| G. Chambers Williams III: Lexus hybrid saves fuel and money
Buying an expensive gasoline-electric hybrid SUV might not make a lot of sense if saving money on gasoline is the only motivation. Someone who can pay the $41,000-plus price of the Lexus RX 400h, our test vehicle, probably isn't as worried about gas prices as those driving, say, Honda Civics. But the RX 400h's fuel economy — 27 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway — is a nice plus, especially considering that some of the large, truck-based SUVs do well to get 15 mpg on the highway. Toyota's reason for creating the RX 400h wasn't as much about saving money at the gas pumps as creating an SUV that might be a bit more environmentally responsible, using less gas and putting out lower levels of harmful emissions. The vehicle produces 90 percent less smog-forming tailpipe emissions than similar conventionally powered vehicles, Lexus says.
Researchers offer new theory for dogfish and skate population outburst ...
The article, 'New hypothesis helps explain elasmobranch 'outburst' on George's Bank in the 1980's' appears in the January 2008 edition of Ecological Applications. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science is the principal research institution for advanced environmental research and graduate studies within the University System of Maryland. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through its three laboratories, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, and Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, as well as the Maryland Sea Grant College. .
Teachers brace for possibility of layoff notices
Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget in January, which featured cuts of $4.4 billion from K-12 public education for 2008-09 and $360 million this current fiscal year. Statewide, about 5,000 teachers so far are expected to receive layoff notices, according to Mike Myslinski, spokesman for the California Teachers Association in Burlingame. "It's likely to go much higher" as March 15 approaches. Districts have until May 15 to rescind some of those notices, he said. In 2003, during the last major period of state fiscal turmoil, 20,000 teachers got pink slips, he said. However, fewer than 3,000 were actually laid off. "But the damage had been done," Myslinski said. "People who get pink slips start looking for other jobs." Also, laying off instructors and rehiring them at a later time can disrupt "the bond between teachers and students," he said.
Hummer H3 gains a more potent Alpha version
After 15 years traveling civilian highways, Hummer is gaining distance from the original war wagon. Just as Jeep adapted to a post-war world of cul de sacs and leafy suburbs by branching out into varied vehicles, the Hummer brand must find a reason to exist beyond its brutish personality. From the militaristic AM General original, the brand's current owner, General Motors, derived the H2 with more creature comforts and more GM components. With the original H1 on the way out, GM introduced the H3 in 2006, a smaller vehicle built in Shreveport, La., alongside the Chevrolet Colorado pickup. .
Search for the dream job
Put a long-term career plan in place and then you can really zero in on the jobs that will help you get where you want to in line with your plan." Amanda Burke, team leader of sales and marketing for Talent2 recruitment, agrees with Hammond that a lack of strategy and focus is the worst mistake job searchers make. "They apply for everything rather than applying relative to their background. Because of that, they don't research or really think about what they are doing and they don't actually have the skills to be competitive anyway." Burke says one of the advantages for job searchers in the current skills shortage is that companies that were once very picky about the set of qualifications they required or desired are now more open-minded. "People can now look to what they are good at or would like to develop in their career.
Snootastic 'Metropolitan Diary' One-Liners
For the first time, I had charge of my three-year-old grandson, Hoover, for the full weekend, while my daughter took some much-deserved personal time in the city. I decided to take Hoover to my sister's home in Connecticut. When we arrived, our driver, Jasper, carried our luggage up the driveway to the door; Hoover and I followed behind. I could see Hoover growing more and more perplexed as we stepped toward the door; he began to look around quizzically as we stepped into the foyer. "Hoover, dear, whatever is the matter?" I asked him as he furrowed his tiny brow. "Grandma, where is the doorman?" he asked worriedly. "Don't they have doormen in Connecticut?" How Jasper and I laughed at little Hoover's precocious Manhattan view of the world! .
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