Ubiquitous. Definition: existing everywhere, present everywhere at once or seeming to be. The cellphone is ubiquitous. No matter where you go, whether to the store, restaurants, bars, parks, movies, streets and cars. Today, cars seem to have become the new phone booths. Many drivers are on the phone before they have even backed the car out of the driveway. Is Anyone Paying Attention? How could they be? The phones are so enticing. Not just talking, but texting, surfing the web, shopping (one click!), checking sports scores, updating Facebook, who has time to watch ...

The Community Action for a Safer Tomorrow Coalition (CAST) has announced that the local community is going to increase its efforts to reduce drunk driving accidents and underage drinking. The members of CAST are a taskforce of local police, highway control, representatives from the local school district and other community members. Together they plan to provide more education, more DUI checkpoints and more training for law enforcement to deter people from driving under the influence. CAST has revealed that since March 1, 2012, the police have conducted 46 DUI checkpoints ...

While more law enforcement agencies are moving towards "no refusal" protocols to take suspected drunk drivers off the road, those who are convicted are more likely to receive probation rather than jail time. Indeed, probation is common for first time offenders as many accept the terms of probation. However, a growing number of repeat offenders are receiving probation; even those convicted of their third DWI. According to a report by WOAI.com (WOAI 4 News), just over half of all felony DWI offenders across all Bexar County District Courts receive probation in cases ...

While reports emerge about the nation's improving housing market, the effects of the ongoing foreclosure crisis still affects millions of Americans, especially the elderly. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) recently reported that nearly than 600,000 people age 50 and older are facing foreclosure, and an estimated 625,000 are at least 90 days delinquent on their mortgage payments. At the end of 2011, nearly three percent of loans held by older Americans had been foreclosed; eight times the number of foreclosures affecting older homeowners in 2007 (the year ...

Jewel Lewis-Hall, 57, works two jobs. Her husband lost his job at a farmer's market and has been unable to earn much money since. They live a fairly modest lifestyle, driving a 1991 car for example, but they are still unable to make enough money to pay the mortgage on their Washington home. They had been making late payments for around a year when the dreaded foreclosure letter arrived. Now, what was once a bright future is much less certain and hopeful. The housing market crash hit older Americans particularly hard. According to a new AARP Public Policy Institute report, ...

In a high-profile criminal matter like the recent murder trial of Drew Peterson, the testimony of one witness can make or break the case. Chicago criminal defense attorney Ralph E. Meczyk demonstrated the importance of effective cross-examination in the Peterson trial, exposing important nuances in witness testimony. One of six defense attorneys representing Peterson, Meczyk avoided the media spotlight throughout the course of the trial. "It's not my style," he explained to the Chicago Tribune. Instead, he chose to shine inside the courtroom, specifically ...

It is a question faced by law enforcement agencies around the country: are eyewitness identifications trustworthy? Research performed by The Innocence Project indicates that they aren't. Innocence Project figures reveal that up to 75 percent of cases wherein a wrongfully convicted individual's innocence was proven by DNA testing involved a misidentification by an eyewitness. Virginia's Eyewitness Identification Policies Fourteen of The Innocence Project's 289 overturned wrongful convictions have been in Virginia. As a result, the Commonwealth's law enforcement agencies ...

On August 3, Washington governor Christine Gregoire visited Prosser as part of a two-day tour of the state. One of the questions posed to Governor Gregoire in Prosser concerned her stance on a state law policy recently revealed by a new government report. A performance report conducted by the state auditor's office was released just prior to the governor's visit, and its main focus was sex offenders in child care, foster care and school settings. According to data in the report, 28 registered sex offenders lived in state regulated or subsidized child care settings during ...

The state of Florida held its Drowsy Driving Awareness Week in early September, 2012, in honor of a little Tallahassee girl who died when a cement truck hit the vehicle she was riding in. Tragically, the truck driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. The Florida Department of Transportation reports that in 2011, drowsy drivers were involved in almost 3,000 road accidents in the state. In those crashes, 2,393 people were hurt and 21 died. Not only are people at risk of falling asleep when they drive while too tired, but also their response times and alertness are dulled. ...

A new cooperative initiative between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is currently being launched with the aim of fostering construction fall prevention. Construction Falls: Deadly but Preventable Incidents Every year, 225 construction workers die and more than 10,000 are injured in construction falls. In 2010, 264 of the 774 total construction fatalities in the United States were caused by falls, and most of these were falls ...

Due to a grant funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, drivers in the San Antonio and greater Bexar County areas are subject to enhanced DWI/DUI enforcement. What does that added enforcement entail? Well, for one thing, it means that anyone pulled over and suspected to be under the influence of alcohol must provide a blood or breath sample for alcohol testing. The "no-refusal" program began several years ago as an effort by law enforcement agencies to fight drunk driving during periods of notoriously high alcohol consumption. Since July 4th is the ...

Disagreements between shareholders can often escalate into hostile disputes that lead to the ruin of an otherwise successful company. Disputes may be over the future direction of the company, how to best downsize a company or transfer ownership, contractual obligations and a plethora of other business concerns. However, shareholder disputes need not spell the end of a business or business relationship. There are steps that can be taken to deescalate the situation and come to a positive conclusion. Shareholder Disputes: Arguments Protected by Law First, it is important ...

When a California divorce involves legal determinations regarding children, the resulting complexities can pose challenges even if the couple is generally in agreement. Statutory provisions regarding child support and custody require that children's best interests must also be taken into account. California recently provided even stronger attention to children's expressed interests in child custody determinations. Following recommendations from a statewide family law task force, California legislators approved more effective child custody procedures to improve the experience ...

The National Trust has revealed that parents need more support to make the outdoors a part of everyday family life to avoid rearing a generation completely cut off from the natural world. The Natural Childhood Inquiry - which sought submissions from experts and the public on the barriers and the solutions for children's connection with nature - found that children's love of nature is best started in the home. The Inquiry follows on from a national childhood report for the National Trust by award winning nature author and wildlife TV producer Stephen Moss, published ...

Hotter Comfort Concept Shoes have been on a mission to bring their stylish shoes with built in comfort features to the nation welcoming over 100,000 customers through their doors each week. This year the retail team at Hotter have already successfully opened 13 new stores across the UK, reaching out to their customers in towns and cities such as Cheltenham, Harrogate, Oxford, Tunbridge Wells and Winchester. The comfy shoe brand now has 38 stores, which will soon be 40 when they open stores in Shrewsbury and Inverness in October and they plan to open a further 4 before ...

Door2Tour.com has revealed its 2013 departure dates for the 'Downton Abbey' Location Tours that were such a hit with its customers last year that it struggled to keep up with the demand. The company is now urging fans of the show to book their place on 2013 tours now to avoid disappointment, which many experienced last year. Since airing on 16 September 2012, Door2Tour.com has noticed a surge in interest for breaks to Highclere Castle which is the setting used for 'Downton Abbey'. It has seen an increase to date of 370% in bookings for the 'Downton Abbey' Location Tours ...

RussianLoveMatch.com, a Russian dating website operated by Romantic Tours, Inc., is pleased to announce the launch of Miss Fit, a virtual beauty pageant celebrating Russian and Ukrainian women who are passionate about looking good and staying active. The two-week-long popularity contest aims to showcase both the beauty and personalities of the ladies, as well as engage Western men looking for love abroad. Members of Russian Love Match will choose Miss Fit by voting for their favorite contestant. To compete in Miss Fit, each of the contestants submitted a photo and video ...

Fire is an awesome force that cannot always be contained. A single spark can unleash fast moving fires that will engulf homes, businesses and anything else in its path. Residents around San Diego are currently struggling with fast moving wildfires that have already destroyed 20 homes, threaten hundreds more and killed at least one person. Gusting winds and dry conditions make the fires nearly impossible to contain as they consume hilly brushlands and rush across the area. Whether you live in the path of these dangerous fires or not, it's wise to be prepared in the event ...

With gas prices once again approaching record levels and U.S. government regulations mandating 54.5 average MPG by 2025, car manufacturers are now harnessing advanced technologies to safe consumers money and lower dependence on fossil fuels. From all-electric vehicles to hybrids and modern, clean-burning diesels, consumers have more options to choose from than ever before to save money at the pump while doing a small part to save the planet from global warming. Electric Cars: More Viable in the Years to Come The world's automakers and innovators made huge strides ...

There are not many better examples of seemingly oversupplied industries than the market for spas in Bangkok, Thailand. Travelling around Bangkok's city center, one is rarely more than a minute's walk from the nearest massage shop, day spa or hotel with spa. Given this abundant supply, one would assume it is impossible for new entrants to gain a foothold in the market. However, that is exactly what So Thai Spa has done. In fact, after establishing its new Bangkok branch earlier this year, So Thai Spa is already planning further expansion in the city. Oliver O'Dell, ...

CashWire.com, online payday loan provider, now provides cash for car shoppers to use for a new car down payment. Buying a car is a big commitment, and it can be a very costly process. Regardless of whether the car shopper is looking to purchase a brand new car or a reliable pre-owned vehicle, the day of purchase is very expensive. Many dealerships require down payments before they'll sell a car, and down payments are not easy to come by. And if a car needs to be purchased in a short time frame after a car accident or other emergency, down payments may not be available ...

After spending years managing marketing responsibilities for major companies such as Proctor & Gamble and Quaker Oats in South America and Mexico, and the last 15 years of his career producing the largest monthly Graphic Arts Magazine in Mexico, Jorge Merigo wanted a new career where he could work outdoors in a country setting. That's why he moved from Mexico City and bought Blue Streak Stables in Seguin. Blue Streak Stables is a camp that hosts Girl Scouts for weekend camps in the spring and fall, and girls in general who are 7 to 15 years old for weeklong camps ...

New Orleans, the colorful Crescent City, is the birthplace of jazz, and 10 years ago it gave birth to the brilliant and buoyant 18-piece New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO). Led by its Grammy award-winning founder, artistic director, trumpeter and cultural ambassador, Irvin Mayfield, this exciting ensemble embraces all of the uptown/down-home hues, moods and grooves of the music. In celebration of its incredible decade, NOJO will party in the Big Apple - Big Easy-style - when it presents 10 Years, One Night at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Monday, October ...

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary. That's why whatishealthandsafety.co.uk is encouraging business owners to buy health and safety products online. This, they claim, will reduce the risk of personal injury and will keep staff, visitors and general members of the public safe. Matt Hornsby, a spokesman for the site said: "While some jobs are more dangerous than others, a thorough risk assessment should be carried out to see what products are needed. Once this ...

Gone Girl has been widely touted as one of the best books of 2012, and it's easy to see why. It is far more than what it appears on the surface - a (possible) murder mystery - and with its unique narrative style and plot twists, it constantly keeps you guessing and, as the best books do, thinking. We begin with a portrait of a marriage gone sour, as husband Nick Dunne tells the story of the day he returned home to find his wife, Amy, missing. It is also their fifth anniversary. From the start, Nick as a narrator is somewhat self-effacing but also infuriating in his honesty ...