SUMMER SAFETY: KIDS AND HOT CARS DON'T MIX

It's that time of the year again. Warm summer temps make going to the pool, beach and parks a lot of fun. But those higher temps can be deadly inside a parked car. So far this year, twenty child deaths can be attributed to heat stroke and#40;hyperthermiaand#41; from being left in a hot vehicle and#40;sourceand#41;. About half of the deaths over the last ten years can be attributed to a caregiver forgetting the child in the car. Another third is from kids playing in an unattended vehicle. Think it can't happen to you? Leaving your child in the car for even a few minutes with the windows cracked can be fatal. A car left in the sun for 10 minutes can reach a temperature almost 20 degrees higher than outside temperatures. Wait 30 minutes and that number goes up to almost 35 degrees. Wait an hour and temps can soar to 45 degrees above outside. On a 90 degree day, your car interior could reach 135 degrees! And cracking your windows has little effect on temps. Children's bodies heat up 3-5 times [Read More]

published July 12, 2010 at 7:36pm EDT

FAMILY 4TH OF JULY TRADITIONS: IN THE FAMILY CAR

The 4th of July always brings to mind family and friends and fellowship. Independence Day was always a fun holiday for my family; it was one of my favorites. All my fireworks memories seem to revolve around vehicles.When we were younger, we used to live within a few miles of Disneyland. We would all pile into the family VW Rabbit and head down to the local mall parking lot and sit on the roof and hood of our car to watch the fireworks. I have wonderful memories of that. Somehow, we never felt cheated sitting that far away from the show.As we grew older we would drive down to the local minor league baseball stadium and watch baseball and fireworks, which is an incredibly American experience – and if you know me, it’s hard to get me that patriotic all at one time. But honestly there is nothing better on 4th of July than decorating your family car and watching baseball with a big hot dog and ice cold Coca-Cola in your hand. Oh, and don’t forget the peanuts.One of my first Independe [Read More]

published July 2, 2010 at 7:03pm EDT

FIRST LADY LAUNCHES PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ON FITNESS, SPORTS AND NUTRITION

First Lady Michelle Obama has put together a powerhouse group to serve on the “President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition” including Billie Jean King, Michelle Kwan, and Dominique Dawes. From the official press release comes all the details: WASHINGTON, DC – First Lady Michelle Obama joined kids from the Washington, DC area to launch the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and introduce the 2010 Council co-chairs and members.  In conjunction with the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, this year President Obama has broadened the scope of the Council, formerly known as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, to include a focus on healthy eating as well as active lifestyles.  The President signed an Executive Order outlining the Council’s new emphasis on both good nutrition and physical fitness. The President has named Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympian and former [Read More]

published June 29, 2010 at 7:36pm EDT

LOOK NO FURTHER FOR FATHER'S DAY GIFTS

It's hard to find gifts for dads. You can't fall back on jewelry or spa retreats and#40;a big hit with momsand#41;, and a tie is just so unoriginal. Fortunately, almost 70 percent of men do some kind of work on their rides, according to the Car Care Council, making an automotive-related gift a great go-to choice for Father's Day. Our friends at Tire Rack have already come up with a few can't-lose gift items to choose from, but for a broad selection, you can't beat Amazon.com's  Automotive Gift Guide. You can search by price, type of vehicle, vehicle or accessory brand, gifts for the garage, and more, making it virtually impossible not to find something appropriate in your budget. There are also Automotive "Lightning Deals" - great bargains - that change several times a day. Other Amazon users have submitted their automotive wish lists and product reviews, the better to help with your decision. Who knew, for example, that the inexpensive LifeHammer, pictured here, was so sought a [Read More]

published June 16, 2010 at 5:11pm EDT

FATHER’S DAY CHICK PICKS

Oh, Father’s Day. It’s a glorious event that we’re all totally looking forward to, right? No, no, for me that’s actually completely wrong. I find that shopping for gifts, in general, can be a fierce challenge. But when you add in the Dad factor, it’s another game entirely. So, what are all the Dads into these days? Mine likes working on cars, playing golf, and relaxing whilst he watches something like Boston Legal or the History Channel. So based on that, what’s a good gift? A car? A round of golf? A personal meeting with William Shatner? and#40;He wishesand#41;. At ChickSpeak, we did the research for you, a week before Father’s Day, so you have time to run out and buy the best present possible for Dad. For 2010, here are our Chick Picks for Father’s Day and#40;it’s June 20, just so you know!and#41;: For Dad’s Good Looks Bath and Body Works Signature Collection for Men This line consists of body washes with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, fresh lasting deodorizing body spr [Read More]

published June 14, 2010 at 9:36pm EDT

WHAT THE HELL IS AN ANTI-MOM?

One Day at a Time It’s Emmy preview time and the Hollywood Reporter published a piece The Rise of the TV’s ‘Anti-Moms’ about the types of moms on TV today.  Not surprisingly they run the gamut from hapless to neurotic to cruel to superhuman.  The crazy, funny truth about moms on TV today is that they are much better at reflecting real life because there are actually so many more moms writing and working on these shows.  No more picture perfect moms like Leave it to Beaver time.  No more Ma Ingalls.  But the moms of my childhood that I remember most were the moms working and struggling to make their families successful whether they were single moms or a part of a couple.  The moms I remember most and best are: Alice; Kate and Allie; Florida on Good Times;  Elise Keaton on Family Ties, Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show and Ann Romano on One Day at a Time. and#40;I know there are so many more.  Who are your favorite TV moms?and#41; But no one would have ever have called th [Read More]

published June 10, 2010 at 5:50pm EDT

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN EDUCATES DRIVERS TO "MOVE OVER" AND PROTECT OFFICERS ON ROADWAYS

More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed in the last 10 years after being struck by vehicles along America's highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. To lower that deadly toll, a new coalition of traffic safety and law enforcement groups is launching a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect emergency personnel along our nation's roadsides. "Move Over, America" is a partnership of the National Safety Commission, the National Sheriffs' Association and the National Association of Police Organizations. The campaign is the first nationally coordinated effort to educate Americans about "Move Over" safety laws and how they help protect the law enforcement officers who risk their lives protecting the public. According to a national poll sponsored by the National Safety Commission:    * 71 percent of Americans have not heard of "Move Over" laws;    * 86 percent support enacting "Move Over" laws in all 50 states; and    * [Read More]

published June 8, 2010 at 4:52pm EDT

THE YOUNG AND THE PREGNANT: UPDATES ALL AROUND

Hey Chicks! Long time no see! It’s been a crazy couple of weeks starting with and#40;cue Funeral Marchand#41; the Week of Finals which I miraculously survived. I hope all of you college Chicks out there finished up your year without too many crams sessions or sleepless nights, or even tears in some cases and#40;I did a little of all threeand#41;. Since Week 27 was mostly about being all-consumed with last minute school work, we didn’t miss too much when it came to baby stuff - although Little Man was the subject of my Language 120 final that I passed with flying colors. But even though it was finals week for school, Little Man and I were still learning new things! In that week’s childbirth class, I got to learn all about the joys of “Stage One” of labor. Here is Stage One in a nutshell: #@$*%!!! It’s the part of labor when your contractions begin and then escalate before you get the green light to start pushing. Stage One is going from one centimeter to ten centimeters and app [Read More]

published May 26, 2010 at 2:18pm EDT

PHONES, TEXT, AND MUSIC: DISTRACTIONS FOR TEEN DRIVERS

While drinking and driving is a dangerous behavior unto itself, many teens are introducing other distractions into the mix when they are behind the wheel. More than one-in-three teens say they often change songs on their MP3 players, speed or text; while more than one-in-four confess that they regularly drive with multiple passengers or talk on the cell phone while driving. They do this despite significant percentages who admit the behavior is very distracting. For example, 33 percent of teens report texting while driving "often" or "very often," even though 40 percent find the behavior "very" or "extremely" distracting. NHTSA estimates that distracted driving, including the use of nomadic electronic devices such as MP3 players and PDAs, may be involved in some capacity in up to 80 percent of road collisions.About the Liberty Mutual/SADD Teen Driving PartnershipSince 1991, Liberty Mutual and SADD have collaborated on research and responsible solutions to keep families safe behind the [Read More]

published May 21, 2010 at 4:24pm EDT

HELP PASS IVAWA AND HELP TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

From the time we are old enough to face bullies, have cooties and be pushed down for being a girl -we are told to stand up for ourselves. I’m sure little boys are instructed to “be tough” as well, but as little girls, it’s always stressed to not follow the crowd, stand up for what we believe, and to be who we are against all odds. And if someone happens to come around, either a 10-year-old boy with freckles who wants to push us around, or our boyfriend who raises a hand to us when we’re sixteen, we know it is our right and our duty to stand up for ourselves and against violence. However, not every little girl in every country is taught to value herself and to stand up against brutality. These children and women need the help of others to find the right tools and education to live safely and freely. Together, we can make a difference and help not only ourselves, but women across the globe to have equal rights and security in their homes and countries. The International V [Read More]

published May 12, 2010 at 1:29pm EDT