Legislators in several states say multitaskers are taking it too far, using their knees or little fingers to steer their cars while punching in cellphone messages.
Washington is the first state to pass a law banning “driving while texting.” The law takes effect in January and calls for a $101 fine for DWT. So far this year, nine other states have considered such legislation.
Driving while texting is a newer form of driver distraction. It joins such crash-causing activities as making calls on a cellphone, eating, and talking to passengers in the car.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute show that driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes. And texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road.
If the drivers’ eyes are away from the roadway for two seconds or more in a six-second window, their risk of being involved in a crash is two times higher than that of an attentive driver.
A 2006 joint report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 78 percent of crashes involved a driver distracted within three seconds before an accident.
At the Center for Mobile Communications at Rutgers University, they say it’s human nature to know something is dangerous but to believe you can handle it better than others. This false sense of confidence could cost you your life and someone else’s life as well.
Think about it next time you want to be DWT. The time you save could be multiplied many times over as time lost if you are injured in a car crash. You couldn’t call it “an accident.”
States ban text messaging while driving
Freshwater fish have omega-3s
If you’re a fisherman or have friends who share their catch with you, here’s good news. Ocean-going fish may be rich in those important omega-3 fatty acids, but salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring are not the only sources.
Freshwater game fish have omega-3s, as well. Lake Superior lake trout actually are richer in this nutrient than Atlantic salmon or Atlantic mackerel. The trout has 3 grams per 3.5-ounce serving as opposed to 1.84 for the salmon and 1.2 for the mackerel.
Other freshwater game fish with omega-3s include whitefish with 1.6 grams per 3.5 ounce serving, chub with 1.5, herring with 1.1, bass with 0.9, smelt with 0.5, walleye at 0.4, and northern pike with 0.1 ounces per serving.
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say it’s true that the content of most game fish isn’t as high as that of ocean-going cold-water fish. But fish, as long as it’s not fried or prepared with a lot of added fats, is still a better choice than meat. Meat is typically higher in undesirable saturated fats and cholesterol.
How to get your rebate: Do it right, do it now
If you bought your lawn mower, paint, or computer but never got the promised rebate, you are one of many. The Federal Trade Commission reports that “the problem is huge.”
It may appear that the main function of rebate processors is to find a reason to deny the money-back offer. Rules are often so complicated and vague that most customers don’t even bother. Rebate complaints have risen 400 percent since 2002 according to the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
To get the rebate you expect:
- Know the terms on the rebate form or store receipt. Ask the retailer to explain the terms.
- Make copies of everything including store receipts, bar codes, forms, product containers, and serial numbers, recommends Sid Kirchheimer, author of Scam-Proof Your Life (AARP/Sterling).
- Fill in every blank on the form. If it asks for your email address, for example, say you don’t have one rather than leaving the space blank.
- Act fast. The average time to submit a claim is now 15 to 30 days.
- Use certified mail and ask for a receipt. Fill out all forms in writing to avoid suspicions of mass-mailing fraud.
- Shop where rebates are easy to apply for. Stores like Staples, Cingular, and Costco let customers fill out rebate forms at the checkout or online. Some stores have the rebate form printed out at the end of the sales receipt.
The best idea: Fill out forms carefully immediately after the purchase. Send them along with required proofs that day or the next day.
A little fat makes vegetables more nutritious, helps prevent cancer
Having corn on the cob with dinner? Adding a little butter will increase the level of nutrients your body will absorb. Having a salad for lunch? Adding full-fat salad dressing will have the same effect.
Many of the healthful compounds in vegetables are fat-soluble. That means your body can’t absorb them very well unless fat is present at the same time.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus checked for nutrients that were especially important for cancer prevention. Some of affected nutrients:
Lutein and zeaxanthin found in spinach and kale are important for eye and heart health.
Lycopene, the red carotenoid found in tomatoes and watermelon, is a potential cancer fighter.
Alpha and beta carotene, the orange pigment in carrots and cantaloupe, help to reduce cancer rates.
Vitamin E found in mango, broccoli, and spinach is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage.
When some avocado was added to salads, blood tests showed the absorption of lutein was 18 times greater than without the fatty avocado. Absorption of lycopene increased by 4.4 times, and the increase in beta carotene absorption was 2.6 times.
Fortunately, the amount of fat in the entire meal can aid nutrient absorption. Nutritionists say you should choose at least one food per meal with a high fat content. That means if you have a small steak or hamburger with dinner, you’ll be fine.
Unusual cellphone rings called distracting
The temperature of the workplace was people’s top complaint for many years. In the same location, some said it was too hot and other workers said it was too cold. Fortunately, some thought the temperature was just right.
Very few people think the ringing of someone’s cellphone is just right. In a study by workforce solutions firm Randstad USA, unusual rings were named as workers’ number one pet peeve.
Randstad reports that many rings are particularly obnoxious like fire engine sirens, a fog horn, or a child’s voice crying out. Many people have several rings to identify various callers such as parents, friends, and spouses.
With so many ringtones available online, it shouldn’t be difficult to pick one that doesn’t drive co-workers and customers to distraction. According to M:Metrics, a Seattle-based research firm, 19.8 million mobile-phone users downloaded ringtones in one recent month. About half of them were employed full time.
Part of the problem is with more open workspaces. Some companies pipe “white sound” into open areas to reduce noise. Another factor is the increased number of young people who have grown up with cellphones.
Most organizations require that phones be set on vibrate during meetings and when talking with customers.
We should remember that discretion is best when choosing a ringtone. Consider what bosses and co-workers will think when your phone rings.