Drivers keep text messaging while driving in spite of restrictions

In an effort to cut down on car crashes, a number of states have banned texting while driving. Yet a new study shows a different approach may be needed. In states with text messaging when driving restrictions, auto accidents did not decrease. In some states the number of crashes really increased. A major initiative against texting when driving is being implemented by the DOT. It is no wonder the head of the agency called the study misleading. Traffic safety experts have said that whether or not the laws are effective depend on adequate enforcement. Some who disagree think the regulations contribute further to the problem. To avoid being seen by police, text messaging motorists make use of ever much more hazardous practices.

Text messaging driving remains

Traffic deaths connected to texting drivers, as a study released by the American Journal of Public Health found, jumped by 16,000 within the years 2001-’07. But ABC News reports that researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute found no reduction in auto accidents after texting while driving laws were enacted. The conclusions were drawn by comparing the rate of accidents and claims on insurance in California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington prior to and following the passage of texting when driving bans. A perceptible increase in crashes emerged in three states.

Driving restriction may motivate more risky text messaging

Most would believe that texting behind the wheel is irresponsible. But declaring bans alone will not make the streets safer, as the study indicates. The Christian Science Monitor reports that in all four states within the study, crashes increased among motorists 25 and under– the age group most associated with texting when driving. The researchers suggested the law compels texting drivers to hold their phones lower to stay away from being seen, which significantly increases the level of diversion. Ray Lahood, secretary of the Transportation Department, criticized the study. He released a statement saying research showed that distracted driving laws could reduce crashes. A ban on text messaging alone does nothing to cut back accidents, according to Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, who points out that numerous other factors contribute to distracted driving.

Alternative solutions to simply passing laws

Law or no law, Americans are going to text while driving. Jared Newman at PC World thinks technology is a better solution than laws that are ignored. Existing options consist of text message dictation apps for instance Google Voice for Android and Dragon Dictation for the iPhone. Automobile innovations like MyFord Touch, he writes, let drivers keep their eyes and also the road and their hands on the wheel as they use their phones. Helping make the public more aware of these technology options could do much more to reduce collisions, rather than passing laws that are largely ignored.

Information from

ABC News

abcnews.go.com

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com

PC World

pcworld.com

Shortly, the littlest of Ford Trucks will be the F150

Ford sells more full size pickup trucks than any company. Ford has been for a really long time. The F150 has been the best selling full size pickup for a when, and for a reason. There have been other truck models that have sold well in the past. The Ranger was popular in its day, however the model is being retired. Also retiring is the only other truck made by Ford, the Sport Trac. All brands and cars under the Ford banner are being done away with, and soon only the F series will stay.

Sport Trac will cease to remain

By the end of October, 2010, Ford won’t make one more Sport Trac, as outlined by the Courier-Journal. The model is being retired, after performing dismally the last few years. The Sport Trac has a cult following, however not enough to justify continued manufacture. After holding steady at 60,000 units sold from 2000 to 2005, sales kept dropping. Fewer than 6,000 have been sold so far this year. Trucks smaller than full size are down as a total market segment, making up only two percent of sales for the entire auto industry. Though the models cost less at the dealership than the F150, it would cost more to keep making the Ranger and also the Sport Trac. The F150 out performs them in sales too well.

Clearing out the cobwebs

Brands and models that do not sell are facing the firing line. Ford will offer less than 30 different models worldwide, according to Automotive News. In 2006, Ford offered 97. Ford has additionally been selling off brands it had acquired. Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, and Land Rover all belong to someone else now. Mercury will stop existing at the end of the year.

Slim and mean

Ford is not going to waste cash on making automobiles that don’t sell. The business is making some other changes. Vehicles will even me sharing more parts in common. The Fiesta, which has 10 versions offered worldwide, shares 65 percent of its parts with other Ford automobiles. Ford is also getting rid of pickups that do not sell. After next year, the smallest pickup Ford will offer is the F150, and also the company can be emphasizing the turbo V6.

Information from

Courier Journal

courier-journal.com/article/20100925/BUSINESS/309260013/1008/NEWS01/Ford to end Sport Trac production in December

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/OEM04/100929868/1257

Author believes that mankind gets messages through nuclear locations with UFO sightings

UFOs tampering with nuclear weapons is a crazy idea. But a group of former Air Force personnel swear that UFOs have been keeping an eye on mankind’s nuclear arsenal for the past 60 years. The National Press Club had some interesting visitors telling their stories on Monday. UFO researcher and writer Robert Hastings decided he wanted to get together anybody who was a UFO eyewitness. Earth may be getting a message with all of these UFO sightings, Hastings said, as aliens have noticed nuclear weapons facilities and also the difficulties with humanity.

Nuclear weaponry get the no go from the Unidentified Flying Objects

The United States government needs to acknowledge that UFO visits have happened, says Hastings who was the one who organized the National Press Club News conference. CNN reports that three of the men–former Air Force officers–hadn’t seen the UFOs themselves, however told reporters that in 1967, Unidentified Flying Objects hovering over missile silos near Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana appeared to temporarily deactivate some of the nuclear weaponry. Over 120 previous military personal have seen Unidentified Flying Objects over nuclear areas, claims Hastings. He believes extraterrestrial beings had taken an interest in the nuclear arms race and were sending a communication that humans are “playing with fire.”.

The UFOs even used Soviet nukes

Apparently UFO sightings over nuclear weapons sites aren’t limited to the United States of America The very same thing was taking place within the Soviet Union, Hastings told AOL News. This is shown in KGB declassified files it had. Hastings said last June, a major Russian newspaper, Life, published accounts of a UFO sighting at a nuclear missile site on Oct. 4, 1982, within the Ukraine. A UFO hovered over the site. Missiles were instantly deactivated. There was a lot of panic. The missiles came back after a few seconds. There aren’t many individuals that have come forward because of the fear of losing their careers, AOL heard Previous Air Force Col. Charles Halt say as an eyewitness to an Unidentified Flying Object encounter as a deputy base commander in Britain. The Air Force was hoping to stop public panic or keep alien contact secret by successfully killing the UFO story by “making it so ridiculous that everybody laughs when they hear it.”

The situation is not talked about with Project Blue Book

An Air Force program called Project Blue Book investigated UFOs from 1948 to 1969. Project Blue Book concluded after this time. The conclusion was that “no Unidentified Flying Object reported, investigated and evaluated by the Air Force has ever given any indication of threat to our national security.” Hastings made a statement at the National Press Club. This statement was that aliens only bother the close-minded when thinking about it. “I don’t think humankind is in jeopardy from whoever they’re or whichever they are, except that we can have our minds expanded. Traditional institutions for instance religions, governments and other social institutions may be confronted by what is coming. That is just the logical consequence of what is about to occur.”

Information from

CNN

news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/27/ufos-showed-interest-in-nukes-ex-air-force-personnel-say/?npt=NP1

AOL News

aolnews.com/weird-news/article/former-air-force-officers-ufos-have-monitored-nuclear-weapons-sites-for-60-years/19649347

Unions stage massive protests against European austerity

Saying “no” to austerity, Europeans marched in cities around the continent Wednesday to demonstration government cutbacks in social systems and increased taxes meant to lift countries out of the European debt crisis. Europeans are upset that while governments spent billions to rescue banks, ordinary citizens were being forced to accept the consequences of austerity. As the protests raged, a U.S. government representative seemed to side with the demonstrators. The representative, a top United States of America Treasury official, said it was too early within the recovery for European governing bodies to abandon stimulus and embrace austerity.

Austerity gets a lot of awareness

A day of austerity demonstrations was shown all throughout Europe on Wednesday. There was a march across Europe with hundreds of thousands of people. As outlined by Reuters, trade unions were those who started the protests, and they say the poorest of citizens could be hurt probably the most through the austerity that will slow the economic recovery. 12 European capitals had protests in them organized by trade unions in order to say they did not like the concept of spending cuts and pension and labor market reforms. Banners were waving in Brussels, Belgium saying “No to austerity” and “Priority to jobs and growth” with a gathered crowd of 60,000 in Europe.

Austerity focuses on social programs

There is one major reason that the austerity demonstrations in Brussels are happening. It is because member states with high joblessness are running up deficits to fund their cultural systems which lead the European Union Commission to come up with the proposal of penalizing these member states. The Huffington Post reports that the EU proposal is something that Germany supports the most. Of course, that means the country of France disagrees with it. France doesn’t like the idea of strict rules deciding things and thinks that is should really just be sanctions. Elsewhere in Europe, Greek doctors and railway employees walked out. Spanish workers shut down trains and buses. One man in Ireland used a cement truck to demonstration. He was protesting the financial institution bailouts within the country by blocking Irish parliament.

United States explains austerity is not supporting Europe much

European officials were told to slow down a little through the demonstrations by a top United States Treasury official going to Frankfurt. The Wall Street Journal reports that Americans and Europeans disagree about whether stimulus or austerity is the solution to a weak global recovery. The United States of America firmly believes that a stimulus will work the best. Europe disagrees making more and more spending cuts and increases in taxes. U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard said with weak global demand and low inflation, supporting a lasting recovery, not austerity, must continue as the primary objective.

Citations

Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSLDE68S24620100929?type=marketsNews

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/29/spain-strikes-over-auster_n_743014.html#s146799

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703431604575521833087264428.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Have a drink on National Coffee Day today

National Coffee Day is yet one more explanation to indulge one’s java habit. Free cups could be available at scores of participating locations. A symphony of smells, flavors and electroshock for tired brains, java is part of the breakfast of champions for the endless multitudes. CBS News reminds us that we once we’ve had our coffee and can function like normal human beings, we should remember that there are health benefits to java also as drawbacks to the primary ingredient, old Uncle Caffeine consumption.

Have an explanation to obtain more caffeinated drinks in with National coffee day

Try looking at how much caffeinated drinks you are drinking all day. That is great way to celebrate National coffee day. Coffee brands all have very different amounts of caffeine consumption says the Mayo Clinic. From a standard cup of java to a latte, or even from Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks there are different amounts of caffeine intake. There are even different amounts between cappuccinos and mocha. According to Columbia Broadcasting System News, here are the numbers:

Dunkin’ Donuts, brewed, 16 oz (480 mL) 143-206 milligrams of caffeine

Generic brewed, 16 oz , 190-400 mg

Generic brewed, decaffeinated, 16 oz, 4-24 mg

Generic instant, 16 oz, 54-346 mg

Generic instant, decaffeinated, 16 oz, 2-24 mg

Starbucks Espresso, 1 oz (30 mL) 58-75 mg

Starbucks Vanilla Latte, 16 oz (480 mL) 150 mg

The good qualities of caffeine

Coffee will not work for you if you try to sleep, have anxiety, or have gastro-intestinal ills. That’s as a result of the caffeine. An irregular heartbeat, rather than the heart attack previously believed, can be caused by drinking six or more cups of java a day. Headaches, muscle twitches and general irritability are also things that can happen, states the Mayo Clinic. Be careful about what you are consuming along with caffeine consumption. Make an effort to avoid antibiotics and bronchial medications while drinking it. If you’re curious as to whether your coffee habit is endangering you, ask your doctor.

Drinking small amounts of java is good. This depends on the person though. Drinking coffee benefits those who have; type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, asthma and even gallstones.

Have a great time with National Coffee Day

While businesses are nevertheless open, make your way there for a free cup. IndyPosted thinks that all of us need to be like the Ethiopian goats that first found cocoa beans. Across the world, a lot of java is being drunk each day. In fact, there are 1.4 billion cups of java made really day and consumed. We should all try to be a part of the statistic. Drinking java is great.

Articles cited

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20017997-10391704.html

Indy Posted

indyposted.com/113732/10-coffee-facts-for-national-coffee-day/

The Examiner

examiner.com/holidays-in-national/celebrate-national-coffee-day-with-free-and-discounted-coffee

The first one’s free

youtube.com/watch?v=sYomUXk2RXg

President Obama terror attack comments disappoint Cheney

It isn’t hard to look back and acknowledge how hard Sept 11th was for the U.S. Family and friends of those who perished were devastated. Not only that, however history books show every person in the country on the time to be hurt by it. There are people worried about a comment created by Obama. He makes it seem like September 11th was no big deal. President Obama really offended Liz Cheney in his comment. She angrily replied to it. Source of article – Liz Cheney criticizes President Obama terror attack statements by Newystype.com.

What was the comment produced by President Obama?

President Obama explained how he felt about the September 11th terrorist attack, along with all of other terrorist attacks. President Obama was quoted by Bob Woodward in his book, “Obama Wars,” saying:

We can absorb a terrorist attack. We’ll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, the biggest attack ever… we absorbed it and we are stronger.”

Liz Cheney, daughter of Dick Cheney, got really mad at the statement being made.

What did Cheney state?

Liz Cheney was outraged by this statement on the part of President Obama. She felt like The United States is in danger with Obama in control. He will not be using all of his power and resources to protect The United States like he should. She called for an explanation from Obama about this.

CBS News reports her saying:

Americans expect our President to…use everyeach tool at his disposal to find, defeat, capture and kill terrorists. We expect him to…make it clear to our adversaries that an attack on the United States will carry devastating consequences. Instead, President Obama is reported to have said, ‘We can absorb a terrorist attack.’ This comment suggests an alarming fatalism on the part of President Obama… The President owes the American people an explanation.

A conclusion is needed by more people

Several other individuals would like a conclusion to the Obama terror attack statement that was made. 12 News has Bilal wondering why the president would even think about making a comment like that. He was one more one concerned about what exactly was said. He wanted to know why the president would not be doing every little thing he can to protect America. Many others are wondering why the President would be egging on terrorists to come to the country. Since Cheney, and other people, love to criticize the Obama administration, Mitch Marconi thinks it is all just an overreaction. Either way, some kind of explanation is expected from Obama within the near future.

Information from

CBS News

cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20017323-503544.html

The Post Chronicle

postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212324056.shtml

12 News

12news.us/obama-terror-attacksave-his-presidency.html

Wisepolitics.com

wisepolitics.com/bob-woodward-obamas-wars-book-obama-terror-attack-quote-1925.html

Hype around brand new Wall Street film just as big as the original

For months, the buzz over the newest “Wall Street” movie has been extreme. It’s been a big topic for months. Enthusiasts of the original are waiting in the wings for “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”. The original movie was released not long after the stock market crash within the 1980s. The real estate crash of 2008 is the inspiration for the new film, as Michael Douglas returns to his Oscar winning role as Gordon Gekko. There is a popular thread in both films. Unbridled greed and unethical dealings within the realm of high finance leading to disaster.

'Wall Street’ for a new generation

The sequel to the original film takes place in the immediate wake of the housing crash of 2008. The beginning of the film is the release of Gordon Gekko, notorious corporate raider and insider trader, from prison. It is assumed that he went to jail following the end of the first film. Gekko is a legendary character, as it garnered generations of enthusiasts and an Oscar for Michael Douglas. Gekko, earning a living by giving lectures to students, is enlisted by his estranged daughters’ fiancé, played by Shia LaBeouf, to bring about a corrupt hedge fund managers’ ruin. It is partly a story of sabotage of the wicked. However, the film, nicknamed but not really titled “Wall Street 2,” is also a story of redemption.

The real Wall Street

The movie is just a movie. Most people on Wall Street really get that. A post in the Wall Street Journal by Martin Fridson opines that the film captured popular outrage, however that it ignores real causes of the 2008 crash. On the ABC site, a corporate lawyer who works on Wall Street also opined that the movie is great entertainment, but little more than that. Dramatic portrayals of historic events often leave out crucial information, for the sake of sensation. The film really employed a fair number of Wall Street insiders as technical advisors. A couple of have lamented that Stone did not treat on the complexities of the market well enough in the movie.

Poor examples can ruin the group

There is some truth in the cliché that a bad apple ruins a bundle. It is kind of a shame. Actual Wall Street traders and administrators are not the evil hounds they are made out to be. In fact, the majority is highly ethical and work incredibly hard. However, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” isn’t about them.

More on this topic

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Business/films-taking-wall-street/story?id=11712654 and page=3

Wall Street Journal

blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2010/09/24/a-wall-street-veteran-on-wall-street-2/