Since 2009, Toyota has recalled a stunning total of 22.6 million vehicles for safety issues; each of these safety issues put the lives of motorists and others who share the road at risk. The problems began in 2009, when the prolific automaker recalled 10.2 million cars in the U.S. (along with another 2.2 million in the rest of the world) for sticky gas pedals and ill-conceived floor mats that could lead to spontaneous acceleration. 2012 has been another troubling year for Toyota, with a safety recall affecting 7.4 million cars globally issued in October, and another ...

The Massachusetts workers' compensation system provides workers with a valuable safety net. If you succumb to a work-related injury or illness, workers' comp benefits will cover your medical bills and provide you with partial wage replacement. But, if you've been injured on the job, you likely have many questions. When will your benefits begin? How much will you receive? What if your employer's workers' comp insurer disputes your claim? Knowing the basics can help get you on the path to recovery. Payment for Undisputed Workers Comp Claims Starts In Three To Four Weeks If ...

Just three years ago, Toyota recalled 12.4 million cars globally -- including 10.2 million in the U.S. -- for sticky gas pedals and floor mats that could jam accelerators. Those recalls came following numerous complaints and crashes, and even some fatal accidents. Just over a month ago, in October 2012, Toyota announced another recall of 7.4 million cars (more than a third of them in the U.S.), this time for incorrectly lubricated power-window switches that could spontaneously erupt in flame. November saw yet another Toyota recall that affected an additional 670,000 ...

In the state of California, fathers' rights generally pertain to issues of paternity and child support obligations. These rights are often at issue during a separation or divorce. They are invoked when a father is affirming or denying paternity, making custody arrangements or asserting paternity after the birth of a child. When parents are married and have a child, paternity is generally established. Conversely, when parents are not married, paternity is not automatic. If you wish to establish paternity, you must initiate the legal process. Paternity If you ...

If you face severe debt, you may have had a few conversations with persistent debt collectors. If you are over your head and anticipate collection efforts from creditors, you should ensure that you know and understand your rights and protections. Debt collectors are hired on a commission basis by credit card issuers (creditors) and banks to collect outstanding accounts. If a collector seeks you out, you should ensure that his or her practices are in accordance with the law. Upon initial contact, debt collectors must inform you of your rights to dispute the debt. Furthermore, ...

In Tennessee, any case that involves the placement of a child must include a parenting plan, which is filed with the court. The child's parents can mutually construct the plan, or the court can develop a plan if the parents do not come to a mutual agreement. Nevertheless, a parenting plan may need to be revised as life changes occur. As a child grows, his or her needs might evolve. For example, when a child enters a new school or a parent's job schedule changes, the initial parenting plan may need to be adjusted. Fortunately, if your parenting plan no longer works ...

During this term, the United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that calls into question our most basic Fourth Amendment rights. The high court's decision to hear the case comes after much confusion amongst state courts regarding the issue at hand. The Supreme Court's decision will answer the question -- is it lawful for a police officer to obtain a blood sample from a suspected drunk driver without the driver's consent and without a warrant? The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, ...

The authorities in Bloomington, Illinois have been busy recently. A raid in mid November of three local tobacco stores yielded four arrests and the seizure of large quantities of drugs, as well as $1 million in cash. What was the focus of the crackdown? New designer drug compounds known popularly as "K2" or "spice." Charges for peddling spice cover a wide array of compounds Spice/K2 is a synthetic cannabinoid that contains THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Unlike marijuana, designer synthetics are commonly sold in head shops and convenience ...

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced an expansion of its "Fresh Start" program, by offering more flexible terms in its Offer In Compromise program. The changes in terms are designed to allow many of the most financially distressed taxpayers the opportunity to clear up their tax problems--in many cases more quickly than was available in the past. An Offer In Compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer's past-due taxes for less than the full amount. In general, the IRS does not accept OICs if it believes ...

Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter Hotel North, located at Atlanta Perimeter Center, offers nearby lodging to collegiate football fans attending the 2012 Dr Pepper SEC Championship football game at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta. This year's game will feature the Georgia Bulldogs of the Eastern division verse Alabama Crimson Tide of the Western division. The game will take place on Saturday, December 1, with national TV coverage on CBS Sports. The Southeastern Conference is comprised of 12 Collegiate Football teams from schools including Georgia and Louisiana State University. ...

The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel (North I-85) offers nearby accommodations to guests attending the upcoming 2012 SEC Championship football game in Atlanta, GA. Taking place December 1, 2012 at the Georgia Dome, the game will feature SEC's Eastern and Western division winners, Georgia and Alabama. Other Championship Weekend events will include: - Regions Bank SEC Coaches Luncheon - Dr Pepper SEC Fanfare - Pep Rallies - 2012 Legions Dinner Presented by AT&T "We are pleased to welcome students, alumni, and fans visiting Atlanta for the 2012 ...

OrthoAtlanta, an Atlanta based orthopaedic group, suggest that anyone participating in exercise or sports this summer take proper precautions to avoid heat related injuries. Atlanta orthopaedic surgeons at OrthoAtlanta state that summer time injuries due to dehydration and heat are devastating to any individual. Without proper hydration, individuals can suffer from heat cramps and other heat related illnesses. "Exercise should consist of a proper stretching and cardio program, as well as hydration maintenance," said Dr. Michael Behr, Atlanta orthopaedic ...

Atlanta tree experts, Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts, warn residents that ice is a substantial threat to trees during this winter season. In the temperate zone of Georgia, winter months can have a mix of freezing temperatures and ice, which is more damaging to trees than snow. Freezing rain and ice can weigh down many of the younger and damaged trees, making them more likely to suffer damage, and possibly even fall during the winter months. "Unfortunately, we live in an area that experiences more ice and freezing temperatures, rather than snow," states Gary ...

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee purveyor J. Martinez & Company has a new blog, so you can keep up with all the latest news and information from your favorite source for gourmet coffee. J. Martinez & Company has been a leader in the gourmet coffee business since 1988. The family owned company, founded by John A Martinez with his wife, Melanie, has pioneered incredibly innovative ways of getting coffee to its drinkers. One quite important innovation was the concept of single estate coffee. This refers to beans that have been grown on the same farm, and thus under ...

Money Dashboard, the free financial software service, has put together some top tips on ways to save money this Christmas and into the New Year. Christmas is one of the most expensive times of the year. This year Britons will spend around GBP89 billion on Christmas, from food and decorations to presents and travel. Trying to save at this time is therefore an uphill struggle. But Money Dashboard knows it is possible. Through its free online software anyone can take control of their finances. Users of the software can see exactly where their money goes, monitor their ...

The IRS recently announced some major changes to the 2008 initiative called "Fresh Start". The new changes will permit a large number of taxpayers who are without a job for longer than 30 days the opportunity to avoid tax penalties. As a result Costen Tax Group can help a greatly increased number of taxpayers. Beginning this year many self-employed and wage earning taxpayers can avoid costly penalties for a late payment of 2011 taxes by submitting an extension and paying their full tax obligation by October 15th 2012. This penalty relief only applies to households ...

This Friday (30th November), Australian online costume retailer Smiffy's AU will be launching their biggest ever online sales campaign with huge savings of up to 50%, while stock lasts. With the passing of Cyber Monday and Australia's very own Click Frenzy, Smiffy's AU have decided to launch their very own sales campaign which will be the biggest sales push undergone by the company to date. "We're in the last quarter of 2012 and it's evident that will be seeing the best sales since the launch of the company a number of years ago. Our '#SmiffysOzCracker' sales ...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories' one-of-a-kind multiphase shock tube began with a hallway conversation that led to what engineer Justin Wagner describes as the only shock tube in the world that can look at how shock waves interact with dense particle fields. The machine is considered multiphase because it can study shock wave propagation through a mixture of gas and solid particles. Shock tubes — machines that generate shock waves without an explosion — have been around for decades. What makes Sandia's unique is its ability to study how densely clustered ...

Irvine, Calif., Nov. 26, 2012 — A short burst of moderate exercise enhances the consolidation of memories in both healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment, scientists with UC Irvine's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory have discovered. Most research has focused on the benefits of a long-term exercise program on overall health and cognitive function with age. But the UCI work is the first to examine the immediate effects of a brief bout of exercise on memory. In their study, UCI postdoctoral scholar Sabrina Segal and neurobiologists ...

One of the most important health problems in the United States is the failure of patients with chronic diseases to take their medications and do all that is necessary to control their illnesses. In a study published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, UCLA researchers and their colleagues suggest that physicians take a serious look at tools and strategies used in behavioral economics and social psychology to help motivate their patients to assert better control over chronic diseases. Breaking large goals into smaller, more manageable parts, for example, ...

LOS ANGELES AND OXFORD, U.K.— A new study by University of Southern California (USC) and University of Oxford researchers indicates that large amounts of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) found in national food supplies across the world may be one explanation for the rising global epidemic of type 2 diabetes and resulting higher health care costs. The study reports that countries that use HFCS in their food supply had a 20 percent higher prevalence of diabetes than countries that did not use HFCS. The analysis also revealed that HFCS's association with the "significantly ...

Charlottesville, VA (November 27, 2012). Hospital administrative databases, designed to provide general information on hospital stays and associated costs, are frequently used to find information that can lead to quality assessments of care or clinical research. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) extracted data on hospital readmissions following spine surgery at their institution from an administrative database to assess the clinical relevance of the information and to define clinically relevant predictors of readmission. What they found were ...

Now, Helmholtz Centre Berlin's Dr. Andrei Varykhalov, Prof. Dr. Oliver Rader and his team of physicists has taken the first step towards building graphene-based components, in collaboration with physicists from St. Petersburg (Russia), Jülich (Germany) and Harvard (USA). According to their report on 27. November 2012 in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2227), they successfully managed to increase the graphene conduction electrons' spin-orbit coupling by a factor of 10,000 – enough to allow them to construct a switch that can be controlled via small electric fields. The ...

November 27, 2012 — Ottawa — Scientists have discovered that injecting a novel human protein into muscle affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy significantly increases its size and strength, findings that could lead to a therapy akin to the use of insulin by diabetics. These results were published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Julia von Maltzahn and Dr. Michael Rudnicki, the Ottawa scientist who discovered muscle stem cells in adults. "This is an unprecedented and dramatic restoration in muscle strength," says Dr. Rudnicki, a senior ...

(Boston) - Researchers at Boston University and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) have determined that heavily indebted medical students choosing primary care careers will experience difficulty paying their student debt unless they consider alternative strategies to support repayment. These findings appear online in Academic Medicine, the peer-reviewed Journal of the AAMC. Most medical school graduates have education debt and the average amount of education debt is increasing. In 2011, 86 percent had education debt at graduation, averaging $161,290, ...