181
General Discussion / The Price Is Right
« on: March 01, 2008, 08:15:21 PM »
Anyone a fan of this show? I'm a heavy watcher of this show even though IMO, the Bob Barker hosted shows were best.
December 27, 2024, 12:31:33 PM
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182
General Discussion / NJ passes law to ban talking and driving
« on: February 29, 2008, 05:36:43 PM »
From Newsday
Shut up or pay up: Drivers face start of tougher NJ phone ban
By BRAD HAYNES | Associated Press Writer
1:53 PM EST, February 28, 2008
TRENTON, N.J. - For New Jersey drivers, the message is clear: Keep your thumbs on the wheel and off the keypad.
Starting Saturday, police can slap drivers with a $100 fine for talking or text messaging on hand-held devices.
New Jersey joins four other states, including neighboring New York, where talking on a hand-held cell phone is reason enough to get pulled over. New Jersey also becomes the first state where text messaging on the road is a primary offense, meaning police need no other reason to pull a driver over, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Pam Fischer, director of New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety, said officers will be on the lookout for telltale signs of distracted drivers _ slow driving and the "cell-phone weave."
But enforcement of the text messaging law will be tough.
"It's difficult," Fischer said. "The law is designed to get those law-abiding folks to understand the danger inherent in these activities."
Drivers can still use their cell phones to contact police or emergency services, and can talk at any time with a hands-free device. But crash statistics suggest that those headsets and earpieces may not make conversations in the car any safer.
In 2006, nearly half of the 3,580 phone-related crashes in New Jersey also involved a hands-free device, according to transportation officials. Five of 11 fatal accidents involving a cell phone that year also involved a hands-free device.
Russ Rader, of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said those figures are consistent with recent research showing no difference in crash risk between hand-held and hands-free cell phones.
"The conversation itself is the distraction," said Rader. "You are in another place when you are talking on the phone."
Trucker Lou Cataldo hopes the new law will cut down on the distracted drivers he sees all over the state.
"I see a car in the middle lane doing 50 miles per hour, and 99.9 percent of the time it's someone yakking on a cell phone," Cataldo said.
But Cataldo questioned how police would spot drivers typing out a message.
"If you're doing 75 miles per hour," he said, "the cop has to be right alongside to see you."
Driving while using a hand-held cell phone has been illegal in New Jersey since 2004, when the state became the second in the nation to pass a ban. However, it was considered a secondary offense _ something drivers could be ticketed for if they were pulled over for another reason. Over the past year, state courts have recorded 16,000 tickets issued for the offense.
Fischer called those numbers minimal and suggested they would go up significantly now that drivers can be pulled over for cell phone use alone.
Twenty-one state legislatures this year are considering some kind of ban on texting while driving.
"It's a popular issue this year," said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures. "We expect to see some movement on this."
Since Jan. 1, Washington state drivers have been fined for texting on the road, but only if they are pulled over for another reason. Enforcement has been difficult; only six drivers have been fined in February.
"If we see them weaving and they're holding the phone high enough, we can get them," said Bob Calkins, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol. "But if they're holding it down low, it's hard to cite them."
Drivers know it's a hard habit to break.
"At the outset, I was more guilty than anyone," said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Gloucester, who sponsored the bill to create a tougher ban.
He said he stopped reading e-mails on his Blackberry after his 12-year-old daughter scolded him. "That's when I realized _ this is crazy."
Shut up or pay up: Drivers face start of tougher NJ phone ban
By BRAD HAYNES | Associated Press Writer
1:53 PM EST, February 28, 2008
TRENTON, N.J. - For New Jersey drivers, the message is clear: Keep your thumbs on the wheel and off the keypad.
Starting Saturday, police can slap drivers with a $100 fine for talking or text messaging on hand-held devices.
New Jersey joins four other states, including neighboring New York, where talking on a hand-held cell phone is reason enough to get pulled over. New Jersey also becomes the first state where text messaging on the road is a primary offense, meaning police need no other reason to pull a driver over, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Pam Fischer, director of New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety, said officers will be on the lookout for telltale signs of distracted drivers _ slow driving and the "cell-phone weave."
But enforcement of the text messaging law will be tough.
"It's difficult," Fischer said. "The law is designed to get those law-abiding folks to understand the danger inherent in these activities."
Drivers can still use their cell phones to contact police or emergency services, and can talk at any time with a hands-free device. But crash statistics suggest that those headsets and earpieces may not make conversations in the car any safer.
In 2006, nearly half of the 3,580 phone-related crashes in New Jersey also involved a hands-free device, according to transportation officials. Five of 11 fatal accidents involving a cell phone that year also involved a hands-free device.
Russ Rader, of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said those figures are consistent with recent research showing no difference in crash risk between hand-held and hands-free cell phones.
"The conversation itself is the distraction," said Rader. "You are in another place when you are talking on the phone."
Trucker Lou Cataldo hopes the new law will cut down on the distracted drivers he sees all over the state.
"I see a car in the middle lane doing 50 miles per hour, and 99.9 percent of the time it's someone yakking on a cell phone," Cataldo said.
But Cataldo questioned how police would spot drivers typing out a message.
"If you're doing 75 miles per hour," he said, "the cop has to be right alongside to see you."
Driving while using a hand-held cell phone has been illegal in New Jersey since 2004, when the state became the second in the nation to pass a ban. However, it was considered a secondary offense _ something drivers could be ticketed for if they were pulled over for another reason. Over the past year, state courts have recorded 16,000 tickets issued for the offense.
Fischer called those numbers minimal and suggested they would go up significantly now that drivers can be pulled over for cell phone use alone.
Twenty-one state legislatures this year are considering some kind of ban on texting while driving.
"It's a popular issue this year," said Matt Sundeen, a transportation analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures. "We expect to see some movement on this."
Since Jan. 1, Washington state drivers have been fined for texting on the road, but only if they are pulled over for another reason. Enforcement has been difficult; only six drivers have been fined in February.
"If we see them weaving and they're holding the phone high enough, we can get them," said Bob Calkins, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol. "But if they're holding it down low, it's hard to cite them."
Drivers know it's a hard habit to break.
"At the outset, I was more guilty than anyone," said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Gloucester, who sponsored the bill to create a tougher ban.
He said he stopped reading e-mails on his Blackberry after his 12-year-old daughter scolded him. "That's when I realized _ this is crazy."
183
General Discussion / 5 Injured in Illinois Mall explosion
« on: February 28, 2008, 07:22:55 PM »
From CNN
Mannequins, broken glass and debris littered the street Thursday after a midday explosion at a small strip mall that injured several people, collapsed roofs and left mounds of rubble in a Chicago, Illinois, suburb.
An emergency worker searches through the rubble looking for anyone who might be trapped.
Five people were taken to Vista Hospital, a spokesman there said.
Desiree Rogers, president of North Shore Gas Co., said their crews were turning off the gas lines into the mall in Waukegan so firefighters can search the rubble for anyone who may be trapped and begin trying to determine the cause of the blast.
"We do know there was an explosion. We know there was a tuxedo store there and also a hair salon and a bar. Until the firefighters get in there and ... we can get to our equipment and take a closer look, it is premature to say exactly what has caused this," she told CNN.
The explosion may have originated inside those businesses.
Crews from Peoples Gas Co. also were working at the site.
The one-story strip mall is in the 1900 block of Grand Avenue, at Lewis Avenue.
"Right now, we don't know if there's people still stranded inside," witness Tawana White told CNN. "There's mannequins from the salon all outside, there's water all outside, and people standing around to see what's going to happen next."
One witness said the mannequins from the tuxedo shop looked like bodies.
"It's a busy area," said Nick Alajakis of the Lake County News-Sun. He said the blast was reported about noon (1 p.m. ET). Watch a report on the blast from Alajakis »
Pat Rixie, who manages Leno's Submarine Shop, about half a block away, said the explosion shook the restaurant about 12:15 p.m. She said she thought a car had run into her business. The eatery is still open, but streets are blocked off, she said.
Waukegan is 40 miles north of Chicago
Mannequins, broken glass and debris littered the street Thursday after a midday explosion at a small strip mall that injured several people, collapsed roofs and left mounds of rubble in a Chicago, Illinois, suburb.
An emergency worker searches through the rubble looking for anyone who might be trapped.
Five people were taken to Vista Hospital, a spokesman there said.
Desiree Rogers, president of North Shore Gas Co., said their crews were turning off the gas lines into the mall in Waukegan so firefighters can search the rubble for anyone who may be trapped and begin trying to determine the cause of the blast.
"We do know there was an explosion. We know there was a tuxedo store there and also a hair salon and a bar. Until the firefighters get in there and ... we can get to our equipment and take a closer look, it is premature to say exactly what has caused this," she told CNN.
The explosion may have originated inside those businesses.
Crews from Peoples Gas Co. also were working at the site.
The one-story strip mall is in the 1900 block of Grand Avenue, at Lewis Avenue.
"Right now, we don't know if there's people still stranded inside," witness Tawana White told CNN. "There's mannequins from the salon all outside, there's water all outside, and people standing around to see what's going to happen next."
One witness said the mannequins from the tuxedo shop looked like bodies.
"It's a busy area," said Nick Alajakis of the Lake County News-Sun. He said the blast was reported about noon (1 p.m. ET). Watch a report on the blast from Alajakis »
Pat Rixie, who manages Leno's Submarine Shop, about half a block away, said the explosion shook the restaurant about 12:15 p.m. She said she thought a car had run into her business. The eatery is still open, but streets are blocked off, she said.
Waukegan is 40 miles north of Chicago
184
Local Forecast / If you could have another STAR for a day, what would it be?
« on: February 27, 2008, 12:37:22 PM »
I'd like the XL. 
185
The Game Room / Rhyme Game
« on: February 24, 2008, 02:55:45 PM »
Basically you try to find a rhyming word for the word in the post above you. When there's no more rhyming words left feel free to make a new one.
I'll start:
time
I'll start:
time
186
Local Forecast / Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones
« on: February 22, 2008, 06:58:29 PM »
Is the song "The West Country" available because I cannot find in itunes. 
187
General Discussion / Can't open PPT file in OpenOffice.org Impress
« on: February 17, 2008, 03:23:08 PM »
i was never able to open the power point emulator. Stephen, can you PM me on how to open the emulator in OpenOffice Impress? I sent u a PM once but u refused to reply
EDIT: Get my name right
EDIT: Get my name right
188
General Discussion / 8 killed in drag racing incident
« on: February 16, 2008, 09:26:55 PM »
From ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4301114
7 Killed As Car Hits Md. Drag-Race Crowd
7 Dead, 4 Hurt When Car Plows Into Street Racing Crowd Along Maryland Highway
A car plowed into a crowd that had gathered to watch a drag race on a suburban road early Saturday, killing seven people and injuring at least four, police said.
A witness said two cars in the illegal street race sped past just before a car without its lights on came up behind the crowd of about 50.
"There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible," said Crystal Gaines, 27, whose father was among the dead.
Gaines said she grabbed her child but could not help her father, William Gaines Sr., 61.
"He wasn't breathing, he wasn't moving," she said. "His body was in pieces."
A white sedan hit people standing on the side of Route 210 around 3:40 a.m., Prince George's County Police Cpl. Clinton Copeland said, but it wasn't clear whether that was one of the cars involved in the race. A tractor-trailer that came by shortly afterward may also have struck someone on the road as it tried to avoid the crash, he said.
"It's probably one of the worst scenes I've seen," Copeland said. "This is a situation that could have been avoided, and it's a very tragic situation."
Four people were taken to hospitals, Copeland said. Their conditions weren't immediately known.
Hours after the accident on the divided highway in Accokeek, bodies covered in white sheets were scattered along what police were calling a 200-yard crime scene. Some were in the road, while others were on the shoulder.
The sedan came to a rest on an embankment about 150 feet from where the crowd had been. It had a crumpled front and hood, and the roof had partially collapsed.
The driver of the white sedan had been interviewed and did not appear to be seriously hurt, but a passenger was among the dead, Police Capt. Donald Frick said.
Authorities were working to identify the victims by showing digital photos of them to bystanders who said loved ones had been hurt. John Courtney said after viewing one of the images that his brother, Mark, 33, was among the dead.
"He liked going to the race track, watching races," Courtney said. "It's going to take a toll on my family for a long time."
Investigators had "more questions than answers," Copeland said.
Route 210 has two lanes in each direction and traffic lights about every 150 to 200 yards in Accokeek, about 20 miles south of Washington. In that area, the road is flanked by some businesses but has little traffic in the early hours, Copeland said.
Frick said it's common in the summer for police to deal with reports of motorcycles racing on the highway, which is relatively smooth with long straightaways, but he said they have not had as much of an issue with cars.
7 Killed As Car Hits Md. Drag-Race Crowd
7 Dead, 4 Hurt When Car Plows Into Street Racing Crowd Along Maryland Highway
A car plowed into a crowd that had gathered to watch a drag race on a suburban road early Saturday, killing seven people and injuring at least four, police said.
A witness said two cars in the illegal street race sped past just before a car without its lights on came up behind the crowd of about 50.
"There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible," said Crystal Gaines, 27, whose father was among the dead.
Gaines said she grabbed her child but could not help her father, William Gaines Sr., 61.
"He wasn't breathing, he wasn't moving," she said. "His body was in pieces."
A white sedan hit people standing on the side of Route 210 around 3:40 a.m., Prince George's County Police Cpl. Clinton Copeland said, but it wasn't clear whether that was one of the cars involved in the race. A tractor-trailer that came by shortly afterward may also have struck someone on the road as it tried to avoid the crash, he said.
"It's probably one of the worst scenes I've seen," Copeland said. "This is a situation that could have been avoided, and it's a very tragic situation."
Four people were taken to hospitals, Copeland said. Their conditions weren't immediately known.
Hours after the accident on the divided highway in Accokeek, bodies covered in white sheets were scattered along what police were calling a 200-yard crime scene. Some were in the road, while others were on the shoulder.
The sedan came to a rest on an embankment about 150 feet from where the crowd had been. It had a crumpled front and hood, and the roof had partially collapsed.
The driver of the white sedan had been interviewed and did not appear to be seriously hurt, but a passenger was among the dead, Police Capt. Donald Frick said.
Authorities were working to identify the victims by showing digital photos of them to bystanders who said loved ones had been hurt. John Courtney said after viewing one of the images that his brother, Mark, 33, was among the dead.
"He liked going to the race track, watching races," Courtney said. "It's going to take a toll on my family for a long time."
Investigators had "more questions than answers," Copeland said.
Route 210 has two lanes in each direction and traffic lights about every 150 to 200 yards in Accokeek, about 20 miles south of Washington. In that area, the road is flanked by some businesses but has little traffic in the early hours, Copeland said.
Frick said it's common in the summer for police to deal with reports of motorcycles racing on the highway, which is relatively smooth with long straightaways, but he said they have not had as much of an issue with cars.
189
Local Forecast / Devocalizing songs
« on: February 10, 2008, 03:24:12 PM »
Is there any trial or free program i could use to devocalize music?
190
The Game Room / Lie your Butt Off
« on: February 10, 2008, 01:58:41 PM »
My mother's a grizzly bear 
191
General Discussion / Valentine's Day Thread
« on: February 10, 2008, 12:13:26 PM »
Talk about Valentine's Day! 
192
General Weather Chat / 50+ people killed in tornadoes!
« on: February 06, 2008, 12:06:36 PM »
This has been the most fatalities of any tornado outbreak since May 3, 1999. On February 5-6, 2008 a total of 47-50 deaths have been reported yesterday from the resulting tornadoes that struck the Southeast US. According to TWC there were 26 deaths in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, 5 in Alabama, and other deaths in Missippi and Kentucky. An office building's roof caved in in Memphis killing 3 office workers and a mall also in Memphis was severely damaged when the wall and roof collapsed in Sears. (i dont like Sears anyway ). A total of 100 injuries have been reported and the NWS will be assessing the damage and intensity of the tornadoes.
Based on the damage i saw on TV, some sturdy large houses were completely knocked off of their foundations and office bulidings were severely destroyed thus suggesting an EF5 may have caused this. Its only a speculation though!!
I just want to show my sympathy and supported to anyone who may have lost love ones in outbreak and/or lost everything in their path.
). A total of 100 injuries have been reported and the NWS will be assessing the damage and intensity of the tornadoes.Based on the damage i saw on TV, some sturdy large houses were completely knocked off of their foundations and office bulidings were severely destroyed thus suggesting an EF5 may have caused this. Its only a speculation though!!
I just want to show my sympathy and supported to anyone who may have lost love ones in outbreak and/or lost everything in their path.
193
Local Forecast / Here's the February 2008 playlist
« on: February 05, 2008, 12:52:42 PM »
Here's the February 2008 local forecast music playlist 
February 2008 Daytime Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
A Summer Night's Dream/ Euge Groove/ Born 2 Groove
Stand on Your Head /Bill Carter /Stand on Your Head
More Than You Think /Derek Harris (Jeri Harris) /Amalgamation
Margarita Dance /Vince Madison/ Spice of Life
Friday's Child /Bradley Joseph /Hear The Masses
Believe/ Mark Krurnowski n/a
Lily /Boney James /Trust
Broad Street /George Howard /Love and Understanding
Her Poetry/ Lao Tizer /Lao Tizer Live
Rose Colored Glasses /Bradley Joseph/ Hear The Masses
Restless Heart /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Waves of Life /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Storybook/ Patrick Yandall n/a
Mockingbird /Patrick Yandall n/a
Together Again /Dave Koz/ The Dance
February 2008 Primetime Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
Reptile/ Eric Clapton/ Reptile
Her Poetry/ Lao Tizer/ Lao Tizer Live
Before Dawn/ Joyce Cooling /Keeping Cool
Sacrifice/ SounDoctrine/ Endurance
Boyz in the Wood /SounDoctrine /Endurance
Roadrunner /Boney James /Trust
Lily /Boney James /Trust
Waves of Life /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Sun Kiss/ Ryan Farish n/a
Forever Loving You /Ryan Farish n/a
Overnight Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
Through The Night/ Doug Markley n/a
Bright Clouds /Kathy S. Ball n/a
Joy of Being /Joseph Akins /Masterpeace
Have I told you Lately/ Chris Geith /Timeless World
Luna/ Chris Geith/ Timeless World
Know You By Heart /Dave Koz /The Dance
Let me hold you /Ron Thornton Valentine n/a
Straight, No Chaser /Thelonious Monk /Jazz: The Definitive Performances
Imagine /Main Gazane /Imagine
Before Dawn /Joyce Cooling /Keeping Cool
February 2008 Daytime Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
A Summer Night's Dream/ Euge Groove/ Born 2 Groove
Stand on Your Head /Bill Carter /Stand on Your Head
More Than You Think /Derek Harris (Jeri Harris) /Amalgamation
Margarita Dance /Vince Madison/ Spice of Life
Friday's Child /Bradley Joseph /Hear The Masses
Believe/ Mark Krurnowski n/a
Lily /Boney James /Trust
Broad Street /George Howard /Love and Understanding
Her Poetry/ Lao Tizer /Lao Tizer Live
Rose Colored Glasses /Bradley Joseph/ Hear The Masses
Restless Heart /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Waves of Life /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Storybook/ Patrick Yandall n/a
Mockingbird /Patrick Yandall n/a
Together Again /Dave Koz/ The Dance
February 2008 Primetime Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
Reptile/ Eric Clapton/ Reptile
Her Poetry/ Lao Tizer/ Lao Tizer Live
Before Dawn/ Joyce Cooling /Keeping Cool
Sacrifice/ SounDoctrine/ Endurance
Boyz in the Wood /SounDoctrine /Endurance
Roadrunner /Boney James /Trust
Lily /Boney James /Trust
Waves of Life /Chris Geith /Timeless World
Sun Kiss/ Ryan Farish n/a
Forever Loving You /Ryan Farish n/a
Overnight Local Forecast Music
Title Artist CD
Through The Night/ Doug Markley n/a
Bright Clouds /Kathy S. Ball n/a
Joy of Being /Joseph Akins /Masterpeace
Have I told you Lately/ Chris Geith /Timeless World
Luna/ Chris Geith/ Timeless World
Know You By Heart /Dave Koz /The Dance
Let me hold you /Ron Thornton Valentine n/a
Straight, No Chaser /Thelonious Monk /Jazz: The Definitive Performances
Imagine /Main Gazane /Imagine
Before Dawn /Joyce Cooling /Keeping Cool
.gif "lgh (21)")
195
Local Forecast / Do you like local forecast music?
« on: January 30, 2008, 11:58:13 AM »
I do enjoy the lf music but only a couple certain ones