Social Networking Playing a Large Role After Disasters
A recent study published in the New Scientist magazine found that blogs, maps, photo sites and instant messaging systems played a larger and perhaps better role in providing warnings, help and lists of how individuals were affected than traditional sources.
From The Telegraph in UK:
During the Virginia [Tech] shootings, they found the [...]
Tornadoes in Virginia
Virginian residents have started the cleanup process after a huge storm system swept through yesterday.
The tornado season is just getting started. We’ve spoken with meteorologists, tornado victims, emergency management officials and even storm chasers about how to prep for the season ahead.
Top 5 tornado prep tips:
1. Watch for changing weather conditions. The sky may turn [...]
Gas Guzzlers
Oil prices hit another all-time high again today meaning gas prices are also soon to rise again.
If you’re still driving, here are some top gas mileage tips from our favorite car mechanic and expert, Lauren Fix, The Car Coach:
Change your engine air filter - this is the lungs of your car, dirty air filters [...]
Stimulus Checks in the Mail
As soon as next week the economic stimulus plan checks will be pouring into bank accounts and household mailboxes. To learn more about the stimulus plan and when to expect a check (it’s ordered by the last two digits of your Social Security Number), read a CNN Money article about the plan here.
Unfortunately you won’t [...]
Prom Time
Around the country, high school boys and girls are getting ready for the biggest event of their lives…so far. Prom!
My prom experiences were pretty happy ones: a lot of laughter and dancing but a lot of awkward posing for photos, my first painful memory of high heels and not-so-pretty dresses.
One pre-prom memory though, sticks out [...]
I’m Moving Out!
Spring is certainly moving season. This weekend, I saw many people - college students, families, neighbors - schlepping couches, mattresses and hundreds of boxes from car to house and house to car.
Moving is a great time to catalog (and get rid of) your belongings, forcing you to think - “is this couch really worth the [...]
Top 5 Air Travel Secrets
After researching a query from a reader, I rediscovered a gem of a website we’ve already linked to in the past: the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division’s website.
Focusing on the consumer side of air travel, the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) operates a complaint handling system for consumers who experience air travel service [...]
Shake It Up
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook residents awake this morning in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The quake was felt as far away as Florida. A 4.6 aftershock also occured around 10:45 am CST.
Here are some really cool earthquake links (courtesy of Al Tompkins at Poynter Online):
Constantly updated, worldwide earthquake activity from the Earthquake Hazards [...]
Now You’re Flying
With airplane bankruptcies, mergers and cancellations due to wiring regulations, who knows what the busy summer travel season will bring.
Here are a few top tips from bloggers and top travel columnists:
1. Know your rights in terms of delays and cancellations. “For example, you may have the right to a meal voucher if your flight is [...]
Phishing Scam Goes Elite
There’s an email scam out online attempting to reel in the nation’s top executives:
Thousands of high-ranking executives across the country have been receiving e-mail messages this week that appear to be official subpoenas from the United States District Court in San Diego. Each message includes the executive’s name, company and phone number, and commands the [...]