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Ding dong the witch is dead! Im still smiling after Wednesday night brought about the eviction of my least favorite hamster, Allison. Ryan caught a lucky break by being able to remain in the house. His lucky streak continued when he was crowned the first single person HoH. What will the reign of Ryan entail? Just how much ass will Matt kiss this week? Lets sort through this train wreck of a show together, friends!
Why is it that Big Brother always throws in a good 10 minutes of black and white recap with a little bit of diary room commentary that isnt really that important? Allison and Ryan thought they were both evicted, the magical siren sounded, everyone found out that they will now be playing as singles, Allison went loco because she thought she was staying, and then she ended up getting evicted again. Everyone was scared that she was going to stay, and then happy they had the chance to kick her out again. Adam and Matt are both ecstatic to be divorced. There you go, 10 minutes of lameness into one nice paragraph! Moving along.
Ryan is excited that he went from zero to hero. Matt is excited that his bro is the new HoH. He claims he only voted for Ryan and Allison to be evicted because of Allison. Natalie is super excited that Ryan won as well. Joshuah and Sharon are instantly scared of Ryans payback.
Fatal Attraction
Meanwhile, back in burp/fart/grunt land, Matt and Adam claim one of the rooms as their Bachelor Pad. Natalie comes in and Matt tells her that she is no longer allowed to sleep with him. She thinks he is just playing hard to get because she knows that he really loves her in his bed. She hugs him and gives him a kiss on the cheek, and he yells at her to get off of him. Hes afraid he might have to play dead to get Natalie away from him. Well, Matt is a dog so Im sure hed be pretty good at playing dead. Natalie rambles on and on about how Mattie is going to miss her and how they are partners in crime. Mattie never really looks her in the eye, just shakes his head. She thinks he is using little kid reverse psychology on her. Uh huh. This girl cant take a hint!
Get this thing off of me!
James and Chelsia are a little thrown by the singles twist, and really dont know what to say about it. Sharon walks in on their conversation (or lack thereof) and says that everyone is still the same; they will all just have different strategies now. James asks Chelsia if she is going to target him now and she says no. Ryan asks Chelsia if she will come visit him in the HoH room because he might get lonely. Hmmm. James thinks Chelsia is going to change now that she isnt tied to him. Matt hugs Chelsia and they giggle and play around. James really likes Chelsia and hes really worried that she was just using him for gameplay.
Bible Totin Bikini Barista and a Deal Makin Diva
Natalie sits alone on the large couch in the living room reading the Bible. Adam walks in, and after an Oh, snap! she reads a verse that reminds her of Joshuah from the book of Joshua. It goes, What goes into a mans mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean. She thinks that Josh has been running his mouth too much and its going to come back and bite him. She says his tongue is like fire and hes pitting people against each other. Meanwhile, Joshuah is in the hot tub praying that God will forgive him for everything he has said and done to other people in the house. He also asks God to help him with his diet. Yep, his diet. Apparently its not going so great. He isnt asking for a six pack, just a flatter stomach. Wow. Just when I thought I had heard it all! He also asks God to help him win the game. If God does help him win the game, he will tithe 10% to the church. I dont think God takes bribes, Joshuah.
Its time to see Ryans HoH room, and he is hoping for pictures of Jen. He gets his wish. I dont miss her at all! Josh doesnt think theres anything too remarkable about Ryan or his family. He has such a positive and sparkling personality, doesnt he folks? Matt thinks Ryans sister is a smoke show and she should call him. Ryan got a bunch of Ohio State Buckeyes stuff in his HoH basket, but Chelsia doesnt take well to that because she is an Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She takes his OSU t-shirt and throws it on the ground. Wooo!!! Chelsia is my new favorite houseguest! *cough*GoPennState*cough*
Ogre v 2.0
Sheila is crying around to Adam that Allison was the only person in the house she trusted and now Allison is gone. She thinks things are going to get ugly. Adam picks his nose and acts like hes listening. She says she has nothing in common with the other girls in the house and shes scared. She thinks that everyone is going to go after her and Adam. Adams eyes bug out and he picks his nose again. Not a lot going on with that one. Sheila thinks Adam has what it takes to make it to the end, and she hopes Adam has her back. He bites his fingers. He reminds of last seasons lovable ogre, Zach, reincarnated. He thinks that Sheila is going to realize what a strong partner he was to her. Uh, have they ever won anything besides their designated food item in a food competition?
Josh and Chelsia are in the spa room chatting about their feelings for one another. He says that he didnt think he was going to fall for someone on national TV and he hopes they can still stick together. He wants to keep cuddling with her at night because shes the only thing that makes him go to sleep at night. Chelsia doesnt think they should sleep together for awhile so that they can play it safe. Ohh the easy out! James says he is going to look out for her even if it hurts him and he hopes that she will do the same. She doesnt agree, just says that they are in a weird situation. She says if she cant win then she wants him to. She doesnt want him to hang himself for her.
Heres To You, Mrs. Robinson
As BB plays a little bit of Mrs. Robinson guitar music in the background, Sheila says she is so happy that she has her own bed because she hated sleeping with Adam. Ryan jokes that she is going to crawl into bed with Baller later that night. Matt says shell miss him and she agrees. She says she wont be crawling in anyones bed but someone might be crawling in hers. What planet does this lady live on? Ryan and Mattie both chuckle.
Matt apologizes to Ryan for voting him out, saying that he didnt want to make it a tie and give Josh the satisfaction of breaking it. Ryan accepts Matts apology, figuring its better to have the meathead on his side. Matt thinks they need to set up a crew. The core alliance is Matt and Ryan, but they want it to be the four bros. Matt wants to start weeding the garbage out of the house. Apparently by garbage he means women and Josh. James isnt sure he wants to form an alliance with anyone at this point in the game. They all scratch themselves and pound their chests in the backyard. Not really, but that would have been entertaining.
Natalie, walking around with the ever constant edit blur over her behind, tells the guys that she figured something out about the guinea pig cage. She tells them to look at the little block thing in the cage and notice there are 3 colors. Matt tells her there are 4 colors and she insists there are 3. Im counting blue, red, yellow, green which makes 4. Shes a quick one, that Natalie. She then says there are 27 blocks for 27 letters in the alphabet. Ryan informs this airhead that there are only 26 letters.
Surusly guyz. I no howe meny letterz r in tha elfabit.
She argues and counts them all on her fingers. This is amusing. She counts the word and before z. Is she serious?
We are halfway through the show and that means its time for the food competition! The houseguests get to pick blue or red bandanas that stand for which team theyll be on. Matt grabs the stack of blue bandanas for himself and his bros, but somehow Natalie weaseled her way onto his team. The team sporting red bandanas (Fon-tastics) consists of Josh, Sharon, Sheila, and Chelsia. The blue team (Won-due-fuls) is made up of James, Adam, Matt, and Natalie. The houseguests head out to the backyard where the scene looks like something out of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory. There are chocolate fountains and slides. One by one, the houseguests will slide down their teams slide into a giant pot of chocolate. They will have to grab letters out of the chocolate and spell out food items as quickly as they can. After the food word is spelled out on the teams game board, they must go over to their teams chalkboard menu and write the food name down. This is how they will create their food items for the week. The only foods they win for the week are the foods they spell correctly. The team with the most foods after 10 minutes wins. The losing team will be on slop.
The diva takes a mud bath
Natalie tells the guys on her team she is great at spelling. They laugh and say she thought there were 27 letters in the alphabet. She then showcases her skills by spelling cereal. C-E-R-E-L. Man, the jokes just write themselves for this girl. The competition begins and both teams start off strong. Natalie spells sushi, Chelsia spells beef, James spells meats, and Josh spells meat. Chelsia is getting frustrated with Sheilas slowness and starts screaming at her. The blue team is winning the entire time until they lose the chalk for their chalkboard menu. This gives the red team a chance to catch up. At the end of the competition, we learn that the red team spelled 11 food items correctly and the blue team spelled 12 food items correctly. Blue team wins! The red team gets slop for the week.
Its almost time for nominations, so let the ass-kissing begin! Joshuah tells Ryan that the only thing he can promise him is that if Josh ever gets HoH, he wouldnt put Ryan up or backdoor him. Ryan tells Josh he wont put him up or backdoor him. They shake hands. Josh tells Ryan he will be his bitch for the week and vote however Ryan wants him to.
Dancing With Myself
In a ridiculous off-topic montage of video, my retinas are permanently damaged from Joshuas little disco dance party with himself. He is dancing all around the house and in front of the mirror. He jumps around and moves his arms crazily. Matt walks through and mocks him for a minute, and then Joshuah continues. That was disturbing.
James heads up to the HoH room to figure out what Ryan is thinking about nominations. Ryan says he has 2 women in mind and James automatically guesses correctly: Sharon and Sheila. James thinks Sharon is smart and Ryan might have to worry about her coming off of the block. James also thinks if Sharon is on the block next to Sheila, Sharon will be staying. Matt wonders who they could put up with Sharon that will guarantee Sharon going home. They think maybe Joshuah but decide against it. James suggests that maybe Chelsia should go up on the block against Sharon. He says he isnt against anything. Nothing like throwing your cuddle buddy under the bus! They talk strategy a little bit more, but nothing is really resolved.
Ryan stares at the memory wall for a little while and all of the houseguests express their anxiety about possibly being nominated. Its finally time for the ceremony and Ryan gives his little speech about how this is a game and its not personal, etc etc. The first safe houseguest is Adam. The other keys belong to Natalie, James, Matt, Sheila, and Joshuah. The nominees are Chelsia and Sharon. Ryan tells them they are both intelligent and strong competitors. He knows they will have an epic battle of the females for the POV.
This leads us to my favorite part of the show: the end! Tune in Tuesday to find out who wins the veto and if its used to save either Chelsia or Sharon. Cant fit Big Brother into your busy Tuesday evening TV schedule? Read all about our naughty little hamsters in a fantabulous recap from our own lildago!
Do you secretly like to dance in front of the mirror? PM me.


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Eat The Love
October 1, 2013
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subset: commoncrawl


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Kia is one of the only car brands sold in America that's never built an enthusiast's car. Sensible Swedish Saab offered the 900. Before their core clientele started losing their pulse, Buick ran the Grand National. Saturn looked to the Sky for salvation. GMC got caught up in a Typhoon. Even Hyundai has the Tiburon circling its enthusiast oriented customers. Kia? Nothing but cheap. Or… maybe not. "Being practical doesn't mean you have to take the joy out of life," their web copy proclaims. "That's the thinking behind the Rio. It's affordable and likes a good time as much as you do." What exactly does THAT mean?
Affordability aside, nothing much. The Kia's sheetmetal serves as an instant, constant reminder that the good times are not about to roll. For starters, the front fascia appears to be a mismatch of cheap plastics and leftover pre-bankruptcy surplus (check out those diminutive fog lights on the top-of-the-line SX). The orgy of automotive penury continues with side door protectors that look like they came from the wrong side of the 1980's. The Hyundai Accent has these removed– with the mere imprint remaining. But that's like saying the Rio isn't the only sister in the family that grows a moustache.
At the back, the Rio's rear lights came straight from a Chrysler junkyard; the lower end retains the cohesiveness of overexposed cheap plastic. Overall, only the equally dire, equally South Korean Chevrolet Aveo can compare with the Rio's ultra-cheap, I mean "affordable" exterior appearance.
The Rio's interior surprised me, even in base trim. Yes, the radio controls look and feel like rubber dog toys (don't get me started) and the carpet's thinner than my imaginary hairline. But the seats are comfortable, the ergonomics faultless, and the steering wheel feels solid in your hands. In truth, only one element of the Rio's cabin will repel frugal folks before they turn the key: a sour, noxious smell. The olfactory assault may fade over time, but it sends a subconscious signal that you have abandoned all hope of a fly ride.
You don't drive a Kia Rio. You ride in it. Well, on the highway. Anywhere else, you fight with it. There's no handling as such, just a constant struggle against lateral forces and 14" of limited adhesion as you wrestle with the lack of power steering (available on the LX and SX models). Unless you think it's OK for a guy to dance by himself at the High School prom, piloting this machine is a particularly joyless affair. Did I mention the 110hp engine (@ 6000rpm) or understeer? Why would I?
Another non-surprise: the Rio with a manual transmission is a pain to drive, with a box that puts the "arggg" in agricultural. Needless to say, the optional four-speed autobox is geared for maximum mileage (i.e. minimal acceleration). Unfortunately (for Kia), moving up to the automatic lifts the price firmly into Versa / Yaris territory– where the Rio simply can't compete.
The good news: the base Kia rides smoothly down the highway with controlled body motions, and remains quiet, in an "Applebee's isn't as noisy as a TGIF's" way. That's a good fit for most of the general public that seeks to drive no more than 2/10's to 3/10's of a vehicle's capability– and wants an upper body workout. Oh, the suspension bottoms-out on moderate bumps at highway speeds. Sorry.
The word "base" has new meaning here. No power steering. No ABS or rear disc brakes, poor IIHS side-impact safety rating and, just as dangerous for southerners, no air conditioning. You can't even order a chiller in the base model. You can get AC for $700 more in an entry-level, if equally unexciting, Toyota Yaris hatchback along with… power steering! Or, you can get a variety of near-new low-mileage vehicles ranging from the unloved but far more competent Chevy Cobalt, to the quite loved and still fairly unknown Suzuki SX4.
All of which means that if the Kia Rio loves good times as much as you do, you don't love good times. At all. The Rio has nothing whatsoever to offer the enthusiast and even less to offer the frugalist. OK, the warranty is long and extensive. But then most cars today will last 200k miles.
It's a shame that the most economically-vulnerable members of society will be seduced by the Rio's low sticker. If they checked eBay's completed items section they'd see that an ultra-low mileage four-year-old Rio has trouble breaking the $4k barrier. That's $2k worth of depreciation per year. On the flip side, you can buy a certified three-year-old Corolla or Civic for nearly the same price as a new Kia Rio and get lower depreciation, better fuel economy and far better overall quality. Game, set and match.
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53 Comments on "2008 Kia Rio Review..."
GS650GJune 11th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Like that model would be caught dead riding in a Kia Rio. I like the Rondo, it's a good vehicle for the money but this thing is ridiculous.
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brettcJune 11th, 2008 at 10:19 am
What an entertaining review. I owned a 2001 Hyundai Accent for 2 years. The wife and I bought it new because at the time, it was a pretty decent car for the money, and it seemed much better than the 1994 Cavalier it was replacing.
It was scary on the highway on windy days, and I only got about 30 MPG max during the 40000 miles we had it. We eventually got rid of it because the automatic transmission module kept failing. A total of 3 times… We replaced it with a 2003 Jetta TDI, which has been essentially flawless so far over 5 years.
So, the moral of my story is that I'll probably never buy another Hyundai product, and based on this review, it looks like not much has changed in 7 years with Hyundai's entry level cars.
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AKMJune 11th, 2008 at 10:27 am
That model is way too skinny…
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June 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I actually like the exterior styling of the Rio, especially in hatchback form. The proportions are much better than those of most small cars, and no lines seem extraneous. I suspect an Italian design house assisted. Must agree on those moldings, though.
I've never driven a Rio, because both times I've tried the salesperson has strongly encouraged me to drive a different model.
No reliability info on these yet–but soon on the related Hyundai Accent. If you know someone who owns a Kia, please send them here:
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SupaManJune 11th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I, too, actually like the exterior styling of the Rio Cinco (ya…the hatchback). Lines are clean and stylish in a bottom-of-the-bucket kind of way. The car is exactly what it is….entry level. Something you'd buy your kid on his/her way to college if college was say….300 miles away. I've heard the reliability on them is excellent and the warranty makes it bulletproof.
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MattVAJune 11th, 2008 at 10:37 am
AKM, I was thinking the exact same thing. That's sickly, dying skinny.
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Steven LangJune 11th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Hyundai and Kia still have sub-standard reliability. We see a disproportionate number of them at the auctions, and a lot of folks who trade them in do so because the warranty has expired.
Hyundai does have better quality overall than the Kia products. But I still wouldn't put the older versions on a par with the domestics. On the flip side, most any vehicle that is conservatively driven and well maintained can last over 200k. Hyundai is definitely among them but I would encourage anyone who has a Sonata/Elantra/Accent etc. to change the tranny fluid every 30k and have the oil done at least every 5k. I see many of the trannies giving up the ghost once they reach around 100k.
Kia is still the bottom dweller of the car-side of the industry just as Land Rover is for the SUV side of the business. I use the term 'Kia league' to describe any type of vehicle that is so riddled with defects and substandard engineering that it won't see the bright side of 100k without a major repair. Owner reviews of this and other Kia produts can provide a lot of insight to Kia's that go far beyond the initial quality reports. There have been plenty of consumer complaints about owners not being able to get their manual trannies replaced during the warranty period and the ignorant among the masses usually gets their clocks cleaned with the dealer promoted maintenance. In my opinion, one of the reasons why Kia is struggling during a recession laden market is because their products and service are simply not up to snuff.
Kia's main customers are those that desperately need a low monthly payment, and those who want a long warranty due to either a belief in the 100k myth or those who suffered through a major repair once their former car's warranty expired.
Some cars are truly cheap to operate and own (Fit, Versa, Yaris) others are not (Rio, PT Cruiser, Aveo). The true cost of ownership goes far beyond the initial price… which is what too many folks simply look at when shopping new or used.
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JJJune 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I went to TTAC.com expecting a new review, since it's Wednesday, but I got confused when I saw the Cayenne picture.
I thought well maybe no new review today, but then I realized I had completely overlooked this Kia on top of the page.
Amazing how the human brain tries to filter out some of the information that's thrown at it.
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dolo54June 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
My one experience with a Kia was a rental Sportage I had the misfortune of driving. The cheap plastic smell was beyond unpleasant. It was actually toxic. I had to keep the window rolled down in the middle of winter because of the terrible headache I was getting from the fumes. It earned the title of worst car I've ever driven (previously held by a Saturn SL). It made me long for the decrepitude of the Saturn.
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June 11th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Well said Steve!
Talking to the guy at the National rental counter, and he said they avoid Kia products as they tend to break under the abuse rental cars must endure. They found the domestics, especially the Cobalt (they don't care about driving enjoyment) have the best fleet cost vs ability to withstand punishment, since they get no break on costs for the Hondas and Nissans… although they had a few Toyotas.
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June 11th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Nice review as always, Steven. I haven't smelled a Korean car in a while, they seem to be getting better for the past 10 years. I not-so-fondly remember the smell of every Hyundai in the early 1990s, that plastic/glue was toxic.
Too bad the smell is back at sistership Kia. Even the Chinese cars I sat in at the NAIAS didn't smell very bad at all.
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RayHJune 11th, 2008 at 11:42 am
…far more competent Chevy Cobalt
Wow… the last car I drove I disliked more than the 'balt was a Stratus. I'll have to drive one of these to compare it to the Stratus.
Nice review.
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Steven LangJune 11th, 2008 at 11:53 am
One minor change. This review refers strictly to the Base model.
As for the Cobalt… if a person doesn't like the looks of the Toyota, and the Yaris and Fit are beyond their price range, the Cobalt is a perfectly competent vehicle. It's not one for the enthusiast. But it's a far better choice for A to B transportation.
If I were comparing to others in the class, I would likely rank a lower end Cobalt higher than most here. GM actually put some effort to make it a durable vehicle and I see far fewer compromises in it than I do with most other compacts and subcompacts. It's also an amazing value as a two year old model thanks to GM's large scale supplying of fleets and other commercial entities.
Economy minded buyers on a sub-Rio budget would do well spending some time considering a near-new version of it. The prior gen Focus on the other hand I don't like due to the buzziness and rattling I find with their interior components over the course of time. As always, to each their own.
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alex_rashevJune 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Nitpick: EPA rates Manual Rio at 27/32, and auto at 25/35. In other words, stick version sucks for highway driving, but makes up for it in the city – I bet that the little auto box has lockup and a mega-tall overdrive. Probably makes for some shitty response at highway speed, as in, mash the gas, wait 3 seconds while it's not moving any faster under wide-open throttle at 1200rpm, then another 2 for it to unlock the converter and another 5 or so while it figures out that you need a second or a third gear to overtake that truck. But then again, I haven't driven it. Maybe I should ;)
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alex_rashevJune 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
EPA Mileage is 27/32 for stick, and 25/35 for auto. That probably means that the auto comes with a lockup and a mega-tall overdrive, which means that the car will be a major pain to drive.
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guyincognitoJune 11th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I actually like the styling of the hatch. The rear lights are particularly successful of conveying "Rio". They remind me of the design of the Rio hotel in Vegas.
However, I drove an entry level rental Kia several years ago (due to being stranded and no other vehicles available). I drove it from NJ to Detroit and will never forget that experience. I swear my back hurts from it to this day. That car made me question the very definition of "car". In the end I decided it was not a car. I can't bring myself to drive another Kia without significant evidence of improvement.
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OrianJune 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
One entry level model does not define their entire line up, whether it be the Rio in this case, the Aveo in Chevy's case, etc.
This car was designed to be cheap…and is. Not hard to figure that one out. There are better cars in this price range however, as stated.
I drove a Kia Spectra rental last year and was happy with it. It wasn't a car to go fast in, but it felt well built and I had no problems with it during the three weeks I had it. The mileage was pretty decent too, even when flogging it a bit.
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friedclamsJune 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Funny how the Cobalt keeps coming up as a yardstick of either transportation competence or ignominy. Can we get a review of the Cobalt XFE model on TTAC? Might put an end to some of the hearsay regarding this (ubiquitous) car.
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shakerJune 11th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
The Rio (and the Accent) are old platforms and every review I've seen confirms it.
I was looking at Accents, but when Hyundai offered a $2000 rebate on the 2008 Elantra, I jumped at it. With a 5-Speed manual, I've gotten 38MPG on a 70 mph highway 45 – 65 two-lane PA mountain route (200 mile trip); probably better than a Rio could have managed. Get 30 in very short-hop suburban drives to work.
The interior fit and finish are quite good, and the plastics had a very mild (and short-lived) odor. The shifter has loosened into a smooth-operating action, the clutch is consistent, and the electric power steering, though vague on-center, is acceptable for all but canyon carving.
So, don't judge Hyundai/Rio on their older platforms, as the latest gen stuff they offer is very decnt for the price.
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June 11th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Kia HAS made a performance car – they just never sold it here. They built a version of the fwd Lotus Elan.
The new Rio has a great styling at least.
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cRaCk_hEaD_aLLeyJune 11th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
You can blame the night, blame the wine, blame the moon in her eyes, but when all else fails . . . you'd better . . . Blame it on Rio!
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shakerJune 11th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I should know (by now) not to use "forward slashes" in posting; invariably buggers it up somehow, and the 'edit' function is broken (at least in IE6)
Suffice to say that the latest platforms from Hyundai-Kia are noticably better than the previous generations — H-K need to get a new gen small platform out there, as the time is right; but their time is being spent on the Genesis and Elantra Touring right now.
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romanjetfighterJune 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
This thing has no reason to exist. It's a waste of development money because like Mr. Lang said, there are more worthy used examples of Corollas and Civics that are cheaper to buy and cheaper to own. Kia should make more cars like the Rondo, ultra practical, cheap and cheerful, not crap that's outclassed by practically every other car ever produced.
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BEATJune 11th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Skinny means a chance of flippin over on high winds or Noreastern. If it's a little wider and bigger tires it might not flip over and the interior is good.
I remember Mitsubishi before that they didn't care about how their cars looks, they were more into perfecting the AWD,Engine and Tranny now they perfected those system.
Now they changed the style of their Lancer,Eclipse and Galant especially the Evo X.
I hope KIA will do the same.
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RixJune 11th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I don't understand how Hyundai can make decent cars at a great price point and their subsidiary Kia can't.
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BEATJune 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
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mikedJune 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I think its great that the base model is so base! I wish every car came with options from completely stripped to full upmarket goodies.
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CarnotCycleJune 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Kinda funny to see a review of this thing up so quick after I bought one! Its even the same orange color.
I bought the car because of two things:
1.Gas is expensive, and I needed something that could get decent mileage for my 40 mile round trip to work everyday. I've got a Mitsubishi VR4 Twin Turbo with an upgraded chip, bigger intercoolers, and 750cc injectors; it likes gas….too much of it at this pricepoint to drive daily.
2. The KIA dealer was running a special where they gave you $3000 off for your trade-in, no matter the condition of the trade in. The KIA dealer is now a proud owner of a '88 Pontiac Grand Am with a Oldsmobile quad-4 (remember those?) missing the bottom of the engine along with crank, rods, and pistons (it died in fine GM style via fantastic explosion a couple of years ago…KABOOM!).
So I ended up picking this car up for new and paid eight grand for the thing out of pocket. I got the nicest package they had on the lot that didn't have a slushbox.
Overall, I would have to say this car isn't as bad as the review here indicates, at least over time. If you are used to driving a quick machine like a VR4 I can see where the instant turn-off factor comes into play. This widget is a dog – a small, yappy dog – to drive.
But I have generally been suprised by this thing. It is unusually quiet in my experience for a cheap car. Build quality is pretty good, all the gaps line up (and have stayed lined up for 3000 miles or so). And the car sips gas if you pay even a little attention to being efficient in your driving.
And here's the funniest part of all about this car. Chicks dig it. I don't know why, but I get lots of compliments on how "cute" it is – and everyone loves the color. Even my old man, a die-hard Oldsmobile man who likes to rib me that KIA stands for "Killed In Automobile" and calls my VR4 a "Zero" thinks the color is cool. Anyways, that's my two cents.
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HowlerJune 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
"Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand!"
Next up from Kia the radical new cute-ute… Wild Boys! Um er wait "The Chauffeur"? =D
PS: The model is skinny, but it doesnt change the fact you're fat.
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June 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I rented a Rio and it had no noticeable smell. I think it is nice looking for a cheap car, and the interior was fine. I wouldn't want to own, but for an $8000 car it is certainly competent.
I have also driven a 2005 Aveo hatch, another sub-10K car, and it too wasn't all that bad. Driving very cheap small cars like these is sort of fun, and parking of course is a snap.
You say that it is a poor value compared to higher-end 2 or 3 year old low-mile cars, but you can say that of any new car.
It is also unfair to compare the car with a Versa, Yaris, etc, which are all more expensive cars.
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boredlawstudentJune 11th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
"It is also unfair to compare the car with a Versa, Yaris, etc, which are all more expensive cars."
I thought that would be the case too, but a mid level Rio LX w/ auto, PW/PL and ABS is $15.3K or around $14.2K after rebates. It's not that cheap afterall. I'd gladly spend the additional 1K or so for a FIT.
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JonathonJune 11th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
The Rio's looks would be vastly improved if they got rid of that wide belt of charcoal grey plastic all the way around.
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Dynamic88June 11th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Mr. Lang,
You are w/o doubt my favorite reviewer. I appreciate your insights into various makes and models.
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WalterRohrlJune 11th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I too am in the "I like the black bumper strips" camp. Both My '93 Audi S4 and my '92 Mercedes 400E had them and what's more, they were replaceable with new ones when the old ones had been rubbed or pockmarked during parking maneuvers. No new fully painted bumper can take any kind of abuse whatsoever without expensive repairs. I have no idea if the ones on the Kia are replaceable but if so, then they can be kept looking good pretty easily.
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quasimondoJune 11th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
I'm all confused. Isn't this the kind of car that everybody screams the manufacturers should be making?
It's inexpensive (starting at $11.5k)
It's fuel efficient (EPA combined 30 mpg)
It's light (2300 lb curb weight)
It's not saddled down with the things that people consider to be excess (no DVD, no navigation, etc.)
It gets by without a monstrous engine (110 hp)
This is quite possibly the most sensible car TTAC has ever tested.
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ejacobsJune 12th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I agree with Michael Karesh that the proportions are good on this car for its size–certainly better than the Yaris. The bumper strips might look better on a darker color, but either way it's 80s-retro-minimalist, and I like that, too.
All that said, it's so outclassed by the competition that you either really need a warranty, or are really smitten by its…looks?
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NickRJune 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Rio…Korean for 'penury'
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bjarnetvJune 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
at least the new kia ceed and the rondo are good cars, so i have high hopes for the soul and the other upcoming kias.
besides, how can you not love a car manufacturer named after a ninja-scream? kiaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
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geggamoyaJune 13th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Quasimondo–> Now if it only was fun to drive… ;)
For some reason i also quite like the styling, and the black strips.
I still wouldn't buy one though, it's about 15k euros here and for that price there's better cars available.
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PanzerJaegerJune 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Kia is still the bottom dweller of the car-side of the industry just as Land Rover is for the SUV side of the business.
Wait, what? Did you really compare Kia to Land Rover? Have you driven a Rover in the last 10 years?
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Dave M.June 13th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Have you driven a Rover in the last 10 years?
I've helped push one…..
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quasimondoJune 14th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
geggamoya, do you really NEED a car that's fun to drive?
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Steven LangJune 15th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Yes, and my analogy was pointed squarely towards the lack of reliability and quality of these two brands.
It's an extreme rarity to see a Kia OR Land Rover have mileage above 150k. Land Rover's have absolutely terrible electronics and substandard automatic transmissions. Kia's have problems all the way around. In fact, if you look at the owner reviews for both these vehicles you'll usually see more sad faces and unhappy stories than virtually anything else out there.
On a more statistical note, I happen to peruse through Carmax's trade-in's on a weekly basis. For this week, 39 trade-in's were Kia's. Out of those 39, not a single one had mileage above 150k. Six of them have engine issues, one doesn't run, and over two-thirds of them were traded in before the vehicle ever saw 100k. Typically 15% of Carmax's trade-in's will have over 150k miles. For Kia it's usually between 0% and 2%, and I've been looking at these stats for a long time.
Land Rover had 2 out of 29 hit the 150k mark. Typically they have no more than one. Again, two-thirds of their owners traded them in before they reached 100k. Usually the pre-100k trade-in level is between 30% and 40% for most marques. Acura, Toyota and Subaru typically have the lowest percentages… Kia, Saab, Jaguar and Land Rover typically have the highest.
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geggamoyaJune 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
No i suppose i don't actually need a car that's fun to drive. Most of my driving is on ring-roads and motorways anyway, which are depressing by definition.
Defenders seem to be the exception to unreliable Land Rovers, supposedly 75% of all the Defenders ever made are still registered and running. There's not much that can go wrong though..
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PanzerJaegerJune 15th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I know plenty of guys running Discos and even Range Rover Classics on the trails with well over 100k miles on them. My mom's 2001 Disco which gets daily commute duty most of the time and some light 4X4 occasionally has 70k on it and we've had no issues, electronic or otherwise.
Now I will grant that, like other Euro luxury brands, Land Rover slapped a bunch of electronic gizmos on their vehicles in the recent past that aren't as reliable as their asian competition. However, unlike certain German automakers, the fundamentals are pretty sound.. ie. electronic failures don't disable the vehicle.
Rovers definitly aren't at the top of the list, but imo making comparisons with Kia just isn't justified – especially those from 2000 onward.
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geggamoyaJune 16th, 2008 at 5:27 am
I had a look and actually there seems to be plenty of high mileage Discoveries and older Range Rovers for sale in Germany for example.
Defenders not so much since they are sold in much fewer numbers and i would imagine they are kept for longer than your average car.
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leitzke19June 17th, 2008 at 11:12 am
If anyone has any questions regarding the Kia Rio in general maybe I can help out. First off, how can Kia Rio be a bad car if it has been ranked "Highest in Initial Quality" 2 years in a row! And thats by J.D. Power and Assoc….? I also have customers that drive there Rio and get 43 mpg.. and have over 200,000 miles on them and have done nothing but change the oil?
Just look at the reviews from people that HAVE owned or DO own one. You will be pleased!
If you need so speak with someone that owns one just ask!
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hondagirlJune 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I went to a Kia dealership to test a Sportage, and the thing wouldn't even crank. I wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole.
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kiaowner5June 17th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
You can't buy a hatchback rio in the base model. Kias are now rated up with Hondas and Toyotas. They now have good resale value. There is no smell in the interior other than the new car smell many cars have. This car is fun to drive it corners nicely it has get up and go considering the HP. But its not that type of car its a gas milage car. Sure they are cheap but they are as good as quality as any toyota but they cost less to build. Kia does not have toyotas we will rip you off $$$ name. They spend much less on advertising too. i don't have to pay the extra thousand for advertising that Toyota owners do. Kia is the number 5 automaker in the world they must be doing something right. I did a ton of research then i bought the Kia.
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geggamoyaJune 18th, 2008 at 4:14 am
They are making progress fast, no doubt about that. Some like the car, some don't. Isn't it nice? Kumbaya…
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Steven LangJune 18th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
"You can't buy a hatchback rio in the base model." Never said you could… "They now have good resale value." Compared to a Lada. "There is no smell in the interior other than the new car smell many cars have." Actually, new cars do have different smells between them. The Rio had one that I simply did not, how shall I say this in a kind way, appreciate. "This car is fun to drive it corners nicely it has get up and go considering the HP." Same can be said for a 15 year old Mazda Protege. "But its not that type of car its a gas milage car." OK, first it's fun, but not really. Then it's an economical car. But have you actually seen it's MPG's and compared it to the competition? If you did, you would find this base model fell far short in that measure as well. "Sure they are cheap but they are as good as quality as any toyota but they cost less to build." As Col. Potter would say, "Horsefeathers!" "Kia does not have toyotas we will rip you off $$$ name." Because they have not earned that level of prestige. Take a long hard look at the owner's reviews at carsurvey, epinions, cartalk, edmunds, and msn. If you think the Rio has achieved long term owner satisfaction on a par with any Toyota, feel free to do the math and get back to me. "They spend much less on advertising too." It's because their brand is more competitive with niche players such as Jeep in terms of sales. Toyota has sales levels comparable to Chevy and Ford. "i don't have to pay the extra thousand for advertising that Toyota owners do." Huh? Facts please. "Kia is the number 5 automaker in the world they must be doing something right." This one takes the cake, and the ham and cheese. "I did a ton of research then i bought the Kia." In the words of Bartles and James, "and we thank you for your support!"
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June 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
what a terrific review of a truly awful car. you had me in stitches, Steve! very entertaining.
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Steven LangJune 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Thanks. If Chevy ends up sending an XFE to my neck of the woods (a small town in Georgia somewhere between civilization and deliverance) I'd love to spend time behind the wheel with that as well.
I don't know why, but somehow the really cheap a$$ boring cars can have this strange appeal to me. I recently got a 1994 Buick Century with only 31,000 miles on it that I swear must be responsible for half the deaths in West Palm Beach. The thing is the automotive version of novocain on the road… and yet I truly like driving it. It's authentic and genuine in the way it simply doesn't give a flip about ergonomics or interior quality… and yet, it works.
It seats six, gets 30 mpg on the highway, the 3.1L is a surprisingly good choice for the mass of the car, and the trunk is massive. Everything else about the car is a joke. But it at least it nailed all the big issues for it's target audience at that time, which is why it sold so well for so long.
If you want the the All-American version of automotive mediocrity, the Century was probably the epitome of it. It's what the Kia dreamed of becoming when it was a mere Festiva.
The base Kia on the other hand would not qualify as a 21st century K-Car because it simply fails on every single level. At the end of a long drive I honestly thought that this car had missed it's target customer. Now if their target was someone who likes cheap 1980's era plastics and the color orange, they may be onto something. But even the bargain basement Aveo has regularly beaten the Rio in the sales charts.
Some folks here want to drive the Bentleys, the Ferarris, the Porsches, and the Maseratis. As Sally Struthers would say, "Do you like driving really really expensive cars? Sure we all do. Now go get me another hamburger!" I enjoy the more plebian vehicles because in real life, I'd rather spend my money on a rental property or a really good weed whacker.
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text:
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will leave spring training camp in Clearwater, with an injury that apparently has hit a plateau. Utley has yet to play a game in spring training, leaving plenty of doubt to his availability for the 2012 season opener.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. released the following statement (via Todd Zolecki);
"Chase's rehab process has come to a bit of a plateau. He has made some strides but not enough to take the field. He is headed out of town for a few days to be evaluated by a specialist that has helped athletes overcome his issue. We anticipate that this trip will allow him to build on what he has already done with Scott Sheridan in order to get over the hump. He wants more than anything to be on the field with his teammates and we believe that this is a step in that direction."
The concern over Utley is couple ed with the continuing Ryan Howard rehab status, which seems to be putting Howard's 2012 status in much question as well.
Could the opening day lineup include Freddy Galvis and Ty Wigginton on the right side of the infield? How much confidence does this instill in you?
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Real Salt Lake: Fabian Espindola's score ties match against Revolution
myself Salt Lake City, UTJuly 6, 2011 3:03 p.m.
The players throw a big enough fit that it takes a while to get the pk taken anyway. While all of that is going on have some replay officials up in a booth or box have a look at the play and radio down to the center ref. Simple. It would be relatively quick too.
Add goal line technology and one more center ref on the field. I hope that eventually computers will be able to call offsides so we don't need those crappy sideline officials.
RSL1 Washington, UTJuly 6, 2011 2:27 p.m.
All pks and red cards should be reviewed on instant replay. It just makes sense. Too many games are decided by terrible calls. Red cards and pks determine who wins or loses. Don't you think we should at least get them correct if they are that important? If I was a ref I would like to double check to make sure.
RSL should have Borchers red card suspension appealed. Since it wasn't even a foul you would think MLS would agree he shouldn't sit out two games.
Magic Pog LOGAN, UTJuly 5, 2011 11:14 p.m.
Alexi Lalas called the game the worst officiated game he had ever seen. That is quite bad I would think.
matt4226 Holladay, UTJuly 5, 2011 8:49 p.m.
I was really disappointed in the soft 2nd goal, until I watched the replay. Saborio was completely pulled off the wall by a player from NE. This allowed the ball to roll where he should have been which beat Rimando who was cheating to the far post because he had his wall setup. I can't blame the ref for missing that call, but just adds to the overall frustration of the game.
Could this be a turning point for this team? They were down 2 goals and down a man and fought back to a 3-3 tie. I know NE is a bad team, but overcoming that early adversity showed this team doesn't give up.
myself Salt Lake City, UTJuly 5, 2011 4:39 p.m.
Realistically the score should have been 1-0 RSL because all of the other goals were not legitimate.
It was cool to see RSL on sportsnation but Josephs goal should have never happened because it was clearly a flop that led to the free kick.
@parry is a farce
yeah I knew the fireworks show was going to be bad, it wasn't a good sign when they announced a "pyrotechnics display." They will be having a real full scale fireworks show on the 23rd. The reason it wasn't the regular full scale fireworks was because sandy was doing their fireworks show last night.
ClickClock Bountiful, UTJuly 5, 2011 2:33 p.m.
Where is the old Kreis that would have gone on a rant about the horrible call? I miss him. Bring him back along with the fire that led this team to win a championship, not just ties against mediocre teams--and I know, we were a man-down, but frankly the team never should have been in that situation off a goalkick!!! A goalkick, really, how did Fhalber get into the box unmarked and then get the ball? Bad play all around just made worse by bad refs.
Nussdorfer AC Salt Lake City, UTJuly 5, 2011 11:24 a.m.
RSL showed a lot of heart to fight back.
oldrunner Ogden, UTJuly 5, 2011 11:20 a.m.
Although my 18 years of soccer officiating was not at this level, I have a good handle on what is and isnt a foul. In last nights match, either Mr. Reyes was incompetent or dishonest. I dont think he would have been hired if he were the former. I wonder what the odds in Vegas were for the game last night? Its the only explanation that makes sense. Someone made a lot of Money last night.
afro14 Sandy, UTJuly 5, 2011 11:05 a.m.
Should have been a 3-2 RSL win. That red card was garbage.
COUGARNATE Lyman, WYJuly 5, 2011 9:57 a.m.
Soccer needs to look at adding a second field referee, it would be better officiated, instead of one guy trying to cover the whole field by himself. The ref was fifty yards away, when he made that embarrassing call last night.
Vince Clortho S_SPRINGS, UTJuly 5, 2011 7:33 a.m.
I thought the same thing. 6 goals and 5 of them came off of dead ball situations...Still, great heart...Onward and Upward RSL.
Magic Pog LOGAN, UTJuly 4, 2011 11:51 p.m.
MLS needs to do something about the refs. For both sides it was a joke. Really there was only one goal that did not come from a bad call out of the six goals. It is hard to watch.
gogogoff Orem, UTJuly 4, 2011 10:54 p.m.
Anyone at the game tonight know about that plane that was flying around, that was really low ??
Draperite Draper, UTJuly 4, 2011 10:03 p.m.
Real played very well.A tie was well earned sadly. They could have won this game with full 11. The ref in center left a lot to be desired. The TV clearly showed that Borchers got ball and should have had a goal kick.
The Corinthian Salt Lake City, UTJuly 4, 2011 9:11 p.m.
Yader Reyes. SAR (bench): Peter Balciunas; JAR (opposite): Mike Kampmeinert --- henceforth known as: WORST. REFEREES. EVER.


text:
Kelsey Grammer has revealed that he'd like to star in more X-Men movies.
The former Frasier star portrayed the character Beast in the latest instalment of the superhero franchise - X-Men: Days of Future Past.
He told Collider: "I hope to do another. I hope they find some way to come up with a new story that involves Beast in my timeline."
The actor also revealed how he bagged the role after chatting to director Bryan Singer.
He explained: "Actually I called Bryan. I bumped into Hugh Jackman and he said, 'Oh you're gonna be in another X-Men, mate!' and I said, 'No I'm not, I don't know anything about it'.
"So I made a couple of inquiries, got a hold of the script, found out that it's primarily dealing with the past and that timeline I don't have a place in, but I saw that at the end there was this coda where he made an appearance.
"I said, 'Listen, I really wanna be involved,' so Bryan arranged for it and I had a lovely time."


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With James Cameron's Avatar shouldering aside George Lucas's original Star Wars and Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight for second place on the all time movie box office rankings (behind only Cameron's own Titanic), it's a good time to note one of the odder twists in the evolution of popular film culture: the rise of the self-proclaimed do-it-all writer-director-producer.
Of the last thirty Best Picture nominees (2003-2008), ten had directors who also took screenwriting credits (including George Clooney for Good Night and Good Luck).
And of the top 30 box office hits of all time—a list dominated by recent films due to inflation—the director has also served double-duty as a screenwriter on 16.
The growing allure of the writer-director extends even to Lucas and Cameron, both of whom seem more intrigued by technological innovation than by fine-tuning dialogue. Lucas is notoriously tin-eared, while Cameron abstains from originality in plot and dialogue to—as he explains it—avoid confusing the audience.
After triumphing as the sole writer-director on the original Star Wars in 1977, Lucas took a public role for his 1980 sequel The Empire Strikes Back more like hypomanic producer David O. Selznick's on 1939's Gone with the Wind. Lucas handed the screenwriting credits to old-timer Leigh Brackett and young gun Lawrence Kasdan, and the directing credit to Irvin Kershner. Is it surprising that The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered the best of the five follow-ups?
Yet, when Lucas returned in 1999 with The Phantom Menace, the spirit of the age encouraged him to take sole credits for both writing and directing. And it showed.
Still, The Phantom Menace made plenty of money. People like the idea of the embattled genius coming back after 16 years away (or 12 years in Cameron's case) with his deeply personal revelation. Ironically, a variant of the auteur theory—that dauntingly intellectual Parisian rewrite of Hollywood history intended to establish the primacy of the director as the "author" of the film at the expense of the actors, screenwriter, producer, and the rest of the crew—is becoming the standard way to make crowd-pleasing popcorn movies. The public adores identifying with megalomaniac filmmakers.
My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer


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text: World 2 July 2010 The not-so-fantastic Mr Fox We always knew he was a hawk not a dove. Sign up to the Staggers Morning Call email * Print HTML From today's Guardian: William Hague was forced to clarify the government's thinking on Afghanistan today when he declared that he would be "very surprised" if Kabul's military was unable to take the lead by 2014 . . . He clarified the government's thinking after [Liam] Fox waded into a row in Washington over the withdrawal of Nato forces. In a speech to the right-wing Heritage Foundation he said an early withdrawal would risk a return to civil war and betray the sacrifices of soldiers who gave their lives. An early draft of his speech made no mention of [David] Cameron's declaration last week. In the final version of his text Fox endorsed Cameron's view, though he later told the BBC that British troops would be among the last to leave Afghanistan. There has been much discussion in right-wing circles about the prospect of a split between Fox and Cameron over the direction of defence and foreign policy, in general, and over the strategy in Afghanistan, in particular. But as the Spectator's James Forsyth rightly argues: There is, though, a feeling in Westminster that Fox is vulnerable. Fox has already used up a rather large number of his nine lives -- think of the "13th century" comment on the eve of a visit to Afghanistan, saying that military pensions are ring-fenced when they are not and publicly announcing the departure of the Chief of Defence Staff outside of the Downing Street grid. But Fox has a significant source of protection. He's one of the few representatives of the Tory right in the coalition cabinet. Only he, Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson are regarded as being on the right by the right of the Conservative Parliamentary Party. If Fox was to leave government, Cameron would find his right flank dangerously exposed. Fox is not just a right-winger; he is, as commentators on the left and right have argued, close to the hawkish and neoconservative faction inside the party on foreign and defence matters. He set up the Atlantic Bridge think tank in 1997, with the aim of "strengthening the special relationship" with the United States (though it is now being investigated by the Charity Commission). The Defence Secretary was also an ardent supporter of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. So it was surprising to see his earlier non-neocon remarks on Afghanistan: We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken, 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened. He sounded a bit like a realist, more Ken Clarke than Paul Wolfowitz. But the not-so-fantastic Mr Fox is now back on form, telling the Heritage Foundation in his speech that he did not favour what he called "premature withdrawal" (and, in fact, he plans to keep British troops in Afghanistan longer than other allied nations, according to the BBC) because: To leave before the job is finished would leave us less safe and less secure. Our resolve would be called into question, our cohesion weakened, and the Alliance undermined. It would be a betrayal of all the sacrifices made by our armed forces in life and limb. Who says Afghanistan ain't like Vietnam? Here are the same sort of absurd and illogical arguments from the same sort of cold, dead-eyed defence officials -- we have to stay longer because we have lost lots of men already, so we have to stay longer and lose more lives, and then we have to stay even longer to make sure those lives weren't lost in vain, and so on and so on, ad infinitum . . . Perhaps the Defence Secretary should be reminded of John Kerry's remarks to the Senate foreign relations committee on 23 April 1971. Then a decorated, 27-year-old navy veteran of Vietnam and a high-profile member of the anti-war movement, Kerry asked: How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake? Four decades on, does Liam Fox have an answer to this question? › Electoral reform is not just an "elite" cause Mehdi Hasan is a contributing writer for the New Statesman and the co-author of Ed: The Milibands and the Making of a Labour Leader. He was the New Statesman's senior editor (politics) from 2009-12. Subscribe from just £1 per issue More Related articles Donald Trump's threats give North Korea every reason it needs to keep nuclear weapons Boris Johnson "will resign before weekend" if Theresa May defies his Brexit wishes I discovered the secret poetry of Donald Trump – and it's tremendous Subscription offer 12 issues for £12 + FREE book LEARN MORE Close This week's magazine


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Stanford University, Stanford, CA, B.S., 1997, Biological Sciences
Stanford University, Stanford, CA, M.S., 1998, Engineering Economic Systems
Stanford University, Stanford, CA, Ph.D., 2003, Management Science and Engineering
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Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 2003
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, National Cancer Institute, Program in Cancer Outcomes Research Training, Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute for Technology Assessment, 2003-2005
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text:
New York - Especially during the holidays, toasting can make even a meal at a fast-food restaurant a special occasion. It can impart a festive air to the gathering and has a way of bringing those present together.
One of my best memories is a pre-dawn toast in London, after flying in from the US. I had taken the "Flight From Hell" that arrived nearly a day late, due to a variety of mechanical problems.
My client gamely picked me up at the airport. We stopped for breakfast at some dingy travellers' restaurant, the only one open at that hour.
When our orange juice arrived, he stood and said, "To Mary, welcome. You are worth waiting for." Never mind that we looked silly. His warmth went a long way to defuse an anxious situation and put me at ease. That toast motivated me even more to do my very best in serving the client.
Here are some guidelines for toasting:
The host proposes a toast, often welcoming a guest, at the beginning of the meal. The toast may also occur in the middle of the meal, when the host raises his glass to the guest of honour, who properly should be seated on his right.
If the host has stage fright, it is perfectly fine to have his or her spouse make the toast.
A wonderful example of a toast is one given at a dinner for Nobel Laureates in the state dining room at the White House.
President John F Kennedy rose and said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, ever gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined here alone."
You don't have to be that clever. A typical welcoming toast might be: "Thank you all for being here to share one another's good company and this good food. Welcome and enjoy!"
At the end of the meal, before dessert, the same host might rise and toast the guest of honour, if he hasn't already done so: "I am so pleased that you all could be here to welcome my dear friend Jane, who has come all the way from Rome to spend the holidays with us."
Or, be even more specific, "Let's welcome Lee, friend extraordinaire, triathlete, surgeon and theologian. To Lee."
One-word toasts, such as the Danish skoal, (meaning "health") are pretty much universally accepted as symbols of welcome.
It's a nice idea to toast people in their native tongue. Just be sure to learn the correct pronunciation.
Here are some other things you should know about toasting:
* Do not toast yourself. If you are being toasted, just sit there and afterwards, say thank you. Don't even put your hand on your glass, much less drink.
* Do not clink glasses, especially if there are more than four people involved. It's an old custom having to do with driving away evil spirits, and it's bad news for glassware. Simply lift your glass and say, "Hear, hear", or "Cheers".
* Do keep your toast short.
* Do toast the host in return if you are the guest of honour and are being toasted. You can do this as soon as his or her toast is finished or later. Just keep it brief.
* Do not tap on the rim of your glass to get everybody's attention. It's tacky. Simply stand up and say, "Time for a toast".
* Do raise your glass even if you are not drinking alcohol. Anything will do – even water. Your drink does not have to look like alcohol, either. It's the thought that counts.
* Do toast more than one person if it makes sense. For example, you might toast an entire family that has come to visit, an entire office department, or an entire team.
* Do not pre-empt. The host should be the first one to make a toast.
In our shrinking world, you might discover that people from other countries are more comfortable making toasts because it is a more natural part of their culture than ours. If you know that you are expected to give a toast in a formal setting, by all means rehearse it.
In fact, say your toast over and over to your mirror when you are alone. – Reuters
* Mary Mitchell has written several books on etiquette, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette and Class Acts. She also founded the executive training Mitchell Organisation, themitchellorganization.com


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The campaign holds some captivating aspects other than the fighting. There is much freedom in the game; and you can still win without relying on battles.
Super Gamer Dude
PC Games
The latest installment of the "Total War" game franchise is the Gold Edition, which includes Medieval II Total War and Medieval II Total War Kingdoms. The game is set in Europe in the periods 1080 and 1530, respectively; where the country was in faction. In this installment, you get the chance to turn ordinary factions into grandiose ones!
Those who have played the Rome Total War need not worry as they can expect a familiar gameplay. But for those that are new to the franchise, there is a comprehensive tutorial and you can get tips and hints as you play the game. Based on experience, the game itself is easily understood and learned better when actually played.
The single player has two modes, namely Battle Mode and Campaign Mode. In Battle mode, you can select either historic battle; or you can make your own scene and events. You have to select the factions and a map to play on; then you can start the game. The Battle mode permits you to use any faction of your preference. Each faction has unique fighting styles and units, of course. The Campaign mode, on the other hand, allows you to play with only limited factions and is a bit more complex. Here, you also have two options - the short campaign and the long campaign. In the short campaign, you have to obliterate 1 or 2 factions, and then conquer settlements and towns. But in the long campaign, you have more freedom. You have to take over some settlements, either Jerusalem or Constantinople. In the end, it is up to the player to master a faction of his preference. You should at least try every one of them before choosing which to perfect.
In the beginning, I wanted to fight the battles myself, however it bored me when I got used to it. The repetitive part of watching the armies march, then the choice of either running away or running after the enemies has lost its novelty. Hence the "Resolve Battle" option is of great use here. It allows players to spend more time strategizing on other aspects of the game. However, doing battles manually must not be totally abandoned as you may be able to turn tides and win seemingly hopeless battles when you do it manually. I recommend that you fight manually when there is a decisive battle, or when you want to win a seemingly one-sided battle.
The campaign holds some captivating aspects other than the fighting. There is much freedom in the game; and you can still win without relying on battles.
Also part of the game, are 17 playable factions in the Imperial Campaign. You can only choose one. The map emphasizes Europe, Russia, Poland, Milan, Portugal, Moors and the Africa. However, places like Helsinki, South of Morocco, Lisbon, and Baghdad are also included. There are add-ons in the game and you can obtain more maps and campaigns all over the globe including the Crusades.
The down side of this game is that it occupies a lot of memory. A single add-on eats as much as 1.17GB; while the game itself is 11.7GB. If you install 4 add-ons, the entire game is going to take up 16.38GB. The practical move - install only the add-ons that you really like!
|Submitted by
|Cheat Title


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East High School
April 13, 2010
Troy: I will spend my whole summer with you and no one else.
I promise.
Gabriella: Ok. You better keep your promise.
Troy: Don't worry. I will.
Lava Springs
June 18, 2010
Gabriella: Hey.
Troy: Hey Gabby. Dinner tonight at eight?
Gabriella: I don't know..
Troy: Why not?
Gabriella: Remember last time? Sharpay is always trying to ruin
Something that we plan together.
Troy: Not this time.
Gabriella: Fine.
Golf Course
June 18, 2010
Sharpay: So, I was thinking about you participating in the
talent show..
Troy: I don't know..maybe.
Sharpay: whoever wins gets a record deal!
Troy: wooow.
Sharpay: you should do it. Since you have a great voice.
Troy: thanks. *smiles*
At the pool
June 18, 2010
Taylor: hey.
Gabriella: hey.
Taylor: where's Troy? I thought you two had a date tonight.
Gabriella: we do.
Taylor: he's late?
Gabriella: I guess.. but it wasn't like an official date or something.
Taylor: all dates are official.
Gabriella: I think he'll come.
Taylor: I gotta tell you something.
Gabriella: I'm listening.
Taylor: Troy had "it" with Sharpay last night
To be continued..


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Is Nutella Gluten Free?
Nutella is a made from hazelnut seeds and cocoa, and is much more than a gluten free alternative to peanut butter. Nutella is a great way to add taste and nutrients to your morning taste,
but it can also be used to make cookies, brownies, and at least three different types of crepes. Click here for berry and nutella crepes, banana and nutella crepes, or Italian chestnut crepes with nutella cream filling. Enjoy!


text:
Need Appliance Repair Help? Ask a Technician for Answers ASAP
Thank you for response, motor is 11.3 vdc and evidently multispeed there is three wires to supply. Red has 13vdc coming to motor and yellow and white wires show no voltage and do not Read resistance to ground. Just installed new motor one hour ago and still not running
Wish I could find a schematic..none on frig...so with the 13vdc being supplied is the control board m
aking the ground to fan motor, because I can't find any continuity to motor from ground.
Thank you for your help..just taking a stab in the dark before spending the money for control board... thanks again


text:
Get an overview of this hotel4-star Paris hotel in Quartier Latin, walk to Pont Neuf
Popular property highlights
Located in Quartier Latin, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Les Deux Magots and Pont Neuf. Orsay Museum and Louvre Museum are also within 15 minutes.
Hotel Features
A fitness center, a bar/lounge, and concierge services are available at this hotel. WiFi in public areas is free. Additionally, dry cleaning, a 24-hour front desk, and express check-in are onsite.
Room Amenities
All 31 rooms offer free WiFi, iPod docks, and LCD TVs with satellite channels. Minibars, room service, and hair dryers are among the other amenities available to guests.
Guest Highlights
- Notably quiet location
- Good location
- Helpful staff
- Comfy beds
La Villa Saint Germain des Prés
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
La Villa Saint Germain des Prés features a fitness center, multilingual staff, and concierge services. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. This Paris hotel also offers complimentary newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning/laundry services, and express check-in.
- Multilingual staff
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Porter/bellhop
- Total number of rooms - 31
- Number of floors - 5
- Concierge services
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Free WiFi
- 24-hour front desk
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in
- Bar/lounge
- Elevator/lift
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Room Amenities
- Room service (limited hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Phone
- Hair dryer
- In-room safe
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Minibar
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Slippers
- Bathtub or shower
- Desk
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Satellite TV service
- Free WiFi
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- iPod docking station
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7 AM and 10:30 AM.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 2 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
- Pets stay free
- 2 per room (up to 10 kg)
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- No onsite parking is available.
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2.48 per person, per night
- Resort fee
Optional extras
- Fee for buffet breakfast: EUR 22 per person (approximately)
Hotel Name
- Villa Saint Germain Prés Hotel Paris
- Villa Saint Germain Prés Hotel
- Villa Saint Germain Prés Paris
- Villa Saint Germain Prés
We should mention
A resort fee is included in the total price displayed. Children 2 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
National Rating
This property has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.


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The UK's Leading Office Chairs & Furniture Specialists
Add a touch of elegance and exquisite style to your office with any one of our traditional or contemporary leather study chairs. Don't be fooled by the competitive pricing – all of our chairs are built to an excellent standard. At ChairOffice, we pride ourselves on providing our customers with high-quality products, and our wooden and leather study chairs are no exception.
If you're a traditionalist, we've got a plethora of classic brown, green and cream executive models to suit your preferences, as well as bolder colours for more contemporary tastes. You should also be assured that we offer fast delivery throughout the UK on all of our products.
Click Here To Continue Reading?
Some products are available in multiple colours and not just the colour shown on this page.
Chair Office
Bedford i-Lab
Priory Busines Park
Stannard Way
Sales Line: 01234 834693 - Office Sales & Advice Line Open 9am till 5pm - Monday to Friday
VAT Reg: 214180545 - Company No: 9450728 (chairoffice.co.uk is a trading name for Full Range Furniture Ltd)
Delivery charges vary for non UK mainland and Scottish highlands addresses, office chairs are usually delivered within 1 to 3 days and larger items of office furniture 10 to 14 working days of order unless advised otherwise.


text:
I was having problems upload files through the CMS at all. Eventually I found this
which worked, in that i can now upload files.
But, it's not saving resampled images at all - meaning that basically any image I upload, and add into a page isn't showing up.
Any suggestions? I have to get this site up and running by tomorrow!
As a temporary measure, I've tried putting the direct links into the html in the CMS - eg  however the CMS rewrites is back to  when I save the page... which results it a missing image on the page. Is there a way to stop SS re-writing this path?


text:
Today, NPR has shared the stream of Sylvan Esso self-titled debut album a week prior to its release. Just like what we've sampled from them before, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn have created a thoroughly cohesive project through this album, concocting a perfect balance of seductive, playful vocals and rich production over the span of 10 songs.
Listen to Sylvan Esso's debut album, which will officially be released on May 13, below.


text:
International Edition
September 19, 2017
About Us
Contact Us
Suburbia under sci-fi siege in 'The Watch'
By By JAKE COYLE, Associated Press Friday, September 7, 2012, 7:29 pm TWN
Suburban paranoia can be as funny as it can be dangerous. But in "The Watch," which was renamed from "Neighborhood Watch" to distance itself from the Trayvon Martin killing in Florida, the threat to an ordered Ohio town isn't anything with contemporary resonance. It's just aliens.
That's the disappointing basis of "The Watch," which unfolds not in a way that might have anything funny or enlightening to say about picket-fence fearfulness, but simply with conventional summer movie bombast.
Evan Troutwig (Ben Stiller) is as devoted to Glenville, Ohio, as Max Fischer was to Rushmore Academy. Though he and his wife (an underused Rosemarie DeWitt) are trying to have a kid, he puts most of his energy into the town through various community groups and his senior management position at Costco.
This is a particularly earnest Ben Stiller: "I don't have any black friends yet, but I am on the market," he says. But Evan's enthusiasm is shattered when a friend and Costco security guard (Joseph A. Nunez) is mysteriously mauled overnight. When Evan makes neighborhood safety his new cause (his sweatshirt: "No More Murders"), his rally for support draws derision and only three volunteers.
They're a motley lot: Bob, a father of a teenager looking for a guy's night out (Vince Vaughn); Franklin, a police department-reject with a buzz cut and switchblade (Jonah Hill); and Jamarcus, a divorced, afroed Brit (the wry, poised Richard Ayoade, who directed the promising "Submarine" and nearly steals the movie).
At this point, Vaughn ("Wedding Crashers," "Old School") can claim suburbia to be his domain. No one better typifies the man-cave father, the 9-to-5er, the frat boy with a family.
Vaughn's family man isn't without parody (he introduces himself as "Bob with 'B,'" chuckling mildly) but he's undiminished by adulthood's trappings, full of crazy-eyed brio and the manic positivity too, as he does in "The Watch," design neighborhood watch jackets for the gang with a flaming, winged tiger icon.
Some will say the act is old, but Vaughn could do this as long as John Wayne played a cowboy, as far as I'm concerned. Watching him marvel at each layer of a Russian nesting doll, as he does here, is nearly worth the price of admission.
The crew is slow to develop, harassed by dismissive cops (a funny Will Forte) and egg-throwing high-schoolers. But they make some headway and eventually crack open the case: Aliens are invading Glenville.
Action and comedy are nearly always strange bedfellows, and "The Watch" is no exception. Introducing extraterrestrials puts the story on a familiar trajectory of chases and explosions filled with mock tough-guy slow motion. At this point, Jonah Hill pointing in slo-mo is getting a little tiresome.


text:
LEAVES' EYES, the new band formed by ex-THEATRE OF TRAGEDY singer Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull and members of ATROCITY (who are fronted by Liv's husband Alexander Krull), have set "Vinland Saga" as the title of their sophomore album, due on May 30 via Napalm Records. The recordings of guitar, bass and drums have already been completed and the band are now working on the orchestra percussions, such as timpani, marching snare, symphonic cymbals and other classical instruments. At the same time Liv is preparing her vocals. In her lyrics for the concept album, she will include mystical and historical elements.LEAVES' EYES debut album, "Lovelorn", was released last May via Napalm Records.
LEAVES' EYES Name New Album
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text:
Mental Health
Have Mental Health Questions? Ask a Psychiatrist Online
If you have verbal tics, then people probably look because the noise attracts their attention. They may also need a few moments to understand what they heard. If you have physical tics (movements), then again they may be caught by surprise and just need time to figure out the situation.
Tics can be caused by stress and lack of sleep. Medication can help, especially the medications used for ADHD. Scientists are unsure of what causes tics, but it is known that you can suppress them for a short time, but the urge will build and create the need to move or voice yourself again.
Yes, it is probably because you are feeling nervous or anxious. Tics can be caused by stress, and now that you have had them, you are probably more focused on them than ever before. It can help to practice relaxation techniques so you can combat the nervousness next time you are with others.
Relaxing as much as possible will help. The more you practice keeping yourself calm, the more you will be able to relax anytime you need to, helping to reduce your tics and anxiety in general. Here are two sites to help you:
I can understand your concern. But if people are laughing, it could be for many reasons. It could be that they are uncomfortable, feel shy, think what you said was funny, but not you, or they could be insecure and laugh at others to feel better. Your best bet is to ignore it or laugh along. That usually deals with any reason they could be laughing.
I think we need a new thread :)
I am sorry to hear that you had a difficult time with your mother. You can let me know what happened, but JA rules prevent me from providing more than one answer per thread. Try contacting the moderators to see if you can work out your account and let me know.
Ok, let me know when you get it all sorted.
Ok, thanks for letting me know, Marvin! I'll look for your new post.
Sorry about that! I had a customer change an account and got them mixed up. My apologies!


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SANTA CRUZ -- Parents questioned police about what color shirts their children should wear and how they could make the act of being a gang member a criminal offense during a community meeting about gang awareness at Santa Cruz High School on Wednesday.
The standing-room-only forum in the school's auditorium was meant to educate parents and students about gangs in the wake of the slaying of Tyler Tenorio, 16, on Friday night.
Tenorio, a junior at the school, died two blocks from the police station after he and his friends got into an argument with gang members on Laurel Street.
Related story: Gang fashion and symbols in Santa Cruz County
Tenorio was not a gang member, police said.
Lt. Rudy Escalante called the killing "a tragic loss."
"We should be angry over this incident," he told the crowd of a couple hundred, adding that police won't tolerate violent crime.
But he also said police want to empower people to protect themselves, their children and the community.
When parents pushed for specific ways to help their kids, Escalante agreed with one mother who suggested kids just walk away from challenges.
Gang investigators gave the crowd, which included a lot of high school students, a basic overview of gang colors, names, signs and symbols.
The gang suspected in the slaying of Tenorio claims blue and considers the end of Chestnut Street its territory. The Sentinel is not naming the gang so as not to give it credit.
Gang investigators made a point to add that good, hard-working people also live in the area the gang claims.
The school color at Santa Cruz High is red and many of the students come from the Westside, an area of town also claimed by gang members who identify with the color red and are rivals of the blue group.
But detective Joe Hernandez pointed out that being proud of where you're from, such as the Westside, "does not make you a gang member."
The crowd laughed, but police also emphasized the importance of being aware of what their children are doing, with whom they hang out and what they wear. Police told parents to watch for a dominance of red or blue, and that something as subtle as red shoelaces or a blue belt could be a trigger for a gang member to challenge their children.
"Don't dismiss it as a growing phase," Escalante told parents, talking about their kids' clothing choices.
Police also urged residents to call to report suspicious activity and come forward as witnesses. They said gang members are more afraid of people speaking against them than going to prison.
People asked about gang enhancements -- add-ons in the court system that increase prison sentences -- and how gangs are monitored. Investigators told them there are as many as 300 gang members in the city, divided between about a half-dozen gangs.
The meeting got heated at times.
Alba Mercado, who works with gang members through the Community Restoration Project in Watsonville, stood up and yelled "they're human beings, too."
Many people in the audience shook their heads and mumbled, "no, they're not."
Outside the forum, Mercado said she came to the event because she cares and hopes people can come together to deal with gangs rather than instilling fear and locking up young people.
"There's two sides to the story, that's the reality of this," she said, noting the two suspects in the slaying also have mothers who are grieving now. "We need to start caring."
Rebecca Trautwein, whose kids attend the high school, said she came to the meeting because she's worried about her children's safety and wanted to learn more about gang issues in the city.
She said she left with a feeling that the people needed to "come together as a united community."
Moms and friends Kristin Hill and Janet Barber have younger children, but they attended the meeting "to have an awareness of what to look for," Hill said.
"It feels like things are getting less and less safe," Barber said.
Gang Slogans
Police say gang members will yell out these words, typically to stake their claim to an area or as a challenge. They will also 'tag' these words or numbers on fences, sidewalks and walls.
For Surenos, who claim blue:
No. 13 (also as 'XIII')
and specific gang names
For Nortenos, who claim red:
Nortenos or Northerners
No. 14 (also as 'XIV')
and specific gang names
SOURCE: Santa Cruz police


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Your Best Blowout Ever
Simple steps to achieve your healthiest, longer-lasting blowout to date.
2. The Steps
After using your moisturizing heat protectants, it is time to blow dry! Here are some simple tips and steps to go by:
- Always allow hair to air dry or use a t-shirt/microfiber towel to dry at least 50% before blow drying. Blow drying hair that is dripping wet can lead to the formation of bubbles within the hair shaft that can lead to mid shaft splits and breakage.
- Blow dry in sections. Doing hair one section at a time makes hair more manageable and helps prevent tangling.
- Blow dry on no higher than medium heat, at high speed. The higher the heat, the more at risk you are for heat damage and drying the hair out completely.
- Don't dry the hair 100%. When your hair is about 75-80% dry, stop. Leaving some water in your hair will help better retain moisture and ward off dryness and breakage. After each section is nearly dry, hit it with the cool shot. This helps lock in your volume in place, and cut down on frizz.
- After the cool shot, apply a small amount of moisturizer and a sealing oil and then prepare to loosely braid or use the banding method to keep hair from reverting. Selecting a light, penetrating moisturizer will help keep your hair nourished and moisturized in its blown out state. Moisturizers like Rapunzel's Hair Lotion, Curls Curling Soufflé, and Camille Rose Naturals Fresh Curl are great for this purpose. Sealing with a light oil after applying moisturizer will help keep your hair soft and smooth. My favorite oils for this are jojoba oil, Rapunzel's Hair Silk, and Darshana Ayurvedic Oil.
- Shake and enjoy! Look at you, being all fabulous with your blowout!
Alternative Methods
If the thought of applying dry heat to your tresses makes you apprehensive, there are two other methods to achieve blow outs that pose a lot less of a threat to your hair than the standard blowout. The first option, is blow drying the hair on cool. Because there is virtually no heat used, it does not dry hair out the same way, or pose any threat whatsoever in terms of heat damage. You can still follow all the tips above, just dial the heat setting down. All the way down.
The second method involves a special little tool known as the Q-Redew. If you don't have this handheld steamer yet, I highly suggest investing one. The Q-Redew gently infuses the hair with moisture, and helps improve elasticity and hydration. Beyond that, it has 8 prongs that can be used to detangle the hair and of course, produce a super soft and moisturized blowout! Because dry heat is not involved, you don't need to worry about heat protectants! Just use the Q-Redew to blow out, and apply a little leave-in if you like, and seal with a light oil!