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442 reviews | 4.1 out of 5
Yamaha Raptor 700R vs. Power Wheels Kawasaki KFX
I originally purchased the Power Wheels Kawasaki KFX for my 2 year old son and was impressed, It seemed a little cheaply built, but overall it did what I wanted it to do, however, after only 10 days the rear end stripped out, and left us disappointed. We then went with the Yamaha Raptor, and all I can say is wow! This 4-wheeler is far superior, from the positive traction rear end(which makes it nearly impossible to get stuck), to the heavier (and I mean it carries twice the weight of the Kawasaki, 130 lbs!) built frame! Another great feature on this product is it has a shock underneath the backside which makes it a much smoother ride! Where the Kawasaki would get stuck, the Yamaha keeps going, for what it is, it is a beast! We have a trail through 20 acres of woods; this 4-wheeler travels it many times, without ever getting stuck, and keeps a great charge on the battery! It drives through dirt, pine straw roads, knocks down small bushes and even climbs steep hills! This is a great 4-wheeler, and I feel is far superior to that of the Kawasaki!
I purchased this item for my daughter who is six and about 60 pounds. I was looking for a powered toy that can hold her weight and last a while as she grows. This is the only item that holds the weight limit of 130lbs and also has 2 forward speeds and reverse! I love this item because it has completely exceeded my expectations. She uses it in the snow, dirt and on pavement and she truly loves it. This was worth the money asked and more. Btw I have seen so many other item that are much more expensive and don't include all of the qualities that this item does. This was def the best Christmas gift ever. Btw my daughter is 4 feet tall and has a lot of space on this item. Most of these powered cars don't have space enough for a child of her size to fit comfortably but I can def say this item leave space for growth. The handle bars are also adjustable both up and down n forward and back for maximum comfort!
I have done alot of research on these ride on toys. I read all the customer reviews, which I rely HEAVILY on so I am inclined to review this item as to help future shoppers like myself. Ok so it was a toss up between this one and the preg prego (i think that's the name) which was very close in price. One of the biggest selling points for us was the weight max on this one. Its 130 lbs! I actually rode this and went up a semi-steep hill and its pulled my 128 lb butt right up the hill. Our daughter just turned 6 and she is a big girl. She has always been big therefore the others that max out at 65 lbs wasn't going to work. She is about 60 lbs now. What I like about this item is this: 1)-the weight max 130 lbs! 2)-it was SO EASY TO ASSEMBLE! 3)-it will be able to used by our daughter for at least 2 more years (minimum) until we can get her a full sized gas one! 4)-this Quad goes over gravel,hills,grass and has pretty good traction for a 12 volt kids toy. I like that it has 2 speeds and reverse. It was about $230 with tax and it was delivered earlier than expected! Shipping was free. It has a pedal on the right side (foot) and the shift is in the middle. Our daughter knows how to work it and just loves the fact that she can go up on the lawn to the street and up small hills. She loves the independence it gives her and I can walk the dogs and she can drive along with us. I do wish it went a bit faster but as far as all the 12 volt ride on's go this is standard. There is 1 I saw that goes 3 & 6 mph. This one goes 2.5 mph & 5 mph. I don't think the .5 mph is going to be that noticeable. Anyway, she just LOVES her present and I would DEFINITELY recommend this to anyone in the market for one of these. I also like the fact that she can ride alone or have a friend ride on behind her. The other ones were side by side (seating) but this is more rough and tough like-more-sporty. Its purple and white. This will keep her happy until she is old enough for a "real" one. The battery was charged for the min 14 hours. actually we charged it for like 22 hours! it held up for about 2 1/2 -3 hours of riding. So far she has only ridden it around the house and neighborhood. But looking forward to taking it somewhere she can really go up and down and on bumpy rides. This Quad CAN HANDLE WHAT SHE DISHES OUT! We live in Suffolk County LI, NY.The south shore is pretty flat but I know of a few spots where she can ride it for a bumpy hilly ride! I wish we had gotten it for her when she was younger so she could have enjoyed it for longer! Great for 4 yrs and up! Very Happy Purchase!
I love the 2 different speeds.Helps a lot for my biginner child .it is great that it holds up to 150 in pounds since everything else is either too small or too light weight. My son RJ loves it a lot.Works great in the backyard. Thx Patti
We bought this toy over a year ago for my son. He was 2 at the time but VERY coordinated. He has used this toy every single day that I let him outside and he LOVES it! He loves that he doesn't have to have help moving it around because of the 2 sppeds and the reverse. He had a smaller battery powered 4wheeler and it just sat and spun on the grass. This 4wheeler Has no problem gripping the ground. He has ridden it after it has rained and after it has snowed and never had a problem! I Love thatit has one slow speed so that he can ride it with his little sister and not go so fast it knocks her off the back, but in the high gear he is so excited because he is going "super fast"! This is just over all the perfect battery powered toy!
Best value esp with the 130lbs wt capacity. No like products even come close not to mention those expensive brands (most only 65lbs max). Read one negative review and could be an isolated case. Will update on product performance next month after some usage just to be fair. Right now, exceed expectations! (Even better value is the Walmart $20 Care Plan for 2 years that starts only after the mfg warranty expried!) A side complaint is that it doesn't come with the assembly video as printed on the carton.
From the biggest (12 years old) to the smallest (3 years old) they all love this ride on. The older ones drive the younger ones and then they get a turn by themselves. The big wheels handle our yard well, better then the mustang that we have. I have a great time watching the kids ride around too. We did not have a problem putting the ATV together and it looks very nice. We purchased an extra battery to get twice the fun. The ATV is sturdy, easily holding 2 children and is easy for the older kids to drive, since the peddle is not boxed in the body. Great buy for the money!
My Husbands parents bought this for my son for christmas 2010...WOW! It pulls on rough terrain & can pull my 3 year old & 2 year old daughter at the same time. After 2 rides my son was driving like a pro & backing up! I'm all about a review so if your thinking about this one....GET IT! Awesome buy and actually buying one for my daughter for her birthday next month. p.s. remember to charge the battery before you show it...it take a while.
The max weight capacity alone should be enough to make you buy this one! It is MORE THAN double that of other popular brands. It rides effortlessly on any terrain! The high and low gear option is great for speed and control. Stop wasting your time comparing other ATV's, trust me I did it for you! Just buy it! I brought 2, and my kids have the fastest, longest battery life and most realistic 4 wheelers in our subdivision!
My husband purchased this product on 3/11 along with the Wal Mart and our child has maybe 15 hours of ride time on it. In late June it just quit working. Contacted the manufacture advised battery wasn't charging and unit would not function. They advised me they had to go through their protocol for warranty service & repair which consist of trial and error. During call I was asked to disassemble the pedal put wires together etc and from that they shipped me a gear shifter which by the way they sent it snail mail 8 to 10 business per representative. After it didn't work, they offered to send me a new battery however, I must pay for it $60 plus shipping. I then contacted the extended warranty company and they told me their warranty won't kick in until late September however, because of pre-existing issues they warranty is basically void.
Regardless of how much joy you think your child my have with this unit, it isn't worth losing $225 plus dollars and time with it.
My son just turned 5 years old and got this for his birthday. He is absolutely in love with it. It has 2 speeds, the top being about 5 mph. Which is pretty speedy for a little bike. My son and I would highly recommend it.
I purchased this for my 3 year old grandson last year. Similar products looked poorly built by comparison, so I opted for the Raptor. The maximum weight load exceeds the competitions, so the kids will not grow out of it as quickly. Other thoughts:
* The battery (Yuasa NP12-12) costs $24 - $30 to replace. Proper maintenance absolutely required or it will not last beyond a year. Read the charging instructions and follow them to the t!
* The battery life is fairly short before it requires a charging (1-2 hours). Charging takes 14 to 24 hours.
* I suppose for safety reasons, there is no external battery charging hookup on the Raptor. You must remove the seat and disconnect the battery to charge it, making it easy for you to lose the seat retaining screw!
* Two speeds and reverse - pretty impressive! High speed clips along fairly well, though not dangerously so.
* The "tires" are hard molded plastic and will wear very quickly if used frequently on paved, concrete or other rough surfaces.
* The instructions warn against shifting speeds while moving lest the transmission break. Really, now, what 3 - 6 year old is going to listen to such reasoning!
Overall, I am happy with the purchase and would buy again.
We bought this in July and the battery never really lasted long- we have a john deere as well and that was outlasting the 4 wheeler all the time- well then it just stopped working completely. So I called the # on the product and got a very helpful rep, Kim, and she had me get a voltage reading on the battery- which showed 12.5- so that seemed good, but then after more discussion she told me since these batteries sit on a shelf for a year or more without ever being used or charged, cells can die, so mine was considered defective even though it showed a good reading. She sent me a new shifter, battery and charger all at no cost, and I recieved within 3 business days. Ever since it has been running great! And my boys, 2 and 5 love it!! I even ride it sometimes!
We bought 2 for our kids for Christmas. One works great! The kids LOVE it. The other one... nothing :( We've been trying to figure out what the problem is. Not sure if we're going to have to return it? Putting them together... eh. Pretty basic, but it does come with a great instructional video! Make sure you look at all four wheels. The two front ones have inserts. The two back ones do not have the insert. Other than that, relatively easy. As for the quality, the tires are kind of a cheap plastic. Not very good grip. The rest of it is wonderful (the one that works atleast). Our kids are 4 (a very BIG 4), and 7. Both fit on it great and their weight did not weigh it down too much. They still moved pretty good.
We purchased this Christmas 2010 for our 2 1/2 year old son. We looked and looked and did some safety research before we made a decision. Super happy we decided on this! Was easy (enough) to put together, easy to ride, and so much fun for our little man! Great value as far as I'm concerned. The wheels are plastic, so if its muddy or real rocky it doesn't always grab that well, but no big deal. Also, my incredibly spoiled son convinced his grandmother to get on, and it goes with both of them. Not too fast, but I was not expecting it to budge. Oh, and for those of you worried about safety, put them in a helmet and don't stress. He will run smack into a tree at full speed and he barely lurches forward. Very satasfied with the total product.
5 years ago we purchased this model for our then 2 (now 7) year old. It's been ridden hundreds of hours and is still in great shape! It's lived with us in California and Florida- with the great weather we're outside a ton and this seems to be the toy of choice for the hour of battery life. We have replaced the battery once, replaced the back wheels twice and it's amazing both on blacktop and does fine on our wood decking, pool deck concrete, and grass. It spins a bit in the mud but I could never complain considering the amount of abuse all of our kids have put it through and it's still kicking like it's brand new. We have a Jeep Powerwheels too but it's so difficult for the kids to steer through the grass and now that my boys are bigger their legs are simply too long for it- not a problem with the ATV! We'll be adding two more of these to the collection this Christmas.
Bought this for my 2 year old son for Christmas 2011. I choose this one for the high weight limit, figuring that it would last a while and his older sisters could ride it sometimes too. When not being played with, it has always been stored indoors. Within two weeks of getting it, the reverse stopped working for no reason at all. We got out the paperwork to file for warranty repair. Upon reading the warranty, we see that it's not really a warranty at all. You can only file a claim if the 4 wheeler hasn't been used. What good is that? Fine then, my son played with and was okay that it didn't go in reverse. Well six months later and now it won't go forward either. So now we have a pile of plastic junk sitting in our garage that doesn't work and a dissapointted two year old. What a huge waste of money. Wish I would have just bought the real gas power thing now. I definitely wouldn't recommend this to a friend and personally won't buy junk from this manufacturer again.
My 3 yr old son is in love with this and so aren't his parents. A little jealous - weight limit is 130 lbs so I can't ride it!! (haha) All kidding aside I bought this because our neighbor had one last yr and took it out this yr and still running great! They are so cool that the older kids in the neighborhood want to ride them and even the 10 and 11 yr olds love it!! Definately would encourage you to go with this one as many other friends of mine have had different four wheelers and this one is definately the best!!
I bought this for my 4 y/o grandsons birthday, what a thrill! I a (50+) grandmother put it together with little effort. I did find the front bumper somewhat difficult since the holes were not lined up, but after an hour or so working on it, I managed to get it on. I also found one screw was put in wrong and stripped the hole, so DH put a larger one in and fixed that. The decals were poorly applied too, I would have done a much better job myself.
But overall the quad is good quality and my grandson got a great kick out of it! I asked him as he was riding "how do you like your quad"? And his reply was a thumbs up and a wink! That was all thanks a Nana could ask for!
Oh, and the battery lasted a couple hours before we put it away, and it was still running strong.
I bought this for my god son(2 years old) in July of 2010, I have to say he beat the heck out of it for 3-4 months, it was put up for the winter, when we got it out this spring couldn't find charger, ordered a replacement $35($20+$15 shipping) and after charging it would not move. I talked to a tech and was told it was probably the shifter$20($5+$15 shipping), replaced shifter and it's up and running and he's back having fun. If you need these parts go to www.motiontrendz.com.


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goo (search engine)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (August 2014) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
goo (stylized with no capitalizing of the first letter) is an internet search engine and web portal based in Japan, which crawls and indexes primarily Japanese language websites. goo is operated by the Japanese NTT Resonant, a subsidiary of NTT Communications.[1]
External links[edit]
|This article about a search engine website is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

subset: commoncrawl


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I love keeping fit and eating fairly health, but ill never pass up a pizza or burger if that's what's on the menu! I love my food and trying out new places to eat, nothing better than a great meal I say
I believe in treating others how I would want to be treated and being kind to others because there is a thing called karma
I really enjoy meeting new people & experiencing different cultures, its is a wonderful enriching experience.
I still believe in love. I am a romantic, passionate person and expect to be treated with respect, kindness and love which are qualities I always admire and I always treat my lady as a real princess.
I am a conscious nature lover, enjoy long drives, Hiking , Camping , and most of the outdoor activities. Love being close to the ocean :)


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The Outback Steakhouse: Not Quite Aussie but Good Beef
This was my first introduction to The Outback and was a favourable one. The bar was busy, and the service was great. The only thing was that they didn't warn about the copious quantities of food! It was a snowy stormy night and this was a cozy place to forget about the weather outside.
Favorite Dish: I loved the Bloomin' Onion. Now many other places are serving these so it isn't so unique, but I had my first at The Outback so it will always be special to me. *grin*
I haven't had a bad steak there, and I also like their roast beef.
If you like salt...: You'll love 'THE CHAR!"'
Supposedly Beckley's Best, I found it a mesmorizing MESS! Old school (think 60s!) Clubby Look inside. Slate rock and beige hues.. a small cocktail bar that could be used as the set of the first 3 minutes of a porn flick... Simply tacky! And a dining room that at best looks like a Holida Inn convention hotel banquet room. Sorry for the imagery, but it's just old & tired looking. The grounds on the other hand are pretty. A small pond with geese and pretty greenery. The outdoors are about all this place has going for it. If you are looking for quality food in Beckley, go to Outback and save yourself money and heartache. I ordered baked scallops and it was salty. I ordered (a la carte) a side of mushrooms. Not only were they CANNED, but someone forgot to rinse off the canned salty flavor. A Mess! All I can say.
Service was OK. We were a group -- and a group of women no less -- and so our female server wasn't thrilled. I have been around restaurants long enough to know that servers don't like all woman tables. Apparently woman tables don't tip as good as men.
I was informed the owners of the Char also own Pasquales (the best Italian in town). My advice while in Beckley - Stick to Theme / Tried and true chain establishments.
Favorite Dish: I ordered, for the hell of it, fried olives, never having had them before. Tasted like conventional institutional "Poppers"... Skip them! Someone had an app of baked brie. THAT was good. Friend had crabcakes. NOT lump crab and made from swimmer crab at that.
Don't Go!
Pasquales Italian Restaurant: Italian in Beckley
Nice place. Convenient Location. Reasonable prices. OK food. (Warm bread doesn't mean tasty bread... good house salad. OK pasta sauce...) Friend had a chicken dish w/ a cream sauce and capers. It looked / smelled much better than my baked ziti. Apparently this is the BEST local Italian restaurant, short of chains. Nice for special occaisions and/or business. We sat outside and had great weather. That was charming.
Favorite Dish: Pellogrino water was good. ; /
Outback: Pretty Good
I ate here after reading Cdnjane's review. Plus it was the only decent restaurant I saw in Beckley. Great food & service. (Sam was my server and he was pleasant!)
Favorite Dish: Seared ahi Tuna Appetizer ROCKS! And the Wollaby Darned Peach Belini drink was super tasty.
Tudor's Biscuit World: Biscuits Like Mama Used to Bake
Tudor's Biscuit World is a small regional chain, headquartered in Charleston, WV. The only place I have ever seen one is here in the Mountain State, where they are fairly common, although there are also a few in other states. That's why Karen and I felt we just had to have lunch here. It offers something that is not readily available elsewhere.
Favorite Dish: Naturally the "home made" biscuits are good. For a great cheap lunch, try the bowl of white beans with cornbread. Not only will it fill you up, but it's delicious too. The Chili Slaw Dogs are also good. They make hotdogs better here in West Virginia than anywhere I know. Click on the website link below to find a fuller menu.
- Food and Dining
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3-1/2" Paring Knife - Sani-Safe® Series is rated out of 5 by 4.
Rated 5 out of 5 by ihatecooking from LOVE IT! I have bought soooo many of these knives. they are such a good price and super sharp. it is my favorite knife. when i had one, i would just wash it over and over and not use any other knife in the kitchen. i like to use it for vegetables mostly...not so much for meat. anyway, i have bought it as gifts for everyone in the family and they loved them and asked for more. the only bad thing is that shipping is so expensive. it arrives really fast at least.
Date published: 2013-10-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by Anonymous from These knives cannot be beat! We had purchased 2 of them at a Boat show, and had lost one. I was so pleased that I found Food Service Warehouse, and that they were available for purchase. Thus, we purchased 2 more to give us a set of 4. Wish they were cheaper and could purchase, at least, a complete set of 6 or 8. We used them daily. Great for steak, etc.
Date published: 2011-10-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by Lanette from Love this Dexter paring knife. It's super sharp, makes super thin slices. Handle easy to grip, well balanced. If you're not used to using a sharp knife, be careful as even the tip is very sharp. I bought one 25 years ago that I'm still using - it's pretty worn but despite the knicks and broken tip it's one of my favorite knives.
Date published: 2010-11-14
Rated 4 out of 5 by Anonymous from These knives are the best for daily use for just about any task.
Date published: 2010-10-02


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Eat Your Meat
Pan-Seared Pork Blade Chop
Starting the chop in a hot pan lets you get a good initial sear; lowering the heat gives you control while it cooks through.
Fennel-Rubbed Pork Roast
As the pork cooks, the fat will gradually render, basting the roast.
Crispy Chicken with Shallots
Rubbing the marinade onto only the flesh side puts it in direct contact with the meat and lets the skin get extra-crisp with no fear of burned bits.
Spicy Tamarind Skirt Steak
You'll see fibers running through the cooked steak; make sure to cut across them for tender slices.
Perfect Grass-Fed Beef Burgers
Adding onion delivers moisture; forming thicker patties prevents them from cooking too fast and drying out. Both steps are key when working with grass-fed ground beef.
White Wine–Braised Chicken
This is an infinitely customizable dish: Try different fresh herbs, add thinly sliced vegetables, or throw in some spices.


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Ever wondered how you in the next 24 hours could be making BIG money on Triond? Well let me introduce the Triond formula for success, and I ask beseechingly that after you've read this you leave a comment and set forth your quest to fame and fortune…
Triond is an amazing opportunity for all writer's of any age to come forth and begin their journey to making some decent cash! One of the most important things I learned about Triond though, is that when you're writing you should always really do it for fun than for a living! If you do it for a living that's exactly what you'll get, just a living! But if you do it for fun what do you get? A living and a source of having fun at the same time! This is simple stuff guys which if you don't know already, well it's a good job you came across this guide!
Okay so I'm not going to go and tell you some rubbish about adding friends for more cash, because in all fairness you can have as many friends as you want on Triond and if you use them for more money they aren't really your friends are they? They're just people who boost your promotion by commenting on your work, and still you wonder why you get a lot of comments but not a lot of views…
The secret to friendship is to treat the people you want to be friends with… as friends! So if you go out now to the Triond community, and then make decent friends with over 20 people you'll soar through this place like a meteor! Remember I don't mean make a fake relationship with them that lasts a day, I mean a real relationship were both you are your friend collaborate with each other to help one and other out! If you do this you're already half way through the formula!
Another part to formula is that you must now with your friends dominate the writing world! How many times must Mnofdichotomy say it before we realise that Triond is a publishing site not a writing site? You can write the best stuff in the world, and then not receive more than 2000 views per year! So what I say for you to do is this… Write at least 10 articles a day on the same topic! When you do this, your name becomes more recognisable to that kind of topic! For example you go into the topic of gaming, then you end up writing let's say 20 articles on that topic. Guess what? People who read about gaming now know your name from all your articles! People remember names for what they've accomplished!
So here is what I want you to sdo today, and it will really change your Trionding life forever! Use the formula you've learned within this guide, and tell me how much you've improved! I'll be releasing another guide in a few minutes which contains some more formulaic stratagies for ultimate success on triond!
Great information…Well written. Thanks for posting.
thanks for the share
gr8 information………frenz r my treasure!
Traffic also comes from other sites. After a year and a half of writing for this site, I am between 7000-8000 views on some articles and not all of it is from triond.
wow..nice and great share!
Von Shanks
Thanks for the comment my friend and I hope dearly that you enjoyed reading my article.
Thanks for the comment my friend!
Interesting idea I suppose. I have a subject I write on a lot and other than the one that has run wild on its own, I do not see any significant difference to my other articles.
Mr Arrogant
Good. I'm glad that you find that friends are your treasure, because then you'll start treating them as if they are precious treasures…
Well you know I am actually talking about "Triond ultimate success." not other websites… But thanks for the comment and I'm glad you shared your thoughts!
I wish to give back your wonderful gift that you've given me… A comment on my articles. God bless you!
Nina Mason
Interesting information you've given me there… The topic you are writing about must be very popular!
if you can do the same on the top book marketing sites as well you could easerly make 100s of views just from uploading your article
Go for it man, you have a very promising future on Triond.
I am trying to get more viewers and share my articles so thanks for the tips!
Yeah that's actually quite a good idea i like it!
As you do my Triond God!
Glad I could help!
I think both of these points are very important for Triond success. You are right!
good tips.I am trying to get more viewers
Good tips that will make me a success at triond.
these are very wise and prudent suggestions to survive at Triond. We should read each other's articles. This adds to our knowledge, and also helps in increasing our earnings.
These are very wise and prudent suggestions to survive at Triond. We should read each other\'s articles. This adds to our knowledge, and also helps in increasing our earnings.
Yes I'm glad you agree! I really like your articles by the way!
Great I hope to see your success growing!
I hope they full fill your destiny!
Peace Poet
I'm glad you said that!
remember me.
Very informative for all user of triond because veryone is here to make money whether on eadmit it or not. Great tips.
That's true but some of us have only recently been more interested in the money, as i first came here to get my stuff sent out to the world! Than I made my first dollar…
Good advice danman – but I like writing about different things. I'll be the Queen of diversity. *Grins*


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Please be aware that displayed prices are exclusive of all tax which may be payable in relation to your order. To keep things simple, we'll calculate local taxes and charges at checkout so there are no surprises when your parcel arrives. The currency selector is to be used as a guide only and in all cases you will still be charged in USD.
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Jackets and Coats - Black/White
You must select a size
Jacket in a longer style by MINKPINK. Large collar and fastening with an angled zip in the front. Lapels that can be fastened with popper fasteners and zipped cuffs. Two front pockets with flap and button.
Made of 67% Cotton and 33% Polyester.
The Australian brand MinkPink is a success story that has now spread to Europe. The collections are inspired by current trends, street styles and vintage wear. From the inspiration, they desire to create fashionable and flattering clothes with a personal touch.
Delivery 5-10 working days. Cost: $10 USD.
No reviews have been written yet.


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Book your room at Regency Inn Los Angeles
Get an overview of this hotelMotel in Los Angeles with free parking
Situated in Los Angeles, this motel is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Glendale Adventist Medical Center and within 3 mi (5 km) of Occidental College and Alex Theatre. Americana at Brand and Glendale Centre Theatre are also within 3 mi (5 km).
Property Features
Along with coffee/tea in the lobby, this motel has a 24-hour front desk and free self parking. WiFi in public areas is free.
Room Amenities
All 28 rooms provide conveniences like refrigerators and microwaves, plus free WiFi and TVs with cable channels. Other amenities available to guests include free local calls, hair dryers, and phones.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Regency Inn Los Angeles features coffee/tea in the lobby. Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 28
- Free self parking
- Free WiFi
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Bathtub only
- Television
- Private bathroom
- Phone
- Air conditioning
- Microwave
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessibility equipment for the deaf
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Braille or raised signage
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.


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Good morning!
As our Russian comrades surrendered to the challenges of visas and tickets at THE last moment, we have up to 3 full-comfort spots in our (ridiculously) large RV. The caravan is fully equipped with all possible niceties and is housing 1.5 Dutchman and 2.5 Russians (all virgins, but one of us is a medical doctor and we are sneaking in Russian vodka). We are arriving very late on Monday night / Tuesday morning. Orphaned (without a camp so far), but are very curious to explore joining one and are VERY excited to participate in BM's awesome community!
We are 2 couples:
-- Shorty, from Amsterdam, been travelling around lots before diving into sustainable energy venture in the Netherlands
-- Giggles, a Russian Amsterdamian, (but a wannabe Cape Tonian at heart)
-- Doc, a medical doctor (in fact! ) based in Moscow but whose medical empire -- influence -- reaches well beyong the Russian borders
-- Givi, a true Georgian (great cook) and a screenwriter taking over Russian TV
What binds us together: Giggles, Russian vodka, pickles and randomness.
Please let us know if you are interested in sharing our space -- we are happy to answer any questions! You can reach us here, at email@example.com or on our local number +1 917 361 4008.
Shorty, Giggles, Givi & Doc


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Some new donations which are a big help (Recently I had to spend $700NZ setup plus monthly fees to get dsl at home so I could manage the site, then we just paid a big chunk for 1 year's hosting and domain name renewal for 5 years). A few of the corporate sponsors are up for renewal so if they extend then that will help as well -and if people start websites with lunarpages we'll get a kick back.
Thanks for the recent donations!:
John Stockdale
Ian Grant
Jeremy Moore


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A reader friend recently wrote me asking,
"Hi Kelly,
Hey when you were at market, did they talk about using mixed metals being trendy still? I know some people think it's awful; some think it's OK. Personally, I think if done well, it'll work."
Great question! From what I saw


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Im 5 weeks into my 1st pregnancy and having a lot of what feels like bad period cramps, is anyone els experiencing this? Whould I be worried?
5 weeks and cramping
Posted 07/08/2012
Comments (2)
Posted 07/08/2012
I'm trying to get help with the same thing. But nobody really knows. Go to the doctor
Posted 07/08/2012
I'm 24 weeks with my first baby (a boy) and I was cramping then too. It scared me pretty bad, but it's just your body growing and whatnot; if your really worried you can talk to your doctor about it and he'll be able to more steady your nerves. :) I had the same problem though, and my baby is kicking and moving and growing just fine. I really hope this helped!


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Corruption by niels827Watch
We all know we shouldn't do it. But we do it subconsciously because it's a basic human trait, and nobody is exempt from it.
I become increasingly sick and tired of hearing about the corruption in our very own American government, across all branches and states. Stories of governors, congressmen & congresswomen, and voters alike passing and introducing legislation designed to take away what should be regarded as fundamental human rights are far more common than anyone would have predicted just years ago.
Nowhere is this more evident than the armpit of America that is the South. Discrimination and hostility toward women, homosexuals, non-Christians, and non-whites is amongst the highest in the developed world, while poverty, poor health care, low college graduation rates, obesity, and a shoddy economy are all ways of life. On an almost daily basis, Republican-dominated states south of the Ohio River attempt to woo their Caucasian Christian voter base by promising to shut down abortion clinics, prevent same-sex marriages and anti-discrimination laws, and pass bills forcing the population to treat Christianity as the superior belief system and the answer to unanswerable questions. Meanwhile, the bulk of these sick, deranged people, both governmental and civilian, remain deluded in their false interpretation of American history. The founding fathers would be turning in their grave at the sight of some of the most vehement patriots. It's indeed one of the biggest ironies of life.
The governor of North Carolina recently signed a strict anti-abortion bill into law which effectively shuts down all women's health clinics in the state that perform abortions, despite promising to the voters not even a year ago that he would not sign such legislation. This is the result of religious dogma and a tremendous amount of ignorance for basic biology and social science. Women don't get abortions because they want to. They get them because they have to. Humans are still animals with primal instincts, and sexual desire is the result of the animal kingdom's ultimate goal: reproduction. Birth control fails; even the most effective methods. People's lives change. A couple doing well for themselves may suddenly lose all their money or their home, and their environment wouldn't be sufficient for raising a child. Often a woman's health may be in danger if she carries a fetus to full term. So instead of showing some respect, sympathy, and common decency, the state of North Carolina decided it would be better to force women who need abortions to travel elsewhere to get one, draining their financial resources and time. Moreover, many women will now resort to "back-door" abortions which remain illegal and are significantly more dangerous. What's worse, unwanted children who would otherwise not exist will now be flooding foster homes - some never finding adoptive parents, or living in poverty because their family can't afford to take care of them. Would you rather a child grow up hungry, cold, and uneducated, or for it to have never been born in the first place? Ironically, the same people who are anti-abortion are also anti-welfare. Essentially, Republicans care about a fetus more than they care about the child it becomes. And don't get me started on overpopulation.
If you think this is the result of a superiority complex on my part, it's not. As a native Californian, I acknowledge my state has problems just like any other, but I'd much rather have the problems California has than the problems the South does. This is where judging and stereotyping come in. And while much of the country seems to be under the impression that Californians are all tech-savvy, nudist, drug-using, environmentalist hippie surfers, anyone would still have a much harder time judging a state with over 35,000,000 people, with significant populations from all races, religions, creeds, classes, political views, and nationalities, than they would have judging the sparsely-populated South, where the population is almost exclusively racist, intolerant whites and blacks, almost all of which cling to their Bibles and guns more than their own integrity. To the small population of good and well-minded people in the South...do all you can to destroy the corruption plaguing your part of the country if you can't move away. Your success will help secure America's position in the global playing field. Until then...
Do you have a problem with abortions? Don't get one.
Do you have a problem with birth control? Don't use it.
Do you have a problem with gay marriage? Don't marry someone of the same sex.
Do you have a problem with porn? Don't watch it.
Do you have a problem with sex? Don't have it.
Do you have a problem with alcohol? Don't drink it.
Disagree with me? Your loss. Hate me for it? You're doing me a favor.
It was FAR too hot for my taste, and the education sucked so much that my extremely smart brothers were classified as idiots by their teachers because of the education that they had in North Carolina.
Thank GOD we moved back to Pennsylvania before I started my education.
Here's an idea how about Republicans actually approve of welfare reform like the bipartisan bill approved by congress during the Clinton administration. I kind of agree with you Niels, but to me I view it is murder but when its rape or the mother's life is in danger that's when the loophole is to begin. Not everyone in the South is homophobic, racist, or Christian in fact that happens to be a stereotype to people in the South. I happen to have family in Tennessee and they're not racist or homophobic.
Let this be a lesson not everyone agrees with you, but that is no good reason to criminalize people of the South because they don't believe what you believe. Ever heard of something called EDUCATION that's what people are trying to do educate people of religion and law.
This is who I AM. I am a catholic who goes to church every Sunday and on Holydays and I believe in God. I believe that abortion is necessary ONLY when the woman has been raped or her life is endangered. I believe that gays deserve to marry whoever they want, in fact I have a gay uncle who fought in Desert Storm and lives in Florida. Cannibis should be used for medical purposes ONLY. I want immigration reform for illegal immigrants in America just like both Dems and the GOP is trying to do. I want a new healthcare policy that actually has bipartisan support and can actually get the jobs we need and healthcare millions more need now more than ever. I want a president who can actually secure America as a leading world power that is respected and feared. I want a recognizable America that I know I can trust and support and that all people are equal.
Am I asking for too much or what? Niels just try to feels what its like to have a different religion, political belief, sexuality, or nationality then only you could understand what its really like.
If abortion was murder, it would be called murder, and there would be prison sentences. Murder is bad because it takes away the life of someone who can comprehend death and mortality, and takes away the privileges of the family of the person killed. In the case of abortion, a fetus is not considered a living entity for much of its existence, biologically, scientifically, technically, whatever have you. It's in a state called dormancy; the same as seeds and eggs.
You're entitled to your beliefs, but don't force them on others. Making abortion legal is not forcing any agenda on Christians; Christians can still choose not to get an abortion. By making abortion illegal, it forces a religious agenda on everyone, including those who disagree.
I didn't claim everyone agreed with me. I know there are good people in the south; I even have a few such friends. But they need to speak out, stand up, and fight for recognition. Stereotypical southerners never did anyone a favor.
You're not asking for too much. Your opinions are yours, you're entitled to them, and you have every right to keep them or change your mind. As for me not "understanding" what it's like to have different views, my understanding isn't better or worse than any other given person's. However, having friends from many nationalities, sexualities, political beliefs, religions, and creeds, I have a FAR better understanding of humanity, philosophy, and society than most people in the world. I believe in the "live and let live" philosophy. Unfortunately, the GOP does not, and whatever Republicans do are outshadowed or too wimpy to buck up and take a stand.
As an atheist, however, I want you to understand what it's like to live in a country that doesn't even uphold its oldest and most important founding values. I want you to understand how enraged I am that radical Christians want to turn the country into a theocracy. Hell, in some states, atheists are forbidden by law from holding a political office (even though this is not enforced, it still exists). Several polls have shown many Americans distrust atheists more than anyone else, even Muslims. Why is it? It makes no sense. It's because people are ignorant. Ignorant about us, ignorant about society, and ignorant about themselves. Nevertheless, every so often I hear of this bullshit, non-existent "war on Christians." When you go out in public, no matter where in the country you are, you will see and meet several Christians at any given time. You will see them when you turn on the television. You see churches and crosses everywhere. Christians make up almost all of Congress. Christian organizations are exempt from taxes. We have the word "God" arbitrarily added to our pledge of allegiance and on our money. There are tons of Christian schools, and little to no Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu schools. Several "Christian" holidays (even though they actually have their origins outside Christianity) are considered federal or national holidays.
So when someone says there's a "war" on Christianity, you can be sure there will be disagreement. Most Christians take the privileges they have (whether they should exist or not, but mostly not) for granted. So just try to feel what it's like to have a different religion, or lack thereof. Then only you could understand what it's really like.
Atheism is not considered a religion by BOTH democrats and republicans and I think if you really don't like it you don't have to live here. This is one of a few countries where you don't get killed for not believing in whatever belief system other countries try to force on others like Iran and N Korea. Don't you get it 95% of Americans are either Christians, Jewish, or Muslim. Not everyone wants to recognize nonbelievers or atheist as a religion including Jews and Muslims. So don't tell me its only Christians that want to get rid of Roe v Wade or keep "Under God" in the pledge or get rid of "In God We Trust" on our currency when Jews and Muslims want to keep it.
The reason why we added "God" to the pledge and the currency was to combat communism in the Cold War because in the Soviet Union they couldn't worship as they pleased. And by the Catholics of the Catholic Church were persecuted and so were Mormons and Jews some still are in the South because America's majority of Christians are protestants. I am Catholic and you also forgot that many republicans want a war FOR women. Not all republicans are wimpy have you forgotten Mike Huckabee took a stand at the RNC saying that republicans want a WAR FOR WOMEN to protect their rights. Hell I even participated for the march on Washington with my parish community to show our opposition against abortion and Roe v Wade.
Now Niels with all due respect it is important to know that more women including young women are becoming more and more pro-life, even my cousin is having a baby and she is only 20 years old. My aunt spent time a few years ago before she and her husband had their daughter lived in Texas and South Carolina and met people who were nice, caring and showed that Southern hospitality just like that storm that hit the South a few weeks ago when the people who were stuck spent time at a Chick-Fillet to eat and sleep they didn't pay a dime.
My brother lives in Florida and has friends down there and they're hospitable even though they are in the army and so is my brother who spent time in Afghanistan. So don't tell me the South is racist or homophobic that's just a stereotype.
- I already acknowledged that not everyone in the South is racist or homophobic. However, stereotypes are based on reality, so they come from somewhere. Second...Florida is not considered part of the "South," which is often used coterminously with "Deep South" as it is in my context, due to major differences in climate, demographics, culture, food, economy, and industry.
"Now Niels with all due respect it is important to know that more women including young women are becoming more and more pro-life..."
- I don't personally care what movements are "gaining momentum." I don't automatically agree with something just because many or most people do. After all, I'm not a Christian, right?
"...even my cousin is having a baby and she is only 20 years old."
- That's nice. If she's financially secure and in a proper position to take adequate care of it, by all means, let her have her child. That's her choice. If she's not able to take care of it, then unless she puts it up for adoption (which is rather crude), then that's her problem.
"My aunt spent time a few years ago before she and her husband had their daughter lived in Texas and South Carolina and met people who were nice, caring and showed that Southern hospitality just like that storm that hit the South a few weeks ago when the people who were stuck spent time at a Chick-Fillet to eat and sleep they didn't pay a dime."
- I've already mentioned several times that I'm well aware there are decent people in the South as there are anywhere else. However, do keep in mind that I hear a lot of conservatives and fundies rip on Californians and their state and outright refuse to acknowledge their own ignorance or the fact that no two people are the same, no matter where they live.
"The reason why we added "God" to the pledge and the currency was to combat communism in the Cold War because in the Soviet Union they couldn't worship as they pleased. And by the Catholics of the Catholic Church were persecuted and so were Mormons and Jews some still are in the South because America's majority of Christians are protestants."
- I know why it was added. That doesn't mean it makes sense. We're supposed to "stick it to the man" by adding religious text to a secular national allegiance just because their government didn't want people to practice a religion? I'm sorry, but that's a load of horse shit. We didn't scare anybody, we didn't "show them who's boss," we didn't inject any fear into them, and we didn't even antagonize them. The only thing Eisenhower did by adding "under God" into the pledge was step on the constitutional rights of Americans. The Cold War was nothing more than two big, overgrown babies fighting over a toy crown.
"Not all republicans are wimpy have you forgotten Mike Huckabee took a stand at the RNC saying that republicans want a WAR FOR WOMEN to protect their rights. Hell I even participated for the march on Washington with my parish community to show our opposition against abortion and Roe v Wade."
- Women deserve the RIGHT to choose, and many want this. Taking away access to abortion and other services takes away their rights - it does not GIVE them any. Ergo, it's not a war "for" women you claim to be fighting in. It's a war for Christians. Mike Huckabee is among America's biggest losers. I remember he once said ""is the antithesis of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Right, like your religion is the "right one" and Muslims are all "wrong." He even said Muslims were like "uncorked animals." On the Newtown school shooting, he said it happened because "we systematically removed God from our schools." He also equated homosexuality with bestiality and pedophilia. What a retard! And you believe THIS man knows what's in the best interest for people? For WOMEN? No man should claim any authority over the issue of women's rights. Period. He lets a literal translation of an ancient book dictate his politics so he can shove them onto the masses. Mike Huckabee is the ULTIMATE definition of a wimp.
"Atheism is not considered a religion by BOTH democrats and republicans..."
- I never said it was. I don't advocate for atheism. I advocate for secularism. Major difference. We've already discussed it.
"...and I think if you really don't like it you don't have to live here."
Don't like what, exactly? I live in my native country and the only one I have ever called home. I have lived here almost twice as long as you've been alive. I have every right to live here, and I have every right to live in a country that ought to uphold its supreme law by not endorsing one religion over another, and not endorsing religion over no religion and vice versa.
"This is one of a few countries where you don't get killed for not believing in whatever belief system other countries try to force on others like Iran and N Korea."
- Just because our government doesn't advocate the assassination of those with different religious beliefs doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It happens everywhere, and it happens to people of every faith or no faith.
"Don't you get it 95% of Americans are either Christians, Jewish, or Muslim."
- Incorrect. According to Pew, whose numbers are consistent with those of other research groups, 78.4% of Americans identify as Christian, 1.7% are Jewish, 0.6% are Muslims, and 16.1% are unaffiliated (including only 5.8% religious unaffiliated; the rest are secular unaffiliated, agnostic, or atheist). In addition, the number of atheists, agnostics, and secularists is rising every year according to just about every research institute.
"Not everyone wants to recognize nonbelievers or atheist as a religion including Jews and Muslims."
- We don't care if anyone recognizes "atheism" as a religion or not. We don't believe it is a religion.
"So don't tell me its only Christians that want to get rid of Roe v Wade or keep "Under God" in the pledge or get rid of "In God We Trust" on our currency when Jews and Muslims want to keep it."
- First off, where is your source for this last statement? Fact is, Jews and Muslims have almost no influence on social issues in the United States, so even if they didn't want to remove religious references from money and the pledge, it wouldn't make a difference. Given that the overwhelming majority of the voting bloc is Christian, and Congress is almost exclusively Christian, you're going to have to do a lot more to convince me it really isn't just Christians. Frankly, I know Christians who are opposed to having "God" in our pledge and on our money because they agree it violates the first amendment and alienates people with different views because it's a government endorsement.
Let's get something straight. When loaded right-wingers snatch up control of the legislature and start passing laws endorsing their religion and limiting other people's rights, religion becomes everybody's business. It's just as much my business as it is yours. Unlike many Christians, most atheists aren't trying to pass laws that endorse atheism. They want laws that endorse SECULARISM. Again, we talked about the difference already. They also want laws that obey our Constitution. There should be a clear and distinct separation between church and state, because that's what everybody, from atheists and Christians to Jews and Muslims, is entitled to.
You are not an authority on Christianity. You cannot speak for all Christians. I'm not an authority on atheism and I cannot speak for all atheists. I'm just as entitled to talk about Christianity as much as you're entitled to talk about atheism. "Too bad" my dick, Miles. You will not impose my freedom of speech. There are PLENTY of people who know far more about religion in general, including Christianity, who are not Christian. People go into religious studies; some of whom don't even have a religion, because they're intrigued by its history and psychology. Frankly, I probably know more about the history of religion and Christianity than you do. I went to Sunday school and church for a while as a kid. So, frankly, you telling me it's not my business is the same as me telling you that Pennsylvania is none of your business.
Plus, IIRC, the Quakers in western PA are also responsible for choosing Rick Santorum to represent them in the Senate. Bet they're regretting giving him the House opportunity over in Allegheny County.
A statement issued by the Supreme Court by Justice Waite in 1878 states "Freedom of religion means freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order."
Atheism and religions are both opinions and beliefs, but not factual. Agnosticism is an opinion and not a belief, but IS factual. Nobody is 100% certain there is a higher power. Some people claim they know for sure, but they're deluded. They only THINK there is. Therefore, every human is an agnostic in the form of factual knowledge, but BELIEF is where OPINIONS differ. EVERYONE is entitled to their beliefs.
Atheism and theism are both faith-driven. Agnosticism is fact-driven, as the presence of a god is neither proven or unproven. We are not capable of knowing the ultimate truth regarding deities with the information we are given
SOPA/PIPA murdering OCs like your Niels that was a horrible thing they did
Not giving money to Guatemala who live in trash that was a horrible they did
this............... no that SOPA/PIPA thing was still the worst
Why not Texas? Because everyone in America either loves Texas or hates it, and people more or less expect the Texas government to pull stupid shit like this, so I wouldn't be reporting anything new or changing anyone's minds. I'd had enough about this shit when I saw about what was going on in the Tar Heel State, which is still much more a swing state than Texas ever was.


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December 22, 2010
Photo by Michael Buckelew
Stories this photo appears in:
Christmas on the way
Twinkling lights make it easy to see that Christmas is heading our way in less than 48 hours. Janet Schiavone's home at 1870 Parker Road in Conyers is resplendant with Christmas lights and decorations, which she says she enjoys doing for all to enjoy.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.


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- Dominican RepublicEducationFunding via FUNDAPEC
Efrain JoseDominican RepublicEducationFunding via FUNDAPEC
Association...HaitiManufacturingFunding via Fonkoze - Zafèn
Paz Y Fe 1, 3 & 4 Group
Her group is based in the Samana peninsula in the east of the Dominican Republic, where running water and electricity are unavailable. Here she makes her home with her husband and three children in a simple structure comprised of wooden walls and a tin roof.
Ana originally came to Esperanza over six loans ago for the purpose of improving her business and she has proved herself very successful as an associate of Esperanza, repaying on time every time. She will use this new loan to invest in her coconut sales by buying some coconut trees (This is the best deal for the people selling coconuts. They buy the tree ready to harvest.) She plans to use the profits to purchase as many things as she can supply for her family and to continue to improve her home. Additionally, in the long term, she would like to save money for a vehicle to move her products and to continue to increase her savings. She would like to thank you all for your support.
There are two photos because we want to show as many faces as possible.
Additional Information
This is a Group Loan
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a larger group of individuals. The group is there to provide support to the members and to provide a system of peer pressure, but groups may or may not be formally bound by a group guarantee. In cases where there is a group guarantee, members of the group are responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members in the case of delinquency or default.
Kiva's Field Partners typically feature one borrower from a group. The loan description, sector, and other attributes for a group loan profile are determined by the featured borrower's loan. The other members of the group are not required to use their loans for the same purpose.
About Dominican Republic
2View loans »
Success!! The loan was 100% repaid
- Repayment Term
- 7 months (Additional Information)
- Repayment Schedule
- Monthly
- Pre-Disbursed:
- Feb 10, 2011
- Listed
- Mar 13, 2011
- Currency Exchange Loss:
- Possible
- Ended:
- Aug 18, 2011


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Middle East
The Politics of Humanitarian Aid and Hamas
As the Palestinian Authority faces the prospect of financial ruin, Americans debate whether and how to help. Guests discuss whether it's possible to help the Palestinian people without supporting their government and the militant Islamist group Hamas.
Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president; founder of the Carter Center
Scott Wilson, Jerusalem bureau chief for The Washington Post
David Makovsky, director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
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Check out the exciting trailer for John Daly's Prostroke Golf for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Set up and play your shots just like you would in real golf. Using Playstations Move controller you can swing just like a real club.
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How to correct speedo excess error?
With the aid of a GPS, I managed to detect my 2005 RAM has a +15% speedometer error due to the bigger tires (37" Goodrich). Those 5" extra diameter against the 32" stock make that speed difference. I assume speedo takes a signal from some shaft inside the transmission :4-dontknow: and has a conversion factor set for standard 32" wheels.
Do you have an idea about what could I do to correct this? I know some Jeep user change a teethed-cog that directly couples the speedo cable, I don't know if there's an equivalent in our machines :4-dontknow:
Any advice welcome... :smileup:
any dealer or mechanic can reprogram your computer to read the right tire size. once they enter the tire size into the computor it will automatically correct it to that tire speed size
Get a computer programmer.
you can buy a programmer IF you have have the hemi, if you are like me with the 4.7 you can go to the dealer and they can reprogram it for you. It cost me $100 to have this done.
Thanks boys... I've been investigating about programmers and found Superchips Cortex to fit perfect for my case...
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1997 Ford Explorer • 160,000 miles
1997 Ford Explorer XLT 4.0 SOHC hard start. Cranks every time, starts after the 7th or 8th time. Once started, it chugs. Turn it off and get it to start again and seems to run fine after it warms up. Once in awhile if I go before it is warm, it seems like there is a weird shift in tranny. It will go into next gear, then back down and back into that gear again. When it shifts that way, it is immediate that it goes in, drops back to lower gear and back into higher gear. There is no lack of shifting either way. No grinding or sincro issues that I can hear. I didn't have the starting or tranny issue until a week ago when I had my thermostat housing and Temp sensors replaced. What could they have hit and knocked loose, or broke in the process of loosening intake to get to sensors and therm housing? I (myself) replaced the $283 air inlet hose because I thought that was it, but still does the same. They ripped it in the process and never said a word about taping it up. That is the reason I replaced it. My check engine light has been on since therm housing repair. I went to Advance Auto parts and had them check the code, and one of the sensors that I just paid to replace is bad, or the wrong one. No other code is being thrown. At this point, I will replace that sensor myself so this dingbat mechanic doesn't cause anymore damage to my truck. Thanks a bunch guys! =]
March 14, 2012.
March 14, 2012.
I don't know what the exact code is, but I seen it on the computer at Advanced Auto. Is said Temperature send sensor bad.
Also, the RPM's were at exactly 1000 prior to the therm housing being changed. When I picked my truck up, it was dead set on 500, and has idled there once warm since.
Have the coolant temperature sensor checked and tested could be out of specifications
Mar 14, 2012.
Mar 14, 2012.
That is one of the 2 that were just replaced. They actually replaced that one 2 times. Would it make that much difference in how my truck starts? Could and why would that lessen my idle rpms?
Clean the idle air control valve and also the MAF sensor with an electronic cleaner called CRC and see what happens
Mar 15, 2012.
Mar 15, 2012.
I will get it tomorrow and try it. Will let you know.
The ECT is an important sensor for engine performance as the wrong reading can result in the engine computer sending the wrong command to the fuel injectors.
Get another scan done and get the exact trouble code for me. Since parts had beed replaced, codes might change if other problems are causing it.
Get another scan done and get the exact trouble code for me. Since parts had beed replaced, codes might change if other problems are causing it.
Mar 15, 2012.
Mar 15, 2012.
I just got home from having the code checked. It is P0117. Coolant temp sensor 1 circuit. I had them show me the part that would be replaced, and it is one of the sensors that was replaced less than 2 weeks ago, but not the one that was replaced 2 times. This is the one that goes to the computer I assume because of the issues with the truck. How does one go about replacing this without ripping it all apart? I would have to loosen the intake manifold, the upper radiator hose, the air intake, and probably the top of the therm housing. Is there an easier way?
Is that an ignition part?
Hi hope you can help, this is a general question. 2 wire sensors, crank and cam are referred to as inductive, magnetic, whilst 3 wire sensors are Hall effect. Can a inductive, magnetic ...
3 answers • 2010 All Other Makes All Other Models
2007 toyota camry 140k. Check engine light code Knock sensor. Reset and came back on right away. What could cause this other than the obviouse bad sensor or wire?
9 answers • 2007 Toyota Camry • 140 miles
I had a rough starting when cold issue. Checked the codes and discovered two codes for a lean condition in both banks. After not finding a vac leak, I replaced the MAF with a ...
2 answers • 2002 Chevrolet Silverado • 170,779 miles
Describe the type sensor of the Knock sensor is on this vehicle and how it should be tested.?
1 answer • 2002 Chrysler 300 • 100 miles


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Rangers Photos
Photos: Nolan Ryan, George Bush reunite; walk-off celebrations ensue
Photo: Tom Fox/Staff Photographer
Texas Rangers Robinson Chirinos, right, runs away from teammates after hitting a single off of Houston Astros pitcher Brad Peacock (left) to center to score Kevin Kouzmanoff in the twelfth inning at the Globe Life Park in Arlington, Friday, April 11, 2014. The Rangers won 1-0. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) -- MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES, MAGS OUT, TV OUT, INTERNET USE BY AP MEMBERS ONLY
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ValHig Photographer
FeniceModel Female London, England, United Kingdom My MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/violettalynch
Mayhem # 2852311
About Me**I will only be shooting rarely from now on due to moving city and starting a new job so please don't be offended if I take a while to reply or cannot shoot as I won't be using this website very much from now on**
I'm Fenice. I started modelling a year ago and really love it. I was modelling pretty much full-time last year, met some great people and learned a lot. I've now moved onto a full-time job (in career mode unfortunately!)
As I don't have as much time to shoot nowadays, paid work will take priority. However I will consider collaborating with people's whose work I admire and where I think the result would be mutually beneficial and creative. i
I'm now London based and can only shoot weekends or when on holiday. If you're local, I could probably do the odd evening shoot though. I've had the pleasure of working with some wonderful London-based photographers, as well as in Holland and Italy.
I'm particularly interested in editorial, fashion, beauty and hair.
I absolutely love black and white images, and those where there is a play between light and dark.
There are references below from photographers I have worked with which I hope show reliable, good to work with and fun as well.
Other interests include keeping fit, running, swimming, cycling and hiking. I've participated in the Leeds Half Marathon, and I completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Both were really hard but so rewarding, and so, at the moment, I'm working up to another half marathon.
Please take a look at my portfolio and hopefully a shoot can happenBig smile
Have you worked with Fenice? Add Credits for Fenice! >>
ValHig Photographer
Esteban Manriquez Artist/Painter
Mark Lopez Photography Photographer
Stuart Vern Clothing Designer
WoodsDeep Photographer
NIKOKOWORLD Photographer
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Copperfield's Introduces School Book Fairs
The thing I love most about Copperfield's School Book Fairs, in addition to the kids, the teachers, the librarians, the principals, the parents and the books, is everything. I love researching, reading, talking to Bellah, the Copperfield's Children's Book Buyer, and pulling together a list of 250 titles that meet the needs and wants of each school. It is wonderful to come to a school with a basket of books the week before their Book Fair and go from class to class talking titles. Although, the kindergartners and first graders do not want to hear about books they want me to read a story. The current, absolute favorite is Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey. The words are soft and lilting and the illustrations are striking. All the squirmy little ones sit focused and delighted while it is read.


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How Women Are Different from Men, Financially Speaking
Author: Mitzi Bjork, Financial Advisor
Don't Get Caught in a Cyber P.L.O.T.
Author: Sherry Gibbon, Vice President, Community Relations and OMNI Manager
Experiencing the Unexpected
Author: Karen Partee
New Chip Technology Enhances Consumer Security
Author: Crystal Hardy, Vice President and Bank Card Change Coordinator
Retirement Plan is the Key to Confidence, Survey Finds
Author: Jerry Martin, Financial Advisor
My Marriage Misconception
Author: Tawny Browning
Journey from a Cool Kid to the Student Board
Author: Joycelynn Rusk
Social Security Claiming Strategies for Married Couples
Author: Curtis Hinshaw, Financial Advisor
EMV and Merchant Card Services
Author: Leslie Paull
Setting Up a Plan
Author: Bonni Kids
Financial Spring Cleaning with myOFM
Author: Jacob Pepper
Investment Themes for 2015
Author: Kimberly Spinks
Steps for First Time Homebuyers
Author: Lora Hollins
12 Financial Resolutions
Author: Amy Proctor
Making Managing Your Finances Fun!
Author: Chris Davis
Beware the '12 Online Scams of Christmas'
Author: Ken Hartley
Holiday Savings Tips
Author: Sherry Gibbon, Vice President, Community Relations and OMNI Manager
Establishing a Personalized Budget
Author: James Sheridan, Senior Vice President, Lending Officer
I'm a Victim of a Checkcard Breach. Now What?
Author: Sheri Parish
Back to School
Author: Karen Partee
Heath Hamberlin
December 31, 2012
A credit score is a three-digit number between 300 and 850 based on a computer analysis of your credit history. The primary credit-scoring model in the United States is provided by the Fair Isaac Corporation and is known as a FICO score. The three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each provide a FICO score with their credit reports. As a result, each consumer has three separate FICO scores.
Your FICO score is based on five categories of information: Payment History, Amounts Owed, Length of Credit History, New Credit, and Types of Credit Used. The FICO scoring model weighs each of these categories differently as
seen below:
Information such as age, race, address, marital status, income and employment DOES NOT affect the score.
It is important to check your credit report for mistakes so you can correct any problems. Recent legislation requires the three credit bureaus to provide consumers a free credit report annually. The website, www.annualcreditreport.com, was set up by the three credit bureaus to facilitate giving consumers their free annual credit report. Unfortunately, this legislation does not provide for a free credit score, which will cost you
around $5.95.
Heath Hamberlin
All comments are subject to approval. Read more.


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- What American Startups Can Learn From the Cutthroat Chinese Software Industry — It follows that the idea of "viral" or "organic" growth doesn't exist in China. "User acquisition is all about media buys. Platform-to-platform in China is war, and it is fought viciously and bitterly. If you have a Gmail account and send an email to, for example, NetEase163.com, which is the local web dominant player, it will most likely go to spam or junk folders regardless of your settings. Just to get an email to go through to your inbox, the company sending the email needs to have a special partnership." This entire article is a horror show.
- White House Hangout Maker Movement (Whitehouse) — During the Hangout, Tom Kalil will discuss the elements of an "all hands on deck" effort to promote Making, with participants including: Dale Dougherty, Founder and Publisher of MAKE; Tara Tiger Brown, Los Angeles Makerspace; Super Awesome Sylvia, Super Awesome Maker Show; Saul Griffith, Co-Founder, Otherlab; Venkatesh Prasad, Ford.
- Municipal Codes of DC Freed (BoingBoing) — more good work by Carl Malamud. He's specifically providing data for apps.
- The Modern Malware Review (PDF) — 90% of fully undetected malware was delivered via web-browsing; It took antivirus vendors 4 times as long to detect malware from web-based applications as opposed to email (20 days for web, 5 days for email); FTP was observed to be exceptionally high-risk.
"open data" entries
Ways to put the patient first when collecting health data
Report from 2013 Health Privacy Summit
The timing was superb for last week's Health Privacy Summit, held on June 5 and 6 in Washington, DC. First, it immediately followed the 2000-strong Health Data Forum (Health Datapalooza), where concern for patients rights came up repeatedly. Secondly, scandals about US government spying were breaking out and providing a good backdrop for talking about protection our most sensitive personal information–our health data.
The health privacy summit, now in its third year, provides a crucial spotlight on the worries patients and their doctors have about their data. Did you know that two out of three doctors (and probably more–this statistic cites just the ones who admit to it on a survey) have left data out of a patient's record upon the patient's request? I have found that the summit reveals the most sophisticated and realistic assessment of data protection in health care available, which is why I look forward to it each year. (I'm also on the planning committee for the summit.) For instance, it took a harder look than most observers at how health care would be affected by patient access to data, and the practice of sharing selected subsets of data, called segmentation.
What effect would patient access have?
An odd perceptual discontinuity exists around patient access to health records. If you go to your doctor and ask to see your records, chances are you will be turned down outright or forced to go through expensive and frustrating magical passes. One wouldn't know that HIPAA explicitly required doctors long ago to give patients their data, or that the most recent meaningful use rules from the Department of Health and Human Services require doctors to let patients view, download, and transmit their information within four business days of its addition to the record.
Strata Week: President Obama opens up U.S. government data
U.S. opens data, Wong tapped for U.S. chief privacy officer, FBI might read your email sans warrant, and big data spells trouble for anonymity.
U.S. government data to be machine-readable, Nicole Wong may fill new White House chief privacy officer role
The U.S. government took major steps this week to open up government data to the public. U.S. President Obama signed an executive order requiring government data to be made available in machine-readable formats, and the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy released a Open Data Policy memo (PDF) to address the order's implementation.
The press release announcing the actions notes the benefit the U.S. economy historically has experienced with the release of government data — GPS data, for instance, sparked a flurry of innovation that ultimately contributed "tens of billions of dollars in annual value to the American economy," according to the release. President Obama noted in a statement that he hopes a similar result will come from this open data order: "Starting today, we're making even more government data available online, which will help launch even more new startups. And we're making it easier for people to find the data and use it, so that entrepreneurs can build products and services we haven't even imagined yet."
FCW's Adam Mazmanian notes a bit from the Open Data Policy memo that indicates the open data framework doesn't only apply to data the government intends to make public. Read more…
Linking open data to augmented intelligence and the economy
Nigel Shadbolt on AI, ODI, and how personal, open data could empower consumers in the 21st century.
After years of steady growth, open data is now entering into public discourse, particularly in the public sector. If President Barack Obama decides to put the White House's long-awaited new open data mandate before the nation this spring, it will finally enter the mainstream.
As more governments, businesses, media organizations and institutions adopt open data initiatives, interest in the evidence behind release and the outcomes from it is similarly increasing. High hopes abound in many sectors, from development to energy to health to safety to transportation.
"Today, the digital revolution fueled by open data is starting to do for the modern world of agriculture what the industrial revolution did for agricultural productivity over the past century," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, speaking at the G-8 Open Data for Agriculture Conference.
As other countries consider releasing their public sector information as data and machine-readable formats onto the Internet, they'll need to consider and learn from years of effort at data.gov.uk, data.gov in the United States, and Kenya in Africa.
One of the crucial sources of analysis for the success or failure of open data efforts will necessarily be research institutions and academics. That's precisely why research from the Open Data Institute and Professor Nigel Shadbolt (@Nigel_Shadbolt) will matter in the months and years ahead.
In the following interview, Professor Shadbolt and I discuss what lies ahead. His responses were lightly edited for content and clarity.
Read more…
Sprinting toward the future of Jamaica
Open data is fundamental to democratic governance and development, say Jamaican officials and academics.
Creating the conditions for startups to form is now a policy imperative for governments around the world, as Julian Jay Robinson, minister of state in Jamaica's Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, reminded the attendees at the "Developing the Caribbean" conference last week in Kingston, Jamaica.
Robinson said Jamaica is working on deploying wireless broadband access, securing networks and stimulating tech entrepreneurship around the island, a set of priorities that would have sounded of the moment in Washington, Paris, Hong Kong or Bangalore. He also described open access and open data as fundamental parts of democratic governance, explicitly aligning the release of public data with economic development and anti-corruption efforts. Robinson also pledged to help ensure that Jamaica's open data efforts would be successful, offering a key ally within government to members of civil society.
The interest in adding technical ability and capacity around the Caribbean was sparked by other efforts around the world, particularly Kenya's open government data efforts. That's what led the organizers to invite Paul Kukubo to speak about Kenya's experience, which Robinson noted might be more relevant to Jamaica than that of the global north. Read more…
Strata Week: Our phones are giving us away
Anonymized phone data isn't as anonymous as we thought, a CFPB API, and NYC's "geek squad of civic-minded number-crunchers."
Mobile phone mobility traces ID users with only four data points
A study published this week by Scientific Reports, Unique in the Crowd: The privacy bounds of human mobility, shows that the location data in mobile phones is posing an anonymity risk. Jason Palmer reported at the BBC that researchers at MIT and the Catholic University of Louvain reviewed data from 15 months' worth of phone records for 1.5 million people and were able to identify "mobility traces," or "evident paths of each mobile phone," using only four locations and times to positively identify a particular user. Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, the study's lead author, told Palmer that "[t]he way we move and the behaviour is so unique that four points are enough to identify 95% of people."
Four short links: 28 March 2013
Chinese Lessons, White House Embraces Makers, DC Codes Freed, and Malware Numbers
Sensoring the news
Sensor journalism will augment our ability to understand the world and hold governments accountable.
When I went to the 2013 SXSW Interactive Festival to host a conversation with NPR's Javaun Moradi about sensors, society and the media, I thought we would be talking about the future of data journalism. By the time I left the event, I'd learned that sensor journalism had long since arrived and been applied. Today, inexpensive, easy-to-use open source hardware is making it easier for media outlets to create data themselves.
"Interest in sensor data has grown dramatically over the last year," said Moradi. "Groups are experimenting in the areas of environmental monitoring, journalism, human rights activism, and civic accountability." His post on what sensor networks mean for journalism sparked our collaboration after we connected in December 2011 about how data was being used in the media.
At a SXSW panel on "sensoring the news," Sarah Williams, an assistant professor at MIT, described how the Spatial Information Design Lab At Columbia University* had partnered with the Associated Press to independently measure air quality in Beijing.
Prior to the 2008 Olympics, the coaches of the Olympic teams had expressed serious concern about the impact of air pollution on the athletes. That, in turn, put pressure on the Chinese government to take substantive steps to improve those conditions. While the Chinese government released an index of air quality, explained Williams, they didn't explain what went into it, nor did they provide the raw data.
The Beijing Air Tracks project arose from the need to determine what the conditions on the ground really were. AP reporters carried sensors connected to their cellphones to detect particulate and carbon monoxide levels, enabling them to report air quality conditions back in real-time as they moved around the Olympic venues and city. Read more…
The City of Chicago wants you to fork its data on GitHub
Chicago CIO Brett Goldstein is experimenting with social coding for a different kind of civic engagement.
GitHub has been gaining new prominence as the use of open source software in government grows.
Earlier this month, I included a few thoughts from Chicago's chief information officer, Brett Goldstein, about the city's use of GitHub, in a piece exploring GitHub's role in government.
While Goldstein says that Chicago's open data portal will remain the primary means through which Chicago releases public sector data, publishing open data on GitHub is an experiment that will be interesting to watch, in terms of whether it affects reuse or collaboration around it.
In a followup email, Goldstein, who also serves as Chicago's chief data officer, shared more about why the city is on GitHub and what they're learning. Our discussion follows.
GitHub gains new prominence as the use of open source within governments grows
The collaborative coding site hired a "government bureaucat."
When it comes to government IT in 2013, GitHub may have surpassed Twitter and Facebook as the most interesting social network.
GitHub's profile has been rising recently, from a Wired article about open source in government, to its high profile use by the White House and within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This March, after the first White House hackathon in February, the administration's digital team posted its new API standards on GitHub. In addition to the U.S., code from the United Kingdom, Canada, Argentina and Finland is also on the platform.
"We're reaching a tipping point where we're seeing more collaboration not only within government agencies, but also between different agencies, and between the government and the public," said GitHub head of communications Liz Clinkenbeard, when I asked her for comment. Read more…
Governments looking for economic ROI must focus on open data with business value
Harvey Lewis shares insights from Deloitte UK's research on the open data economy.
There's increasing interest in the open data economy from the research wings of consulting firms. Capgemini Consulting just published a new report on the open data economy. McKinsey's Global Institute is following up its research on big data with an inquiry into open data and government innovation. Deloitte has been taking a long look at open data business models. Forrester says open data isn't (just) for governments anymore and says more research is coming. If Bain & Company doesn't update its work on "data as an asset" this year to meet inbound interest in open data from the public sector, it may well find itself in the unusual position of lagging the market for intellectual expertise.
As Radar readers know, I've been trying to "make dollars and sense" of the open data economy since December, looking at investments, business models and entrepreneurs.
In January, I interviewed Harvey Lewis, the research director for the analytics department of Deloitte U.K. Lewis, who holds a doctorate in hypersonic aerodynamics, has been working for nearly 20 years on projects in the public sector, defense industry and national security. Today, he's responsible for applying an analytical eye to consumer businesses, manufacturing, banking, insurance and the public sector. Over the past year, his team has been examining the impact of open data releases on the economy of the United Kingdom. The British government's embrace of open data makes such research timely. Read more…


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Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival > Downloads
Below are links to maps to Festival location, birding areas, trail maps and a local birding list.
Festival Notes:
Please check back in late December/early January 2016 for information on dates, events and activities that will be available at the 11th Annual Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival.
To download maps, lists and other items that you can use for planning your Festival outings visit our Downloads page
Thanks to all of our sponsors who made it possible to offer all of the activities for free – if you get the opportunity, please support them! Click on one of the links below to see easy it is to support the Festival Sponsors.
Watching Washington Wildlife
it's a Wild Life….let's keep it that way! Learn How
The majority of the local birding areas require a valid Discover Pass. The Discover Pass allows you to enjoy millions of acres of Washington state-managed recreation lands – including state parks, water-access points, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads.
To learn more about the benefits and how to purchase a Discover Pass - Click Here!
Festival Weather


text: Great people and excellent wine. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. We stopped in and were given samples pretty much straight away and ended up buying several bottles. We even had some home made biscuits that went with a sweet wine and got the recipe as they were so tasty.


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I hate writing about myself.
Uhh.. I'm Scottish.
I'm a geek, a re-enactor and a trained biochemist, so thats something.. I also write terrible fiction that may some day get published.
I'm married, have kids and a boyfriend and am mostly out for experiences.
I'm also chubby and trying to shift it, with moderate success.


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You are a fan of kobk miniatures ? Come to discover the best forums kobk miniatures on the internet and share your experience with a community fan of kobk miniatures . You can also build a forum kobk miniatures and create your online discussion.
Visit our forum to meet dolls house and miniature enthusiasts. You can ask questions, discuss dolls houses and advertise any unwanted dolls house items you have.
doll, house, dollhouse, dolls, miniature, houses, #miniatures


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WESTERN AREA DISTRIBUTION CENTER RANCHO CORDOVA, CALIFORNIA and CHAPTER 239, NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION
In the Matter of
Case No. 99 FSIP 121
Chapter 239, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU or Union), filed a request for assistance with the Federal Service Impasses Panel (Panel) to consider a negotiation impasse under section 7119 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute between it and the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Western Area Distribution Center (WADC), Rancho Cordova, California (Employer). After investigation of the request for assistance, the Panel asserted jurisdiction and directed that the parties' dispute over performance awards be submitted to the undersigned for mediation-arbitration.
Accordingly, on August 25, 1999, the undersigned met with the parties at the Employer's facility. While the parties have come close to a settlement on several occasions, these mediation efforts failed to result in a settlement of the dispute. Following those efforts, an arbitration hearing was conducted during which the parties were afforded an opportunity to submit proposals, provide testimony under oath, and make final supporting oral arguments. The record is now closed.
The WADC is one of three IRS facilities in the United States responsible for the distribution of income tax forms to taxpayers, tax preparers, and other IRS offices located within the western region of the country.(1) The Union represents 60 General Schedule and Wage Grade employees who work as telephone operators, document handlers and processors, and forklift operators. The parties are covered by the terms of the National Office Regions and Districts NORD V collective bargaining agreement (NORD V), which is due to expire on June 30, 2002. NORD V permits local parties to negotiate over issues involving mandatory performance awards. The three centers first attempted to reach an agreement covering all centers but when that attempt in direct negotiations failed, they each negotiated separately. Thereafter, the WADC notified the Union of its proposal to negotiate a new performance awards system.
The parties disagree over whether the awards system should have a specifically designated cut off number to attain or a percentage system which recognizes a specific percent of bargaining-unit employees.
1. The Union's Position
The Union proposes that the current language in the contract remain in effect with a performance rating of 4.1 or greater receiving a performance award. The Union argues that the current performance award system has been in effect at WADC for at least 11 years both when WADC was part of the Sacramento District and continued when the IRS reorganization occurred and a separate local agreement was written with WADC and NTEU (Union Exhibit 1). This system is fair for this bargaining unit as the employees know the standards and work to exceed them. Moreover, these bargaining-unit employees do the same work as the employees at the other distribution centers. At those centers, the cutoff is even lower, 4.0, and nearly all bargaining-unit employees have received performance awards.
Regarding the point for receipt of the performance award on the promotion list, the Union asserts that it is a non-issue as the same system is used throughout the country and specifically, the other two service centers have still maintained the specific cutoff. Moreover, it contends that the current practice has not created a competitive problem in this area.
Conversely, the Union believes that only rewarding the top 40 percent would decrease morale in the unit as the high activity employees who received "exceeds fully successful" on their evaluations would not necessarily receive an award and the direct nexus between performance evaluations and awards would be lost. Whereas, with a fixed score, employees can see the direct connection.
As to the Employer's argument of "rating creep," it points out that all performance evaluations have two supervisor's signatures; the first writing the appraisal and the second, reviewing that appraisal and concurring.
For all the above stated reasons, the Union urges the Arbitrator to order that the current contract language remain in effect.
2. The Employer's Position
The Employer states that it believes that an award system should reward only the top performers, be easily administered, provide an incentive for bargaining-unit employees to improve their performance, and maintain the integrity of the point system. It asserts that the current system is unacceptable because, with a known specific cutoff, employees are not motivated to achieve outstanding performance. It supports its contention with evidence that demonstrates that in 1998, 80 percent of unit employees received awards. Moreover, it contends that employees know the cutoff and, therefore, only perform to that level.
Next, the Employer believes there is "rating creep" inherent in a system where supervisors and employees know a specific cutoff. Because of that knowledge, it asserts that there is pressure on supervisors to evaluate employees at that level. It supports its contention by citing Arbitrator Franklin Silver's Award, June 30, 1999, in IRS, Northern California District and NTEU Chapters 20 and 239, where he states on page 7:
Second, there would seem to be indirect pressure in a cutoff system for "rating inflation," i.e., raising the rating level of employees to the point where they would qualify for an award. Supervisors would feel pressure to raise ratings from below the cutoff point so that employees would qualify for an award, and employees would likely be greatly dissatisfied at being rated slightly below the cutoff. Using the percentage system by which it is not k