Cited: The Wall Street Journal

It is going to be more difficult for vehicles to receive top grades on their respective safety tests thanks to the government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As a safety-research arm of the insurance industry, IIHS says that 2010 vehicle models will have to be better to get its “top safety pick” award if it does not get a good rating on the new test of roof strength. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also creating a more vigorous crash testing system for 2011 models starting next year. This new safety rating system involves smashing vehicles in the polls and new overall safety rating scores.

The bottom line: Fewer vehicles are likely to get five-star ratings in the NHTSA’s one-to-five-star scoring system, and fewer vehicles are going to get the Insurance Institute’s top safety pick award, representatives of the NHTSA and IIHS say. In 2009, a record 84 vehicles earned the IIHS’s top endorsement.

This could be confusing for consumers, and present both engineering and communications challenges to car makers. Cars and trucks may get lower scores and fewer stamps of approval, but they won’t suddenly be less safe. Instead, the pressure will be on manufacturers to take vehicles to a higher level of safety.

Auto makers have done so well over the past two decades at figuring out how to engineer vehicles to pass safety tests that consumers now face the Lake Wobegon problem when they shop: All the cars are above average. So safety evaluators are raising the bar—the better to show consumers that there still are important differences in safety technology and engineering among the hundreds of models on the market.

Yet the Insurance Institute and the NHTSA are not instituting tougher tests in the same way or at the same pace, which could add to the challenges for consumers trying to plug safety scores into their new-vehicle buying decisions.

The IIHS’s latest focus is on roof strength. In its newest round of testing, released last week, the institute rated six mini-cars for their ability to withstand a test designed to simulate the roof-crushing impact of a rollover accident. The cars tested—the Chevy Aveo, Smart Fortwo, Honda Fit, Mini Cooper, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris—are the kind of highly fuel-efficient cars the government’s just-concluded “cash for clunkers” program encouraged consumers to buy.

Tops in the small-car roof-crush test was the Smart Fortwo—a car the IIHS slammed in April when it was making a different point about how tiny cars fare poorly in head-on crashes with larger ones. But if a Fortwo flips on its roof, the Insurance Institute test predicts it will do a good job protecting the occupants, because it can withstand 5.4 times the car’s weight.

The worst performer was General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Aveo, a Korean-made car that supported 3.09 times its own weight in the crush test—double the current federal standard. The Aveo’s score was also a touch better than the new federal standard of three times the vehicle weight that phases in starting in 2012.

“One test alone doesn’t determine whether a vehicle is safe,” says GM spokeswoman Janine Fruehan.

The IIHS doesn’t rely one test for its top safety pick awards, but it is making a point with its new roof-crush requirement. Its president, Adrian Lund, said in a statement that the government’s “leisurely phase-in of the new standard means roofs won’t have to get stronger right away, so we plan to continue rating vehicle roof strength for the foreseeable future. We want to reward manufacturers who are ahead of their competition when it comes to providing protection in rollover crashes.”

The government’s decision to phase in the new standard between 2012 and 2016 responds to pleas from the auto industry, which, besides being battered and bruised financially, always wants at least one product cycle to accomplish any regulatory change that involves the structure of a vehicle.

The same desire not to crush the industry with regulatory demands in the middle of a financial crisis led the NHTSA to delay until 2011 from 2010 the launch of its new more-rigorous crash tests. But the 2011 model year is right around the corner, given the lead time auto makers need to redesign vehicles and conduct their own testing.

______________________________

My Take: I like this little car! It is so cute! The Fortwo is a fantastic car for single people and it is economical. Of course, you have to give up the crowd when going to a party, but it is worth it. I now if they could just make a four seater that was just as economical they would really have a car that everyone would want. Well, almost everyone.

Since it is not a gas-guzzler, people will begin to travel more. This will improve tourism around the country and help the economy. The question is, how often will it break down? If the engine, transmission and framework constructed well, it should not break down very often. This can make a difference to a single person financially.

It is like choosing a doctor or dentist, once you find a dentist that you like; you do not want to change. Even if that dentist were a cosmetic dentist, you would not want to change as long as they gave you what you wanted.

________________________________

Other Resources

Are Lockpicks Legal?

In the United States, laws concerning possession of lockpicks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of burglary tools and is generally prosecuted as a felony under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. Lock picking is usually done by a locksmith who uses a lockpick, which is a small instrument, typically of metal, used to simulate the interaction of a key in a lock. Coupled with a tension wrench, it is used to copy the action of a key inside a lock.

The Best SEO Nationwide

This SEO company has over 250 clients on page 1 of Google. You can be rest assured that their white hat SEO techniques are proven, are transparent and simply work! They always rank in the top 10 results. If you would like to learn more about the search engine positioning results they provided for their clients that are in extremely competitive industries, check out their SEO services. They use on-page optimization, title tags, description tags, keyword proximity, social media optimization, just to name a few, and they will report your progress in all areas.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

One retailer is ready help you with all of your advertising, employee recognition, special event, trade show, fund-raising, corporate gifts, promotional product and other giveaway needs. They are your partners in promotion! They have worked with organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, universities and non-profits. This retailer can help you generate excitement and build brand awareness with imprinted promotional items tailored to your event! Your satisfaction is guaranteed! They want to be your promotions partner and will go that extra mile to earn your business. They are unlike any other online company. Other online companies just SELL promotional products.

With the housing market in retreat, lower prices and a stalled lending sector making it more difficult than ever for would-be homebuyers to qualify for mortgages, the rental market for single family homes is stronger than ever.

Many property management companies, such as Wisconsin Property Management report a shortage of available rental properties in the metropolitan areas, where home depreciation rates of as much as 20% are driving a fierce home rental market, forcing those hoping to turn a profit on their investments to consider renting just to keep the bills paid until the market reverses and sales go up again.

The company’s Web site features a highlighted post sighting a need for more homes to accommodate their rising number of prospective tenants and a startling 2-3 week vacancy rate.

That rental housing vacancy rate mirrors the same vacancy rate that was dominating in the go-go days of the buying boom just before it busted in late 2003, when potential homebuyers across the country found themselves caught up in bidding wars and paying as much as twice the seller’s asking price just to get in on the market, in some cases, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The bright spot in this scenario is that the Wisconsin tenant placement process, and that of other rental companies across the state, are also moving more quickly for owners, as they find a significant number of would-be renters are coming to the market with the same good credit, income and verifiable references that they would otherwise be taking to the mortgage lender for approval on a home loan.

So, while the market retreats, homeowners can take some satisfaction in knowing that, if they can’t sell their home, they can very likely find a good tenant to live in it and keep the mortgage payments on schedule until the real estate sector comes back to life.

—————————

Other Resources

Armed Security

Sacramento CA armed security guards are frequently contracted to respond as law enforcement until a given situation at a client location is under control and/or public authorities arrive on the scene. Security officers are trained to perform arrest and control procedures that including handcuffing and restraints as well as how to is a operate emergency equipment, perform first aid, CPR, take accurate notes, write detailed reports, and perform other tasks as required by the client they are serving. In California, an armed security guard is required to have a license for each weapon is carried while on duty by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Proficient Cleaning Services

Through the years, a MD home cleaning service has garnered the reputation as the most proficient, dependable and trustworthy maid service in the state, providing its customers with top-shelf cleaning ideas, house cleaning tips and the most efficient and effective strategies for how to clean your home. For example, when testing between cracks in hard to reach places such as computer keyboards, telephones entertainment systems use a paintbrush. For cleaning blinds in your living room, try using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. One of the worst owners in home can have is when it has a smoker in the house; to get rid of the smoke odor simply place the bowl of vinegar out to absorb the smoke odor. This is way maid services MD helps their customers.

Junk My Car

If you really want to get rid of that junk car in the backyard, a professional who is willing to buy junk cars will contact you and then, at no charge to you, remove it. Many of these professionals will pick up cars of any make, model or condition. You not only receive cash for your junker, but quality pickup service at your convenience. Professionals this vendor works with buy and sell junk cars for letting and will provide fast, hassle free removal of unwanted junkers from every driveway, garage, back alley in front lawn in the US.

How to Pick Locks

Lock picking is done using pieces of metal that there are different shapes. The most important of these lock picks is the regular hook one, which is used on almost every lock with pins upward. A rounded or double-rounded lock pick will be used on wafer locks. A rake pick will be used for raking, a jig pick for jiggling, etc. A good locksmith will take his time in building his own lockpick pack. As a locksmith becomes more experienced, the more advanced his lockpicks kit will be. When necessary, a locksmith will use his lockpicks to simply push the pins within the lock into the correct position to open the lock.

More Than a Call Center

A telephone answering service can be more than just a call center. With todays work styles, specifically work from home, you can have a virtual office. In fact, not all virtual offices are in a home. They can be located anywhere you do business. What is more important is that having a virtual office is more than having an answering phones service. A virtual office will provide assistance with collective handling of letters, faxes, live chat, e-mail, and even help desk support for customers. This type of service is also utilized for outgoing calls for telemarketing, clientele, product services and debt collection.

Let the Professionals Handle It

It’s simple and easy to contact a using cell phone and their online form. Wherever you are in the Houston area, they will get to you and take care of you right away. Contact them using the online form and automatically receive a 15% discount on your locksmith job. You can depend on the number one Houston Texas residential locksmith anytime, anywhere! Whatever the problem is with your vehicle, they are highly trained to service any automotive locksmith need. Got a broken key in the ignition, need a trunk lock replaced or just locked out of your car call your Houston Texas emergency locksmith right away.

Cost of Property Management

The cost of Orange County CA property management varies from one company to the other. There is only one that will meet or beat any advertised offer of any other company! Their base rate for single-family it $100 per month, for a duplex, 2-4, $75 per unit or 4.5% of gross rent an apartment, 5-15, $60 per unit or 4% of gross rent. This Orange County CA house property management company does not charge monthly fees during extended periods of vacancy either. The management services include rent collection, bookkeeping, lease/rental agreements, background/credit/eviction/criminal checks, maintenance, property inspections and evictions and much more.

Guaranteed One-Day Service

You can depend on Virginia roofing professionals to help you choose the most appropriate roofing materials for the weather where you live and for the aesthetic appeal of your home. They also offer a 100% full refund if you are not satisfied. Their goal is to extend the life of your current roof or give you a new roof that lasts for 15 years or more. This experienced Virginia roofing repairs company will give you fast and friendly service. With their no-obligation quote comes a detailed report of all the needed VA roof repairs, a timeframe for completion and a cost estimate.