Category: General Knowledge

Have you been noticing the proliferation of the Daimler AG’s Smart Car recently? Sure, it gets great mileage, looks pretty cute and zips right along. But its recent emergence on the scene got me to wondering just how safe this little tiny car would be in a big crash. According to greencar.com, “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently crash tested the 2008 smart for two and found it performed so well it earned the Institute’s best ratings for front and side crash protection. Plus, its rear crash worthiness was rated as “acceptable,” the Institute’s second-highest rating.” Read the complete IIHS report… Read More

Fireworks, barbecues, beach, friends and family gathering to celebrate Independence Day: The Fourth of July!!! Here’s to a Happy, Healthy and Safe 4th of July! I’d like to share some 4th of July tidbits with you: From History.com: Independence Day in the U.S., is an annual holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of U.S. independence and is celebrated in all states and territories of the U.S.… Read More

In the United States, Flag Day (more formally, National Flag Day) is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937 Pennsylvaniabe came the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. Title 36 Sec. 110 of the US Code is the official statute on Flag Day, however it is at the President’s discretion to proclaim officially the observance.… Read More

Well folks, here’s the low down on the new California cell phone laws that go into effect on July 1, 2008 taken directly from the DMV Website. Whatever you do, do NOT drive while holding your cell phone – you need to be using hands free technology. And please, please don’t text while driving. Watch the DMV Video by Clicking Here Update: 2009 Law Bans Text Messaging while Driving – See Video Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws. Q: When do the… Read More

I’ve been scouring the Internet and found a zillion video reports about the Fritzl Horrors. Below are links to many of the videos that come up. This story becomes more chilling by the day. More Video Links Joseph Fritzl Vacations in Thailand While Kids are Locked Up (1998) Sister-in-Law Speaks Out; Interview with Clinical Psychologist (MSNBC) Elisabeth’s Lawyer Investigates Possible Compensation (Reuters via New Zealand Herald) Fritzl Had Prior Rape Conviction (Yahoo! Video Australia) Fritzl’s Chilling Confession (CNN) Google Search for Fritzl Video Reports

Elisabeth fritzl face published an interesting article, along with photos, of Elisabeth Fritzl then and now and other related photos. In their article, it is reported that police say that Elisabeth looks more like her 67 year old mother’s sister than daughter. Her teeth are horrifically decayed, “After an emotional reunion last weekend, both sides of the family apart from Kerstin are all now living in a special, isolated room in a psychiatric unit near their home. “Doctors are said to have placed a cargo container outside so that Fritzl’s captives can retreat there if they feel too traumatised by daylight… Read More

The horrifying story of the unspeakable acts inflicted upon Elisabeth Fritzl and the children fathered by her father, Josef Fritzl, just goes on and on. The New Zealand Herald reports that he was a “despot” who, in addition to keeping his daughter locked up for 24 years while sexually abusing her and fathering 7 children with her, took great pleasure in humiliating his wife with whom he hadn’t had marital relations in years. “Sepp,” as Josef Fritzl was known, would humiliate his wife of 51 years with “crude, dirty jokes” as well as “tell[ing] her off in front of the others.” Sepp… Read More

The most shocking story I have heard in years, maybe in my entire life! A 73 year old Austrian man, Josef Fritzl, has confessed to holding his now 42 year old daughter captive in a cement, soundproof basement for the last 24 years. During that time he fathered 7 children with her, one of whom died at child birth. According to the BBC “The woman, Elisabeth (childhood picture to left), disappeared aged 18 on 28 August 1984 when, according to her testimony to police, her father lured her into the cellar, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up. She is… Read More

It’s no secret that gas prices are climbing up, up and away! So I’ve done a little research and have found some links and a video with gas saving tips — the most common sense tip, of course, is slow down! Yahoo! published a report from Kiplinger which lists 5 gas saving tips: Find the Lowest Gas Prices by searching GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com by zip code or city and state to get the lowest prices in your area. Target the Best Time of Day to Buy Gas: The best time of day to fill up your tank is before dawn or late at night, when the sun… Read More

Thank you to safety engineer/expert Charles Samo for contributing this fascinating and informative article. Mr. Samo has been an expert witness in a multitude of litigation matters and can be reached at samoengr@sbcglobal.net. INTERESTING TIMES Have you ever wondered why birds resting on high and bare electric conductors do not get electrocuted? It is because the birds are not grounded or rather in contact with the ground. This is an interesting phenomenon. Whenever a person comes in contact with an overhead power line, if not in contact with ground, he or she is perfectly safe but as soon as a part of… Read More