Call to Ban Cell Phones While Driving Is Absurd (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for a ban on the use of all cell phones, including hands free models for all drivers. According to tgdaily.com, it is because "more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents." This study doesn't say if these are cell phone-related or not, but we'll assume they are. Should such a ban be enacted?

Why is it that we feel it is necessary to infringe on people's freedoms just because there are people out there who have no personal responsibility? Because 3,000 people have been involved in accidents, all drivers should not be punished equally. This is the wrong approach. This is no different than using a double load of buckshot to swat a fly, more than just the fly is going to suffer or not allowing McDonald's to put toys in their Happy Meals because some parents can't control what their children eat.

Government doesn't need to control everything its citizens do. Each time we let them intrude in one area, they will find something else to stick their nose into, using the argument that "We already are doing this so we might as well as do that." As an example, let's say we ban the use of cell phones because we don't want distracted drivers and then we find there is a lot of accidents caused by people who are changing their radio stations. Do we then ban the listening of radios in vehicles, citing the precedent of the banning of cell phones? After all, it is another distraction and people have been killed.

In the meantime, we continue to allow drivers who haven't taken a driving test in 50 or more years to renew their licenses without having to prove they are still capable of reacting in time to avoid accidents, or distinguishing the difference between the gas and brake pedals. Perhaps there haven't been enough deaths caused by elderly drivers yet to require action?

If 3,000 deaths is a lot, isn't even one death too much? Absolutely, but not when you compare it to the deaths of approximately 1.2 million people who are legally aborted every year right here in America, according to the Wiley Online Library. What are these deaths we seem to not be concerned about? This is the number of abortions performed in 2008. Where is the outcry on this?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111215/us_ac/10681949_call_to_ban_cell_phones_while_driving_is_absurd

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Turkish mosque collapse kills 1, injures 9 (AP)

ANKARA, Turkey ? The dome of a mosque under construction collapsed on Saturday, killing one worker and injuring nine others, who were pulled from the rubble by rescuers, an official said.

The dome of the mosque being built at an industrial area in the central Turkish town of Acigol tumbled down during construction, trapping 10 workers under a pile of iron, Mayor Hasan Unver told NTV television.

Nine of the workers were rescued with injuries while the other was pulled out dead, he said.

State-run TRT television showed images of rescuers, some carrying a bright orange stretcher, scrambling to rescue one trapped worker amid a pile of rubble and iron rods.

The images were a mini-replay of a series of televised rescues in October after a pair of powerful earthquakes buried hundreds of people in eastern Turkey.

The cause of Saturday's accident was under investigation.

Tough safety codes were approved a decade ago after earthquakes in western Turkey killed 18,000 people and prompted an outcry over the poor quality of construction, but enforcement has remained lax.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan charged that shoddy construction contributed to the high casualty toll of October's earthquakes and said Turkey had not learned lessons from past disasters.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111217/ap_on_re_eu/eu_turkey_mosque_collapse

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Oh, happy days! Scott Baio is really not dead

Mark Ralston / AFP - Getty Images file

Scott Baio in Los Angeles in March 2010.

By Courtney Hazlett

If you?re the type to follow trends on Twitter, you might have noticed that #RIPScottBaio is trending. If you?re the type of person who gets their facts from Wikipedia, you might have then learned that he "died on December 14, 2011 of a diaper-related illness."

If any of the above news about our beloved Chachi rocked your world, I?m here to confirm that?Baio is doing just fine. ?He is alive and well. Couldn?t be more merry,? a spokesperson for the former "Happy Days" star said via phone on Wednesday.

Baio joins an elite group of celebrities whose early demise has been falsely reported on various social network sites. Jeff Goldblum was erroneously reported dead on the same day that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died; Kanye West was also reported dead, and a web site setting the record straight was created.

Source: http://scoop.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/14/9446691-scott-baio-is-not-dead-despite-twitter-trend

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Green Car Congress: Fisker Automotive appoints Tom LaSorda as ...

Fisker Automotive appoints Tom LaSorda as Vice Chairman of the Board

Fisker Automotive has appointed Tom LaSorda, the former CEO, President and Vice Chairman of Chrysler, to the newly created role of Vice Chairman of the Fisker Board and Chairman of the Board?s Strategy Council. LaSorda will also work as an executive advisor to the management team on day to day operations, reporting to co?founder and CEO, Henrik Fisker.

LaSorda played an integral role in the sale of Chrysler to the Fiat Group. Prior to joining Chrysler in 2000, LaSorda held a number of executive positions at General Motors over a 23-year career.

He is currently a co-founder of a venture capital fund?Stage 2 Innovations?with Manoj Bhargava, the sole investor and owner of 5-hour ENERGY based in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

The company is entering a new stage of growth, to which Tom?s strategic vision and experience will be vital. His appointment sends a strong statement about the future direction of Fisker Automotive as it becomes a global car company.

?Fisker co-founder and CEO Henrik Fisker

Source: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/fisker-20111215.html

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Obama prods GOP on payroll tax cut (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama accepted a move by Senate Democrats to scale back his Social Security payroll tax cut extension on Monday, then prodded Republicans to support it despite a requirement for the very wealthy to pay more taxes.

Obama also called on lawmakers to renew a program of extended unemployment benefits due to expire on Dec. 31. He said the checks, which kick in after six months of joblessness, are "the last line of defense between hardship and catastrophe" for some victims of the recession and a painfully slow recovery.

The president made his remarks at the White House as Republicans and Democrats in Congress said a holiday-season package was beginning to come into focus that could cost $180 billion or more over a decade. Elements include not only the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefit renewals, but also a provision to avert a threatened 27 percent reduction in fees to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

While there are differences over the details of the three principal components ? many Republicans are reluctant to extend the tax cut ? there is at least as much disagreement between senior lawmakers in the two political parties over ways to cover the cost so deficits don't rise.

Officials said that to offset the two-year, $38 billion price tag of the Medicare provision, House Republicans want to cut funds from the year-old health care legislation that stands as Obama's signature domestic policy accomplishment. Some Democrats want instead to count defense funds approved but unspent for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ? a proposal that many GOP lawmakers deem an accounting gimmick.

The Medicare proposal enjoys strong popularity among lawmakers in both parties. House Republican leaders signaled last week they intend to include it in the overall package as a sweetener for members of the party's rank and file who are unhappy at the prospect of extending the payroll tax cut.

GOP critics say there is no evidence that the current tax cut has helped create jobs, and also say they fear the impact of a renewal on the deficit and on the fund that pays Social Security benefits. A majority of Republican senators voted last week against a plan backed by their own leadership to extend the cut.

But Obama noted House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has said that the renewal would help the economy, and said the party's Senate leaders had made similar comments.

"I couldn't agree more. And I hope that the rest of their Republican colleagues come around and join Democrats to pass these tax cuts and put money back into the pockets of working Americans," the president said.

Obama also added, "I know many Republicans have sworn an oath never to raise taxes as long as they live. How could it be that the only time there's a catch is when it comes to raising taxes on middle-class families? How can you fight tooth and nail to protect high-end tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, and yet barely lift a finger to prevent taxes going up for 160 million Americans who really need the help?"

He spoke as Senate Democrats unveiled revisions that cut the cost of the administration's proposal by one-third, to an estimated $179 billion. As rewritten, it deepens the current Social Security payroll tax cut and extends it until the end of 2012, but jettisons Obama's request to give businesses relief at the same time.

Republicans were critical despite the changes.

"Frankly, the only thing bipartisan about this latest political gambit is opposition to the permanent tax hike on small businesses to pay for temporary one-year tax policy," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. Republicans often refer to the proposal as a tax increase on small business owners in hopes of recasting Democratic claims that it would fall on "millionaires and billionaires."

Advanced by Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., the revised proposal also scales back the surtax on seven-figure earners that Democrats had originally proposed to cover the bill's entire cost, from 3.25 percent to 1.9 percent.

Also included are higher fees for consumers whose mortgages are from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as a GOP proposal from last week to make sure millionaires don't receive unemployment benefits or food stamps.

___

Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Julie Pace in Washington contributed to this story.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111205/ap_on_bi_ge/us_congress_payroll_tax

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Enjoy Life with Personal Finance Secured Loan - Networked Politics

Life without cash is unimaginable. With the growing financial requirements, it is very difficult to meet these needs simply by your regular income. In such a scenario, personal finance secured loan can prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Personal finance secured loan can facilitate you to battle out your financial strain with valor. The equity within your home can prove to be a life-savior amidst a financial crunch.

Secured loan can be procured easily by pledging collateral against your loan amount. A securable property acts as a guarantee for your loan repayment. This guarantee minimizes the risk for the creditors? and ensures low interest rate. Home is usually the most favored form of collateral used for a secured loan. You should make sure that you borrow only the necessitated amount, which you can afford to repay. The reason being, any defaulting in the scheduled repayments can lead to repossession of your home.

You can cater to an assortment of purposes with a personal finance secured loan such as:

.Education

.Debt consolidation

.Home improvements

.Wedding

.Purchase of a car

.Funeral costs

.Vacation

.Cosmetic surgery

.Miscellaneous expenses

It is a viable loan solution even if you are coping with a tainted credit history. Though lenders are normally apprehensive to offer competitory rate of interest if you have encountered with any of the following circumstances:

.Bankruptcy

.Individual Voluntary Agreements or IVA?s

.County Court Judgments or CCJ?s

.Defaults

.Slow credit or No credit

.Arrears

.No proof of income

.Self- employed status

Yet, the reason that you would pledge your property against your loan amount makes it easier for you to access personal finance secured loan. The interest rates on your loan amount would be comparatively high, if you have a bad credit record. But these rates would definitely be more competitive than those availed on an unsecured loan.

You can navigate through a range of loan quotes that are provided by various loan providers. This would be beneficial to locate personal finance secured loan to customize with your personal state of affairs. It is advisable to pursue a thorough research before you embark upon a secured loan. A little spadework can keep you well informed of all the pros and cons of a personal finance secured loan. It is a good approach to avoid any negative repercussions.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, December 4th, 2011 at 9:49 pm and is filed under Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.networked-politics.info/?p=11645

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Egypt Islamists tell rivals to accept vote result (Reuters)

CAIRO (Reuters) ? Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called on its rivals to accept the will of the people on Saturday after a first-round vote set its party on course to take the most seats in the country's first freely elected parliament in six decades.

Preliminary results showed the Brotherhood's liberal rivals could be pushed into third place behind ultra-conservative Salafi Islamists, mirroring the trend in other Arab countries where political systems have opened up after popular uprisings.

The Brotherhood is Egypt's best-organized political group and popular among the poor for its long record of charity work. Banned but semi-tolerated under President Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled on February 11 by a street revolt, the Brotherhood now wants a role in shaping the country's future.

Rivals accused the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party of using handouts of cheap food and medicine to influence voters and of breaking election rules by lobbying outside voting stations.

The Brotherhood told critics to back off and respect the result.

"We call upon everyone, and all those who associate themselves with democracy, to respect the will of the people and accept their choice," it said in a statement after the first-round vote, which drew an official turnout of 62 percent.

"Those who weren't successful ... should work hard to serve people to win their support next time," the Brotherhood added.

The world is watching the election for pointers to the future in Egypt, the most populous Arab nation and one hitherto seen as a firm U.S. ally committed to preserving its peace treaty with Israel and fighting Islamist militancy.

The Brotherhood's political opponents say it seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) on a country that also has a large Christian minority.

The movement insists it will pursue a moderate agenda if it wins power and do nothing to damage an economy reliant on millions of Western tourists.

"DON'T GIVE UP"

Liberal parties lacking the Islamists' grassroots base were trying to avert a landslide in run-off votes set for Monday and in two further rounds of an election staggered over six weeks.

The Egyptian Bloc, an alliance of liberal groups, ran large advertisements in newspapers to appeal for more support.

"Don't soften your support for the civil, moderate current to achieve a balanced parliament that represents the Egyptian people, and do not give up your rights," the message read.

With the Brotherhood and its ultra-conservative Salafi rivals apparently set for a majority in the assembly, newspapers were debating if they would unite to form a dominant bloc.

Nader Bakkar, spokesman for the Salafi al-Nour Party, told al-Dustour daily that talk of forming a coalition with the Brotherhood was premature and the results of the second and third rounds would determine the possibilities.

"All the indications show that the Muslim Brotherhood does not want to inaugurate an alliance with Islamic forces, but rather to conclude a coalition with liberal and secularist forces during the coming parliament," Asem Abdel-Maged, spokesman for al-Gama'a al-Islamiya, a Salafi group not aligned closely with al-Nour, told al-Dustour.

(Writing by Tom Pfeiffer; Editing by Tim Pearce)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111203/wl_nm/us_egypt_election

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