Tuesday, August 31, 2010

And now for something totally the exact same - one more Toyota Recall

Toyota made an additional mistake meaning a recall will come

Recalls are going on all the time within the automotive department this year. One of the most well-known auto recall this year probably came from Toyota when a recall on the defective accelerator pedals happened. If the automaker could be credited for one thing, it is consistency, as another Toyota recall is in effect. Less automobiles are being recalled now. That means less people will be affected by it. Only a few model years have to be recalled. Not only that, but only two different cars are being in the recall also. This recall can be hurting Toyota although it is really small. Toyota hasn’t recovered from the last recall and so this could be a hit. Source of article – And now for something entirely the exact same – another Toyota Recall by Personal Money Store.

An additional Toyota recall

There are several recalls from Toyota. New Toyota recalls are starting to become more regular than full moons, and a new Toyota recall has just been announced. The problem being tackled by this Toyota recall is with the engines in more than 1.3 million automobiles. The engine control module needs fixing. The engine problem makes it so the motor won’t start with a stall when driving. Also, says CNN, shifting could be affected as well. The problem has caused a couple of accidents.

Recall 1 million cars to fix

The models in question are the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Matrix. The model years are from 2005 to 2008. The defect in the 1ZZ-FE engine is within the circuit board in the Engine Control Module, where the circuit board can crack. The engine might shut off when driving or affect the shifting. The engine might have difficulties beginning. That is also common with this problem. 1.13 million cars in the U.S. are likely going to be within the recall while Canada has an additional 200,000 cars. After this, Toyota will have recalled 10 million vehicles this year, says the Los Angeles Times. There is an investigation being run. This is coming from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

After years of market share Toyota can do no right

Toyota has had market share in U.S. auto sales. This has been for the last few years. This could be really bad for Toyota. This could possibly be the one thing stopping all the progress. Those customers would go to General Motors, Ford and Chrysler if it were possible.

Additional reading

CNN Money

money.cnn.com/2010/08/26/autos/toyota_corolla_recall/

LA Times

latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-toyota-20100826,0,7145846.story?track=rss



Dancing With the Stars cast announced, contains Bristol Palin

You should be excited as a fan of “Dancing with the Stars” because there was a leaked cast for “DWTS” season 11. The banana boat of stars involves a fair number of surprises. Bristol Palin is one of these as she is 19, is Sarah Palin’s daughter and she has become a celebrity as Levi Johnston’s baby mamma. Banana could be added to that. “Dancing with the Stars Style” always has surprises. ”DWTS” Season 11 will be coming out on September 20.

'Dancing With the Stars,’ and a Situation

Yes, “Dancing With the Stars” is going to have to deal with the multi-million dollar ab-bearing boy from “The Jersey Shore,” Mr. The Situation. There is another boy to look forward to. David Hasselhoff can be on the show. Given the chance, he’ll surely break into a rousing round of “oooka shakas,” because song and dance are blissfully wed when the Hoff is on. Audrina Patridge could be at the party to play the obligatory female eye candy, but she may actually have some dancing background. E! Online indicates Brandy can be there, too.

The show won’t feature Kirstie Alley

Rumors were that Kirstie Alley was on the short list, but the ubiquitous tabloid star didn’t make the cut. There also was not the “Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” stars on the list. But we won’t know for sure until the official “DWTS” Season 11 cast announcement is made on Monday, Aug. 30 during the ABC program “Bachelor Pad” – because bachelors truly can’t get enough of “Dancing With the Stars.”.

Look out to find Bristol

ABC’s Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” showed Bristol Palin in one episode. Mediate reports that she was going to co host a reality show with her ex, Levi Johnston,but now she has a lot of time for “DWTS” to happen. Perhaps the bright lights, the gowns and also the potential for a love triangle with Levi the Kid and Mr. The Situation are on Bristol’s media calendar. Maybe she just really wants to dance.

Discover more information on this subject

E! Online

eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b197302_exclusive_bristol_palin_coming_dancing.html

Mediaite

mediaite.com/online/report-bristol-palin-to-compete-on-dancing-with-the-stars/

CelebTV ‘DWTS’ Season 11 casting coverage

youtube.com/watch?v=Xa9-fo50Pu0



Sunday, August 29, 2010

Gmail interface will be a part of Google Voice software

The prospect of making free telephone calls from within the U.S. to other United States and Canadian numbers – regardless of whether those numbers are land line, cell phone or desktop virtual phone numbers – is enticing to all. Every person but phone services like the idea a lot. Now that Google Voice will soon be entirely integrated into Gmail, it can be that much easier for Google users to make and receive high-quality calls for free. You can make free calls wherever you find Gmail.

Active phone service comes from Gmail contacts with Google Voice

Just because cell phone coverage isn’t really there doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to make calls. Just use Google Voice with any internet connection. Any calls outside the U.S. or Canada do have a rate. The rate is only 2 cents per minute though. Tech Crunch reports what is needed for this. All you have to do is get the Google Talk plug-in. You can make and receive calls from your Gmail interface of all places. Voicemails are saved into your Gmail inbox. And here’s a neat feature: you can transfer a call in progress from Google Voice on your desktop to your cell phone without dropping the call if you are on the go but need to keep talking.

In Gmail, Google Voice will be here soon

The Official Google Voice Blog says that United States Gmail accounts will get the Google Voice feature within the next few days. As soon as you can use it, a “call phone” will show up. It can be with your Google Chat list. It will take just a little bit longer to get the Google Voice feature to be available to those who use Google Apps for business or academic purposes.

Find more information on this subject

Google Voice Blog

googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/

TechCrunch

techcrunch.com/2010/08/25/google-voice-integrated-into-gmail-make-and-receive-calls-from-the-browser/?utm_source=feedburner and amp;utm_medium=feed and amp;utm_campaign=Feed: Techcrunch (TechCrunch) and amp;utm_content=Google Feedfetcher

Google Voice humor – testing transcript capabilities

youtube.com/watch?v=FzOMyXwfrR8



Saturday, August 28, 2010

Debate erupts because of most recent Medal of Honor game

The video game series “Medal of Honor” has been in need of a reboot after a successful run. However, the newest video game within the series has ignited some fiery debate. All titles in the series were set in World War II until now. The newest version is set in the present war in Afghanistan. In multi-player mode, gamers can be either coalition forces (United States, U.K., etc.) or the Taliban in “Medal of Honor 2010.” The Minister for Defense of the United Kingdom has called for the game to be banned.

Bar required through Liam Fox

Liam Fox, the Defense Secretary (“defense” gets a “c” in British English) for the United Kingdom, has called for the game to be banned. He would like to see retailers refuse to carry it, according to The Guardian. Definitely, he also doesn’t think any person should purchase it. The belief that players could be in the Taliban in multiplayer mode is the root of the controversy, and would be shooting, virtually, at US and UK troops. Others have joined within the protest against shooting at United States or U.K. forces, even if it is only in online gaming. Considering games in other series for instance the “Call of Duty” series, took place in Afghanistan and Iraq, it was only a matter of time before this scenario arose.

Reaction from Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts makes the game, this being the first “Medal of Honor” not set in World War II. EA’s PR Representative, in AOL News, said the video game play is no different than how kids play. Police are opposed to by criminals, cowboys must contend with Indians and their own weak offenses within the post season, and in the game, “someone’s gotta be the Taliban.” Opponents also observe that Word War II is removed from modern history by a long time, and thus games in which individuals can be Nazis in multiplayer are less harmful as a result.

Not really the first game to employ shock strategies

Every video game controversy has two outcomes. Some individuals get offended, and the video game sells a lot of copies – the first “Mortal Kombat” and “Grand Theft Auto III,” for example. As far as the controversial component; it sadly seems inevitable. Steven Spielberg actually helped to create the first “Medal of Honor.” That first game had some multiplayer characters which were interesting also. Players could unlock multiplayer characters such as William Shakespeare or a German Shepherd. They could also play as a Velociraptor from “Jurassic Park”. That’s right. Dinosaurs killing Nazis.

Additional reading

AOL News

aolnews.com/nation/article/new-video-game-will-let-you-play-as-the-taliban/19588413

Guardian

guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/aug/23/liam-fox-medal-of-honor-ban



Friday, August 27, 2010

10 most popular cars to steal in the U.S.

United States cars that are stolen the most

There is a lot of incentive to keep track of which cars thieves like to make off with more than others. The list of probably the most popular stolen cars, or most regularly stolen autos, is tracked by various sources, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The new reports on the most popular automobiles stolen this year was just released by the IIHS. There is a surprising corollary, but one that thieves do not likely consider.

The Escalade is number one

For some reason, Cadillac Escalades are popular. They’re the cars most stolen. The Escalade has been number one on this list in six of the IIHS reports. The Escalade gets stolen way more than any automobiles. To be precise, about seven times more. Car thieves will just tow away these SUVs that do actually have great anti-theft features. The Escalade is targeted for its glamorous nature. This is as opposed to other luxury SUVs just like the Land Rovers that aren’t as targeted. The full report is accessible on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website.

Raccoons vs. car thieves

Bright and shiny things are what raccoons tend to be interested in. There is not actually any facts to prove that; however, there is proof that car thieves like vehicles that are fairly shiny. The IIHS report generally has the very same old cars. These include luxury SUVs, luxury cars and full-size pickups. Here’s the full list of most stolen vehicles:

  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Next is the Ford F250 4 Door
  • 3rd is the Infiniti G37 2 door
  • Dodge Charger HEMI
  • Then there’s the Chevrolet Corvette Z06
  • Hummer H2
  • The Nissan Pathfinder Armada is next
  • One more choice car to steal is the Chevrolet Avalanche 1500
  • The Chevy Silverado 1500 Crew is next
  • Last is the GMC Yukon

Performance cars, luxurious SUVs and big pickups are what thieves search for. Thieves like to get additional things with the deal. Generally a truck may have tools in it.

Cars match an additional list

There is one more list these cars are all on. The Escalade and Ford F250 are on the list. This list is the Forbes Worst Made Cars on the Road. The bottom line, however, is this: if you need your risk of theft to be minimal, a flashy show of status is something you might want to avoid. You can get them if you would like to. Just make sure to keep additional cash for a new car.

More on this topic

IIHS

iihs.org/news/rss/pr080310.html

Forbes

forbes.com/2010/04/07/worst-made-cars-lifestyle-vehicles-gm-ford-chrysler_slide.html



Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Kestrel automobile a Canadian marijuana marvel

Kestrel automobile a Canadian weed wonder

Finding choice fuels and greener ways of getting from point A to point B now is back within the spotlight. Motive Industries of Calgary, Alberta, has announced plans to introduce Canada’s first bio-composite electric car, reports Fast Company. The bio-composite car can be known as the Kestrel, and also the green bio factor is hemp. Indeed, it’s a cannabis car that will no doubt be affixed with the moniker “pot car” by those who don’t understand horticulture. Resource for this article – Canada has high hopes for Kestrel cannabis car by Newystype.com.

Hempcar Program forecasted the Kestrel future

Understandably, the Kestrel has sparked up controversy. We are talking about pot, and Americans can’t resist the boogeyman. Canadian activist group Hempcar.org trumpeted a 2001 American road tour of 10,000 miles undertaken by a vehicle comparable to the Kestrel, but not constructed of weed fiber. The experimental auto they used ran on hemp biodiesel, which is not at the moment the case with the Kestrel, although it might eventually come to pass. The United States has yet for making cultivating industrial hemp lawful, though, so they won’t know what it’s like. Industrial hemp is no drug and doesn’t affect the mind, so there is no big deal, really.

Motive gets the hemp from Alberta Innovates

So the supply chain for hemp runs from a farm in Vegreville, Alberta, to Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. They in turn supply the hemp for the Kestrel. Hemp for body construction is lightweight, renewable and strong as glass composite, reports Fast Business.Motive isn’t really ready to start ripping Kestrels off the assembly line just yet, but testing a prototype should certainly begin before 2010 comes to a close.

In 1925, Henry Ford saw the future

According to Hempcar.org, Henry Ford told the New York Times that “The fuel of the future is going to come from fruit like that sumach out by the road, or from apples, weeds, sawdust — almost anything,” he said. “There is fuel in each and every bit of vegetable matter that can be fermented”.

Hemp was reportedly one of the plant materials on which Ford had his eye. This is a safe assumption because he made a car out of resin-stiff hemp fibers. It ran on hemp-based ethanol. Ford could have saved the country’s farmers from the grip of the Good Depression. Both Ford and farmers would likely have seen tremendous profits. However, Congress eventually passed the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. Thanks in large part to the influence of the DuPont company and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, cannabis was criminalized in America.

Further reading

Fast Company

fastcompany.com/1684111/motive-industries-hemp-ev?partner=rss

Hempcar.org

hempcar.org/ford.shtml

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States



Reform a school with $ 4.35 billion as a Race to the Top winner

Win the Race to the Top and get $ 4.35 billion to reform your school

If you would like to improve your school, just check with President Obama. He pays $ 4.35 billion to schools in America to make some improvements. His education initiative, entitled “Race to the Top,” rewards schools with one of the most ambitious plans to “improve schools and close the achievement gap,” writes MSNBC. Nine new “Race to the Top” winners are announced to share this round’s $ 3.4 billion grant, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Education: There could be a little more time before it is announced how much could be given to Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington D.C.. A later round with $ 350 million at stake for states that create new means of student assessment is still to come.

Not just the ‘Race to the Top’ winners

The grant competition “Race to the Top” has inspired numerous states that need the money to raise the education bar. New teacher accountability directives and no caps on funding for charter schools are two of many moves states have made to make an effort to win the “Race to the Top” prize. In total, 35 states and also the District of Columbia applied for round two, and the Department of Education chose 19 finalists from among that group in July. So far, 46 states and the District of Columbia have applied for “Race to the Top.”.

Teachers unions against along with state education leaders

“Race to the Top” hasn’t met with universal approval. According to MSNBC, teachers unions were uneasy about signing on to any reforms that would connect teacher evaluations with student standardized test performance, while various state education officials expressed concern as to whether or not getting into reforms within the “Race to the Top” would mean that school districts would be giving up too much control to the federal government.

Changing some stuff in America

The overall outlook has been good. Democrats for Education Reform released a public statement in which the organization clearly showed that it has its finger on the pulse of what most of the nation is thinking about “Race to the Top.”. Civil rights and child advocacy groups to local business were addressed in the statement saying that there is a hope that under the President’s command, maybe all these groups can work with teachers unions to help give a new result America needs while also applauding what the president has done.

Find more details on this subject

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/38827310

President Obama on “Race to the Top

youtube.com/watch?v=VNbDv0zPBV4



Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Scientists warn that drug-resistant superbug could go world-wide

A new superbug virus could become a world-wide threat, thanks to Brits seeking out cheap face lifts in India and bringing home more than souvenirs. A new superbug infection could spread worldwide after infecting plastic surgery individuals in south Asia who brought it home to Britain. The new superbug carries a bacteria-jumping gene that makes infections impervious to one of the most powerful antibiotics accessible. Experts have said that more should be done by governments to encourage more investment from Large Pharma for antibiotic research, instead of going after easy profits for popular conditions like erectile dysfunction.

Drug-resistant superbug gene makes bacteria deadly

After travelling from Britain to India via medical tourism, a new superbug infection is threatening to spread around the world. There are few drugs strong enough to treat it, researchers said. Reuters reports that researchers have found a new gene called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase, or NDM-1, in patients in south Asia and in Britain. Most antibiotics, including carbapenems-the most powerful class available, are ineffective on bacteria that are altered by the NDM-1 gene. There are no new antibiotics in the research pipeline to combat the new gene, drug experts have said. Timothy Walsh, who led the study, told Reuters he fears the new superbug could soon spread across the globe with international travel for cheap cosmetic surgery procedures increasing.

Superbug triggers drug-resistant mutations

In an article published online Wednesday within the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, the researchers said the superbug gene was already circulating widely in India, where the health care system is much less likely to detect it or have adequate antibiotics to fight it. The Associated Press reports that 37 individuals in the U.K. who had plastic surgery in India or Pakistan that contracted antibiotic-resistant infections are diagnosed with the superbug gene. The superbug gene also been detected in Australia, Canada, the United States of America, the Netherlands and Sweden . The superbug has "an alarming potential to spread and diversify," because the gene is found on DNA structures called plasmids that are copied and effortlessly between bacteria , the authors of the Lancet article said.

Big Pharma chasing money, not superbugs

The pharmaceutical industry lacks interest in superbugs. Bacteria's ability to develop resistance easily narrows the commercial opportunity for new antibiotics . The Wall Street Journal reports that to ensure they get an adequate return on investment to shareholders for addressing a world-wide health threat, some pharmaceutical corporations are looking for government subsidies. Pharmaceutical businesses also blame strict research and development demands from official regulators that cut into potential profits. Even so, some large drug makers are engaged in antibiotic research, including Pfizer and Merck within the United States, Novartis in Switzerland and GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca in the U.K.

More on this topic


Reuters

reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67A0YU20100811

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gpFQ3Bz7hIFhSsHlYpROVwTVwwoAD9HHAI6G0

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100811-710190.html