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Isn't There Something We Can Do?
Moranda Hearn and Kaylei Deakin are 2 California sixteen-year-olds who have experienced tough times because their fathers are in the military. Instead of complaining, they're planning a conference for daughters of California troops who have gone to war. They have booked a conference center, proposed using military transportation, prepared a list of speakers and are contacting corporations for sponsorships. They have also presented their plan to the National Guard's Brig. Gen. Mary Knight and received her full support. However, because Knight would like the 2010 conference to be coed, it might not be called "The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform).
Shawn Saylor is a farmer/science buff with 600 cows outside Pittsburgh. Since 2006 he's been using manure to make electricity. In a process called "anaerobic digestion" a mechanical scraper drops manure into a tank. From there it moves into a digester. There it's heated for about 16 days, while bacteria break down the organic matter, producing methane gas. The gas is then burned in generators to make electricity. This electricity powers the farm and 12 neighboring houses - with electricity left over to sell to the grid and an annual savings of $200,000. Thankfully, cows don't cower about providing energy.
Japan's Keihin Express Railway Co. offers an optional service to employees - a computer program that rates smiles. In response to a grim face, "Smile 0" pops up on the computer screen; but a broad grin can earn 70 points. The company has installed this software at the 15 busiest of its 72 stations to help employees prepare themselves before facing customers. Considering 250,000 rushed and possibly agitated customers pass through Shinagawa Station each day, a smiling face can go along way. In fact, smile-rating software is underrated just being used in train stations.
Two public interest groups used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration's 7-year-old recommendation against all cell phone use while driving. Seven years ago more than half the population had cell phones and highway safety researchers estimated driver/cell-phone-related accidents caused 955 fatalities and 240,000 injuries. In 2009 87% of the population has cell phones. According to research, drivers on phones are 4 times more likely to crash; and they are as likely to cause an accident as someone with 0.08 blood alcohol content. Isn't it time for a call - to stop cell phone use while driving?
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