CPU heat sink and the memory modules hindering air leaving the cooler.
2) Graphics card off centre in slot impeding access to HDMI connector.
3) SATA cable to the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) had a 90 degree connector which pressed against the side panel of the case putting strain on the HDD PCB/connector.
4) SATA cable run under the HDD pressed between its PCB and the case.
5) HDD S.M.A.R.T. data showed unit had never been powered up – un-tested PC ?
6) Front case fan not working - three pin fan connector wrongly connected to the four pin header on the motherboard.
7) Motherboard power connector not pushed all the way home and security clip not latched.
I decided against heading back to the shop with the unit only to queue up and be condescended to by CCL support staff. I've worked for one of the largest ICT departments in Bradford for over 10 years so my experience allowed me to put all of the above right. I then configure the BIOS and got Window7 on without issue. Motherboard driver installation software was very slow and the set-up of the NIC driver crashed. I manually ran it from the DVD in the end.
Don't see the point in the mandatory wireless adaptor as most gamers are online these days and wouldn't want suffer the latency inherent to wireless network communications.
Windows7 runs really well, giving good results from 'FurMark' and 'HL2 Lost Coast' video tests with FPS rates averaging 20+ & 220fps at 1920x1080p with everything turned up, respectively. The 1TByte HDD is quick and well up to the task of loading in big textures and maps. 'HD Tune' indicated average transfer rates ~158Mbytes/sec in ACHI mode during benchmarks (~145Mbytes/sec in IDE mode in case you are interested).
I know the above tests don't fully analyse every aspect of performance but they are standard tests I run on most equipment I can get my hands on and overall I'd be happy to recommend this rig again for most gaming applications, though I might be inclined build it myself though given the recent demonstration of CCL's PC construction quality.
Make sure you ask for your copy of FarCry3 that comes with the CCL Value Choice 7770 graphics card within the system.
Pictures here: http://s287.photobucket.com/user/riscyrich/library/CCL%20Computers%20-%20Elite%20Gaming%20Hawk%20II
I ordered a laptop one week ago. It should be here by now. They did not start to process the order yet! What a joke.
Perhaps all the negative comments are from people who ordered online unlike myself who actually went into the shop. I wasn't sure what specification of computer I needed so I asked a member of staff who was friendly and courteous and explained what I needed. The order was ready later that day and the system has worked fine for me. I cannot fault them.
So a few days ago I was reading through these very reviews whilst trying to decide whether or not to trust CCL. I'd never heard of them before and their low prices and bad reviews really made me cautious. I nearly shopped elsewhere for the same laptop at a higher price but in the end, decided to risk it. This was 2 days ago and I am now writing this review from my lovely new laptop. I am a student by the way, I do not work for these guys.
Anyway, I found a really good laptop on their site which was about 50-100 pounds cheaper than anywhere else and I bought it online the day before yesterday. I opted for the free delivery (within 3-5 working days I think with 'Yodel') as a lot of reviews on here said that next day delivery caused them lots of problems. As it happens, I then received an email an hour or so later saying that my order had been dispatched and that it would be delivered the next day! For me, I was ecstatic - they'd upgraded my postage free of charge and I would be getting my laptop sooner than I'd expected! The new postal service for next day delivery was DPD and I live in Brighton and I was really impressed with their service too- I was constantly kept up to date with where my parcel was (via text and email. I don't think you have to put your mobile number but I did) and they told me an hour time slot for when my laptop would arrive and that, if I would not be in, I could arrange for my neighbour to take it or for it to be delivered on a different day. A loud knock at the door came about ten minutes earlier than they'd said but I am not complaining! The laptop works fine and I am now writing this review because I want to help people to decide and to take the same (yet in hindsight, non-existent) risk that I did. Of course, I have not had to return my laptop so I do not know where they stand with returns and maybe DPD postal services in areas other than Brighton are not so good but for me, CCL and DPD were brilliant - I have a brilliant product at a fraction of the price and it came earlier and with free p&p. I guess you have to take into account that most people will only make the effort to write a review when something really bad has happened but that's why I am writing a good review and I encourage others to too. My experience with these guys was brilliant and I will be recommending them and perhaps using them again in the future.
I hope this review has helped. I went into a lot of detail! Thanks CCL for your service and product :)
Stephen Simmons found this review useful
I just want to say that the service I have received over the years from CCL has been outstanding. They are simply one of the best companies for buying computer parts in the whole of the UK. I've never had a problem with them, they're top notch. I also feel sorry for CCL because of the amount of drama they have to put up with from these amateurs out there. What a joke really I mean I've been reading through a lot of these reviews now and I can see what the problem is usually, it's the people who are buying from CCL. Hot headed and very blind to what they're doing. If the people who are visiting CCL to purchase these goods actually knew what they were doing with them like I do then they wouldn't have a problem like me.
It's a sad situation really, shame that so many have given poor reviews yet also these people are naive to what they're doing. I hope that CCL put this review on here because it's the truth. I have bought lots of things for years now. Top service from a top company, 5 stars for sure :-)
A week later still no SSD. No one picks up the phone. Sent an email and got a reply stating they don't have stock. Website shows same 4 items as it was when I've placed the order a week ago. Asked to cancel the order, but still no reply. I suspect further issues getting a refund.
Most efficient, communicative service anyone could wish for, in tandem with superb goods.
Thank You.
I have no idea how so many people are having problems with CCL Online, I ordered a on offer product from them that was stated as available for next working day delivery, I received it promptly by DPD, well packaged, and well within the hour time frame stated. Absolutely no problems, will certainly be ordering from them again.
This company is horrific. The staff are horrible and don't give a damn about you. I have bought there frequently over the few years but recently due to new staff I will not be returning. The staff are unhelpful, lazy, you ask them a question they sigh. You ring them up to ask about an order they sigh down the phone and act like they don't care.
The pricing/website is also a joke. I went into the store two days ago and spoke to a staff member, we ordered myself a motherboard which is stated on the website as well as the manufacturing code - Asus M5A78L-M LX V2. When he printed out the collection receipt it said Asus M5A78L-M LX which is obviously incorrect. (The V2/Revision 2 supports my 125W CPU unlike the original only supporting 95W). I then asked him to change it and MAKE SURE I get the V2 version. He said okay, reprinted, we left. When I arrived to pick it up the next day guess what I received? Asus M5A78L-M LX. So I complained to him about receiving the wrong one, and guess what he says to me? 'No this is the right one, it IS the V2 version. You need to research your stuff before you buy it'. My god. I got so angry. The fact that he said a customer is wrong is just plain STUPID. It clearly states on their website, their manufacturing code and their own staff that I ordered a V2. So I just couldn't be bothered, got a full refund and bought it off amazon. The funny thing is the original price I bought it for was £36 right, I checked before I drove to the store, as I left the store I checked again to compare it's price to the one off Amazon. Guess how much it is now? £44. They upped the price just as I left the store. Maybe this isn't a big deal to people but my advice is to stay away from them.
They are conniving, horrible people. I would happily pay £10+ elsewhere for the same item.
CCLonline will be informed about this review haha. This is for the staff - I work security at hotels/bars etc. I carry around a pin camera on my jacket button incase there is any trouble. Everything I have said in this review about the sighing and lazyness is all on tape. Obviously the phone one is only a voice recording but have fun guys. I will be returning on the 15th which is my day off to complain to your manager and if he is unwilling to do something about this I will happily contact the Corporate line to complain with proof. Have a nice day.
ordered a samsung ssd. on their website it said that it will be due to deliver in 3 days. I called after the 3 day and they sad tha the website just gives an estimate , but my product is not even in stock. I asked when it will be avaylable and god a big DUNNO. I asked for a full refund witch the guy on the phone did instantly like he wanted to refund the money because I am a trouble customer.
All in all the service is crap. will not attempt to buy anything again for their website.
Last year, my HP 9700 laptop goes wrong, graphic card may be damaged. So after some research, I decide to go cclonline to fix it, which will cost me £140 to replace the motherboard.
I have a desktop pc, so this hp laptop i hardly use it. But only 2 month later, my laptop issue came back. I couldn't even start. So I take out the old motherboard they said replaced. I found it doesn't match the size of my laptop. So I doubt whether they change it or not. so i went to another laptop fix shop, they checked, the motherboard haven't been changed. it is the original one. bloody hell , how can this happen??
Phoned company who said as good will gesture sell a different for extra £5.
This one cost £5.60 +vat and wouldn't replace free as although it came apart when I removed it from USB it left behind the metal casing and circuit which I damaged removing it.(black plastic bit came away from metal)
The mouse is about 3 weeks old and first time I tried to remove it from my laptop.
Never mind the fact it could have short circuited my laptop.
So as I am unhappy with this service I will be taking it further and will publish results here later.
This was the 2nd time we used this company and we have had no faults with them, they sent emails after the order had been processed and the orders came the next day hassle free.
Will be using this company again in the near future and have already recommended it to others to use.
I have bought from CCL a few times over the past 5 years or so. They are only a 15 min drive from where I live. I would prefer to use CCL as they are a local company, and can also save me postage costs.
I like to build computers, but I have found over the years they do not have a particularly good stock inventory for the computer parts I like to buy.
I would probably buy most of my parts from CCL if they had a better range of products.
Their pricing is competitive, and my customer service experience has generally been very good.
I wish I had seen this site before I ordered a new WebCam.
It did not come next day and had the same issues with customer service as others have. Unhelpful, never ring back etc.
Did find out though that if in stock at local depot they come out same day but if they are coming from the manufacturers they could take several days so worthwhile asking this before ordering and paying for next day.
I caught them out by asking for the name of the courier and the tracking number so I could check for myself. At this point they admitted that it had not yet been despatched. Try this if they are giving you the run around.
I have eventually received my webcam ( thru Parcelforce not City-Link as advised !!! ) but not happy with all the hassle that went with it so won't use CCL again :-(
I've ordered plenty of pc parts with CCL In the past and never had a problem but recently had to phone customer service about a dead motherboard and I got a young boy called Steve on the phone explaining my plight, he ranted on at me about how I have come to the conclusion that the board was dead (I've built many a PC and I'm A+ qualified) but I thought I'd let him get on with It as he sounded as though he knew It all!!!..Over 2 weeks later I had to call them at my expense to be told I was right and the motherboard was dead..Well duh! I'll keep the faith and give them a 2nd chance and If all else fails then I'll use someone else. Simple as.
I wouldn't have minded but the lack of coms Is just a joke and don't even go there about waiting on the phone at peek times of the day...
Dave found this review useful
Everything went very smoothly with my purchase of a new PC monitor. The price was excellent, it came quickly and the product was exactly as described. Couldn't ask for anything more, will certainly buy from them again.
Their faulty goods lead to damage of other equipment. They refused to even communicate with me - even the directors ignored letters sent by recorded delivery. Had to involve Trading Standards, and they even tried lying to them. Absolutely the most underhand con artists in the computer trade.
Ordered goods on 03/01/2012. Paid for next day delivery. Confirmation email and web site showed delivery for 02/01/2012 (see pics), thought this strange but put it down to a small error on the part of CCL, wish I had reconsidered knowing what I do now. No goods on 04/01/2012. E-mailed to ask why, was informed that one item was out of stock and its not company practice to inform customers of this, was also promised goods would 100% be sent out for delivery on 05/01/2012. No goods on 05/01/2012, emailed to ask why duplications had been made on my order, was told I cant read properly despite web page clearly showing a duplicate entry and was assured that 2 of these would not be sent out (see attached photos). Called to enquire why I was being treated this way, was told CCL "Dont guarantee next day delivery" and "CCl did not lie to you when we promised to deliver the goods today". Was told CCl wont consider any compensation for my wasted time. Asked about a refund, was told "Accounts department MIGHT get around to it today and it will take at least 3 working days to get your money back". Will be reporting this company to Consumer Direct (Trading Standards) and will be writing to the owner asking for his thoughts on the matter. Whole outfit needs a revamp, from a website that works properly to complete customer service retraining for the imbeciles that I dealt with. If I was not so tired I would display the e-mails sent to me by CCL in order to further embarrass them in the (probably vain) hope that something might be done.
Dave found this review useful
Advertised on its website are a number of "Clearance" goods, which may be "open box", customer returns, ex-display or end of line. CCL promises that these items will be fully working, although they may be missing non-essential accessories. I ordered a clearance Intel motherboard for about £15 less than the £80 price tag being charged for the same item brand new from other sellers. Imagine the disappointment to receive just the bare board without its backplate, as well as without retail packaging, manual, installation disks or cables. The I/O shield is an essential component of a retail desktop motherboard, unique to the product and unobtainable separately, so mention should have been made of this defect. Naturally, I complained.
The first CCL customer service agent took my details over the telephone and promised to call me back, but never did.
The second CS agent online gave me a RMA number and goods returns address, and promised that return postage would also be refunded for faulty goods.
A week later I got an e-mail to say the goods had been received back and would be tested. Not sure what expert testing was needed to determine that a component was missing?
A further delay and I had the results. "The goods were tested and found to be fully working" and my complaint was blamed on an "incompatibility issue". Outrageous! Is a motherboard without a backplate not a significant defect that should have been disclosed? What about a TV missing a bezel? Or a mobile phone missing a battery cover?
Request for return postage was ignored. Poor customer services mean that this customer is going to shop elsewhere.
Dave found this review useful
I ordered a custom built computer from ccl and was happy with their service. My computer arrived within a week and just in time for battlefield 3 which worked splendidly. thank you ccl
I stopped using this company a few years ago after a very poor experience trying to send back a faulty motherboard. They insisted that I had to accept a repair rather than a refund (on a brand new item) and refused to accept the law of the land that states I should have the choice of a full refund. It's a shame as I keep seeing links to gear on their site at very tempting prices. Maybe I should give them another go but once bitten...
Dave found this review useful
I orderd a laptop from these people, with next day delivery.
A week later and nothing turns up (this is after being on the phone to them repeatedly).
They kept spouting that the stock figures are what is sent to them from their suppliers, and they were wrong at the time I ordered (there was over 132 in stock for next day delivery!).
SO I've cancelled my order and am now waiting for my PayPal refund, which initially I was told it would be instant, now it's "within 24 hours".
If they fail on this, i WILL be getting trading standards involved to get compensation from them.
If only I had seen these other reviews first...
Dave found this review useful
I needed to buy a new Laptop which I found instock on cclonline.com.
I Placed the order and paid extra for guaranteed Saturday delivery and I received confirmation email.
On Saturday I called CCL to see if they could give me an indication of delivery time only to be told that my order was still in the "system".
The guy was absolutely charmless. He couldn't even be bring himself to say sorry for any inconvenience. Even after I explained that I needed the laptop that evening.
He did however come out with this gem "There's no customer service at the weekend. You will have to call back next week and re-arrange delivery" He wouldn't even get them to call me!!!
Nah... I cancelled the order.
Don't waste your time with this shower.
Dave found this review useful
Best price. Very good service. Tell you exact time for delivery. Extremely useful.
Highly reccommended.
Never had a real problem with these guys instore or online.
The only issue I had is their payment system took a payment without processing the order online but that was rectified and refunded once I pointed it out!
Going instore is great, you can get some brilliant bargains on customer returned, brand new gear :)
However the collection service is poor. Weekend collections are a no no. Expect to spend hours in line - poorly organised, shame as the products and staff are 1st rate
I have bought a lot of PCs and equipment from CCL in the past and been very happy - it is difficult to find a reliable system builder. However it seems their customer service and processing system has declined recently.
I spent time carefully chosing my components (with no help from CCL despite emailing them and calling them - I should have given up then). This took much longer than it should as their website is currently very slow and unresponsive.
I spent around £1500 on top of the range components and I paid £75 for a premium build service (which means they build the PC)
They initially told me that an item was not in stock although it was reported in stock when I placed the order. It later transpired that the ordering system had duplciated my entry. It took them a week to resolve this but they have still not yet billed me incorrectly.
Finally the PC arrived today, but in bits! Not built! What a joke!
I called them immediately, they do not answer the phone promptly, when I finally got through to tell them they had not built my system there was no apology, I was offered only a refund for the build costs or send back and wait another 2 weeks.
Very disappointed and will order from elsewhere in the future.
Dave found this review useful
well its a good service your are keep the time .delivering in good condition.Wonderful quality products, items arrive packaged really well and very quickly. easy to use website. Perfect.It comes fast and without no problem, easy to order and very good website outstanding.
I ordered a laptop and they delivered it fast.But when I checked the laptop it had problem in screen so I called them to change me another one.It took me 3 days to received another one.Finally it works well so I think this service is ok
i ordered a laptop from cclonline.com and i found the product was in compliant with the description on the website, moreover, the price was affordable and reasonable. after just one day, they delievered the good to my threshhold. thanks, i'll stick with the website.
Ordered an item for collection which was found to be faulty (Component loose in case). Replacement arranged quickly, this was found to be faulty. Now having to wait while they check the item out which would be at least 3 days not counting the weekend. Having travelled 2 x round trips of 54 miles I am now without the necessary part
Dave found this review useful
I ordered this on a Thursday and to keep the price down, used their 5-7 day delivery service and as this was an expensive monitor their checking service as well.
The original delivery date was not for a full 9 days (2 days for checking the monitor + 7 days for delivery), but the monitor was delivered today, just 3 working days after ordering.
Great service and well recommended.
I ordered a monitor from these people online, thinking the PC pro best online retailer might actually mean so something.. delivery due next day. Three days later, still no monitor, so phoned and someone said it would be there tomorrow. Another 2 days past, nothing.
The online support is a joke as nobody answered after 20 minutes. Wasted 10 minutes on hold to trading standards too.
Worst experience ever with an online retailer
Dave found this review useful
Order 8 items. Two days later, two items went out of stock for less than 24hours. I called them to ask is the order going forward. "Oh, yes sir."
It's now day FIVE.
It was ordered with TWO Days Postal Option.
It has not even been 'picked' yet, let alone entered the couriers hands.
No communication from them other than about the 2 items that were back in stock by the time I checked their website / my order.
Truly shocking service.
Edit: I just check my email. 1 item back out of stock but according to their real-time stock system they have 400+ in stock. Would you trust them....
366730 found this review useful
Ordered an item for collection which was found to be faulty (Component loose in case). Replacement arranged quickly, this was found to be faulty. Now having to wait while they check the item out which would be at least 3 days not counting the weekend. Having travelled 2 x round trips of 54 miles I am now without the necessary part.


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Fri, Nov 16, 2012 -- 2:00 AM
TED Radio Hour
Audio currently not available for this program.The Future of Cities -- For centuries, cities have been bringing people together. Now, for the first time in history, more than half the world's population lives in cities. What draws people to them? What changes when we live closer together? How can cities offer humanity its best hope for a sustainable future? Several TED speakers investigate the future of our urban zones.
Please ensure that all comments adhere to our community guidelines. Also, note that your comments could be read on air. KQED reserves the right to edit them for clarity or brevity, and we will use only your first name to identify you on the air.

subset: commoncrawl


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Laurence Olivier Awards: 1998 WinnersDate: 24 February 1998Winners of the 22nd annual Laurence Olivier Awards were announced 16 February 1998. Eighteen of the 20 awards were presented in a lunchtime ceremony presented by Clive Anderson and held at the Albery Theatre. The remaining two awards - for Best New Comedy and Outstanding Musical Production - were withheld until the television broadcast on Monday, 23 February. Winners of these awards were tracked down for surprise presentations later in the week. But those weren't the only surprises. Ute Lemper and Ruthie Henshall, the two main stars of Chicago, which scooped Outstanding Musical Production, were both vying for Best Actress in a Musical Award, but Lemper walked away with the trophy. In her acceptance speech, she honoured her co-star saying that, in her heart, they shared the award: 'It really does take two to tango,' said Lemper. 'Thank you, Ruthie.' The Royal National Theatre swept up again with six awards. Richard Eyre and Ian Holm have achieved a veritable Grand Slam of theatrical awards for their partnership in King Lear. The production has won Eyre Best Director and Holm Best Actor in the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics Circle Awards this year. The RNT also won Best New Play for Patrick Marber's Closer . When accepting his award, Marber confessed that he was 'embarrassed' for winning out over his idols who were in competition against him. 'David Hare (Amy's View) and Tom Stoppard (The Invention of Love ) were two of the reasons I became a writer,' he said. 'They've been a constant source of inspiration.' Zoe Wanamaker won Best Actress for Electra at the Donmar Warehouse, beating out stiff competition from the two West End Dames - Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. The Donmar also scored with its mixed-reception production of The Fix which won Philip Quast Best Actor in a Musical. And, in a surprise announcement, Culture secretary Chris Smith was on hand to present two Special Awards to Canadian father-son business duo Ed and David Mirvish for their 15-year ownership and restoration of the Old Vic Theatre. Smith took the opportunity to state publicly his ongoing private plea to the Mirvishes for the future of the Old Vic which is now up for sale. 'Please don't rush into a disposal of the Old Vic,' Smith said to David who watched from the audience, 'instead give all the rest of us a chance to come in with suitable, high quality proposals.' The ceremony - including the remaining two awards - was screened in the UK on BBC2 television on 23 February 1998 at 9pm. The full list of award winners is as follows. For a complete run-down of all 1998 nominations, see our Olivier Nominations feature.
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Groupon is a company everyone seems to love to hate. The number of negative articles I see coming across each day has become a bit mind-numbing. From @rakeshlobster and @conorsen on Minyanville and TechCrunch, to media pundits, to @vacanti on Yipit's blog, there's definitely more than enough Groupon bashing to go around. Much of it is completely justified - there is a ton of uncertainty surrounding Groupon's business and the local commerce industry as a whole, and pointing out the risks is very important. However, after having a look at the newly minted S-1 filing released yesterday, I thought I'd shed some light on a few potentially positive developments that I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere else.
When a company has only been around several short years and is growing at the break-neck pace of Groupon – one additional quarter can completely change previous notions and expectations. Here's a couple notes to consider in concert with other analysis out there from industry experts like Yipit and others.
Returning Customers
Many argue that the swelling subscriber base is becoming stale and most people are getting sick of the multitude of daily deal emails hitting their inbox every morning. Groupon doesn't reveal how many of their subscribers actually click through the emails or more importantly, continue to buy groupons. However, there is one paragraph on the bottom of page 77 that gives us a sliver of insight into how much subscribers are actually coming back – their Q2 2010 cohort.
This group of 3.7 million subscribers acquired in 2Q 2010 cost Groupon $18 million in marketing expense to acquire in that quarter and they've tracked this group through today. Here's what the data reveals (see chart below):
- Through 2Q 2011, this group of subscribers actually held up very well. Revenue and Gross Profit in 2Q 2011 fluctuated only slightly compared to the prior 3 quarters on average, and the number of groupons sold was flat. So over time, this same group of subscribers is continuing to contribute about the same amount of revenue and groupons sold each quarter. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell if revenue from the prior three quarters was skewed towards earlier periods and therefore could be on a declining trend, but even on an average basis I'm somewhat surprised. I think the fall in Gross Profit here is also partially attributable to a larger proportion of national deals (lower margins) being run in 2Q11 compared to the prior 3 quarters.
- Takeaways: If subscribers can continue to generate considerable and relatively stable Revenue going forward as this cohort appears it could be doing, this is a good sign for Groupon because it means subscribers are coming back and buying. This means that the money Groupon is spending to acquire these customers is being covered and the return on investment continues to rise. For each of the past 4 quarters, this group of subscribers has consistently contributed more than $10 per subscriber (highlighted in green below). Needless to say, it would be very interesting to see if this continues as well as how other cohorts might fare against this one.
Note: Subscriber acquisition costs have almost certainly increased since 2Q 2010 due to saturation and competition. It's also important to note that this group was a much more "early-adopter" crowd not only to Groupon, but also to the daily deal industry. This likely means they have a greater affinity to Groupon vs. other deal sites and may be benefiting from more referral bonuses, among other unquantified biases.
Marketing Expense
One of the biggest gripes I've seen out there is the huge amounts of money being spent on marketing to extend the rapid growth in subscribers and customers internationally and in North America, to a lesser extent. Notwithstanding the fact that their SG&A costs ballooned from a growingr salesforce, marketing expenses dipped significantly in 2Q 2011 vs. prior quarter. Marketing decreased from $78.6mm in 1Q to $55.2mm in 2Q for the North America Segment (26.4% vs. 16.1%, as a percentage of revenue), and from $129.4mm in 1Q to $115.6mm in 2Q for the International Segment (37.3% vs. 21.6%, as a percentage of revenue). Those are some pretty significant drops considering the huge amount of growth that was still observed, especially in the International Segment. Comparable growth quarter-over-quarter on a smaller marketing budget is a good sign.
*FY2010 for international assumes only 3 quarters of revenue
Subscriber Acquisition Costs
If the drop in marketing spend is not just a fluke, then subscriber acquisition costs are on the decline for both North America and Internationally. 1Q 2011 vs. 2Q 2011:
- North America: cost dropped from $6.35 to $5.75 per subscriber
- International: cost dropped from $5.12 to $4.81 per subscriber
I note that quarter-over-quarter, revenue per subscriber deteriorated in North America, and stayed flat Internationally. Is this a bad thing? It's really hard to tell.. as Tricia Duryee of All Things D points out, "the average revenue per subscriber fell…which may sound bad, but at the same time, the number of subscribers skyrocketed…".
In the end, I think there really is a silver lining in the supplemental S-1 filing. It's not all sunshine and roses, but I'll let you go elsewhere to read about the other side of the argument. Given how prevalent it is, I'd be surprised if you haven't already, but just in case here are a few articles pointing out the faults – they all make some very valid points:
Groupon Amends S-1, But Key Numbers Still Missing by @rakeshlobster
Groupon's Updated IPO Filing: Big Revenues, Big Losses, Lots Of Banks Underwriting It by @jyarow
Yipit Blog: New Filing Reveals Groupon's Oldest Markets Got Even Worse by @vacanti
Groupon In Major Trouble as Q2 Results Show Plunging Revenue Growth by @conorsen
BOMBSHELL: Groupon's North American Merchant Pool DECLINED In Q2 by @nichcarlson
My favorite and Most Entertaining Content on the Groupon IPO:
Namesake panel of experts debate: is Groupon brilliant or a Ponzi scheme?
Some gems from the @namesake conversation:
"Groupons are the subprime mortgages of 2011″ – @rakeshlobster
"The S-1 lists recession as a risk. Wrong. That was their big opportunity. A strong recovery is a risk for Groupon." – @rakeshlobster
What do YOU think?
UPDATE: Answer the question on Quora right now: "What are the main takeaways from Groupon's amended S-1 filing showing 2Q results?"
More Related articles:
- Groupon's net loss rises to over $100 million (news.cnet.com)
- Groupon Lost More Than $100 Million Last Quarter – Again – As Hiring Costs Jump (techcrunch.com)
- Groupon's updated IPO: Steady growth, more competition and a staggering $102M loss (venturebeat.com)


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Dreaming in black-and-white has never been so colorful. Read the latest thought-provoking work from Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist Tom Toles. Randolph Itch 2AM is an expansion from Toles' editorial artwork toward a comic series based on his mind's wanderings while battling insomnia. It's a perfect display of a high-concept imagination and a wonderfully funny and continuing storyline.
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Think of all the products you buy that go across a store scanner. Are you paying attention, or are you getting ripped off?
Hamilton County officials conduct tests throughout the year to make sure the price on shoppers' receipts matches the one on the shelf, and they let WLWT join them on an investigation at the Oakley Target store.
"We have high integrity to making sure our guests are taken care of the right way, and that they're not cheated," said senior team leader Sean Kestler, of Target.
Tom Woods, of the auditor's office, picks 50 to 200 items at random, scans the bar code and makes note of the price on the shelf, including specials and sales.
Then he takes the items to the cash register to see whether everything checks out.
If he finds an error, Woods checks the shelf again with the manager to make sure the mistake isn't his own.
If the mistake is the store's, Kestler said Target would take care of it right away, if possible. If the mistake can't be immediately corrected, Kestler said the items would be removed from the shelves.
Sometimes items ring up in the customer's favor, but Woods said that sends up a red flag of its own.
"If they're having problems doing it rising, they're going to have problems in both directions, so we don't discern between the two," Woods said.
Last year, the auditor's office tested 81 stores in Hamilton County. A third of them had a perfect record, and 21 stores failed. Another 35 stores had errors, but they still received passing grades.


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There could be a simple way to fix your phone...
We know it's frustrating when your phone doesn't work properly – especially if it turns out to be something that's easy to fix.
We've found that many phone problems can be fixed yourself in a few minutes – including phone lock-ups, application crashes, sound problems and a blank display. So before you contact us for a repair, try these fixes:
Easy fix 1: restart your phone
Press and hold the power key for at least 8 seconds. To switch your phone on again, press and hold the power key.
Easy fix 2: restore the factory settings
We recommend you back up your data first.
- End all active calls and connections.
- Select and Reset > Restore settings .
- If prompted, enter the security code.
After restoring the original settings, the phone switches off, and then on again. This may take longer than usual.
Restoring original settings does not affect personal data stored on your phone, such as:
- Contacts
- Calendar entries
- Documents, music, messages, or notes
- Internet bookmarks
- Accounts, security codes, or passwords
Easy fix 3: update your phone's software
You might not be using the most recent software for your phone. If you need to update, back up your data and contacts first so you don't lose them.
Your phone informs you when updates are available for your phone software or for individual applications. To keep your phone up to date, download and install the updates on your phone (network service). You can also check for updates manually.
Check for updates manually
- Select Settings > Applications > Manage applications .
- Open the Updates tab, and select Refresh icon to refresh the view.
You can update individual applications or all available applications.
If you need more help, see how to update your phone software.


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Springtime for the World
The British pop band, Blow Monkeys were founded in 1981 by frontman Dr. Robert, bassist Mick Anker, Saxophonist Neville Henry and drummer Tony Kiley. A new wave orientated act they released their first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow" in 1982 before becoming a more commercial pop rock act and then a dance act before splitting in the 1990s.
Their debut album, "Limping for a Generation" was released in 1984 but wasn't a major success. Their first major success came in 1986 with the release of their second album, "Animal Magic" and the hit single "Digging Your Scene" which reached No.12 in the UK and No.14 in the US. January 1987 saw their third album, "She Was Only a Grocer's Daughter" released which made No.20 in the UK mainly thanks to the single, "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way" which made No.5 in the singles chart.
1990 saw the release of their final album, "Springtime for the World" before the band split up. In 2007 the band members announced a reunion with a new album, "Devil's Tavern" and a tour in 2008.
Source: ArtistDirect; Wikipedia
This information is provided as a brief overview and not as a definitive guide, there are other sources on the net for that. If however you have a story or information that is not generally known we would love to hear from you. email@example.com
Why Not Check Out:


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The Leading Independent Porsche Magazine
GTPorsche magazine is for all owners, drivers and enthusiasts of Germany's most famous sports car maker. Packed full of the latest model reviews, buying guides, classic features, motor sport coverage and the latest news GTPorsche is a must for all Porsche fans.
Produced to the highest standards GTPorsche combines the best writers with the greatest photographers and ground breaking design to bring you the very best Porsche magazine on sale today.


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The catchy nomenclatures "zombie foreclosures" or "zombie titles" were coined by news organizations to describe abandoned homes in a state of proverbial limbo. Such homes are ownerless, in the sense that they are unoccupied by owners that hurriedly jump ship after receiving foreclosure notices required by state law. However, instead of executing a quick and efficient auction of the property, the bank takes its time, sometimes years, to sell the home to the highest bidder.
A January Reuters Special Report examined the horrors of the "zombie title" coming back to "haunt" homeowners when they learn that the bank dismissed or stalled the foreclosure judgment. These clueless homeowners, trying to move on with their lives from the traumatic experience of home foreclosure, discover they are personally liable for years of property taxes, upkeep, and in many cases urban blight resulting from the home's abandonment. The Reuters article zeroed in on the many perils of the zombie title by telling the story of a middle-aged man from Columbus, Ohio, who moved his family out of his home after receiving notice of a foreclosure judgment — only to have the home come back to "stalk" him several years later. Seemingly all at once, he was haunted by the walking dead- the County sued him for violating building codes, the tax collector started sending delinquent notices and city bills for property maintenance began to pile up. Adding injury to insult, his bank's debt collector started pushing him to pay his mortgage which had "swollen" more than $20,000 since he had moved out, and worse still, the Social Security Administration rejected his disability benefits due to the "asset" of his home. This story demonstrates the many potential pitfalls of banks "walking away" from a foreclosure without bothering to inform the owners. Victims of this "foreclosure horror show" also frequently face having their wages garnished, their tax refunds seized, and their credit demolished.
Following the release of the Reuters report and a reverberation of news coverage, RealtyTrac- a company that bills itself as "the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties and real estate data"- crunched some numbers to find that there are currently 301,874 "zombie" properties in the U.S. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, RealtyTrac president Daren Blomquist explains how the company came up with this number by cross-referencing the addresses of homes in the foreclosure process with Postal Service data on vacant property. The numbers show Florida taking the lead with 90,556 vacant homes in foreclosure, with Illinois and California coming in a remote second and third with 31,668 and 28,821 zombie properties on the list. Meanwhile, approximately 1,000 "zombie properties" in Kentucky give that state the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of zombies (54%) in its overall foreclosure inventory.
The relative vengeance of the zombie phenomenon, then, varies by state, and is likely partly tied to the lengthiness of the foreclosure process. In Florida, Blomquist suggests that the longer mean time to complete a foreclosure (853 days) likely causes a higher number of zombie properties as homeowners lose their hope and walk away.
But the likelihood of a foreclosure going "zombie" seems more directly related to the neighborhood and characteristics of the property. Banks tend to "walk away" from foreclosures of older, less valuable homes for which they might in fact lose money in the process. Thus, after initiating foreclosure proceedings against such a property, a bank might decide it is in its best interest to walk away to avoid holding costs: many cities impose fines on the bank if the homes aren't properly maintained, a burden which then falls to the unbeknownst homeowner when the bank jumps ship. As the original Reuters report points out, there are no regulations which require that banks inform homeowners when they "change their mind" about a foreclosure. Further, the Reuters article cites a 2010 Federal Reserve paper which finds that by walking away banks can gain insurance, accounting, and tax benefits from documenting the loss of the home, while avoiding the responsibilities and costs of ownership.
Even though in the $25 billion settlement with state attorneys general last spring, the 5 largest mortgage lenders agreed they would give borrowers notice of a decision to halt or delay a foreclosure, banks have not been held to task on this. Michael De Los Santos of PolicyMic explains:
What was supposed to be a solution for this [zombie] issue was the AG Settlement. However, like most solutions to the crisis over the last four years, enforcement is an issue. The settlement monitor is reliant on information provided by the banks to provide any enforcement. It doesn't take much thinking to realize that banks aren't going to intentionally turn over information that can lead to enforcement action. Provisions in the settlement require bank servicers to notify borrowers and tax offices of any decision to delay foreclosure or forgive the lien in lieu of foreclosing. Banks found a workaround: drop significant servicing portfolios on sub-servicers that are not under the settlement.
De Los Santos rightly emphasizes that the many thousands – around 300,000, according to RealtyTrac –facing this foreclosure Catch-22 will undoubtedly impact tenuous economic recovery in communities across the nation. The rise in family debt, tanking credit scores, decreasing property values, and increase in community blight and vagrancy which can result from zombie foreclosures obviously work against such recovery. To turn this around, he advocates for "real" regulation and enforcement. The tricky question seems to be, what would this "real" enforcement look like across a terrain of varying state and local responses to foreclosure? Would this be better addressed on the state, county, or municipal level or through a federal enforcement scheme?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: AG settlement, RealtyTrac, zombie foreclosure, zombie title | Leave a Comment »


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According to deputies with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, the right lane of northbound U.S. 23 near Joy Road has been closed due to an accident. Details of the crash were not immediately available from deputies and a there was no estimation on how long the lane would be closed. View 2013 Accidents in a larger map
Police are investigating the burglary of a Little League concession stand in Ypsilanti Township. Deputies were called to the park in the 10 block of South Harris Road, in Ypsilanti, after receiving a report of the stand being broken into sometime during the weekend, according to a release from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office. Sgt. Geoff Fox said the...
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Senior forward Cristian Roldan was leading the charge the length of the field with his team in tow after scoring a golden goal in sudden-death overtime for a 3-2 semifinal victory at Century to send the Dons to their third consecutive CIF-Southern Section Division 3 title game.
Roldan, who has 53 goals this season, scored all three goals for the top-seeded Dons (25-2-1). They will face Channel Islands, which defeated Palmdale 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie in regulation. The CIF-SS office will announce the time and location of the game today.
"I was more relieved than anything," El Rancho coach Dominic Picon said. "I didn't want their season to be over and I know they wanted to avenge last year's loss (in the CIF championship game)."
Roldan, headed to the University of Washington next season, scored on a set piece off a corner kick by senior midfielder Miguel Vilchis in the 87th minute. Vilchis had just re-entered the game after appearing to injure his leg early in overtime.
Roldan out-jumped the Century (14-10-4) defenders and headed the ball just inside the goal line.
From there, the 2012 Whittier Daily News Player of the Year was off to the races and sprinted almost 100 yards, much to the delight of a large contingent of El Rancho fans.
"Every set piece is done by him (Vilchis)
"Once he came in I looked at him and told him to go right in the middle of the box and I had my brother (junior midfielder Alex Roldan) set a little pick for me and I was just lucky enough to jump higher than the defense."
Century opened the scoring in the second minute with a goal by junior midfielder Ronaldo Pineda.
The Centurions, who outshot El Rancho 16-9, tied it at 1-1 in the 13th minute on the first of Roldan's goals.
El Rancho, which won a CIF title in 2011, took a 2-1 lead late in the second half when Roldan received a pass from Vilchis, dribbled in close and beat Century goalkeeper Edgar Espinoza.
Century tied the score 2-2 in the 73rd minute on a shot in the penalty area by junior midfielder Kevin Alberto, who beat El Rancho senior goalkeeper Gonzalo Contreras.
Contreras made several point-blank saves and defenders Francisco Miranda, Roberto Hernandez and Matthew Quirarte, along with Roldan, constantly were stopping Century scoring opportunities.


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Hidden away on the slopes of a mountain, this is the perfect counter therapy to a days work in the busy city of Port Louis. The hosts Joan and Jean-Michel really do look after their guests making a stay in Mauritius into a very special experience. The rooms are beautiful as is the large home and terraces. The views are... More
- Also Known As:
- Mon Choix - La Maison De Vallee Des Pretres Mauritius/Port Louis
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Mon Choix - La Maison de Vallée des Prêtres - 1st internationally graded ECO hotel in Mauritius - a charming Villa & Chambres d'Hôtes - guesthouse with pool and comfortable, spacious and tastefully furnished suites (with en-suite bathrooms and panoramic views) in beautiful countryside on the mountain slopes near Port Louis Business Centre and the main seaside resorts. An ecolodge with booking facilities for all tours, excursions, inland and water sports – big-game fishing, scuba, etc… ... more less


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Hector Celaya's family is grieving, torn apart with questions and unable to speak on camera. Family members say he shot six people including his mom, his son and two daughters before deputies could stop him. Two children survived, his 6-year-old son Andrew and 5-year-old daughter Linea.
Antoinette Hunter knew the kids but didn't really know the dad, "I just couldn't believe it...something like that just doesn't happen, especially to kids like that...how can somebody do that to their own kids?"
The first shots were fired Saturday night near Celaya's home on the Tule Indian Reservation. Deputies say Celaya killed three people there, two in a trailer and one in a shed.
Family members say one of those victims was Celaya's mom. They say he also shot his son before leaving in a Jeep Cherokee with his two daughters.
Deputies caught up with Celaya hours later and briefly chased him near Lindsay. When he stopped, more shots were fired. Investigators believe that's when the girls were hit.
On Sunday Sergeant Chris Douglass said "shots were fired inside the vehicle...not necessarily at our deputies so deputies did shoot their firearms at the suspect and the suspect was struck."
Celaya died at the hospital. His 8-year-old daughter Alyssa also died. His other two kids, Andrew and Linea are in the hospital. Andrew is in critical condition and Linea is in Serious condition.
Hunter said, "they were good kids...always happy, especially Alyssa...she was a very high spirited little girl."
Family members say Celaya was quiet, jobless and struggling. People on the reservation say he was a loner and a drug user.
Still, there are a lot of questions. Questions that might go unanswered.
The shooting victims have all been identified. Among the deceased, Irene Celaya, Francisco Moreno, Bernard Franco and Hector Celaya's daughter, Alyssa.
The Tulare County Sheriff's Department says multiple deputies shot at Celaya. They are all on administrative leave.


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Give your media player more vibrant sound with DFX Audio Enhancer plug-in.
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Need help? Call 0800 885 284 (NZ Only) or Email Us
Inner City Victorian Style Boutique Hotel Accommodation.
Built in 1896 the Victoria Railway Hotel is an Invercargill Icon with a NZ Historic Places Trust Category 1 Classification. The Hotel was closed for an architecturally designed upgrade and refurbishment in June 2003, the subsequently re-opened in May 2004. The upgrade included automatic fire sprinklers throughout, Type 7 smoke detection, Ground floor wheelchair units, CCTV and 24hr PIR access. On the 23rd May 2007 the Victoria Railway Hotel was the recipient of the Invercargill City Council Environment Award "in recognition of the work done is conserving this Invercargill landmark" and "the contribution to the environment that your property makes".
This Invercargill icon is one of the last remaining Hotels in New Zealand still being used for its original purpose. The Hotel specializes in accommodation with a range of options from Standard to Executive and VIP Rooms.
Lounge Bar and on site Dining for House Guests is available within the Hotel at Gerrard's Restaruant where the focus is traditional kiwi fare, fine Invercargill Beers and kiwi wines.
Travelbug comments are verified. Your comment will only appear if you have booked and stayed at this property via Travelbug (use the same email address that you booked with). Refer to our comments terms and conditions for more information


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Metro Transit works with community members, elected officials, cities and federal partners to build tomorrow's transportation system. Here are several projects that will enhance transit in the future.
> METRO Green Line (Central Corridor Light-Rail Project) This line will link downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota and downtown St. Paul. Service is expected to begin in 2014.
> Central Corridor Transit Service Plan In conjunction with the opening of the Central light-rail project, bus service will be restructured. The study and planning process, employing plenty of public input, will ensure that mobility is retained or improved for residents and businesses within a half-mile of the line.
> Southwest Transitway The proposed Southwest Transitway would link the southwest metro with downtown Minneapolis, traveling in Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Edina, Hopkins and St. Louis Park.
> The Interchange The Interchange adjacent to Target Field is planned as a regional multi-modal transportation hub to improve access and travel connections for trains, buses, automobiles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
> Maplewood Mall Park & Ride Expansion The Maplewood Mall Park & Ride location is expanding. Construction is underway on a ramp and parking lot that will accommodate nearly 1,000 additional free parking spaces when it opens in the summer of 2013.
> Hwy. 610 & Noble Parkway Park & Ride A new Park & Ride facility will be built near the northwest corner of Highway 610 and Noble Parkway and open in 2014. A popular existing surface lot across Noble Parkway will be replaced with the new and improved facility.
> Snelling Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) An urban bus rapid transit line with improved service and enhanced stations is slated to open in 2015, serving Roseville, Falcon Heights, St. Paul and south Minneapolis.
> I-35W Transit/Access Project Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit and MnDOT are proposing transit- and transportation-related improvements near I-35W, Lake Street and the Midtown Greenway, including a transit station and freeway ramp improvements.
> City of Minnetonka Transit Study Metro Transit, in cooperation with the City of Minnetonka, is conducting a study to identify potential bus service changes in the city. This study will build upon the city's transit vision and goals, which were recently developed in a separate, city-led study.
> West Suburban Service Changes Metro Transit has proposed local service improvements and express route restructuring in the communities of Minnetonka, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Deephaven, Greenwood, Excelsior, Shorewood and Tonka Bay.
> Midtown Corridor Alternatives Analysis Metro Transit is leading an alternatives analysis to improve east-west travel in south Minneapolis. The Midtown Greenway and Lake Street will be studied for future bus rapid transit (BRT), streetcar or light-rail transit (LRT) improvements.
> Arterial Transit New "rapid bus" service is being planned in high-demand urban corridors. These buses stop less and serve stations with enhance customer information and fare payment machines so travel speeds are much faster than local service.
> Nicollet-Central Transit Alternatives Study The City of Minneapolis is studying potential transit enhancements on Nicollet and Central avenues. The study will determine the benefits, costs and impacts of implementing a variety of transit modes and service types, including streetcar and enhanced bus options, along the corridor.
> METRO Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit The METRO Orange Line will use roadway improvements, upgraded transit stations and improved Bus Rapid Transit service to provide a fast, frequent and reliable all-day route along I-35W between Minneapolis and Burnsville.
> Transit Technologies Learn about innovations that improve your trip, such as real-time bus departure information, "smart" Park & Ride facilities, communication between buses and traffic signals and buses that announce their location.
> Go Greener Initiative By using hybrid buses and the latest generation of clean fuels, Metro Transit is helping the Twin Cities save more than the price of gas.
> Transit Advantages Transit works best when it can avoid general traffic congestion. Here's how Metro Transit keeps you moving.
> Adopt-A-Shelter Individuals, businesses and community groups can show their neighborhood pride by caring for a transit stop near them.
> Proposed policies related to Title VI The Met Council is seeking public comment on proposed policies to define procedures related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
> Transportation Policy Plan The Metropolitan Council adopted this long-range plan to slow the growth in traffic congestion and improve mobility through construction of transitways.
> Access Minneapolis The City's 10-year transportation plan addresses improvements for transit, bicycling and walking in downtown.
> Downtown Minneapolis 2025 Plan This plan was developed by the Minneapolis Downtown Council, with a membership that spans the City and its western suburbs. The 10-point plan calls for a thriving, livable, green, connected, exciting and welcoming downtown.
> Urban Partnership Agreement The metro area received a $133 million federal grant to reduce congestion. Roughly $86 million funded transit projects on I-35, adding two new Park & Ride lots and enhanced technology.
> I-35W & 46th Street Transit Station Study & Plan Metro Transit restructured bus service in late 2010 to coincide with the opening of a new two-level transit station. The final service plan was influenced by comments received during a public outreach process.
> Northwest Metro Restructuring In 2009, Metro Transit retooled bus routes in north Minneapolis and the northwestern suburbs. Learn about the process and implementation.
> Central-South Restructuring Look back at how Metro Transit bus routes were updated in conjunction with the launch of Hiawatha light rail.


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Crystal Marie Caldwell, of Huntersville, and Christopher John Vaughn, of Charlotte, announce their engagement and upcoming union.
The bride elect is currently employed as an EC Assistant at Lake Norman Charter School, Lake Norman. She was educated at SCPCC in Charlotte. Caldwell is the daughter of John and Tina Caldwell, of Matthews.
The groom elect is currently employed with Curtis Screw Group, Cornelius, as an engineer. He is a graduate of Richmond Senior High School, Richmond Community College, and a 2012 graduate of University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Vaughn is the son of Charles and Robin Vaughn, of Hamlet. He is also the grandson of Clyde and Sylvia Smith, of Rockingham, and Linda and the late Tom Vaughn Jr., of Hamlet.
A wedding is planned for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, at the Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church, Charlotte.


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Product Details
Take the sunshine with you where ever you go with the Raleigh 16" Sunshine girls' bike. In a pretty pink finish with bright rainbow graphics, this fabulous little bike features everything your little one needs. With a sturdy steel frame, mountain bike style forks, off road style tyres and front and rear V-brakes your child will love cycling and playing in the great outdoors.
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Key Information | |
Type | Kids bikes |
Gender | Girls |
Colour | Pink |
Features | |
Frame Size | 16" |
Inside Leg Measurement | 43 - 52 cm |
Suspension | None |
Pedals | Y |
Assembly | Minimal assembly required |
Mudguards | N |
Pannier Holder | N |
Forks | Rigid steel fork |
Rear Shock | N |
Stunt Pegs | N |
Brakes | |
Brake | V brakes |
Front Brakes | Y |
Rear Brakes | Y |
Brakes Lever | Y |
Gears | |
Cassette (Rear Gear) | Single speed |
Gears - Shifters | N |
Gears - Crankset | N |
Gears - Front Derailleur | N |
Gears - Rear Derailleur | N |
Wheels | |
Wheel Size (in) | 16 |
Wheel Specification | Alloy rims spoked wheels |
Material | |
Frame Material | Steel |
Additional Information | |
Age Suitability (yrs) | 5-8 |
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Currie Cup preview (Final)
26 Oct 2012
GARETH DUNCAN analyses Saturday's Currie Cup final between the Sharks and Western Province.
Most of the odds lie in the Sharks' favour: home ground advantage, they have the better team on paper, they have settled combinations and the stronger pack. Let's not beat around the bush, the Sharks are overwhelming favourites to claim the title.
The Sharks have not lost against any South African team at home during Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. Kings Park has been a fortress against their local rivals, and they will carry that confidence into the title-decider. WP will also go into this match knowing they only won once in the last five against the men from Durban in all competitions. The bashing they received in the Super Rugby semi-final at Newlands must still haunt them.
A key advantage for the hosts will be their expected ascendancy among the heavies. While the Golden Lions boasted the strongest pack for most parts of the domestic competition, the Sharks forwards won that reputation during the latter league rounds and in the semi-final win over the Blue Bulls as their Springboks returned.
The Sharks boast brute strength up front, which has been central on attack and defence, their scrumming performances and setting a quality platform for in-form flyhalf Pat Lambie and his dangerous backline. There's a 60% chance of rain in Durban on Saturday, highlighting the importance of dominance among the forwards.
Kudos must be given to head coach John Plumtree, who mastered the management of his Test players after they came back from Rugby Championship duty. The Kiwi learned his lesson the hard way last season when he rushed all seven of his internationals into the starting line-up when they jetted back from the World Cup in New Zealand. They struggled to make an impact in the 2011 Currie Cup final at Ellis Park, which saw the Lions ease to a 42-16 win. Plumtree will get the best out of his Boks on Saturday.
Lambie's most outstanding individual performance came in the 2010 Currie Cup final. He's yet to eclipse that memory over the last two years, but the signs he's shown over the last fortnight in the No 10 jersey indicate he'll be an important player on the pitch on Saturday. Even though he struggled to get game time with the Springboks this season, he's looked confident at flyhalf and will play a vital role with the boot and in marshalling his team-mates on his outside. A strong run this weekend will force Bok coach Heyneke Meyer's hand in picking him at pivot (and not fullback) during the end-of-year tour.
If the Sharks gain ascendancy, their backline will thrive. Young scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has been Plumtree's find of the season, the young centre combination of Paul Jordaan and Tim Whitehead has gelled really well (to think Frans Steyn will still jump into the midfield equation next season), and wing JP Pietersen and fullback Louis Ludik are enjoying a purple patch of form.
This is the Sharks' final to lose.
It doesn't look good for the visitors.
They shocked the Lions by scoring a late try for a 21-16 comeback win in Johannesburg last weekend. But the final against the Sharks should be a step too far.
However, head coach Allister Coetzee and optimistic Province fans will say: 'never rule out the underdogs'.
The main targets the Cape side will aim for are the lineouts, the breakdown battle and the tactical kicking game. If WP can achieve any ascendancy in these facets of play, they'll have hope.
The Sharks have been poor at the lineouts in recent weeks, while Province have excelled at the set piece throughout the domestic campaign. Province will miss their injured lineout kingpin Andries Bekker, but if they can continue their impressive showings, they have a platform to attack from. Their driving maul has beaten most defences from close range.
The individual performances of No 8 Duane Vermeulen and flank Deon Fourie will be very influential. Both players have been consistent throughout the year, and their team will need big contributions from them. They'll be key in the breakdown assault and as ball carriers. Fourie will also need to keep a cool head and not concede needless penalties.
The halfback combination of Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis will need to fire. The two players know each other well as they've played alongside each other ever since the 2011 Varsity Cup with UCT.
Groom provides quick service and will keep the defenders around the fringes on their toes, which takes some pressure off Catrakilis. The Kings-bound pivot has impressed with the boot when his forwards hold their own up front, but he's known to falter when defences give him no space or time with the ball. The Province pack need to play their part, as Catrakilis will be a vital part of their tactical kicking game.
If WP can achieve this, they will have the chance to win favourable field positions. If they can milk kickable penalties off the Sharks, the visitors have a sharpshooter to rely on. But I stress, this will be a tough task.
It will be interesting to see how Coetzee's gamble of starting rookie Damian de Allende at inside centre pays off. Marcel Brache has been inconsistent and many feel JP du Plessis (who's with the U21s) should've been given a go, but Coetzee seems confident De Allende can provide a physical presence. Province can't afford him to falter.
WP don't have much running for them, but if they can put the Sharks under pressure in the aforementioned areas, they could find themselves in the position to pull off one of the most unlikeliest upsets of the year.
Sharks WWLWLWLWWWW
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane.
WP – 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie (c), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Joe Pietersen.
Gareth's prediction: Sharks by 15
567 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
27 Oct 2012, 13:57 pm@cane-547:
Yeah, lower Hutt… Wellington is a cool place.
Why I am asking is because I saw I see Ben Harper is performing there on 2 and 3 November. If you are at all into his stuff you cannot miss it. He is doing an accoustic set, should be magic.
27 Oct 2012, 13:59 pm1 cup in the bag
2 to go
go boys go!
27 Oct 2012, 14:09 pmSwiel is quite good but it seems as if the Bulls pack is too strong for WP so it will be a battle for him today.
27 Oct 2012, 14:13 pmGood drive there by WP. But that Kebble boy must be an expensive mouth to feed.
27 Oct 2012, 14:18 pmI think there is quite some money in that family so he will probably be well fed and look like his dad in the not too distant future- and that will not be a pretty sight
27 Oct 2012, 14:50 pm@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-374:
So determined to prove your Pedigree
yet you see only what you wish to see
you trample on all nuance and irony
and are colourblind to the art of subtlety
focus not on what you wish will be to be
and simply see before you what isIf I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?
You are more percipient
As the minstrelpoet observed
Some people feel the rain
Some even sing and dance and celebrate
Others, sadly, simply get wet.Some look in the mirror and see only what they believe stares back at them – based on tightly held jealously guarded historical preconceptions.
You Sir, see through the looking glass!May the universe align itself as it will and the Planets fall where they may.
May the result be free of controversy and may whomever the Champions are stand straight and tall with grace as Champions should!Go Western Province
27 Oct 2012, 15:37 pmThe tank is humming.
Wpians in abundance.
Arme outjies.
Grinding time draws near.
27 Oct 2012, 15:38 pm"If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wish'd for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents." -
27 Oct 2012, 15:46 pmI've gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good good nightI've gotta feeling (Woohoo) that tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good good nightTonight's the night
Let's live it up
I got my money
Let's spend it upGo out and smash it
Like Oh My God
Jump off that sofa
Let's get get OFFI know that we'll have a ball
If we get down
And go out
And just lose it allI feel stressed out
I wanna let it go
Lets go way out spaced out
And losing all controlFill up my cup
Mazel tov
Look at her dancing
Just take it OFFLet's paint the town
We'll shut it down
Let's burn the roof
And then we'll do it again -
27 Oct 2012, 16:00 pmSBW rushed for MRI scan
2012-10-27 13:14
Tokyo – New Zealand All Blacks centre Sonny
Bill Williams was taken to hospital for an MRI
scan after hurting his shoulder playing for
Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights on Saturday.The New Zealand heavyweight boxing
champion said on his Twitter page: "Going in
for an MRI hopefully just a small muscle
tear" after Panasonic's 23-20 win over
Kintetsu Liners.Williams, who scored a first-minute try, was
taken to hospital after the match with his
right arm in a sling.If serious the injury could put his fight
against South African Francois Botha in
Brisbane next month at risk and even bring a
swift end to his Japanese season.Williams left the world champion All Blacks
and Waikato Chiefs for a 12-match deal in
Japan worth an estimated $100,000 a game. -
27 Oct 2012, 16:09 pmSh*t, massive storm coming which means my DSTV reception goes and also my WiFi modem has to be unplugged.
27 Oct 2012, 16:12 pm@Transformation-560: how come you never post on Kings threads?
27 Oct 2012, 16:16 pmOff to the pub then.
27 Oct 2012, 16:30 pm@I am a stormer-563:
Yeah. My wife will not be happy being left alone. She hates storms and we usually have the electricity trip as well. -
27 Oct 2012, 16:32 pm@I am a stormer-563: pub it is…
27 Oct 2012, 16:38 pmBeware the Jabberwock my son.
27 Oct 2012, 20:36 pm@wp. winning nothing never looked so easy-512:
Do you still blog under this nic?
Pages: « 1 … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 [12] Show All
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text:
Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team for PSP
Play solo or team up via Ad Hoc mode to tackle memorable battles in a variety of single player and multiplayer modes, including Dragon Walker, Battle 100, and Survival Mode. Dragon Walker Mode takes fans through the entire epic Dragon Ball Z story arc from the Saiyan saga to the Majin Buu saga. Battle 100 Mode tasks players to relive the most epic encounters and newly created situations from the Dragon Ball Z world in ever increasingly difficult situations. With more than 70 playable and deeply customizable characters, multiple modes, and Ad Hoc Party gameplay, Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team is chock full of gameplay for your portable PSP system.
See All NewsDragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team News
Tough Enough for DBZ: Tenkaichi Tag Team?
Am I the only one having a hard time keeping all these names straight?
Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team Kamihamihas the PSP Next Month
Do people seriously still play/watch/wear Dragon Ball Z? Even when Dragon Ball Z was cool it still wasn't cool. Then the movie came along and ruined
Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team debut trailer
The Super-Saiyans are back for some tag team action.


text:
Scott rallies to win Australian Masters
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Adam Scott shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday to win the Australian Masters in his native country for his first victory of the year.
Scott had five birdies on the front nine and another on No. 18. He trailed Ian Poulter by one after three rounds.
"This has been a long time coming," Scott said. "This is pretty sweet to be in the gold jacket and hold this trophy that I've been admiring since I was a little kid.
"Winning the Australian Open was like getting the monkey off my back a couple of years ago, but this is certainly something I've wanted to achieve for a long time."
Poulter, who played with Scott, bogeyed two par-5s in three holes on the back nine in the final round and missed a short par putt on 17. He shot a 72 and finished second, four strokes behind the winner.
Scott finished with a 72-hole total of 17-under 271 at Kingston Heath.
New Zealanders Gareth Paddison (68) and Mark Brown (69) tied for third, eight strokes behind.
Poulter said his bogey on No. 12 was costly.
"It wasn't a mistake in club selection, it was a poor swing," Poulter said. "So, if you're going to make a poor swing in that situation then you're going to get punished, and I did. I made a good 6 in the end, but a bogey there's costly and obviously a bogey on the next par 5 was also very costly.
"It was good to try and defend. I'm obviously just a little disappointed that I wasn't slipping another jacket on." Continued...
Scott tapped in for birdie on the par-5 first to quickly join Poulter at the top, and the lead changed six times in seven holes.
After trailing by three strokes, Poulter made it interesting with an eight-foot birdie putt on 16 to pull within two, and the margin could have been closer. Scott was short of the green, but pitched to within four feet and made his par putt to make the swing just one shot.
Poulter gave away any chance of catching Scott when he lipped out on 17, increasing the margin back to three before Scott's birdie on 18.
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, finished in a tie for eighth after a 71 in the final round.
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