text:
" Brand: Bic / Misc House Type: Pen "
* Prices may differ from that shown
As a private tutor I get through a lot of pens, and I've been using Bics since my schooldays. Recently I ran out of my pens of choice (Staedtler) and picked up a couple of these in desperation as a stopgap replacement.
Bic Cristal pens come in four familiar colours: red, black, blue and red. Whilst I prefer writing in black ink the blue variant was all that was in stock so I bought a couple of them for 20p each.
These biros have two main components: a clear plastic barrel containing the ink cartridge, and a colour-coded separate lid which has a clip moulded into the design.
The plastic barrel is octagonal for easy grip and is contoured into the pen nib, from which the ink flows via a rollerball mechanism.
How is this pen awful? Let me count the ways...
(1) Horrible grip - these pens are thinner than the Staedtler Stick Pens, and the edges of the barrel are sharper, so not only does heavy use of them make my hand joints ache but they make my fingers sore as well!
(2) Easy to shatter - I've lost count of how many of these pens have broken from being dropped, squished, caught in doors or just been handled a little clumsier than normal. Not only do they shatter easily, but the shards of plastic left behind are very sharp!
(3) The barrel stopper - seems to fall out at the drop of a hat!
(4) Snappy lid - the lid clip has snapped on almost all the Bic Cristal pens that I've bought over the years. The plastic is very rigid and has very little 'give' in it.
(5) Ink flows too much - oh, the pen leaks and inky hands these pens have given me! They've wrecked lots of pieces of writing too, with all the blotchy spots I've left on the page...
(6) Ink flows too little - ...and then there have been the occasions where I've had to press Really. Hard. to get ink out of the pen, again causing scruffy writing and a sore hand.
(7) The name - CrIstal? Really? It's spelled C-R-Y-S-T-A-L! As an English teacher this gimmicky spelling irks me deeply.
Horrible, horrible, horrible! And the manufacturer's can't spell. Not that I can correct their spelling if
I'm using their silly pen!!!
I usually buy a pack of ten pens from Asda for £1.00. There are available in red, green, blue and black colours. I personally prefer to use the black colour more often.
Having to take a notes in the office, and during my not so distant university days where taking notes would take up most of the time during long lectures, and of course exams; writing 3000 word essays by hand during exam conditions can be tiring for the fingers and hand, so I had to choose the right pen to use. I used to experience very bad hand cramps and aching thumb and fingers during my early exam days at university, as I use to use the cheap smart price pens, however it wasn't long before I was converted into a Bic lover!.
They are for medium writing and have a ball point nib. Appearance wise they have thin long hexagonal shaped body, which made them for me very comfortable to grip and hold onto unlike other cheaper pens I have used in the past, therefore these made a great difference in reducing hand cramps and aching fingers, and as an added advantage I was able to cram in a lot more information during those time constricted and stressful exams.
The pens come with a top coloured lid, which indicates the ink colour that the pen holds. The pens are made from strong plastic material, which in my opinion is very durable as I have very rarely seen any of my pens crack or break in half; which can be a nightmare as the ink could easily leak out if the plastic cover was to break.
The pens well designed nib enables the ink to write nice and smoothly onto paper, unlike other pens that can have the scratchy effect when writing. I have not experienced any clumps of ink being released from the nib while writing; instead it prints clear text that is easily readable. I have not had problems with the ink leaking from the pen which is a great advantage, meaning that the pens can last quite long. The see through plastic design allows for a clear view of when the ink is running low, which is useful for those who would panic if they had no ink left to write with (I am one of them)!.
Over all these are great pens that are comfortable to hold and grip onto and enables the user to write clear neat text smoothly with the well designed nib. The price is also reasonable, and for the quality and longevity you really can't go wrong.
I am not really too fussy about what sort of pen I use, so long as I have one really, and so long as it doesn't leak all over the place. Like many families, we have an assortment of pens lying around our home, and probably one of the ones you'll find more often than not is the Bic Cristal Biro pen. These come in an assortment of colours but I prefer to write with black ink, s this is usually he colour I choose. I hardly ever have to buy these pens as when I do, I get them in a pack as it's cheaper than buying them individually, and also they last for ages as the ink never seems to run out. We also use this type of pen at work in the office and they are generally just an everyday sort of pen and probably the most popular pen to use, I would think.
I buy these in packs of ten from the supermarket and they are widely available and not hard to find. I pay around just over £2 for a pack of ten pens and they come in a small plastic sealed little bag. I usually have one or two of these pens at the bottom of my bag and we have them lying all over the house, though you can guarantee that if I try to look for on I won't be able to find one!
These pens have a medium thickness hexagonal shaped barely which is completely transparent so you can clearly see how much ink is left inside the pen so it won't take you by surprise if it's ready to run out. These pens also have plastic tops which fit neatly over them and the tops tend to be the same colour as the ink inside the pen, i.e. blue, red or black. I think these pens also come in green ink though personally I don't think I've never tried this colour before.
The pens write well, and the ink flows smoothly and evenly with hardly any smudges. I have had one or two of these pens leak on me in the past, but not often. They are comfortable to hold due to them having a nice hexagonal shaped barrel and they write easily even when new, though you do have to scribble a bit beforehand just to get the ink flowing.
Overall, they are a cheap and effective pen for everyday general use and used by millions of people all over the place, in offices and homes. They are reliable, inexpensive and they work well.
Highly recommended.
I have a number of Bic biro pens scattered over my desk, as I am writing I can see at least two black ones and a green one poking out from underneath my piles of paperwork, I also keep one in my handbag. These are very basic ballpoint pens, a clear plastic barrel with a metal nib and a lid which matches the colour of the ink.
These pens must be cheap to manufacture, they are cheap to buy, a pack of 10 costs around £2, although mine are all from the store cupboard at work. As they are cheap I don't mind if I loose the odd one, however most of the time they end up down the back of my desk, I can see one there now!
These pens last a long time, I usually loose it before the ink runs out. As the barrel is clean you can see the cartridge inside so know how much ink is left. It is possible to take the pen completely apart, although not that easy on the fingernails, however there would be no point refilling with a new cartridge, these are meant as disposable pens.
I notice that my pens have written on the "BIC" and then "medium" which I can only think refers to the nib and flow of the ink. These are nice to write with, not gritty and they don't dig up the page. If not used for a while I do find I need to scribble a bit before using to get the ink flowing again. The ink dries very quickly but not instantly so don't touch it or it'll smudge for 10 secs or so.
My favourite Bic biro colour is the green one, which is a nice bright jade green colour and useful when I am marking printed black and white documents as I can easily see where I have reviewed. They also come in black, red and blue.
All in all a great basic which can probably found on millions of desks all over the UK!
===Why I Got This===
Everyone needs pens at some time or other and if your home is anything like mine you can never find a pen quickly when you need one - or else the one you find does not work. I therefore in future intend to stick to my trusty Bic Crystals instead of cheap or free biros which never work very well, leave blobs of ink on the paper or which run out when it looks like they have plenty of ink left in them.
===The Brand===
Bic Biros are now know the world over. The famous Biro ball point pen was patented by Laszlo Bíró in Paris in 1938. Marcel Bich (to become known as Bic) later found a thickness of ink which neither leaked nor clogged and under a licence from Bíró launched the Crystal in 1950.
Bic Crystal Pens have been on sale ever since.
===The Product===
Ball point pen approximately 6 inches long and 9mm diameter.
The Crystal pen is a tube of coloured ink held with a transparent ten sided tube of clear plastic.
The end of the tube has a disc relating to what colour ink it has and the push on cap is also the same colour. The ink comes out via a small metal roller ball.
The lid has a safety hole to prevent choking by young children if swallowed and the clear tube also has a tiny air hole to regulate air pressure.
The cap has a piece of plastic attached so men can put it neatly into their top pocket - or girls in their school blazers back in the day when they wore them.
The pen comes in four colours - Black, Blue, Red and Green.
Quality ink, quick drying and smooth writing and has a tungsten carbide ball.
Supposedly it has up to 2 kilometres writing length.
The Crystal is the original Bic Biro but is has also come out in other formats such as a slimmer one designed for women.
I am not sure of the single cost as the way I buy them is 10 for about £2.50 on Amazon - which is about 25p each. Obviously if you buy singly they will cost a little more.
===My Opinion===
Bic Biros were always a part of our home life way back in the 1960s when they were all my father would use - and the colour had to be Black!
I am sure we all take ballpoint pens for granted these days but writing in years gone by with fiddly fountain pens could be quite messy. Thus the invention and sale of these clean and efficient pens from the 1950s was a great stride forward.
Not only had the design stood the test of time but they are clean, efficient and inexpensive. The weird thing is that although these pens are cheaP to buy, they are not cheap to look at and you do not look out of place using one anywhere - which cannot be said for lots of other pens, some of which are much more expensive.
When you buy one of these pens you know you are getting quality - a product that has no fancy frills but one that will just work when you need it to. Often with other pens you do not really know what you are getting and paying more for them does not mean they are going to be more reliable.
Going back to school days, both my own and my sons, if there was an exam to be taken we always had Bics - because you knew you could depend on them not to let you down. They would write evenly and cleanly without leaving any ink spots on the paper or unexpectedly running out of ink. A great advantage of these pens is that you can see the tube of ink inside and so can see how much ink you have left.
Personally I always prefer black ink but will also buy blue on occasions as well. The odd red pen is handy to have around for making quick notes or highlighting parts of Agendas etc but I never really use the green ones - I am not really sure who does like green ink. I know red used to be used a lot by schoolteachers in years gone past when they were marking essays and coursework.
These are very inexpensive pens but also reliable - which is not what you get form many other pens. Bic Biros can be bought almost anywhere - Newsagents, Garages, Post Offices, Supermarkets, Stationers and also online at places such at W.H.Smith, Ebay or Amazon.
The more you buy in bulk the cheaper the pens become but I find that the set of 10 from Amazon for under £2.50 is fine for me and lasts absolutely ages - and I only have to re-purchase mainly due to other people walking off with them, rather than them ever getting the chance to actually run out of ink.
As part of my local History Group I have drafted eleven books so while a lot of work is done on the computer there is also a lot of note taking and correcting to be done by hand and I find these pens completely reliable - in fact I do not think I have ever had a faulty one.
I have not bothered to buy the slimline pens aimed for women as I have never found any problem using these pens at all - not even as a child. They are easy to hold and use as they are.
Bic Biros are now a design classic having remained unchanged for over 60 years - they even have a Bic Biro Chandelier at the Science Museum.
===Star Rating===
5 stars.
===Would I Recommend?===
For me, BIC cristal pens are a National Institution- a trustworthy standard middle of the road ball point pen. Medium line, standard blue, black, red and green ink colours. Removable cap with hole in it (for safety reasons- we've all heard tales as a child of someone or other who swallowed a pen cap...). The ink flows well and the writing is smooth. Each pen if bought individually will set you back around 50p- but there are multipacks on sale in supermarkets often selling you packs of 10 (3 each of blue and black, 2 each of red and green) for £2 or thereabouts. If you are like me, you will stock up on your BICs online- Amazon or ebay etc., where you can buy boxes of up to 50 pens in one go- this works out cheaper on a per-pen basis.
From a BIC promotion a few years ago where you had to run out a BIC Cristal pen, I know I can get through one BIC biro in two days if I am busy (I write a lot) and yes, I did enjoy charting the progress of the running-out of the pen (yes, I measured how much ink was in the pen...). I am still a little amazed that for around 8-9 out of 10 black biro's (in my experience) when you run all the ink down in the pen, there is no trace of residual ink left on the inside if the pen shaft. The entire pen will be transparent and clear (maybe this is where the Cristal name comes from?). The exception to the rule is green BIC Cristal pens generally leave an inky trail on the inside of the pen.
BIC biros are a real stalwart for me- reliable, you know what you are getting, you can see exactly how much ink is left in the pen before you even remove it's lid and even if you lose the lid, you know it will not dry out unless you leave the pen in a drawer or a box in your attic for about 15 years. But even then, maybe, just maybe the pen will still write (this happened to me, the pen did still write). These pens can go through the laundry (not recommended as you may get bits of ink on your washing- pillowcase for me! The pen was fine, the pillowcase lost the battle).
However, for all its benefits, there are a few downsides to BIC Cristal pens - one is the ink becomes quite messy as you get down to the bottom inch of the pen. It will tend to leave small globules of ink on the page and if you are left-handed, you will get smudging issues and ink on your hand, sleeve, arm etc., This is exacerbated if you are using the pen with a ruler and making lots of lines as you will end up with a whole smudgy mess and will need a tissue to hand unless you are really careful or wipe the end of the pen nib frequently.
The other downside- is these pens are prone to travel-sickness (ie they tend to leak in transit). If I carry a BIC Cristal pen in my handbag, if it is nib side up and lid on, the pen will pretend it has run out of ink for a while afterwards and will need lots of shaking and holding nib down- or- the ink may rupture inside the pen (normally the ink will back up and leak out of the sealed end). The blue stain on my handbag is testament to this.
And also- these pens do not write on the ceiling, underwater or in space. But that should be obvious.
I can't actually imagine the world without BIC biro's as if they didn't exist, someone would have created something identical- surely. My point being that your average, medium line, blue or black or red BIC Cristal ball point pen is like bread or potatoes- if you can write and do write, you should own a BIC Cristal pen. Unless you have opted for posh fountain pens or prefer pencils.
In work an essential part of my job is record keeping which is unfortunately all hand written. I have to write in black ink and I always use Bic pens as these are what are supplied for us at work. These pens are made of clear plastic through which you can see the colour of the ink inside. The lids are coloured corresponding to the colour of the ink inside the pen.
These pens are available in black, blue, green and red. The pens themselves are quite thin and light which means when you hold them in your hand they fit quite comfortably. I really hate pens that are too chunky as they always feel like a bit of an effort to hold. The lid of the pen is easy to remove and can be placed on the end of the pen while writing so that you don't lose it.
These pens require a minimal amount of pressure to be applied to enable you to write which is good, as it can become uncomfortable if you have to lean too hard when writing. The ball point on the pen is of medium thickness which means your writing isn't too thick or thin. When writing with Bic pens my writing is neat.
A major requirement that all my pens must have is that they are not easily smudged and do not bleed onto the page. With these Bic pens I have experienced neither of these problems. There is never little blobs of ink left on the page which I have experienced with other ball point pens.
As these pens are provided for me at work, I do not need to buy them, however they appear to cost around £1 for 4 which works out at 25p a pen. I think this is a complete bargain especially when you see some individual pens costing £1 or more. All in all I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these pens and am happy to give them the full rating of 5*. Thanks for reading/rating and I hope you found my review useful.
As a student I get through a fair amount of stationery and one thing I can be a bit fussy about is good pens, as I need them to be reliable and I hate it when pens run out too quickly or smudge a lot. These Bic ball points are ones which I definitely feel I can trust.
These pens are widely available and can easily be bought in a lot of places as they are probably the most popular brand of ball points. I bought my last pack of 4 black pens from Tesco and I think I paid about £1 for this, which is great value for such good quality pens, especially considering I recently paid £2 for one pen from Scribbler which ran out within about 2 weeks!
These pens most commonly come in black or blue, and the colour can be seen due to the colour of the lid and the end, and as the outer body is clear plastic, you can also see the colour of the ink inside too so there can be no confusion. They look basic but I like this as in the past I have occasionally bought wrong coloured pens as the colour was not clear from the patterned design on the outside. These are also available in other colours like red and green which are also useful. We used to have to use the red and green in our German vocab books at school to mark the noun genders, so these are handy for students. Red obviously also comes in handy for teachers marking!
These pens are easy to hold and comfy to use. They are a fairly standard size and look. The best thing about them in my opinion is that they write smoothly and neatly, with no smudging, the ink does not go splodge or uneven, they hardly ever leak or cause a mess, and they last for ages. One of these pens can easily last a good few months for me and therefore I definitely get great value out of them. I always take a few pens into an exam because I am paranoid about pens running out, but with a couple of these Bics there is really no reason to worry!
When writing with these I find they are not scratchy at all and the ink looks fairly dark, not too washed out or feeble. This makes my writing look neater as sometimes my handwriting is really spidery if I don't like the pen!
They do have a lid so this makes them safer to carry in your bag without them marking anything. The outside is only made of plastic so occasionally they can break or be crushed but you do have to be fairly rough to make this happen so it's not a big issue to me.
Over all I have no real criticism of these trusty and reliable cheap pens. To me this is the best standard cheap ball point and I will carry on using them and recommend them to any student.
Somehow at work pen's just seem to vanish into thin air...I don't know if someone is eating them, stealing them or if they can turn themselves into thin air but I can never find one when I really need it! The brand we seem to have floating around the most are these Bic cristal ball point pens.
The pen, is a slim, thin pen with vertical ridged flat edges. Being this thin I find they are easy to hold and write with. The outer casing of the pen is clear plastic, and it has a coloured circle on the end which will be red/blue/black etc matching the colour of the pen ink and the lid is also the same colour. The lid also has a really effective pointy tip and has a longer piece down the side for allowing the pen to be snugly fit into a shirt pocket and hang over the edge. The lid of the pen also fits neatly on the end of the pen when it is in use so these don't go missing, and can be replaced when finished. To be honest, if the lids are not replaced on these Bic pens, surprisingly I do not find the ink to dry out which is a bonus but it still seems better if I have all my pens with lids on.
The pens are quite durable although a few times they have been crushed quite easily from my shoe or my bottom (although my bottom really is not that big!) so these may not cope to well under pressure. The pens are a reasonable length, and when I was in uni and college I used these and found they fit in my pencil cases with ease. Bic cristal ball point pens are brilliant quality and do not leak or give me smudged fingers from ink leakage like some cheaper pens. I also find I get longer writing span with the ink in Bic pens, so when I had end of year exams, studying my law degree which required numerous 3 hour written tests in my law subject, Bic cristal ball point pens would be reliable to not run out of ink midway through being on a roll of writing about the right to remain silent lol.
Writing with these pens is easy, and it may sound weird but I find how I write with a Bic pen is really good and I can hold it comfortably and the ink and tip prints perfectly for a clear writing style. The price of Bic cristal point pens is reasonable, about 4 in a pack for a pound or so so for this value, and for great everyday/exam pens these are perfect and I'd totally recommend them!
Bic is a brand I always opt for when buying pens because I just find cheaper brands don't offer the dependable quality that Bic does.
Bix isn't exactly going to break the bank but they do often come up more expensive with fewer pens in a pack. For this reason I've tried Tesco/Sainsbury/Wilkinson own pens and always been deeply disappointed. You always end up throwing the majority of them out and it is just a big waste of time for everyone involved. As a result I have decided to stick exclusively to Bic, but that doesn't mean I won't shop around for the cheapest deal.
Like most biros this is a standard clear plastic tube with many edges. It has a black/blue stopper in the end depending on which colour you go for and matching lid which sits on top. Underneath there is a copper coloured metal nib and inside a clear plastic tube which holds the ink. I find these pens are very sturdy and definitely stand the test of time being battered around in my back and being chewed.
I also find them really great for writing. They work very smoothly, rarely leak or produce splodges and are pretty much smudge free. The only thing I think they are less suited to is drawing which I do a fair bit off. If you do draw there are other pens from bic which are better suited to this kind of activity.
You can usually get a multi-pack of 4 for around £1, though I have found them in poundland now which guarantees you get them at that low price. That makes it roughly 25p a pen but for the quality and the longevity that these pens offer it really is worth the extra money. They last me ages, hardly ever have issues with them and rarely need replacing.
Overall, these are my biro of choice.
This pen is extremely cheap for the possibilities it holds, the ink lasts for ages as i had these for a number of exams, around 14! and i still only used one with no problems at all! it's still in my pencil case although i think it may almost be time to switch it for another quality one.
The ridges in the pens body allow for the pen to be placed on tables without them rolling all of the way off and with this, it also helps with holding the pen steady as some round bodied pens can become slippy and easily roll off onto the floor, which, after 6 or 7 times can become very frustrating.
These pens range from a number of prices, around 20p - £1 each depending on the store, so i would stay away from pen specialists as they seem to try and rip people off, however i'm sure you would be able to find a pack of 4 in any pound shop or dollar store.
These pens are great, and are easy to distinguish between the different colours with the ends having the colour that they write with. I would recommend these pens as they last for ages, and it's the little things like the ridges in the body to stop them rolling, that really help!
Bic Cristal Ball Point Pen - ranging from around 25p to £1 each so shop around
Having gone back to university I have rediscovered a love for a good pen. These particular biros from Bic, are their 'medium' writers. They have a hexagonal shape that makes them relatively comfortable to hold, and it helps to stop them rolling off table tops. Each pen has a lid and, topper that indicates what colour they will write. I personally view the width of the writing to be that of a 'standard' biro.
The pens themselves are made of really sturdy plastic and although I have seen one broken it wasn't an easy task. I do have one bug bear with them, some (not all) of them have a hole in the side - it's very small, and I probably wouldn't have noticed but a friend used one to stir his coffee the other day, and it resulted in a nasty mess.
The pens themselves write well with none of the scratchy-ness associated with the orange barrelled pens, however when writing the do occasionally 'blob'. This can be mildly irritating, but can be resolved if you wipe them clean on a bit of scrap paper. I have also noticed that one of my blue Bics has gone a 'funny' shade of blue compared to the other ones.
These pens are available in red, green, blue and black - and seem to last for quite a while. For pens that are so cheap they are a real bargain - especially when people at university keep 'liberating' them (or using them to stir coffees)...
Highly recommended they are really affordable, and they seem to last for ages.
Interesting fact of the day from the Bic website - these pens have up to 2km of writing length in them...
Good old dependable Bic, I have tried other cheaper brands of ball point pen, like Tesco's Value ones and Sainsbury's Basic range and neither hold up to the power that is Bic. For another cheap brand, you can't go wrong with these.
Like most ball point pens, these have a clear plastic tube with the ball point end and the stopper which is the same colour as the lid and the ink inside. The lids stay on quite well until they are either lost or chewed, why must we chew the ends of pens?? (Hopefully that's not just me!) You can pick up a multipack of pens for around £1 and Bic even do green pens, how cool is that? I don't know where you would use a green one but I like that idea. For the price these are, I don't mind losing the odd one. Writing with a Bic is easy; they don't scratch or drop globules of ink everywhere. They are comfy to hold and write with and very rarely do they leak ink like some cheaper brands. These last well too, the inner tube being clear shows how much ink is left, although it never gives a true indication of how much ink is actually left in the pen, there can be an inch section clearly showing but the pen will not write anymore.
If you tread on a Bic, they will splinter into many sharp bits, so be careful of that. That aside I don't think you can go wrong with a Bic 10/10 every time.
BIC crystal pens are ball-points, easily available everywhere from supermarkets to post offices to webshops. As cheap, disposable, pens, these are what many people will think of as a standard ballpoint.
Each pen has a transparent plastic body, straight for most of it's length but with the last inch before the nip tapering down. The body has a hexagonal cross section to make it easy to hold, but there are no grips or mouldings (making it ideal for anyone who dislikes soft-grips), just the Bic logo and pen size printed in white halfway down the barrel on one side. The nib is plastic, connected to a translucent internal ink reservoir, which makes it easy to see how much ink is left - as you use it up the ink level moves closer to the nib. The nib is gold coloured plastic.
The pens have a detachable plastic lid, and a plastic seal at the end to stop the ink escaping. Both of these are the same colour as the ink in the pen which is a handy guide, but can cause confusion if the lids get accidentally swapped and you forget to check the pen itself! It's fairly tough and resistant to being dropped or knocked, but the case is brittle and can crack if too much pressure is put on it. I've never had one of these crack in my hand, but treading on them is not advised. Because it is plastic, it is useful to use in cold places where a metal bodied pen can be quite uncomfortable to hold, although the ink flow can get a little erratic in really low temperatures, like taking notes outdoors in last year's snow.
They come in a range of ink colours, including black, blue and red, and are often sold in multi-packs making them popular for writers, students, offices and anywhere or anyone that goes through pens in quantity. They are very cheap if bought in bulk - I picked up my last pack of ten for less than £2. The medium, which I usually buy, has a 1mm nib size to give a fine but clear line on the paper.
They take a few strokes on paper to get started but then tend to provide a steady, non-splogy writing experience. Used in damp conditions the ink can run a bit, but otherwise it is good in nearly every environment I have used it in. Towards the end they can get a little erratic, but at that point you can simply get a new one from the pack. The best part about them is that if I am writing leaning on a wall or at an odd angle, the ink flow remains smooth. You can put these in a pen pot, nib upwards, and still get a good writing experience the moment you pull it out, unlike some biros that take warming, shaking, etc. Also it writes well on recycled paper without spreading or clogging, which is useful.
In general the manufacturing quality is high. I have been using these for years and although I have encountered an ocassional duff pen, one that splodges or leaves gaps in writing, these have been few and far between. The one major drawback with these pens that I have found is that every so often one will leak, usually from the nib. The ink inside is thick, viscous, and sticky and will stain most things it comes into contact with. While it comes off hands with hot water, soap and a nailbrush, it is a lot harder to get off clothes and bags, usually requiring a hot wash and stain remover. There's nothing to do with the pen afterwards apart from throw it away. The effects of dealing with this is one reason why the pen has four stars from me.
Cheap, disposable, easy to buy and easy to use, this is a staple of the office for me, and I've got quite a few at home as well. They are easily the best cheap writing tool I've found on the market.
About the Product
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The Bic Cristal pens are commonly known and the Bic Pen which is an inexpensive, disposable ball point pen which comes in various different colours. The pen has a hexagonal shape which was originally taken from the wooden pencil design. The pen is made from a clear plastic which has three grip points which helps to give high writing stability when using the pen. As the pen is made from a clear plastic it means you can see the ink level, so you know when you need to purchase another one. The pen has a brass coloured tip with a small ball bearing which allows the ink to flow out of the pen without clogging up or leaking. The pen comes with a plastic cap which refers to the colour of the ink in the pen. The cap has a small hole in the lid which actually prevents suffocations if children suck it into the throat (although hopefully this would never happen). The pen is one of the world's most efficient pens which are able to write over 100,000 words. I remember seeing these pens around at a very young age as I remember my mother having a few of these in her desk drawer as she used to work from home. The pens come in 4 different colours including Black, Blue, Red and Green. These can be purchased individually or in packs of one colour or mixed colours.
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You can purchase the pens from a number of different shops including Ryman, WHSmith's, Paperchase and other stationery shops as well as some supermarkets. Prices in different stores may vary at different times of the year.
* Single Pen - 0.49p
* Pack of 5 - £1.79
* Pack of 10 - £3.49
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I purchased a pack of mixed colours from my local WHSmith store, this included a total of 10 pens of which 4 were black, 2 blue, 2 green and 2 red. The pens come in a plastic hanging type bag which has a clear window at the front so you can see the pens inside the packet. The colour of the bag the pens come in is a bright yellow/orange colour which is what all the Bic Cristal pens come in. You can clearly see that this item is Bic as it has the logo in black on the top of the bag. On the back of the bag it gives you a very small piece of information about the pen; this is printed in a number of different languages. The bag is really easy to open and I often take one pen out as and when I need it and keep the bag of pens in my desk drawer (otherwise they tend to go missing!).
Using the Pen
= = = = = = =
I regularly use these pens at work as I find them reliable and long lasting; they are also comfortable to hold when using them. I normally purchase a pack of mixed colours as I tend to use all of the different colours at work for different things. I don't do a huge amount of writing at work but there will be a few occasions when I have to use the pen for a short amount of time. Although the pen is made from plastic, I find it comfortable and easy to hold when using it. I normally take the cap off the lid and put it on the top of the pen when using it. Quite often the cap the pens do go missing and sometimes I even actually throw these in the bin. The ink in the pen flows out easily and doesn't cause any glooping on pages. The ink sometimes needs time to dry as it can smudge, how-ever this doesn't take long. I like the fact that I can see the ink level in the pen as I know whether I need to purchase anymore or not before I actually run out. The red pen is a nice bright red and I use this most at work. The green is a darkish green colour, and this is probably the colour I use less often at work. I find that the pen lasts for ages, at least a good few months before the ink has actually run out. As I don't do a lot of writing with the pens they probably last a bit longer than the normal average person would use them. I can buy a pack of these pens and they last me over a year.
Overall Opinion
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I have been using the pens for a good few years now, not just at work but I used to use them at school as well. I find the pens really long lasting and comfortable to hold, even thought the barrel is made from plastic. The pens are very good quality and I have never had an issue with one of these pen's leaking ink everywhere. In terms of value I think the pens are a very reasonable price. I know other shops do their own brand of pens which look very similar to the style of Bic pens; how-ever I don't think these are as of good quality compared to Bic in terms of the pen itself and the ink. I will continue to purchase packs of these for work as I know they are reliable. Whether you need pens for the office, home or school I highly recommend these to others.
(review may also appear on ciao)


text:
Using dogs to sniff for drugs can be traced to 1971, when, during the war in Vietnam, dogs were trained to scent on marijuana in an effort to curb its use by military personnel. The idea was soon adopted by U.S. customs for use in airports and border crossings, and picked up by police departments nationwide. Pleasanton has had its own dogs for 30 years, according to Lt. Scott Rohovit, and currently has three dogs, two for sniffing drugs and one used to detect explosives.
Officer Tim Martens works with Camo, 9, a Dutch shepherd from Holland; Martens said most police dogs come from Europe. In the U.S., he said, dogs are bred for their physical appearance; in Europe, dogs are bred for competitions that include agility, fending off an attacker and paramilitary exercises.
Thinking of police dogs might bring to mind large, frightening dogs like Doberman pinschers, but the two drug dogs in Pleasanton seem a far cry from that.
Camo, for example, seems just like a friendly family dog, which he is, most of the day.
"When he's at home, he's pretty mellow," Martens said.
Even while at work, it seems he's just as happy to be goofing off as sniffing out drugs. Martens said with Camo, whom he's had for 6 years, he's got the best of both worlds.
"I get to go to work every day with my buddy," Martens said. "And when a crime comes down, we're right in the thick of things."
Martens and Camo work the day shift, while Officer Mark Sheldon works nights with Falco, a 2-year-old purebred German shepherd from the Czech Republic. They say most of the work is routine but far from boring.
Largely, they're brought in to search when an officer making a traffic stop suspects drugs are in a car, or when someone on probation or parole is stopped. Parolees and probationers have search clauses issued by the courts that allow police to search them, their cars and homes without a warrant.
Falco, who began working with Sheldon last October, is also used to enter a business when an alarm goes off and there are signs of forced entry, although Sheldon said officers always follow up and search the premises themselves.
"It's your job to put him in the places where he's going to succeed," Sheldon said.
The two dogs react to drugs -- marijuana, heroin, MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and methamphetamines -- in different ways. Camo scratches when he scents drugs, while Falco is a passive alert dog, meaning he sits when he gets a scent.
Martens said the dogs don't have any direct contact with suspects.
"We never use the dogs to search people," he said, which fits with the school district's plan to use them out of the presence and sight of students.
Police have said they would not charge the district for the searches.
Other school districts
Pleasanton isn't the first local district to use dogs. Both Livermore and Dublin have used dogs for searches, while the San Ramon Valley hasn't even considered them, according to school district spokesman Terry Koehne.
"We do not use them currently, and we have not had any conversations about using them at this point," Koehne said.
Dublin Superintendent Steve Henke said they haven't been used in the six years he's been with the district, but said that's about to change.
"We actually have had it in our policy for a time," he said.
Henke explained that the district had used an outside service that was discontinued. Now, he said, the district plans to work with Dublin police, much like the plan for Pleasanton.
"It's been a while," Henke said. "I would say that it does prove to be a deterrent, as part of a program. Drug prevention education is critically important in this."
Drug-sniffing dogs are an active part of the Livermore school district's war on drugs, according to Assistant Superintendent Chris Van Schaack.
"We believe it's been very effective in helping modify the culture at school campuses," Van Schaack said. "We don't believe the drug dogs are going to modify the behavior of students, but we want 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock to be sacred."
For the last five or six years -- since Van Schaack was principal at Granada High School -- the dogs have been brought in six to 10 times a year at random.
"The first couple of years we only did it two or three times," he said. "We were real careful to follow all the guidelines."
The dogs are used a little more aggressively than is planned for Pleasanton: In Livermore, when they're brought in, students are asked to leave their backpacks behind in the classroom and class is held somewhere else.
"We have the kids go on, we call them field trips. The kids go outside and study," Van Schaack said.
Like Henke in Dublin, Van Schaack said the dogs are mainly a deterrent and should be part of a bigger drug prevention program; similarly, Pleasanton school board members said searches here would be part of a "multi-pronged program."
Van Schaack said it's impossible to know how well they work because the district didn't know how many students were bringing drugs to school in the first place. But he noted that 10 students have been found to have drugs in their possession in the last five or six years.
"Typically it's zero or one (per search). And recently, I think they haven't found anything in five or six times," he said. "Kids say other kids still sell and do drugs, but not there."
Van Schaack also said the dogs have been accurate.
"Not one single time has a dog hit on a car or a locker or a backpack that we didn't find something," he said.
Van Schaack's assertion that the dogs are accurate has been challenged elsewhere, and their questionable accuracy is a problem for Pleasanton School Board Member Jamie Hintzke.
An analysis by the Chicago Tribune in January 2011 showed over a three-year period that dogs were correct only about 44% of the time, and only about 27% for Hispanic drivers. In the piece, dog handlers defended the findings, noting that the scent of drugs and paraphernalia can last long after drugs are sold or used.
However, the piece noted that even advocates of drug dogs agreed with experts who say many of the dogs and handlers "are poorly trained and prone to false alerts."
The analysis also noted that officers' personal biases can lead a dog to scent drugs when none is present.
Legal issues
Opponents of Pleasanton's plan to implement drug detection dogs have vowed to sue, claiming a violation of students' Fourth Amendment protection against warrantless searches and seizures, although students on school grounds don't have the same rights as adults. For a student to be searched, all school administrators need is a reasonable suspicion, which is a legal proof less than probable cause.
In pushing for the drug dogs, Kevin Johnson, Pleasanton school district's senior director of pupil services, cited a 2010 Connecticut case in which Harold Burbank sued the board of education in the town of Canton. The court concluded that a warrantless sweep using drug-sniffing dogs was not a search under the Fourth Amendment "because students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the odor or 'aroma' emanating from their unattended lockers and motor vehicles on school property."
The Connecticut court also found that ordering students to remain in their classrooms did not constitute a seizure because school officials are authorized to schedule student activities during the school day; the students were allowed to leave their classrooms in the case of an emergency; and much of the time the students were kept in their normal classrooms.
However, in California, a 2000 opinion by then-Attorney General Bill Lockyer said:
"(S)chool administrators at a public high school may not implement a policy requiring on an unannounced, random, and neutral basis that (1) pupils be directed to vacate their classrooms and leave behind their personal belongings, including backpacks, purses, jackets, and outer garments, for sniffing by canines trained in the detection of drugs, (2) the pupils would proceed to a location not within the immediate vicinity of the canines and would remain away from the canines at all times, and (3) if a canine's behavior indicated the presence of drugs, the pupil's personal belongings would be searched by the school administrators without the pupil's consent."
Cases in California have shown individual districts handling the situation differently. In 1997, Galt Joint Union High School District dropped its plan to use drug detection dogs after the threat of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, according to ACLU-NC spokeswoman Laura Saponara.
In that case, the district also agreed to pay lawyers' fees to end the case, Saponara said.
A 1999 case brought by a student at a high school in Plumas County dismissed the student's claim that his Fourth Amendment rights had been violated.
But a 2009 search at La Canada Unified School District in Southern California prompted the district to revise its policies after the constitutionality of the school district's search and seizure practices were questioned by a parent who is a career federal public defender, according to the La Canada Valley Sun. Guy Iversen, the father of two sons who were subject to that search, told the school board that, "Technically, if you don't have justification, that's a kidnapping."
He said students' rights were violated when they were separated from their personal belongings against their will and without reasonable suspicion.
The U.S. Supreme Court may have the final word on the matter. While it has ruled on drug detection dogs in the past, the court has agreed to hear a new case, Florida v. Jardines. That case, involving a drug detection dog outside an alleged marijuana grow house, may change how dogs can be used in searches.
It's unlikely, however, that the court will rule before the Pleasanton board lets drug dogs start their searches here. The board expects to have its new policy allowing the searches in place by Feb. 28. With approval by Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi, a search could be done the next day.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Curious on this one. I know that many have a databank of personal information (or are really good at online research) with which to give their opinion and/or prove their opinion. What college coach, lets say, over the past 10 years, has developed and let loose into the wilds of professional tennis, the most, the highest achieving and the highest ATP ranked (former) college players?


text: John B. Stephensen wrote: > Galileo transmits on 1260-1300 MHz and 1215-1300 MHz is now allocated to > global positioning systems (up to 5 of them). Amateur transmissions can > desense the earth-based receivers. Tests on U.S. GPS receivers showed > that a > 1W EIRP CW signal 10 km away would cause inteference. It would be > better if > 1260-1270 MHz was a downlink for amateur satellites. > > 73, > > John > KD6OZH John, You are neglecting real word conditions...future civilian airborne GPS/GNSS/Galileo receiver systems are going to have to incorporate anti-jam capabilities. A few do already and changes in the signal coding for the new civilian GPS downlink will have a much more robust capability when it comes to interference rejection. I also believe Galileo will too employ a more jam resistant signal waveform. There are much greater threats to these systems than ham operators from a real-world technical perspective. However, I will concede that government agencies may eliminate amateur use of L-Band for political reasons...an easy, but meaningless way for them to show they are taking action. However, until and if the hammer comes down, there are currently no strong technical reasons to eliminate L-Band uplinks. Bruce -- Bruce Rahn Wisdom has two parts: 1. having a lot to say; and 2. not saying it!


text: M&J Trimming would like to introduce you to our new Swarovski Crystals Rhinestone Catalog. This catalog includes our entire updated colors of Swarovski rhinetones It also includes our collection of the newest sew-on jewels, most popular rhinestone fringe, easy to use iron-on rhinestone appliques, and supplies. This catalog is free. All you have to do is provide us with a shipping address and you'll receive your free catalog within five to ten business days.


text:
Topic: deleting certain e-mail
Hello. I have a problem I have a mailbox that received about 60000 messages and a big part of them is bounce messages is there a way to delete all of them without deleting other messages....I started with finding all the files that contain a certain string
[root@mail]# grep -lr 'Mail delivery failed: returning' /home/vmail/birovits.md/office/cur/
but i don't know how to delete the list of files that is given. can anyone help?


text: All: I am in search of a utility that will allow me to burn-in a new PC. Ideally, it would peg the procs at 100% as well as exercise the memory (as much as 2Gb/Node. I know there is a Sun provided utility to do this on Sparc systems, but does anyone have a suggestion for a linux-based (perl would work, too) that will do the same thing? Cheers, Justin -- System Administrator National Institutes of Health Center for Information Technology 9000 Rockville PK Building 12B 2N/207 Bethesda, MD 20892-5680 301.496.0396 http://biowulf.nih.gov


text:
Earth Negotiations Bulletin
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This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin � <firstname.lastname@example.com> is written and edited by Chango Bai <firstname.lastname@example.com>, Stas Burgiel <email@example.com>, Laura Ivers <email@example.com>, Jessica Suplie <firstname.lastname@example.com> and Elsa Tsioumani <firstname.lastname@example.com>. The Digital Editors are Andrei Henry <email@example.com> and Nabiha Megateli <firstname.lastname@example.com>. The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. <email@example.com> and the Managing Director is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI <firstname.lastname@example.com>. The Sustaining Donors of the Bulletin are The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA and DFAIT), the United States (through USAID), the Swiss Agency for Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (DG-ENV). General Support for the Bulletin during 2000 is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) and the German Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation (BMZ), the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment of Austria, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Environment of Norway, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment of Finland, the Government of Sweden, the Government of Australia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and BP Amoco. Logistical support has been provided at this meeting by UNEP. The Bulletin can be contacted by e-mail at <email@example.com> and at tel: +1-212-644-0204; fax: +1-212-644-0206. IISD can be contacted by e-mail at <firstname.lastname@example.com> and at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada. The opinions expressed in the Earth Negotiations Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. Excerpts from the Earth Negotiations Bulletin may be used in non-commercial publications only and only with appropriate academic citation. For permission to use this material in commercial publications, contact the Managing Editor. Electronic versions of the Bulletin are sent to e-mail distribution lists and can be found on the Linkages WWW server at http://enb.iisd.org/. The satellite image was taken above Nairobi �2000 The Living Earth, Inc. http://livingearth.com. For information on the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, send e-mail to the Managing Director at <firstname.lastname@example.com>.
This page was uploaded on 05/22/00


text:
Hey everyone,
I've been working to transfer about 500 Mac-formatted floppy disks to my PC in an effort to archive about 20 year's worth of my college's newspaper backup. I've passed the 400 mark using MacDrive on Windows 7, but there seem to be a stack of around 100 that will not seem to work. Some of the floppies are almost 20 years old, but I'm wondering if the format for the older disks are not one that MacDrive can read.
Does anyone have suggestions for getting the information off the disks?
Thanks in advance!


text:
RSL rout KC 4-1, push home unbeaten streak to 18
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake used an all-around effort Saturday night to punish Kansas City 4-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium, pushing their home unbeaten streak to 18 games and keeping the Wizards winless on the road this season.
Both teams started tentatively in the first half, but the home side was the first to settle down. The defending champs began creating chances primarily down the left side, with Argentines Javier Morales and Fabian Espindola working the sideline.
However, it was Andy Williams who provided the assist on the opening goal in the 31st minute. Jean Alexandre, starting for the injured Kyle Beckerman, won a 50-50 ball in the Wizards half of the field. Williams slid the ball to the left to an unmarked Espindola, who took a low shot to the far post and beat Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen.
Just three minutes later, RSL notched their second of the half. Morales chipped a nice ball over the Wizards defense to Espindola, who was making a run down the left side.
The left-footed striker cut the ball to his right foot and attempted to chip Nielsen. The KC 'keeper got his hand on the ball, but it fell to forward Alvaro Saborio at the far post, who knocked the ball in off of his chest.
Kansas City pulled one back just before the break when defender Nat Borchers failed to clear a ball out of the Real Salt Lake half. Davy Arnaud dispossessed him on the play, and drove the ball down the right side of the area, allowing Josh Wolff to make a run in the center of the box. Wolff was able to easily get a shot past Nick Rimando to cut the deficit to one.
In the 82nd minute, Davy Arnaud committed a costly foul outside the area, earning his second yellow of the night and a sending off, prompting an RSL free kick in a dangerous position.
On the restart, Morales put in a low, hard free kick that Nielsen blocked by sticking out his right leg. Russell collected the rebound and had no problem blasting it past the flailing 'keeper to give RSL the 3-1 lead.
The champs added one more on the night in stoppage time, as Ned Grabavoy took away a ball and raced into the area unimpeded. Nielsen had no chance at the stop, and Grabavoy put it into the right side of the net to cap off the scoring for the night.
Scoring Summary:
RSL -- Fabian Espindola 3 (Andy Williams 3) 31
RSL -- Alvaro Saborio 5 (unassisted) 34
KC -- Josh Wolff 1 (Davy Arnaud 1) 42
RSL -- Robbie Russell 1 (unassisted) 84
RSL -- Ned Grabavoy 1 (unassisted) 92+
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Matt Besler (caution; Tactical Foul) 27
RSL -- Jamison Olave (caution; Tactical Foul) 29
KC -- Kei Kamara (caution; Tactical Foul) 32
KC -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Tactical Foul) 73
KC -- Davy Arnaud (caution; Tactical Foul) 82
KC -- Davy Arnaud (ejection; Second Caution) 82
Kansas City Wizards -- Jimmy Nielsen, Jonathan Leathers (Chance Myers 46), Jimmy Conrad, Matt Besler, Michael Harrington, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, Josh Wolff (Graham Zusi 77), Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara, Ryan Smith. Substitutes Not Used: Birahim Diop, Aaron Hohlbein, Korede Aiyegbusi, Craig Rocastle, Eric Kronberg.
Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert (Robbie Russell 46), Andy Williams (Ned Grabavoy 46), Javier Morales, Jean Alexandre, Will Johnson, Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola (Pablo Campos 88). Substitutes Not Used: Rauwshan McKenzie, Chris Schuler, Collen Warner, Kyle Reynish.
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants: Eric Boria; Paul Scott
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-58-degrees
Attendance: 15,588


text:
College Football FeaturesWeek 9 College Football Predictions
Power Rankings - October 25th
Rix Talks Reggie Bush
Rix Talks to Whatifsports.com
College Football SimMatchup
Play Gridiron Dynasty
See what you hit.
Pop Warner coaches have been preaching the message for decades.
This is a contact sport.
It's a repeated warning that provoked worried mothers to panic and then pray their little boys walk off the field.
This was football's reputation a decade ago.
"Now it's a collision sport," former Florida State quarterback Chris Rix said.
Rix, a college football analyst for Fox Sports, says the biggest hit he witnessed as a player came on a soggy night in the fall of 2003 when playing Miami (FL). Hurricanes' wide receiver Roscoe Parrish ran a drag route over the middle, quarterback Brock Berlin delivered the pass on target, it slipped through the hands of Parrish when FSU cornerback Stanford Samuels launched himself as if exiting Red October into the sternum of what is now known as a "defenseless receiver."
Dazed and ConfusedD-Jax may not be back after the Eagles' bye.
No flags were thrown.
No players were ejected.
The video of the punishing hit still lingers on the internet.
Rix says if Samuels tried that aerial assault today, he would be flagged for unnecessary roughness - leading with the helmet.
This leads to the topic of the month and the way illegal hits are enforced.
The NFL's decision to re-evaluate the way defensive players attack their prey has created a polarizing topic between former and current players and the league's fan base.
"My first thought was this is good," Rix said. "There is more awareness now. More team doctors are being proactive about it. I think the intent is good."
However, overwhelming shades of gray clouded the more stringent policies as soon as the NFL released this video.
I've watched the Ray Lewis hit ten times and, apart from the Ravens' linbacker avoiding the head area, can't distinguish how this hit is obviously clean. He hopped out of a phone booth before he blew up Dustin Keller.
"I think it's really hard to regulate this," Rix said. "Growing up all we heard football was this is a contact sport. If there is any gray area I don't think you can kick a guy out and fine a guy. He plays a dangerous sport. It's just part of the game."
But in the same breath, Rix, as a former quarterback, believes defenders needed this wake up call when it comes to the way some of them approach tackling.
"As a quarterback, yes I'm happy with the new enforcement," Rix said. "Some type of statement needs to be made. Some of these defenders aren't even making an attempt at a tackle. They are just going for that big kill shot."
Although the players cannot be fined at the college level, Rix says NCAA officials need to implement a similar policy when a defender leads with his head.
"College athletes are just as big, fast and strong as these professional players," Rix said. "It's a different breed of athlete than even ten or 15 years ago. I think you apply the same rules. If they are just going for the kill shot, then boom, their done and up for review for the next game."
The NFL and NCAA can enforce stricter rules, defenders can adapt and obey, but this does not change the fact that football is a violent and dangerous sport.
The NFL's quick action to re-define and clarify their rule book in addition to evolve the safety measures currently in place may attempt to protect the head area of their players (which I'm in favor of), but it also covers the league's own butt if legal matters were to arise in the future.
Oops, I hit it right on the head.
At least I saw it.
Fine me.
Ryan Fowler is the Content Manager for Whatifsports.com. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Prius Owners w/50K - What We Think Now
mickeyrom Posts: 93650 vehicles! Man you're whackier than me.I've only had 35
grandtotal Posts: 1,207Reverse in a Prius does not rely upon particular cells in the HV battery, and Reverse is no more "all electric" than Drive is.
Have you ever had the 12V battery replaced? If not I suspect that your problems may be due to that rather than anything else.
Never before, in all my automotive dealings , has a car given so much quietly, dependably, and ...most of all, thriftily than my '04 Prius. With these most difficult times, I found a little paridise in the Prius. Toyota has not built the perfect car but....it's pretty darn close from my perspective. Closing in on 9 years and nearly 150 K miles I'm convinced that this is a car that deserves the highest accolades of praise for acheiving a near "Bullseye."
How much money have I saved in gas thrift? Conservatively about $12,000.00 over these 8 plus yrs. That ain't chicken feed folks. That's the definition of thrift. Low maintainence is true to form. Original brakes at the near 150K miles is unheard of in any other vehicle. I don't know exactly why but I love it. Brake jobs these days run $600.00 to $800.00 and that is money saved. By this time frame I would have had to replace exhaust, starter, 12 volt battery (twice) and most likely a rebuilt tranny. Do the math. That's about $2,500.00- $3,500.00 conservatively speaking.
Lastly, I get a kick out of the styling that ran the nearly same look for 8 yrs and even close to the 3rd Generation look also. This supports a better resale value to the owner and as long as gas prices continue to flirt with $4 bucks there will be folks lined up to buy a used one.
I have to agree 100%. I love the 04 Prius. I change the oil and filter myself twice a year. I also wash the two air filters at the same time and replace them after 3 or 4 years. I switch from regular to snow tires and back myself and replace them when necessary. My only complaint is loss of battery boost after 5 minutes going over the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70. That should be better starting with the 2010 model but my 2004 runs fine. (Independence Pass does not have the same problem because you can't go 75+ no matter what).
Back in March of '07 I presented this particular subject to disect the Prius Hybrid and see what's good and what's bad about this unique car.
I'm back presenting the same subject matter but with 146 K miles on my '04 Prius. Here's the low down on my experience as of today.
4th set of tires.......5 set of wipers......3 hdlt bulbs......1 waterpump (139K).
As to my appreciation of the '04 Prius, I'm even more impressed than I ever thought one car could make me. Yes, the car has a bit of wear & tear but still looks good and almost 8 yrs old and no rust, original exhaust, smooth tranny, and most of all....original brakes untouched at 146,000 miles. I influenced 8 other folks to take the plunge and buy a Prius and not one has been anything but a happy owner. Nuff said. I'm looking into the Prius V for my next new car and why not?
We love our '08 Prius - but for the last 3 months we've been getting no better than 40.5 - 42.5 miles per gallon! What in the world is wrong? My mother in law also has a 2008 Prius and regularly gets 46 - 52+ mpg. Another friend also has the same year Prius and gets even better than she does. Our tire pressure is fine and I use full synthetic oil. Anyone have any ideas? Even with a full tank and a long downhill grade, the mpg meter might add a .1 or .2 to the mpg. It used to be a very rapid increase on the same downhill stretch right after filling up.
coontie66 Posts: 110My question would be is the gas motor running more now as the batteries are older? If so that would explain the drop in mpg. Otherwise I have no idea.
First I'll explain what I think I've come to understand about 2 issues that pertain to the Prius......#1 (milage)..In the winter milage drops due to the design of requiring the "ICE" engine to run until temps will heat the interior. This is a must, otherwise it would take too long to have heat from the heating sys. inside the car. Also note that gas blends in the winter months are such that milage is effected by 3-5 mpg's less.
#2 (Batteries)...What was once the scariest issue..(longevity of the batteries) seems to be a non-issue since there have been relatively few problems with them. My car is close to 9 yrs old still running strong (summers 45-48 mpg & 40-44 in winters. The secondary battery (small one) is still working fine unlike conventional car batteries that last usually 4-5 yrs. By the way, you can only buy that battery thru Toyota as of today.
Try not to set your hopes on over 47 mpg's since that requires extreem frugal tactics. Normal driving usually gets you my general mpg's. If you've got bad habits expect less. Plain truths as I see it. Lastly, with nearly 146K miles the Prius has not only proven itself as a leader that set the bar where others can only hope to achieve but the Prius, over the past 8 yrs has saved me over $14,000.00 in gas savings. That ain't hay folks.
I have to tell you that people often exagerate mileage for ego inflation. Sorry, but I've noticed alot of highly inflated gas milages. I have a tid-bit of a comparison......How many miles to one tank? I got 546 miles on a tank and that is extreemly good on a trip. The tank is only 11.8 gallons so take that into consideration. Good weather ...a tail wind and smooth roads can help get you high mileage. I took a trip from Indiana to western Iowa into a headwind getting a paltry 35 mpg's....BUT.... on my return I got 49 mpg's which just goes to show how the elements effect mileage.
My norm MPG for my '06 Prius is mid-40s in winter and high-40s in summer. On long road trips I get in the low-50s if I keep the speed about 65mph, but if I go 70+ it drops back in the upper 40s. One thing I rarely get is above 500 miles on a tank. Even if I wait until the gas light comes on, drive another 25 miles, up it's rare to be able to put over 10gal into the tank. Maybe the bladder in my tank isn't as flexible?
Speed, outside temperature and driving style seem to impact the Prius more so than other cars I've driven.
Same with my 2004 Prius. I can't verify the frozen bladder without being willing to actually run out of gas but even with the indicator flashing on one bar, it never takes more than 6 gallons. It's a real pain but we never let it get that low just to be sure. I could carry a 5 gallons can in the trunk but that doesn't appeal to my wife.
It's frustrating to have had terrific mileage in the past, and now I could get this kind of mileage with a much simpler, Corolla or Hyundai. I'm feeling, "what's the point?". I do have a K&N air filter installed which always looks clean. Maybe I should give it a clean-out and see if that makes a difference. Or remove it and install a regular Fram air filter to see if that's the problem. I'm assuming that the amount of ethanol (10%) remains the same year round?
jayrider Posts: 3,602If your prius mpg is down [weather-winter gas-different additives] the corolla is down too. You can't do better than a prius. The K N filter wasn't cheap and any more messing around costs money that effectively lowers your operating costs with no likely improvement. Relax.
I just took a trip today to a VA appointment that was 95% freeway travel. As always, I drive conservatively-I don't force the car to stay at 65 uphill, no jackrabbit starts, etc. I got 45 mph; the best I've gotten in 2 months. I do believe the ethanol content in gasoline remains the same year around, but I had forgotten about winter-weather blending that the refineries do. In my area, southern Oregon, it has been bone dry for three weeks (very unusual for this time of the year) and it has been in the teens and twenties most of that time. And during that time I have been getting very low mileage for a Prius. My driving habits have not changed, as I always drive conservatively.
So possibly it could just be the winter formulation. That still doesn't answer why two other people I know also have '08 Priuses and both get better mileage. One of the drivers tend to drive fast, as well. It's a mystery to me. :confuse:
How are the other two people calculating their MPG? If they're only going by the trip computer while you're calculating it manually, then it will inflate their MPG. Also, no two vehicles are identical. You could take two identical '08 Prius, drive them both 60mph on cruise for 400 miles on a highway and they'd get different MPG.
That's because individual components are made within tolerance ranges and if you have a car with a lot of components towards the poor side of the tolerance range, then you'll have more friction in those componts and worse MPG when you add up all of those minute variations. For example if you have an inefficient but working alternator/motor, more electricity is needed to turn the motor and less electricity is being generated, so more gas is required.
So in other words, you may have a car with more inefficient components than the Prius driven by your friends. And it's possible too, that you may have more part failures for the same reason.
jana26 Posts: 4I have a 2007 Prius and was averaging about 46-48 mpg until I got new tires. Now I pray for 44! I have been extremely upset about this. My driving hasn't changed and I was "told" that the tires I bought were low-rolling-resistance. I honestly don't believe that either but.... (Don't believe everything you hear from Discount Tires!). And don't believe the car's computer for gas mileage! I have consistently gotten less per gallon than what it claims. I asked the dealer and they said it should average out but it doesn't.
Other than that, I do love my Prius and have had no problems with it except I had to have the starting battery replaced (I call it that for lack of a better description). That cost me over $200.
I'm taking it in for it's 60,000 mile checkup. Kinda worried about that--cost-wise! Not sure what to believe with the dealer regarding what really is needed for this check-up but...
What should I expect to have done at this check-up? Thanks in advance.
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/guides.php?xv=14&xy=2007&xint_id=12&v=14&y=- 2007&int_id=24
Just a routine oil filter and air filter change at 60k miles, plus some inspections. The big stuff (spark plugs, coolant, etc) aren't needed until over 100K.
As far as tires, generally new tires have better traction but the increased traction means increased friction and less MPG. How were your previous tires when new with MPG. Also check in the tire pressure on the new tires. Maybe too low? Are the new tires the exact same size as the old?
skylersue Posts: 1My 2002 Prius has 70,000 miles and I just had to replace the main battery. It cost me $2900. They told me that I should have driven it more often to conserve the battery. That's the first time I heard of that. I also recently had the water pump replaced. I love my Prius but I'm not happy that I had to replace the battery so soon. I've had to replace the tires several times since I bought the car. Has anyone else had to replace their main battery?
Something sounds amiss....I have 152 K and mine is running strong. I've heard from several sources that the whole bayyery does not have to be replaced. When one cell goes bad they replace only the bad cel or cells. (much cheaper) On E bay you can find cells and whole used batteries at reasonable prices. Food for thought.
anhdao Posts: 4What is a frozen bladder?
dolaver Posts: 1I've read some of these comments, just to let you know I have a 2002 Prius with 256,385 miles on it. My main battery is still going strong. I have had to replace the power steering ($2,000) and the main Hybrid computer in the transmission ($5000 +). My catalytic converter needs replacing, but ($1,800) seems steep, for my car that has so many miles. I've investigated replacing it with an after market or junk yard catalytic converter, but I am understanding that that is not legal in California. Anyone have suggestions?
Put the ODO in total miles mode, turn off, hold the ODO button in while turning on. The light will reset to off.
The Maint req light comes on a little before every 5,000 miles. I use Mobil 1 and change the oil and the oil filter every spring and fall. (About every 5,000 miles) I am about to switch to the extended use Mobil 1 (12,500 mi interval) and plan to change the oil once a year. I have a 2004 with 80,000 miles. I have my first paid service issue last week. A rear coil spring that I broke on a speed bump and a leaking water pump. I did not change the brake pads or rotors as recommended because the pads had 8/12mm left and the rotors were rusted around the outside perimeter which I found out was normal.
pegpurdue Posts: 1Hopefully I won't jinx it. I love my Prius ... I live on a dirt road in Vermont and in the winter when the plow hasn't run by, it doesn't like plowing its own way. But that is the only limitation I have found. I am getting about 47/48 mpg and I have had to replace tires a few times and had to replace the small battery (not the hybrid system one). Other than that for the eight years that I have owned it, it has served me very well and is the best value for my car dollar that I have ever had, especially with gas around $4/gallon at the moment. I can't say enough good things about it. I intend on running it for many more miles. I think that if I had to replace the battery I would seriously consider doing it regardless of the miles because it is an awesome, economical car with strong testimony to its longevity. With gas prices are they are, it is easy to make up the cost of the repair.
Do you notice big drops in MPG in the winter?
Winters effect the mpg's because....the hybrid system demands that the gas engine run extended time from cold start due to cold temps of winter. This makes for available heat from the heater. When summer comes the mpg's then rise because the engine does not need extended running time thus more mpg's. I have 156K miles and have seen the fluxuation from summer to winter for 9 yrs due to seasonal changes. Gas blends are part of the reason too.
dym Posts: 1I had been getting 51.3 mpg winter 2011 and summer 2011 and for some reason it fell in that Fall to 48.5 and Summer 2012 it rose to 49.3. Mine is a 2009 bought in 2008 and at one point early on it got 54.5 mpg average over my to work and long distance travel. When it dropped I asked the dealer rep and he said my new milage was more typical of what they see in cars in for regular service. I confess to willingness to get off the gas as soon as I see a red or yellow light unlike the other Charlotte NC drivers who shoot yellows and reds in acceleration. Had my share of "cut-offs" as a result but then they are not getting 40 mpg much less 49. Love my Prius and expressed it so much that my son in law who is a GM discount eligible buyer just bought a Prius V.
His heavy foot may cost more MPG than my light one.
I started this site over 8 yrs ago and have had many surprises as the info of good news (mostly) came rolling in. I'm at 155 K miles and the thing that has amazed me the most is the durability of the Prius. This also means reliability. Both batteries (Hybrid & Utility) are going strong at 9 yrs. The other amazing item...the brakes seem to last forever. Other than oil changes, wiper blades, filters, head lt bulbs and tires I have found the car exceeds all my expectations. I simply believe and trust this hybrid car.
skycaptain Posts: 33I bought a 2010 Prius 3 in 2010 and now have abut 63000 miles on it. I love this car. I have had no mechanical problems except one that made itself known just past the 36 month warranty period.
I noticed that my solar driven cooling fan wasn't working this summer. I thought the fan had maybe died but then I looked at the solar panel and saw that green copper corrosion caused by long term moisture infiltration had shorted out the solar panel and it was unable to produce electricity anymore.
I had the Dealer look at the panel and by looking at the panel from a ladder he ascertained that the moisture infiltration had reached all the way across the panel to the rear as evidenced by the green corrosion of the wiring in the panel.
Now this just didn't happen overnight, but most likely, moisture had been infiltrating the panel for several years. There was no moisture visible in the pane, just the evidence of long term corrosion throughout the panel.
What I am saying is this. These panels were manufactured by an outside vendor for Toyota. If made properly, a solar panel should be hermetically sealed. Most solar panels normally have a useful life of 15 years. This panel was defective the day it was made and it just took 3 years for the corrosion to infiltrate deep enough to disable enough of the solar cells to render it inoperative.
The reason I tell you this is the solar option is an expensive option.($2000 replacement cost) If you are still in your warranty period I would suggest having the panel inspected for corrosion before you experience a failure. Once you know what to look for you can examine it yourself. Much like a hermetically sealed double pane house window there will be some clouding of the glass panel where the moisture has infiltrated.
In my case the infiltration appears to have been going on for years before total failure. Since it is tinted and part of the roof design you won't notice the subtle changes in the color unless you inspect the panel closely.
In conclusion, these panels should be waterproof and sealed during manufacture. If any moisture infiltrates by means other than from damage it is a design and/or manufacturing error.
pragmatist1 Posts: 25I am now having this same problem with my 2010 Prius at 57000 miles. Did you ever find out what was the cause of the problem?
A lot of possibles but I'd try replacing your onboard air filter. Mine was so bad that I've replaced mine 3 times (and should have more often). At least check out that filter for crap and junk in it.


text:
- McLaren news
Perez hopes McLaren has 'turned the corner'
- Drivers:
- Sergio Perez
- Teams:
- McLaren
Sergio Perez says he hopes McLaren has "turned the corner" after its disappointing start to the season.
The MP4-28 has proven a difficult car for the team to work with, with ride issues accentuated on the bumpy Albert Park circuit at the first race of the season. In the following three races McLaren has made steady progress - Jenson Button finished fifth in China while Perez was sixth in Bahrain - and Perez said he hopes even better performances will follow having settled in well with his new team.
"It has been great getting to know the whole team - the experience has been all I thought it would be, and more," Perez said. "Everyone has treated me so well and I feel like I have settled in great. After a tough start to the season, we are all united to get this team back where it belongs at the front of the grid. Hopefully, we have turned the corner now."
With the European season starting with the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend, Perez also said that he enjoys racing at the historic tracks on the calendar.
"It's something I'm looking forward to because Europe is really the home of Formula 1 - the circuits have a lot of history. Tracks like Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza have been on the calendar since Formula 1 started in 1950 - I think it's great that we still have those circuits that represent the sport and all its history. We can never lose them."


text:
Megan writes: I need A LOT of help picking flowers for my wedding. It is going to be a country glam/ southern chic theme next May. The colors are blue and purple and anything you can contribute will be a big help.
Bouquet Inspiration Photo: Jen Stewart Photography | Floral Designer: Botanica Floral & Event Design
via Botanica
To recreate and view the realistic floral stems used to in this gorgeous inspiration bouquet, please click HERE:
- 3 Purple Orchid Sprays
- 3 Blue & Purple Hydrangeas
- 3 Lavender Lisianthus Sprays
- 5 Orchid Purple Tulips
- 3 Purple Hydrangeas
- Vintage Lavender & Antique Blue Rose Bouquet for your bridesmaids
- Wrap each Bouquet with Sheer Navy Blue Ribbon.
- Accent your bouquets with a Rhinestone Floraburst Bouquet Buckle
Happy Planning, Mindy


text:
Bammer wrote:
Joe Schmoe wrote:
My point being is that if the U.S., and other countries, are no longer able to interfere to keep the supply secure due to a nuclear Iran rampaging around there... well you don't need me to finish up the picture.
I really think I do need you to do that. The war in Iraq cost the US trillions of dollars. The net revenue from oil sales in Iraq and Iran in 2011 were only $61 billion and $81 billion respectively. Even if 100% of that oil is being sold to the US (which it isn't) and even if a war in that region would mean a 100% decrease in the supply of oil for sale (which it wouldn't), we would still come out well ahead of the cost of invading Iran.
You bring up a good point.
But I will ask you, how much would an air campaign combined with a limited ground campaign cost (skipping the entire occupation phase)?
Because I'm looking at the first Gulf War numbers and the entire war costed $61.1 Billion dollars; the cost to the U.S. itself was only around $9.1 Billion dollars.
http://people.psych.cornell.edu/~fhoran ... ments.html


text:
Nebraska Opponent Offensive Scouting Report
Team: Idaho Vandals
Location: Moscow, Idaho
Colors: Silver and Vandal Gold
Enrollment: 11,730
Conference: Western Athletic (WAC)
Head Coach: Robb Akey (Weber State, 1988): 12-26 in fourth season as head coach (all at Idaho)
Offensive Coordinator: Steve Axman
2010 Record: 1-0
National Ranking: Unranked
Series Record vs. Nebraska: First Meeting
Game Time: Saturday, Sept. 11, 11:30 a.m.
Stadium: Tom Osborne Field - Memorial Stadium (81,067)
TV: FSN Pay Per View
Radio: Husker Sports Network
Signal-Caller: Senior quarterback Nathan Enderle (6-5, 233), a native of North Platte, is a member of the 2010 preseason watch lists for the Manning, Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas Gold Arm awards. Enderle has passed for 7,081 yards in his career after completing 24-of-37 attempts for 311 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 45-0 season-opening victory over North Dakota. He ranks fifth in school history in passing yards and needs 320 yards to move into fourth place.
On the Ground: Despite losing De'Maundray Woolridge's production (979 rushing yards and 18 TDs last year), the Vandals still returned two of their top three rushers from last season in Princeton McCarty (5-8, 192) and Deonte' Jackson (5-8, 199). To open the 2010 campaign, McCarty led the squad with 12 rushes for 89 yards and two touchdowns last week, as seven players had a carry in the walkover.
Catching the Ball: The Vandals returned three starting receivers from last year in Eric Greenwood (6-6, 233), Preston Davis (6-2, 201) and Maurice Shaw (6-3, 205). Greenwood tied for the team lead with four catches last week for 41 yards and a score in the opener. The trio was among 11 Vandals with at least one catch last week, including H-back Daniel Hardy (6-4, 242) who had 82 yards on four receptions. Junior college transfer Armauni Johnson (6-4, 194) hauled in the longest play of the day with a 54-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter before finishing with three catches for 86 yards.
On the Line: The offensive line is in rebuilding mode after losing four starters to graduation, including guard Mike Iupati, who was a first-round NFL Draft selection (17th overall by San Francisco). Junior tackle Matt Cleveland (6-4, 311) is the only returning starter on the O-line. Opposite Cleveland, Tyrone Novikof (6-7, 318) manned the right tackle spot while Sam Tupua (6-2, 374) and Tevita Halaholo (6-5, 335) started at left and right guard, respectively. Clell Hasenbank (6-0, 287) got the nod at center.
Kicking It Around: Trey Farquhar (6-1, 180) and Bobby Cowan (6-5, 230) return as the starters at place-kicker and punter, respectively. Farquar, who was 13-of-19 on field goals last year with a long of 54 yards, hit all six PATs and connected on a 22-yard field goal in the season opener while missing a 56-yard attempt. Cowan averaged 39.4 yards on five punts against North Dakota after averaging 43.0 ypp last season.
Return Game: Defensive back Shiloh Keo returned two punts for a total of nine yards in the opener while running back Kama Bailey added one kickoff return for 15 yards.
They Said It: "I think I was sending a message. We said we were going to play as fast as we can, as hard as we can for as long as we can, and that's the whole daggone game. I didn't like the way we were playing at the end of the half. If I have to set the tempo for them, I'll set the tempo. That's the head coach's job." - Head Coach Robb Akey on why he called for an on-side kick to start the second half, which the Vandals recovered.
Notable Idaho Alumni: Idaho has had 70 players selected all-time in the NFL Draft, including guard Mike Iupati (No. 17 overall by the 49ers in 2010) and running back Ray McDonald (No. 13 overall by the Redskins in 1967). Jerry Kramer, who went on to become a five-time world champion and five-time All-NFL selection with the Green Bay Packers, also played three years (1954-57) at Idaho.
Quick hits
***With four new starters on the offensive line, the Vandals allowed four sacks in the opener against North Dakota. Idaho also had 12 penalties for 110 yards, including seven penalties on the offensive side.
***The 45-0 shutout was the first for Idaho's defense since 1997.
***Idaho finished last season with an 8-5 record, including winning the Humanitarian Bowl. The Vandals had won just three games the previous two seasons combined.
*** As a team, Idaho ranked eighth in pass efficiency, seventh in fourth-down conversion rate, ninth in total offense and 12th in passing offense in 2009.
Idaho Vandals 2010 Schedule
Sept. 4 North Dakota, W, 45-0
Sept. 11 at Nebraska, 11:30 a.m.
Sept. 18 UNLV, 9:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 at Colorado State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Western Michigan, 1 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Louisiana Tech, 3 p.m.
Oct. 23 New Mexico State, 4 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Hawai'I, 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 Nevada, 4 p.m.
Nov. 12 Boise State, 8 p.m.
Nov. 19 at Utah State, 2 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Fresno State, 9 p.m.
Dec. 4 San Jose State, 4 p.m.


text:
If you've placed a sign (or signs), especially where one should not be, please remove it. Lets keep our city beautiful!
Town Square
Elections are over, but political signs are still littering our town
Original post made by bel, Val Vista, on Nov 8, 2008
If you've placed a sign (or signs), especially where one should not be, please remove it. Lets keep our city beautiful!
Comments (17)
a resident of California Reflections
on Nov 8, 2008 at 2:58 pm
(Comment deemed inappropriate by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff)
a resident of Pleasanton Village
on Nov 8, 2008 at 6:35 pm
bel, the firefighters have been going around picking up signs as a public service--where are you seeing these signs and wires--they will go get them.
a resident of California Reflections
on Nov 8, 2008 at 7:07 pm
The YES on 8 trash is left everywhere!
There are some signs left on the fence along Vineyard.
Thank you to the Firefighters.
a resident of Val Vista
on Nov 8, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Man, thats the firefighters are the ones having to do thathave to do that, (especially in this weather) they already do so much, I really appreciate all they do.
Last ones I saw were over on stoneridge by the val vista park and storage this morning.
a resident of Oak Hill
on Nov 8, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Why are the city firefighters using city resources to remove/pickup these signs(those big Diesel engines are expensive to run). I can understand the public service aspect but that should be the responsibility of the candidate that allowed them to be placed where ever they may be...
During an earlier discussion concerning the placement of campaign sign, it was stated that the candidates had no control over the persons that put the signs up. Well tough luck, require them to be responsible. It's their signs and maybe they should assume control over who they allow to have their signs. My neighbor allowed a sign to be placed in his lawn and the person that delivered the sign recorded the address and I observed this same person driving by later this week...
The old, "I can't be held responsible for where someone places my sign" doesn't cut it. And no, I, or anyone, shouldn't be required to call some city number to have them picked up... Let the candidate/supporters drive around the city removing their signs - using their resources(gasoline)...
What's next - firefighters driving around picking up trash on the street...
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it...
a resident of Val Vista
on Nov 9, 2008 at 11:31 am
Jerry on this I agree, people who placed them should be the ones to pull them.
There should be fines if the signs are left out on city property.
I saw another sign last night, just the vinyl sleeve in the street. I'd pull the damn things out myself except I'd get accused of stealing them lol
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 10, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Thank you, firefighters :) Good people.
a resident of Downtown
on Nov 12, 2008 at 9:40 am
How about a city regulation that candidates whose signs are left up outdoors after an election be cited & fined for littering? That should cause candidates to keep good records of who got signs & where they put them, & get them back.
a resident of Livermore
on Nov 12, 2008 at 9:54 am
Political signs have been a problem for years. When my business was in Pleasanton, I complained bitterly to the city and PDA, only to be told that it came under the auspices of "free speech".
There should be an ordinance, that the signs should be taken down within 72hrs of the election. The people that put them up, should be the ones that take them down. Let our firemen do the job that they are paid to do. "Bless them", yes, but they should not have to do it.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 12, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Geez. Of all the insignificant issues to obsess over! People, make it a family service project to go out and take down the leftover signs as a public service. You'll feel good about doing something for your community and your family will learn a little more about what it means to do something good without the thought of a reward.
a resident of Country Fair
on Nov 12, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I am glad our firefighters see a need and step up to fill it.
I have been told the trucks need to go out regularly which is why they take them to Safeway and Luckys.
I would like to see those trucks at the skateparks and bikeparks more often than I see them at the grocery stores. Our rescue workers could be positive presence on our kids when they are not needed elsewhere.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Nov 12, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Don't want to be bashed,
I agree with you. No one here writes with such indignation when it is some other sort of sign or trash.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 12, 2008 at 6:48 pm
You got it, Stacey. The election is over so people need to stop whining and do something if the signs bother them. Duh. Pick them up and throw them in the garbage can. All this talk of ordinances and city regulations and fines for not removing one's candidate's or proposition's sign is ridiculous! Somebody call the wambulance!
a resident of Oak Hill
on Nov 12, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Don't want to be bashed,
What office did you run for???:) Do you make it a family service project or do you just tell others they should.
Not bashing - just asking a question...
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 12, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Jerry - I don't know what your problem is, but I'm sick of people whining about something as insignificant as left-over political signs. Heck, I'll be happy to get my family out there and clean them up. Better yet, when I'm out and about tomorrow I'll stop the car and take down leftover signs when I see them. How's that suit you?
a resident of Oak Hill
on Nov 13, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Don't want to be bashed,
Thanks for your community service...
You are a true patriot. I'll sleep better now...:)
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Nov 19, 2008 at 9:38 pm
There is a city ordinance, off the top of my head I think it is 5-7 days after the election the candidate is responsible for removal. There are even fines in place if the city has to collect them.
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