UCAN

Using a cell phone without hands-free equipment while driving is now unlawful. However, studies show that hands-free driving isn't necessarily any safer than having a cell phone glued to your ear, and that simply talking on any phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. Yet oddly, talking to a fellow passenger while driving or listening to the radio does not seem to be a significant cause of accidents. Why? Is it possible that driving poorly while talking on the phone is a function of age? More.

Older Americans are at-risk as gas and food prices rise and assets dwindle. MORE

California law prohibiting handheld cell phone usage takes effect July 1st. This blog explains the details, limitations, and exceptions to the law.

Today, Senator John McCain announced plans to open up more oil leases. The idea is simple: with an alleged 21 billion barrels in oil reserves on U.S. lands, we could easily replace the oil we get from the Middle East with oil from U.S. real estate. It's a great idea that sounds good on paper and is heartily endorsed by the oil lobbyist on John McCain's staff.  Too bad it won't work.

In six months the investment tax credits, meant to stimulate investment in solar energy, and the production tax credit, meant to encourage investment in wind energy, are set to expire unless congress makes them a priority and renews them. More.

A water supply alert was declared by the Metropolitan Water District's board of directors on Tuesday. Read more.

Hypothesis: Some gas stations' pumps are not reflecting the amounts of gas you put into your tank. So, a call to action is requested. Read more.

The cost of oil keeps screaming higher while reports keep showing that demand for oil is down. Even the Saudis admit that their product is overpriced, yet oil and gas markets remain more volatile than ever.

At issue is the fact that the market mania has been driven by two factors: a weak U.S. dollar and speculators trading paper barrels with paper money. Let's look briefly at each factor: Read more

On April 24th, the California Public Utility's Commission, made a ruling on AT&T Tariff Rule 12 that will have a significant impact on AT&T marketing abilities. The ruling gave validity to Advice Letters 28800 and 28982 written in 2006 by AT&T. Read more.

You know things are getting dire when people start "bartering" instead of using currency, and when consumers start eschewing modern luxuries such as flushing their toilets or eating meat in order to save money. Now, apparently, poor farmers in Tennessee and Mississippi are using mules instead of tractors to harvest their crops. MORE.