James Sikes claims his Prius runaway with him in El Cahon, California. However, if you listen to the 911 call, the dispatcher repeatedly asked the man to put the car in neutral. He completely ignored the dispatcher’s attempt to help him. He later stated that he was afraid the car would go into reverse.
Yesterday, I drove my 2005 Prius on Brunswick Road at 50 miles per hour and very easily put my transmission into neutral without going into reverse. I think if my car took off, I could care less if the car went into reverse.
I remember my high school days when I was just fooling around and going about 65 plus, I accidentally slammed my car into reverse. There were a lot of skid marks on the pavement, some weaving, but I got the car under control quickly. Maybe, for James Sikes, it was just a panic situation and who knows what you do when you panic.
The picture above is what the transmission shift knob looks like on a Prius. Notice that you have only four positions. Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Braking. The B is for engine braking. Living here in the mountains, I use that position constantly. It has served me well, since I have 108,000 miles on my Prius and still have the original brakes. The driver could have also shifted to the B position which would also have the engine brake help him stop his car. Maybe he should have read the owner’s manual.
So I don’t know how you have enough presence of mind to dial 911 for help, yet ignore completely what they are telling you. You can hear the 911 call at 911 call of driver of Prius in trouble
BEIJING —China announced Wednesday that its exports climbed 46 percent in February from a year earlier. Economists said the data signaled a rebound in consumer demand from the United States and other Western markets after the financial crisis last year.
It was the third consecutive month of increases in Chinese exports and the fastest growth in three years. Orders from the United States, the European Union and Japan accounted for almost half the growth, following a pickup in demand from emerging markets in the previous two months.
Chinese imports also rose 45 percent over the previous year, led by crude oil as factories stepped up production.
Some economists said the figures indicated China’s recovery was well under way. Tao Wang, head of China research for UBS Securities, predicted that Chinese exports would rebound to the level of 2008 before China took a big hit from the global financial crisis.
As authorities nationwide warn motorists of the dangers of driving while texting, Florida Keys law enforcement officers add a new caution: Don’t try to shave your privates, either.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woman driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat.
“She said she was meeting her boyfriend in Key West and wanted to be ready for the visit,” Trooper Gary Dunick said. “If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it. About 10 years ago I stopped a guy in the exact same spot … who had three or four syringes sticking out of his arm. It was just surreal and I thought, ‘Nothing will ever beat this.’ Well, this takes it.”
If that weren’t enough, Megan Mariah Barnes was not supposed to be driving and her 1995 Ford Thunderbird was not supposed to be on the road.
The day before the wreck, Barnes was convicted in an Upper Keys court of DUI with a prior and driving with a suspended license, said Monroe County Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunne. Barnes was ordered to impound her car, and her driver’s license was revoked for five years, after which time she must have a Breathalyzer ignition interlock device on any vehicle she drives, Dunne said. Barnes also was sentenced to nine months’ probation.
Barnes and Charles Judy were southbound in her Thunderbird at 11 a.m. when they slammed into the back of a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by David Schoff of Palm Bay. His passengers were a man and two women; the latter were treated for minor injuries at Lower Keys Medical Center, FHP spokesman Alex Annunziato said.
Schoff had slowed to about 5 mph to make a turn when the Thunderbird hit him, traveling about 45 mph, which was within the speed limit, Dunick said.
Barnes allegedly drove another half-mile, then switched seats with Judy, who allegedly claimed to be driving, Annunziato said.
“She jumps in the back seat and he moves over,” Dunick said. “It was like the old comedy bit, ‘Who’s on first?’ ”
Burns on Judy’s chest from the passenger-side airbag deploying belied their story, Dunick said. The airbag in the steering wheel did not deploy, he said.
Troopers charged Barnes with driving with a revoked license, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a wreck with injuries and driving with no insurance. Judy was not charged.
Barnes faces a maximum of a year in jail if found guilty of violating her probation due to the wreck, Dunne said.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook all day, and I know there’s a funny side to this, but it’s also deadly serious. This is a scary road and a lot of bad wrecks are caused by dumb stuff like this,” Dunick said. “It is unbelievable. I’m really starting to believe this stuff only happens in the Keys.”
At last, someone has been convicted of stripping their foreclosed home! After showing many homes that have been foreclosed on and stripped, it’s about time law enforcement is doing something about this.
For example, I was going to make an offer on a foreclosed home for a client just this last week, but the listing agent told me to figure $10,000 extra to the purchase price to replace the well pump and tank that had been stripped out.
“Authorities say a real estate agent has been convicted of fraud for stripping fixtures from his foreclosed home in Anthem.
Maricopa County prosecutors say it’s the first conviction in a so-called “home stripping” case so far.
Authorities say 34-year-old Kailash Bhatt advertised kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, a double oven, microwave and dishwasher for sale on the Internet.
They say Bhatt was arrested after he accepted $2,000 from an undercover mortgage task force agent for the items, violating the mortgage company contract on the home.
After a five-day trial, prosecutors say Bhatt was convicted Thursday of defrauding secured creditors and will be sentenced April 1.”
Stripping out cabinets, granite counter tops? Wow, glad he’s going to jail and I’m sure he’s losing his license too. So, what do you think?
According to a news release, the government is giving homeowners another year to refinance their loans under a little-used program designed to help borrowers whose homes have plummeted in value. My experience with clients who have tried to refinance their homes have had a total horrible experience with their mortgage holders.
The Obama administration effort, known as Home Affordable Refinance Program, had been scheduled to end on June 10 but will now run out on June 30, 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday.
The program allows borrowers who owe up to 25 percent more than their homes are worth to refinance to lower interest rates.
It was originally projected to help 4 million to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. So far, it has helped around 220,000, according to the Treasury Department. Yes, and you can blame the banks 100 percent. They would rather foreclose then refinance.
Mark your calendar for the event voted as “Nevada County’s Best” for 10 years in a row – the 2010 Nevada County Fair, August 11 – 15, at “California’s Most Beautiful Fairgrounds,” the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.
“Rooted in Tree-dition” is this year’s theme and five days of “tree-mendous” fun are planned for Fair-goers of all ages. Live entertainment will be available every day at five different stages throughout the Fairgrounds. There’s also carnival rides and games, barns full of livestock, thousands of community exhibits, special contests, an Idol Competition, nightly arena events, daily demonstrations, magic shows, gold panning, and food contests. As always, Treat Street will be serving an array of delicious food and drinks – corn dogs, pasties, tacos, corn on the cob, beer, tempura zucchini, nachos, hamburgers, funnel cakes and caramel corn – just to name a few!
Long-time crowd pleasing events will soar into the Fair’s arena Wednesday through Sunday, presenting thrills ranging from a rodeo to Monster Trucks to the Demolition Derby.
The Ag Mechanics Auction will be held on Friday of the Fair, and the Junior Livestock Auction will be held on Sunday, August 15. These popular annual events will raise more than $400,000 for Nevada County youth in agriculture.
For those interested in entering competitions and projects for judging, the Fair’s Competition Handbook will be available June 1. At that time, all of the categories, as well as online entry information, will be listed on the Fair’s web site atNevada County Fair.
Gates open each day at 10 am, and close each evening at 11 pm. Admission this year will be $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (65 and older), $3 for children 6 to 12, and free to children five years old and younger.
At one of the most affordable fairs in California, take advantage of one of several pre-sale packages available this year, including a special “Be A Kid” price of only $3 for a Thursday adult admission ticket; or a pre-sale Fair admission ticket for $5 for any one day of the Fair. Kids Day will once again be held on Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm and during that time all children 12 years and under are admitted for free. Other pre-sale packages and coupons will be announced in June.
The Nevada County Fairgrounds is located at 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, off Highway 49. For directions, event details or general information, visit Nevada County Fair or call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217. Our blog can be found at Nevada County Fair Blog, or you can follow us on Facebook or MySpace.
Looking for the ideal exercise? Whether you’re still trying to make good on a New Year’s resolution, thinking about the upcoming swimsuit season, or looking for a way to add variety to your workout routine, walking and running rise to the top of the list of possible choices.
For overall fitness, nothing beats walking and running. You need no expensive equipment; you don’t have to join a club or travel to a special place; you can do it at pretty much any time of day or year.
But which is better? Well, it depends. Here are the pluses and minuses of both.
Running:
· burns more calories than walking in the same amount of time—because you travel farther running than walking. Mile for mile, however, the calories burned are the same. That’s because carrying your weight over a given distance burns the same number of calories regardless of speed.
· raises your heart rate more than walking.
· strengthens your bones more than walking because of the strain it creates.
· strengthens your muscles more than walking—but only if you’re actually running, not jogging. In that sense, power walking (walking as fast as you can without breaking into a jog) is actually more effective than slow running.
· is more likely to cause injury. When running, you impact (hit the ground) with three times your body weight on each step. Especially for people who are overweight, out of shape, or pregnant, the strain on the knees, hips, and ankles can be a problem. If you’re going to begin a running program, start slowly and gradually increase your distance and/or frequency.
Walking:
· may be better for fat burning. According to Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine at UC San Francisco: “When you run a mile, you’re burning mostly sugar, or carbohydrates, which is how your body gives you fast energy in bursts. When you walk a mile, it gives your metabolism time to switch from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.”
· is easier on your joints. Walking causes an impact of only 1.5 times your body weight, yet is still a weight-bearing exercise that will prevent bone loss.
· is easier to fit into many people’s schedules. You can do it on your lunch hour at work; you may need to change only your shoes and probably won’t need to shower afterward.
· has a benefit if you live in the city and have to stop at traffic signals: the sudden stop from a running pace can be dangerous for your heart. It’s much safer to stop from a walk. If you have to stop at a light while running, try jogging in place.
· allows you to enjoy the scenery more than running, which in turn may keep you from burning out as soon.
I’m going to add a reminder to vary your terrain to avoid one-sided leg pain, and try to disconnect from your iPod. We live in a friendly community full of natural beauty. Say hello to the neighbors you pass; listen to the frogs croak and the birds chirp; be alert to approaching cars.
So…walking or running? It’s really a matter of what works best for you. Walk, run, or do something else. Just do it.
Lisa J. Lehr is a writer, copywriter, and fitness enthusiast living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.
See related post by Lisa Walk For Health, But Stay Healthy And Pain Free
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As i mentioned in a recent article, China’s real estate is super hot and may be ready to collapse, well, it looks like Hong Kong and Singapore are in the same boat. Home prices in Hong Kong have risen 25 percent and land prices have doubled. Singapore’s government has stated that because of low interest rates, it is fearful that they may be getting into an overheated real estate market and are going to increase the housing market.
“Strong results in a Hong Kong government land auction are the latest sign that the city’s real-estate market is surging higher after a brief lull, as government officials here and elsewhere in the region grapple with how to cool off overheating property prices.
Around the region, easy credit and ample liquidity is fueling fears that real-estate prices may be rising to irrational levels.
Unlike China and Singapore, however, Hong Kong has little control over interest rates because its currency board system, which pegs the local currency to the U.S. dollar, forces it to import U.S. monetary policy.
“Hong Kong property buyers have been in a prolonged low-interest-rate environment, and now they’re behaving like drunken drivers on the road—they don’t think about consequences,” Ms. Wong says, estimating that prices have increased 5% this year. While speculative activity has been subdued, she argues the public is “overstretching” itself, convinced that “prices will go up forever.”
Sounds familiar doesn’t it? What do you think?
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
Because I care
Call 530-263-1091
Comparing us to 24 other countries, it seems that we have won two gold medals and two bronze. According to the Daily Beast:
“For the Couch Potato Olympics, we stuck with 24 countries in the developed world, as determined by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-member countries that had extensive data available. The large majority of this list is Western—a byproduct of only ranking countries with accurate, reliable, and consistent data. (There was no Russian judge in this competition.)”
So here is the summation of our metals:
Calories per Day: 1st out of 24 (Gold) Television Viewing: 1st out of 24 (Gold) Sports Aversion: 3rd out of 24 (Bronze) Internet Usage: 3rd out of 24 (Bronze)
To further expand our knowledge of how we are doing, here’s a video put together by some high school students. There are four versions of this video, this is version one.
Did You Know; Shift Happens – Globalization; Information Age
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
Did You Know? originally started out as a PowerPoint presentation for a faculty meeting in August 2006 at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, United States. The presentation “went viral” on the Web in February 2007 and, as of June 2007, had been seen by at least 5 million online viewers. Today the old and new versions of the online presentation have been seen by at least 20 million people, not including the countless others who have seen it at conferences, workshops, training institutes, and other venues.
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
Because I care
Call 530-263-1091
