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	<title>Autos Blog &#187; Uncategorized</title>
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		<title>Brake Fade</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/brake-fade.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:09:06 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brakes]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[1-topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brake-repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car-seat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disc]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Some of the Physics We know from our school days that energy cannot be created or destroyed &#8211; it changes form &#8211; Einstein The kinetic energy of the car in motion is transferred by the brake system into heat energy when brakes are applied. Kinetic energy E = ½mv2 (m = mass, v = velocity) So if the weight of vehicle A is twice the weight of vehicle B in order to stop over the same distance and time, twice the amount of braking energy is required to stop the vehicle. If both vehicles had the same weight but the speed of vehicle B is twice that of vehicle A then four times the amount of braking energy is required. Modern vehicles have disc brakes where the disc is rotating with the wheel and these are slowed down by clamping a friction material against them (Pads). The friction creates a tremendous amount of heat energy that directly relates to the weight and speed of the car. The brake system for a car is designed around creating enough friction to get the job done; by a combination of the radius at which the pads act to give leverage, the size of the calipers (the pistons give the necessary pressure), the size of the friction area (size of the pad) and the pad material. Therefore for a big heavy car that is capable of high speed you need big diameter discs to allow for a lot of leverage acting against the rotation of the wheel, you need big calipers to be able to apply a large amount of force to create friction between the pad and the disc and of course you need a large pad to give the biggest frictional area. Regardless of the car size and braking system there has to be a way of removing the heat from the system so that it does not become overwhelmed this is usually an air flow passing through and around the system while the car is in motion. The Problems Under normal road conditions the time that elapses between braking is sufficient for the disc and pad cool down, however on a track with a lot of repeated hard braking the heat builds up. Two things that are undesirable can then happen, both are known as brake fade. Pad Fade Is where the heat pushes the pad beyond its working temperature that will cause it to start to disintegrate. The brake pedal remains firm but the vehicle does not slow effectively and speeds must be reduced. Pedal Fade Is where the heat transfers from the pads into the pistons in the calipers. The pistons (normally produced from aluminum) in turn transfer the heat to the brake fluid, when the brake fluid overheats it loses effectiveness and can even boil. When the fluid boils the gas created is compressible, so when the pedal is applied it softens and in extreme situations can &#8220;go to the floor&#8221; &#8211; when this starts to happen it is best to back off and let your brakes cool or they might be lost completely. The Solutions There are a number of solutions to avoid brake pad and pedal fade; some are more expensive than others. Upgraded pads (will not reduce Pedal Fade) Upgraded Brake fluid (will not reduce pad Fade) Vented discs &#8211; upgraded calipers and Pads (Expensive) Ducting air towards the disc and caliper (can be tricky to get right) Installing Titanium Brake Shims &#8211; TiBrake &#8211; between brake pad and caliper (low cost easy to fit, will work for Pedal fade, but will not solve Pad fade) Titanium Brake Shims &#8211; TiBrake By inserting a thin shim of titanium (titanium has a lower thermal conductivity than other suitable materials), between the back of the brake pad and the caliper, the transfer of heat from the pad to the caliper and the fluid will be greatly reduced, so that you reduce the chance of brake fade and your brake system will last longer. TiBrake titanium shims are cut using EDM (Electro Discharge machining) this ensures the accuracy of the cut but also unlike other cutting techniques creates no burrs, making the shims safe to handle and install. The shims are cut to suit the size and shape of the brake pad, so that the maximum barrier between the Pad and the brake fluid is achieved. Why Titanium is the right material for a Brake shim It provides the ideal mix between strength vs. weight, corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity It is well known that Titanium alloys have excellent strength to weight characteristics. In fact Ti-6Al-4v (the most widely used alloy) has greater tensile strength than high strength Steel but is 42% lighter. Titanium is inert and therefore corrosion resistant, it does not react to salt water, sunlight, or any body chemistry. This means that it is safe to handle and it won&#8217;t corrode. It is used in the offshore oil and gas industries. Titanium has a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and a high melting point +1600 Deg C, this enables it to perform as an effective thermal barrier in a brake system. Material Coefficient of Thermal Conductivity Titanium (Alloy Ti-6Al-4V) 7.5 Aluminium 130 &#8211; 220 Steel 30 &#8211; 50 Copper 300 &#8211; 400 Wood 0.04 &#8211; 0.4 This is why Pan handles are made of wood ]]></description>
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		<title>Body kits materials – Fiberglass reinforced plastic</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/body-kits-materials-%e2%80%93-fiberglass-reinforced-plastic.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.schuers.com/body-kits-materials-%e2%80%93-fiberglass-reinforced-plastic.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:07:44 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[body kits]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Body kits add style and excitement to your car. Using them you can personalize your car and make it stand out from other similar cars. If you choose to add body kits to your new car you will need to choose the material of construction as well. One option is you choose a fiberglass body kit. Fiberglass body kits are made of a composite material made out of thin glass fibers held together by a matrix material polymer. Fiberglass has the desired properties required for a body kit. It is strong and can be molded into complex shapes. It is also light though not as light as carbon fiber based composite materials. The invention of thin glass fibers led to fiberglass products. Fiberglass product term usually refers to glass reinforced plastic products. The two components of the composite material have complementary properties which makes their combination very strong. Glass fibers have high tensile strength where as the plastic matrix material has high compressive strength. Fiberglass also has good insulation properties. Glass being a relatively cheap product glass fiber is not as expensive as carbon fiber. However quality glass reinforced plastic is not very cheap. This is because quality glass fibers are expensive and also quality matrix polymers are expensive. Very cheap glass fiber reinforced plastic products can be seriously deficient in quality. They may not have uniform strength and also there may be fitment issues because the manufacturing process is weak and doesn’t deliver products within high tolerance limits. Fiberglass products can be molded into very complex shape. The surface finish can be made glossy and painted into desired colors. This makes fiberglass ideal for making body kits. You will find some of the most some products have a combination of both glass and carbon fiber. ]]></description>
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		<title>Drive The Sharpest Ride In Town With Body Kits For Cars</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/drive-the-sharpest-ride-in-town-with-body-kits-for-cars.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:05:36 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[body kits]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Thinking about customizing with body kits for cars? Does your ride already have the big 22-inch chrome wheels? Check. All of the essential performance mods have been made? Check. What does that leave? Well, since your car is probably already turning the RPMs faster than ever before, now it&#8217;s time to turn the heads too by getting the right image with aerodynamic body kits for cars. So what&#8217;s the scoop on body kits for cars? Of the first questions often asked about body kits is, &#8220;What do they include and what is needed to install them?&#8221; Well, the best thing about a body kit for your car is that it probably already comes with everything you need to pull off the look. Complete body kits for cars typically include the entire surround package, including front lips or entire new bumper skins, the same for the back, and of course, add-on side skirts to polish off the whole look. Also common when it comes to body kits or ground effects are fender flares, rear spoilers, and appearance enhancing grills. Many modders choose to start with just one or two body components and then build their ride one step after another from that point. Are body kits for cars easy to install? While many kits are designed to bolt right on and will come with all of the proper instructions to make it happen, it might be best for those with minimal or non-existent experience with this kind of work to just let their favorite local body shop or auto customizing shop handle the installation of the body kit. Plus, body kits for cars almost always come from the manufacturer unpainted, so the chances are good that someone with experience will need to handle the paint job anyway. Don&#8217;t settle for subpar body kit quality. Now there&#8217;s really just one more rule when it comes to body kits for cars: Don&#8217;t settle for anything less than the best. When talking body kits for cars, we&#8217;re talking about serious customization and the image and attitude that comes with the effort. Fast and flashy is one thing, but being able to stand up to the speed is another. Usually when it comes to the fit and finish of body kits for cars, you pay for what you get. Body kits for cars are a great way to dress up an otherwise ordinary stock appearance of almost any vehicle. While the kits are easier to source and install on some of the more mod-popular vehicles than others, there are body kit components available for more vehicles now than ever before! ]]></description>
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		<title>2010 Ford Taurus – Larger and Vastly Improved!</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/2010-ford-taurus-%e2%80%93-larger-and-vastly-improved.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:58:44 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Automotive]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Since 1986, millions of Ford Taurus models have been sold, a testimony to a midsize sedan that offers value, good styling, plenty of interior room and reliability. During the late 1990s, an unfortunate design change turned off thousands of customers, but in recent years the Taurus has been making a come back, currently in the form of a full sedan sedan for the Ford fleet. The 2010 model is the most dramatic update for the Taurus since its inception. Larger than ever before, Ford decided to forgo mass volume in exchange for a full size sedan segment leader, one that the automaker hopes will shine the light on the rest of the Ford line up. Judging by its looks, the all new Taurus succeeds, but it may be under the hood where the new Taurus truly shines. Reviving The Taurus Franchise The Taurus nearly died in 2007 when the automaker decided not to maintain production of the sedan. For years, sales had been lagging and the Taurus name no longer represented design flair, cutting edge technology or value, attributes found in the first generation model. Instead, the bulbous shaped Taurus was ugly, outdated and no longer a contender to new segment leaders, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But Ford&#8217;s new CEO, ex-Boeing chair Alan Mulally, had a different idea. Instead of dumping a damaged, but still well known product line, Mulally convinced Ford executives to rename its larger Five Hundred model the Taurus. That move allowed Ford to keep the Taurus alive long enough to bring the next generation model to the market, a new sedan introduced Summer 2009. The 2010 Ford Taurus will not ever match the sales levels of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Taurus was the best selling car in America, selling more than 400,000 units annually. Instead, Ford will be satisfied if the bigger and more expensive Taurus sells at least 50,000 units during its first year with hopes of eventually peaking at 100,000 units within a few years time. Redefining The Ford Taurus The change in the Taurus&#8217; direction is significant as Ford seeks to redefine what it means to be a full sized sedan, let alone what it means to be a Taurus. A five passenger model, the cockpit of the Taurus is smartly designed for the second decade of the 21st century. Ford SYNC, a hands-free voice-activated calling, MP3 and GPS system is standard across the Taurus line. A Sony stereo provides unmatched sound while push button start is standard. Ford&#8217;s MyKey technology, which is innovative technology to track and warn teen drivers whose driving habits may put themselves in danger is also included. And, to emphasize the sedan&#8217;s sport flair, shift paddles allow drivers to have a much more engaging driving experience. Safety features in the Taurus are abundant and include a Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) which helps drivers avoid swerving into a lane occupied by another driver, rain sensing wipers, auto high beams, rear camera and power sunshade. Side impact air bags and a safety canopy with rollover sensor is also included. Indeed, a number of the features found in the Taurus are not offered by its direct competitors but are much like what Lexus, BMW and Mercedes might offer in its similar sized sedans. Introducing EcoBoost Technology The Ford Taurus also helps to introduce EcoBoost engine technology which is being rolled out in select Ford and Lincoln models beginning with the 2010 model year. That optional engine, a 3.5L EcoBoost™ 24-valve DOHC V6, delivers V8 power but maintains V6 fuel economy. Indeed, with 365 horsepower and an amazing 350 lb.-ft of torque, the ginned up Taurus has power numbers rivaling some of the top sport coupes on the market. Standard engine is a 3.5L Duratec V6; both engines are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions which helps the Taurus achieve class leading fuel economy levels. Front wheel drive is standard; all wheel drive is optional. The 2010 Ford Taurus offers so many more improvements over the 2009 and earlier models. With Ford sales now on a roll, the Taurus should contribute to Ford&#8217;s success, helping the renowned automaker find its way in a rapidly changing automotive market. ]]></description>
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		<title>2010 Acura ZDX – A Category All Its Own</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/2010-acura-zdx-%e2%80%93-a-category-all-its-own.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:53:37 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Marketers for Honda&#8217;s luxury division call their brand-new ZDX a &#8220;four-door sports coupe.&#8221; Serious coupe fans might dispute that designation, insisting that true coupes have only two doors. Still, several manufacturers introduced the &#8220;four-door coupe&#8221; theme earlier, including BMW with its X6 and Mercedes-Benz with its CLS sedan. According to Acura, the ZDX features the world&#8217;s first continuous glass surface, extending from hood to bumper to bracket the panoramic sunroof. When closed, the power roller sunshade allows only three percent of outside light to reach occupants. With the shade open, 20 percent of light reaches the interior. Acura promises two-passenger comfort inside the ZDX, but with seating capacity for up to five occupants. Beneath the low hood, a 3.7-liter VTEC V-6 engine develops 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, driving a new six-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are mounted at the steering wheel. In Drive mode, a touch on the paddle provides a gear change. S-range gives the driver full control of shifts. When operating automatically, a double-kickdown can occur when necessary. Front/rear torque distribution from the Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system ranges from 90/100 to 30/70, taking place automatically. Left/right, the torque distribution stretches all the way from 100/0 to 0/100: all to none, applied to wheels on either side. Enhanced intake and exhaust sounds yield &#8220;a little bit of exciting flavor in the upper rpm areas,&#8221; said principal engineer Jason Widmer. Otherwise, Active Noise Cancellation and other engineering features help keep the ZDX pleasantly quiet. All models roll on 255/50&#215;19-inch tires, but the ZDX suspension may be set for either Comfort or Sport mode. Fifteen sensors react to road conditions, altering the suspension&#8217;s effect as needed. On the whole, the ZDX doesn&#8217;t yield a truly car-like experience, because its SUV underpinnings are too evident. Handling is a prime enticement, as the ZDX driver enjoys appealing steering feel and fine feedback, along with the bonus of Acura&#8217;s SH-AWD system, in case the weather turns foul. Delivering a comparatively firm ride overall, the ZDX hits an occasional bump hard. Such incidents are appropriate for an SUV-based vehicle, but less so for what&#8217;s deemed a sports coupe. Sufficiently supple in suspension capability, this four-door recovers nicely from any excess reaction. Acceleration qualifies as enthusiastic, if not exactly startling, perhaps not quite as dramatic as some sport-coupe enthusiasts might crave. Getting inside demands a moderate climb?almost like some actual SUVs. Substantial side bolstering cradles the driver snugly, but these serious yet comfortable seats are abundantly cushioned, augmented by superior thigh support. The rear seat is more comfortable and roomy than anticipated, but substantial head-ducking may be needed to twitch one&#8217;s body into the back. Cargo space totals 26.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats up; 55.8 with those seats folded. Gauges are readable but dim in darker light conditions. Over-shoulder views are somewhat impaired. Visibility directly astern is split by a thick horizontal bar; nearly everything is seen through the upper pane, which is adequate but squat. The driver faces Acura&#8217;s first hand-stitched leather dashboard. On sale around mid-December, the Canadian-built ZDX will be priced between the MDX sport-utility vehicle and the RL sedan, which puts it in the mid-$40,000 neighborhood. Three versions will be offered, starting with the base model, which includes a standard power tailgate. The Technology Package adds Acura&#8217;s navigation system, with Real Time Traffic information and a Weather Radar View. Lane Guidance can show which lane to be in, when anticipating a turn. The multi-view backup camera can provide a normal, wide, or top view. In base models, the 8-speaker audio system is rated at 266 watts. ELS Surround Sound is part of the available Technology Package. ]]></description>
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		<title>Greg Long wins Eddie Aikau big-wave contest in epic Waimea surf</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/greg-long-wins-eddie-aikau-big-wave-contest-in-epic-waimea-surf.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:15:11 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[ *Updated with photo San Clemente&#8217;s Greg Long , who has emerged in recent years as the world&#8217;s premier big-wave surfer, added another major accomplishment to his resume by winning the prestigious Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest Tuesday at Waimea Bay on Oahu&#8217;s North Shore. With enormous waves pumping in from the north, Long survived a nearly sheer drop down one of the larger set waves late in the event&#8217;s final heat. Judges scored the ride a perfect 100, which helped propel Long past Kelly Slater, who had led through most of the daylong competition. The mountainous wave, with a face exceeding 40 feet, exploded at Long&#8217;s heels and a towering wall of whitewater swept over him like a horizontal avalanche. He received the score on the heaviness factor and the potential consequences if he did not make the drop. &#8220;I&#8217;m humbled just  to be in this event,&#8221; Long said afterward of a competition that honors a legendary North Shore waterman and is held only on years when truly epic conditions exist. Long, a regular standout in the yearlong Billabong XXL Big-Wave Awards , caught another wave as the heat drew to a close, for a lesser score, but it was enough to give him a 10-point lead over Slater in the best-four-scores format. Waimea was at its earth-shaking best, with the swell holding most of the day and pulsing even larger toward the end of the competition, which featured literally dozens of remarkable rides, but also breath-taking wipeouts, broken boards and the world&#8217;s elite big-wave surfers thrilling crowd of thousands by charging all the way into the 15-foot shore break. This marks only the eighth time in 25 years the Aikau contest was held. Slater, who has an unprecedented nine ASP World Tour titles, won the Aikau event in 2002. Bruce Irons, who finished fourth Tuesday, was the defending champion after winning in 2004. Sunny Garcia, a former world champion, was third. &#8211; Pete Thomas Photo: Greg Long in action at Waimea Bay. Credit: Kelly Cestari ]]></description>
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		<title>TSA Manual Posted on the Internet</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/tsa-manual-posted-on-the-internet.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:33:30 +0000</pubDate>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.schuers.com/tsa-manual-posted-on-the-internet.html</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON, D.C. &#8211; The federal government improperly posted an internal guide to its airport passenger screening procedures on the Internet in a way that could offer insight into how to sidestep security. The document outlines who is exempt from certain additional screening measures, including members of the U.S. armed forces, governors and lieutenant governors, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and their immediate families. It offers examples of identification documents that screeners accept, including congressional, federal air marshal and CIA ID cards; and it explains that diplomatic pouches and certain foreign dignitaries with law enforcement escorts are not subjected to any screening at all. It said certain methods of verifying identification documents aren&#8217;t used on all travelers during peak travel crushes. The Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ), which oversees airport security, said the document is outdated. It was posted in March by TSA on the Federal Business Opportunity site. The posting was improper because sensitive information was not properly protected, TSA spokeswoman Kristin Lee said. As a result, some Web sites, using widely available software, were able to uncover the original text of sections that had been blacked out for security reasons. On Sunday, the Wandering Aramean blog pointed out the document in a posting titled &#8220;The TSA makes another stupid move.&#8221; According to the blog, TSA posted a redacted version of the document but did not delete the sensitive information from the file. Instead of removing the text, the government covered it up with a black box. But the text was still embedded in the document and could be uncovered. TSA asked that the document be removed from the Federal Business Opportunity site on Dec. 6 after the security lapse was reported in a blog. But copies of the document &#8212; with the redacted portions exposed &#8212; circulated on the Internet and remain posted on other Web sites not controlled by the government. Lee said TSA takes the incident seriously and a review is under way. Noting that the transportation agency uses multiple layers of security, Lee said, &#8220;TSA is confident that screening procedures currently in place remain strong.&#8221; The document, marked &#8220;sensitive security information,&#8221; includes instructions on how it should be stored to avoid compromising security: Electronic copies should be password-protected; hard copies should be in separate binders and stored in cabinets or desk drawers; and missing copies should be immediately reported. The document also describes these screening protocols: &#8211;Individuals with a passport from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, or Algeria, should be given additional screening unless there are specific instructions not to. &#8211;Aircraft flight crew members in uniform with valid IDs are not subject to liquid, gel, aerosol and footwear restrictions. &#8211;Wheelchair and scooter cushions, disabled people&#8217;s footwear that can&#8217;t be removed, prosthetic devices, casts, braces and orthopedic shoes at certain times may be exempt from screening for explosives. Intelligence officials have warned of prosthetic devices and wheelchairs being used to conceal weapons and other contraband. &#8220;Some of these devices may have been used to exploit a perception that security and law enforcement officers offer disabled or pregnant individuals a more relaxed inspection,&#8221; said an August 2007 TSA intelligence note marked &#8220;for official use only&#8221; and obtained by The Associated Press. Former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley said the document is not something a security agency would want to inadvertently post online, but he said it&#8217;s not a roadmap for terrorists. &#8220;Hyperventilating that this is a breach of security that&#8217;s going to endanger the public is flat wrong,&#8221; Hawley said. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., was more concerned. &#8220;Undoubtedly, this raises potential security concerns across our transportation system,&#8221; Thompson wrote the agency Tuesday in a letter recommending that an independent federal agency be found to review the incident. The chairwoman of the panel&#8217;s transportation security subcommittee, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, also signed the letter. Thompson&#8217;s Senate counterpart, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said the episode was &#8220;an embarrassing mistake that calls into question the judgment of agency managers. &#8230; That it was incompetently redacted only compounds the error.&#8221; ]]></description>
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		<title>How to Protect You &amp; Your Family From a Motorcycle Accident For Only Pennies Per Day</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/how-to-protect-you-your-family-from-a-motorcycle-accident-for-only-pennies-per-day.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:02:30 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[ The &#8220;Fatality Rate per 100 Million&#8221; (miles traveled) for motorcycle riders has nearly doubled from 22.73 to 39.89 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled this was during the period of 1997 to 2004. The number of miles mentioned above may include many Iowans, because riding motorcycles is a popular hobby for many people in Iowa and the Midwest. There are numerous events during the summer time that involve motorcycle riders. To put it into numbers, there has been over a 30% increase in motorcycle sales since 2001. All those sales equal more motorcycle related accidents. What are even more alarming are the accidents, with the increase in sales, there are more accidents which have caused motorcycle related deaths to jump up by 50%! That&#8217;s huge&#8230; that&#8217;s over 4,700 deaths in the US by just motorcycle accidents alone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are roughly 35 times more likely to be killed in accidents than automobile drivers, especially during the first year of owning a bike because of experience. Statistically, if you ride a motorcycle then you have about a 50% chance of being in a motorcycle accident during your lifetime. Each year almost 100 Iowans are killed and hundreds are seriously injured in motorcycle accidents. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are caused by drivers with little or no insurance. What many Iowans do not know is that Iowa law only requires a person to have $20,000 in insurance coverage for bodily injuries. Given the rising costs of medical care, that number barely covers a trip to the hospital and follow-up medical care. Statistics tell us that about 12% of Iowans have no car insurance and we estimate that another 60% of Iowans do not have enough. What happens if you are involved in a motorcycle accident caused by one of these drivers, sustains serious injuries, has a pile of medical bills and cannot return to work? What can be done to protect you and your family from these irresponsible and uninsured drivers? The insurance companies probably have not told you and won&#8217;t tell you. Many Iowans don&#8217;t know what uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance coverage is. Unisured and underinsured motorist insurance is the only motorcycle insurance that can protect you and your family for injuries caused by a motorcycle accident. Our survey of the leading motorcycle insurance companies shows that for most Iowa drivers the difference between providing $20,000 and $500,000 in coverage is less than a dollar per day. Isn&#8217;t it worth protecting your family? ]]></description>
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		<title>An Overview of Motorbike Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/an-overview-of-motorbike-insurance.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:01:52 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Motorbike insurance is imperative for every rider. This is because you get a number of benefits from these insurance policies. As motorbike is a light vehicle, it is more prone to accidents and theft. Motorbike insurance provides you with finances in case you damage or lose your bike. Also, if you opt for comprehensive insurance policy, you will also get cover for your medical bills. Some people are reluctant to have motorbike insurance because of the high cost of the policies. Well, such rider should know that if they fall a prey to any mishap in which they damage their bike or hurt themselves, they will have to pay huge amount for repairing their vehicle or for their medical expenses. Hospitalization is certainly an affair which calls for robbing the bank to pay the bills. You may have to lose all your saves in case anything of this sort happens to you. For all these reason, it is much prudent to have a motorbike insurance which will take care of all your concerns in case of any unpleasant incident. According to studies, it is revealed that in USA thousands of motorbike accidents take place everyday which seriously injure people. Not only this, an increase in the rate of motorbike thefts has also been observed in the recent years. It is horrifying that out of all the stolen bikes, hardly 20-25% of them are recovered. Keeping in view all these facts, it becomes absolutely essential to get a motorbike insurance to safeguard your vehicle and yourself. Furthermore, motorbikes are also exposed to natural calamites such as fire, floods etc. These incidents can seriously damage your vehicle and in worst cases, they may completely destroy your bike. Even if having motorbike insurance is not compulsory in your part of the world, you should have one for your own good. Generally, motorbike insurance will cover for your injuries, damage of your bike, damage to other people, damages which takes place from natural calamities such as fire, floods, hurricanes and damage of items such your helmet etc. If you go for comprehensive bike insurance, you will also get cover for your medical expenses as well. Although bike insurances are costly, but when you get so much cover, it is prudent to make this investment for your own benefit. Other than the expensive options, you can also get some cheap motorbike insurances as well. For this you need to do good research and look for quotations from a number of companies. This way you will certainly come across the bike insurance which will fulfill your needs and also do not exceed your budget. ]]></description>
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		<title>Toyota Recall November 2009 Problem With The Pedals Can Get Stuck In The Floor Mats</title>
		<link>http://www.schuers.com/toyota-recall-november-2009-problem-with-the-pedals-can-get-stuck-in-the-floor-mats.html</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:39:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[ Toyota Recall November 2009 . Toyota Motor Corp . said Wednesday it will replace accelerator gas pedals on about 4 million recalled vehicles in the United States because the pedals can get stuck in the floor mats , another blow to the reputation of the world&#8217;s largest automaker. Toyota said dealers will offer to shorten the length of the gas pedals by about 3/4 inch beginning in January, as a stopgap measure while the company develops replacement pedals for their vehicles. New pedals will be installed by dealers on a rolling basis beginning in April, and some vehicles will have brake override systems installed as a precaution. Toyota announced the massive recall in late September and told owners to remove the driver&#8217;s side floor mats to keep the gas pedal from becoming jammed. Popular vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger car in America, and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid, are among those getting fixed. The recall also included the luxury Lexus ES350, the vehicle in a fiery fatal accident in California that focused public attention on the danger. &#8220;The safety of our owners and the public is our utmost concern and Toyota has and will continue to thoroughly investigate and take appropriate measures to address any defect trends that are identified,&#8221; the Japanese automaker said in a statement. Toyota spokesman Irv Miller said the company was &#8220;very, very confident that we have addressed this issue&#8221; with the new fix. Toyota has found &#8220;no reason to believe that there is a problem with the electronic control systems,&#8221; he said. Toyota officials said the floor mats are only sold in the U.S. and the recall would be limited to North America. Toyota declined to provide a cost estimate for the fix, but analysts said it would be extremely expensive because of the extensive repairs involved and the manufacturing of new pedals. Toyota also said it would provide newly designed replacement floor mats for the driver and front-passenger side. The recall represents the latest blemish for Toyota, which developed a sterling reputation for quality in the U.S. by selling reliable family vehicles but faced challenges as it rapidly expanded. While recalls do not always indicate diminished reliability, Toyota executives have expressed concern about large numbers of recalls and pushed for improved quality controls. In a separate action, Toyota announced Tuesday that it would recall 110,000 Tundra trucks from the 2000-03 model years to address excessive rust on the vehicle&#8217;s frame. &#8220;Their reputation has taken a hit because the actual quality has taken a hit,&#8221; said Aaron Bragman, an automotive analyst for the consulting firm IHS Global Insight. &#8220;That&#8217;s absolutely critical for Toyota to get that fixed because that&#8217;s the central pillar that they&#8217;ve built their business on.&#8221; The accelerator pedal recall is Toyota&#8217;s largest in the U.S. and the seventh-largest ever in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It includes 3.8 million vehicles, including the 2007-10 model year Camry, 2005-10 Toyota Avalon, 2004-09 Prius, 2005-10 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-10 Toyota Tundra, 2007-10 Lexus ES350 and 2006-10 Lexus IS250/350. Toyota officials said about 4 million vehicles would be covered, including new cars and trucks sold since September and others manufactured since the recall was announced. It was prompted by a high-speed crash in August involving a 2009 Lexus ES350 that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family near San Diego. The Lexus hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, struck a sport utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. In a frantic 911 call, a family member told emergency responders that the accelerator was stuck and the driver couldn&#8217;t stop. NHTSA investigators determined that a rubber all-weather floor mat found in the wreckage was slightly longer than the mat that belonged in the vehicle, and could have snared or covered the accelerator pedal. The government has attributed at least five deaths and two injuries to floor mat-related unintended acceleration in the Toyota vehicles and has received reports of more than 100 incidents in which the accelerator may have become stuck. A Massachusetts-based safety consultant who has investigated the Toyota cases, however, has found more than 2,000 incidents involving 16 deaths and 243 injuries potentially tied to the Toyota gas pedals. To fix the problem, Toyota and the government said dealers will shorten the length of the accelerator pedal on the recalled vehicles and in some cases remove foam from beneath the carpeting near the pedal to increase the space between the pedal and the floor. They said owners of the ES350, Camry and Avalon would be the first to receive notification because the vehicles are believed to have the highest risk for pedal entrapment. Toyota also plans to install a brake override system on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES350, IS350 and IS250 models, Toyota and NHTSA said. The brake override system will ensure the vehicle will stop if the brake and the accelerator pedals are applied at the same time. Toyota plans to make the brake override system standard equipment throughout the Toyota and Lexus lineup by the end of 2010. The automaker and government regulators have been discussing a potential fix for several weeks. Toyota urged owners in September to remove driver&#8217;s side floor mats and not replace them until the company had determined a fix. The automaker said unhooked floor mats or replacement mats stacked on top of the originals could lead to stuck accelerators. In November, Toyota issued a statement saying NHTSA had confirmed &#8220;that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver&#8217;s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.&#8221; But in a rare rebuke, NHTSA accused Toyota of releasing misleading information about the recall, saying removing the mats did not &#8220;correct the underlying defect.&#8221; Toyota said it was not the company&#8217;s intention to mislead anyone. For more information, owners can contact Toyota at 800-331-4331 or the NHTSA hot line at 888-327-4236. ___ On the Net: Toyota Motor Corp.: http://www.toyota.com Lexus: http://www.lexus.com ]]></description>
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