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KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- Facts: I was shopping for broadband service, visited several locations, spoke with different companies, and after careful consideration and internet research decided to go with Clear. 10/08/2010: After a second visit, kiosk location, I made a purchase of a broadband device Clear 4G Mobile USB order # ** based on rep's recommendation as a result of search based on my home address as well as an explanation of my needs for on-the-go access. I went home and had no access at all, no connection was found from any part of the house, my parking lot or even my development. As the chat with a Clear Rep. confirms, there is no service in my area.
Here, based on his recommendation, an express warranty was created, as a purchaser, I do have a direct action against the seller. The warranty was breached, the product is not as represented. Therefore, I will be filing a suit on the theory of breach of implied. 10/09/2010: at approximately 11:15 AM I returned to the location of purchase to return the device and get my money back. I was told that I could return within 14 days, here, it was less than 24 hours later. I need the access for Tuesday, for class, so by returning it promptly, I would have a chance to make a purchase with another company, however, I do need those funds back to make yet another purchase.
There was someone else at the location; and after I explained to him that I could not get a connection with the device that I was sold, he quickly responded that I had the wrong device, that I needed something different; he said that he could not help me, give me my money back. I said that my purchase was made based on recommendation. He was angry. He said I was being mean because he is Black, not true. He said he was going to call security, there were cameras everywhere and that everyone knows him because he is a nice guy; irrelevant. He was angry. I was mistreated. He told me to leave the kiosk because I was making a scene.
I was afraid he was going to hit me, he was angry, his eye contact intense and speaking/yelling at me. He caused me apprehension. Here, all the facts lead me to the intentional tort of assault, I am able to establish the prima facie case successfully, therefore, I will be filing a claim for assault.
In addition, I was an invitee at the location, someone at the location for the purposes of a business transaction; and there is a duty owned to me for a safe environment where a reasonable person would expect to come in and be treated with decency. Therefore, I will be filling a suit on the grounds of negligence. After chatting at the company website, I was also told that I was sold the wrong device, I was told that she could not do anything for me. I am out of the money, I have no service. Since I am out of the money, I am unable to shop elsewhere until I have the money back. The cost of the device is the equivalent of roughly 5.5 hrs of retail work before taxes.
10/11 Called the company again, and after a very frustrating conversation, I was told that she was going to send me a UPS return label, she could not return my money. I explained my urgency, the fact that I got screwed, I would expect them to handle it properly, and return my money, so I could go elsewhere... no that didn't happen. I was told it would be an overnight return label, and that a return would take about 3-5 business days... It was a ground UPS return label. Today is 10/15... no money. CLEARLY A SCAM. CLEARLY DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE IN BUSINESS AND HURT PEOPLE LIKE THAT. I paid for service and not to be assaulted.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS TO A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR NEEDS AT ALL. I don't expect a business to care about me as a person, I do know that they care about my money so from the customer stand point, do the right thing. They clearly have no ** idea.
In January 2010 I got a postcard offering home and mobile wimax from Clear for $50.00 for life. OK good. They advertise super fast internet anywhere in their coverage area. I am in the Chicago market. Well the day I got the modems I was so excited. They claim speeds up to 10 meg. They guarantee speeds of 3 meg. Well I got. 27 meg on the first day. WOW!!! I called and they said that they will create a service ticket. They will extend my 7-day trial period and I should call back in a week.
I found antennasearch and looked up the antennas in my area. I am triangulated between 3 Clearwire antennas. One is about 200 yards across the street from me. I had tech support on the phone and was driving from tower to tower checking speeds and they ranged from .12 to 2.7 meg. The 2.7 meg was about 4 miles from my home and was in the Clear store parking lot. Well anyway after 2 months of calling in every week they finally sent a service tech out, we sat outside and he tried a speed test. He said "Hey this really is bad". I said "I know". He said he would open a service ticket for engineering.
I had tried to cancel in Feb and they talked me out of it by extending the trial period and crediting my Clearwire account for Feb. (I still paid the original 60.98 when I signed up). I went into a Clear store down the road from me. They have a tower in their parking lot and only get like 2.5 meg. Super fast? NOPE. 20 mile from my home I did find a spot where I did get an 8.5, but this was at the junction of three major expressways and there really is no one there using up bandwidth. I get all the lights on my modems at my home but the speeds are almost nonexistent.
I called in yesterday again acting like I want to keep the service and they did not care and even wanted me to cancel because they would charge me for a service that does not work. I went through 2 hrs and 5 different people until I finally got credit for next month hoping that it may come online.
I am not on the fringe of the coverage area, in fact yesterday was the first time in 3 months I got somewhat of an answer as to what is going on. One tech actually did some investigating and found that while my ticket says nothing, there are about 80 or so issues that relate to the towers by me. Specifically the one across the street. He said it may be until September until it works. I asked him why would they sell something that does not work and expect to get paid for it? Fraud is what comes to mind. They tried to get me to agree to a lower fee until it works. I said "No way". Why would I pay for something that does not work and why would I commit?
They were trying to get me to agree to a 2-year commitment that has been on hold until the service works. In other words they were trying to be slick and get me out of the agreement they made with me not to commit to service until it works. Why would anyone commit to something that does not work? Some of the people at Clear on the phone are nice and have sense, but most of them are just warm bodies that have no clue. I asked for a number to corporate as you cannot find one online, and the one girl ** was her name said "That will never happen".
I asked about crediting me for the time until the service works, she said "that will not happen we already credited you for 2 months" I said yeah but you sold me an empty box. she was sooo rude. I asked for my money back and she said we already credited you clear account for 2 months. And I replied, you credited me so I would not be charged for an empty box, you still have my $60.98 from when I signed up, and she replied that they credited my account with clear, I said yes but I still have an empty box, so I am out $60.98 for an empty box. She still did not understand and hung up on me.
The service will be nice if they ever get it to work. I think as a customer I have been very patient, and even helpful, but the misrepresentation of speeds and service coverage, along with the general disrespect from customer service is unacceptable.
Would I recommend Clear at this point? No way. Will I stick it out until it works? If they keep crediting me I will wait and see, if they try to get me to commit to something that does not work, and try to charge me for something that is anything but useful? No way. They are sending return labels for the modems and I have 10 days to use them. Even though they credited me for next month already I think I will just send the garbage back and get my $60.98 back and say goodbye to this company. I do not see them lasting very long here in Chicago with this garbage.
Clear is new 4G wireless internet service. It provides internet service similar to cellular broadband cards (although MUCH MUCH faster) and also provides a home modem for home use in addition to their own VOIP service (similar to Vonage). Unlike cable or DSL internet service they are a radio-based service - there are no wires into your home you receive your internet service through the air. They are in service in 27 major cities and growing.
Here's my experience. Their price is phenomenal. I get a mobile card VOIP and my home internet for what I paid the phone company for DSL and a home phone and Clear comes with free long distance. In addition they offer some of the best international rates I have seen (international is not included in the free long distance plan) but we make calls to Germany and their international rate is 2 cents per minute. I can get that international rate through calling card services but they all add a $5 or so monthly fee. On Clear I just pay for the international minutes added to my monthly fee.
Clear also offers call forwarding services with a few more options than the phone company but you have to activate it and deactivate it on their website. A nice feature is voicemail by email if you get a message they can email a wave file to you, you can play on your computer. This is included in the VOIP service.
Since they are a radio service it's like TV with the old rabbit ears. It may work where you are and it may not. You may have to move the modem around. I put my home modem in on the window sill and it works fine. The mobile modem doesn't work in my house. I did buy a 15 foot USB extension cable and put the modem by a window and then it worked. I tried in a hotel in San Antonio and the same problem no signal in the room but moving the modem to a window with the extension cable and it was fine. At a location in Chicago I had an excellent signal everywhere in the building.
Service is very fast. It is noticeably faster than my DSL service. But unlike cellular broadband cards Clear will ONLY work with Clear. The cellular cards will work in 3G coverage areas and default back to regular cell towers if 3G is not available. Now service is painfully slow on a cellular card if 3G isn't available but you will have service. In weak areas the cellular service will drop to slow service if 3G service is spotty, so usually you can keep working just slowly. This doesn't happen with Clear. If Clear can't get a signal (or loses it) it can't default to another available (albeit slower) service.
I tried this driving out of the San Antonio airport. Clear had a signal when I got on the hotel van and lost it when we drove under a terminal then gained it again between terminals. However, Clear's price is much less. I had a cellular broadband card and it cost $60/month. The Cellular broadband card also dropped A LOT. Clear gives me 2 modems: my voice and free long distance for $70 (before tax prices). Much of the frustration here seems to be connected with Clear contracts. You can avoid all that hassle by buying the modems.
All of my equipment home modem, mobile modem and VOIP adapter cost about $150. That alternative is leasing the equipment for $12/month. Basically in just over a year you pay for the equipment. With leasing though you are tied into a 2-year contract. My advice, buy from a place that takes things back and try it - if it doesn't work at your location take it back. Clear offers a mobile hot spot device (I don't have thisyet) for $140 and I am thinking about that then you could put you mobile modem and hotspot device in a window and use your computer near it avoiding my cable connection option.
At home I connected the home modem into my router and I use my home wireless network and that works fantastic. I have the modem where it gets a good signal and use the wireless router signal for computers throughout the house. Overall, Clear provides me for $70/month what I was paying almost $120 a month for. It has its drawbacks of "no signal no service" and doesn't have the coverage that the cellular providers have. However, for occasional mobile use if you are willing use a cable to locate the mobile modem where it gets a good signal it is more than adequate.
January 27, 2010 - In the mere week or more I have been a Clear customer, I have had nothing but problems. First, I was told that I was right in the middle of the network and using the USB mobile modem would be no problem.The rep **, even told me he was able to download a high definition movie using the USB in six minutes. I found this hard to believe, but continued anyway. After I became a customer, I got home and found that I could not get online with the USB modem. When I called for assistance, all the customer service representative could recommend was that I move my desk and such to the window rather than address the problem.
I was able to talk to someone else who decided to send me the home modem. I was willing to have a look at this, however, it was not what I signed up for and defeated the purpose of getting mobile internet service. I decided to try it anyway. After waiting for the home modem, it finally arrived and guess what? No service again. I called for technical support and they suggested I move the modem around to different spots to get a signal. I did so and got a minimal signal. Needless to say that at this point I am becoming irritated and ill impressed. I decided to try it.
Next I found either the discrepancy on my account or it was something else. I can hardly remember exactly as I have been on the phone with Clear nearly everyday since I have been a customer. At any rate, I expressed my concern about the charge, the representative I remember as ** was helpful as I also expressed my hesitation at even continuing my service with Clear. She suggested a wireless router to boost my signal and provide me wireless internet at least in my home. Even though this wasn't the point of becoming a customer, I decided to give that a try. She said she would "overnight" this router to me. It didn't arrive for several days.
When the router came, I was excited though I had to drive across town in heavy traffic to pick it up. This took about an hour. Once I got it home, I commenced to set up my new router and hoped my problems would be over. Instead, a new set of problems emerged. The software did not work with my brand new laptop, there was $30.40 of funds still on hold on my bank account from Clear, and I was still not able to get online with the signal as promised by the Clear representative. As of this moment, in fact, the funds are still on hold.
I have, by the way, also spoken with account services twice in regards to this. Once, I was even on a conference call with my bank and the Clear account representative The bank gave explicit instructions as to what the Clear representative needed to do to release these funds. Within a day or so I got an email from the bank saying that the Clear representative had not executed the instructions properly. I called and spent another 45 minutes on the phone with Clear. Incidentally, each time I have had to call Clear, I have spent at least 45 minutes to well over an hour on the phone each time. I don't even talk to anyone in my family that long.
Since then, I have been on the phone for an hour twice with technical support for the router. The first time was to get the router set up using online software, the second to voice the problem that whenever I restart my computer, I also have to reboot the router. I am not encouraged by Clear's inept ability to solve problems. The continual apologies by each representative I speak to, have now become annoying and seem insincere. The funds are still on hold. I have spent hours on the phone with either account services or technical support. The service has not worked as promised and I now attempt to use a version of the service that I wasn't even in the market for.
In short, I am not impressed. I am currently looking to return to cable internet and use a wireless service through my cell phone service. I am curious as to how Clear thinks they will meet the needs of a growing customer base with this kind of service. I saw a Clear representative selling service at my college. I suggested that no one should sign up and shared a brief synopsis of my experience. I have also relayed part of this nightmare with the local Best Buy where I signed up with Clear when I bought my laptop. I will be happy to inform the corporate offices as well. As for now, I am simply tired of being on the phone.
To Clear I would suggest the following: Fix the problems, better train your support staff, take better care of your customers, financially compensate for the endless inconvenience. There is no chance that I would recommend this service to anyone. It has been the worst experience I have ever had with any kind of service. It's funny. When I tried to email this to Clear, there isn't even an email address on their "Contact Us" page. Can't say I'm surprised. I would expect their Inbox would be filled with letters like this one.
I have been a Clearwire customer since January 2010. Clearwire was the only service available in the newly built subdivision in which I moved to in Richmond, Va. I am very pleased with the services, however, I ordered a modem for a PC which has never worked, and I have had several of your technical employees to walk me through the setup and for some reason my services never worked.
This past week I choose to get services through another company (only PC services, my home internet services remain with Clearwire). I called in to have my services disconnected only to be informed my services were never connected, the representative I spoke with first (sorry I did not write her name) states the modem was reported stolen. I asked her how that could be when I have the modem at my home. She then transferred me to the department to have my services disconnected, and I inquired about a refund since I have been paying $35.24 for 18 months ($ 563.84 total) and have never had any services.
I have tried to use my PC several times at school, at coffee houses, in different states and cities and it never worked, NEVER. According to your representative my services were never activated and it's the customer's responsibility to make sure they follow the steps for set up, Clearwire do not track services at all. I asked your representative if I could receive a refund since I have paid for these services for 18 months and have not received ANY services.
I am not a wealthy person, and in this economy no one has money to throw away. I am a loyal customer who has NEVER missed any monthly payments, neither have I ever been late, or asked for an extension. I was granted a 3 month credit of $105.72 and 1 month free PC service for $35.74. I am appalled that I was not credited a full refund for services I paid for and were never able to use, since my services never worked, and your company has proof, as I know your company keeps track your representative informed me of that in our phone conversation 7-25-11 @ app 11:30 - 12:30, yes the call was almost an hour long.
I am no longer a satisfied customer and I am requesting a full refund of $563.84 minus the $105.72 which will bring my refund to $458.12. I am truly outraged at this tactic; Clearwire has shown a poor quality regarding customer satisfaction. I recently purchased a new computer (Apple for $1,400.00) because I thought my DELL computer was just not working. Well the realization of the matter is MY CLEARWIRE SERVICES WERE NEVER ACTIVATED. Again I am requesting a refund for services I paid for and never used.
I also requested that I receive monthly bills and was told that is not possible. I would like to have this matter resolved; I am willing to do whatever is necessary as a paying customer to receive what is rightfully owed to me which is refund. I am not asking for Clearwire to GIVE me anything, I am only asking for what is rightfully mine.
THIS was my most recent post to a representative at Clear.com. They promised me a full refund of my first payment taken from my credit card. I began "service" with them on May 26,2010 and cancelled about 3 weeks later. I NEVER was able to obtain HIGH speed advertised, never could use their clear.net email (it would not work),etc.
I LITERALLY spent over 10 or 11 hours on the phone with them, trying to get email working and to get better speed for internet. No one had told me that this company operates on "bars of a cell phone".... I could only get 2 out of 5 and was being charged for HIGH SPEED. Other features I had for free with Time Warner Cable were not free with Clear.
"I recently cancelled my account for telephone and internet with Clear. I was promised a FULL REFUND of the $83.09 I had paid for my first bill with you. I returned all equipment, per your UPS labels. You did not give me a full refund. You only gave $70.74. WHY IS THIS? Please credit my Mastercard for the remainder and send me a letter of explanation as to why you did not give the complete refund in the first place and how you calculated as you did. ** in Pensacola told me I'd get the entire payment credited back to my credit card. ** in Pensacola, ** all ** told me the same thing as did you."
It was bad enough that I did not receive HIGH SPEED internet that was advertised. From all the reps I spoke with at Clear, NONE was able to make the email work! I was told to go use free mail like gmail, Hotmail, or yahoo! For the internet, I was told to go out of my house and find the telephone lines and do something out there with them - I refused! I spent LITERALLY over 11 hours with your customer service people, all giving me different instructions than the previous one. It's black and white, clear-cut direction as to HOW to set up the email.... You each had me changing the ports, the boxes to be checked, from IMAP to POP3,etc.
The "high tech, top of the line" service technician I was being sent in person was promised to fix the internet AND the email problems on my PC AND both laptops... When he arrived, he told me he did not know ANYTHING about how to fix email - that he did not use Clear! All he did while here was run the speed tests and I already had done this from several diff. companies, all with similar results - less than 1 mb/s.... ".51" was a typical a one.
I was able to play an entire game of solitaire while waiting for one screen on Facebook to change!!! NO ONE can live like that for 2 years.
Because you were unable to make anything work with your equipment, because you were unable to provide me with HIGH SPEED internet, because you were unable to make a simple thing like email work (even though I followed your on-screen pictoral, graphic instructions), I should get the full refund- - AS I WAS PROMISED. I paid you for high speed; I paid you for high speed; I paid you for email. YOU COULD NOT FOLLOW THROUGH DESPITE ALL MY COOPERATION....so I want the rest of my money back now. Either send it in a check to me or credit my Mastercard. Since you have all my info on record, I will not broadcast it here.
Clearwire is an unjust, immoral company that has done everything in their power to continue billing me for services they could not render. In June 2007, I started a subscription to Clearwire service and signed a two-year agreement. One of the major factors in signing was that I was moving in six months and had no idea if service was available in the new area. I was told that was fine and that if this was the case, they would help me find another potential customer to take over the contract.
I lived in Jacksonville FL at the time and service was ok but I was unable to use my company VPN connection and most of my online games didn't work at all. Instead, I subscribed to Comcast for home service and started using my Clearwire strictly for internet access in my vehicle as I traveled around Jacksonville for business. Once we figured out we were moving to St. Augustine FL in December 2007, I went to the new location and tested service. No signal. I spent multiple hours on the phone with tech support just to be told I was 2 miles out of range.
I went back to my local office and spoke with the representative about help. I was promptly told that Clearwire does not assist in finding a customer to transfer to - they only file the paperwork. Outraged, I called the main Clearwire number to ask for help there. Again I was told flat out that I had to find someone and Clearwire would continue to bill me until such time. Since then, I have called several times trying to complain that Clearwire Representatives have called me, sent me mail and set up fliers and signs in my neighborhood advertising their service and products - all while I continue to get none.
I told them multiple times that it is not right to advertise service in an area that can't receive it and a slap in my face since I am paying for it anyway. After rereading the contract I signed, there is a specific clause that states the reseller can terminate the contract if the customer is unable to be provided service. I called again and did not stop complaining until I got to as high up a manager as I could and still I was told to pay it and like it.
After all the time and effort I spent trying to convey my frustration and disappointment in this company, I decided to write the entire problem off and just pay out the contract. I never used the service the last 18 months of the contract and still I paid on time every month. When May 2009 came, I called Clearwire. The Representative I reached was able to cancel my account as of the last payment and said a box would be sent for me to return the equipment. I waited patiently for it to arrive and it never did.
After 4 weeks I noticed that Clearwire charged me the monthly charge again. I called and complained and told them I did not get a box to return the equipment. I was told to be patient and that the charge would be refunded after the equipment arrived. I still never received a box.
Now, on July 28th 2009, I received 6 automated phone calls from Clearwire. The first automated call hung up on me when I answered but I was able to get the first few seconds identifying the call as Clearwire Account Services. I called back immediately and when a Representative answered I asked why I was called. She stated that I had a past due balance of $40.23 and they had been trying to bill it to my card unsuccessfully for the last 5 days.
I got really upset at that point and demanded an explanation why their company was so incompetent and why did I need to suffer because of it. She explained that they would continue to try to charge the account until the equipment arrived. Heatedly, I explained that I STILL had not received the box and that it was their fault the equipment was not returned. The Representative told me they do not send boxes. I was dumbfounded. I told her to check the notes on my account about waiting for the box and she instead told me they do not send boxes, they email UPS shipping labels.
I waited while she processed the request for a label and she instructed me that I would receive it in my registered email. I used my company email that I am in charge of so I know I would get it. Following that call, I received two more automated calls that hung up on me after I answered. The fourth call came around 4 PM and when I answered it allowed me to proceed through the menu and get in touch with another Representative. I informed her of the calls and that I had already handled this issue but was still getting called.
I also told her that I had not received the confirmation email I was told I would get so I had her give me the UPS tracking number and that I would take it to a UPS store to ensure it was sent tomorrow. I also asked about my refund and was again told my refund would be determined once the equipment arrived. I left it at that and resolved to just return the equipment tomorrow. I got another automated call an hour later that hung up on me.
Then another just after I arrived home except this one did not come from the same number - instead it came from an actual land number not the 888 number. I answered not knowing who it was and was greeted by yet another Billing Representative from Clearwire trying to charge my card. At this point, I was really upset and informed the Representative of how many minutes they had racked up on my cell phone today and that I was tired of dealing with them and to stop calling me - I had already made arrangements. I was told by the Representative ** that I would have to deal with the calls until the equipment arrived. That was the last straw for me.
I asked for a higher Manager and reached ** who informed me he could make the calls stop. At this point, I told ** that I was no longer going to sit back and take this abuse and that I would write this letter to the BBB and pursue a full refund of $1007 Clearwire has billed me for over the past 25 months. I have had nothing but horrible customer service, no actual service and dozens of rude, unhelpful Representatives over the last two years and I feel taken advantage of.
As a consumer I was strung along by this company and when I finally could legally separate from them, they seem to do everything in their power to keep my money coming in. If it were not for that card expiring just after the last charge, they would keep charging me. I plan to explore my options to recoup my losses in small claims court and will settle for nothing less than an 18 months refund.
Unlike other people, I have been able to get a "decent" signal (2/5), but, like others, I have never been able to surf the internet anywhere near the advertised speed. Because of Clearwire WiMax not being reliable (disconnects, particular about the placement of the modem, which renders a spot in my living room an eyesore) I am now considering the switch to traditional internet providers. I forked over the activation fee in favor of signing a contract, wanting to test out the new service without committing myself. I am glad I did not sign a contract, as, having in theory "paid" for the privilege, I can now cancel whenever I want.
I found out what canceling would entail, and the road is almost deceptive. In order to cancel, your "rented" modem must be shipped and received by Clearwire's warehouse. Now, there's no problem with a company wanting to reclaim their equipment. However, I consider it a mean policy towards customers when Clearwire charges customers for services paid for, but rendered unavailable. What do I mean by this? Let me attempt an explanation.
In the first place, when you ship the equipment, you can no longer make use of the internet service that were promptly charged you a month prior for this simple reason: no modem, no service. So, during the modem's journey to Clearwire's warehouse, you, the customer, are without the service for which you paid. If, for some unfortunate reason, you did not allow enough time to ship the modem and your billing date comes around without the equipment being received by the warehouse, you will indeed be automatically billed again.
As long as the equipment is not received by the warehouse once you initiated a cancellation request, your account is not considered cancelled. What does this entail? It will be an interesting road ahead for a customer who wants only to go through a simple cancellation process. If you choose the first situation and mail back the equipment, setting aside such a time as would ensure its arrival before the billing date you would have been cheated out of the service for which you have paid during that time.
A recommendation given by a Clearwire representative is 7 to 14 days prior to the billing date: Given the fact that there are at most 31 days in a month of billable service, this certainly makes up a significant portion of that period! If, on the other hand, you have good faith in your shipping agency but the very same entity failed in your expectation, you would be automatically billed again for a service that, in the act of shipping the equipment, you expressed full commitment in canceling. But what about simply returning it to a Clearwire store? I inquired the very same. The answer? It matters not. Clearwire Store is not Clearwire Warehouse.
Returning to the Store might simply cause a delay, as the Store would then, on its own time and schedule, forward your equipment to the Warehouse. As I have noted, your account is considered active and billable as long as the Warehouse have not received your equipment. But… That's right, and I'll admit this much in favor of the company. If Clearwire's Warehouse received the equipment within seven days after having billed you, they will issue you a refund. Well, if I get a refund, what then is really the issue here?
I don't know, but I'd rather not place friendly calls to Clearwire to remind them to give me a refund when the charge should not have been made in the first place! I'd rather not be unfairly treated if I should choose to mail in the equipment before the billing date. In fact, I'd rather not be so shocked by this cancellation process that I felt compelled to write this review. But life sometimes doesn't float the same boat. That's my 3 cents on this matter.
(If I have spoken ill and false, I should be embarrassed if I don't correct myself immediately in some form or other)
Update: 07.08.09 - When new customers are signing up for Clear, they have no choice but to buy the modem in whole and pay activation fee if they don't want a contract. On the other hand, signing a contract for 2 years will waive activation fee and allow the customer to rent the modem versus buying the equipment. So, my complaint in part is no longer valid with regards to customers who decided to buy the equipment and pay the activation fee without signing a contract, since the modem is no longer property of the company.
KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- The 4G WiMAX plan sells a service of up to 6 Mb/s download speeds. I am at the 11th month. I am adjustable and easy to satisfy, and have adapted to their service, which is maybe 1.2 Mb/s download speed max, ever. Since 2 weeks ago, between 11 AM and Midnight, or even later, with the same functionality and equipment, the download speed is 25 kb/s, or 0.42% of 6 MB. I am paying $45; this "speed" would cost $0.19.
The frustrating NO-NO is that I have never even once received a response to my tickets, their chat room is always busy, thus support inaccessible, and when I finally reached tech support on the phone, they made me jump through bogus hoops (have been on the Internet since 1994). The 25 kb/s situation is not changing. I can hardly use my browser. Have filed a complaint with the WA BBB, and will contact their Attorney General, too. Just want every one to know, before paying for their falsely promised "service", what to expect. According to what I have seen, this is OPEN FRAUD.
I placed an order for new internet service via chat yesterday. At the time, the website indicated that if I were to purchase service within the next hour, I will receive service in 24 hours. It was also confirmed by the representative on chat that I will receive the equipment today via FedEx overnight. Upon receiving the FedEx tracking number and checking the status of the shipment, I just realized I will not be receiving the equipment until Monday the 14th. This is my first experience with CLEAR and much to my disappointment, CLEAR has fallen short in the following ways:
1) Its website was misleading with its countdown clock... indicating that if I sign up for service within the next hour, I would be up and running in 24 hours. FALSE - especially when I will not be receiving the equipment until Monday (4 days after activation of my service) 2) Upon confirming my order, the representative on chat confirmed the same timeline that I will be receiving my equipment today, Feb 11. In reality, he reaffirmed a claim that CLEAR could not deliver on and more importantly, misrepresented its offering online and via its representative.
3) When I called customer service today to voice my complaint and dissatisfaction, I was told that unfortunately the order was not processed until 10 pm last evening and that CLEAR has no control over FedEx's processing of its shipment. The message to me was "now that I'm a customer, customer service will not be able to assist me with my concerns and I have no grounds for complaint until I physically receive the equipment, at that point, I will have to call account services for assistance." Very disappointing that CLEAR's customer service motto is to make its customers jump through hoops with its complaints, even in light of its own misleading promotions.


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Robin Wright & Michelle Rodriguez: amfAR New York Gala!
Robin Wright, Michelle Rodriguez, and Kelly Rowland walk the black carpet at the 2014 amfar New York Gala kicking off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday (February 5) in New York City.
The ladies were joined at the event by Jane Krakowski (with fashion designer Kenneth Cole), Gretchen Mol, and mother-daughter duo Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson.
FYI: Robin is wearing a Kate Sylvester dress. Michelle is wearing a vintage dress from New York Vintage. Jane is wearing a Zac Posen dress, Prada shoes, and Bulgari jewelry. Gretchen is wearing a J Mendel dress.
20+ pictures inside of Robin Wright and others at the gala…

subset: commoncrawl


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poor Rex and Gang Green are going into a lions den with the Pats pissed,and looking to kick somebodies butttttt and the Jets are being served up bigtime
"when in doubt...jump it out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1qEZHhJubY
I've been doing pretty good betting against the jets anyhoo. Now if I would learn to bet against the Donkys.....
My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more.
Walter Matthau
the Giants just realized they were playing you guys T-Day,and having 2 games within 5 days during the holidays
i want to know 2 things
1) will he go for it again on 4th if in same situiation
2) am i the only one not missing matt light , vollmor not only has done well but has done great against freeny
Oh God! I don't know if I can watch them after being embarrassed by the Colts. What a disaster! After Miami I thought the defense was coming together, but they really played poorly during the 2nd half. Bill was right to go for it on 4th/2 because there was no way in h3ll the defense was going to stop the colts.
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WESTCHESTER, N.Y. -- Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is facing a "truth squad" from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's camp, according to The New York Times.
A group from Cuomo's camp, known as the "Astorino Truth Squad," sent out a "denunciation of (Astorino's) record," when Astorino announced his candidacy in March, according to the report.
Astorino accepted the Republican designation to run for governor and "allies of Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat seeking a second term, are already mounting a campaign to define Mr. Astorino for voters, before he can define himself," according to the report.
Click here to read the entire story from The New York Times.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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carl16335 on Family Tree Circles
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Journals and Posts
Morris' of Pennsylvania
I am getting somewhat walled here trying to find information on my family. I have as far back as David G.Morris (my Gr-Gr-grandfather). I can not find his parents and I am not able to continue back any further.
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Mitchell's last game as a Canuck, thanks to Evgeni Malkin and that nasty concussion. Revenge, I say!
Game Day Recon #18 – Canucks @ Penguins
The Vancouver Canucks pay their first visit to the new Consol Energy Center, as they wrap up their five-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Canucks have not lost to the Penguins in regulation in over 10 years. The goalies that night? Bob Essensa and Garth Snow. Yeah, that's a long time ago.
Broadcast Info
Game Start: 4:00 pm PST
TV: TSN (HD) Radio: Team1040
The Intel
The Canucks look to wrap up a reasonably successful road trip with a final victory. Even a regulation loss puts the Canucks at .500 for the trip. But a win will put the Canucks at 3-1-1 for 7 points out of a possible ten. Not bad for their first proper road trip of the year. Luckily for the Canucks they have feasted on the East in recent seasons. In fact, their record against the Penguins of late is shockingly good. The Canucks are 7-0-1 in their last 8 games against the Penguins.
Vancouver sees Keith Ballard return to the lineup. It's not surprising given how awful the Canucks defense was against the Sabres, a limited offensive team that still managed to score 4 goals. Andrew Alberts and Aaron Rome were particularly horrible against Buffalo, and Alberts was probably the worse of the two. Coach Alain Vigneault did not speak to the media this morning, so there has been no announcement as of yet regarding who will come out of the lineup to make way for Ballard. I would suspect that it would be Rome, as I think that Alberts steady play so far this season (prior to Buffalo) should earn him a spot as 6th D. We won't know for sure until the pre-game skate when the lineup is announced.
Now on to tonight's enemy.
Pittsburgh on the whole is a pretty good team. Not great. They're not lighting up the standings. In fact, if you look at their total wins and total losses (grouping L and OT/SO together), they're actually 9-10 on the year so far. What's more – the Pens are an average 3-3-1 in November. Pretty meh. And the Canucks have the edge on the Penguins in pretty much every major team stat (W, L, GF, GA, PP%, FO%). The Pens do have a slight edge in PK% (87.5% vs the Canucks at 86.2%), but the Canucks as been exceptional of late.
One area of concern against the Penguins for the Canucks is the 2nd period. Granted, the second period is a problem for the Canucks no matter who they face, but it's especially concerning against the Pens, who are great offensively in the middle frame. The silver lining for the Canucks is that the Pens are pretty shaky defensively in that second period. So the stats would indicate that the second period for Pittsburgh tends to be very wide-open. With the Canucks speed and depth through three lines, that may be a problem for the Penguins. The Canucks just need to play both sides of the puck and both ends of the ice.
Speaking of which, Pittsburgh has someone named Sidney Crosby, who seems to be quite good.
Ok who am I kidding? He's amaze-balls. I actually have a framed picture of Sid the Kid in my office from him scoring the gold-medal winning goal for Canada at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. As the saying goes, you can't stop him. You can only hope to contain him. As for the other Pitt star, Evgeni Malkin, he's not having an especially good year compared to previous years. He's only potted seven goals so far, as is sitting with a disappointing -4.
The Three Keys
Here are the three keys for the Vancouver Canucks tonight:
1. You've heard of Crosby. Watch that guy. That is all. Hamhuis, you know what to do. Same with Malkin. Ballard, that's your job. After Kris Letang, the Pens scoring table goes pretty quiet. So the Canucks need to focus on the big two in Crosby and Malkin, and then…
2. Stay disciplined. The Pens have a few guys like Matt Cooke and Arron Asham who like to mix it up pretty good. And that draws penalties. The Canucks need to disengage from that type of play. That said, I'm a big proponent of giving Matt Cooke a healthy dose of his own headshot medicine. I'm just sayin'. And what I'm sayin' is that Matt Cooke is a colossal douchebag.
3. Go for the jugular. The Canucks need to quickly reverse a trend of giving up the first TWO goals in a game. Vancouver is .800 when scoring first, while Pittsburgh is 0.333 when trailing first. The Canucks need to finally bump their slump and score first.
The Links
Here are your top 5 links for today's game.
1. Tale of the Tape: Canucks @ Penguins (canucks.com)
2. Canucks Game Day: Hart to Hart, as Sedin takes on Crosby (Vancouver Sun)
3. Penguins' penalty killing provides big boost (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
4. About the Canucks: 11-17-10 (Empty Netters)
5. Canucks At Penguins: Where I Lay My Head Is Home (MNucks Misconduct)


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Colin Newman
Favorite Music
When we originally asked about a list of all-time favorites, he originally said 'No way!!!! The interview has a few but I'd never get it down to ten without spending a considerable amount of time (which I don't have), probably failing!!!' After a few thumb-screws and a few threats with automatic weapons, he decided that he would be a little more co-operative... too much maybe...60's Clear - Sprit (although the one by Juan Atkins is also seminal) Revolver, the White Album & Magical Mystery tour - The Beatles Swan Lake - the Cats Everybody Knows This is Nowhere - Neil Young I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson Itchycoo Park - Small Faces I Get Around - Beach Boys Have I the right - the Honeycombs Venus in Furs - Velvet Underground Telstar - The Tornadoes We're Only in it for the Money - Mothers of Invention Blackberry Way - The Move Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones 70's A Wizard a true Star - Todd Rungren The Lady & the Unicorn - John Renbourne Countdown to Extacy - Steely Dan Family Affair - Sly & the Family Stone Maggie May - Rod Stewart School's Out - Alice Cooper Horses - Patti Smith Hunky Dory - David Bowie Sweet Caroline - Status Quo Trans Europe Express - Kraftwerk Boredom - The Buzzcocks Virginia Plain - Roxy Music Third Reich & Roll - The Residents Discrete Music - Brian Eno 80's Little Fluffy Clouds - The Orb Frequencies - LFO In Dub - Renegade Soundwave Loveless - My Bloody Valentine Word Up - Cameo Life's What you Make it - Talk Talk Chikky Chikky Ah Ah/ Oochy Koochy - Baby Ford Deadly Weapons/Raging Souls - Minimal Compact If I Die I Die - Virgin Prunes 3 Feet High & Rising - De La Soul Shiftwork - Camberwell Now Loads of non-Western music including - Melanesian Pan Pipes, Music from Upper Egypt, Sabri Brothers, Jojouka (well lots of North African Stuff) plus much more. 90's F.U.S.E. - Richie Hawtin Music by LTJ Bukem Mimi's Utilities - Mimi Majik Gurnigan - Walllstar Kilimanjaro- Ed Rush Gravitational Arch of 10 - Vapourspace Electron Rider - Shake Jupiter Jazz - Underground Resitance Nort Route - Balil Wonderwall - Oasis Time Stretch - Ronnie Size Don't Make Me Love You - Xeuxis & The Painted Grapes Beat/ Slow Thrills - Bowery Electric Millions Now living.... - Tortoise Clairvoyance - Denouve Beyond Gravity - Nu Era Ginger - Speedy J Artificial Intelligence (1) Plus of course all Swim releases!!!
Plus Beethoven's Pastoral any early Terry Riley or Steve Reich, and countless, countless others it all depends on time place and age! Plus of course I don't actually listen to old records! The 80's is a bit light because I didn't listen to Western music at all for most of it!
Current faves (this week) include Wallstar (demo), Rossberger (report), Bowery Electric (who we just remixed), Nico/trace/Ed Rush etc. (last year but timeless) plus new tracks from our own artists (we are fans!!) dol-lop, Ronnie & Clyde, Tomoki, Lobe. Erm... That's more than ten & to be quite honest I've hardly started!!!!


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M. C. of Otter Creek writes, "I went to my favorite local bar the other night to have a few beers and shoot some pool. This one guy who drank too much got a little mean after I beat him for the fifth time and I thought he was going to come after me with his cue stick. I've got a concealed weapon permit and I carry a gun wherever I go as a general rule, so I showed him my gun and warned him. Next thing I know, I get thrown out of the bar and the owner tells me I'm lucky he didn't call the police. Can he do that?
In the last Conservation Corner titled "A Sustainable Model", there was laid out a concept to compost the yard waste, dredge spoils and food waste. Upon further research, that concept is just not going to work for Cedar Key for two main reasons.
First, there is the problem of scale. Our island's dozen or so restaurants do not produce enough food waste to make the composting of that waste financially feasible. Also, the DEP regulations are intended for much larger operations then what the island's needs are.
J.M. of Morriston asks, "My husband, who is in his mid-fifties, had a serious medical incident occur several months ago which required me to call for emergency assistance. When the EMT's arrived, my husband was unconscious. The EMT's called for a helicopter but by the time the helicopter got there he had regained consciousness and was able to talk without difficulty. He didn't think he needed to go in the helicopter to the hospital but they insisted he should do so, especially since it was on its way. The flight to the hospital took less than an hour.
What exactly does sustainable mean? A definition of sustainable is: capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage. It encompasses the concept of stewardship and responsible management of resources.
In the wooded farmlands west of Williston stands, neglected and forgotten, an abandoned country church. Like a monument to the county's rich historical past, this church is a silent sentinel and reminder of when our churches were the heart of community life.
In days gone by, the tiny church houses were the center of life and death, where revivals, baptisms, weddings, Sunday school classes and funerals were held. But all country churches had a common thread, a warm homey feeling about them.
By Eileen Bowers
I was settin' at this restaurant
When the waiter came up and said, "What do you want?"
I looked at the menu — it looked so nice.
Till he said, "Let me give you some advice."
He said, "Spaghetti and potatoes got too much starch,
Pork chops and sausage are bad for your heart.
There's hormones in chicken and beef and veal,
Bowl of ravioli is a dead man's meal.
Bread's got preservatives, there's nitrates in ham,
Some people do not care for Spanish moss. However, as early as 1773, the value of the plant was recognized as cattle feed and a cheap packing for crates of fruits and vegetables.
The processed product also was well adapted for the purpose of stuffing mattresses, chairs, saddles and collars.
The plant is not a parasite, nor is it a moss. Instead it is a member of the pineapple family and one of the many epiphytes or "air plants" to be found in Florida.
Of all the recorded hurricanes to hit the United States since 1851, 36-percent of them have made landfall in Florida. However, the state did have 18 hurricane seasons pass without a known storm impacting the state.
Although hurricane season officially opens on June 1 of each year, the month of highest activity has historically been September, followed by October and then August. Weather officials began using female names to identify hurricanes in 1953 and followed with males names in 1979. The Saffir-Simpson scale for measuring hurricane strength was created in 1975.
The first established Masonic lodge of record in Levy County was chartered at Levyville on January 16, 1867. The Brown Lodge No. 51, Free & Accepted Masons was named for Thomas M. Brown (1785-1867), Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Florida in 1849.
On May 27, 1870, the Levy County Board of County Commissioners sold the old courthouse situated at Levyville and the one acre lot on which it stood, to the lodge for the sum of $510.
At the recent well attended Educational Outreach Program that the City of Cedar Key hosted, several interesting items were discussed. Ron Hendrick, who is the Waste Reduction Manager for the Florida DEP, stated that he was going to use Cedar Key as an example of what a small community can do to reduce waste and conserve energy. Our little group of islands is a model for energy awareness, conservation and sustainability. Imagine that!
Copyright © 2018
The Cedar Key Beacon is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Cedar Key Florida, and the surrounding area.


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Meanwhile, Williston will be playing in the 1A rural division.
On Friday, top-ranked Gainesville High will be playing a state football playoff game at Citizens Field in Class 6A. By next season, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association, the Hurricanes will be moving up a classification.
The FHSAA released its 2012 student population report Wednesday, and the schools locally most affected beginning next school year will be Gainesville and Williston.
With an enrollment of 1,935, GHS is nine students over the 7A population minimum (1,926-2,300) and 10 students over the 6A maximum (1,581-1,925). Buchholz remains the biggest public school in the area with a population of 2,175 and Hawthorne the smallest (186).
"I knew our numbers because I was the one who turned them in," said Hurricanes athletic director Cindy Boulware. "There is not much to do about it. You have to go with what you are given. While we are glad about the bigger enrollment because it gives us more student involvement in athletics, it does also affect our classification."
With GHS joining Buchholz in Class 7A next school year, and most likely the same district, it will mark the first time the two city rivals are in the same league since 2007-2008 when both were in District 3-5A, along with Orange Park and Orange Park Fleming Island. They were also together from 2004-2006 in the three-team District 1-5A with Niceville.
In the summer of 2011, when the FHSAA's district realignment first came out, GHS was originally placed in a district full of Jacksonville schools. The school administration protested.
"We showed the travel we would have to endure and the cost it would be," Boulware said. "They realized that and changed our district. Travel is getting more and more expensive."
Buchholz has had to endure that the last two years playing in District 1-7A, which consists of two Ocala schools (Forest and West Port) as well as two Tallahassee schools (Lincoln and Chiles).
Boulware said she would have to see how the FHSAA realigns the districts for the next two years this summer. When the realignment is first released, schools are given the option to challenge the change to the FHSAA.
She said playing in a district with Tallahassee schools would be difficult to her school's travel expense.
Travel won't be as big an issue for Williston, which was independent in football the last two years and in Class 3A in sports such as basketball and baseball. That will change next school year as the Red Devils, much to the relief of athletic director and football coach Jamie Baker, will be playing in the 1A rural division.
"I'm ecstatic for our whole program," said Baker, whose school population of 593 is eight students below the 1A maximum (600). "It is what we have been wanting for years, being able to compete with schools like us."
Frustrated by playing in the same district as Ocala Trinity Catholic from 2009-2010, Baker went independent in football the last two years. He saw his successful boys basketball and baseball teams fall last year to bigger Orlando private schools in the state playoffs.
"For sports like basketball and baseball, it stunk last year," he said. "We had a great basketball team and a great baseball team, both which played in the third round of state playoffs and both that were eliminated by private schools at Orlando Lake Highland Prep and Orlando Bishop Moore. The rural league has been awesome for little schools like us."


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By participating more effectively in the global production of goods and services, Africa can transform its economy and achieve a development breakthrough, according to the latest African Economic Outlook, released at the African Development Bank Group's Annual Meetings.
English, , 595kb
The Millennium Declaration set 2015 as the target date for halving the number of people living in extreme poverty. This paper examines the role of the agricultural sector and looks at 25 developing countries who have posted extraordinary success in reducing extreme poverty.
The Aid for Trade at a Glance 2009: Maintaining Momentum report presents the results of the second monitoring exercise of the Aid for Trade Initiative and documents its success so far.
Aid for Trade at a Glance 2007: The OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) database is used to track ODA flows from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries.


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Cash and TJ experience withdrawal symptoms and have a quick, ten minute conversation during their sabbatical….
Cashing In with T.J. Miller #43: Teeny Tiny Bonus Baby
I enjoyed this. Especially since I could watch T.J. Kangaroo Jackin' It all the way over in Boise Uduhu from Lincoln Nebraska. All of the walls between me and him were see-through, and all of the people were slightly translucent. It was… Difficult. But T.J. makes everything work.
Cash was great too. I just wish he would wear more flannel. The naked-with-only-a-hat-and-one-bandolier-filled-with-swizzle-sticks look is as difficult to look at as it is to depict with text and hyphens.
Seriously even the "teeny tiny bonus baby(episode)", or the 'half chub extravaganza' as i like to call it was GREAT! However whilst it was still a great episode, i could not "full body release" without a full episode. I mean, I got a "partial full body release" but it just felt like me masturbating on the crapper… I saw a ghost right after I came, too! Which, in turn, caused a terrified "FBR" and in all honesty I dunno who was more frightened… Can a ghost full body release? Shoot out like ectoplasm and dust or some shit?? So yea, I guess there's a masker in this rant… If it ever gets read, I think I ran a little long. It's not like I was… UNSTOPPABLE or anything
You should do teeny tiny ones all the time. regular length as well, but throw in a tiny one when youre strapped for time again, it works well with the format. Thanks, guysl


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MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's largest search engine, Yandex, said Thursday that its co-founder Ilya Segalovich is on life support in a coma.
Yandex director general Arkady Volozh had said earlier in the day on the company's blog that Segalovich, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, had died. But within a few hours, the company corrected the statement.
It said the initial word about his death had come from the family, but further information indicated Segalovich was on life support with no brain function. The company said it was waiting for more details.
Segalovich, 48, crated Yandex in 1997 with Volozhh, his school friend. The company has been a Russian success story, with a share of 62 percent of the search engine market compared with Google's 25.6 percent.
Segalovich invented the engine's name, derived from Yet Another Index, and served as its chief technological officer.
Volozh praised his "encyclopedic knowledge of technologies and a clear vision of product."


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#1 McDonalds customer denied napkin, sues for $1.5 million
- Join Date
- Jun 2008
- Posts
- 22,627
Out here in SoCal, too.
McDonalds customer denied napkin, sues for $1.5 million
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION - There is nothing worse than eating a cheeseburger without having a napkin to wipe the ketchup off your mouth.
Or so believes Webster Lucas, who is suing the fast food giant McDonalds for the sum of $1.5 million for refusing to give him a napkin with his meal, reports TMZ.
The incident occurred in January, when Webster went to a McDonalds in Pacoima, Calif. and ordered a Quarter Pounder Deluxe. When he began eating his burger, Webster realized that he needed more napkins. He then returned to the counter and asked the manager, which is when according to Websters lawsuit he was rudely denied the extra piece of tissue paper.
I should have went to eat at the Jack-in-the-Box because I didnt come here to argue over napkins. I came here to eat, Webster allegedly told the manager.
The unsatisfied McDonalds customer, who is African American, says that things became more serious when the Mexican-American employee made what he perceived to be a racist remark, murmuring something about you people.
A distressed Webster then sent an email to the general manager, Leticia Barrera, in which he explained that the incident had severely impacted his ability to work.
I am unable to work because of the undue mental anguish and the intentional infliction of emotional distress caused by your employee , the email read.
In her response, Barrera apologized and emphasized the fast food companys dedication to customer service.
I hope you will accept my apology for your unsatisfactory visit, she said, according to TMZ.
Barrera continued, Our goal is 100-percent customer satisfaction and that means friendly service with every visit without exception Im sorry you feel we have let you down.
Webster was offered free burgers, but he instead decided to take Ronald McDonald to court.
At the rate the Fed is printing money this amount may not be inappropriate when the case is finnaly settled, she may be better off just requesting a free cheeseburger by then, with a napkin of course.Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight! Isaiah 5:20-21 NASB
How does shit like this even make it before a judge? Unbelievable."The efforts of the government alone will never be enough. In the end the people must choose and the people must help themselves" ~ JFK; from his famous inauguration speech (What Democrats sounded like before today's neo-Liberals hijacked that party)
I didn't ask for a napkin and they gave me several. My lawsuit is pending.
I can see how this DUmmie has incurred "mental anguish" by subbing Jack-In-The-Box for Mickey D's. That's practically a death sentence.U.S. Army, Retired
Too bad there's a statute of limitations, I want to start suing everyone who's ever been mean to me-my parents, my brother, the bully who beat me up when I was in 7th grade, my 8th grade science teacher, my 6th grade math teacher, that idiot who called me fat, pretty much everyone I've ever met except my sister and my (late) grandparents.
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By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and top lawmakers agreed on Friday to work on a framework for reforming the U.S. tax code and "entitlement" programs next year, in what could be an important first step in averting the upcoming 'fiscal cliff."
While the congressional leaders and the president had spoken individually in the past week in public statements about a construct for going forward, Friday's session marked the first time they sat in a room together and struck a similar chord.
An agreement to discuss tax and entitlement reform, most pressingly Medicare, the health program for the elderly, would not be sufficient to solve the more immediate problem of averting the fiscal cliff, the broad tax increases and spending cuts set to start in January.
But a promise for the future is seen as necessary to convince members to compromise in the here and now, probably by replacing the relatively extreme fiscal cliff measures with less harmful deficit-reduction steps.
The development came during the first meeting between Obama and Republican and Democratic congressional leaders since the election. Attending were the president, Boehner, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Following the hour-long White House meeting, Boehner said at he had "outlined a framework that deals with reforming our tax code and reforming our spending."
A Boehner aide, who asked not to be identified, said later the spending cuts would cover "entitlements" - the large federal benefit programs that include Medicare healthcare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor.
"This is a construct all present (in the White House meeting) agreed was needed," the aide said.
A Democratic aide, who also asked not to be identified, did not dispute that tax and entitlement reforms had to be worked on next year.
The aide added that the "key discussion right now" is what to do about across-the-board income tax rates that will rise in January if Congress cannot agree on a new deficit-reduction deal.
"The major development of the meeting was we made it clear our position is ... we should freeze tax rates for the middle class and raise rates on the top (income) families," the Democratic aide said. "It was notable that neither Boehner nor McConnell shot that idea down."
While great uncertainty remains, Friday's steps were not insignificant.
Obama's core supporters, who turned out in droves to ensure his re-election, are already fighting hard to protect benefit programs for the poor, disabled and elderly that Republicans want to cut because of their rising costs.
It is therefore meaningful that Democratic leaders at least say those entitlements are open for discussion.
Conservatives in Congress bristle at the notion of raising any income tax rates, including for the wealthy.
After decades of Republicans insisting that Washington had a spending problem, not a revenue problem, the Republican leaders are at least now saying they are prepared to put revenues on the bargaining table.
Details, which have wrecked deficit talks in the past, are missing. On the entitlement cuts, for example, would they primarily hit middle-class beneficiaries, wealthy participants, or medical providers such as hospitals?
In public, the Republican leaders did not say whether the offer to negotiate on revenues meant merely closing some tax loopholes benefiting special interests and counting on future revenue growth from an improving U.S. economy or, whether as Democrats hope, they were signaling they might finally say yes to raising tax rates on the rich.
Reid and Pelosi, said a senior Senate Democratic aide, "feel they're making progress (with Republicans) on tax cuts for the rich." The aide predicted that "there will be some back and forth" in coming weeks before Republicans finally succumb.
How far any of the talking goes will not be known until Congress returns in late November from a Thanksgiving holiday recess and the real, nitty-gritty negotiating begins.
Reid and Obama huddled in the White House earlier this week alone, without any aides present.
According to a source who did not want to be identified, Reid wanted to gauge Obama's spine - whether he would stand firm on raising taxes for those families with net incomes above $250,000.
For many Democrats, December 2010 was all too painful a memory, as Obama caved in to Republican demands that all tax cuts, including those for the richest, be extended through this year.
The source said Reid left that meeting convinced the newly re-elected president would stand firm.
That gave Reid the confidence he needed to assure rank-and-file Democratic senators, the source added. Without those assurances, there was no way Reid could begin preparing his members for the Medicare cuts that could lie ahead.
So lawmakers have gone home for the holiday on an upbeat note but knowing it will be tough to hammer out a December deal.
Reid returned to the Capitol on Friday telling reporters that "there were no harsh words" uttered during the White House meeting - a big accomplishment on the heels of a bitter election season.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Fred Barbash and Peter Cooney)


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Specialist tells of changes in floodplain plan
Bottom line: Insurance recommended in proposed map.
More folks may have to buy flood insurance and follow special regulations when building or adding on to existing structures.
Bill Jones, floodplain management specialist of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, gave that message and answered questions during a planning and zoning commission meeting in city council chambers.Jones also met with landowners affected by a proposed floodplain map before the meeting
Because of a new floodplain map of Dawson County proposed by Federal Emergency Management Agency, officials want to make sure Gothenburg residents know what it involves and what land is affected.
Generally, areas within the proposed floodplain are from Interstate 80 north to First Street on the west side of Highway 47 and to Fifth Street on the east side of Highway 47.
Lake Helen on the north end of Gothenburg is considered within the floodplain as is the tailrace that flows from the lake south to the Cozad canal.
A designated floodplain area has a 1% chance of flooding each year.
Because the proposed floodplain has increased areawise since the last map in 1990, Jones said property owners whose land will be included in the new floodplain need to be aware that they may need flood insurance.
If they have flood insurance in a zone included in the 1990 floodplain, he said their insurance will be grandfathered in when the new plan is adopted if they don't allow it to lapse.
Landowners in the affected area may also need more fill than before with new construction as Gothenburg's base flood elevations have risen since 1990.
City administrator Bruce Clymer has said the city's BFEs have risen two to three feet.
The proposed map also designates the Platte River, its immediate over bank and the Cozad Canal as regulatory flood ways.
Jones said no new structures would be allowed in regulatory flood ways.
When asked if the new floodplain and regulations would affect mining the Platte River, Jones said they would.
Under new regulations, he explained that storage of materials in the river cannot increase flood height by more than a foot.
John Kreuscher, who attended the meeting, said the regulation would have economic impact.
Jones said a sand pit operator would need a plan showing how the business would operate.
Gothenburg City Council members must adopt the plan at some point or the community won't have federal flood insurance available.
The city now has a 90-day period to appeal specific issues within the map if the city council chooses to do so.
Jones stressed that the map was preliminary and will take probably 18 months to two years to become effective.
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Editor's note: Frida Ghitis is a world affairs columnist for the Miami Herald and World Politics Review. A former CNN producer and correspondent, she is the author of "The End of Revolution: A Changing World in the Age of Live Television." Follow her on Twitter @FridaGhitis. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Amsterdam (CNN) -- Is it wrong to watch football while the world's on fire? Is it wrong to love the World Cup, to get excited about a goal scored in Brazil while there's mayhem in Iraq, destruction in Syria, Russian troops massing near Ukraine?
The answer is no. Enjoy the Cup.
When I was a child I had what I thought was a brilliant idea: Instead of fighting all those awful wars, countries with gripes should challenge each other to a soccer game. The victor could be declared the winner without all the nastiness of fighting a real war.
My childhood plan for world peace didn't pan out, but soccer, and the World Cup in particular, remains the premiere arena for make-believe international conflict. It captivates massive crowds, stokes intense rivalries and fills people with surprisingly intense emotions.
This is true even for the people caught in the middle of real wars. In Syria, in the middle of a civil war, rebel fighters put their weapons aside to watch the World Cup. In Baghdad, as the ruthless ISIS jihadists march toward the Iraqi capital, cafes are filled with people watching the Cup.
In Vienna, Iranian officials took a break from nuclear negotiations to watch their team. Refugees, astronauts, politicians are all watching the World Cup.
Clearly, there's no need for the rest of us to feel guilty. No need for mixed feeling about switching between Obama's announcement on Iraq and the Colombia-Ivory Coast match.
In Europe, where nationalism got a bad name after World War II, patriotic pride overflows with uncharacteristic fearlessness when the national teams play.
Even people who never pay attention to soccer, known almost everywhere as football, are cheering, bragging about Van Persie's spectacular diving header against Spain.
The streets of Amsterdam, where I am right now, are filled with the royal colors, with orange streamers, orange flags and toy soccer balls hanging over pedestrian streets and canal boats. When the Netherlands plays, everyone watches.
People love sports, but they love the World Cup for special reasons. Like other competitions, it resembles life in that the outcomes are the product of skill, merit, luck and even unfairness. All the preparation in the world can come to nothing because of a slip in the grass, an unexpected shove, a referee's mistake. Unlike other tournaments, this one puts countries of all sizes on the stage. Small ones can topple big ones.
It seems as if entire nations take each other on. All the wealth and power in the world cannot protect a squad. The United States is an underdog. China didn't qualify. England was defeated by tiny, tight-shirted Uruguay.
The tournament distills human emotions to their essence. With so much passion, every point triggers an explosion of unadulterated happiness. What can capture human emotions better than those reaction images from the stands? In Amsterdam, when the team scores, I mute my television and hear the entire city roar with exhilaration.
The tournament may have political resonance, occasionally pitting rival countries, but it also brings out the child in every fan. I have seen grown men walk around wearing neon-bright orange wigs, no doubt wishing they were in the stands in Porto Alegre with their faces painted and Styrofoam cheese for a hat. Everyone's a child.
Another electrifying aspect of the Cup is that the entire world is watching, even in countries not playing. I have found myself working in a variety of countries during the World Cup, often during times of conflict. For some reason, people everywhere seem to dance in the streets when Brazil wins a match.
National pride is tightly wound with every country's squad. When a Dutch actress tweeted a Photoshopped picture making it look as if Colombian players were snorting the foam marking kick lines, Colombia protested, and the actress, Nicolette van Dam, lost her post as a UNICEF ambassador. Peace was restored.
The idea that there could be a connection between soccer and peace, as it turns out, came up long before I mentioned it to my father years ago. One of history's poignant moments came during World War I, in December 1914 -- almost exactly 100 years ago -- when a Christmas truce was declared and German and British soldiers set their guns aside to play a friendly soccer match. When the truce ended, the killing resumed.
Unfortunately, soccer is no panacea. Even violence directly connected to the Cup occurs.
For most, the World Cup is a wonderful distraction from the difficulties of daily life, from wars and from work, from challenging circumstances and from the knowledge that there is so much else that is serious and troubling in the world.
It is not wrong to watch, much less to enjoy the event, even if it does not prevent or stop any real wars.
Around the globe, the World Cup is a source of sheer excitement, except for the moment when one's favorite team loses. But here's the beauty: When your team loses the disappointment is deep, the sadness is real.
Then you remember it's just a game.
It's really not the end of the world.
Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Russia didn't qualify for the World Cup.
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Apparently, Heidi Montag's mom is mortified that her 23 year old daughter underwent 10 cosmetic surgery procedures in one day to look like a completely different person. The Hills' star even revealed to PEOPLE magazine that she kept her surgery plans secret from friends and family.
Nine weeks after her drastic transformation, Heidi claims she is now dealing with the horrified reaction of the general public her mom, Darlene Egelhoff.
"I still can't believe I'm 23 and mom is reacting this way," says Heidi. "I'm nervous to go home and face her – especially with cameras rolling." Heidi herself A source close to the family tells PEOPLE that Heidi's mom Darlene "is horrified and having a total breakdown. She can't wait to confront Heidi when she goes home."
It seems Heidi's mom will be getting her wish soon as "Heidi is planning to head back to her small town of Crested Butte very soon," says the source. And not to worry as MTV cameras will be there to capture every tender moment for the Hills.
In other news, Bravo housewives are also sharing their opinions on Heidi's new face and body.
Gretchen Rossi had the following to say – "She looks like a Cat Woman now! The one eyebrow just goes so far up now. The eye looks weird to me now." The OC star star told RadarOnline. "She didn't need it. She was beautiful. She was really such a pretty girl. What is she 23 or 24?"
Alexis McCord of the NYC Housewives also had the following to say about Heidi – "It does not set a good example to her fans," she told Radar. "One thing I have learned from doing this show is that people really do judge or commend you." She continues, "And there are a lot of young impressionable women that watch her show. It is terrible to think that a young woman with body issues could be watching it, see her transformation and commend her thinking that having surgery is the answer."


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MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - The Salve Regina defense held Plymouth State to just 131 yards of total offense, including just three yards in the entire second half, as the Seahawks shutout the Panthers, 31-0, during an New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division contest at Gaudet Field on Saturday. With the win, the Seahawks' magic number for clinching the division falls to just one as the team improves to 8-1 overall, including a 5-1 mark during Boyd Division play. The loss marked the fourth straight for the Panthers who fall to 2-7 on the season and 1-5 during division play.
The Seahawks defense set the tone for the game, led by senior Connor Kelly(Milford, Conn.) who recorded eight tackles and 2.5 sacks in the victory. Senior Gregory Sweeney (Fairfield, Conn.) also had a phenomenal game, compiling six tackles, three stops for a loss, 2.0 sacks, and an interception, while junior Joshua Burnett (Whitman, Mass.) matched Kelly with a team-high eight tackles. Senior Maxwell Shubert (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore Phil Terio (Trumbull, Conn.) each had interceptions with Shubert adding a fumble recovery, while senior Matthew Markese (West Hartfod, Conn.) had seven tackles and 2.5 stops for a loss.
Sophomore quarterback Steven Wilken (Ringwood, N.J.) sparked the Salve Regina offense, completing 14-of-25 passes for 184 yards and two scores while also rushing for 49 yards and touchdown on the ground. Freshman Derrick Sarfo-Darko (East Hartford, Conn.) made several big plays, rushing for 26 yards on just two carries while also reeling in a 31-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore Alex Hennessy (West Babylon, N.Y.) led all players with five receptions on the afternoon, while freshman Alex Hulme (Hopkinton, Mass.)had a game-high 64 yards receiving on four catches. Freshman wide receiver Jason Piontkowski (New London, Conn.) also made an impact, rushing twice for six yards while also grabbing a 16-yard touchdown reception.
The Plymouth State offense was led by senior Andrew Foglia (Montauk, N.Y.) who had a game-high 68 yards rushing on 21 carries, while graduate student Dustin Matthews (Eliot, Maine) gained 22 yards on just three attempts. Junior Zac Iovanella (North Andover, Mass.) also chipped in, catching two passes for 32 yards.
Senior Louis Montegari (Wanaque, N.J.) tied for the game-high in tackles with eight total stops for the Panthers, while freshman Josh Puccio (Wakefield, Mass.) added four tackles and an interception in the loss.
The Seahawks got things going early as Terio returned the opening kickoff 41 yards to set up the Salve Regina offense at their own 44 yard line. From there, the Seahawks marched 56 yards on seven plays, including a 15-yard end around by Sarfo-Darko, a 26-yard completion to Hulme, and a one-yard touchdown dash by Buonocore to seal the drive. Following the extra-point, the Seahawks led 7-0 after just 2:28 of play.
After a quick three-and-out by the Panthers gave the ball back to the Seahawks, Plymouth State appeared to be in business when a poor fourth-down snap on a punt attempt by SRU led to a incomplete pass setting up PSU on the Salve Regina 28 yard line. However, the Seahawks defense held strong as Sweeney intercepted a fourth-down pass to regain possession for Salve Regina.
The Seahawks went three-and-out on the following drive, punting the ball back to the Panthers. With PSU in the midst of a 14-play, 58-yard drive which spanned 7:55, SRU sophomore cornerback Frank Musco (Montvale, N.J.) tipped a pass which was intercepted by Terio and returned 52 yards to the Plymouth State 29 yard line.
The Seahawks took advantage of the turnover when Wilken raced into the endzone from three yards out to put SRU on top 14-0 with 6:55 remaining in the opening half.
The Salve Regina defense once again forced a three-and-out, regaining possession for the Seahawk offense which responded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Wilken to Piontkowski to give SRU a 21-0 edge heading into the break.
Coming out of halftime, neither offense was able to do much in the third quarter, as Salve Regina notched the only three points of the period on a 32-yard field goal by freshman Christian Clark (Williamsport, Pa.).
Looking to close things out, the Salve Regina defense really locked things down in the fourth quarter, holding the Panthers to negative nine yards of total offense. The Seahawks offense also did its part to close out the win, as Wilken hooked-up with Sarfo-Darko on a beautiful 31-yard pass up the right sideline for a touchdown, moving the final score to 31-0.
The Panthers will celebrate Senior Day next Saturday when they host Curry at 12 p.m., while the Seahawks look to clinch the NEFC Boyd Division that same day, facing Nichols College at home.


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Anglers should be aware of rules, areas open; season runs through May 15
PRATT — Warming water temperatures and rising rivers have signaled the opening of the Kansas paddlefish season, which runs March 15-May 15 at a number of areas in eastern Kansas. Once water temperatures near 60 degrees, paddlefish make the annual spawning run. Some snagging areas, such as the Neosho River in Chetopa, require a rise in the river level for paddlefish to be present.
Paddlefish may now be taken on posted areas inside Chetopa and Burlington city parks on the Neosho River, on the Neosho River at Iola, downstream from the dam to the city limits, on the Marais des Cygnes River downstream from the Osawatomie Dam to the posted boundary, and on the Marais des Cygnes River on the upstream boundary of Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area and downstream to the Kansas-Missouri border.
Paddlefish may be snagged using pole and line with not more than two single or treble hooks. Barbless hooks must be used in Chetopa City Park. Catch and release is allowed in Burlington, Chetopa, and Iola, except that once attached to a stringer, a fish becomes part of the daily creel limit. The daily creel limit for paddlefish is two, and the season limit is six. On the Missouri River boundary waters, there is a 24-inch minimum length limit. There is a 34-inch minimum length limit on Marias des Cygnes River.
A paddlefish permit — $12.50 for those 16 and older, $7.50 for youth 15 and younger — includes six carcass tags. Immediately upon attaching a fish to a stringer, the angler must sign a carcass tag; record the county, date, and time of harvest; and attach the carcass tag to the lower jaw of the paddlefish taken. Anglers must stop snagging once the daily creel limit of two paddlefish is reached.
Paddlefish caught outside the paddlefish season or in non-snagging areas may be kept if they are hooked in the mouth.
Nonsport fish (carp, drum, grass carp, threadfin and gizzard shad, goldfish, gar, suckers including carpsucker and buffalo, goldeye, and bowfin) may also be snagged in waters posted open to snagging during the paddlefish season. There are no limits on nonsport fish.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama told American Jewish leaders Thursday that near-term prospects for Mideast peace may be bleak, but a deal with the Palestinians remains the only way for Israel to achieve long-term security.
Obama said he has no intention of delivering a "grand peace plan" when he travels to the Mideast later this month, downplaying expectations for a breakthrough on his highly anticipated visit to Israel and the West Bank. However, he said that doesn't preclude him from launching such an effort in the coming months, according to a person who attended the hourlong private White House meeting.
The White House has not publicly announced the dates for the president's trip, though Israeli news media have reported he will arrive on March 20. Obama will also make stops in Ramallah and Jordan.
In his meeting Thursday, Obama acknowledged that he would be visiting Israel during a difficult political period for the U.S. ally. Elections in January weakened Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has since struggled to form a coalition government.
Netanyahu recently asked Israeli President Shimon Peres for a two-week extension to build the coalition, putting his new deadline just ahead of Obama's expected arrival in Israel.
The president said pursuing sweeping peace talks now would be premature, given that Israel is still working to form a new government. He also said he wanted to avoid the appearing as though he was favoring any one political party, according to the person in attendance, who was not authorized to discuss the gathering publicly and requested anonymity.
Obama sought to restart peace talks in 2011, but the effort collapsed within weeks. Palestinians refuse to resume negotiations unless Israel stops building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Netanyahu says talks should resume without any preconditions, and he has even allowed stepped-up construction in the territories since the United Nations moved to recognize a de facto state of Palestine in November.
The White House did not put the meeting with Jewish leaders on the president's public schedule. A White House official later said Obama sought input from the leaders on his trip and underscored that it would be an opportunity for him to speak directly to the Israeli people.
National Jewish Democratic Council chairman Marc Stanley was among those who attended Thursday's meeting. He said Obama reiterated his "unshakeable support for Israel and explained that his upcoming trip will be focused on discussing with his Israeli counterparts the critical issues facing the Jewish state, including Iran, the peace process, and Syria."
In addition to his meetings with Netanyahu, Obama will also hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas while in the region. He told the Jewish leaders Thursday that he would emphasize to Abbas that peace remains possible, though very difficult given the current climate in the region.
While in Israel, Obama is also expected to note that Israel's proximity in an increasingly dangerous region, given the instability in Syria and the potential nuclear threat from Iran. He'll likely reiterate that all options, including military force, remain on the table when it comes to dealing with Iran, while also touting the impact of strident economic sanctions.
Follow Julie Pace on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC


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The person Manti Te'o says was pretending to be his online girlfriend told the Notre Dame linebacker "I love you" in voicemails that were played during his interview with Katie Couric.
Taped earlier this week and broadcast Thursday, the hour-long talk show featured three voicemails that Te'o claims were left for him last year. He provided the messages to Couric and said they were from the person he believed to be Lennay Kekua, a woman he had fallen for but never met face-to-face.
After the first message was played, Te'o said: "It sounds like a girl, doesn't it?"
"It does," Couric responded.
The interview was the first done on-camera by the All-American since his once-heartwarming tale of inspired play after the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend on the same day in September was exposed as a bizarre hoax on Jan. 16.


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Operation ID
Operation Identification
(Operation ID) is a citizen's burglary prevention program for use in homes and businesses. The Operation ID program involves marking property with an identifying number as a means of discouraging burglary and theft. It also provides police with a way to identify property should it be stolen and recovered. In communities where it has been properly implemented, Operation ID has shown dramatic results in burglary reduction.
Operation ID Has Two Basic Components
• Engrave your valuables with your drivers license number so your property can be easily traced and identified as yours. Please note—If your drivers license number is your Social Security Number, we strongly recommend you: a) obtain a new license with a new number, or b) obtain an Oklahoma State ID Card, which has a generic number and does not expire. Engrave as follows:
• OK####### 11 (year of expiration)
• Engrave in two locations: 1) one that can easily be seen, and 2) one that cannot easily be seen.
• Photograph or videotape items and keep the photos/tape in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. Jewelry should be photographed with an ID card and ruler next to it to show ownership and size.
• Display a sticker that tells would-be burglars that your property has been marked.
What Makes Operation ID So Effective?
Marked property is difficult for a burglar to dispose of—it can be traced to the rightful owner with relative ease. And, if a burglar is caught with marked property, it is solid evidence of possession of stolen goods.
After marking your property, make a list of your valuables, and keep a copy of the list in a safe place. If you should become a burglary victim, you will be able to quickly describe the stolen property from the list. This will be of great help to police in their attempts to recover stolen possessions.
Once property has been marked and a list made, display the Operation Identification sticker on doors and windows that could be used for entry. By advertising your participation in Operation Identification in this way, you are announcing that your valuable property has been marked and will be difficult for a burglar to sell. Often, the presence of the sticker alone is enough to deter a burglar.
Mark These Possessions!
Bicycles,Binoculars, Camcorders, Cameras, Car audio systems, Computer equipment, DVD players, Fishing rods, reels, Golf clubs, Guns, Kitchen appliances, Lawn mowers, Microwaves, MP3 players, Musical instruments, Outboard motors, Radios, Stereo equipment, Telephones, Tools (hand/power), Television.
|Operation ID - Record Keeping Instructions
|Bicycle Registration Form.pdf


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Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig Headed to Broadway
It's cute because they're married.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig — who, you may recall, are married in real life — will also pretend to be married in a Broadway production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal. Weisz (in her Broadway debut) will play Emma to Craig's Robert, which means she'll be cheating on him for seven years, but don't worry. It's just a play. Repeat that to yourself, Daniel Craig.