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Used Car - 2008 Chrysler Sebring PASSENGER CAR in Olive Branch, Ms
About This 2008 Chrysler Sebring PASSENGER CAR
Vehicle Location:
Olive Branch, Ms
Exterior Color:
Blue (Blue)
Stock Number:
Fuel Economy Estimates
City MPG
Highway MPG
Combined MPG: 26 - Efficient 30+ MPG
Estimated Monthly Fuel Cost: $85.58*
*Based on $1.78 per gallon and 15k miles per year.
Actual costs may vary.
Actual costs may vary.
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Located at iFinance (Olive Branch) in Olive Branch, Ms. Call iFinance (Olive Branch) today at 662-612-3790 for more information about this vehicle.
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2008 Chrysler Sebring ReviewThis car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale.
Now available with all-wheel drive.
The Chrysler Sebring was completely redesigned and introduced as a four-door sedan for the 2007 model year, then a two-door convertible was added in mid-2007 as a 2008 model.
The midsize, front-wheel-drive Chrysler Sebring competes with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Saturn Aura, among others. The availability of a retractable hardtop convertible distinguishes the Sebring lineup from its popular competitors. The Sebring convertible offers a choice of vinyl or cloth soft tops or the retractable hard top.
The 2008 Sebring sedan and convertible are available in three trim levels with a choice of three engines. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, the mid-level engine is a 2.7-liter V6 that can run on E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Both are mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The top-of-the-line engine is a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a six-speed automatic.
Even the four-cylinder is fairly responsive in the sedan, but the V6 is the best choice for the convertible. And the six-speed automatic is more responsive than the four-speed automatic.
The Sebring sedan offers competitive passenger room, with plenty of room up front and a useful rear seat. The sedan seats five. The trunk is small for the class and has a small opening, however.
The convertible offers good interior space up front. It seats four passengers, but the rear seat lacks the legroom to make it comfortable for adults to sit back there on long trips. More than half of the available space in the convertible's trunk is taken up by the top mechanism when the top is down.
The Sebring cabin is pleasant. The look is sleek, and it is all nicely integrated and finished. Some of the interior surfaces are cold and hard to the touch, however. With an available DVD rear-seat entertainment system, and Chrysler's MyGIG hard-disc audio system, the Sebring's available technology is as good as or better than anything in the class.
Dynamically, the Sebring fits middle of the pack in the midsize class. Ride quality is generally pleasant, soaking up most bumps well. Handling is competent in the sedan. The convertible lacked the driving feel of the sedan, however, and exhibited noticeable cowl shake.
Introduced as a 2007 model, the Sebring sedan gets two changes for 2008, one major and one minor. All-wheel drive is available for 2008 on the Limited model. Sirius Satellite Radio is standard. The convertible was introduced as an early 2008 model, so it gets no changes at the fall model year changeover, though all base models are now called LX.
The 2008 Chrysler Sebring is available as a four-door sedan or two-door convertible in three trim levels with a choice of three engines. The convertible offers a choice of vinyl or cloth soft tops or a retractable hard top.
The Sebring LX sedan ($18,690) comes with a 173-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include cloth upholstery; air conditioning; six-way adjustable driver's seat plus lumbar; four-way adjustable front passenger seat; cruise control; remote keyless entry; power door locks, windows and heated outside mirrors; AM/FM/MP3 four-speaker stereo with six-disc CD changer and auxiliary audio input; tilt/telescope steering wheel; Sirius satellite radio with one-year subscription; front center console with sliding armrest and bi-level storage; 60/40 split folding rear seatback with drop-down center armrest; P215/65R16 tires on full-covered, steel wheels; and headlight-off delay.
The LX convertible ($25,840) features a power vinyl soft top. The convertible's front passenger seat is upgraded with six-way power adjustments, but the convertible does not have a 60/40-split folding rear seat or power heated side mirrors.
Optional for LX models: premium fabric upholstery ($100); heated front seats ($250); and a sunroof with lighted visor mirrors, LED front-seat map and rear-seat reading lights ($935). A Convenience Group for sedans ($895) adds the premium fabric upholstery, theft alarm, electronic personalization center, trip computer, remote starting, trunk cargo organizer, cabin air filter and one-touch up/down front side windows. For convertibles, the Convenience Group ($345) adds only the upholstery, alarm, and air filter.
The Sebring Touring sedan comes with a four-cylinder engine ($19,865) or a V6 ($20,920). Standard features over and above those of the LX include four-wheel disc brakes (upgraded from the base disc/drum setup), premium upholstery; chrome interior door handles; one-touch up/down front windows; automatic headlights; LED map lights; lighted visor mirrors; and P215/60R17 tires on aluminum wheels. Sedans also get a fold-flat front passenger seatback, while convertibles also have an Electronic Vehicle Information Center, a trip computer, and an upgraded tire-pressure monitor with display.
Options for Touring models: Boston Acoustics 276-watt sound system ($495), UConnect hands-free cell phone link ($360), and MyGIG. The MyGIG Entertainment System has a touch screen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive that hosts a music file data/management system, a voice-memo recorder and a six-gigabyte partition for audio and picture files. The MyGIG Multi-Media Infotainment System ($1895) adds a navigation system, voice-activation, and Chrysler's UConnect hand-free cell phone link. Touring sedans are available with an eight-way power driver's seat ($395); leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls ($135); a rear DVD entertainment system with floor console-mounted LCD, remote control, wireless headsets and auxiliary audio and video/game inputs ($1,195); and P255/55R18 tires on aluminum wheels ($250). An Electronic Convenience Group for Touring sedans includes automatic climate control, heated front seats, remote starting, cabin air filter, theft alarm, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated and cooled cup holder, and the personalization center with trip computer and upgraded tire-pressure monitor ($915).
The Touring convertible ($28,440) is similarly equipped. Also offered for convertibles is a power retractable hardtop ($1995), and a Special Touring Group, which has a cloth top, wind blocker, leather interior trim, heated front seats, fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and 18-inch wheels and tires ($1495). For convertibles, the Electronic Convenience Group includes automatic climate control, cabin air filter, automatic headlamps, remote start, security alarm, universal.
At first glance, the 2008 Chrysler Sebring sedan and convertible are stylistic twins. Closer inspection reveals the convertible has only two doors versus the sedan's four. It also has a shortened coupe-like greenhouse, and is 3.2 inches longer overall. Both ride on the same 108.9-inch wheelbase and share the same 61.8-inch front and rear track. Tires and wheels are interchangeable.
Viewed head on, both body styles feature the current rendition of the idiomatic Chrysler grille: eggcrate with bright horizontal strips and topped by the brand's winged crest. A substantial, but otherwise unremarkable bumper tops a slim lower air intake bracketed by two, smaller, grille-like openings at the outer ends of which pods provide housings for fog lamps. Molded-in strakes, patterned after those on the Crossfire, Chrysler's underappreciated sporty coupe, dress up the hood.
There are also differences in balance and proportion between the sedan and convertible. Were the convertible designed as a traditional soft top, we daresay it'd look better. But the retractable hardtop required added length that unsettles the design.
The sedan is decorated with creased character lines on its sides. Flowing rearward from the front quarter panels, these creases spread, expanding the distance between them and emphasizing the car's sharply outlined wedge shape. Mild fender blisters circle the wheel openings. Body-color, anti-ding door moldings are optional on all trim levels. Side windows are framed in flat black. Door handles are body color on the base and Touring, chrome-finished on the Limited. Mirror housings are body color across the line.
The convertible uses the same basic design as the sedan, but the wheelbase looks too long and there's too much of the hindquarters for a two-door. If the expanse of metal between the trailing edge of the door and the rear wheelwell were halved, then it'd fit. But there has to be some place to store large segments of an articulated, metal roof, along with the motors, pumps, and other hardware necessary to lower and raise it. On the Sebring convertible, this results in a bulbous back end, with a top surface area nearly the equal to that of the hood. Also, to allow the retracted roof to fit inside the rear quarters, the rearmost edges of the rear pillars must be drawn inward. This awkwardly positions the retractable hardtop roof more on top of the rear fenders than allowing it to smoothly flow down into the side of the car. The look is better on soft top convertibles because the top looks more like a separate piece than an integrated whole.
At the rear of both body styles, large, multi-element taillights wrap around the rear fenders, crossing over into the trunk lid, which has a modest, molded-in lip at its trailing edge. The sedan's trunk lid is shorter than the convertible's trunk lid. The sedan also has a visually jarring inset rear window, which seems to be an effort, however futile, to enlarge the trunk opening while maintaining the desired top-to-bottom proportions.
The sedan's trunk has 13.6 cubic feet of cargo room, but the opening is quite small, so it won't accept larger boxes. The convertible's trunk opens like a normal trunk with any of the tops up or down and has 13.1 cubic feet of cargo room. Cargo room shrinks to 6.6 cubic feet with the top down, so you won't want to leave packages in the trunk when putting the top down. Chrysler says the trunk can hold two full-size golf bags with the top down. That's true, but access with the top retracted is very restricted.
Inside, the sedan and convertible are virtually identical. However, the convertible has a narrower rear seat that allows for seating of just two passengers in back, while the sedan can take three.
The dashboard styling carries the motif of the Chrysler winged crest, or at least that's what the designers say. It's a stretch, but if you look at it kind of sideways, it works. Picture the winged crest from the grille magnified, say, 100 times, then with the wings severely cropped. Drape this image over the dash, so about half lies on top and the other half hangs down the front, add a couple cut lines, mold in a bead for some character and a hood to shade the black-on-white gauges, and there you have it. Speakers sit on top of the dash, with the vent registers outboard in a contrasting surround.
The speedometer, tachometer and fuel level and engine coolant gauges are clustered in three pods. The center stack houses the audio and climate controls, which are easy to use, a classic analog clock and, when ordered, the MyGIG screen with navigation system display.
The center stack is laid out to be inclusive of the front seat passenger, subtly reinforcing the family car personality. The center dash flows smoothly down into the center console, a single piece of nicely textured, hard plastic running all the way back to the raised storage bin that doubles as an armrest for front seat occupants. Just aft of the shift gate are two cup holders. As an option, the rearmost of the two can heat (to 140-degrees Fahrenheit) or cool (to 35-degrees Fahrenheit) a beverage.
In our test drives, the stereo's well-mixed, crisp audio did a decent job of masking the ventilation fan. When ordered with MyGIG, a USB port is provided to download music and picture files. Chrysler says the hard drive can hold up to 1600 songs.
In-cabin storage compares favorably with the class. Besides the two cup holders in the front center console, a bottle holder is molded into each of the sedan's rear door map pockets. Front door map pockets are a bit shallow for anything besides, well, maps. The glove box door is damped, so it doesn't bruise an unwary passenger's shins. The bi-level bin in the front center console provides a power point, supplementing another in a covered compartment forward of the shift gate where the optional ashtray and lighter fit when ordered. A thoughtful feature: One power point is wired to the battery and on all the time, which is good for charging cell phones and such. The front center armrest adjusts fore and aft over a range of about three inches, which is helpful for drivers of short stature, but a height adjustment would be helpful, too.
The quality of the materials is consistent with the car's price range: good, not great, and it looks better than it feels. Fit and finish is a grade above, with consistent and close tolerances between panels. The Touring model's trim finish of satin silver and chrome had the most eye appeal for us. The Limited model's combination of tortoise shell and chrome did not look real.
The Sebring is not the roomiest car in its class. The sedan offers almost as much headroom front and rear as the class-topping Accord, but the Sebring's front- and rear-seat hip room and rear-seat legroom trail all but the Saturn Aura. Front seats are adequate, if a bit short on thigh support. Side and bottom bolsters are proportioned for folk of substantial girth. Of note, too, is that only drivers enjoy a manual lumbar adjustment. Less than two hours in the front passenger seat left us painfully craving even the slightest lumbar support. The convertible has the same front-seat room, but it's rear legroom drops almost four inches from the sedan's, leaving enough space for an average-height adult only when someone short is sitting in front.
The Sebring's thick A-pillars can block sight of cross traffic at intersections and when exiting a driveway or parking lot. The.
Driving Impression
There's more pleasure to be found from behind the wheel of the 2008 Chrysler Sebring than first impressions might suggest. Yes, it's primarily a mainstream, middle-of-the-road commuter, but even in their most basic forms both the sedan and convertible are enjoyable to drive.
The Sebring convertible is nice for a leisurely drive on a sunny day and pulls duty as a regular commuter with a fun side, but it's less sporty than the sedan. It's fully 400 pounds heavier, and that weight affects handling and engine performance. While we found the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine reasonably responsive in the sedan, even the 2.7-liter V6 seemed to struggle in the convertible, sounding very busy while not getting much done. The weight of the convertible also drops fuel economy by one or two miles per gallon.
An antiquated four-speed automatic transmission hurts the performance of the base and Touring models (which come with the 2.4-liter and 2.7-liter engines). The four-speed automatic is more responsive in the sedan, but in terms of quality and sophistication, let alone absolute performance, it falls woefully short of what we expect in a 2008 model. Shifting lacks smoothness and precision. The transmission hunts endlessly for the proper gear on mild grades, whether up or down, often shifting up at exactly the wrong moment.
The larger, 3.5-liter V6 comes with a modern six-speed automatic that delivers the level of performance many expect in a car with the Sebring convertible's aspirations. In the sedan, the 3.5-liter V6 provides fine power, though it is outperformed by the V6s offered by Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Saturn, and Pontiac.
All-wheel-drive sedans come standard with the 3.5-liter V6. While all-wheel drive prevents wheel spin on hard starts, the extra weight of the all-wheel drive system saps some of the midrange passing response.
Inside the sedan, road, tire and wind noise are noticeable, but they don't interrupt conversation. The Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata are quieter.
The Sebring convertible isn't as quiet as the sedan, of course, but it isn't noisy underway. Among the convertibles, road noise is best suppressed by the retractable hardtop. At freeway speeds with the top down, voices needn't be raised for conversation between front seat passengers. The optional wind blocker helps keep hair and dangly earrings from being mussed too much. The soft tops flutter lightly at freeway speeds. Integrating the front seatbelt's shoulder strap into the seatback keeps it from flapping in the wind when the window is down, a nice feature.
For commuting, every Sebring rides smoothly, with good balance between the front and rear suspensions over uneven pavement. Rough pavement produces some cowl shake in the convertible, less with the top up; the hardtop quells the shudders best.
Steering feel is confident, both on and off center. Cornering is surprisingly well mannered in the sedan, allowing minimal body roll. Compared to the sedan, the convertible is more prone to understeer, a tendency to plow straight ahead instead of biting in sharp, fast turns. Directional stability is good in both body styles, though the convertible feels unbalanced in quick left-right-left transitions; our guess is this may result from much of the weight from the convertible top's hardware and some of the added bracing being positioned relatively high behind the rear seat. At elevated speeds, there's a touch of wallow before the suspension takes a set, but then the car is stable. When cornering loads have compressed the suspension, it tracks cleanly through fast corners. There's also some float at speed on an interstate, but not to an unsettling extent. While not quite as at home in non-commute environs, the Sebring is not all that flustered by a twisty, two-lane country road. The sizeable footprint of the available low-profile tires delivers precise turn-in and above-average grip through tight t.
The 2008 Chrysler Sebring comes in four-door sedan and two-door convertible versions with a four-cylinder and two V6s. The soft tops are nice, and the available retractable hardtop is intriguing. Styling, fit and finish and ride quality make a strong statement about Chrysler's commitment to character and quality. The Sebring measures up well in terms of materials quality, available technology, and interior room and comfort. Handling, power, and fuel economy are not its strongest assets.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard reported from Palm Springs and Santa Monica, California, with correspondent Kirk Bell reporting from Chicago.
Model Lineup
Chrysler Sebring LX sedan ($18,690); LX convertible ($25,840); Touring sedan ($19,865); Touring V6 sedan ($20,920); Touring convertible ($28,440); Limited sedan ($23,515); Limited V6 sedan ($25,320); Limited AWD sedan ($27,515); Limited convertible ($32,055).
Assembled In
Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Options As Tested
four-wheel disc ABS ($450); power sunroof ($775); Smoker's Group ($30).
Model Tested
Chrysler Sebring Touring V6 sedan ($20,920).New, with a choice of tops that drop.
After almost single-handedly resurrecting the U.S. convertible market in the early 1980s, Chrysler has worked hard to retain its foothold in the drop-top niche as competition has expanded and improved. With the 2008 Sebring Convertible, Chrysler raises the ante, offering the first, domestic-brand coupe with a retractable hard top.
Not comfortable letting it all ride on a new roof, the company has improved the Sebring to some degree in virtually every other area. There are now three engine choices, a new, 232-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 and more powerful versions of the inline-4 and 2.7-liter V6. The 2.7-liter flex-fuel engine is capable of burning regular gasoline or E-85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The new V6 also has a new, six-speed automatic transmission, a most-welcome step up from the outdated four-speed automatic that carries over with the other two engines.
Interiors get an injection of modern-day style and electronics tempered with classic touches. Black-on-white gauges echo the watch-like, analog clock centered high on the dash. The optional audio/navigation system stores map data and personalized entertainment files on a 20GB hard disk drive accessed via a Universal Serial Bus port. Quality plastic moldings and sleek metallic trim with muted color combinations present a quiet visual landscape.
Seats, though, are borderline with barely sufficient thigh support. Unique to the class is the fitment of a standard, six-way power adjustment to the front passenger seat, which, however, is sorely lacking in lumbar support. Rear seat legroom suffers from the space taken up by the complicated and complex hardware necessary to operate the retractable hard top.
Top operation is a picture of simplicity, managed with the mere press of a button. Latches automatically hook and release. Windows roll down and then back up as appropriate. And with the any of the tops down, there's room in the trunk for the benchmark, two golf bags, which also can be loaded and removed with the tops fixed in the down position. The optional wind blocker significantly minimizes top-down turbulence. When up, the hard top shuts out most wind and road noises, and the soft tops flutter only slightly at freeway speeds.
Overall performance and ride and handling yield mixed results. The Sebring Convertible is 400 pounds heavier than the four-door Sebring Sedan and this translates into lazier acceleration, whether from a stoplight or when merging or passing on a freeway. The added weight means the engine is working harder, and it whines and hums any time the driver asks for more. Also, some of the convertible's added weight is carried relatively high and toward the rear of the car, which does not improve handling.
However, all such thoughts are whisked away when the top is down. A leisurely, weekend drive on a sunny day is the Sebring Convertible's forte.
The Chrysler Sebring Convertible returns for 2008 after skipping the 2007 model year. It's still a two-door, four-passenger convertible, only this time there's a choice of three tops. Base is a vinyl top, one step up is a fabric top and the top top is a retractable hardtop.
The Sebring Convertible ($25,470) comes with a 2.4-liter inline-four and a four-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include air conditioning; cruise control; tilt and telescoping steering wheel; power windows and central locking; six-way, power-adjustable driver and front passenger seat with manual driver lumbar; AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 stereo with six speakers; center console with sliding armrest; front and rear carpeted floor mats; vinyl top; and P215/65R16, all-season tires on hub-capped, steel wheels. Chrysler offers two, extra-cost paint colors: Inferno Red Crystal Pearl ($225) and Linen Gold Metallic Pearl ($150). Other options include a Travel Convenience Group, with cabin air filtration, upgraded (stain and odor resistant) cloth upholstery and security alarm ($345); Sirius satellite radio ($195, including one-year trial subscription); UConnect hands-free communication system ($360); remote start with fob-controlled automatic top and windows down ($240); body-color molding ($75); daytime running lights ($40); engine block heater ($40); smoker's group ($30); and P215/60R17 all-season tires on cast aluminum wheels ($595).
The Touring ($28,070) has a 2.7-liter, flex-fuel V6 with a four-speed automatic. Standard features in addition to those on the base convertible include power, heated outside mirrors; the upgraded fabric upholstery; remote keyless fob with auto-top and windows-down control; electronic vehicle information center with trip computer; and P215/60R17, all-season tires on cast aluminum wheels. Two option packages are offered: the Electronic Convenience Group, with automatic climate control and cabin air filtration, automatic headlamps, remote start, security alarm, heated (to 140-degrees Fahrenheit) or cooled (to 35-degrees Fahrenheit) cup holder and auto-dim rearview mirror ($820); and the Special Touring Group, with cloth top, top-down wind blocker, leather interior trim, heated front seats, fog lamps and steering wheel-mounted audio controls ($1495). Individual options besides those offered on the base start with an electronic stability program ($425) and continue with MyGig, a navigation and multi-media, personalized entertainment system based on a 20GB hard disk drive ($1895), and Boston Acoustic six-speaker array ($495). Finally, two hardtop setups are available, one stand-alone ($2170), the other when the Special Touring Group is also purchased ($1995).
The Limited ($31,670) occupies the top of the Sebring drop-top line and is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic. The list of standard features grows to embrace a cloth top, leather interior trim, cabin air filtration, Boston Acoustic speakers, fog lamps, auto-dim outside mirror and P255/55R18 all-season tires on aluminum wheels. Besides the hardtop option ($1995), there are but two options exclusive to the Limited: an Electronic Convenience Group, populated with automatic headlamps, remote start, automatic climate control and heated/cooled cup holder ($505), and a Luxury Group, comprising heated front seats, top-down wind blocker and chrome-clad 18-inch wheels ($1095).
Safety features begin with the required front airbags, three-point belts at all seating positions and rear seat child safety seat anchors (LATCH). Tire pressure monitors are standard, with the base convertible getting a simple, low-pressure warning system, the Touring and Limited a digital pressure telltale incorporated into the Electronic Vehicle Information Center. ABS is standard. Brake assist and traction control are part of the optional electronic stability program, which is offered only on the Touring and Limited models.
The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible at first looks to be a twin of the '07 Sebring sedan, but with only two doors and a shortened, coupe-like greenhouse. And dimensionally, save for the convertible adding precisely 3.2 inches in overall length (front bumper to rear bumper), they are. Both ride on the same, 108.9-inch wheelbase (distance between the tires front to rear) and share the same, 61.8-inch front and rear track (distance between the tires side to side). Suspension design is also the same, four-wheel independent with struts in front and multi-link in back. Tires and wheels are interchangeable, too.
Thus, the differences are in balance, in proportion. And were this convertible the traditional type, just a soft top with, say, choice of fabric or color, we daresay it'd look better, more like its predecessor, the '06 Sebring Convertible. But it's that added length, and the reasons therefore that unsettle the '08 model.
Viewed head on, it's the '07 sedan, with that car's current rendition of the idiomatic Chrysler grille: egg crate with bright horizontal strips and topped by the brand's winged crest. Headlights fill the upper contours of the front fenders. A substantial, but otherwise unremarkable bumper tops a slim lower air intake bracketed by two, smaller, grille-like openings at the outer ends of which pods provide housings for fog lamps. Molded-in strakes patterned after those on the Crossfire, Chrysler's unappreciated sporty coupe, dress up the hood while adding structural rigidity.
From the side, everything looks quite proper and mostly pleasant back to and across the door. Maybe a little busy, or overwrought, just as with the '07 sedan, with the relatively high, angled beltline and deep undercut running across the upper door panel, but still of a piece. But it's the back half where the proportions come adrift. Simply put, the wheelbase is too long and there's too much of the hindquarters for a two-door. If the expanse of metal between the trailing edge of the door and the rear wheel well were halved, while leaving the door the same size, of course, then it'd fit.
But the problem is, there has to be some place to store large segments of an articulated, metal roof, along with the motors, pumps and sundry other hardware necessary to lower and raise it. And in the case of the new Sebring Convertible, this results in a bulbous back end, with a top surface area nearly the equal of the hood. Also, to allow the retracted roof to fit inside the rear quarters, the rearmost edges of the C-pillars (the part of the roof between the side glass and the rear window) must be drawn inward, awkwardly positioning the roof more on top of the rear fenders than smoothly flowing down into the side of the car.
The rear fascia, like the front, copies the '07 sedan. Large, multi-element taillights wrap around the rear fenders, crossing over into the trunk lid. A modest, molded-in lip outlines the upper trailing edge of the trunk lid. Which, by the way, opens like a normal trunk with any of the tops up or down. Only when a top is in motion does it hinge from the rear, opening like a clamshell to swallow or disgorge the top. License plate recess is centered in the bumper.
Inside, the Sebring Convertible is indistinguishable from the Sebring sedan. Other than, of course, seating four instead of the sedan's five.
The dashboard styling carries into the car the general motif of the Chrysler winged crest, or at least that's what the designers say. It's a stretch, but if you look at it kind of sideways, it works. Picture the winged crest from the grille magnified, say, 100 times, then with the wings severely cropped. Drape this image over the dash, so about half lies on top and the other half hangs down the front, add a couple cut lines, mold in a bead for some character and a hood to shade the black-on-white gauges, and there you have it. Speakers sit on top of the dash, vent registers outboard in a contrasting surround, while the clock, stereo/nav screen and climate control knobs take their usual places.
Front seats are adequate, if a bit short on thigh support. Side and bottom bolsters are proportioned for folk of substantial girth. Of note, too, is that only drivers enjoy a manual lumbar adjustment. Less than two hours in the front passenger seat left us painfully craving even the slightest lumbar support.
Rear-seat legroom drops almost four inches from the sibling sedan's, leaving enough space for an average-height adult only when a front seat is set for somebody no more than five feet six inches tall.
Quality of materials is consistent with the car's price range: good, not great, and looking better than it feels. Fit and finish is a grade above, with consistent and close tolerances between panels. The Touring model's trim finish of satin silver and chrome had the most eye appeal for us. The Limited model's combo of tortoise shell and chrome did not look real. The front center armrest adjusts fore and aft over a range of about three inches, which is helpful for drivers of short stature, but a height adjustment would be helpful, too, for taller drivers. Of concern also is the possible impression that the rear seat head restraints function as roll bars to protect rear seat passengers in a rollover, which they do in some convertibles. In the Sebring, they don't, their function confined to reducing risk of whiplash in rear-end collisions.
There's sufficient storage of the proper variety, with a cup holder for every seating position, map pockets in the lower front door panels and a flexible pouch on the backside of the passenger seat. The damped glove-box door locks, which is a welcome change from the '07 sedan. Chrysler says the trunk loses only half a cubic foot from the sedan and even when the top is down can hold two, full-size golf bags. True, but access with the top retracted is restricted to an opening about the size of the outline of one of those bags. Thus, when you want to put a box more than about a foot square or a piece of luggage any larger than a roller bag back there, the top will have to be up, at least when you start.
Compared with the Toyota Solara, the VW Eos, and the Volvo C70, the Sebring Convertible does reasonably well in terms of interior spaciousness. The Solara has a roomier back seat but a marginally less roomy front seat, and the Eos is a snugger fit all 'round, as is the C70. The latter two also give up almost half their maximum trunk space when their tops retract.
Driving Impression
The new Chrysler Sebring Convertible is nice for a leisurely drive on a sunny day and pulls duty as a regular commuter with a fun side.
It isn't a sports car, however. It's fully 400 pounds heavier than the comparable Sebring sedan. That's a lot of weight. While we found the sedan with the inline-4 reasonably responsive, even the convertible's smaller V6 seemed to struggle, sounding very busy while not getting much done. That added weight exacts a small price in fuel economy, dropping the inline-4's EPA estimates by only one mile per gallon in both city and highway ratings and the smaller V6's only two mpg. (Note that the convertible's mpg ratings reflect the EPA's revised calculations for the 2008 model year; generally, this reduces current ratings by at most two mpg.)
Much the same holds for the antiquated, four-speed automatic in the base and Touring models. Again, while the same gearbox held its own in the sedan, in terms of quality and sophistication, let alone absolute performance, it falls woefully short of what buyers by right ought to expect in a 2008 automobile. Shifts lack smoothness and precision. The transmission hunts endlessly for the proper gear on mild grades, whether up or down, often shifting up at exactly the wrong moment.
Only the larger V6 with that powertrain's reasonably state-of-the-art, six-speed automatic delivers the level of performance many will expect today in a car with the Sebring Convertible's aspirations.
But at a lower level of expectations the Sebring Convertible can be enjoyable. The tops raise and lower smoothly; the process with the hard top is entertaining, watching the clam shell open, the roof separate into three segments and fold, then collapse into the trunk and the clam shell close. Realizing all those pumps, struts and braces have to work together, it's quite impressive. At freeway speeds with the top down, voices needn't be raised for conversation between front seat passengers. The optional wind blocker doesn't make it a closed coupe, but hair and dangly earrings aren't mussed with much. The soft tops flutter lightly at freeway speeds. Integrating the front seatbelt's shoulder strap into the seatback keeps it from flapping annoyingly in the wind when the window is down.
Rough pavement produces some cowl shake, less with the top up; the hard top quells the shudders best. Understeer, where the car wants to go straight instead of turn, is the default mode when corners are entered too fast; the electronic stability program is worth the added cost. Hard acceleration generates mild torque steer (where the car pulls to the right). The brake pedal returns a firm feel. Directional stability is good, although the car feels unbalanced in quick left-right-left transitions; our guess is this may result from much of the weight from the convertible top's hardware and some of the added bracing being positioned relatively high behind the rear seat.
The high cowl leaves a lot of the hood in sight through the windshield. Thick A-pillars that strengthen the windshield for improved occupant protection in the event of a rollover can block sight of cross traffic at intersections and when exiting a driveway or parking lot. The tapering of the roof's rear portions so it can tuck away inside the trunk doesn't leave much room for the rear window and makes for exceptionally deep C-pillars, both of which compromise rear quarter vision. When we rolled down the windows after encountering some rain during our time in the test car, water dripped from the roof onto the armrest and the power window controls, which strikes us as a potentially serious problem.
Against the Solara, Eos and C70, the latter two are tighter and sportier, but also seriously pricier, by as much as $10,000. The Solara, though, easily matches the performance and mechanical sophistication of the Sebring and is competitive on price. Despite the less.
The new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible improves in every way on the 2006 model it replaces. In looks, performance, features and most significantly, in offering a retractable hard top, it challenges the competition for most interesting in class, if nothing else. A sports car it is not. Nor is it truly a family car, if that family includes children. But for fun in the sun without unduly compromising creature comforts, accommodations or the bank account, it's hard to beat.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Santa Monica, California.
Model Lineup
Chrysler Sebring Convertible ($25,470); Touring ($28,070); Limited ($31,670).
Assembled In
Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Options As Tested
Special Touring Group ($1495).
Model Tested
Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring ($28,070).The Chrysler Sebring competes in the ultra-competitive midsize car category with more daring looks and unique features than most of its competitors, including offering a convertible version. The Sebring is available with three different engines, a 173-hp 2.4L four-cylinder, a 189-hp 2.7L V6 or a 235-hp 3.5L V6. A four-speed automatic is bolted to the 2.4L and 2.7L engines, while the 3.5L gets a six-speed automatic. The new convertible has the choice of three different tops, a vinyl soft top, a cloth soft top, or a power retractable hard top. Available trims on both the sedan and convertible are LX, Touring and Limited. Standard safety features include four-wheel ABS, tire pressure monitoring, front, side and curtain airbags (curtain airbags only on sedan) as well as optional stability control (standard with AWD sedan). Redesigned in 2007, the 2008 model year brings the new convertible model, as well as an all-wheel-drive version of the sedan.
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text:
I'm Marlowe and I'm new to this forum, although I've been creeping around on this site ever since I started lucid dreaming . I've been lucid dreaming for about a year, and I guesstimate that I've had roughly 50 LDs. I stopped trying to LD starting around 5 months ago, because my dreams started getting waaaay too freaky . But now I'm back and ready to get back on my LDing grind .
If all goes well, I plan to use this topic to share with you guys my lucid dreaming adventures, and come closer to achieving my LDing goals.
My goals are:
1.Talk to God in a LD
2.Observe my raw, unconscious thought
3.Astral Project
4.Control the Elements
5.Conquer my fear of the Paranormal
6.Discover my Dream Guide
7.Master Scenario Changing
8.Learn to Summon Anything
9.Fly in Space
10.Create a World that retains what I did to it between different dreams
11.Perceive different dimmensions
12.Find out if there's more to LDing than meets the eye
13.Create delicious foods in a LD
14.Compose beautiful music with instruments I've never before played
15.Meet historical figures
16.Explore dangerous, beautiful places
I'll start updating tomarrow of my experiences with meditation and LDing that I'll have tonight.
This is going to be fun

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bay Area Hospital strives to improve the health of our community every day.
Bay Area Hospital is a tobacco-free campus.
We provide some of the most advanced and compassionate care in the region.
Whether you are receiving care or visiting a loved one, our goal is to make your stay with us a positive one.
Bay Area Hospital offers a wide variety of support groups and programs to improve the health of our community.
We are continually looking for opportunities to improve our organization and keep our community informed.
Home pregnancy tests — When to take the test, what happens next and more.
Taking a home pregnancy test can be nerve-racking, especially if you''re not sure whether you can trust the results. Know when and how to take a home pregnancy test — as well as some of the possible pitfalls of home testing.
Many home pregnancy tests claim to be accurate as early as the first day of a missed period — or even before. For the most reliable results, however, wait until one week after a missed period.
Shortly after a fertilized egg attaches to your uterine lining, the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) begins production in the placenta and enters your bloodstream and urine. During early pregnancy, the HCG in your blood increases rapidly — often doubling every two to three days. Many home pregnancy tests can reliably detect this hormone in your urine one week after a missed period. Days earlier, however, some home pregnancy tests might not be as precise.
If it''s important to confirm your pregnancy right away, ask your health care provider about a blood test to detect HCG. The blood test, which can be done in most health care providers'' offices, is more sensitive than is the urine test.
Various types of home pregnancy tests are available. With most tests, you place the end of a dipstick in your urine stream or immerse the dipstick in a container of collected urine for five to 10 seconds. A few minutes later, the dipstick reveals the test result — often as a plus or minus sign, a line or lines, a color change, or the words "pregnant" or "not pregnant" on a strip or screen.
Keep in mind that instructions might vary from kit to kit. Read the instructions carefully before you take the test. If you have questions about how to take the test or interpret the results, contact the manufacturer. Look for a toll-free number or the manufacturer''s website in the package instructions.
Many home pregnancy tests claim to be 99 percent accurate on the day you miss your period. Although research suggests that some home pregnancy tests don''t consistently spot pregnancy this early, home pregnancy tests are considered reliable when used according to package instructions one week after a missed period.
Fertility drugs or other medications that contain HCG might interfere with home pregnancy test results. However, most medications, including antibiotics and birth control pills, don''t affect the accuracy of home pregnancy tests.
Although rare, it''s possible to get a positive result from a home pregnancy test when you''re not actually pregnant. This is known as a false-positive.
A false-positive might happen if you had a pregnancy loss soon after the fertilized egg attached to your uterine lining (biochemical pregnancy) or you take a pregnancy test too soon after taking a fertility drug that contains HCG. An ectopic pregnancy or menopause also might contribute to misleading test results.
It''s possible to get a negative result from a home pregnancy test when you''re actually pregnant. This is known as a false-negative — and it''s much more likely to occur than is a false-positive. You might get a false-negative if you:
Based on your test results, consider taking the following steps:


text:
Iberdrola Renewables has handed checks totaling over $2.7 million to local officials in Van Wert and Paulding counties, Ohio, to commemorate the first of annual payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) from the Blue Creek Wind Farm.
The developer says the 304 MW wind farm is the largest in Ohio and Iberdrola Renewables' biggest in the U.S. Van Wert County, with 115 turbines, received $2.07 million – an amount that Iberdrola says will make the wind farm the largest single taxpayer in the county, equal to the current top 11 combined as of 2012. Paulding County received $666,000, based on the 37 turbines located in the county that each pay $18,000 per year.
"These funds support projects and services that benefit everyone across the region, from schools, public safety and public health programs, to road repairs," comments State Rep. Tony Burkley, R-Payne. "It's great to see this kind of investment in northwest Ohio, and it's better to see the benefits have such a positive impact on the people who live and work here."


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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
An Agent's Inbox #13
Five years ago a scientist injected Owen with an invisibility serum. Four years ago he ran away.
When Owen discovered the goal wasn't scientific advancement, but creating undetectable criminals, he had to get out. A cure wasn't an option, and returning to his old life too dangerous, so he went into hiding.
Now he lives in a high school--where he has food and shelter, plus it's the closest to a "normal" life he can get. Owen's lonely, but at least he's safe.
Until a stupid little decision steamrolls into a series of major mistakes, and he gets on the radar of both a girl at the high school and a gang of unvisibles. The organization doesn't want loose ends. If they find Owen, there're only two options: they'll force him back in or they'll kill him. Owen doesn't know if these unvisibles are working for the organization or have their own agenda, but he isn't about to stick around and ask. The smart thing is to get out of town, fast. Except for the girl.
Thanks to Owen's screw-up, the unvisibles think she has a connection to him, which means she's in danger too. He has to decide: save himself or protect her.
But not hiding anymore could mean risking more than he realized--like his chance to ever be cured.
UNVISIBLE, a YA paranormal, is complete at 60,000 words. I look forward to hearing from you.
I hated this part.
The bell rang exactly four minutes and forty-eight seconds ago. Which meant I had twelve seconds to get through the next door. I was a hundred yards away, the hall was too crowded for me to run like a normal person, and with AP calculus, I had little hope someone would show up later than me to slip in behind.
Perfect attendance record, gone. Not that they'd give the boy they couldn't see a certificate.
I skidded toward the door. Closed, of course. Mrs. Harper always closed the door, like she worried someone would want to spy on her lesson. Not likely. Except, well, for me.
Eighteen days without a missed class. Not bad, but nowhere near last spring's forty-seven-day stretch--lots of art classes and two P.E.s. That's what I got for challenging myself this semester…and drinking two cokes at lunch. I knew better than that.
I couldn't pick up Mrs. Harper's monotone through the thick walls, but stuck around anyway, hoping for a straggler. No luck.
Of course it was this hour I got stuck. The worst hour. The last hour before the seventeen I had to spend alone. Maybe I'd go out tonight. I peeked out the nearest window. It didn't look like rain. Probably safe.
Probably wasn't good enough. Getting caught in the rain meant bigger problems than my discomfort level. Like the body-shaped hole I created when I stood in it.
I checked my watch. Still time to make it to the library.
8 comments:
- Suzi R said...
Query comments:
I'd get rid of the 2nd sentence (1st paragraph) and add the 1st sentence onto the 2nd paragraph.
On your 4th paragraph, 1st sentence, it's not a sentence. Start with "when" instead of "until."
4th paragraph should be re-written. I'm getting confused by the invisibles versus the organization. Can you define them better. Are the invisibles bounty hunters? Does the organization have a name? Or should organization be capitalized? If it has a name, refer to it in that first paragraph. (Five years ago a scientist with the Organization…)
6th paragraph: you mention that he has a chance to be cured but in the 2nd paragraph, you say a cure wasn't an option.
I think that queries should be written in present tense, even if the story is not. Maybe someone else can comment on this.
I like your story premise, it sounds interesting.
- November 16, 2011 at 1:33 PM
- Alex said...
I really like the concept and the way the first 250 unfolds. You get a good idea of routine and how long he's been there while still keeping me interested.
There are some bits though that give pause to the reading.
The hall being too crowded to run "like a normal person" I would change that to " to crowded to risk running" We know he's not normal but saying that makes him sound like he has a disability.
I don't get the two cokes at lunch, makes me stop and wonder what it has to do with.
"Of course it was this hour I got stuck." I don't understand that when he is not stuck.
I like it though and would like to see how things progress.
- November 16, 2011 at 2:32 PM
- Ninja Girl said...
I love it!! This premise definitely hooked me, and I enjoyed the excerpt. I like how you started it with the MC running late and actually being upset about not making it to class. That already sets your character apart. Most kids wouldn't care if they skip, but a kid who's invisible and has to be alone for the next however many hours? I really enjoyed the jumping off point.
The query itself worked for me, too. The hook, I thought, was terrific. Strong, succinct, interesting enough that I had to read on.
Toward the end there is where it needs a bit of work. I don't think it finished as strong as it could have. This phrase--"Until a stupid little decision steamrolls into a series of major mistakes"--is a bit vague. If you could be more specific, tell us what the decision/action is, I think it'd be stronger. Either way, I'd shorten it by taking out the word "little." Also, this--"they'll force him back in or they'll kill him"--I think could be snappier. I think you could even make it more urgent by saying, "If they find Owen, he's a dead man." Then I think the next sentence in the para could be shortened to, "With the organization and unvisibles breathing down his neck, the smart thing would be to get out of town, fast--except for the girl." Okay, so I think what I'm saying is that paragraph could use a little work.
Otherwise, I'm all in. I love the idea, and Owen's voice. The idea of a team of "unvisibles" trying to track down this invisible MC is terrific. I'd definitely read on!
Ninja Girl
- November 16, 2011 at 3:02 PM
- Katrina S. Forest said...
I like the concept of this story a lot, and all the problems you explore that an invisible kid would have trying not to get caught. (You'd think it would be easy, wouldn't you?)
But there's some contradictory statements in the query.
For example, you say that the organization doesn't want loose ends, so they'll try to force Owen back or kill him. Then you state that Owen doesn't know if these people are from the organization or not. But if they're trying to force him back, they have to be, right?
Then at the very end of the query you imply that Owen might give up his chance to be cured if he helps the girl. But you said right in the beginning of the query that a cure is not an option. It's almost like I'm missing a piece of information. Did the organization reveal that a cure might be possible after all midway through the novel?
I got a similar feeling in your sample. In the first paragraph, I really needed the information that Mrs. Harper closes the door exactly when the bell rings first. Otherwise, I'm left scratching my head as to what the big deal was about being a few seconds late.
Like I said, I enjoy the idea behind the character, I just got caught up a few times while I was reading.
- November 16, 2011 at 6:16 PM
- Elizabeth Briggs said...
One thing I wasn't clear about, is Owen stuck invisible forever (like, he can't reappear whenever he wants right)? Because that would be a pretty big deal, and something you could use as a "hook" line.
I like the premise and the 250 words a lot though. Although how does he get on this girl's radar - and could we get a teeny bit more info about her? Just a descriptive word or two would help a lot.
- November 16, 2011 at 7:27 PM
- Cortney said...
This reminds me of a Buffy the Vampire slayer episode where the girl gets ignored so much she turns invisible, and she lives above the band room in the school. But I still love the premise!
Your query was good, but I felt it could use a little bit of tightening; it just seemed a little long. Do you need the second paragraph in the query? There has to be a way to condense it so it's not quite so long because I found myself losing interest. And I think you could end it at: "He has to decide: save himself or protect her." That's an awesome cliffhanger, I'd just cut that last part about being cured, especially since it contradicts with the second paragraph.
I LOVE your opening line in the excerpt, it immediately grabbed me. I would want to read more!
- November 17, 2011 at 10:56 AM
- Escape Artist said...
Just a quickie. Attach an age to your MC. : )
- November 17, 2011 at 8:07 PM
- Taylor Martindale said...
This is a unique concept, and I was interested in the query. I think it needs to have a little more information though, with a few more specifics. For example, I'd like to know why Owen was connected to the scientist in the first place and what this organization is/ what their goal is. It would also be stronger if the girl were not a vague someone, but a specific character – give her a name and a quick detail of what his mistake was. I really liked the first page, and the voice as well. I would definitely keep reading.
Thank you for participating in this Agent's Inbox!
Taylor Martindale
Full Circle Literary
- November 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM


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Bora Bora's Liquid Festival hosted hundreds of water athletes competing in the 12th annual ocean competition last weekend. The event, originally known as the Ironmana, included various ocean-based events, as well as cultural festivities on the side.
Competitors took to the pristine Tahitian waters to race in standup paddling sprints, single-man outrigger canoe (va'a hoe) and surfski races, as well as long distance rough water swims. The field of international competitors raced before beaches full of spectators and lots of action on the sand, including live DJ's, Tahitian dance shows, barbecues and kids programs. The festival's competitive side produced some unreal shots and Bora Bora's now on our list of places to visit for an SUP trip:
Photos: Greg Boissy, Wim Lippens
For more photos by Greg Boissy, visit: GregoryBoissy.com
To see more images by Wim Lippens, visit: WimLippens.com
For more info, visit: BoraBoraLiquidFestival.com


text:
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text:
Comfort Inns Mission hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Comfort Inns hotel rooms in Mission, TX for your group or personal travels. We list the best Comfort Inns Mission hotels & lodging so you can review the Mission Comfort Inns hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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text:
Lomangino Studio, an award-winning design studio based in the
Washington DC area, provides integrated print, interactive and interior
design services to non-profit, individual, and corporate clients. Highlights
from our 30-year history of outstanding design follow, including brochures,
web sites, media kits, corporate identity, logos, branding and image
management, conference promotions and interior decorating services.
Please also visit: www.LomanginoArt.com.


text:
Robert Fleming
About the Author
Robert Fleming has written for Essence, Black Enterprise, The Source, and The New York Times, among others. A former award-winning reporter for the New York Daily News, he is the author of The African American Writer's Handbook and The Wisdom of the Elders. His work was featured in Brown Sugar and he was the editor of After Hours.


text:
Five couples decided that their children were old enough to stay up on New Year's Eve to watch the ball fall and celebrate the coming of the new year. The kids were very excited and fully enjoyed the special treat, especially the delayed bedtime! Determine the name and age (11 or 12 years old) of each child, and the names of their parents.
1. Patricia had a daughter but she wasn't married to Bill. Frank wasn't Jack's father.
2. David was Michael's son but his mother wasn't Anne.
3. The two 11-year-olds were Eric's child and Ryan.
4. Robert, whose wife wasn't Heidi, had a son but he wasn't 11 years old.
5. Melissa was 12 years old but she wasn't the child of the couple, Eric and Cindy.
6. One couple, Michael and Sara, didn't have a child named Brenda.
file size 211 KB
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Last Update
April 2, 2010


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Medifast makes no claim that these results are representative of all participants on the Medifast Program. Medifast recommends you consult with a physician before starting a weight-loss program. Medifast is the brand recommended by more than 20,000 doctors since its founding.
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Marcus Sorrell Skater Profile
Sponsors: DVS, Almost (flow), Mighty Healthy (flow), Destructo (flow), LB Skateshop
Hometown: Carson CA, Stance: Regular, Age: 28, Status: Am
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text:
Hey Guys we will be at the skyline event this weekend. If you want to play with any of Flysurfers new toys come on out. Rumors have been reported that the (Dutch Demon) Lennart will make his first trip to the USA for this event. He is a very talented rider and soon to be a super star in the world of Kiting...And Last but certainly not least The Party Starter Otte will also be there to make sure that everybody has a great time on and off the mountain.....I really look forward to seeing the Utah crew once again they are some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of Meeting!!!!!!!!!And they have some of the sickest terrain.. Man I am excited..later ted B
Ps Thanks again to Brian and Heather (windzup)for inviting us to the event!!! you guys are great!!!!


text:
Help support design in public education by voting for Project H's high school program, Studio H! The humanitarian design firm has taken on an ambitious project in the poorest county in North Carolina: a design/build curriculum in the public high school. Taught by Project H's founder and project manager, Emily Pilloton and Matthew Miller, the one-year program is offered to high school juniors in Bertie County, and over the course of two semesters and a summer term, students learn design thinking, develop hands-on shop class skills, earn college credit, and put this all to work on a big architectural community project. Next summer, the students will build a farmer's market for the town of Windsor, and have already completed some beautiful public chicken coops. Studio H is up for a $10,000 grant from Sambazon's "Warriors of Change" program, and needs your votes (just 2 clicks via Facebook) to help fund their summer build. Voting ends Friday, January 21.
VOTE to help Studio H win a $10,000 grant here >>>
Studio H is an extension of Project H's work at the intersection of design and public education. "We had been working in Bertie County for a year and a half already for a variety of other education initiatives: the Learning Landscape, computer labs, and more. We discovered quickly that design as consulting only goes so far within public education. So we became high school teachers," says Project H founder Emily Pilloton.
The Studio H program's mantra is "Design. Build. Transform." – the words are printed in huge block font on a billboard along the state route coming into the county. The three words exemplify Studio H's pedagogy: one part design thinking, one part industry-relevant building skills, one part citizenship. For the students, it means learning how to creatively solve problems, but also learning how to weld and build and prototype, so that upon graduation, they are better equipped for college OR to get a job locally.
Similar to Sam Mockbee's Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama, Studio H uses the design/build approach to more seamlessly integrate conceptualization and execution. "Often designers don't know how to build, and builders don't know how to design. But if you can teach both as complementary rather than 'this, then that,' you're educating more creative thinkers." Within Bertie County, Studio H and its projects have become something of a beacon for progress in a place that is racially divided, below the poverty line, and in many way stuck in the past.
You can check out Studio H's work from Fall semester on their website, which also includes open-source lesson plans from the class.
+ Vote to help Studio H win a $10,000 grant here (via Facebook)


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To celebrate Earth Day, we wanted to share this report from Ricardo Garcia, project coordinator in Santa Rosa, Honduras. It's about eco-stoves that help both the environment and the health of our sponsored friends.
In 2008, the Santa Rosa project in Honduras initiated a medical campaign to benefit all the sponsored members and their families.
During the campaign, we learned that many mothers suffered from pulmonary emphysema caused by excessive smoke from cooking food.
Later in 2009, we initiated a reforestation effort because large swaths of trees were being cut in the communities. But the problem wasn't getting better.
One solution addressed both problems. We decided to build eco-stoves because they use less firewood and they don't produce smoke in the home.
Getting the program off the ground was difficult because the families were accustomed to seeing lots of smoke in their homes. But they see how much better off they are financially because they don't buy as much firewood.
Their homes are free from smoke, their food is cooked healthier, and the man does not have to spend so much time gathering firewood. This gives him more time to work.
The project also provides an opportunity for the families to interact because from the beginning, we trained them to build the stoves.
The fathers help other households with the construction and in the process of sharing their knowledge, they support other members of the community and live better together.
The plan is to have enough funds to support this initiative so that someday, all families in the CFCA communities of Santa Rosa who need an eco-stove can have one. This should greatly diminish the deforestation problem.
We also hope to incorporate the support of other organizations and institutions to help us supply so many families.


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Growing up, despite his deep love for music, Jim Brickman never thought that he would become a stage performer. However, he did form a band with a few friends and performed on various occasions just for fun. Later in college he studied music and composition along with business courses, never leaving his love for music behind.
Jim Brickman's first dose of success came when he was still a student in college. He was hired to write music for Sesame Street by Jim Henson Associates. Besides Sesame Street, he also had a few contracts to write jingles for commercials. Later, after being a hit at commercial jingles, he opened his own advertising music company "The Brickman Arrangement". At a young age Jim Brickman had made his life a success and knew that this was not the limit for him. He is reported to have said that writing jingles made him feel limited in his talent and career and that he wanted more from life. He wanted his creativity to flow and spend more time with his beloved piano, creating music that was not meant solely for commercial purposes. He wanted people to enjoy his music, but he also wanted himself to enjoy composing music and not find it as a dragging job.
Having these views in mind Jim Brickman put his business knowledge to another test and moved to Los Angeles. He eventually signed a deal and released his first solo album "No Words". The album was a masterpiece on its own and had the brilliant song "Rocket to the Moon", which was listed in the Billboard charts. The songs of the album were moody and full of deep emotions and the listeners instantly connected with the tracks once they got to hear them. Jim Brickman proved with this album that he was not just one of the typical piano players, but he has an extra flair that differentiates him from the rest of the crowd.
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02 July 2009
Oracle SQL Developer Data Modeler is Production
So the reason for the lack of "blogginess" is multi-fold, some is that I have been working on our new product in addition to SQL Developer and some that I am writing a SQL Developer book. So it's not so much lack of material as lack of hours to write some more...
Now I do have so much to share with you, that I'm really keen to break this silence and get more words to paper (screen). Also there are many lovely little features in SQL Developer 1.5.4 that I find many of you don't know about, when I show them at events, that I should be doing short features more often. Mind you here's a blog on REAL-TIME SQL Monitoring, a feature that I wanted to write about for ages and Doug Burns has done it instead. (Thanks Doug) I've also been sent a list of blog topic suggestions from an attendee at one of the recent events I attended, so there really is no excuse.
Now that new tool: Oracle SQL Data Modeler. It's production! We published all the related material yesterday and hopefully the news won't be overwhelmed by all the Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g annoucements happening this week. Still it's all good and all good news.
You can download it from the main OTN site, as it's a featured download there, or you can go to our Data Modeler homepage for links to the download and the FAQ and other supporting technical docs and examples. This page will be updated fairly regularly as we add more bits of collateral. Remember too to use the SQL Developer forum if you have questions, and when I return from my blogging holiday, I'll mix SQL Developer and Data Modeler news and details here.
10 comments:
- Doug Burns said...
Ooops, didn't want to steal your material ;-)
- Thu Jul 02, 11:31:00 am GMT
- Sue said...
Steal away - the more who write the better. I can send suggestions...:-) besides, I only threaten to write more frequently.
- Thu Jul 02, 12:38:00 pm GMT
- Roel said...
Hi Sue,
It is not quite clear though that SQL Modeler is, unlike SQL Dev, not a free tool (list price $3000 per user). I don't have an opinion yet if it's worth the money (compared to Designer or Toad), although it has some cool features!
Cheers and keep up blogging (more) frequently!
- Thu Jul 02, 01:27:00 pm GMT
- Sue said...
Hi Roel,
Yes, it's tricky one. We have followed Oracle and OTN protocol on this. None of the Oracle products on OTN state the cost when they are for cost items. So we just say specifically that SQL Developer is free. For the Data Modeler licensing details, you have to go our eDelivery site and for pricing details, the Oracle Price List.
- Thu Jul 02, 01:57:00 pm GMT
Hi Sue
Pitty about the decision that SQL Modeler should be not free like SQL Developer. i will use for future other products which will do the job for free or with much less than SQL Modeler now costs.
- Sat Jul 25, 03:18:00 pm GMT
looks good....will definitely try it out.
so what's the origin of this product ? I mean did it originally come from a company that Oracle bought or was it entirely developed in-house from scratch ?
- Thu Sep 10, 03:44:00 am GMT
- Sue said...
Neither, we bought the software and the ongoing development is in-house.
- Mon Nov 02, 01:47:00 pm GMT
Jdeveloper already has a good DB modeler plus a integrated environment.Its sort of sql developer + modeler + programming environment combined. Any reason to buy a priced modeler tool when JDeveloper is free?
- Wed Mar 24, 10:09:00 am GMT
- Sue said...
The great thing about this is choice. Yes, indeed JDeveloper is free and provide database modeling. As you say it provides SQL Developer (latest release of JDeveloper includes SQL Developer 1.5.6) and a data modeler and an application development environment. In fact it's the strategic direction for application development in Oracle. But not all developers want all that. Oracle provides other application and database development development tools.A data architect is looking for a tool that focuses on data modeling, not application development. We had requests from our customers for a stand alone modeling tool. So JDeveloper is a solution for some developers and SQL Developer Data Modeler is a solution for others. The Data Modeler provides many more utilities that are specifically related to database modeling and design. It depends on your requirements, as to which tool you'd select.
- Wed Mar 24, 03:20:00 pm GMT
- hoppo said...
now it is free
look here
- Wed Jan 19, 01:16:00 pm GMT


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Meal Delivery Carts
When beginning your search for a meal delivery cart, there are several key factors to consider. Depending on your needs, a simple insulated cart may be sufficient. In larger facilities where it can take a good deal of time to deliver meals to every room, heated or refrigerated units may be necessary to assure safe temperatures. It is important to know the widths of your corridors and doorways, as well as the sizes of your rooms to ensure you get a cart that can travel throughout the building. More


text:
Eminem Interview On Germany TV: "I Love Germany You Can Say Anything. Hey Look. Its Rainin D*cks" + Speaks On Why He Took A 4 Year Break! "I Did Alot Of Drugs & Masterbation. Im 1 Year Sober Now"
Eminem interview with German TV
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text:
NEWS - Sheryl Crow finds new 'home' in country music's Nashville
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tennessee
(Reuters) - Sheryl Crow has spent the past seven years living the country life in country music's capital with her country music friends, but the Grammy-winning rocker has only now come around to recording a country music album.
"Feels Like Home," which will be released on September 10, is the culmination of the 51-year-old mother of two's latest musical conversion, this time into a country singer.
"This album feels very natural," Crow said in an interview at her 50-acre (20-hectare) estate on the outskirts of Nashville, where she keeps 11 horses, two head of longhorn cattle and dogs.
"It's an extension of who I am, where I live. It doesn't seem like too big of a departure. I've been absorbed into the city limits of Nashville."
But it was just 20 years ago when Crow catapulted to pop-rock radio sensation with "All I Wanna Do," proclaiming that "all I want to do is have some fun until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard," the street that traverses Los Angeles.
Crow has sold upward of 20 million albums and has managed to make the transition from 1990s' barroom rocker to polished pop singer in the first decade of the 2000s and now to a new residence in country.
In that time, she credits Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty, both of whom she has worked with, for helping her find her country voice, namely the Stones' 1969 song "Country Honk" and Petty's Southern-bred storytelling.
"After 25 years of songwriting, some of my best is on this record," she said. "Nashville's breathed new life into my songwriting career."
Crow has already scored a top 30 single on Billboard's county music chart with "Easy," an up-tempo love song about domestic happiness.
Crow did get some help from her country music friends during her transition to Nashville, crediting her country conversion to critical favorite Emmylou Harris and country mega-star Brad Paisley, who had long told Crow to take a leap of faith.
"He'd say, 'If your records were to come out now, they would be on country radio,'" Crow said.
She finally succumbed, thanks to a performance she did with Loretta Lynn and Miranda Lambert of Lynn's autobiographical "Coal Miner's Daughter" at the 2010 Country Music Association Awards show.
"After that, he (Paisley) came to me and said, 'Now, will you come home to the format you belong to?'" she recalled.
Paisley reminded Crow that she had long used country music's twangy trademark pedal steel guitar in her songs, even back when she was having fun at dawn on Santa Monica Boulevard in 1993.
Her songs, like country music in general, were three-minute stories, he also told her. Crow said she followed his advice of "turning your vocals up and getting songs more first-person ... He dug in his heels and said, 'You are doing this.'"
Paisley even helped, co-writing the song "Waterproof Mascara" on the album. "Feels Like Home" in fact is Crow's first album collaborating with another songwriter on each track.
His songwriting advice was pretty simple: "Leave out the fat and get to the imagery," Crow said with a flash of a smile.
The end result had her immerse herself in the Nashville-style of songwriting, teaming up with writers of like spirit, and creating - usually from scraps of ideas brought to the sessions by Crow - a dozen songs.
But in her musical transition, Crow also found that country music had shifted its sounds as well.
"The country format is more pop than pop was when I came up" two decades ago, Crow said about her rock 'n' roll days.
"Waterproof Mascara," Crow's favorite track from her new album, may never get played on mainstream country radio, she admits, because it is "too country."
"I love the country format," Crow said, adding that now that she had done her work, "country fans will decide" if it is indeed her home.
(Editing by Eric Kelsey, Mary Milliken and Peter Cooney)
SOURCE: Reuters


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She's found success on the runway, but supermodel Adriana Lima says there's another career she finds even more satisfying: Motherhood.
She's found success on the runway, but supermodel Adriana Lima says there's another career she finds even more satisfying: Motherhood.
"The best job in the world for me is being a mom," the Brazilian beauty, 28, tells PEOPLE. "I never thought I could love so much. I always thought, does unconditional love exist? Now I know it does because I feel it."
Lima, who welcomed daughter Valentina Lima Jaric Nov. 15, says becoming a parent has "really changed me completely. I am, in my head, more mature, more secure. And, you know, it changed completely the priorities in [my] life."
"You feel so strong," she adds. "It's such a wonderful feeling."
Ramon Gonzales
The Victoria's Secret model drew upon that strength when she was found to be suffering from preeclampsia, necessitating two weeks of bed rest before the delivery of her daughter at only 34 weeks along.
Weighing in at just 4.4 lbs., Valentina was the "smallest [baby] in the whole hospital," Lima recalls. "I wish I had her at home but it wasn't possible in my case."
"As a parent you really want to give your best and you don't want [anything] to happen with the baby, so it was stressful," she says, although adding that a "great team of doctors" took care of her and husband Marko Jaric was "really supportive."
Jaric, 31, a former NBA player who is now with the Real Madrid team, is also basking in his new daddy duties. "I feel comfortable," he says. "[Adriana and I] feel so natural. We're really enjoying it. Everything is falling in the right place."
And while the new mom is enjoying her time with her daughter, she also recently headed back to work. Getting into pre-pregnancy shape again "wasn't easy," but with a strict diet and exercise regimen (with a former pro boxer!), Lima says she's back to modeling for Victoria's Secret.
And what are some of 5-month-old Valentina's latest milestones? In addition to sitting up, rolling and pushing over onto her stomach, "she has a personality," the proud mom says. "She's always smiling. It's amazing."
See two additional photos on Adriana's Web site!
— Eunice Oh with reporting by Charlotte Triggs


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Madfinger Games has just released an expansion pack to their hit game Shadowgun. The new update, dubbed The Leftover, picks right up where the original left off and adds four new levels in addition to a lot of other goodies.
Shadowgun was first released as a Tegra Zone exclusive, but was later released as a separate download that supported more devices. Confusingly, Madfinger games has only released the The Leftover update for the non-Tegra version while the THD version has yet to receive it.
Expansion pack details include:
- The story directly follows the events of original Shadowgun
- 4 new levels
- New enemy creature
- New gun
- New type of gaming interaction
- New collectibles
- New soundtrack
- Lot of new graphics, animations and cutscenes
I loved the original Shadowgun when I first reviewed it, but I complained it was too short and there was no replay value since the game lacked a multiplayer mode. It's nice to see Madfinger games release this add-on and they already announced a free multiplayer mode that is coming soon called Deadzone. The multiplayer pack will be released as a separate download when it's ready and best of all it will be free of charge.
If you don't hear from me for the next couple hours, I'll be gaming on my ASUS Transformer Prime as I try to complete this add-on pack.


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I asked this question a week ago over on math.stackexchange and got no reply, so I am asking here with slightly different wording. I am trying to prove that there exists a solution to a problem. I can't solve this problem in general, but I can always continuously vary the parameters of the general problem to turn it into a specific case which is easy to solve. I believe that the solution of the easy problem can then be varied continuously to be a solution to the hard problem.
It seems to me that this would be a widely used technique, but I haven't seen it before, and I don't know how to prove that it works. To be specific, suppose that $g:\mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}^n$. I have a solution $x_0$ to $g(x_0, t=0)=0$. I desire to show the existence of a solution to $g(x_1, t=1)=0$. My strategy is to take the known solution $x_0$ and vary it from $t=0$ to $t=1$. What I need is a theorem of the following form:
Suppose $g(x_0, t=0)=0$, and suppose that $\exists f$ such that \begin{equation} \frac{dx}{dt}=f(x,t) \implies \frac{dg(x,t)}{dt}=0, \end{equation} with $x$ a function of $t$. If $f$ and $g$ are "well behaved enough" in the vicinity $|g(x,t)| < \epsilon$ for some $\epsilon$, then $\exists x$ such that $g(x,1)=0$.
$f$ and $g$ in my case are "well behaved enough" that I can probably prove just about any sort of continuity condition that is needed. What properties of $f$ and $g$ are needed, and what theorem will help me here? It looks like Picard-Lindelof may help, but it seems to only give the existence of a unique solution to the differential equation, and I need to show that that solution satisfies $g(x_1, t=1)=0$. Furthermore, $f$ is not well behaved when $g$ is far from zero, and so it seems I cannot use Picard-Lindelof without prior assumption that $g(x,t)$ stays small (which is kind of assumes the fact that I am trying to prove).


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After the worst U.S. winter in decades, scores of companies will show plenty of quarter-over-quarter sales and earnings improvements starting this week.
But looking beyond the weather will be of more interest, because many companies that suffered the worst earnings declines in the first quarter are also expected to show huge year-over-year earnings growth for the second quarter.
To highlight those, we began with the S&P 1500 Composite Index, which includes the components of the S&P 500 SPX, +0.16% the S&P MidCap 400 MID, +0.18% and the S&P SmallCap 600 SML, +0.15% In order to show which companies posted the worst earnings decreases during the first quarter, we limited the list to stocks with positive earnings per share for both periods.
So here are the 10 profitable S&P 1500 companies showing the worst year-over-year EPS declines for the first quarter:
Investors might have expected to see a list of retailers, because shoppers stayed at home during the frigid temperatures. But the list is varied, in part, because we focused on EPS. Many of these companies reported lousy results that had nothing to do with the weather.
Here's where it gets interesting: Seven of those stocks are expected to show year-over-year EPS growth for the second quarter, based on consensus estimates among analysts polled by FactSet. Six may report double-digit increases in EPS:
Here's more on all 10 companies, beginning with the ones showing the largest year-over-year EPS declines for the most recently reported quarter:
Prologis EPS Comparison at FindTheBest
Prologis Inc. PLD, -1.20% of San Francisco is a real estate investment trust that acquires, develops and leases industrial distribution and retail properties worldwide. The stock has returned 13% this year through Monday's close at $41.12. The shares have a dividend yield of 3.21%.
The company saw a 98% decline in reported earnings per share for the first quarter, to 1 cent. However, core funds from operations (FFO) increased to 43 cents from 40 cents a year earlier, and more than covered the dividend.
Equity REITs — that is, those that invest in commercial properties — report FFO because it excludes gains and losses from property sales and depreciation, and provides a better measurement of how well earnings cover dividends.
Analysts polled by FactSet expect Prologis to report a second-quarter profit of 9 cents a share, improving from a net loss of 3 cents in the second quarter of 2013. The consensus FFO estimate for the second quarter is 46 cents, compared with 41 cents a year earlier.
Greenhill EPS Comparison at FindTheBest
Greenhill & Co. GHL, +1.58% is an investment bank headquartered in New York. The stock is down 17% this year through Monday's close at $47.01. The shares have a yield of 3.83%.
First-quarter EPS was down 98% to 1 cent, as Greenhill reported a 45% drop in revenue to $43.6 million. The company lost $4.9 million on its "remaining significant" principal investment.
Greenhill chairman Robert F. Greenhill on April 23, in a statement, said: "In the year to date, we have seen a substantial increase in client activity, such that we expect a strong rebound in revenue and the achievement for the full year of metrics relating to revenue productivity, profitability and return of capital to shareholders consistent with our historic performance."
For the second quarter, analysts expect EPS to come in at 46 cents, down from 52 cents during the second quarter of 2013.
Impax Laboratories
Next is Impax Laboratories Inc. IPXL, +0.00% of Hayward, Calif., which makes and distributes generic prescription drugs, and also branded proprietary medications for treating central nervous system disorders. The stock has returned 16% this year through Monday's close at $29.28.
First-quarter EPS fell 94% to 9 cents. However, if one-time tax prepayments of $150 million were excluded, adjusted EPS declined to 24 cents from 37 cents a year earlier.
Revenue fell 20% to $118.7 million, mainly because the first-quarter results reflected the loss of patent exclusivity for the company's Zomig tablet and disintegrating tablet products in May 2013.
Analysts expect the company to report second-quarter EPS of 37 cents, up from 8 cents a year earlier.
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade EPS Comparison at FindTheBest
Boise Cascade Co. BCC, +0.79% of Boise, Idaho, makes and distributes wood construction materials in the United States and Canada. The stock is down 7% this year through Monday's close at $27.31.
The company's first-quarter EPS tumbled 93% to 14 cents, mainly because the year-earlier period included a $68.7 million tax benefit springing from the company's earlier conversion from a limited liability corporation in February 2013. Sales were up 3% from a year earlier to $767.2 million.
Analysts expect Boise Cascade to report second-quarter EPS of 36 cents, up 52% from a year earlier.
Cambrex EPS Comparison at FindTheBest
Cambrex Corp. CBM, +0.40% of East Rutherford, N.J., makes chemicals used as ingredients for pharmaceutical products. The stock has returned 19% this year through Monday's close at $21.25.
First-quarter EPS declined 92% to 3 cents, as sales dropped 11% to $66.2 million.
"While the timing of orders created a slow start to 2014, we expect strong growth in the second quarter to result in first-half growth in both sales and EBITDA compared to the first half of last year," Cambrex CEO Steven Klosk said in a statement May 2. He also expressed confidence the company would show operating earnings growth for 2014, "similar to the increases we have delivered over the last three years."
Analysts expect Cambrex to report second-quarter EPS of 28 cents, compared with 7 cents a year earlier.
Please see the next page for five more companies that will report big profit gains.