JedFonner.com

Checkout this video from the Washington Post article on a MD state-sponsored study to install in-car camera systems that record the erratic driving behavior of teens:

The webcam in the car saves 20 seconds of video whenever the car makes a movement outside normal parameters, such as a sharp turn or a rapid change in momentum. The system then electronically sends those mini-videos to a company who then adds tips for the young drivers and sends it to the family.

No results have been published from the study yet, but indications are that a lot of accidents involving teenage drivers occur purely because of inexperience and poor education on how to drive.

Having grown up in Maryland, I can attest to the fact that the current system for teaching teenagers drivers really sucks. Politicians keep focusing on alcohol, loud music, too many passengers, late night driving, etc. But it seems like an important, additional course of action would be to reinstate Drivers Ed in school and increase the amount of classtime and driving time before teenagers can get provisional licenses.

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Brilliant campaign video:

Not so brilliant campaign video:

We went to the doctor yesterday for our 20 week anatomy sonogram and to find out the sex of the baby. We got to see our new baby from an incredible number of angles and in amazing detail. The doctors were very clear with us: we’re definitely having a boy!

We couldn’t believe how clear the pictures were. Although a lot of the time they had to explain just what we were looking at (especially when they showed us his, um, “male parts”). But then at the end they showed us the 3D images and we were blown away. We could actually see our baby’s face. Unbelievable.

And after much deep thought (and much Googling), we’ve chosen a name:

With luck, in less than 5 months little Eli will become the newest member of our family.

Here’s a small set of pictures from the sonogram showing our healthy baby boy:

And here’s our baby boy’s development chart:

While personally I don’t think it makes much sense to holding someone accountable for actions their associate did 40 years ago, I could see how some people would think that significant. So regarding Obama’s association with Weather Underground cofounder Bill Ayers, I assumed the Republicans had jumped on a real issue and were legitimately hammering Obama on it. And that’s what a strong democracy is all about.

Except what the Republicans are saying about Obama and Ayers isn’t true.

My new favorite website, FactCheck.org, has put out a fantastic article on the attacks that McCain and Palin have been lobbing at Obama. Read their story: “He Lied” About Bill Ayers?.

FactCheck says of the ads, “We find McCain’s accusation that Obama “lied” to be groundless” and “Other claims are seriously misleading.” Overall, they say,

McCain-Palin campaign attempts to sway voters – in ads and on the stump – with false and misleading statements about the relationship, which was never very close. Obama never “lied” about this, just as he never bragged about it. The foundation they both worked with was hardly “radical.” And Ayers is more than a former “terrorist,” he’s also a well-known figure in the field of education.

Normally I don’t feel the need to parrot every new story on FactCheck.org, but I thought this one was important since most people probably assume, as I did, that there’s really some meat behind this whole Obama-Ayers thing. But after reading the FactCheck piece, it seems to be much ado about nothing.