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WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- Be careful when buying a vehicle from here. The sales and finance personnel are liars and crooks. After waiting 2 1/2 hours for the manager from finance to attend us, all I saw was mad and frustrated customers in the showroom. I then realized how unprofessional this dealer is. NOTE SEE OTHER REVIEWS BEFORE BUYING HERE.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- Just received another harassing marketing call from these people. When I instructed them to take my number off their list, I was scolded by the employee about how I should be more pleasant with him when he calls and interrupts my dinner. I have never requested information from Lustine nor will I ever do business with them or their sensitive staff of sissies. After I finish typing this, my next letter is to corporate.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- On June 25th, 2010 I went to Lustine Toyota/Scion in Woodbridge, VA to buy a Scion TC. Prior to that I had secured my financing with my bank and also did my extensive homework about the car online so that I know what I will be paying at the end. When I entered the dealership I was greeted by their salesman ** who was nice and courteous. I told him upfront and straight forward what I'm looking for, what options I want with the car and already am approved for the loan as well. He was surprised first that I didn't give him a chance to even run me around. I picked out the car and the options to put on it.
They mentioned I can get additional $1000 off rebate from Scion, if I graduated in last 2 years or will be graduating within next 2 years. And also I will be qualified for another $500 off which Lustine is giving. Well I was qualified for grad rebate, but I asked them if I have to finance with them in order to get the rebate. At first the Sales Manager ** said YES, but wasn't sure so he went and asked his finance manager and said NO I don't have to, as long as I have a proof to validate it. Finalized the pricing and was promised to get a loaner for the time I won't have the car for the parts to be installed.
After a wait of 20 minutes, I was called inside the finance office for a wrap-up. I told the finance manager ** that I already have a loan ready, I just need the information of the car and a copy of the title for my bank to write a check to Toyota. Here he kind of played me and said I can get you a lower rate or the same. I initially declined it and insisted to still go with my bank. Because they had already run my credit report and so forth. He then became aggressive and said the only way I can get those 2 above mentioned rebates is if I finance the car with Toyota Financial.
There I got shocked and mad because just 30 minutes ago I was told I don't have to finance it and still be able to get the rebate. He said whoever told you was wrong, it in the terms and condition that you have to do it with Toyota Financial. I said well let do it with Toyota and see what interest rate I get. He came back with interest rate of 4.39% APR. Furthermore he started offering all of his extra packages for ridiculous amount. I listened to him and declined them.
By this time, its already 9:45pm, dealership is closed, I'm sitting there starving trying to get the hell out of there. He printed out all the paperwork and contracts. I signed them without making sure the price and interest rate is correct to shorten the process.
They handed the car over and did the walk through on the car. Got in and left the dealership at 10:30pm. Then the next morning I pulled out the paperwork to read and make sure things were all correctly stated. And DAMN ** sure the very first thing the interest rate was jacked up to 7.69% then all the packages I had declined earlier damn sure were all included along with no $1500 rebates in it. But my payments were saying the same as what we had calculated in the finance office. I was boiled up by this time and took my car keys and ran straight back to Lustine Toyota/Scion and demanded to talk their General Manager **.
I explained him the story. He said "let me go find out and will be with you right away". I was called inside the office along with the finance manager ** who I had dealt with last night. I asked the legitimacy of the extra charges and the jacked up interest rate. ** (finance manager) said that's because I'm not qualified for the lower interest rate (even though my credit score was excellent 769). Long story short I asked the GM ** to cancel my deal and I want to return the car back.
Consequently under the VA law (No cooling off period) I couldn't, so I told him to rework the contract and take out all the charges and apply the rebate and fix the interest rate back to the original 4.39%. It was all done with careful review, I re-signed the contract and was told to bring back the car 2 days later for the parts to be installed that I had bought with it. I went back 2 days later and was told parts has not come yet so expect a phone call within a day or two. Didn't hear anything for a whole week then I called and inquired about it. I was told they are there and bring in the car the next day.
I took the car back and asked for the loaner that I was promised for. Parts Manager ** pulled out the paper and said, it says No Loaner written on it and showed me. Whereas the copy of the paper I got said nothing about No Loaner or whatsoever. I spoke to the GM ** again but he wasn't any help then went VP **. He said he will stand by his Sales Manager decision and what it says on the paper. I was pissed off by now with the treatment and level of customer service I had received overall. I just dropped off the car for the installation, called my ride and left.
I was told it will be done by the end of the day. It sure wasn't done. Matter of fact wasn't even started to be worked on. My car was there for 4 days just for installation. I promised myself and told them I will never go back after I get my car back because of the way it all unfolded.
Now I go to other dealership to get the service and maintenance done which is little bit out of my way. Also I have noticed Lustine's prices of service are higher than other dealerships around. I HIGHLY encourage everyone NOT to EVEN think about Lustine Toyota/Scion/Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler for anything. They will only give you respect until you agree to the pricing, after that you are screwed up. Take your Money, Time, Peace of mind and Business to somewhere else than Lustine Toyota/Scion/Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler. Lustine Toyota/Scion/Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler means Dishonest, Unprofessional, Liars, Poor Customer Service, Untrained and Oblivious.
I would like to sit down and see if there was more to the story than what has been written here. We do our best to accomodate all customers, and since we are in such a hight traffic metro community, many of our night do not end until after midnight, so 9:45 is not that late. I am surprised that someone of your credit score did not read the paperwork before leaving the first time. And considering Lustine Chrysler Jeep Dodge has been a GOLD standard customer satisfaction delaer all year, and LUSTINE Toyota has outstanding Customer Satisfaction Index scores, I am surprised to hear how unhappy you are. And also, it sounds like something else happened in the mean time. You bought the car and had such abad experience ont he 25th of June, yet this review comes up 25 days later? Please let me know what else happened and if you would like to sit down and discuss your experience. My apologies that you were not 100% satisfied. If there was anything else that was not fixed, please contact me.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- Per enclosure 1, on 12 Aug 2012 I purchased a 2012 Toyota Sienna from Lustine Toyota, Woodbridge, VA 22191. I spent approximately eight (8) hours negotiating a price from $38,000.00 down to $36,000.00. Approximately 45 minutes after negotiating, a male representative from the Lustine finance Department came out and my family and I accompanied him into his office. He started by requesting my credit report from one of the three credit agencies. After learning of my credit approval, he began working enclosure 1. At the completion, he quoted me a monthly payment of more than $800.00.
I immediately got up to leave telling him "no, that was way too much for this vehicle". He said wait, asking what I would be willing to pay. My reply was, "I can afford $450.00 to 550.00 per month". Not realizing that I was charged the asking $38,000.00 for the vehicle at the time, the finance guy asked that I wait as he exited the office. He returned about 15 - 20 minutes later and began adding numbers into his computer. This time he came out with approximately $700.00 per month which I again, said no. He exited his office again and returned shortly thereafter, telling me he was waiting on a phone call for approval.
He again started inputting numbers into his system. During that time, the phone rang as he answered it and held a conversation simultaneously working on my contract as I could see the computer screen. Finally, the finance guy revealed that they could get my monthly payment down to $629.00 per month at 4.24%. The finance guy printed out the contract and I began to review it. It was in-fact $629.58 but something did not seem right about the numbers within contract. As I sat discussing this with my wife and reviewing the contract, the finance guy interrupted on every question that was asked by to me by my wife.
Then I notice, the Credit Life and Credit Disability on the contract. I told the finance guy that I did not want this insurance. He then replied, "I cannot get you financed without it". He then carried on with other explanation as I continued to review the contract. At this point my full attention was on this insurance as the finance guy continued to talk. As I continue to read the details of the insurance, I noticed that it was optional, therefore it could be cancelled. So I decided to trust the financier and get the loan financed, then cancel the insurance within 30 days.
I signed the contract and asked if I could pick the vehicle up the next day because it was late and my wife's driver's license had expired while we were stationed overseas. Although informed of this situation, he said no, I had to take delivery that day, so my wife drove the vehicle home.
Per enclosure 2, on 6 Sept 2012; my wife and I returned to Lustine Toyota after extensive research into the Credit Life/Disability insurance and tactics used by dealership and banks to force this insurance on consumers. I believe this was the case with my recent purchase. I meant with the same representative from Lustine's finance department. I informed the him that I wanted to cancel the extended warranty and the Credit Life/Disability insurance.
Additionally, I told the him that he was wrong in telling me that he could not get the vehicle financed if I did not get the Credit Life/Disability insurance. Clearly agitated he stated, "I did not say I could not get the vehicle financed; I said, I could not get you the 4.24% interest rate if you did not get the insurance" (After speaking with my attorney, this is also illegal). The finance representative further went on to say, "You can cancel the insurance, but we cannot redo the contract; all this will do is decrease the number of payments" (This is also a lie, he was concern about the reduction in his commission).
I thought it was rather strange because I know he was lying to me. I then mentioned that I would hate to get an attorney involved in this matter which further agitated him. He replied, "We have attorneys too, and this company is too big to play with you over $50,000.00" (what a child?). At this point, I was starting to get upset so I told the financier to get it done so I could be on my way. I had driven my other vehicle (not the Sienna) to the dealership, so he told me I had to go get the Toyota Sienna so he could get the mileage, which I did. Upon my return, enclosure 2 (Cancellation of Credit Life and Disability Insurance) was completed and my wife and I departed.
I then contacted bank who financed the loan to get information. The representative informed me that the loan was in my wife name as the primary and my interest rate was 3.99%. This immediately raised a red flag because I remembered the financier changing his claim stating, "I did not say I could not get the vehicle financed; I said I could not get you the 4.24% interest rate if you did not get the insurance".
I explained what was going on to the representative at the Credit Union, who then informed me that obtaining Credit Life/Disability insurance has no bearing on their decision to grant loans. I then waited and continued to track the status of the cancellation through the Credit union since enclosure 2 lacked point of contact information.
Approximately two weeks later, I received enclosure 3 from TRANSAMERICA Life Insurance Company advising me of Declination of certificate because it exceeded the maximum coverage stated in my certificate. At the point, I thought my request for cancellation was a moot point because I was denied coverage anyway. So I waited the six weeks as stated in the letter before pursuing the matter. However, once the six weeks elapsed I contact the Credit Union to see if they received the payment from Lustine Toyota.
They had in fact received the warranty cancellation reimbursement, but had not received reimbursement for the Credit Life/Disability cancellation. On 3 Dec 2012, I finally made contacted with Lustine Toyota after several attempts starting in November 2012. I spoke with a different person in the finance department and explained my concerns. She called me back shortly after informing me that the check was sent to the wrong company. She stated, the check would have to be cancelled and sent to the correct Credit Union, causing further delay due Lustine Toyota's incompetence.
I found this to be odd because the letter received from TRANSAMERICA states, "For reimbursement of your premium, a check in the amount of $3,138.32 has been mailed to Lustine Toyota." I did not question her claim, I decided to trust that it was an honest mistake, so I waited. As of 9 Jan 2013, after speaking with a representative from the Credit Union, the bank has not received the check in the amount of $3,138.32.
I have since called Lustine Toyota and left numerous messages however, they will not return my calls. I have also called customer services and when transferred, I get an answering machine in which, I again leave a message but my calls continued to go unanswered.
Additionally, I feel I have a moral responsibility to inform the Government and State of Virginia (Insurance Commissioner) of possible fraud to its good citizens, especially during our hard economy times. Any assistance in this matter will certainly be appreciated.
My overall assessment of Lustine Toyota is, the individuals I dealt with show their incompetence and I will never deal with this dealership again. I gave them 1 star because I couldn't go any lower, but a 0 would have been appropriate (I'm not even upset, it's over). As for the Insurance Commissioner, I appreciate them looking into the case, but they were very little to no help. Bottom line, don't waste your time, seek assistance from an attorney while it's fresh because it's time everyone start exposing and weeding out these terrible dealers to keep other folks from getting caught up into this type of madness.
WOODBRIDGE, VA -- I purchased a used 2004 Jeep Liberty from Lustine Jeep Dodge at the very end of August 2010. After signing all the paperwork and happy about the fact that I had a Lifetime Warranty on my vehicle as long as I only brought the car back to them for any repairs needed on the car, I thought all was well. About a month of having the car I was told that the deal fell through and I would need to come back in and resign new paperwork for the new finance company.
Thinking everything was the same I came back and initialed off on the new paperwork. Later after going through the papers the warranty was changed from the Lifetime Warranty to 3 months or 3000 miles, which I believe was done on purpose. The first deal never fell through, they just didn't want to stand behind their word on the Lifetime Warranty so this was their way of getting out of that.
About 3 months later, I began hearing a loud noise when turning the vehicle left or right, so thinking the power steering fluid may be low, we added some power steering fluid, hoping that would solve the problem. I had only had it about 4 months so I never would have imagined this vehicle had some major issues. Since I was due for my first oil change, I decided to let them know about the loud noise I was having. And to add to that, it became very difficult to turn the car, as I had to really grip hard on the steering wheel to make a turn.
I the oil change and when I was called to the service department for an update on my car, I was told that the Steering Rack was completely bad and needed to be replaced, and was told they could do this for $1600.00. I was completely shocked, as I had only had the car for about four months, and with the 3 month warranty, I was no longer covered. I had just put $2000.00 down on the car, and with the monthly payments, and insurance payments, I knew that I couldn't afford this bill.
I am a single mother of four, and do not have money to waste. Very upset, I left feeling stuck in a bad situation, but didn't know what to do. But when I got into the car and began driving it, I noticed that the loud noise was completely gone, and that I could make turns with no problem. They obviously did a temporary fix on the vehicle to make it drivable. This is why when I test drove it at first everything seemed OK. They patched it up I believe, just well enough so that any potential buyer would not detect any sort of problem.
About a month after the oil change still no noise, but the brakes seemed to be getting very tight while driving, but after a while they would loosen back up. This was the scenario for a while until one day while driving the entire truck began to shake terribly, and the brakes completely locked up, on the highway. Was able to pull onto the shoulder. After about six hours my boyfriend was able to move the car, because the brakes had released on their own.
I later would find out that the Jeep had contamination in the master cylinder. It was recommended that all hoses be replaced. The master cylinder should also be replaced. Wheel cylinders and the left side caliper, should also be replaced. I was able to get the right brake replaced with a new caliper for about $470.00, parts and labor. They also said the other side may lock up and that I should get them replaced ASAP. After only having the car for about four months I can't believe this is normal.
I have been stuck on the road at least 20-25 times due to the brakes. The mechanic strongly suggested that I get rid of this vehicle as soon as possible, because to fully repair it the cost will be tremendous. A news told to avoid being stuck on the road to only lightly tap the brake, because if pressed too hard they will lock up again, and to only do local driving, because it is not safe to drive.
I went back to Lustine to tell them about these issues, and they treated me horribly. They said that's what happens sometimes when people buy used vehicles, and they would not fix it because the warranty has expired. I spoke with the General Manager, Mr. ** and his people skills as well were just as bad as his customer service.
They did offer to take about $600.00 off of the price in the new steering rack, which I did not agree to because I feel they sold me a faulty vehicle and should replace it in its entirety. After all, the brakes still have to be repaired, and with a bad steering rack I feel I am in danger each time I drive the car, especially when my children are in the car. I also must use the emergency brake to come to a complete stop now. This is an accident waiting to happen. I do not wish this on anyone, as we are paying customers and deserve to feel safe while driving our vehicles, even if it is a used vehicle. Very stressed out.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- When we first found our Toyota Sienna online, it was listed with a picture advertising a free lifetime warranty. It also was listed as having 18,235 miles. We drove about two hours to the dealership to test-drive it and possibly purchase it. After a few lengthy delays of sitting in the dealership at a desk with our 18-month-old, our salesman showed us the van (which was still being cleaned) and went with us on a test drive.
We glanced at the odometer area display, which read as advertised, and looked over the van relatively thoroughly. It had a few dings and stains but was in good condition. During the test drive, he specifically mentioned that it would come with two keys with remotes and a full tank of gas if we bought it.
We then went into the dealership to talk about the final price and what that would include. He acted very happy to negotiate and even had my husband initial an offer that we thought would be fair. To make a long story short, the salesman went back and forth with possible deals (while we sat at a desk) until his manager finally came out. He also seemed friendly, eager to compromise and receptive to our offers, and also walked back and forth to a back desk while we waited and waited.
We wanted a couple things included in a reasonable price, like removing a stain from the carpeting, installing floor mats and buffing out some paint scratches (these three requests in particular were written down on our negotiating worksheet). However, the process dragged on for hours, with the negotiators constantly implying that the price we asked was almost high enough for them to sell it to us, and if we'd come up a couple hundred more dollars we could have the van.
Half an hour after closing time, he finally came back out and gave us "the best he could do," which was only a few hundred dollars off the original list price and far above the price we'd "initialed" at the beginning of the night. We were so frustrated by how long they had taken and their continually deceptive attitudes about the price they planned to offer us that we decided not to buy the van and took our toddler home to bed.
Later that night, after much consideration of the last offered price, the options they had promised (floor mats, two key remotes, touch up painting), the fact that the vehicle would be Toyota certified, and the low mileage (around 18,000), we decided that the price was worth the questionable sales techniques and inconsiderate customer service. We decided to make the trek back and buy the van the next day.
As my husband was signing the paperwork, he realized that the mileage listed in the paperwork was actually 23,581 and brought up the apparent mistake to the manager. He said that, no, the car did indeed have over 23,000 miles on it, and the "trip A" display is what had 18,235 miles (not to mention the advertisement they posted for the car). They had the "trip A" display option showing during the test drive and while the car was sitting on the lot for anyone to look over. Despite the false advertising, they would not lower the price a single dollar, though Kelley Blue Book said the extra mileage should knock $1000 off the value.
Then when my husband inquired about the free lifetime warranty advertised online, he was told that it didn't apply to this car. And even though we had a check from the bank to pay for the car, he had to fill out a credit application, ostensibly because of "September 11th." At this point, we just wanted to be done with the deal after wasting so much time and so decided to finish signing.
We left the van there to have the scratches and stain taken care of and the floor mats installed. My husband called back repeatedly to ask when we could expect for the van to be ready. They kept stalling and refused to give an expected delivery date (as though a Toyota dealership has particular difficulty obtaining floor mats for a one-year-old car). After several days of persistence, the salesman informed him that floor mats didn't come with the van and we'd have to purchase them. He didn't contest that we had always expected them to provide us floor mats, he just said we couldn't have them.
After a couple more days of repeated and often un-returned phone calls (and frustration for us), my husband finally was routed to the manager once again (after the dealership told my husband that the manager they'd had him speak to earlier that afternoon had been fired and thus wasn't available). He said that there was nothing in the written contract requiring them to give us floor mats. As my husband started to reiterate their verbal promises, ** interrupted and said condescendingly that the van was ready to be picked up with mats installed.
We drove up immediately that night to pick up the car (5 days after we'd paid for it), concerned that something else would go wrong if we waited even a day. There were still paint scratches, but at least the floor stain was gone and the floor mats had been thrown in (not installed, which I discovered a couple days later while inspecting the car -- the driver's side mat was not even attached, which is a potentially fatal safety issue). We decided to take it as it was, but wondered where our second key with remote was.
The salesman informed my husband that there was only one key. I returned to the building to question him, since he had personally and specifically told me of the two keys with remotes during the test drive. He said that the van only came with one key, so he could only give us one. I reminded him of his statement, and asked him if he had been confused. He simply looked at me and said, "No."
I then asked if he could get us another key somehow (which of course the dealership can easily do by programming a new key in just a few minutes – something I had to have done at our local dealership later for almost $100). He said no, he would not get us another key. I left the building, got into the car and turned it on to leave. Then I realized that they had only left less than a quarter of a tank of gas in the car, not even enough for us to drive home.
As we left the parking lot, we vowed to inform other potential customers of the insidious, systematic and widespread deceit that has apparently permeated the sales personnel of Lustine Toyota and their method of doing business. Needless to say, we will never recommend this dealership to anyone, nor will we ever do business there again. Within a couple of weeks, we had to take the van into our local dealership to have three small items fixed that should have been taken care of in the "extensive" inspection Lustine must perform before selling a vehicle as Toyota certified.
We discovered later that they had not filled out any of the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle information, including the warranty number or even the key number. We were able to get most of that information from the national Toyota customer service number, except the key number. When we called Lustine to get the key number (necessary to access the car if we ever lost the one programmed key they gave us), they said that they couldn't give that information over the phone. We would have to drive the two hours back to their dealership just to get that number, or we could find another Toyota dealership and go to their service department.
Thankfully, all of the broken parts were covered by the car's original warranty, and our local dealership (Toyota of Southern Maryland) performed the work with no issues and found our key number. Now, after waiting almost two months, we have finally received our permanent plates and registration. Our Lustine ordeal, we hope, is finished. (By the way, we also own a Toyota Corolla, and our experience with the dealership in Hawaii was hassle-free and completely satisfactory).
Note: kept "I other non-truth..." Could have been "the other non-truth" or "another non-truth", but just to far from original.
On March 31, 2009 I visited Lustine Toyota of Woodbridge Virginia. I feel the unscrupulous behavior exhibited by the sales staff at Lustine Toyota adds to the stereotyping of a used car salesman, they'll tell you anything to close a deal. They knowingly made a deal that would not have been accepted if they were honest and forthright in their dealings with the customer.
I had stopped by to "look" at the purchase of a used pick-up. I found a couple of nice ones but the opportunity was presented in a way that it was more advantageous for me to purchase a new one at a similar monthly payment as a 4 year old one, with the rebates and all. I said no and was ready to walk out, but either driver's license or car keys were always out of my possession.
My licenses were taken to make a copy of for some reason. I was never afforded the opportunity to test drive a vehicle alone and the short drive around the block in a 2004 Tacoma was more of an opportunity for the salesperson to push the newer model trucks. The "test-drive" was less that 2 miles and really was a drive around the block. The vehicle that was delivered, I never drove; it was in the show room. The EPA mileage sticker was not available.
When the used truck deal was presented in the way it was, a trade-in was discussed for a new vehicle, so my keys were surrendered for evaluation. With the pressure of the "end-of-the-month" sale and new car sales down for everyone, I felt as I was under a great deal of pressure. This really came out when asked for a down payment and how I was going to do and to just sign here so we close this deal now, was repeated several times. Pushy is the best way to describe the whole ordeal. The real pain came when asked for the payoff of my 2007 Mustang.
I know my credit was run by Lustine Toyota and the amounts I owned were available to the lender. At no time did they share their findings; they just wrote up the deal and notified me after delivery was made. I thought I owed about 13K on my car, as I had recently purchased it (Aug 2008). Lustine Toyota knew what I owed but sold me the 2008 Tacoma and then called me the next day, after making delivery, to force me into finance the difference after I repeatedly stated that I cannot afford the additional charges and if this was stated up front there would not have been a deal to begin with.
When I was notified that I owe an additional 4K, I asked to scrap the deal. I only had the vehicle overnight. I was told we can change the deal but we cannot cancel the deal. I other non-truth comes with the odometer certificate. Lustine stated the vehicle had 4903 mileage when it really had 1745 miles. Yet another example of salesmen behaving badly. Lustine Toyota knew I was very upside down on the vehicle and the difference added almost 5K to the Tacoma, which would cause the deal fall through either from Toyota Credit or with me but made the deal anyway, under less than honesty.
I feel the unscrupulous behavior exhibited by the sales staff at Lustine Toyota adds to the stereotyping of a used car salesman, they'll tell you anything to close a deal. They knowingly made a deal that would not have been accepted if they were honest and forthright in their dealings with the customer.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- I purchased a Toyota corolla LE on August 2014. The sales man ** a Korean guy was nice. He said they will work a deal for me, because at the present time my credit is not good. Mr. ** the finance guy got me a good deal with the APR because of my credit (7.99%). I know this was high for me, but I had no choice, needed a car to go to work.
Here is the breakdown: down payment of Cash $3000, rebate from Toyota $500 MSRP $19352. So my down payment was 3000 from 500 rebate $3500. I was charged $2500 for extended warranty which I did not need, $800 gap insurance which I did not need. I went back and talked to ** and he says "I told you about this when you purchased the car". Well it was total lie. I just did not wanted to deal with all this, too much. Your buying experience should a good one.
After all this I was not given the $500 rebate. I ended up paying more the car, $19352 plus other stuff like, tags, title, processing fee, name it. After all even though I got a good APR for my bad credit, I was screwed on the total price of the car. I wanted my payment to stay around $260 but I ended up paying $360 a month for 72 months. This all happened because of my bad credit. I had never paid more than 2.99 APR for my auto purchases. I got sick and fell behind on my credit card payments. But I am working on those to paid it off.
I went back and talked to the sales guy **. He said I could cancel the extended service and gap insurance. I told him did not want to deal with Mr. **. I went to the finance dept with another guy, he canceled and I saved my $3300. This will bring down my total balance financed. Overall my experience with this dealer was bad. I give 0 stars.
WWOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- I had my car towed to Lustine after the serpentine belt had come off and coolant was flowing out of the bottom of my Caravan. I was called from ** a service advisor who told me that there was a problem with the water pump and that needed to be replaced which is covered under warranty. He also mentioned that the serpentine belt was stretched and they we recommending replacement. I declined because at that point I told ** that is something I can change on my own and cheaper.
That evening when I picked my car up and reading the service report I noticed that he indicated that the belt had a chuck missing out of it and not that it was stretched replacement. Also that because I didn't have them change the belt at that point that parts replaced will not be covered under again if they fail because I didn't have the belt replaced. All of this info would have been nice at the time of repair because if he would have said your belt had a chunk missing from it and we won't cover the part again I would have had the belt replaced at that point instead of doing it myself.
So when I spoke with ** the next morning his excuse about the comments in the service report were "Since you didn't want to replace the belt when I told you it was stretched I didn't need to tell you that we found a chunk missing out of it and the warrantied part because you declined to have it replace before". Now giving the correct info at the time of service I would have had them replace just because of those two pretty major concerns. So I went in and spoke with the service manager there and he did say I should have been told but it still didn't matter I wasn't given the full and correct info because I declined to have the part replaced.
I had to walk out of the dealership without a resolution because from his view it was my fault I didn't replace the belt when I was told it was stretched. Not the fact I was never told that the belt was missing a piece and the part will be void because of that. I have never been that mad after leaving a dealership and never been talk to like that by a service manager. His response before I left was "What do you want me to do" not in a way of what can I do to help but in a "oh well" way.
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- A whirlwind of lies where every department blames the other. No accountability. They gave me a truck with remote entry system and then when I went to program the remotes they said the truck couldn't have remote entry. I said well I paid for a truck with remote entry. They virtually laughed in my face. I even question the Toyota corporation for allowing such blatantly corrupt and childish unprofessional sales tactics to sour their name.
All of their warranties are a huge scam that they find a way not to back up. I.E. their tire warranty. I was guaranteed they will never patch my tires and the salesman said, "No way. It is unsafe to patch tires. We only replace the tire any time there is a puncture..." Total lie, they put a 30 cent plug and send you on your way after dealing with a third party rescue raccoon who told me I had to dig my own jack out of the car. It was mid winter and freezing.
The teenager told me he's not allowed to go inside my vehicle because they don't want him to break anything?What? Who did they send again? Certainly not a professional... the service you're paying for is a lie! Pay AAA $100 a year and save your $1000. Do not trust this dealership!!!


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1984 Jeep CJ-7 - Stretch Limo The Jeeps Of TTCPosted in Project Vehicles on October 1, 2009
There is no getting around it: This is one big CJ. But then when you take a CJ-7 and sling Rockwell axles and 49-inch rubber under it, you've got to expect something big. Granted, there isn't all that much left of the CJ that this Jeep started life as, but it is still recognizable as a Jeep, it still has a body that sits on a frame, and it just looks cool. Jamie Eulberg was the driver half of this husband/wife team, and her husband, David, wasn't on his first rodeo here at Top Truck.
David has competed as both a driver and a co-driver before, so he's been around and knows the ropes. Jamie is a great driver off-road, and with both members of the team being involved in the build of the Jeep, they were both quite familiar with it. Then toss a big-block V-8 under the hood coupled to 2.5-ton axles, and we expected a very good showing. Unfortunately, some loose spark plugs, plug wires, and ultimately a vacuum leak at the MAP sensor kept them from doing as well as we expected. Mechanical issues notwithstanding, this team placed mid-pack overall, which tells us that they would have had a much better shot if things were working as planned.
Chassis and Driveline
The engine is a 0.030-over bored 454ci GM big-block V-8. All the front end accessories were left in place, including the mechanical fan, and a simple K&N aluminum intake was used on top of the throttle body. For normal running, a conical filter is attached directly to the aluminum intake, but for mud and water a flexible tube is run up the a-pillar of the Jeep to the roofline.
A TH400 HD backs up the big-block and the shifter is sourced from a dump truck with a skull head added. A reverse-valvebody and a shift kit accompany the 1100RPM stall converter. Cooling comes from a K&N cooler, while an aftermarket aluminum radiator keeps the engine temps in check. The Atlas transfer case sends power out to the Rockwell axles via a pair of JE Reel driveshafts.
The front and rear steering Rockwell axles feature welded-on high-clearance oil pans from Fishmouth Fabworks and four-piston calipers and brake rotors off of an IFS Toyota truck with custom tube work to keep them safe from rocks and trail obstacles. Front steering is a full-hydraulic setup run off of the stock Chevy engine-driven pump that was modified by Evolution Engineering Hydraulics to match the size of the ram on the front axle. The rear is an electric-over-hydraulic system with the pump being mounted under the bed of the Jeep and wired into the adjacent Yellow Top Optima battery.
The Chassis under this Jeep is custom-built out of heavy-wall 2x4 rectangular steel tubing. The 16-inch front and rear Sway-A-Way coilover shocks work in conjunction with custom 0.250-wall tubing links and Sway-A-Way coilovers for elevation and control. Kartek welded-in steel cans hold Sway-A-Way air bumps for a soft return to the earth.
Body and Interior
We caught the narrowed rear fenders straight-away. What we didn't catch was that the Eulbergs added about a foot to the bed of this Jeep to provide clearance for those big tires. They took the bedsides from another CJ and used some flat plate for the floor and inner wheelwells. The front fenders were tossed in favor of some tube tied into the frame and front stinger, and rear flares are similarly nonexistent, favoring tube there as well.
The power seats were pulled from an '02 Tahoe. The dashboard has been replaced with some slick tube work and random-ground aluminum which was stuffed with a simple push-button starter switch (no keys here) and a bevy of Auto Meter gauges. The CJ steering column is long gone; instead, a simple steering shaft and carrier bearing take care of those duties. While the Jeep is an automatic, it didn't start life that way, and instead of trying to track down an elusive automatic pedal assembly, a plate was welded between the clutch and brake pedal to make a brake pedal with ridiculous surface area. The dual master cylinders were pulled from a Case excavator.
Behind the front seats, the top of the rear shocks and reservoirs are mounted to the cage with the filler for the under-Jeep mounted 24-gallon Welder Bill't aluminum fuel cell coming in from the driver's side and down through the floor. The cage mimics a CJ-style cage and also helps to hold the body together out back, and a simple aluminum plate up top provides shade for the occupants.
Good, Bad and What's It For
There is no beating the simplicity of a throttle-body-injected engine, and a big-block Chevy is great for torque. Rockwell axles offer worry-free bashability, and a custom rectangular tube frame to replace the craptastic stock CJ frame give it all a very solid base platform.
Hard Facts:
Model: CJ-7
Year: 1984
Build time: 2 Years
Owner: David and Jamie Eulberg
Hometown: Colfax, California
Engine: '95 454ci Chevy V-8 bored 0.030 over
Aspiration: Throttle-body fuel injection
Transmission: TH400
Transfer case: 4.3:1 Atlas II
Front axle/diff: Rockwell, Detroit Locker
Rear axle/diff: Rockwell, Detroit Locker
Ring-and-pinion ratio: 6.72:1
Front suspension: Triangulated four-link with a 16-inch Sway-A-Way 2.5 coilovers
Rear suspension: Triangulated four-link with 16-inch Sway-A-Way 2.0 coilovers
Wheels: 20-inch diameter custom two-piece beadlock wheels with custom-machined centers
Tires: 21/49-20LT Super Swamper Irok
Value: Unknown

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Learners will construct a mock-up of a planetary surface rover. They begin by exploring the importance of engineering in our society, and work as a team to build a prototype of the team's rover using student science notebooks and team sketches as a... (View More) guide. The lesson uses the 5E instructional model and includes: TEKS Details (Texas Standards alignment), Essential Question, Science Notebook, Vocabulary Definitions for Students, Vocabulary Definitions for Teachers, three Vocabulary Cards, and a Mini-Lesson. This is lesson 13 of the Mars Rover Celebration Unit, a six-week curriculum. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
This is a lesson about detecting ice on the permanently shadowed craters of Mercury and the Moon. Learners will consider what might be in that ice and will examine why the polar regions of Earth, Mercury and the Moon are colder than elsewhere on the... (View More) planets. Activities include small group miming, speaking, drawing, and/or writing. This is the lesson 12 of 12 in the unit, Exploring Ice in the Solar System. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students


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Stamford rail station plans to be revealed
STAMFORD -- After nearly a year of deliberation, state Department of Transportation officials are set to reveal controversial redevelopment plans for the downtown train station parking garage.
In a 2 p.m. Thursday announcement at the station, DOT Commissioner Jim Redeker will disclose the development firm selected to take on the project.
"I'm just anxious to hear what's being announced, and look forward to the next step in the process," said Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, which has tracked the project's advancement since the state began considering proposals last September.
In mid-May, Redeker said the DOT was analyzing proposals that locate new commuter parking adjacent to platforms and accessible by covered walkways and bridges as those that best match the state's desired goal of configuring residential, commercial, and office space around the station.
The state, which first issued a request for garage proposals last July, has continually readjusted the expected awarding of the contract, initially expected for early this year.
Responding developers were able to offer scenarios that relocated parking up to a quarter-mile from the railroad station. Last year, an evaluation issued by the DOT found that rebuilding the garage on the existing footprint was not feasible because there was no way to accommodate commuters during construction.
During a September hearing on the project, dozens of commuters criticized the DOT for not releasing even basic information about the possible new locations of commuter parking, information the department said remained part of a confidential public-private partnership negotiation process.
A less sweeping project to demolish and replace a rundown 727 space garage in 2008 was delayed to allow the state to seek a partnership with developers to redevelop the garage site, or parcels surrounding the station, to provide residential, office, and commercial space.
In October, in response to the public outcry about the lack of citizen involvement, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy appointed a five-member advisory council to evaluate the confidential group of proposals to help determine if they met commuters' needs.
Two months ago, with approval of that group, the DOT announced it would begin to work with city officials to share some details of possible redevelopment plans to get input about public concerns on access and alter aspects that would conflict with making the station more useful to rail riders.
David Hendricks, a member of both the commuter rail council and the advisory group appointed by Malloy, said he believed commuters will be pleased with the plan details.
"I am confident the stakeholders are going to be very happy with the plan and hope and expect the people of Stamford will be pleasantly surprised," Hendricks said.


text: World Dairy Expo Facebook Fan Giveaway July 3, 2012 05:59 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By News Release Email One lucky fan will win the ultimate Madison experience with the World Dairy Expo 10K Ultimate Fan Giveaway. Dairy enthusiasts are invited to become fans of Expo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/worlddairyexpo. Fans of Expo's Facebook page are privy to the latest information, giveaways, including free tickets and official Expo gear, plus it's an excellent opportunity to connect with other dairy producers and professionals from around the globe. The Expo Facebook page currently has fans from 64 different countries. When the Expo fan page reaches 10,000 "Likes" one person will win an amazing package including a three night stay at The Madison Concourse & Governor's Club during Expo. All Facebook fans over the age of 21 will be eligible to win. The prize package includes: • Three night stay at The Madison Concourse & Governor's Club – A King room in the exclusive Governor's Club • $100 shopping spree to the Purple Cow Gift Shop at World Dairy Expo • $100 to Food Fight Restaurants – A collection of over 17 restaurants in the Madison • $50 Gift Certificate for Downtown Madison area retailers • Two World Dairy Expo Season Passes • Madison Gift Basket from the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau • Lunch daily at World Dairy Expo – Including the Expo Bistro, Badger Dairy Club Cheese Stand, GEA Ice Cream Stand and more! • Preferred seating for the Supreme Ceremony on Saturday Entry into this giveaway will be revealed when the page reaches 10,000 fans. The winner will be responsible for airfare and travel. For those interested in Expo and not yet on Facebook, now's the perfect time to sign up for this free social media network online at www.facebook.com. World Dairy Expo is recognized as the largest dairy-focused event in the world. Dairy producers from around the globe are invited to experience the event that includes elite dairy cattle competition, Expo Seminars, Virtual Farm Tours and over 850 exhibiting dairy companies featuring the latest in dairy research, technologies, products and services. The 2012 World Dairy Expo theme will be "Market Fresh" and will be held October 2 through October 6 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Back to news


text:
Siam Cinema
Siam Square,
Siam Square,Bangkok 10330
No one has favorited this theater yet
Opened in 1966, this elegant single screen theater was one of Bangkok's most popular theaters with a a plush, elegant interior and a giant curved screen. It was one of a number of theaters destroyed in the riots in the city in May 2010.
Contributed by Christopher Walczak
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
CSWalczak on May 21, 2010 at 11:08 am
The opening attraction was "Battle of the Bulge;" based on the online translation of the pages on the theater's website and the picture of the auditorium (see above, if it still is working), it would appear that this theater showed 70mm Cinerama productions.
tonyk on January 14, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Sad photo of Siam Cinema after torching by Redshirt protestors in 2010.
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text:
Interactions Between HIV Protease Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00039975
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : June 20, 2002
Last Update Posted : May 21, 2012
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Diltiazem CD and amlodipine are drugs used to treat heart disease and high blood pressure. The purpose of this study is to find out if these drugs interact with the anti-HIV drugs indinavir and ritonavir. The study will also look at the safety of taking the study drugs together.
Heart disease and high blood pressure are major health concerns for people with HIV. Standard treatment for these illnesses often includes calcium channel blockers (CCBs). There is a potential for significant drug interactions between CCBs and HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) that may influence the dosing, monitoring, and choosing of CCBs and PIs when used in people infected with HIV. This study will examine the drug interactions between 2 commonly used CCBs and the PI combination indinavir and ritonavir (IDV/RTV). This information should help doctors choose the appropriate treatment for high blood pressure or heart disease in people taking PIs.
|Condition or disease
|HIV Infections Cardiovascular Diseases Hypertension
|Drug: Indinavir sulfate Drug: Ritonavir Drug: Amlodipine Drug: Diltiazem HCl
|Phase 1
Ischemic cardiovascular disease and hypertension occur in persons with HIV infection, and the incidence and prevalence may increase over time as the infected population ages. Standard pharmacologic interventions for these illnesses often include calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Many of the calcium channel blockers are metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP 3A4), which is inhibited by some protease inhibitors (PIs). Thus, there is potential for clinically significant interactions between CCBs and PIs. The presence of significant drug-drug interactions may influence the dosing, monitoring, and choosing of CCBs and/or PIs when used in persons with HIV infection. Because of the potential concomitant use of CCBs with the PI combination IDV/RTV, this study will evaluate bi-directional drug-drug interactions between 2 commonly used CCBs and IDV/RTV. This information should assist clinicians in choosing the appropriate CCBs to treat hypertension or cardiovascular disease in persons taking PIs.
Patients are randomized to 1 of the following 2 arms:
Arm A: diltiazem CD interaction with IDV and RTV. Arm B: amlodipine interaction with IDV and RTV. From Days 1 to 7, patients take diltiazem CD (Arm A) or amlodipine (Arm B). Plasma is collected for PK over a 24-hour period beginning on Day 7. From Days 8 to 19, patients stop taking their assigned CCB and take IDV and RTV. Plasma is collected for PK over a 12-hour period on Day 19. From Days 20 to 26, patients continue to take IDV and RTV and add diltiazem CD (Arm A) or amlodipine (Arm B). Patients stop all 3 drugs after the last dose on Day 26. Plasma is collected for PK for a 24-hour period beginning on Day 26. Blood work, liver and kidney function tests, urinalysis, and an electrocardiogram (EKG) are performed at some visits.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Enrollment :
|32 participants
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Evaluation of Potential Pharmacokinetic Interactions Between HIV Protease Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|April 2004
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria
Patients may be eligible for this study if they:
- Are HIV-negative.
- Are between the ages of 18 and 60.
- Agree not to become pregnant or to impregnate and to use an acceptable form of contraception while receiving study drugs and for 1 month after stopping study drugs. Patients who are not of reproductive potential are eligible without the contraception requirement.
- Are within 30 percent of ideal body weight.
- Weigh at least 110 lbs.
Exclusion Criteria
Patients may not be eligible for this study if they:
- Have a history of any illness that requires current medical therapy.
- Have a history of any kidney disorder.
- Have any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study.
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Use certain drugs within 14 days prior to study entry.
- Are allergic or sensitive to study drugs.
- Use drugs or alcohol in a way which, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study.
- Have any abnormality on electrocardiogram within 21 days prior to study entry.
- Participate in any investigational drug studies within 21 days prior to study entry and during study.
- Are unable to participate in pharmacokinetic visits.
- Are unable to understand or follow the fluid intake requirement during the periods of IDV/RTV administration.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00039975
|United States, California
|Univ of California San Francisco
|San Francisco, California, United States, 94110
|Stanford Univ Med Ctr
|Stanford, California, United States, 943055107
|United States, Colorado
|Univ of Colorado Health Sciences Ctr
|Denver, Colorado, United States, 80262
|United States, Maryland
|Johns Hopkins Hosp
|Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
|United States, Minnesota
|Univ of Minnesota
|Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
|United States, Missouri
|Washington Univ (St. Louis)
|St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63108
|United States, New York
|Cornell Univ Med Ctr
|New York, New York, United States, 10021
|Univ of Rochester Medical Center
|Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
|United States, Ohio
|Univ of Cincinnati
|Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 452670405
|Study Chair:
|Marshall Glesby
Publications of Results:
Other Publications:
|Responsible Party:
|National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00039975 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
10959 ( Registry Identifier: DAIDS ES )
|First Posted:
|June 20, 2002 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|May 21, 2012
|Last Verified:
|May 2012
Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):
Drug Interactions
HIV Protease Inhibitors
Calcium Channel Blockers
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Cardiovascular Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Calcium, Dietary
HIV Protease Inhibitors
Protease Inhibitors
Calcium Channel Blockers
Bone Density Conservation Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Anti-HIV Agents
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
Antihypertensive Agents
Membrane Transport Modulators


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This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. For more stories about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu and click on "Media" at the top of the page. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.
Sources of the week: UMass Lowell political experts can share insights into the Massachusetts special-election race for a U.S. Senate seat. A professor with expertise in Egyptian politics and culture can discuss the $250 million U.S. aid package to the country. A UMass Lowell economics expert can talk about the projected impact of the federal budget cuts that went into effect as a result of the March 1 "sequester."
Student Bassoon Player Wins Spot as Soloist
Small-Business Owners Vie for $25,000 in Seed Money
Talk Explores What It Takes to Be a Business Leader
Northern Ireland Expert Discusses Peace Process
Women's Week Program Explores Feminism's Role in Islam
Lawmakers Honored for Role in Tsongas Center Acquisition
UMass Lowell Libraries Host Jack Kerouac Book Series
Handmade Books Exhibit Illuminates Women's History
Student Bassoon Player Wins Spot as Soloist
When: Monday, March 4, 7:30 p.m.
What: Music student Matthew Heggie, a junior from Salem, won UMass Lowell's 2013 Concert Competition for a chance to perform a solo during the University Wind Ensemble concert conducted by UMass Lowell Music Prof. David Martins. Each year, the university's music students vie for the chance to perform a solo. Heggie will perform the Ewazen Concerto for Bassoon during the show, which is free and open to the public. The ensemble is comprised of UMass Lowell juniors, seniors and graduate students.
Where: Durgin Concert Hall, Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, email@example.com or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, email@example.com
Small-Business Owners Vie for $25,000 in Seed Money
When: Tuesday, March 5, 6 p.m.
What: Thirteen entrepreneurs launching startups throughout the region – including a UMass Lowell student and a UMass Lowell graduate who are piloting two separate businesses – will compete for a share of $25,000 in seed money for their ventures during the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Initiative's Accelerator Program Awards night. Scheduled speakers include Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki and UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan. The event caps the Sandbox's 12-week Accelerator Program, during which established business leaders mentor new entrepreneurs as they hone their business ideas and plans. One of only four such initiatives in the world, the Sandbox was established by the Deshpande Foundation through the Merrimack Valley Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UMass Lowell.
Where: Chester's at Bell Tower Square, 60 Island St., Lawrence.
Talk Explores What It Takes to Be a Business Leader
When: Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 p.m.
What: New-product development expert Beth Logan will discuss what's needed to cultivate the next generation of corporate leaders and entrepreneurs during a visit to the Manning School of Business at UMass Lowell. Logan, who has 25 years of technology, engineering and product-management experience, is a senior product manager at Brooks Automation in Chelmsford. Prior to working for Brooks, she ran her own technology management consulting company and held management positions at several others, including Skyworks Solutions, Lucent Technologies and M/A-Com Technology Solutions.
Where: Pasteur Hall, Room 407, 1 University Ave., Lowell
Northern Ireland Expert Discusses Peace Process
When: Thursday, March 7, 11 a.m.
What: Conflict transformation expert and author Peter Shirlow, a Queen's University Belfast professor, will discuss issues important to current-day Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole. Shirlow's book, "The End of Ulster Loyalism?" advances his work examining how political prisoners and activists have influenced Northern Ireland's peace process and post-conflict transformation. The talk, presented by the UMass Lowell Center for Irish Partnerships, is free and open to the public. Queen's University is one of UMass Lowell's 95 international partners in 40 nations worldwide.
Where: Dugan Hall, Room 211, South Campus, 850 Broadway St., Lowell. (NOTE: The event's location has changed.)
Women's Week Program Explores Feminism's Role in Islam
What: Guest speaker Ziba Mir-Hosseini will explore the role of feminism in Islam during the presentation "Islam and Feminism: Between Theology and Religion." Mir-Hosseini is a senior research associate at the Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. The talk is presented by UMass Lowell's College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, UMass Lowell's Peace and Conflict Studies and Gender Studies programs, the Political Science Department and the Center for Women and Work as part of Lowell Women's Week.
Where: Alumni Hall, North Campus, 84 University Ave., Lowell
Lawmakers Honored for Role in Tsongas Center Acquisition
When: Friday, March 8, 5:30 p.m.
What: UMass Lowell will hold a dedication ceremony to recognize members of Lowell's Statehouse delegation in 2010 for their vital role in passing legislation that enabled the university to acquire the former Tsongas Arena, now the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. Former state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and current state Reps. Thomas Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle spearheaded this work, helping to set the stage for UMass Lowell's resurgent River Hawk men's hockey team and the transformation of the venue into one of the top-ranked centers for sports and entertainment. Panagiotakos, Golden, Murphy and Nangle are slated to speak, along with UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan. The dedication ceremony will take place shortly before the River Hawks drop the puck on their last regular-season home game, battling Providence College to stay at No.1 atop the Hockey East standings. To thank fans for their support this winning season, the first 1,000 ticketholders through the gate will receive a Dwayne Roloson bobblehead figure, courtesy of Xfinity. Roloson, an NHL All-Star goaltender and 1994 UMass Lowell graduate, volunteered as a River Hawks goalie coach this season.
Where: Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell lobby, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
UMass Lowell Libraries Host Jack Kerouac Book Series
When: Tuesdays, March 19, April 9, April 30, 7 to 9 p.m.
What: The public is invited to the free Jack Kerouac book reading and discussion series that explores three of the author's Lowell-centric novels: "The Town and the City," "Visions of Gerard" and "Maggie Cassidy." The UMass Lowell Libraries series, which began in January, features Prof. Todd Tietchen, a member of UMass Lowell's English faculty, who leads discussions about each novel. A Beat Generation scholar, Tietchen is an internationally known Kerouac expert. Members of the public may attend one or all of the sessions, which will cover the books noted on the following dates: Tuesday, March 19, "Visions of Gerard" with the community group Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!; Tuesday, April 9, "Visions of Gerard;" and Tuesday, April 30, "Maggie Cassidy." Participants who register now will receive free copies of "Visions of Gerard" and "Maggie Cassidy." To register, go to http://libguides.uml.edu/kerouac or contact Sara Marks at email@example.com. Support for the series is provided by the UMass Lowell English Department and Office of Community and Cultural Affairs, and the Massachusetts Humanities Council.
Where: All programs will be held at O'Leary Library Learning Commons, South Campus, 61 Wilder St., Lowell except Tuesday, March 19, which will be held at Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack St., Lowell
Handmade Books Exhibit Illuminates Women's History
When: Exhibit runs through Friday, March 22. Gallery hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; evenings and Saturdays by appointment.
What: Books crafted by New Hampshire artist Gail Smuda that transcend traditional structure and binding techniques will be showcased in "A Retrospective of Handmade Artist's Books." Using traditional sewing and embroidery arts with mixed media such as photographs, textiles and timeworn objects to build books' contents, Smuda's work speaks to women's history, issues and gender roles. The show is presented by the UMass Lowell Art Department and University Gallery as part of Women's History Month.
Where: University Gallery, McGauvran Student Center, South Campus, 71 Wilder St., Lowell
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, firstname.lastname@example.com or Michele Gagnon, 978-934-3491 or email@example.com


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This year at RootsTech there are a couple of new additions. One is the Getting Started Track and the other is Story@Home. Story@Home is a great addition, particularly as we (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints/Mormons) have been encouraged to connect with our relatives through stories. I know that my kids aren't really motivated by a pedigree chart, but a story will get them every time! If you are looking for a way to engage your family in your hobby/passion, go for the stories. Story@Home will give you some great ideas and resources. For a schedule of their classes, click here.
(Nope, not affiliated with Story@Home!)


text:
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Our service will also list discounted Amherst, NY hotels/motels that get similar quality scores of a Hilton Garden Inn.Need a group/meeting discount? Get quotes from hotels in Amherst NY
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text: The Rams lost 55-6 to Silver Lake on Friday. Nick Holmes had a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the lone score for Pleasant Ridge. Holmes passed for 46 yards in the game. Kyle Grantham was the leading rusher for the Rams with 56 yards. Kyle Lansing had 46 receiving yards to lead the Rams. The Rams will be at Maur Hill next week.


text:
Within minutes of shopping in a big-box retail store, my smartphone notified me that I received a store coupon. The indicator dinged, and like Pavlov's dog, I paused in the middle of the aisle to pull up my coupon. I was hoping for something that I could use during my visit as I desperately needed a tooth brush and lotion, but I received a coupon for the company's maternity line of clothing instead. I looked down and snickered while wondering, "Does Target know something that I don't?"
Within minutes of shopping in a big-box retail store, my smartphone notified me that I received a store coupon. The indicator dinged, and like Pavlov's dog, I paused in the middle of the aisle to pull up my coupon. I was hoping for something that I could use during my visit as I desperately needed a tooth brush and lotion, but I received a coupon for the company's maternity line of clothing instead. I looked down and snickered while wondering, "Does Target know something that I don't?"
Don't get me wrong. I happen to think that maternity clothes are adorable as long as you are expecting. This single lady's belly bulge is something that a few crunches can fix.
The next day, I attended a seminar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School as part of the Women's Executive Leadership Program. Professor Noel P. Greis, director of the Center of Logistics and Digital Strategy, shared about how companies are gathering global data to develop formulas that help them make predictions about consumers. In the case of the store I was in, Target has a pregnancy score for every customer. I am guessing that my score is inaccurately high these days.
I was a little disturbed when I learned that my most recent email from the Target store was not a random coincidence. Retailers are roving through our purchase history and seeking women who are quietly expecting. Apparently there is a great financial gain to lure brand loyal customers in before they start notifying friends, family, loved ones and other retailers.
During the seminar, I raised my hand with a concern about how companies gain access to data, but my classmates assured me that it's too late to retrieve some of my most intimate secrets from retailers. Greis highlighted Target's customer identification process. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, these spies often use information tied to rewards cards and credit card purchases.
I joked about putting my cell phone on airplane mode and searching my room for hidden barcodes lest my data betray me. Target got this one wrong, but I was unsettled about the idea that intimate information is plugged into the digital revolution in a greedy attempt to turn women and their unborn children into buying power.
This was new information for me. Apparently companies have been relying on "predictive analytics" for years. Greis also shared examples that might even impact the ability to obtain loans or credit. Some credit card companies use data from Internet wedding sites like theknott.com to determine the likely success of a marriage. Someone out there is using demographic data to predict the success of any marriage. On the other hand, I happen to know a few single ladies who would pay to obtain such useful information.
If credit card companies have found that divorcing couples are less likely to pay their debts on time, should they deny them credit based on these assumptions? Imagine the possibilities of such a practice. Can we expect future formulas that will enable companies to deny access to credit based on other demographics like race, disability or gender?
It's overwhelming to imagine what's coming for consumers in this age of the digital revolution. Target seems to have an industry-leading approach to finding expectant mothers. An article by The New York Times' Charles Duhigg quotes statistician Andrew Pole when two colleagues from the marketing department stopped by his desk to ask: "If we wanted to figure out if a customer is pregnant, even if she didn't want us to know, can you do that?"
Yes, they can and they do. In the clamor to identify women who are quietly pregnant there is data that demonstrates newly pregnant women buy things like large purses, vitamins and lotions. I am accidentally guilty of all those purchases, thus the slew of useless coupons.
I also came across a story about a teenage girl in Minnesota whose father shared his outrage when Target began sending his daughter advertisements for maternity clothes in the mail. He asked if the store was trying to encourage her to become pregnant. He later found out his daughter was indeed expecting, and to his disappointment, Target knew before he did.
In the nytimes.com article, "How Companies Learn Your Secrets," Pole brags, "And we found out that as long as a pregnant woman thinks she hasn't been spied on, she'll use the coupons. She just assumes that everyone else on her block got the same mail for diapers and cribs. As long as we don't spook her, it works."
I worry about the millions of women who carefully determine when to tell friends, family and loved ones their big news for medical and emotional reasons. If buying big purses and lotions means that a retailer is going to start snooping through my private information, then consider me spooked enough to run away from that all seeing big red bull's-eye. I find it unsettling that companies continue to spy on us and that they would risk "outing" vulnerable and expectant customers. Thanks to Greis for the enlightenment.
It's eerie to think about the future use of predictive analytics, especially when it involves retailers making what goes on in a woman's womb their business.
Antionette Kerr is a freelance writer. You can email her at email@example.com.


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In this series, Computerworld Australia examines some of the information security threats facing small businesses and larger enterprises today.
We've looked at third party access, hacktivism, social engineering, and internal negligence and conclude the series by speaking to security experts about the problem of internal excessive privilege.
Whether it's a system administrator with complete access to servers and data or an executive who retains excessive access rights after changing roles, these people could pose an internal threat if they turn against the company.
For example, employees could find themselves locked out of their own networks while customer data files vanish, trade secrets get stolen or company funds are siphoned out of the business.
IT admins gone wild:5 rogues to watch out for
The threat of internal excessive privilege
While organisations spend large amounts of money trying to defend their perimeters from being breached by external malicious actors, the defensive strategies put in place are not effective at protecting the organisation from within, according to IDC Australia senior market analyst, Vern Hue.
"When a rogue employee has access rights to various, and deep-lying parts of the business --most often due to employees being with the organisation for a long period of time and changing roles as they go along-- access to other parts of the system remains," he says.
According to Hue, this is because many organisations do not have the right processes in place to remove access rights to that previous role.
"This allows the employee to be in a position of siphoning precious information out and hold it against the organisation for a ransom, or to sell it in the black market," he says.
The risks of allowing staff access to certain systems can range from the employee destroying data that they should not have access to through to the entire corporate environment becoming compromised, according to Pure Hacking chief technology officer, Ty Miller.
"This is a common scenario found by our security consultants where organisations are creating excessive numbers of domain administrator accounts," says Miller.
"These accounts have complete control over every Windows workstation, laptop and server throughout the corporate environment. When these accounts are compromised, the resulting impact can have devastating consequences on the organisation."
Extent of the threat
IDC's Hue warns that some well-known financial institutions have taken hits to both the bottom line and reputation as a result of rogue traders with excessive privileges.
For example, French bank, Sociate Generale, was thrown into turmoil in 2008 when one of their traders, who breached five levels of controls, executed a series of fictitious transactions which resulted in US$7 billion of losses.
"That said trader was reported to have worked in the risk management office, before moving into a trading role," he says.
According to Trend Micro Australia and New Zealand alliances manager, Adam Biviano, the risk is not just from intentional misuse of the company data.
For example, an administrator might be in the process of repairing a server and copies a critical database to a USB drive. "Once the server is fixed and the data is no longer needed on the USB drive, is it actually deleted? Or is it thrown in the drawer as is, only to be used by someone else down the track who misplaces it in public," he says.
Addressing internal excessive privilege
Businesses need to reassess how they look at addressing internal excessive privilege by shifting away from viewing it as a compliance and government requirement to making it more about a risk management exercise, says IDC's Hue.
"The shift in mentality has to start with the C-level executives, and helping them understand the risks associated with not having proper access governance programmes," he says.
Hue adds that companies can also conduct both external penetration tests [EPT] and internal penetration tests [IPT].
"These penetration tests would be deployed in order to mimic vulnerabilities which lay outside, and within the firewall," he says.
IPT is conducted from the vantage point of an internal user and using the network access a typical users has, and from this point, the organisation is able to see how far privileges can be escalated and how much information within the network is at risk of a breach.
"This gives the team a view of their current security posture and it helps validate their security controls which are in place," says Hue.
Pure Hacking's Miller provided five key steps for organisations to address the issues surrounding excessive internal privileges.
- Security policies, processes and system security guidelines should be developed to ensure that security is being implemented effectively and only the necessary privileges are provided to employees.
- System configurations should also be locked down so that least privileges security is being used to minimise the risk of unnecessary privileges being abused.
- Hackers perform privilege escalation attacks that are designed to gain unauthorised access to systems and data. Systems should be patched and hardened on a monthly basis to ensure that these types of attacks are not possible.
- Penetration tests should be performed to identify insecure access controls, privilege levels, and privilege escalation vulnerabilities within systems and applications.
- Organisations should review all users' privileges on a regular basis to ensure that accounts only have access to the functionality and data that they require access to.
Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
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If you're running a nitrous or big-cube engine, these latest 3"-diameter, mandrel bent tailpipes are just the ticket for increased power. Flowmaster has manufactured them so that they are a two-piece with a slip-fit connection right behind the rear axle. These kits are sold without hardware or hangers and in pairs only.


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Homemade fermented beverages" means beer or wine produced by a person who is 21 years of age or older, through such person's own efforts and in accordance with K.S.A. 41-104, and amendments thereto, at a place of residence or at another location with permission from the property owner, and not for a commercial purpose, but for consumption by that person or such person's family or guests, or for use at an exhibition, demonstration, judging, tasting, class or sampling, or as part of a contest or competition.
Sounds like Kansas is getting its act together. Any hope with Illinois? So far, it is just a "look the other way" approach for competitions and banning homebrew at any "exhibition" that involves an admission price.


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Royals call up Getz, Herrera
Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Royals recalled second baseman Chris Getz and reliever Kelvin Herrera from the minor leagues prior to Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers.
Getz, the Royals' Opening Day starter at second base, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on June 22 after batting just .214 in 47 games. The veteran infielder hit .313 with five doubles and nine RBI in 14 outings for the Storm Chasers, however, and is the lineup in the No. 9 spot for Friday's first game following the All-Star break.
Herrera also began the season in the majors before being demoted on June 25. The hard-throwing right-hander went 3-5 with a 5.20 earned run average and two saves over 29 appearances prior to being sent down, though he did strike out 33 batters in 27 2/3 innings.
The native Dominican earned a promotion by yielding just two runs in 18 innings and racking up 27 strikeouts in 12 games between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Kansas City made room for both players on the active roster by optioning infielder Johnny Giavotella and pitcher Everett Teaford to Omaha on Thursday.
Giavotella had served as the Royals' regular second baseman for most of July, but hit just .206 (7-for-34) with four RBI in 10 games.


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WASHINGTON — With the White House and Congress engaged in their second major battle in 18 months over the debt limit, some lawmakers, economists and analysts are offering a simple solution: Just get rid of it.
The U.S. is one of the few nations with such a borrowing mechanism. And as political fights over raising the limit have escalated in recent years, chilling financial markets and triggering the first-ever U.S. credit rating downgrade, critics said the time has come to make a change in Washington.
"Congress has gone from grandstanding on the debt ceiling to actual use of it as an economic weapon of mass destruction," Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said. "It's extremely dangerous."
Welch and several Democratic House colleagues last week proposed eliminating the debt limit, which has been in place since 1939, to avoid the risk of a default.