In the city of Greenwood, an angry Toyota driver crashed his car into the dealership's building.
According to the dealership, the man went there wanting something done about his recalled Tundra. The service department promised several times to fix it but the owner drove away. He later returned, crashing the vehicle into the window, claiming the accelerator had gotten stuck.
At this time, no charges have been filed because police have not found evidence that he did it intentionally.

Unless you have perhaps a Vette or a V-8 Mustang, etc. don't you just step on the brakes, put car in neutral and turn ignition off?

I had 6-cyl Gremlin back in the 70's where this exact thing happened after I floored the accellerator. I was going about 45 mph and it was stuck to the floor. My only reaction was to brake and shut the car off and it worked fine. Don't get me wrong Toyota needs to fix it fast but I'd be much more worried about a defect where brakes failed.

Me, too.

I think they need to fix this problem and all indications are that they are going full speed to do just that. For me I am more concerned about the number of defective drivers out there on the road. Too bad we can't recall some of them as well.

Butt pincher wanted by police

Ford and GMC have an opportunity to regain. Ford has shown that they can build a better car than Toyota. I think the 2010 Ford Fusion is superior to the 2010 Camry. If they could apply the same concepts to their other cars, American cars could be back. The Chevy Malibu is also very good. Toyota cars are usually well-engineered and dependable.

I hope both come back I really do. Detroit needs it. So many people out of jobs. I wish they would have kept Pontiac though..Me and my Grand Prix.....

Why do people in the Washington, DC area act like armageddon is coming when heavy snows are forecasted?

It provides a built-in excuse for nothing getting accomplished.

I've lived in Buffalo and Syracuse, NY and can't recall one day where everything came to a complete stop because of snow. I understand that the road crews don't have the snow removal equipment and experience but I can't understand why the grocery stores are crowded with people buying milk, bread, and toilet paper.

That is something that I have wondered as well. It is not like they will be socked in for any large amount time. We just got about 10 inches here in Norther Indiana which is rather typical for us. But there will still be those who freak. On the other hand I have lived in the UP of Michigan where large snowfall and very low temps are an everyday thing. We are supposed to dip below zero tonight and several people I talked to were wondering if they would close the schools. Up in Escanaba it dropped below zero around Thanksgiving and stayed there until March. Of course the schools never closed. Only thing out of the ordinary was the Coast Guard ice cutters coming into break up the ice in the harbor so the big oar ships could get in an out. They are not used to snow in the DC and other places and when it comes, they are not sure of what to do. Wonder how many folks up in Fargo complain about the snow and cold?

Does DC get a lot of snow? If not, I can understand their behavior.
Here, we're having the coldest winter in memory.
Before we started experiencing aberrant patterns and the advent of the global warming hysteria, winters in the area between Little Rock, Memphis and Jackson went something like this:
December - some cold, usually a lot of rain, a few mild days, maybe even a short-sleeve Christmas.
January - bitter cold for about a week, ordinary cold the rest of the month.
February - spells of warmth mixed in with the cold.
In recent years, our cold periods rarely lasted more than a few days, and we might go an entire season without a winter storm. Light jackets are usually sufficient.
2009-2010
Since December, we've had winter storm advisories 4 times. There have been few light-jacket days. Lots of gray skies, plenty of days slightly above freezing and several sub-freezing nights. My area has seen a few days of snow flurries but no accumulation. Areas north of us got some ice about 2 weeks ago, and the area south of us is expecting severe snowfall (their 2nd) by the end of the week.

They get snow, but not like they have been getting in the past few days. But even here in the snow belt people tend to panic. The ten inches we just got is pretty normal, but in those winters when it gets to that 20 or more inches you see folks cleaning out the shelves at local grocery stores. Kind of silly really even during the worst of the storms that I have lived through they had us up and running in a few days. But in those areas where heavy snowfall is not the norm I do understand some of the reaction.

It started to fall around 5 p.m. Accumulation up to 6 inches expected. Roads may get slick, but no serious problems expected in my area. Jackson could be a big mess, though.

Heavy snow? They act like that when the forecasters call for a couple of inches! People go crazy. I just don't understand it. It's not like we've never seen snow before. We usually get it every year. True, we rarely see this much in one shot, but I think the media plays a lot into people going into panic mode.

The Feds were shut down for four days. They are open today. My office follows the feds when it comes to inclement weather closings, so we've been closed since Friday. Metro stopped all bus service, and above ground train service at 7pm on Friday, so even if people wanted to go somewhere, they couldn't. I had local things to do on Monday, so I put my boots on and walked. Partial Metro and bus service resumed on Tuesday. It was shut down again on Tuesday night at 7pm and resumed today, Friday. Most school jurisdictions have been closed all week.

Now, I grew up in NYC. They rarely closed the schools for snow, and I can remember only one time when they shut down a subway line (and we're talking one line, not the whole system). And I'm not talking about Manhattan, I'm talking about out in the boroughs - Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Staten Island; where you have to take buses and/or trains if you're not driving.

We were lucky growing up. We lived next door to this place that sold sand, gravel, and cement. Whenever it snowed heavily, they were part of the crew who cleared the runways at JFK, so before heading out to the airport, they'd make a pass or two on our block, and some of the neighboring blocks, with their big front end loader and dump truck and cleared the way for the neighbors.

Part of that is news media tend to feel like nannies when it comes to storms. There's a sense of obligation toward giving as much information as is known.
The other half is as soon as the media doesn't tell, the complaints start pouring in. Believe it or not, people want this stuff.
We've had an unusually high number of winter storm watches and warnings this season, but so far, our immediate coverage area hasn't been fazed. But every time there's a weather advisory, we get calls all day long. On the intercom: "Weather, line 1."
People want to know:
- Are the schools closing?
- Will the roads be okay?
- How much are we going to get?
- What time will it start?
Likewise, my assistant news director (and immediate supervisor) kicks into a near panic, scrambling trying to think of angles we need to cover.
Yesterday, about 2 hours before the snow started, I nearly had words with her. I was already following up on a body that was found in a field, believed to be a man who'd been missing nearly a month, and checking on a murder trial that was wrapping up. I'd received an e-mail from the county emergency management agency issuing a traveler's advisory. I mentioned that to her and the news director earlier in the afternoon, but neither indicated interest. Then an hour before we're supposed to have everything turned in for the 5 o'clock broadcast, she tells me to call the EMA director for an interview. And before I could do that, she told me to call the Salvation Army to see if they were going to open the shelter for people to get in out of the cold (it wasn't as cold as a couple of other deep-freeze periods we've had).
I suppose it could have been worse. She could have sent me to a supermarket to get something on people stocking up.

The report:
Man caught speeding tries to evade police. They chase on highway. He turns onto residential street. Police back off but continue to trail him. He comes to intersection where street doglegs, and is unable to adjust. Car rams into side of house. Police cite him for suspended license, no insurance, reckless driving, having an open container (beer, I think), and possession of marijuana.
The reaction:
Man's mother calls station, asks if we're doing a story about her son. Says crash wasn't his fault. Says accelerator got stuck.

It was a hectic day, and I had a lot to do, so I politely told her that we had to go with what was in the report. Ordinarily, I'd have told her we'd be happy to air her or her son's point of view if one of them were willing to say it on camera.
And that's not even considering that her son was:
- Speeding
- Drinking
- Possibly high
- Driving a 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Oh come now,Jazzwriter, a man of the media and you are not aware of the high rate of faulty gas pedals on 86 Monte Carlo's when they are being operated by drivers who are stoned, drunk and trying to avoid capture by members of the police! Everyone knows the failure rate is almost 100 percent. Well you do have to allow for the 2 percent who were too drunk to find the gas pedal.

And I'm in the process of learning about the high rate of mothers who know their sons have done wrong but think the news media, the police and the district attorneys are all wrong.

Years ago I worked as a news reporter for a station in Michigan City, which is the home to the Indiana State Prison. Did not take long in my stay there to come to understand that none of the 4,000 inmates were in fact guility. Well at least that is what they would have you believe. And yes, I ran into a few of those mothers, sisters and girl friends who could not possibily consider how their man could have done anything like what they were doing time for.

Brothel Bus to Transport Soccer Fans

You have got to read this one!
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpps/news/offbeat...224-jst_6248739

I got nothing, Bonnie. I'm speechless.

Saturday, 2 thugs rob a store.
Sunday, 2 thugs attempt to rob a restaurant, but with the cash register empty, they take wallets and cell phones from the employees.
Tuesday, 5 thugs riding around in a car fire a gun outside a school in another town just as students are dismissed for the day.
Wednesday, those 5 are in jail. Police search the car and find cell phones and other items taken in the robberies. Police charge 3 of the 5 thugs with armed robbery. One of them is also being investigated by the feds because the gun was fired near a school.

You would think as they grew in numbers they would also grow in intelligence......or perhaps in this particular part of society it works in reverse.

I figure most who commit these types of crimes aren't too bright to begin with. Put them in the group, and the collective IQ declines in much the same way an individual isn't very likely to go downtown and flip a car over after his sports team wins a championship, but put that same person in a mob, anything can happen.

Why isn't Ben Roethlisberger being scrutinized like Tiger Woods was? ESPN has nothing to say about it! Big Ben may be a good QB but doesn't seem to be too smart. Why put youself in that situation? The Steelers may need to draft Tim Tebow.

Because he hasn't admitted to any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed. I'm sure the news will hit him harder if charges are brought against him. And it's only one accuser...not a dozen, like with Tiger.

I don't recall any one ever accusing Tiger Woods of sexual assault! Nevertheless, Ben has hired the attorney who helped Ray Lewis beat a murder rap. If this were T.O., ESPN would be all up in the matter!

I don't believe we have enough facts to cast any judgments about Ben, other than has apparent lack of good sense. However, TR is right about the disparity of coverage on ESPN. They've milked Tiger for all it's worth and then some, but hardly a word on Ben.

Because Big Ben is not married. A 28 year old single guy out whoring around in the nightclubs isn't really news.

But he's famous, rich, and recognizable. If he weren't Big Ben, it wouldn't be news. His history makes him an easy mark! I would suggest that Roethlisberger read the autobiography of Ben Franklin.

True, Steve, but the accusation is of sexual assault - a felony. For ESPN, that's usually enough to make hay with the reports and speculation. I watch ESPN and listen to ESPN Radio, so I'm not knocking the network. However, for a while there, every little thing Terrell Owens did or said was discussed ad nauseam. But it appears they're handling Ben with proverbial kid gloves.

Hmm. Not a word of outrage toward Eric Massa.
Fascinating.

I suspect that there would be more phony, GOP outrage if the guy hadn't resigned from office. He kind of took to wind from Glenn Beck's crazy boat and sailed right pass him. I understand that Glenn Beck apologized to his fans for wasting one hour of their lives.

His fans need to apologize to themselves for watching such a buffoon like Beck and believing he has some worthy commentary!

Yeah, I'm a little surprised by that one myself. Could it be that it's such a regular occurence now that we've actually become desensitized to Government Officials Behaving Badly?

Love Her, Comfort Her, Honor and Launder Her

A Korean man has married his body pillow, which bears the image of a popular female anime character, in a wedding dress for the ceremony. While he is apparently the first to marry a pillow, there is a "thriving subculture of 2-D lovers" in Japan, according to the NY Times.

Some surmise that marriage in Japan is dropping off because the women aren't interested in men who sit around watching animated porn and playing video games all day to avoid reality.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/2009/09/is_japan_a_dying_nation.html

Not a peep on the Charlie Rangel scandals astonishes me even more.

Maybe we just can't keep up with them!

When it comes to ethics, the best thing thing the GOP can do is keep quiet. We have Ensign, a Republican, sleeps with his campaign manager's wife. His parents pay off the wife to keep quiet about the affair. This ain't a Jackie Collins novel!

Charlie Rangell is too old to be involved in scandals. He had a bad accountant who made a mistake on his tax forms. Big Whoop!!

C'mon now. Let's be fair. These scandels are an equal opportunity shortfall on both sides of the aisle. Both parties live in glass houses and neither one should be throwing any stones here. Ethics seems to be scarce on Capital Hill, period. Right now, I'm disgusted with Congress as a whole. They are a bunch of highly paid panhandlers who are more concerned about job security (for themselves, not the people who put them there to begin with) and pointing the finger at members of the opposite party, then doing the job they were sent there to do. If you do your job, then everything else should fall into place. You wouldn't have to worry about your own job security.

Sadly...I agree.

Quote of the week here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To

Just the opposite! Why would an 80 year old still be hanging around Congress? So he can be corrupt off our taxpayers dollars and live like a millionaire instead of on a $200K a year pension!

Accountants are only so clever. Charlie was too blatant about it. Good riddance!

Comedians are a dime a dozen. Glenn Beck's ratings are through the roof because he is a constitutionalist that loves his country and sticks up for the common man.

Do people have better things to do with their time than listen to a person who profits from dividing people? I doubt that Glenn Beck has ever read the U.S. constitution or really understands the document. The common man needs to start thinking for himself for at least one hour! I wish people knew more about the document and its creators.

Ben Franklin would not have watched Glenn Beck!

I like the one about CA Republican State Senator Roy Ashburn who admitted he's gay after being arrested on a possible DUI while driving a state-owned vehicle. He had just left a gay bar. This is a guy who repeatedly votes down gay rights at every chance he gets!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/...test=latestnews

Glenn Beck is an honest and forthright. He states his beliefs without caring what his opponents might say, he believes that everyone should be informed of our government's actions regardless of where their loyalties lie. He just wants people to wake up and start taking action in their communities and start participating in their local government, otherwise they have no ground to stand on when things take a down turn. It should be a huge alarming red flag to everyone when the government disregards the public's voice and forges ahead to force legislation through because they think they know what's right for us.

Good for him! This shows that while he may have difficulty controlling his urges, at least he understands his lifestyle choice is wrong!

Okay, it seems my last post has gone into the netherworld. What gives?

Why do we seem to fall into this discussion over which side of the aisle is the worse? Congress like any other part of our society is made up of people and some of those people despite of their political leanings have moral failings. What we see from time to time is not the failure of a Democrat or a Republican but rather the failing of a human.

Wrong?! I tend to disagree. IMHO, he votes against the rights to keep his lifestyle under wraps. Nothing more.

Okay, that's 2 posts that have disappeared.

Controlling his urges? Wrong lifestyle choice? Excuse me but beings gay is not a lifestyle choice. The only choice involved is being strong enough to be open with society. Are we still having the need to think that being gay is something you choose rather then something that you are?

There is room for debate on the whole gay rights issue, but let us not make the mistake of assuming that one is a bad person because they "choose" to be gay. They are gay period, and we as "normal" people have to learn to accept that.

Kevin Garn Resigns In Wake Of Hot Tub Confession

This guy should be a registered sex offender instead of a registered Republican. He was 28 years old at the time and the girl was 15 years old.

On that I would agree!

Okay, this falls under the stupid category. I heard the other day that two American tourists were kidnapped in Yemen. Yemen? Who vacations in Yemen? The State Dept. has travel advisories on Yemen. For that matter, the three who were arrested in Iran while hiking also fall into the same category. Not very smart.

Yeah, I've also been wondering what would make one think "Oh yeah, Iran is lovely this time of year. Let's go hiking in the hills close to the border." Duh.
Best,
Steve C.

Tea Party Candidate, Vaughn Ward, plagiarizes Obama speach

I believe this story was out of Florida.
An elderly woman came out of the store to find 4 young men in her car. She pulled out a gun. The boys fled. She picked up her grocery bag, got in the car, put in the key.
It wouldn't start.
Her identical car was parked a short distance away.
She went to the police station to tell what she'd done. The officer laughed. It seems the four boys, who were in another room, had just reported being hijacked by a crazy old woman with a gun.

Transfat is Bad, and Mom Loves Me Best

An argument over macaroni and cheese became violent in East Wenatchee, WA. A 21-year old man called police June 6 to say his 17-year old sister had tried to cut him with a spatula. The girl was making macaroni and cheese when her brother asked whether she was using butter. That led to an argument over the difference between butter and margarine. She was charged with fourth degree assault.

Don't ever give a woman cooking advice unless she ask for it or you're Chef Ramsey. Just be thankful for the meal and keep out her way.

The weather has been pretty weird here in the DC area! First, we get blizzards and now we get a heat wave. I'm expecting locust sometime soon.

We're in our third week of 100-degree days. At one point, we had 5 days in a row. Last week, 5 people in different communities died because of the heat. At least one of them had air conditioning, but didn't turn it on. Another was outside, doing some yard work, when he collapsed.

The weather person on one of the local news stations said that we've had 50 days of temps over 90 degrees this summer, and we've still got several weeks to go. He said that last year we had a total of 22 over 90 degree days for the whole summer. This is absolutely miserable! I hate this weather!

This summer has been miserable. Even when it cools off into the 80's at night the humidity and mosquitos are insane. I am looking forward to fall where I can once again open windows up and get some fresh air in the house. I see more sick people this summer than normal and I would guess it is because everyone has their homes all closed up as if it was February because there hasn't been any relief. As far as I am concerned, if you need A/C on , it is too hot. Give me 70's anyday.

About two weeks ago, we had about three days where temps were in the low '80's. The first thing I did was turn off the air and open up all the windows. It felt good to "change the air", as one of my old high school teachers used to say.

So I peek into the sales office. Left to right, Becky, Charles and Beth are staring at their computer monitors, each appearing to be so deep in thought, no one notices me in the doorway. In fact, Charles has his fingers up against his temple. I can't make up my mind whether his expression is one of intense focus or befuddlement. After a moment, I say something to get their attention. Becky looks up and says she's hard at work. Beth offers a similar statement without looking away from her monitor.
Charles, however, looks at me and says, "Well, actually ..."
I walk farther into the office and soon understand his response.
He's playing solitaire.

Robert Downey Jr. sure has come a long way:
as Derek Lutz in "Back to School"