September 2014 - Page 3 of 6

Lexus Stokes Electric vs. Hybrid Car Debate with New Ads

19Sep

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Business

Lexus Stokes Electric vs. Hybrid Car Debate with New Ads

Toyota, which was the first manufacturer to mainstream hybrids with the introduction with its Prius, has consistently backed hydrogen over lithium ion batteries. Now, it seems, the fight is getting dirty. “Closely monitor charge status," a new Lexus commercial's mock instructions proclaim. "Turn off A/C and radio to conserve power. Get lost searching for charger. Plug in and wait four hours. Repeat.” The ad is just the latest in Lexus' campaign deriding electric vehicles to promote its own hybrid vehicles. In a previous ad, Lexus claimed that public charging outlets took four hours to bring a car from an empty charge to full. EV advocacy group Plug In America called Lexus out for using outdated data on charging times and charging station infrastructure. Electric car owners also pointed ...

The Sunday Times Compared Fat Content of Salmon and Pizza and the Results Might Shock You

19Sep

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Lifestyle

The Sunday Times Compared Fat Content of Salmon and Pizza and the Results Might Shock You

They say that salmon is one of the healthiest things you can eat. They're packed with Omega-3 fatty acids and they're a leaner option than other meats, right? That all depends on where the salmon came from. According to The Telegraph, an analysis of the fat content of smoked salmon proved pretty surprising. The salmon -- which were farmed in Scotland -- had more fat than pizza. Salmon is typically advertised as lean, oily, and healthy; however, not all salmon are created equal. Fish that came from the Scotland farms were found to be three times more fatty than wild salmon. Why? Some people call farmed salmon the "couch potato" of fish, since they do not swim as much as wild salmon do; this makes the farmed version fattier -- just as with people who are couch potatoes. Here's the compa...

“Rollin’ Coal” Is the Coolest New Way to Kill the Earth

19Sep

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World

“Rollin’ Coal” Is the Coolest New Way to Kill the Earth

In small towns all over the United States, people are "rollin' coal," the hot new way to kill the environment. Dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on the projects, diesel drivers are modifying their cars or trucks to make them spew toxic, black soot, and then posting pictures of the vehicles at work to the Internet. "Rollin' coal" has become so popular that it's now an Internet subculture. The environmentally destructive pastime's page on Facebook has accrued more than 16,500 followers and the hashtag for "rollin' coal" has gotten more than 175,200 posts on social media. As one meme reads, "Roll, roll, rollin’ coal, let the hybrid see. A big black cloud. Exhaust that’s loud. Watch the city boy flee." As Slate's David Weigel puts it, people are rollin' coal because it "doubles as a po...

After Helping Automaker Out of Bankruptcy, Saab’s New Owner Faces a Bankruptcy of its Own

19Sep

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Business

After Helping Automaker Out of Bankruptcy, Saab’s New Owner Faces a Bankruptcy of its Own

On Tuesday, August 12, a supplier of Swedish car maker and Saab owner National Electric Vehicle of Sweden (Nevs) filed a petition in bankruptcy court that would declare it bankrupt. According to an August 12 ABC News article, the news comes after Nevs bought Saab amid its own financial hardships and lifted the automaker out of bankruptcy last year. ABC News reported that Labor Test, one of Nevs' suppliers for testing equipment, alleged that Nevs has not paid its bills amounting to 150,000 kronor, or $22,000, since February. A The Local article reports that Nevs' bankruptcy proceedings will likely begin September 18. Saab had originally filed for bankruptcy in December 2011, The Local reports -- and Nevs was created by Chinese backers in mid-2012 to buy the struggling car brand....

North Carolina Turns DOT Trucks into Moving Billboards

19Sep

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Local

North Carolina Turns DOT Trucks into Moving Billboards

Businesses in North Carolina will soon have a new way to advertise, and it's coming straight from the Department of Transportation. A new sponsorship program will allow businesses to attach corporate messages and logos on DOT property, starting with the DOT's yellow Incident Management Assistance Patrol Trucks and expanding to ferries, shoulders, websites and rest areas. Even the DOT helplines may eventually be sponsored by a business. Officials are hoping that the deal will generate millions of dollars a year for the Department of Transportation. The yellow IMAP trucks are a common sight on busy North Carolina freeways, serving as responders to stranded motorists and major accidents. Now, when residents see them arriving in their rear view, they might catch a glimpse of an advertise...

Forklift-Related Worker Death to Cost New Zealand Company $130,000

18Sep

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World

Forklift-Related Worker Death to Cost New Zealand Company $130,000

A concrete company based in Christchurch, New Zealand will soon be paying $130,000 in fines and damages after the forklift-related death of one of its workers. According to a 3 News article published on September 16, Anthony Wells, 47, died after being run over by a defective forklift that was being operated by a trainee with "no formal qualifications" at Busck Prestressed Concrete. Busck Prestressed Concrete will have to pay $70,000 in fines and $60,000 in reparations for failing to take the needed steps that could have prevented the February 2013 incident, according to 3 News. An MSN New Zealand article reports that when Worksafe New Zealand examined the forklift, they found the forklift's headlights, front indicators, brake lights, front hazard lights, horn, screen washers and front ...

18Sep

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World

Povertees Sews Lives Together

The idea is as simple as their name. Povertees is a not-for-profit organization that creates and sells stylish t-shirts, putting their proceeds towards helping Los Angeles' homeless rebuild their lives. Soon, the Povertees team will be taking their mission on the road.“I began to think about starting up during a time when social justice was becoming fashionable, especially among college students, and I happened to be a college student with an idea for T-shirts,” says Tyler Patterson, CEO of Povertees."T-Shirts are a great fundraising opportunity because when designed properly they will provide a huge return on investment," says Eric Uzelac of The Shirt Printer. Back in their college days, Patterson and his friend Hughie Hughes, who'd later go on to become the president of Povertees, wou...

Norristown Went Without a Street Sweeper for 19 Days This Summer

17Sep

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Local

Norristown Went Without a Street Sweeper for 19 Days This Summer

In Norristown, PA, residents may have noticed that the streets were a little less clean this past June. That is because one of the area’s street sweepers was out of commission for 19 days for repairs. The 2007 Elgin Pelican street sweeper had to be in the repair shop from June 9 to June 27. Norriston, located just six miles North of Philadelphia, is home to 25,000 residents. “We had to replace a number of different motors that operate the brooms. One was the main broom motor and some of the other motors run the side brooms,” explained Norrison public works director, Robert Glisson. “Grand Turk in Bridgeport, the manufacturer’s authorized repair facility, did the repairs for $24,000.” While the Pelican was out of commission, the second street sweeper attempted to handle some of its route...

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Strain Lives on Many Household Items, Research Shows

17Sep

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Lifestyle

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacterial Strain Lives on Many Household Items, Research Shows

It isn't exactly surprising anymore when studies are released showing that the most common household items tend to carry the most bacteria -- but new research conducted by medical experts at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, WA shows that the type of bacteria carried on these items is more worrisome than the amount of bacteria. This research, published in JAMA Pediatrics on September 8, shows that the strain MRSA (Staphylococcus aureus), which happens to be resistant to most antibiotics, is very prevalent on common household items. In the past, this bacterial strain seemed to be "caught" by patients who were already in hospital environments; now, however, the latest research shows that this bacteria is often found in homes with children and/or pets. The items mos...

Shop Classes Putting Students on the Path for Comfortable Middle-Class Living

17Sep

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Business

Shop Classes Putting Students on the Path for Comfortable Middle-Class Living

In the U.S. schooling system, shop classes often have a reputation for being the "slacker classes" -- the easy A's that students take to fill up space, rather than for the purpose of truly learning a skill. That perception, though, might not be based in reality as the market for auto mechanics heats up throughout the U.S.Evan Fischbach is one example of a success story. Two years out of high school, he is already making $40,000 a year -- with expected earnings of $60,000 once he gains more industry experience. Fischbach took an automotive class during his junior year of high school, and right away realized he wanted to work on cars.His parents, both college-educated, weren't sure about his career options. But before he even graduated, a local auto dealer with too few mechanics on hand offe...