Europe's most eco-friendly cars is the Smart Car. In early 2008 it will debut in America. It's a two seater car that is about three feet smaller than the Mini Cooper! It has better than 40 mpg fuel economy and is listed from $11,590 to $16,590.

Here is a video proving that bigger isn't always better. It is titled "Smart Car vs. Hummer" - http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=AqG7pIwEs6vKZ_JzUmQH5tqdV8cX/SIG=11hhcgmk8/**http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=NkjZtfgqC2w

Here is a video test drive where you can see the interior - http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ArGK7Pa_Ih0iExa8T52g0kGdV8cX/SIG=147ntl30l/**http%3A//www.myfoxaustin.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail%3FcontentId=4736872%26version=5%26locale=EN-US%26layoutCode=VSTY%26pageId=3.2.1

After Action Review

I did my best to take Project #2 in a new direction. I wanted to use a topic that I felt strongly about and that I wanted to improve on and know more about so that I could pass that info on to my peers. I think for my sustains I did well on creating multiple forms to get information out and I thought it was more useful going to the MVA because it's a huge, main part of driving. I want to continue to using new strategies for the upcomming social issue project. It did not work so well staying further in the MVA's parking lot. I ran into more bus riders who park there than I did people going there. I also think I could have improved on the quality of writing. It would have looked more professional if I would have guccoed all the words instead of handwriting part of it. My project could have been more successful if I made a specific blog specifically for this project. I could have included that website so people would visit it to gain more knowledge. It would have also been more successful if I had gone with another person who could have documented my steps more thoroughly.

Soda Club

check out this video!
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/248.0/popup/index.php?cl=3390319
This is a video of "life changing technology." It's an at home soda machine that you don't have to plug in. You just put tap water in it and it makes you fizzy water (like club soda). Then you can buy syrups that you can add to make coke, ginger ale, or any flavor soda. You end up saving a lot of money instead of buying sodas (you only have to buy the machine, the syrup, and a CO2 cartridge). You don't have to buy or transport the cans or bottles from the grocery store or worry about recycling or throwing away!

Road Rage

Thanks to everyone for your help and ideas at my critique. I loved your ideas and where I am going with my project now. I plan on making about a 20-30 candy cars using the series of tips on the car tags, bumber stickers with the saying sweet ride, and tips with a piece of candy to hang on cars. I will be documenting and photographing my progress for you all to see! Thanks again.

Environment Videos

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=68244&videoChannel=74
This website is called Reuters. It has all different kinds of videos and a whole section dealing with the environment. Their pretty cool videos. Just click on the link and at the bottom of the page is a whole list of different environmental videos. enjoy

Project #2

For my second project my topic is the social issue of road rage. I have a few different leads and ideas, but would love some feedback! I have done a ton of research on the topic which includes facts, statistics, websites, tips, definitions, etc. I would like to make/do something including tips of things to do so you dont become aggressive because there are a lot or road raggers out there. I feel strongly about this issue and would like to warn people about the dangers of road rage. I had a friend who was killed because he cut someone off by accident. For cutting someone off he lost his life and I feel that people will continue to drive aggressively until something happens to them to make them stop. Often times it is something scary or dangerous that happens to make people change their ways and sometimes it is too late (those are all my thoughts about my topic). My ideas so far are:
1. Making a candy car with facts/tips/info. attatched. You take a fun size candy bar or pack of gum (body of the car) and attatch round peppermints to the sides (tires) and a small/fun sized candy bar (the ones that are like 1''x1/2''-the small ones) to the back (trunk). Here is an example: http://www.amazingmoms.com/images/candy-car-20.jpg
2. Make some kinda of statement or sign with a slogan or saying on it -made by hot gluing small toy cars together to form the words.
3. Make a bumpersticker or window sticker with a saying or facts on it.
4. I was thinking facts or tips could also go on things that are with you in the car that you see when you're driving (such as coffee mugs, air fresheners, CD holders, mirrors that magnify, or rear-view mirror decorators- something that hangs down from your rear-view mirror).
5. Making some kind of video (except I dont have a video camera).
I'm open for suggestions or advice on which one might work better to get my point across! Thanks

BUG List

A few things that I have on my bug list thus far are...
1. I work at a resturant on weekends and we go through a ton or to-go styrofoam containers. I occasionally clean up after tables and most people dont even take their box. Some forget it behind and the food and container go in the trash can, and some just fill it up with thieir dirty napkins and trash because they've sat for so long talking that their food digests and they decided to finish the little bit they were going to take home.
2. I always get stuck behind huge, slow trucks on my drive to school on the backroads. Every mile they spit out dirty, soot pollution in the air out of the pipe that sticks out of the roof of the truck. Most of the time it's the dark, thick, heavy crap that fades into the air and drifts back as you drive through it so you can get a nice wiff of it too. If you're making cars that run on batteries instead of gas, I'm sure someone can come up with a way to run a truck without the nasty smoke comming out of a pipe.
3. I'm sure everyone's been to a big game, concert or event. I went to the Ravens game a couple weeks ago, and when we were tailgating, there are no trash cans anywhere. On the walk to the stadium, people were finishing their drinks and leaving them on the street in various places. There were bottle everywhere! I know there are people who go around and clean up after the game, but you know they dont get everything. People throw things that the sweepers/cleaners miss and I'm sure they dont get everything at all the places people tailgate at (which is alllll over). If I'm paying a good amount of money to get in the stadium, plus $7.o0 for a beer, and like $10 for a small bite to eat.... they can afford to put more trash cans out on the streets and parking lots where people tailgate! Maybe even some recycling bins which will save them time.
...Just a few, there will be more soon!