| GMC goes green with Denali XT concept
For years, GMC has been the tailored truck brand with an advanced, professional pedigree. General Motors Corp. likened it to the Viking stove of the construction and landscape trades. But in showcasing a new sport pickup concept with a hybrid powertrain, General Motors Corp.'s venerable truck brand is once again shifting with the times. It started with the 2007 Acadia, a full-size crossover that is more car and wagon, and far more fuel efficient, than a hulking truck or SUV. Now comes the low-slung Denali XT hybrid, a muscular, car-based concept with attitude and green credentials that will be introduced at the Chicago Auto Show on Wednesday. .
That’s sick! 8 ways to avoid the bug
Never forget to wash your hands. Wash them real good. Health experts say you should lather up with a generous squirt of antibacterial soap, warm water and sing “Happy Birthday" all the way through — twice — to nuke the germs. Got that? Happy Birthday. While we're at it, here are eight other things you should never do when you're traveling, courtesy of this column's readers and the lessons current events have taught us: 1. Never order tea or coffee on a flight
The water your airline uses comes from municipal water stored in the aircraft's water tank, according to my colleague, flight attendant James Wysong. A recent test by the Environmental Protection Agency found dangerous levels of bacteria on about 15 percent of planes. Better stick to bottled water. 2.
The Law of Contracting Electronically
An automaker and a supplier enter into a formal written agreement setting forth the terms, conditions and methods for conducting business electronically.Joe gives out his business card with his business e-mail address. In this case, the recipient of the card can legally infer that Joe has agreed to communicate electronically for business purposes. But it's not reasonable to assume that Joe has agreed to communicate electronically for matters outside the scope of the business indicated on his business card.Sally has three e-mail addresses: one at work, one at home and another related to a nonprofit board upon which she sits. It's legally supportable to infer that Sally is willing to communicate electronically regarding business related to the purpose associated with each e-mail account. But it's not reasonable to communicate with Sally electronically for purposes outside of the reason each e-mail account is maintained.An automaker issuing a recall of automobiles on its website would be an example of a situation where there's no intent to conduct a transaction electronically.
Evernham will take a break after nearly burning out
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | Ray Evernham's reputation has been that of the ultimate hands-on guy in auto racing. His preference has been to sweat the big stuff, medium stuff and small stuff.</p><p>Delegating? Just not Evernham's style.</p><p>But over the last several months, Evernham painfully discovered that his style came with a danger. The crew chief who led Jeff Gordon to three points championships and two Daytona 500 victories, Evernham then went on to lead Dodge's return to NASCAR. During that time, he discovered that trying to do everything can lead to emotional incineration.</p><p>Evernham will tell you that he nearly suffered a personal burnout last season.</p><p>When this year's Speed Weeks began, it was a made-over Evernham who showed up at Daytona.
Winter storm whitewashes suburbs
Things won't just become normal when the snow stops," Cunningham said. "The airlines will have to play catch-up Friday and Saturday." It should take about 24 hours for airlines to get back on track once the snow stops, he added. The National Weather Service said a hazardous weather advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. today The advisory states snow will continue to fall throughout the day, and will be heavy at times. The total accumulation will be 6 to 10 inches. Metra officials reported no weather-related delays. ComEd spokesman John Dewey said there were no significant outages throughout the system. "The snow didn't cause an issue because there wasn't strong winds with it," Dewey said. Commuters Thursday, however, did have to contend with a power outage that knocked out traffic signals about 4:30 p.m.
Messages in movies not always negative
School shootings and crimes committed by young people are once again in the news. What are the causes of such tragedies? For years, there has been a national debate on the role popular culture plays, and Hollywood is generally cast as the villain. Parents worry that movies, often filled with sex and violence, have a negative effect on kids. Yet there are wonderful films currently in theaters or available on DVD that teach good values, inspire and enrich our lives. In honor of tonight's 80th Academy Awards, we pay tribute to these movies. We asked prominent local residents to tell us which ones they recommend parents share with their children. - Brian Bemel of Ojai is founder and artistic director of Performances to Grow On, an Ojai-based nonprofit organization that produces a variety of events for adults, children and families; Bemel is the father of an adult daughter and son.
Wall decals sticking sleekly in modern, trendy rooms
If you're the kind of homeowner who likes to redecorate frequently, you know that painting or wallpapering an entire room can be daunting. It's time to welcome an easier solution: wall decals. If those words make you think of cartoon characters, tacky outdoor scenes or a life-size quarterback, you haven't seen the latest generation of adhesive wall art. The peel-and-stick vinyl appliques are showing up in the pages of Elle and Dwell and on the walls of hotels, offices and stores like Sony, the Gap and Design Within Reach. Simple to apply, decals usually come in multipacks, with prices from about $12 to $165 or more, depending on size and customization. Several companies will even interpret your own idea on reusable vinyl. For a sophisticated aesthetic, stickable wall art can range from bold, wall-covering graphics to delicate art worthy of a frame (stick-on, of course).
Got yacht? Mortgage magnate dips into new venture
Anthony Hsieh sinks into a leather sofa in the salon of a 67-foot Viking Cruiser, his face tanned from days on the water. Sunlight glinting off Newport harbor sparkles on the paneled walls and twinkles in Hsieh's dark eyes. Hsieh pronounced Shay is sitting pretty. But he's far from relaxed. "I'm sitting on a $3.3 million yacht with no shoes instead of in a boardroom figuring out how to deliver next quarter's financials," he says. "I've been in the mortgage industry over two decades. Now I'm not." More than 7,000 people in Orange County lost jobs in the mortgage industry last year as lenders collapsed and the real estate market tanked. Hsieh, 42, was one of them. A former president of LendingTree.com, Hsieh left with boatloads of toys and treasure.
Iowa Ear: Culver won't tip scales for fitness program
There was a mass weigh-in at the Capitol this week. A dozen or so staff members from the governor's office stepped onto a platform-sized scale, followed by staff from other state offices. Absent was the head cheerleader of the "Lighten Up Iowa" fitness effort: the Big Lug himself.
During his Condition of the State speech Tuesday, Gov. Chet Culver urged Iowans to get healthy and pledged to lead the Culver/Judge 100-day Fitness Challenge as part of Lighten Up Iowa - but he didn't make any promises to shed pounds himself. .
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