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In Search of Hotel Bargains
Published on - May 13th, 2010 (by J.D. Roth)
As a man who foresees a lot of travel in his future, I've become interested in ways to save on airfare, hotels, and so on. (I've also become obsessed with packing light, but that's another story.) No surprise then that I was keen to receive the June issue of Consumer Reports, which contains eight pages of info on this very subject. Articles include:
- Hotels for any budget, which includes a description of the types of hotels and tips for finding a great hotel rate. Though the conclusions are online, the hotel ratings are not. (Well, they're there, but you have to be a subscriber to see them.)
- 8 ways to land a great airfare, with tips on the the best ways to reduce fees when flying.
- Tips for staying healthy while traveling.
My favorite section is actually the sidebar that describes how CR saved $100 on a hotel reservation. The other theoretical stuff is fine, but this short piece shows how Tightwad Tod was quoted five different rates for the same hotel room.
From the article:
When reporter Tod Marks, who writes our Tightwad Tod blog, tried different tactics to book a room in Philadelphia for a recent Saturday night, the quotes he received varied widely.
On Hotwire, Marks found a room in a hotel whose description he liked for $109 per night. It turned out to be the Sheraton Society Hill. From there, he backtracked and sought the best possible rate for the same accommodations by calling the hotel and speaking with a clerk, trying the chain's Web site, and using independent travel sites including Travelocity and Expedia.
Here's a table that reveals the five different prices Marks was able to find from six different sources:
Image from Consumer Reports, June 2010 issue.
A little digging turned up the Consumer Reports blog post where they did a bit of research for the hotel article. If you're curious (as I was), you can read through about a dozen comments to find a few tips (such as: travel out of season and negotiate with the manager).
Though I'm a huge advocate of negotiating, I've never bargained for a hotel room. I'm eager to give it a shot. Any tips for me when I decide to try?
This article is about Travel
Hmm- I've never tried to bargain on a hotel room. How about offering to pay cash? I know hotels.com is supposed to be good too.
Hotels are more than willing to negotiate if you stay for a longer term. For example, if you go on a business trip with a few colleagues to visit a customer for a few weeks you will have some leverage.
I have not had success in negotiating for short term stays.
In some cases large employers have corporate rates (which are much cheaper) in large cities. Typically all you need to do is ask for the rate or worst case show an ID badge. I don't typically rely on this for personal travel – moral hazard – but I know less scrupulous people who do.
Next, call the hotel's reservation line. Do not rely on their website. This is esp. true for rewards bookings. I once saved over 30% of my "points" in booking a vacation by calling vs. relying on the website. This allowed me to pay for the entire vacation using points vs. having to pay for a big part in cash. I also got a much nicer room!
Just one thing to watch for when you get rock bottom room prices – you often do not get any benefits with the hotel's frequent guest program (no status, no points). So if you are missing that one last stay to make Platinum on Starwoods, booking your hotel via one of the cheapo websites above doesn't do you any good.
If you're using Hotwire or Priceline, be sure to also check out BetterBidding.com. It could help you determine exactly what hotel you're bidding on, which can be very helpful if the exact location is important.
I actually got the best deal for an upcoming trip to NYC on the Hotels website. Other places were at least 25% more. It pays to look all over the place.
Had one yesterday that matches #2 – called a major chain's reservation line after checking 6 different websites all saying the same thing. She found me a 20% savings. Additionally, she suggested calling a few days beforehand and offering to fully prepay for the room, which can knock money off.
Couple other things – 1) AAA has great discounts (small fee to join if you travel and can amortize cost over multiple stays). 2) Sign up for rewards programs. Use AwardWallet.com to manage them all which automatically tracks your points for you. I'm cutting the flight cost in half for a trip to the West Coast in July by using rewards points earned two years ago for a one way ticket, and buying a separate one way return.
I'd be more willing to call a hotel and negotiate rather than take a random hotel blindly in a discount hotel site that shows you the name of the hotel after you book.
I recently booked an Orlando hotel room through a name-brand discount hotel site (name withheld). I was assigned a place that had a reputation for cockroaches. (I knew this through researching the hotel online afterwards, plus I had a warning from a local resident.)
As the payment is nonrefundable I had to take the loss and book another room instead, which cost me twice as much money. I realize that is one bad experience stacked against thousands of good ones on that site, but I think it's better to know what you're paying for before committing.
I have found consistently that the hotel website gives a better rate than expedia et al. I have never tried negotiating the prices. However, I usually plan my trips well in advance. That gives me time to look at email offers and such and wait for what I think is a fair price.
On another note, I use TripAdvisor exhaustively when planning a trip. Reading the reviews of the people that have stayed there has saved me numerous times. Nothing like reserving a hotel and finding out there is construction going on when you get there!
I used airbnb and it worked out well.
It is not a hotel, but its cheap, close to transit and the closest place to where I needed to be. And its private enough for me.
I use Hotwire consistently for trips. I have one coming up tomorrow to Chicago. Used Hotwire for a 4 star on Michigan Ave for $90/night (tax included). I did notice when researching the price it fluctuates significantly on Hotwire. My guess is it goes up in price when people are most likely to book hotels. No scientific test just my best guess. So some days are better than others to book hotels online.
You might have a funky smell, but it would be cheap.
Alternately, maybe you could barter for reduced rates. My photography instructor has gotten free vacations at resorts in exchange for photography for their website.
Maybe if you could contact the upper management of a chain and see if they'd negotiate something with you. It never hurts to ask!
My sister has a method for hotwire: Find your preferred hotel and get the address. Then plug that address into hotwire. You may end up with the hotel you want. (This seems to work better in big cities than in rural areas, presumably because there is more availability and competition.)
I do alot of travel for both work and personal reasons. You will always find FOUR different tiers of prices:
- List price which you almost never pay (think full fare ticket on an airline)
- Online price which is what you pay through the major sites AND the corporate site. Most hotel chains have some sort of gaurantee that the published price on thier site is ALWAYS the lowest.
- Bid price is what you pay through something like Priceline. The catch is you don't know where you are staying until you book. Its how hotels get around the "published" price limitation. Sometimes you get a good idea through a site like BetterBidding but if the hotel location or features is important to you, this is NOT a good way to go.
- Manager price is what you get from the manager. Just call and ask for a discount. Thats it. Sometimes they will say no but the manager can sell the room for whatever they want (these prices are also not published)
There are some things to be VERY aware of though:
- Look out for fees. Places like auction sites and especially Hotels.com LOVE these and they usually push the price equal to or ABOVE the price of the published rate
- Look out for conditions. These days, the chains like running their rates like airlines; you cannot cancel the lowest rates and you have to pay for the room at booking. This may be OK for your trip but you should be aware.
- Make sure the rate they give you at check-in matches the rate you expected and complain if it is not. If you prepaid the rate (see above) or used an auction site, make sure the room has been paid for at CHECK-IN
Hopefully this helps.
Consider hotels that cater to different clientele. Some cater to business travellers and would be willing to drop their rates over week-ends. Other cater to tourists, and would be more likely to drop their rates during the middle of the week.
Are you a member of any associations? Teachers, certain unions, AAA or CAA, a travel agent, etc.? Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt to ask.
I think hotels are more likely now to drop their prices, they have been hurt by this recession, too, and they need to fill their rooms.
I remember as a kid (before online booking was possible/popular) vacationing and traveling with my parents. Their method was often to drive into town without any reservations, and to book a hotel that afternoon in person. My dad swore that was the best way to get a good deal because, similar to William Shatner's logic in the Priceline commercials, by the afternoon the hotels would be willing to accept any price to fill a vacant room. I do wonder what would have happened if they had ever been unable to find a hotel with vacancies (although it seemed like we spent forever riding around in the mini-van, we always found a hotel). Has anyone else tried this strategy? Does it really work? Has the convenience and efficiency of online booking made this method obsolete? …also, maybe them being a young couple with four young kids in tow helped gain some sympathy and understanding from the hotel clerks, too.
I worked for a large hotel chain for ten years, the one with the large red "M", and let me tell you that bargaining usually will get you nowhere for most of their locations.
One of the things that they preach is rate integrity. Meaning that if you can book the rate either through corp. discount, hotel website, 800#, or hotels.com type discount then that's the rate you get.
But to call the hotel and try to negotiate will get you nothing. The desk staff and reservationist are not empowered to negotiate and mangers, if they are following the rules, will stick to rate integrity and just parrot the rate that you can book via one those outlets.
There are no "secret rates". If a Front Office Manager were to "make up a rate" and discount something outside of the hotel's revenue management strategy, they would get flagged the next day via various reports that track such things and probably would get a stern talking to from the GM.
This hotel chain, at corporate run locations, would rather go down with empty rooms then sell tons at discounted priced rooms because it cheapens the brand.
If the location is franchise managed then things are far more open to negotiation as each management company will do things slightly different.
"How about offering to pay cash?"
A major hotel chain location will never give you a discount for paying cash.
Their CC merchant fees are negotiated at a national level and the fees are figured into the prices of rooms.
"AAA has great discounts"
AAA is usually a bad deal. Because let's say the rack rate is $200 a night. A location may give you 10-15% off for AAA. But that's 10-15% off of $200.
While at the same time, they are selling rooms at a Best Available Rate of say, $159.
And usually AAA will not even be offered if the hotel is almost sold-out.
I also frequently see the: lowest price at our site guaranteed! Though there are catches like it must be EXACTLY the same room (such as smoking/nonsmoking).
I would like to counter Jake's point @2. I work for a government contractor. I qualify for the corporate or government rate when I travel for work. However when I travel personally I am allowed to use the corporate rate (though not the gov't rate) for both hotel and rental cars. If you work for a company with corporate rates it can be useful to check with the corporate travel people.
As an aside, we also have an agreement with various vendors. For example when Office Max had our office supply contract we had a special member card that would get us discounts on their merchandise which were pretty significant.
In my opinion, hotels are the biggest ripoff. They are way over priced. I only paid for a hotel once, and only because my girlfriend didn't want me driving until 3 in the morning.
@amy (#15)
My family did that too, and we got caught once and wound up driving all night. It was awful (and I wasn't even driving) and now I'm paranoid and always come to town with a reservation in hand.
oooh love this topic. I actually work in this area of the hotel industry. "Best Rate Guarantees" are a constant debate in the industry — I'm curious about what GRS readers think of this:
Do you care if a hotel guarantees that their best rate is on their website?
What if the hotel then offers a lower rate but only through an "opaque" sales channel like Hotwire or Priceline?
And, are any of you using travel agents (not websites – but people)?
As a consumer, some additional tips:
* Sometimes by clicking through sites like Kayak to get to the hotel's actual website, you will bring up an "internet only" or "promo" rate that would not have been an available option had you just gone to the website directly.
* Always check out packages and promos — but be sure that packages actually provide savings, unfortunately – they often don't.
* Even if there is a price difference of $20-30, I always choose to book with the hotel directly, saves a lot of hassle with changes, billing, etc.
* The "Best Available Rate", is usually the label applied to a level of rates at a hotel – it does not actually mean that this is the best rate available. It is akin to asking for the invoice price of a car. So when someone tells you "our best available rate is $200″ you should definitely ask if there are discounted rates, packages, promos, etc.
I've had luck negotiating rates in person at the hotel a couple of times. The best negotiation was on a two person, two day stay, I got the price knocked down by $30/night.
After showing up at 11:00pm, I talked to the manager. My proposal? No room cleaning and price match the hotel down the road.
The manager's initial reaction was no. I politely mentioned that from the cars outside, it was easy to discern that the hotel was about half full.
To both parties benefit, the manager accepted.
@ 7.
My sister-in-law had a similar experience except hers didn't involve cockroaches. After she booked and then researched the hotel she was given she found it to be in an lesser desirable (higher crime) area of the city. She called the company and basically told them, this will not work for me and was able to switch her reservation to another hotel. So if you have a legitimate concern, it may be worth it to give them a call if you've already booked.
Personally, I wouldn't want to book without knowing where I was actually booking for exactly those types of problems. Plus, if we've had a really positive experience at a particular location we are revisiting, then it might be worth it to us to pay a little more by booking that specific hotel again directly.
@ 2.
My mother qualifies for a government rate on hotels and her HR person has told her that she is free to use it for personal travel. It's worth checking with HR before just assuming it's a no-go.
My mother negotiates at hotels. Always, always, always. So do my Israeli girlfriends I used to travel with (a cultural thing, I guess.) Things they would do:
1. Do their research first, and know all the rates advertised everywhere.
2. Call several hotels of the same quality/general location and ask them their rates.
3. Ask them if they can "do any better than that" i.e. the rate they quote you. Mention if they advertised a lower price somewhere else. Mention if their competitor is offering a better rate for a comparable room. Mention if you saw a better rate advertised but it expired yesterday. Tell them how much you like their hotel and service. Then if they insist that the rate is what it is, politely thank them for their time and tell them you will go stay at Competitor Hotel X instead.
(The success of this strategy always depends on how booked they are, of course. And depends on your comfort with smiling and just walking away/hanging up. All negotiation does, of course.)
4. If you are already staying at a hotel and notice that they are advertising a room rate lower than what you are paying, complain.
5. If anything goes wrong during your stay (door falls off hinges, you see a cockroach, a nude man comes knocking at 2am, etc — yes all true things have happened to me) complain and say that you are shocked that this would happen at this hotel. This hotel had such a reputation for quality and you are gravely disappointed. You may never stay here again! They will probably comp you something/reduce your room rate. (Note that you can't make stuff up and you have to bring it the staff's attention when it happens, not after the fact.)
6. I have been told that at v. nice (i.e. expensive) hotels you can sometimes get a room upgrade if you discretely bribe the desk staff. Quietly mention this is a very important night for you, and discretely slip them cash. And don't be cheap, we're talking $50 or $100.
HOTWIRE! We have used Hotwire several times and have never been dissappointed. Last month we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hilton Head Beach Resort for just $79.00 per night.
The only way this will not work for you is if you have a specific hotel or resort in mind that you really, really want to stay at, because you don't know for sure what hotel you are getting until after you pay.
Otherwise, you know the star rating, the general area and what hotel groups are in each star rating ahead of time. Sometimes, you can narrow things down and make a good guess at the hotel you may be getting if you compare area, amenities and star ratings on another site, such as Trip Advisor. For example, we were looking for a four star hotel on Hilton Head. By searching on Trip Advisor, we found that there were only 4 hotels on Hilton Head with a four star rating. After looking at each of them, we discovered all were ocean front and that we would be happy with anyone of them.
i've managed to get fairly inexpensive rates a few times.
walk in and ask how much a room is, and say you have a voucher for a half price/free/whatever bonus stay at *hotel up the road* but this one is more convenient for you. ask if they can throw in some sort of bonus (i usually got for the free breakfast buffet and free internet) and you'll stay there. or ask for a discount on the room price. if they say no, leave and go to the next hotel and do the same thing.
this is hard to do if there is only one hotel in the area, but i usually stay in high-hotel-concentration areas.
I travel quite a bit and I use Hotels.com for a few reasons:
1. Hotels.com rewards – after 10 stays you get a free night. I travel a lot and this has been a huge discount for us. We are staying at the Ritz in San Juan for free!
2. Hotels.com charges in US dollars. If you are doing any international travel this saves you any exchange rate fees and fluctuations. This has been an enormous benefit.
3. Hotels.com usually (READ THE FINE PRINT) is refundable. This has has saved us numerous times and has allowed us to book a cheaper rate if one comes available.
My only complaint with Hotels.com is that you have to pay for everything up front. I pay off our credit card every month so it hasn't been an issue but if you don't have the cash on hand, this may not be the best solution.
Of course, always do your research. Even though I use Hotels.com a lot, if there is a better deal to be had with another site or directly with the hotel, then I will go with the better deal. For some reason, and maybe it is just my luck, Hotels.com is usually the same or cheaper than other sites.
Not really on the topic of hotel rooms, but NYT has slide show of how to pack 10 days worth of clothes into a carry on bag. I found it to be useful information from a seasoned traveler (i.e. flight attendant).
Look for youth hostels first! They are cheaper than any hotel bargains you can get.
I book all my hotels on Priceline through "Name your own price". I've stayed in 4 star hotels in New York, Chicago, Baltimore and Indianapolis for less than $50 a night. You need to be patient when using Priceline, as the closer you get to your travel date, the cheaper things become. I've never had a bad room with Priceline and have even gotten upgrades from the hotels at times.
None of the other sites I've used have been able to come close to Priceline's deals. Even though I miss out on rewards points and other such hotel promotions, I'd rather stay in a $200 room for $50 a night. The savings are much better than anything you'd get in free nights with most of the chains.
Personally I use a travel agent for all of my travel. That travel agent is my mother, but after seeing what she does I would recommend using a good travel agent to anyone.
She knows the hotels in each city, so can make sure you are staying somewhere near where you want to be, or in a hotel that has features that are important to you. She is used to bargaining with managers (if that is something you don't want to do). Because she repeatedly books with her favorite hotels in popular cities she has relationships with those managers and can get you an even better deal because the manager knows she will continue to send them business. Travel agents also work on commission, so all of this work is free to you.
Working with a travel agent makes everything so easy for me, that even if my mom were to retire or leave the business, I would not hesitate to find another agent rather than looking at discount online sites.
a few conventional (and unconventional) accommodation suggestions…
http://www.airbnb.com/ -> economical, local accommodation
http://www.istopover.com/ -> If you're comfortable staying at a stranger's home while traveling, iStopOver is a service that connects travelers with locals renting rooms—at rates well below local hotels.
I use hotels.com to book. They have rebates via the Entertainment book, and sometimes offer a straight 10% off. If you use the rebate coupons, when you stay 10 nights in a year you get 1 free. (This was a lot better last year when your free night was valued at up to $400–we stayed in an amazing hotel. Now it's calculated based on the average value of your 10 nights!)
I pick the cheapest hotel that is user rated at least 4 stars. If it's a Hilton chain, I book via hilton.com to retain my VIP status. Otherwise I book through hotels.com.
If you find a cheaper rate for the same room on any public site, hotels.com will refund the difference up to your date of travel. So CR could have gotten that money back if it really was cheaper on the hotel's website. (I've never seen this, and have checked many, many times.)
For our upcoming Portland trip, I used this method and we're staying at Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Portland Airport for 3 nights for $263.57 total, including taxes. This doesn't include the rebate–I'll get money back after the stay.
I use Hotwire for rental cars, but for hotels they only give you a "class", and I've been in some really crappy "4-star" hotels, so I avoid sites like Hotwire for hotels.
I rolled into flagstaff last night and booked a room by picking a place that looked interesting in the guidebook we had by walking in the door and asking what they had available. Maybe I could have found something cheaper online, but I wasn't even sure flagstaff was where we were headed until about two hours before I get there. It'd also have been a challenge to check five different websites from the road through the Navajo reservation. These sort of tips are more likely to help when you know exactly where you're going and how long you'll be there.
Club Quarters is a chain that may be of interest to some folks. They're a membership-based chain in large cities with locations right downtown in safe locations. The rates are very low for what you get.The organizations that join are usually public agencies and non-profits. Employees of member organizations and their families can take advantage as well.
I think hotel industry is one where they really appreciate returning patrons.
I would try negotiating a price by sticking out my loyalty. As in, "HEY, I found a better price for a similar room in the same part of town, but I really like my experience with your chain of hotel. Do you have a deal that can give me a better price?"
"Their method was often to drive into town without any reservations, and to book a hotel that afternoon in person. My dad swore that was the best way to get a good deal because, similar to William Shatner's logic in the Priceline commercials, by the afternoon the hotels would be willing to accept any price to fill a vacant room. I do wonder what would have happened if they had ever been unable to find a hotel with vacancies…"
I've done this many times and have negotiated in person. Always got an amazing rate…until one time when a friend and I drove from Vegas to San Diego (this was many years ago before I lived here in SD.) We checked a map and went straight to Hotel Circle.
Unfortunately, something was in town that weekend and EVERY HOTEL was booked. The only hotel that had something available was a Hilton with a suite for $350/night, and they weren't willing to come down on the price because they knew they had the only room in town and someone else desperate would snap it up.
We ended up driving all the way out to Alpine. Even all the hotels out there in the boonies were booked. Past 1AM, we called a friend and he arranged for us to stay in his RV. His family was super nice about it even though it was so late.
Another time I didn't book in NYC and ended up crashing on a friend's futon because the only hotels that were left wanted over $400 per night!
Ever since those two experiences I have planned in advance. There is a recession now, so I don't see that happening, but since it's happened to me twice, I don't risk it any more.
One thing about the government rate: hotels know there is a maximum amount employees who are there on business will be repaid for lodging.
The government rate at almost ALL hotels in the geographic region will be exactly the same.
The rate will be the per diem rate.
It's not always the best price.
That said, I am always on orders (the nature of my job) and I'm not afraid to use them to get a better price (car rentals too) when I can.
When we go to Vegas, I search hotel plus flight costs together on Travelocity and Southwest Vacations. If that doesn't get me the cost I have in mind (less than $600 for 3 nights plus plane tickets), I start searching online for specific hotels in the area and call to ask what is the best they can do.
This has gotten us some spectacular deals ($18 on a Friday night at the 4 Queens once).
Recently, we have to book a hotel in Paris. We struggled to find a hotel well situated, not too expensive, etc.. The information on websites and the information we had by calling the hotel were sometimes different.
We finally deal with a travel agent and we had a very good price and the hotel looks very nice. And it was easy! I would not hesitate to do business with an travel agent again. Although it may cost a little more…
Furthermore, in our case, it is only 2 nights. We will spend the rest of the trip at our friends house. That is the most economical solution!
; )
Others have mentioned it, but one more time, sign up for all the rewards programs. This might not get you a cheaper rate but it will get you more perks, like free breakfast, newspapers, internet (which can run $15/day), and a gym pass. Also, negotiate with the reserv. line people. Ask for upgrades or free stuff. Sometimes the hotels will give discounts when you also use them for booking local attractions.
JD, tell them who you are and that you have a blog with tons of readers. Offer to give them a review if you are comped you a few nights. do this through the manager at the hotel the day you arrive. Give them your web address and have them check it out.
I swear by Hotwire. I've probably used them at least 25 times, and only ever gotten one bad apple. Just make sure to always get at least a 3-star hotel (the one bad experience was a 2-star fleabag). I usually end up with something better than expected. One time I paid $50 for a standard room in Vegas and ended up getting upgraded to a 3-room suite!
Very interesting discussion! DH and I don't sweat hotel costs much since the majority of our travel over the past 10 years has been by car and we've been staying, for our long vacations, in condos that are members of our timeshare association. (six nights for $250? good deal!) On the rare occasions we're heading somewhere for just a weekend, we find the nicest-looking place with a reasonable rate, and book it.
Not sure if J.D.'s anticipated travels are business-related or personal/leisure. If the former, his destinations will mostly be cities. I would advise establishing a relationship with an inexpensive hotel group like Choice. They have a ton of locations and are reasonably priced, often provide a breakfast, and will not raise any red flags with the IRS as business travel appropriate.
If it's personal/leisure travel that's coming up there are many more variables to consider. I think the biggest way to save there is probably in ground travel versus air, and next biggest is researching off-the-beaten-path lodgings. It all depends on a traveler's tolerance for uncertainty. You have to be able to laugh off the auberge in France with a shared toilet down the hall and a chicken coop under the window.
I am a big fan of Priceline's name your own price. Last weekend I was picking my daughter up at college and stayed in Tigard, OR (outside of Portland) in a 3-star (Priceline's rating) hotel for $40 per night.
It probably helps that I'm not terribly picky. If I were paying full price I'd probably stay at a bargain chain hotel (like that place where they'll leave the light on for you). And I'd be perfectly happy with the quality. But with Priceline I've ended up in classy hotels I would NEVER consider if I were paying full freight — and for the same price. I start out with a high star level and low price and then tweak my bid until I get a bid accepted.
On Priceline you can be pretty specific about what parts of the city you will consider. The one time I was disappointed with Priceline results was when I got a downtown Portland hotel at $40 per night and learned after booking that I would have to pay an additional $15 per night for parking. (In a mostly empty lot!) $15 doesn't seem like much if you're paying $120 a night for the room, but at $40 per night it's a huge percentage increase. I would never have bid $55 per night. I learned my lesson and now stick to the 'burbs when picking neighborhoods to bid on.
after reading other's comments, I wanted to add:
I wanted to second the recommendation for a travel agent – they can do amazing things. People at my company use them for "difficult" travel situations and they routinely work magic. Hotel rates plunge, direct airline flights magically appear, etc. etc.
And two – yes, staying in hostels/shared-bathroom hotels has worked very well for me when I travel internationally. Negotiating also works well in countries where people are used to bargaining. Especially the Middle East, there are some very nice hostels/shared-bath establishments were you can get good rates if you stay for several nights and negotiate.
And last, never underestimate the potential of camping out. Especially when traveling in the US. This country is filled with campsites and they are usually $5-20/night, clean, and give an interesting look at the countryside.
I have found that picking up a copy of the hotel discount coupon guide at a state rest area provides the lowest prices. Obviously this applies to road-trip type travel more but it is worth comparing.
I love to travel and stay in hotels 10-15 nights a year, I'd guess.
I research the hotel I want, then go directly to their site. If there is an online discount, I book; if not, I will call and see if there are any promotions they might be running (or just to check and see what they are quoting on the phone). I call the hotel directly if possible (not an offsite reso system) so that I can speak to someone who actually works the desk. I get the person's name in that case. Whether online or on the phone, I indicate if I have any room requests, and let them know if I'm a return customer or if it's a special occasion trip.
On check-in I explain that I spoke to person X on the phone (if applicable) and made some requests, were those in the system? I make polite conversation, and may ask if there are any new upgrades or specials available. To me, it's about getting the best room possible for that base rate.
More often than not, this system gets me a price I'm happy with, as well as a room upgrade (even something small, like a higher floor or better view). I am always sure to thank the person who helped me and sometimes send a follow-up letter if the stay was really great.
An old boss of mine told me he never accepted the first room he was given, no matter what. He'd check in, see his room, call downstairs, and ask for something better. He said that the first room you're given will always be the worst room the hotel can get away with; there's always something a little nicer. (He was a very high-maintenance guy.) This might be true but I just never want to go through the hassle.
Side note: for years I heard about the $20 trick in Vegas. Apparently you slipped the clerk a $20 when checking in, and you'd get a better room (next grade up). Finally I just asked a clerk at the Mirage if that was normal, or even allowed. She explained that "everyone in Vegas can accept tips" and said it was done on a regular basis.
Wow the variations in hotel quotes received makes me scratch my head. What else travel-wise can we negotiate??
These are all great comments, but I agree with Cely
There's always the $20 slip. Where you slip the front clerk a $20 and get an automatic upgrade.
You may want to try slipping a $50 bill at a five star hotel. You can get a nice upgrade to a suite. Just be specific on what suite/view you want
I always found that walk ins land better deals than people that make reservations
I've used Priceline several times. You can choose the type of hotel you are looking for (2 to 4 stars) and the area, so unless you have your heart set on a specific place, you should do fine. Even though they try to encourage you to offer at least 60% of the list price, I've offered as low as 40% and had my price accepted. The key is to begin a couple of weeks before you need to stay, make your offer, and if it's turned down, a week later you can try again. Often your offer will be accepted on the second try. I've even been upgraded to a better hotel. Also, the package deals (air plus hotel) on Expedia and Travelocity are usually much cheaper than booking separately. Last year I went to a convention, and was able to get a better deal on Expedia, than the special reduced group rate that was offered. Does anyone have any particular strategies for air fare? It seems that there are no real bargains out there. I need air for the Dominican Republic in January and right now the flights are over $500. All the sites I checked are the same.
I always use travelocity to read the reviews, then I pick a hotel and call directly. I'm not too concerned about getting the lowest price; I am more interested in a safe hotel in a convenient location — I think we save at least something by being in walking/short drive distance of where we want to go, and by packing a lunch and some breakfast type options. As we've gotten more comfortable (and older) we've also found that we really like staying in nice hotels… the amenities are worth it to us, even if we are paying more. It's part of the vacation!
I did have a surprise recently — I had to call only a day ahead to arrange a place to stay for a funeral. I said to the clerk, "I'm coming to [the town] for a funeral." She immediately broke in with "we have a bereavement rate…" which was about $30.00 less than the on-line rate I was looking at…


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Browning® Tactical Knife / Light Combo, Black
Item # DODX-224780
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Browning® Tactical Knife / Light Combo.
2 units, 1 LOW price!The Knife :
- Folder has a 2 1/ 2 "l. 440 stainless steel blade with a non-reflective Black oxide coating
- Tanto point with partial serrations
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- Black G-10 handle
- Designed by guru Russ Kommer.
- Clip carabiner attachment
- Polymer body with gate
- White / Green LEDs rated for 100,000 hrs.
- Shines to 20 yds.
- Two 2032 batteries (included). Set weighs 5 ozs.
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The knife looked just like the picture, but is the smallest knife I've ever seen, I don't know what possible use this tiny knife could be used for, I am not happy about this purchase
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Media Contact: Heidi Vanderlee
Marketing Assistant
Tel: (212) 777-0900 x230
Fax: (212) 477-6996
Carl Fischer Music Presents Venjamin Sher's
Twenty-four Virtuoso Etudes for Violin
New York , NY — Carl Fischer Music is extremely proud to announce the first U.S. edition of violin pedagogue Venjamin Sher's Twenty-four Virtuoso Etudes (BF48 - $19.95). Previously available only in Russia , Venjamin Sher's violin etudes, written between 1954 and 1959, are acclaimed and required literature for all violinists in the former Soviet Union . First published by the Compozitor Publishing House of St. Petersburg, Sher's etudes reflect a lifetime of experience as a performer and teacher.
This collection sets itself apart from other instructional compilations in that it incorporates new forms and textures discovered by the composer, and while practicality is its focus, artistic value is never compromised, drawing from the example of etude collections by Nicolo Paganini and Henryk Wieniawski. This beautiful new edition is edited by esteemed professor of violin Klimenty Veksler, who also lends valuable insight with a foreword. Students and professional violinists alike will find Sher's Twenty-four Virtuoso Etudes greatly useful in honing both technique and expression.
Venjamin Sher (1900-1962) was a native of Odessa , a city of great violin tradition and historical significance in the Ukraine . He began studying violin in his home city with M.T. Hait and entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Russia in 1911, where he became a student of S.P. Korguev. Sher also took composition lessons with Vasili Kalafati and was an active concert violinist during his years of study. Two years after his graduation in 1923, Sher was asked to take the post Korguev had left, and became the highest-ranking teacher of violin at the Conservatory.
Carl Fischer Music has a growing and diversified catalog of musical products, now expanded to include DVDs and compact discs, as well as its traditional print music product lines. For more information about new publications from Carl Fischer Music or to locate a dealer near you, log on to www.carlfischer.com or e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com. For additional information about the publication listed in this release, please contact Heidi Vanderlee at 212.777.0900 ext. 230 or send an e-mail to email@example.com at your convenience.
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Carl Fischer Music – 65 Bleecker St. New York NY 10012
Media Contacts: Heidi Vanderlee (212) 777-0900 x230


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Combining Hadoop MapReduce and MPI for Terascale Learning
Trying to combine MPI and Hadoop MapReduce for eliminating the drawbacks in each of them:
- MPI: The Allreduce function. The starting state for AllReduce is n nodes each with a number, and the end state is all nodes having the sum of all numbers.
- MapReduce: Conceptual simplicity. One easy to understand function is enough.
- MPI: No need to refactor code. You just sprinkle allreduce in a few locations in your single machine code.
- MapReduce: Data locality. We just hijack the MapReduce infrastructure to execute a map-only job where each process executes on the node with the data.
- MPI: Ability to use local storage (or RAM). Hadoop itself gobbles large amounts of RAM by default because it uses Java. And, in any case, you don't have an effective large scale learning algorithm if it dies every time the data on a single node exceeds available RAM. Instead, you want to create a temporary file on the local disk and allow it to be cached in RAM by the OS, if that's possible.
- MapReduce: Automatic cleanup of local resources. Temporary files are automatically nuked.
- MPI: Fast optimization approaches remain within the conceptual scope. Allreduce, because it's a function call, does not conceptually limit online learning approaches as discussed below. MapReduce conceptually forces statistical query style algorithms. In practice, this can be walked around, but that's annoying.
- MapReduce: Robustness. We don't captures all the robustness of MapReduce which can succeed even during a gunfight in the datacenter. But we don't generally need that: it's easy to use Hadoop's speculative execution approach to deal with the slow node problem and use delayed initialization to get around all startup failures giving you something with >99% success rate on a running time reliable to within a factor of 2.
Original title and link: Combining Hadoop MapReduce and MPI for Terascale Learning ( ©myNoSQL)
by Alex Popescu
Ana-Maria Bacalu
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Somerset Flower Girl Basket Style A01015FB
This item is available online only. *
Sophistication at every layer of this French inspired design. Layers of satin, French netting and feather finished with a jeweled piece in the center. Measures 11" tall.
A smooth fabric often used in bridal gown design because of its exquisite drape.
customers bought with this dress
Somerset Flower Girl Basket Style A01015FB 2 3
Its gorgeous!!...but a little small I just received this yesterday and i love it! although if your looking for a bigger basket, this one is a little smaller than it looks. But i figure my flower girl is only 2 so it would be perfect for her! March 7, 2012
Smaller than I thought... It is a really cute basket, but smaller than I thought it would be. I had not looked at any in the store before I ordered it- They are all the same size :( I will make it work. July 27, 2011
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UCSF's Lily Jan and Yuh-Nung Jan, have been named the joint winners of the 2010 Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience for their major contributions in brain research.
Latest News
February 16, 2010
February 10, 2010
Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at UC Davis, will speak at UCSF about his research on the science of gratitude on February 17.
February 04, 2010
The Lesbian Health & Research Center will commemorate the release of the first-ever comprehensive lesbian health textbook during an afternoon symposium at UCSF on February 8.
January 21, 2010
UCSF is proceeding with the construction of the neurosciences building at Mission Bay, where some of the world's best scientists and clinicians will collaborate to prevent and cure diseases of the brain.
January 20, 2010
Non-smokers with both long-term exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke and narrowing of the artery that brings blood to the brain had three times the risk of developing dementia than people without either of those risk factors, according to a study led by a researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.
December 28, 2009
UCSF's Phil Darney is co-leading a new Center of Expertise on Women's Health and Empowerment that will tackle global health issues such as violence against women and reproductive health and rights.
December 22, 2009
UCSF School of Nursing master's student Alfredo Mireles was selected for a prestigious, 11-month fellowship with the California state government.


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This magnificent wine has truly earned the coveted title of "Superiore." Crafted from only the very best Barbera grapes and pressed in low bins, it was attentively vinified from beginning to end. After soaking in the skins for an additional two weeks, the juice was aged for a year in oak barriques. Finally, a controlled refinement was insisted in the bottles before releasing the wine for sale.
The result? Glorious structure and delicacy! The shimmering ruby red color and deep garnet shades show beautifully in the glass. You'll love the intense notes of mature red fruits and berries and the full, round, well-balanced body. It's warm and harmonious, and offers a very long finish. With its big, noble tannins, it's the perfect complement to all your favorite red meats.
In the land of Barolo, Cabutto "Tenuta La Volta", founded in 1920, produces the great red wines of the Langhe with experience, enthusiasm and care. The farm is maged by the Cabutto brothers, Osvaldo and Bruno.
Due to the characteristics of the clayey-calcareous land, the altitude of vineyards (300-400 m above sea level) and the good temperature range, Cabutto produces complex, classy and long aging wines.
(PEED-mont) Piedmont is located in the Northwest area of Italy, hugging the Mediterranean coast. The regional capital, Turin, is situated smack in the middle of the province. Being close to the alps, the area enjoys a high altitude, with the best vineyards benefiting from the hills and elevation. Known for its famous sub-districts, Piedmont delivers some of the most...Read More About Piedmont
(bar-BARE-uh) Versatility of Italy Barbara is one of those varieties of the old world that often appears on the label - Barbara d'Alba, Barbara d'Asti for example. Native to Piedmont, Barbara is a hardy grape that grows well in the chalky soils of the area. Though popular as a single varietal, Barbera also excels as a blending partner in both Italy and California. Notable...Read More About Barbera
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The Eternal is Sonic Youth's 2009 celebration of newfound freedom. After many years signed to an ever precarious corporate label, the band has been liberated and is releasing this CD with their friends at Matador. Inspirations ran high in preparation for the recording. Abandoning the time tested routine of writing and rehearsing a cycle of songs in one time period, SY changed tactics and would compose two to three tracks one weekend and record them the following weekend. After a solid month they had a dozen killers.
The writing took place in the Ecstatic Peace Folk + Cinema Basement in Northampton, MA and in the bands own Echo Canyon West in Hoboken, NJ. All recordings were done at Echo Canyon West with John Agnello at the board and Aaron Mullan in full assist. Agnello and band mixed the monster at Water Music in Hoboken. Greg Calbi mastered it beautifully at Sterling Sound in NYC.
Twelve tunes that are a fireworks display of Sonic Youth touchstones. From the primal no wave attack of its earliest days, to the radical chording and song structures of its 90s period, to the more focused and contemporary explorations of the last five years.
Sacred Trickster (2:10) – Out-of-the gate hardcore matinee track with Kim singing salutes to French painter Yves Klein and Western Massachusetts noise artist Noise Nomads.
Anti-Orgasm (6:08) – Inspired by the story of Berlin 60s model/activist Uschi Obermeier and the gang at Kommune 1. Free love, dominance and submission, and other political states-of-confusion.
Leaky Lifeboat (for Gregory Corso)(3:32) – The NYC beat poet Gregory Corso once referred to life on Earth as a leaky lifeboat. This tune expounds on this rumination.
Antenna (6:13) – Melodious ode to fleeting fantasy and unresolved desire with the sound of two analogue radios communicating the emotional action.
What We Know (3:54) – Charging forth with a riff in reference to Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Lee sings a triptych to identity and unity.
Calming the Snake (3:35) – One of the first tracks written, musical references to the Dead C, the MC5 and Neu. Kim musing on visions of Death in painting.
Poison Arrow (3:43) – Dedicated to the lust groove of Kevin Ayers where thoughts of love as pretty poison rejoice in surrealist deliverance.
Malibu Gas Station (5:39) – An ode to the flash moment of the camera as you knowingly step from your SUV sans panties.
Thunderclap for Bobby Pyn (2:38) – Flashing back to a wishful existence in the original Masque basement on N. Cherokee in Hollywood, crashing through lawns and garbage cans en route to the Canterbury/Disgraceland to jump up and down on beds with Helen Killer, Mary Rat and Trudi.
No Way (3:52) – First song written for the album, with a nod to The Wipers of Portland, Oregon. A confrontation with the devil in his guise of temptation and staking a distinct place amongst the black legions.
Walkin Blue (5:20) – Lee with his arm around yr shoulder, getting you through a seemingly impenetrable day of dread to a clear vision towards sweet foreverness.
Massage the History (9:41) – The long way home, where blood rules the universe and time becomes myth.
To jog your memory:
Sonic Youth began way back in 1980 in the downtown disaster unit of NYC. First three records (Sonic Youth, Confusion is Sex, Kill Yr Idols) began in 1981 on the Neutral label started by Glenn Branca. They then signed to Gerard Cosloy's Homestead imprint releasing Bad Moon Rising and the Flower/Halloween 12" to universal intrigue and acclaim. They switched labels to release records (Sister, Evol) on SST, the Southern California label overseen by Greg Ginn of Black Flag, while Mr. Cosloy went on to join Matador Records with Chris Lombardi. Concurrently they established a relationship with Paul Smith and Blast First Records in the UK co-releasing the Homestead and SST titles and culminating with the massive end of the decade double LP Daydream Nation, since added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress. The band signed to DGC/Geffen in 1990 and began an ascendant affair there releasing Goo and Dirty to much heated excitement until the label became a scattered asylum. They continued to release strange, out-of –step recordings with Geffen throughout the 90s and early 2000s. Young wizard Jim O'Rourke came on board with the band as a multi-instrumentalist/producer collaborating on two of their most progressive LPS to date, Murray Street and Sonic Nurse, as well as the ongoing series of experimental LPs on the bands own SYR imprint. After Jim's departure, and after releasing Rather Ripped, their final statement on Geffen (and which ranked third in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2006) the band recruited their pal from compatriot 90s band Pavement, Mark Ibold, to play bass. After a solid bout of touring Mark joined the band in the recording of The Eternal. The cover art is a painting by the late, great American folk artist John Fahey. This is where we live forever. Sweet dreams.


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South Bend is discussing future plans after the Ethanol plant controversy.
In light of recent flooding issues in homes near the plant, Common Council members are taking a pro-active approach, trying to prevent flooding in the future in South Bend.
Four members have proposed a bill that would require soil and water table reviews for new homes and businesses. The council wants to educate the public about groundwater, so the flooding of basements can be avoided.
"Is something that will look at the wells for the current residents so they can have wells out there that can lower the water tables because their home values should not be tied to the success or failure of an ethanol plant," says board member, Oliver Davis.
The council will discuss the measure Monday.
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Switchboard: 574.679.9758News Phone: 574.679.4545Station Fax: 574.294.1267Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Select Donkeys Vs Elephants
Copied from http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-In-Entertainment/elephants-broken-spirits.aspx
Elephants are so intensely emotional and protective that it is well documented that they experience great sadness over losing their young, and it must horrify them to watch their babies tormented in servitude.
Most elephants used by circuses and zoos were captured in the wild and forced to leave their freedom and families behind. Some people mistakenly believe that captive breeding will help prevent elephants from becoming extinct, but elephants who are born in the breeding centers of circuses and zoos (also known as captive-born elephants) can never be returned to the wild.
Animals used in circuses live a dismal life in which they are dominated, confined, and violently trained. Workers routinely beat, shock, and whip them until they learn to perform meaningless tricks that are confusing to them. If you love elephants, never go to a circus that uses animal acts.
Want to learn how you can help Elephants select Elephant Advocay
"Donkeys are the most abused of all equine in the entire world" - Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm
Please select Domestic Abuse and Animal Abuse
Please Stop Donkey Basket Ball and Donkey Roping!
Select Why Do People Abuse Donkeys?
You can be a human angel – Stand up for a helpless human or animal when you see abuse say NO more!
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Categories: 2013 animals donkey Elephant
Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC
Melody & Scott Johnson are the owners of the Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC a Christian business. Melody is a world-wide virtual coach, consultant and trainer of humans to learn how to train their equine.
Need help with your donkey, mule or horse?
I provide a custom coaching plan specific to your needs via Skype, videos, and the phone. No need to travel for training or send your equine off to an expensive trainer. I work around your schedule as I am here to serve you.
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GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
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Website http://www.donkeywhisperer.com


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Detroit Lions Set to Begin Signing Undrafted Free Agents
Usually immediately following the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions clamor with the rest of the NFL for the best undrafted college prospects. Obviously this off-season was anything but normal.
Now with the lockout lifted, the Lions have begun their frenzied off-season tasks, beginning with signing the best of the remaining prospects. As of 10 am today teams could begin begin filling their rosters and the Lions have been busy contacting some of these players.
Here are some of the players the Lions are expected to sign;
Jeff Maddux, OL, Central Michigan: The Monroe native told the Monroe Evening News he would join the team. Has experience in the Arena Football League with the Cleveland Gladiators. A four-year starter at CMU (2007-10) who played both right and left guard.
Preston Dial, TE/FB, Alabama – Dial told the Free Press he is flying to Detroit to sign a contract this morning. He played mostly tight end at Alabama, but said he's had conversations with Lions running backs coach Sam Gash, indicating the team envisions him more in that role.
Quentin Davie, LB, Northwestern – Northwestern announced on its website Davie's intentions to sign with the Lions. Davie started 39 games at outside linebacker in his career for the Wildcats.
Ryan Donahue, P, Iowa – Agent Matt Brei tweeted Monday night that Donahue "agreed to a contract" with the Lions. He was one of the top punters in college football last year, though Nick Harris is under contract through 2012.
Dejuan Fulghum, LB, Texas Southern – Fulghum tweeted late Monday night, "Jus got my call....yo boy will be playin for the Detroit Lions this year". Fulghum was the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
Marcus Harris, WR, Murray State – NFLDraftBible.com reported Harris will sign with the Lions. He set a school record with 216 career catches.
Ricardo Silva, S, Hampton – NFLDraftBible.com reported Silva will sign with the Lions. Had 74 tackles and four interceptions last year.
Jared Jenkins, WR, Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Tweeted he'll be signing with the Lions today. Had 67 catches in 2010 and was D3Football.com first-team All-American punter.
Keith Smith, WR, Purdue – Tweeted this morning that will sign with the Lions. Led the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards as a junior but missed most of 2010 with a knee injury.
Cobrani Mixon, LB, Kent State – A transfer from Michigan, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported and Mixon confirmed on Twitter that he will sign with the Lions.Copyright © 2014, The Morning Call


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Crouse Sports Medicine physicians are the area's leading orthopedists and sports medicine experts. While they're here to treat you, helping you prevent injuries is a big part of our team's mission.
We hope you find these injury prevention sheets and video clips helpful to keep you at the top of your game!
Injury Prevention Tip Sheets
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Best Footwear for Playing Sports
Avoiding Running Injuries
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Kids and Concussion
Reducing Winter Sports Injuries - part one
Reducing Winter Sports Injuries - part two
Meet Our SportsMedicine Team
Central new York's leading orthopedic specialists can help! more >
Concussion Care at Crouse
Concussion is common, yet serious. Paul Klawitter, MD, PhD, is the area's top specialist. more >
Crouse Physical Rehabilitation
Caring, experienced PT team at three convenient locations. more >
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Stay healthy at any age with our up-to-date expert health tips.more >
Physical Fitness Guide
Check out which conditions may be keeping you sidelined — and consult your doctor.
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The Badacsony – a hefty hunk of volcanic rock, forming a plateau visible from miles around – is the iconic centre-point of the beautiful wine-growing region that is named after it. Four villages nestle at its feet, and Badacsony village (technically Badacsonytomaj, but often known in the short form) is a lovely base for walks, wine tasting and visiting the lake.
The table-top peak of the Badacsony rock draws the eye from the vineyard-strewn hills all around it, and is the heart of this undeniably pretty area – best visited out of the high season when, like all of Balaton, it tends to get overrun by visitors. Badacsony village has a small-scale sweetness, being easily navigable on foot, and its charms are only enhanced by sampling a glass of local wine – never hard to come by given the abundance of small cellars and roadside bars (borozó) hereabouts. Its cultural sights include the Rósa Szegedy House and Rose Rock among the vineyards uphill from the village. You can rent bikes at various points along Park utca, the main road by the lake.Read More
Róza Szegedy House and Rose Rock
Róza Szegedy House and Rose Rock
The Róza Szegedy House is on Kisfaludy utca, reached by turning right from Római utca. The walk is a reasonably steep 2.5km through the vineyards, or an easy ride in an open-top jeep taxi from Park utca – the main street by the lake. Róza Szegedy met her future husband, the poet Sándor Kisfaludy, here in 1795, and he wrote some of his most beautiful works from the house, which contains some of his work and their original furniture. Up a path a little further is Rose Rock (Rókzako), where it's said that if a man and woman sit together with their backs facing Lake Balaton and think about each other, they will marry within a year.
Kisfaludy and the Stone Gate
Kisfaludy and the Stone Gate
The Rose Rock is a great starting point for an invigorating hike to the Kisfaludy lookout tower (437m) and, twenty minutes further north, the Stone Gate formed from two great basalt towers. Both points offer splendid views of the lake and the patchwork of Badacsony's vineyards. If you fancy a plunge in the lake afterwards, it's a 20-minute walk downhill. Badacsony has clean, paying beaches – cross the railway tracks and Park utca to reach them.
Walking Around the Badacsony
Walking Around the Badacsony
Badacsony village is a superb base for wine tasting and walking up onto, and around, the Badacsony rock. Simply get the walking-route map from the helpful TourInform in the village, which shows the various colour-coded walking routes in the area. They are also marked well on the route, with painted arrows on trees and rocks. To scale the hill itself, take a right from Római utca, which cuts through Badacsony village, onto Kisfaludy utca, then ascend first on a sloped road, then a path, and finally stone steps (or a smaller path, depending on your route). Once on top of the Badacsony plateau, you can meander through the woods, which are strewn with wild flowers and popular with butterflies, and eventually descend along a number of routes cutting back down through the vineyards.


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"I Believe Whatever the Son of God Has Said"
Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.
Congratulations to the Class of 2014!
Aquinas Junior High egg drop - a favorite AQ tradition.
Jesus Christ Superstar, winner of the Bob Sagan Award for Most Outstanding Musical in Division B.
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Put Your Mind In the Gutter (Or Else Your Clients Will)Posted in advertising, branding, business, copywriting, corgibytes, dumb, dumb moments, entrepreneur, funny, laugh, marketing, mishaps, mistakes, planning, slogans, small business, store names, stupid, Uncategorized, work, writing on June 14th, 2007 by andrea – 7 Comments
Browsing through Reddit today and ran across this post of Worst Business Name Ever with this photo:
Hopefully you see the obvious problem here.
It reminds me of when one of my friends was pregnant. She and her husband were considering names for the baby and this was the conversation:
Wife: What about Regina? It's my grandmother's name.
Husband: Nope. She'll get teased and get called "Vagina" in school.
Every name my friend threw out had to pass her husband's "what will kids call her" test. Brilliant! Way to think ahead and catch a potential problem early.
Business owners should apply the same test when naming their business. What will clients call you? And put your mind in the gutter before you spend all the time and money on a name that only gets plastered all over the blogosphere as the worst business name ever.
Andrea Morris is the Chief Idea Officer of Write Ideas Marketing and specializes in helping visionaries, entrepreneurs, consultants and small businesses use high-ROI strategies to get the right message to the right people. For more information, please visit writeideasmarketing.com


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Christmas Wreath by My Nearest and Dearest
Christmas Sensory Bin by FSPDT
All kids are different and only you can decide how you let your kids play. And with what materials you let them play with. My children are supervised when playing. Please keep this in mind with any post you read of mine!
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+1-208-473-2904 (USA - Sales)
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The Percona yum repository supports popular RPM-based operating systems, including the Amazon Linux AMI.
The easiest way to install the Percona Yum repository is to install an RPM that configures yum and installs the Percona GPG key. You can also do the installation manually.
Execute the following command as a root user, replacing x86_64 with i386 if you are not running a 64-bit operating system:
$ yum install http://www.percona.com/downloads/percona-release/percona-release-0.0-1.x86_64.rpm
You should see some output such as the following:
Retrieving http://www.percona.com/downloads/percona-release/percona-release-0.0-1.x86_64.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
1:percona-release ########################################### [100%]
The RPMs for the automatic installation are available at http://www.percona.com/downloads/percona-release/ and include source code.
To install the repository manually, place the following into a new file named /etc/yum.repos.d/Percona.repo:
name = CentOS $releasever - Percona
enabled = 1
gpgkey = file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-percona
gpgcheck = 1
Also, copy the Percona GPG key into a file named /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-percona.
Make sure packages are downloaded from the repository, by executing the following command as root:
yum list | grep percona
You should see output similar to the following:
percona-release.x86_64 0.0-1 @/percona-release-0.0-1.x86_64
Percona-Server-client-55.x86_64 5.5.35-rel33.0.611.rhel6 percona
Percona-Server-devel-55.x86_64 5.5.35-rel33.0.611.rhel6 percona
Percona-Server-server-55.x86_64 5.5.35-rel33.0.611.rhel6 percona
Percona-Server-shared-55.x86_64 5.5.35-rel33.0.611.rhel6 percona
Percona-Server-test-55.x86_64 5.5.35-rel33.0.611.rhel6 percona
percona-xtrabackup.x86_64 2.1.7-721.rhel6 percona
- x86_64
- i386
The CentOS repositories should work well with Red Hat Enterprise Linux too, provided that yum is installed on the server.
Percona offers fresh beta builds from the experimental repository. To subscribe to the experimental repository, install the experimental RPM:
yum install http://repo.percona.com/testing/centos/6/os/noarch/percona-testing-0.0-1.noarch.rpm
This repository works for both RHEL/CentOS 5 and RHEL/CentOS 6
|"Current Stable": We support only the current stable RHEL6/CentOS6 release, because there is no official (i.e. RedHat provided) method to support or download the latest OpenSSL on RHEL/CentOS versions prior to 6.5. Similarly, and also as a result thereof, there is no official Percona way to support the latest Percona Server builds on RHEL/CentOS versions prior to 6.5. Additionally, many users will need to upgrade to OpenSSL 1.0.1g or later (due to the Heartbleed vulnerability), and this OpenSSL version is not available for download from any official RHEL/Centos repository for versions 6.4 and prior. For any officially unsupported system, src.rpm packages may be used to rebuild Percona Server for any environment. Please contact our support service if you require further information on this.


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SPRAGUE, Wash.--Authorities in Lincoln County asked for help Monday cracking an early morning arson investigation. Someone lit a full size pick-up on fire at 1:16 a.m.
Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies arrived on scene to find the truck engulfed in flames. Authorities received a second call about another vehicle at a separate location on fire within minutes. Both fires were in the town of Sprague.
Deputies said they are investigating both fires as arson.
Any tips should be reported to the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office at (509) 725-3501.


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Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
Quick Facts
User Reviews
The community thinks...
Well-designed, but Underwhelming product quality by Nate from Aurora, CO on 04/05/2012. Trim: 2003 Ford Focus Wagon ZTW, Owned 9 years.
Pros: I bought my ZTW based on reviews here. It is quiet, smooth, and has CAVERNOUS cargo space with the back seats folded flat. First, I've carried a full-sized recliner, then an office desk without removing the legs! The fuel mileage ratings can be met with very careful, unloaded, light-pedaled driving. My favorite feature of this car is the amazing lack of interior noise it has for an economy-sized car. Interior upholstery is reasonably robust, and the gauges are easy to read.
Cons: The powertrain build quality of my ZTW was disappointing, to say the least. I bought the car with only 45k on the odo., and in less than 3000 miles, the transmission shift solenoids failed! The mechanic who fixed it said he'd lost count of how many Focus transmissions he'd had to fix or rebuild from this issue. Great. Only 3000 miles, & I'm $800 out of pocket already! The second big letdown was the suspension. Sway bar links made outta dried beef jerky and cheap rubber sway bar bushings make this wagon sound like a creaky trailer-park barge! Weak struts needed to be replaced at 60k - REALLY? Most budget Korean wagons can make it to 100k without new struts, so why can't a Mazda-based Ford?
Overall review: Maybe mine was the odd lemon out of a crate full of peaches, but I'm pretty depressed at the cheap turns Ford took in the final production of this car. The body is well-assembled, and it fits all my space and practicality needs - but this car's MAJOR achille's heel is the pile of cheap suspension and drive train parts that were not built to last! The motor is strong and reliable, but when mated to a slush-box transmission with spongy brakes, and a mushy suspension - it gives the driver an underwhelming experience.
Review ID: #557401 Is this review offensive?


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Cramer Quick Take: Don't Buy Chesapeake on Takeover Rumors
Check out Jim Cramer's latest trading recommendations on "Action Alerts Plus".
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- With the surprise announcement that Chesapeake Energy (CHK) founder and CEO Aubrey McClendon will be stepping down, should investors snap up shares on renewed hopes the company will be taken over? Jim Cramer told Lindsey Bell at TheStreet.com Wednesday that investors shouldn't jump the gun.
Cramer said McClendon's departure feels a bit like Vikram Pandit being forced out of Citigroup (C), although unlike Citi, McClendon will provide a transition period through April 1. McClendon will be back, said Cramer, who has spoken with McClendon personally.
Cramer also noted the irony between McClendon's big bet on higher natural gas prices two years ago, which didn't pan out, and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners' (KMP) similar bet with their acquisition of Copano Energy (COP), announced Wednesday.Investors looking to play natural gas should look at Southwest Energy (SWN), a stock Cramer owns for his charitable trust,
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Posts Tagged 'iPhone Arider'
The iPhone Arider–Science Fiction Finally Becomes Science Fact
The current undisputed king of the geeky gadget may well have just been found, folks--brace yourself for the iPhone Arider. It's still in the prototype stage, but one day we'll all be able to enjoy the iPhone Arider. And what ...


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Same Possible Health Benefits
as our E3Live Original PLUS:
Physiologically, E3Live helps restore overall
body/mind balance in numerous ways. Its field of action simultaneously
includes the immune, endocrine, nervous, gastro-intestinal and cardio-vascular
Nutritionally, E3Live provides more than 65 vitamins, minerals, amino acids & essential fatty acids and is a rich source of chlorophyll. Our E3Live AFA is a non-GMO heirloom variety.
E3Live is a gift of nature, a miracle food. We warmly invite you and
your loved ones to experience certified organic E3Live for yourself.
Individual bottle price for this item is $32.95. Frozen products must be purchased in a minimum of 6 bottles. 24-Packs will require a signature upon delivery.
Please watch this video about E3Live:
for Frozen Liquid
Serving Size: 1 tablespoon. Most people begin at 1 teaspoon a day and work up. No two people are alike. Some people will eat E3Live in more liberal quantities, even several ounces a day, whenever they need an added boost. Work your way up at your own pace. Trust your intuition. We suggest drinking a few ounces of pure water after each use.
For Maximum Results & Benefits: Once you've used the suggested starting amount for a couple of weeks, E3Live recommends using roughly 1 bottle per week to receive maximum results.
Suggested Use: To protect freshness, keep frozen until ready to consume.
Important Note: In defrosted liquid state, E3Live must be kept cold and refrigerated at all times to maintain its freshness. Shelf-life out of freezer in refrigerator is between 7 to 10 days.
If you are pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use. Do not use if safety seal is broken.
A special note about shipping E3Live
To ensure E3Live arrives in its freshest state, we mail in
quantities of 6 or more — we've found a minimum of 6 bottles keeps your
E3Live optimally cold during transit to your door.
Frozen product prices include the cost of 2-day shipping and handling.
Please note: the shipping and handling cost portion of the frozen product price
is non-refundable.
Testimonials for E3Live
"Whether I'm training in the gym or on the course, E3Live gives me the constant energy and focus needed to train throughout the day. Sometimes I find myself on the road for 3-6 weeks at a time. My diet has always been a priority to be functioning at my highest levels. It is sometimes difficult to eat exactly what you want when you're on the road and that's when E3Live can compensate and help my body recover more easily. From the first day of taking E3Live I noticed a difference and I can't imagine my life without it."
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Be sure to read other testimonials from Athletes, Health Experts and other Clients.
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E3Live website — We encourage you to look through this entire website for additional information about our company and our product. You will find FAQs, Research, and Testimonial sections, to help educate you about E3Live, and this life-altering product.


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Shinjuku and Kabukicho Evening Walking Tour
- Two-hour evening walking tour of Shinjuku entertainment district
- See the department stores catering to the latest trends and subculture fashion
- Walk through the candle-lit Hanazono Shrine
- Explore the small alleys and lanes of Golden Gai
- Hear the risqué stories of the Kabukicho red light district
- See the historic wooden shacks of Omoide Yokocho
Why Our Insiders Chose This Tour
Your guide will make sure you don't miss a thing as you stroll through the Shinjuku entertainment district and the Kabukicho red-light district. All the neon and LED signboards, not to mention the wild fashions, make for endless photo opportunities!
Recent Photos of This Tour
What You Can Expect
Continue your walk to Golden Gai, a famous bar district on the east side of Shinjuku with more than 100 tiny shacks (formerly brothels), bars and clubs. Walk through the narrow alleys and passageways that have remained unchanged over time. Stroll along the neon-lit streets of Kabukicho, full of small bars and hostess clubs catering mainly to Japanese salary men. See the touts calling out for business and hear the risqué stories of what goes on behind closed doors!
Finish your tour at Omoide Yokocho, for a look back in time. This lane still has the old architecture of wooden shacks and is reminiscent of the 1940s when old Tokyo's alleys hosted a world of black marketeers. Stop for a while and enjoy dinner or a few drinks at one of the many bars and restaurants.
Please note: Food and drinks are not included in the tour, your guide will suggest restaurant and bars and assist you with ordering.
Customer Reviews
January 2014
My friend and I ended up having a private tour as no-one else on this trip. Our tour guide was great and went the extra mile after the tour had finished by helping me order a suitable gluten free meal in a restaurant nearby. I would recommend this trip as it showed us a different side to Tokyo that my friend and I would probably not have felt comfortable exploring ourselves.
December 2013
This tour gets you out and show you even with a language barrier you can navigate this city especially by JR rail +Very helpful guide.


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- Born: 08/08/1978
- Birthplace: Paris, France
- Nationality: French
- Apps/ Goals: 78 (37) / 35
Louis Saha joined Everton in the summer of 2008 for an undisclosed fee.
The Frenchman arrived from Manchester United, signing a 2-year deal with the option for a third year.
His goalscoring pedigree at the highest level can't be disputed - the striker having scored consistently for both United and previous club Fulham.
Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson parted with upwards of £12m to sign Saha from the London outfit in January 2004.
Before that, the powerful, left-footed forward had been a hugely popular figure at Craven Cottage as he spearheaded Fulham's rise from the Championship to the Premier League.
Earlier, he played 11 games for Newcastle on loan from his first club Metz.
Playing at the top level in England propelled Saha towards the French national side, and he's now received 18 caps and scored on four occasions, including the 2006 World Cup in Germany - though suspension ruled him out of the final.
He switched to Everton just days before the transfer window closed at the start of the 2008/09 camapign.
Saha's season was an injury affected one, but he still plundered eight goals, including two goal of the season contenders and a fabulous FA Cup final strike that - after 25 seconds - was the fastest in a cup final at Wembley.
He picked up where he had left off in 2009/10, and was well into double figures by the new year.
He then scored a brace against Chelsea just days after signing a two-year deal with the Club.
In February 2011, Saha scored an incredible four goals in Everton's 5-3 thrashing of Blackpool, finishing as joint top scorer with 10 strikes.
Adding a further two goals in the first half of the 2011/12 season, the Frenchman ended his Blues career with a total of 35 goals in 115 appearances.
With six months left of his contract, Tottenham Hotspur signed Saha with just hours left before the transfer window closed on January 31, 2012.
- Previous Player Kieran Agard
- Next Player Lars Jacobsen


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KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- The First Baby born in Kalamazoo, and probably in West Michigan arrived just five minutes into the New Year at the Bronson Methodist Hospital birthing Unit, Evelyn Pashby came into the world, weighing 9-pounds 12.4 ounces.
Parents April and Michael Pashby are doing fine.
The First Baby born at Borgess Hospital arrived at 1:48.
Arrabella Hoxie of Battle Creek weighed 8 lbs. 11 ounces at birth.


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U.S. government and military officials are sending hints that the U.S. will withdraw all its troops from Iraq by the end of 2011 in accordance with an agreement signed by the Bush administration in 2008. Earlier this week, the Iraqis rejected immunity for U.S. troops or trainers. Today, the AP reports that an administration official in Washington and a military official confirmed that the U.S. was abandoning plans to take all but about 160 Embassy protection troops out of the country where the U.S. has fought a war since 2003. The military official said the withdrawal plan would allow for future training missions upon request.
Report: U.S. Abandons Plans To Keep Troops In Iraq Past Year End
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Shorting Chipotle Because of Taco Bell Not Hot
Tedra is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) has seen its stock fall in the days following a hedge fund manager saying that he thought people would prefer Taco Bell food rather than the offerings from Chipotle. I immediately thought, "This must be one of those inside jokes that are too often lost upon me."
But this was no joke. The comment was made by prominent hedge fund manager David Einhorn at the Value Investing Congress this week. As he's well-respected and revered, investors took Einhorn's strategy to short Chipotle to heart. The stock was trading around $317 when the markets opened Tuesday, before Einhorn started speaking. It fell to $295.61 by noon. At the time of this writing, it still had not recovered the losses.
Einhorn's concerns about the future of Chipotle stemmed from his belief that Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM), will give Chipotle a run for its money. As president of Greenlight Capital, Einhorn said his company conducted a survey that showed Chipotle was in danger of losing frequent customers to Taco Bell.
Specifically, Einhorn seems quite enamored by Taco Bell's new Cantina Fresh Mex menu. Touted as a creation of a top chef, and a bargain for people seeking higher quality at the fast food restaurant, the menu is impressive. However, unlike Einhorn, I stop short of saying that it compares to Chipotle's items. In fact, it pales in comparison.
I think Damon Vickers, chief investment officer for Damon Vickers & Co., said it best this week when he pointed out that the Cantina items Einhorn is excited about come off of the same assembly line as its burrito, and they are made with ingredients arriving from a corporate food truck. Chipotle's ingredients are locally sourced, allowing them to offer fresher ingredients.
My personal food preferences aside, I think most diners wouldn't put Chipotle and Taco Bell in the same group. Taco Bell's new, higher priced items may help it improve its margins, but I don't think they'll lure people from Chipotle in the droves that would affect Chipotle's fundamentals and make it less of a worthy stock investment.
If I chose to short Chipotle, it wouldn't be because its profits could be threatened by Taco Bell. If nothing else, the comparison between Taco Bell and Chipotle screams of the old adage, "comparing apples to oranges."
Einhorn did point out some things I think investors should consider because they represent the more realistic pressures that Chipotle faces. For example, he noted rising food costs, which is noteworthy since Chipotle thrives on using fresh ingredients. At least Chipotle enjoys serving customers who I don't believe would mind paying a little more for their food.
Also, Einhorn talked about Chipotle being mandated to offer health insurance in the future thanks to Obamacare. Also worrisome are allegations that the company is using undocumented workers, which can raise the ire of the federal government.
These are issues that could place pressure on Chipotle's margins, which have been strengthening. Chipotle's profit margin has increased since 2008, rising to 11.82% from 7.18%. Net profit on sales increased to 10.5% last year from 6.7% in 2008. Also, its earnings per share has improved, rising to $8.72 from $6.66 over the past five quarters. Some estimates show that Chipotle's operating margin should rise to 17.4% in 2012 from 15.4% in 2011.
Chipotle reports third quarter earnings on Oct. 18, and if all goes well, maybe its stock will return to pre-Einhorn talk levels.
TwillyD has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Chipotle Mexican Grill. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fool's blog network, click here for information.


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"The Golden Compass"
Published on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 2:10pm
Chevy Chase Book Club's December Selection
The Chevy Chase Library Book Club selection for their Dec. 7th meeting is Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Come at 7:00 pm and be ready to discuss the book! The book club meets in the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the library.


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Drug Notes
UPMC Patient Education Materials
Calculators and Assessment Tools
Anatomy Navigator
Conditions Navigator
Childhood and adolescent causes of death
Accidents are, by far, the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
0-1 years:
1-4 years:
5-14 years:
15-24 years:
There are almost twice as many deaths in the first year of life than there are in the next 13 years total. Then, the death rate rises rapidly following puberty because of the large number of deadly accidents, homicides, and suicides in the 15-24 year age group. These three causes of death in teens should all be preventable.
What is preventable?
Some birth defects cannot be prevented. However, some problems may be diagnosed during pregnancy. Such conditions, when recognized, may be prevented or treated while the baby is still in the womb or immediately upon birth.
Evaluation may include genetic screening of the parents, parental medical histories and childbearing history, chorionic villus sampling
, amniocentesis
, and fetal ultrasound
SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome
Putting infants on their back to sleep helps reduces the chance of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommend that infants be placed on their back for sleeping.
Death due to prematurity frequently results from a lack of prenatal care. If you are pregnant, and not receiving prenatal care, call your health care provider or your state's department of health. Most state health departments have programs that provide prenatal care to mothers, whether or not they have insurance or are able to pay.
Education about the importance of prenatal care should be made available to all sexually active and pregnant teens.
Overall teenage suicide rates in the 1990's were higher than those in the 1980's for all races. It is important to watch teens for signs of stress, depression
, and suicidal behavior
. Two-way communication between the troubled adolescent and parents or persons of trust is extremely important in preventing adolescent suicide.
Homicide is one of the most disturbing causes of death among children and adolescents. Sociologists feel that the increase of gangs, teenage homicide, teenage suicide, teenage pregnancy
, school drop-out, and other problems are a reflection of a rapidly changing society and family structure. Homicide is a complex issue which does not have a simple answer. Prevention will require understanding of the root cause and a willingness on the part of the public to change those causes.
The automobile accounts for the largest number of these accidental deaths. Make sure that all infants and children use the proper child car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
Other top causes of accidental death are drowning, fire, falls, and poisoning.
Stanton BF, Behrman RE. Overview of pediatrics. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 1.
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
Supplemental content provided by
A.D.A.M. Health Solutions. All rights reserved.
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
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Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
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