Speeding Drivers Beware – New Speed Trap Device Being Tested

Just when you thought the police had everything they could need to catch you speeding (radar, laser, VASCAR, photo) comes a revolutionary new concept that will change the way you drive forever.
The system, currently being tested by the University of Tennessee, determines your vehicle’s speed by way of microphones (hidden on the side of the roads) which calculate speed by the sound of your car!
Yes, you heard right.
These devices filter all surrounding noise, leaving only the sound of your engine. Software then calculates the vehicle’s speed by measuring the engine sound’s Doppler shift – the change in a sound’s pitch as its source moves past an observer.
The system can also measure the engine speed in rotations per minute by detecting the pulsing sound made by the pistons. You gotta love technology.
But there is one thing they haven’t seemed to figure out… how to determine which car caused the high speed, so the device can then send information to an awaiting police officer down the road to pull over the suspect. However, something tells me they’ll come up with a solution soon enough.
Right now, the device is in its initial stages of development. They’ve tested it by secretly hiding it in street signs along various roads in Tennessee. So far tests show the device is accurate within a few miles per hour.
No longer will you have peace of mind using your trusty radar detector. It will do absolutely nothing to warn you of this speed trap since the device emits no signal whatsoever.
We as motorists are going to have our hands full in the coming years, because this device is but one of several currently being developed to catch speeding drivers for the sole purpose of increasing revenue for the states. As if our tax dollars weren’t enough!

Choosing The Right Sleeping Bag

Once you’ve sorted your campervan insurance, you’ll want to move on to the next essential: your sleeping bag! Sleeping bags come in a wide range of styles and shapes. Knowing which sleeping bag is best for you is the key to a good night’s sleep out in the woods or in your camper.
The first type is the basic rectangle style. This type usually fits almost any body size, and usually has a zipper that can be used with another sleeping bag for combining 2 or more sleeping bags. Some of the rectangle bags come with built in pillows, which is a good thing, especially if you don’t want to add a pillow to your luggage.
The second type is the mummy style. This bag is shaped like a body, with the foot area being smaller and then tapering to a wide area at the head. Most of them come with some sort of drawstring device at the head, for closing it around your face to keep out cold air, insects, etc.
The third type is for children. These bags come in smaller sizes to fit small children. Children often use these for sleep-overs, and want to be able to open them up to play on before bedtime, so make sure the one you buy has the option of unzipping it and opening it up flat. If your child often loses their pillow at sleep-overs, I would suggest that you buy one with a pillow already sewn into the bag. Children often have torches, glasses, etc. with them, so finding a bag with pockets inside is a good idea. Most of the child bags will also have sleeves underneath the bag which holds the sleeping pad under the bag. With this sleeve holding the pad in place, the child doesn’t have to worry about it slipping away from the bag or getting lost. It will also roll up easily with the bag.
Other types of sleeping bags are ones made for 2 people, for women, or for larger people. These bags have shapes which accommodate all of those shapes and sizes of people.
The most important factor is the temperature rating of the bag. If the bag states that it is rated as a 20, that means it is good for temperatures down to 20 degrees. Use this formula to figure out which bag you need. Knowing the temperature rating for the bag is crucial for keeping you warm in the environment you will be in. Don’t buy a summer rated bag and use it in snow!
Finally, if you will be in a damp climate, make sure you get a bag that has either a waterproof coating on it, or a shell which repels moisture. Nobody likes to wake up in a wet sleeping bag.
Now, go out and find the perfect sleeping bag, and enjoy your journey without having to worry about whether or not your sleeping bag will survive the elements. Happy camping!

Your Windshield's Sacrifice Should Not Be in Vain

A windshield is sort of the Secret Service of the car world. Everyday it puts itself between us and all the hazards of the road. It keeps the rain, snow, sleet, and hail off of us and tries its best to be angled so that the sun does not blind us and run us off the road.

Even the most dedicated presidential protector might balk at being pelted with bugs and bird doo, but your windshield doesn’t, and sometimes it even makes the ultimate sacrifice.

Vehicle Glass Safety Features

Even when it takes a hit for you, your windshield works to protect you as long as it can. In fact, all the glass in your car does this to some extent. All auto glass in this country is required to be safety tempered prior to installation – this is becoming the norm in houses too, but cars were there first.

Safety tempering is what makes the glass in your rear and side windows practically disintegrate into a million little pieces when broken. While this has its own inconvenience factor, such as nicking your finger on a little piece that got stuck down in the upholstery no matter how many times you’ve vacuumed since the break, it’s better than slicing an artery on a huge chunk of non-safety glass. Or worse, having a window break on the road and watching a piece fly out and hurt or kill someone else.

Shielding You From More Than Just Wind

Your windshield has added features, because while it’s much better to have little bits of glass flying at your eyes and face when the semi in front of you kicks up a rock, it still isn’t good. That is why, in addition to being safety tempered, your front auto glass in laminated to peel off in a sheet in the event of breakage. If you survive whatever it is that wrecks your windshield, this feature can save your sight and your life. You might even be able to stop the car safely.

Go To A Specialist

Have you ever laminated anything? Keeping the bubbles out is no easy task, and that was just for a school project, gift, or art to hang on your wall. It is unlikely that your life or anyone else’s depended on getting it right.

Because the glass in your car, and especially in the front of your car serves such a vital role, it is crucial to make sure that when you need to get it repaired, you are certain its being done by someone who will do the job right.

When the replacement is done incorrectly, the laminate can peel up or the glass can slip out of the gasket or break under pressure. With the wrong “installer,” you may even find out it wasn’t laminated or tempered at all, making it very unsafe and dangerous. You owe it to your windshield to make sure it doesn’t sacrifice in vain.

Cheap Car Battery Prices Don't Exist for Hybrids

Cheap car battery prices for a hybrid?  I have yet to find any.  New hybrid batteries range from $4,000 to $5,300 depending on what make of car you are looking for.  That was a little on the steep side in my opinion.  Certainly more than I was expecting to spend and a lot more than my bank account could afford.
There has to be some cheap car battery prices out there somewhere that are a little more affordable.  So I started dialing on the phone and making some calls.  One dealership suggested I get a refurbished battery instead.  When I asked how much that would run me he told me they start at around $3,000 from the factory.
You gotta be kidding me.  For that price I might as well go the extra yard and buy a new one.  So I put the phone away and started looking online.  Thinking to myself, “Now where would I start looking for cheap car battery prices?”  Ebay, Craig’s List?  God only knows, but I will bet that even Amazon has something.  
The word “refurbished” stuck in my head though so I started looking for rebuilt batteries.  How about, rebuilt hybrids at cheap car battery prices.  I found a few that sounded a little more reasonable at $1,300 or so.  Then again, the word “hybrids” brought up more car dealerships than anything else.  Not the cheap car battery prices I was trying to find.
So I erased that and tried another search when something else came up.  It was not about cheap car battery prices but was referring to rebuilding your own hybrid battery by yourself.  I always say, “If you do not take a look, the only loser is yourself.”  It was probably some guide for a mechanic with years of experience but I had nothing but time on my hands at the moment.
As I was reading the page I scrolled down to some of the comments and testimonies.  A couple of guys said they did it in three days.  If they would have not had other engagements scheduled, they probably could have done it in less time.  I might have started out looking for cheap car battery prices but this might be the answer.  Most of all, I had a wife expecting a baby in three to four weeks.  I needed that car up and running again, PRONTO!
Cheap car battery prices?  They said this guide would show you how to rebuild the battery for an average cost of $500.  $500! Now THAT sounds a little more in my price range.