August 24, 2007

Flirty Ford Focus To Enter Rehab

Dear Frances,

I’m starting to worry about you. You’re out all night, drinking heavily with that sexy, red Mustang (who happens to be named Reddy) across the street, and then the next day you wake up with hot pipes and drink nearly ten gallons of gasoline. I’m starting to go broke supporting your habit!

Do you remember the time I let you sleep in the garage because it was raining something fierce and you complained your tires would get soaked? And the next morning as we back out of the garage, you were so excited to see Reddy that you slammed into the door frame and broke your side view mirror? The cast made of duct tape still hasn’t come off, and frankly I’m too scared to take you to the Car Wizard to fix it. Until that Mustang moves away, I fear you’ll forever be a klutz.

And what about the time you and I were driving home from a job interview! You were flirting with that big dump truck and he whistled at you and a rock flew out of his mouth. Your windshield doesn’t look the same with a huge crack across the top. That conversion van who parks next door was gossiping about you and I think he called you a slut. But don’t get any ideas, like crashing into him in the middle of the night.

And then there was the time you were hung over after a long night of drinking Premium Unleaded. We were driving in the dark and I tried to put your high beams on, and they got stuck! Or so you say they got stuck. I think you just like flashing the oncoming Envoys and Escalades.

I just don’t know what’s gotten into you, Fran. But if this awful drunken habit continues, I may have to admit you to Rehab.

I know you’ll say, “No! No! No!”, but I hear Lindsay Lincoln, Paris Porsche, and Britney Beamer have all completed the program.

And I was told that the Betty Ford Focus Rehabilitation Clinic is one of the finest in the country.

Love,

Your Faithful Driver

P.S. If you don’t tune up your act, I’m gonna have to Ask Patty what to do. I’m sure she has great advice!

———-

This post is a part of a blog blast sponsored by the Parent Bloggers Network. Click here for participation details or to read what other participants wrote in their open letters to their cars!

August 23, 2007

Government Agency Told To Hush

**Cross-posted from BlogHer.

Christopher Jensen, of the New York Times, reported yesterday that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will no longer provide information to reporters, except on a background basis, without special permission.

This means the nation’s top automotive safety agency officials cannot provide any information on the record or be quoted freely.

The administrator of the agency is Nicole R. Nason who was appointed by President Bush and began her position in May of 2006. Nason developed a policy that prevents nearly all of her staff from providing any information which could then be attributed to a spokesperson.

Nason’s policy contradicts The Open Government Act of 2007 which was passed by the Senate earlier this month but has not yet been signed into law. The bill calls for more open, accountable and responsive government, but Nason’s action slams the door on any communication between auto safety experts at N.H.T.S.A and reporters.

From the article:

The agency’s new policy effectively means that some of the world’s top safety researchers are no longer allowed to talk to reporters or to be freely quoted about automotive safety issues that affect pretty much everybody.

This is outrageous considering the fact that auto recalls peaked 30.8 million in 2004. Safety experts must take into account what is at stake if they are unable to discuss with reporters their research that may save lives.

Winding Road states:

“This policy is evidently an about-face from at least two decades marked by openness between NHTSA and the media.”

In response, one reader said:

“This is typical of this regime in which fear and dogma are used to control the public by keeping them in the dark and only letting them know about issues of public concern when it benefits the regimes secret plans. Denying access to critical information, especially when it comes to public safety, further strips us of our rights as citizens of what used to be a democracy. The Bush White House has damaged every aspect of this nation from our standing in the world to a credit based federal budget. This is just them allowing us to damage each other and then find out about why we’re dead three months later in when a safety recall is announced.”

And another:

I can’t believe I just read this… The NHTSA is a Safety administration. As one who endeavored to become an automotive engineer, having an open door policy to discuss any and all matters was and is paramount. We are, after all, talking about people’s lives.

Nason’s previous position was assistant secretary for governmental affairs in the Department of Transportation, and her N.H.T.S.A. biography states she was responsible for oversight of congressional affairs and coordinating relationships between the D.O.T. and Congress.

Adds Jensen, “If she has any experience in keeping a Congressman from skidding out of control, that could come in handy now that she is speaking for an entire agency of seasoned safety experts.”

August 22, 2007

Reading Frenzy

I managed to devour three novels in 10 days. I know that’s probably not saying much considering that some of you are speed readers and have a talent for finishing a book in two days or less. I’d like to know how you do it!

[Read More]

August 21, 2007

Three Days of Rain Makes Me Insane

It has been raining for the past three days. Yesterday morning Doug checked the rain gauge and mentioned that we got close to 4 1/2 inches of rain. And I think I heard that Governor Doyle declared a state of emergency for parts of Wisconsin that were flooded.

We did need that rain, though. Crops were drying out and farmers without fancy irrigation systems were calculating their losses because the corn wasn’t “knee-high-by-July”.

I dislike the rain on the days I have to work because I can’t wear my comfy sandals and I have to carry an umbrella so I don’t look like a drowned rat when I get into the office.

Doug loves the rain until he realizes the grass is as tall as his ankles and it’s time to mow the lawn once again.

Dawson really doesn’t mind the rain (although he hates thunderstorms), but it sure puts a damper (pun intended) on any outdoor playtime we had planned. No swing set, no sandbox, no kickball. It makes him stir crazy.

This morning, looking out the window and seeing the gloomy, rainy day just makes me want to go home, curl up with a blanket and a book and tune out the television, telephone and any other noisy electronics.

Gloomy days are yucky.

You know what cheers me up? Entering contests!

Christina has one going on here.

Design Mom has one going on here.

Take a blogwalk over there to check them out!