(Source: Washingtonexaminer.com; Slate.com)

After losing my mind reading/following all the mind-numbing accusations and chaos surrounding the issue of full body scanners/advance security pat down searches performed by TSA staff at airports, I was looking for something fun to read on this issue.  As if someone read my mind, The Washington Examiner had a piece, in fact a cartoon, that just captured the essence of the issue at hand.  Thank you, Nate Beeler, for giving me a good chuckle with this great cartoon. Loving it!

Image Courtesy: Nate Beeler - WashingtonExaminer.com

Also, I came across these other amazing cartoons this issue, courtesy of Slate.com.  FYI – this is just a sampling of the awesome collection Slate.com has made available on its website.  The website also has a ton of other amazing cartoons on various important topics, all neatly tagged and categorized.  Click here to access them all (those categorized on this topic).

Related articles

• Did you know airports can opt out of TSA screening? (riehlworldview.com)
• Investigate the TSA, Not Tyner (fdlaction.firedoglake.com)
• TSA Body Scanners: Do They Even Work? (cbsnews.com)
• “Investigate the TSA, Not John Tyner” and related posts (progressivealaska.blogspot.com)
• What’s the Real Radiation Risk of the TSA’s Full Body X-Ray Scans? | 80beats (blogs.discovermagazine.com)
• Body Scans: What You Need to Know About New TSA Security (newsfeed.time.com)
• Noah Shachtman: Has Airport Security Gone Too Far? (online.wsj.com)
• 100 body-scanner images leaked (bigbrotherwatch.org.uk)
• Gizmodo Joins The Internet War on TSA With 100 ‘Leaked’ Body Scans (blogs.forbes.com)
• TSA Administrator Acknowledges “Invasive” Pat-Downs, Screeners (news.firedoglake.com)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Israel Exempts EU Pilots from Security Program

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/world/middleeast/17israel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

2) Airport Screening Angst Prompts Launch of Consumer Site

Link to article in Travel Weekly:

http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid224510.aspx

Link to site: http://www.yourtravelvoice.org

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

3) More Maryland E-ZPass Customers Frustrated Over Violations

Customers: No notice received.

Link to story and video on WBAL-TV:

http://www.wbaltv.com/r/25820239/detail.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Google Maps Improves Directions Interface and Adds Navigation to Australia

Link to article on Search Engine Land:

http://searchengineland.com/google-maps-improves-directions-interface-adds-navigation-to-australia-56309

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Earlier Receipt of Air Cargo Data Key to Security After Yemen Scare

Link to article in Homeland Security Today:

http://www.hstoday.us/content/view/15453/149/

6) Analysis of Informal Networking in Emergency Management

Link to article abstract in the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management:

http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol7/iss1/62/?sending=11228

TELEMATICS

7) Telematics Technology Grows Up

Link to article on FleetNews:

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/feature/telematics-technology-grows-up/38110/

TRANSIT

8) Federal Transit Administrator Tries to Mend Fences Over Maine’s Grant Application Snafu

Most of application lost in cyberspace but rules prevent FTA from telling applicant.

Link to story and audio on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network:

http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/14219/Default.aspx

9) Philadelphia’s SEPTA Loses $30 Million Bid for Electronic Fare System

Link to blog on SmartPlanet:

http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/smart-takes/philadelphias-septa-loses-30-million-bid-for-electronic-fare-system/12376/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Kansas DOT Offers New Phone Apps

Link to article in The Topeka Capital-Journal:

http://cjonline.com/news/legislature/2010-11-17/kdot_offers_new_phone_apps

11) Murrieta, California Debuts System to Improve Traffic Flow

Link to article in The Press-Enterprise:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_straffic17.48925e0.html

WEATHER

12) Weather Central: ‘Mobile Weather Apps Will be Big’

Link to interview in Telematics Update:

http://bit.ly/9Kxm9y

News Releases

1) NJ Transit Unveils State’s First ‘My Bus’ Sign in Atlantic City

2) 4.3 Million Cars in Europe Have a Telematics Device

3) Connect by Hertz and HopStop.com Launch Partnership to Give City Dwellers the Most Convenient Way to Get From Point A to Point B

Upcoming Events

Mobitraffic – April 5-7 – Lille, France

http://www.mobitrafic.com/english/

Today in Transportation History

1910 **100^th anniversary** Ralph Johnstone died in a plane crash in Denver.  He was the first member of the Wright Brothers team to die in an airplane accident.

http://www.earlyaviators.com/ejohnral.htm

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(Source: Thefuntheory.com via The High Definite)

This brilliant idea of American Kevin Richardson’s won the Fun Theory award competition run by Volkswagen (Sweden). The idea is to capture on camera who keep to the speed limit.  They would have their photos taken and their vehicle registration numbers recorded and entered into a lottery.  Winners would receive cash prizes and will be notified by post.  This is where it gets interesting.  The winning pot would come from the people who are caught speeding.  That changes the idea of whole idea of enforcement on its head and makes it more appealing to the community and encourages compliance through rewards for better behavior.

The Fun Theory is based on the idea that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior. Can we get more people to obey the speed limit by making it fun to do? This was the question Kevin’s idea answered and it was so good that Volkswagen, together with The Swedish National Society for Road Safety, actually made this innovative idea a reality in Stockholm, Sweden.

Click here to learn more about the competition and the other awesome entries. Mind blowing ideas!

Related articles

• Fun Theory Award winner rewards safe drivers with lottery tickets (makezine.com)
• Fun Theory Award winner rewards safe drivers with lottery tickets (mt-soft.com.ar)
• Speed cameras: how did the lottery turn out? (libdemvoice.org)
• The Fun Theory (cateof.wordpress.com)

Washington, DC’s first public curbside 240V Level II Coulomb ChargePoint station is now located at the Franklin D. Reeves Center, 2000 14th Street, in northwest DC. There are two spaces available for charging vehicles on the west side of 14th Street adjacent to the Reeves Center. The installation of the ChargePoint station was done by PEPCO and Coulomb distributor NovaCharge, LLC.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today, along with the Department of Energy Undersecretary Cathy Zoi, District Department of Transportation Director Gabe Klein and other officials unveiled the first curbside electric car charging station in the District.

Image Courtesy: DDOT (via Flickr) - Click image to access more pics from the event

“This is yet another fantastic way the District is at the forefront of providing alternative and environmentally friendly transportation options for District residents and visitors,” said Mayor Fenty. “We are excited to make this technology available and easily accessible to everybody.”

Click here to read the full story.

Related articles

• First Public Curbside ChargePoint Charging Station for Electric Vehicles Unveiled in Washington D.C. (eon.businesswire.com)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

This month is part of my biannual funding raising effort to help support the TCN.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed.  If you missed the earlier notices and would like to provide a donation to support the TCN, you may do so in several ways.  You may mail a check or money order to the address at the bottom of the newsletter, or you can contribute with a credit card via PayPal.  The link to PayPal is also included at the bottom of this issue.

Some readers have said it’s easier to contribute if I send them an invoice.  If you’d like an invoice please drop me a note and I’ll put one together.  Again … thank you so much for your support, financial and otherwise.

CAMERAS

1) Houston Turns Off Red Light Cameras, Sues Vendor

Link to story and video on KHOU-TV:

http://www.khou.com/news/City-turns-off-red-light-cameras-sues-vendor-108255244.html

2) Last Hurdle Cleared for New Orleans Traffic Camera Program to Resume

Link to story on WVUE-TV:

http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/Last-hurdled-cleared-for-traffic-camera-program/HaHV7fjnC02nQE6o8lZc9g.cspx

OTHER

3) Really Getting Somewhere

The way we travel is being revolutionized by technology.

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/smarter-cities/really-getting-somewhere

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Transport Authorities Expand Awareness Campaign

Link to CNN story:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/15/travel.holiday.safety/index.html

Link to news release from the US Department of Homeland Security:

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1289842248570.shtm

5) Vermont DMV Offers an Online Tool for Young Drivers

Link to story in the Bennington Banner:

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_16623311

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Emergency Alerts Coming to Mobile Phones, Technology Unveiled

Link to article on ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/emergency-alerts-coming-to-mobile-phones-technology-unveiled/41724

Link to news release from Alcatel-Lucent:

http://bit.ly/9Kc3Qr

7) Pass the GIS: First Responders Get a Data-Sharing App

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2010/11/16/first-responder-data-exchange.aspx

8) Rail System Still Needs Identification Requirements for Workers

Link to article in Government Security News:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/21836?c=access_control_identification

9) Personal Identity Verification Interoperability Taxi Project Gets Wheels in DC

Link to article in SecureIDNews:

http://www.secureidnews.com/2010/11/15/piv-i-taxi-project-gets-wheels-in-dc

10) Death by Advertising on Moscow Streets

Link to article in The Moscow Times:

http://themoscownews.com/local/20101116/188206256.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Group Wants Electronic System to Direct Weary I-81 Truckers to Parking Spots

Link to AP article:

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20101116/NEWS01/11160323/Group-wants-system-to-direct-weary-I-81-truckers-to-parking-spots

12) Looking at New Ways to Present Traveler Information

Link to blog from Washington State DOT:

http://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/looking-at-new-ways-to-present-traveler.html

Link to Alpha Traveler Information site: http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/alpha/

News Releases

1) Metrolink Launches New Mobile Web Site Giving Customers More Information and Options

2) US Transportation Secretary Launches ‘Faces of Distracted Driving’ Online Awareness Campaign

3) South Carolina to Require Intrastate DOT Numbers on Trucks

4) Minneapolis Disaster Spawning New Concepts in Bridge Research, Testing and Safety

5) French-Language Version of Amtrak.com Now Available

6) Airbiquity Announces General Availability of Electric Vehicle Services in Europe

7) US Falls Behind Other Nations in Reducing Traffic Fatalities and Injuries; Report Identifies Safety Strategies that Could Succeed in US

8) Commuting on Washington Route 520 Just Got Smarter, Safer, Better

9) Survey Shows More Than 75% of Policyholders Would Welcome Telematics-Based Insurance Program

TCN Donations

Checks or money orders may be mailed to:

Bernie Wagenblast

1 Aberdeen CT

Cranford, NJ USA 07016-2911

You may also donate online via PayPal at:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=10069680

Solicitation

–  Request for Proposals – Regional Ridesharing and Bicycling Program – Metropolitan Transportation Commission

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/contracts/rideshare.htm

Upcoming Events

Railway Terminal World Design and Technology Conference – March 29-30 – Copenhagen

http://www.railwayterminalworld.com/

Today in Transportation History

1965 **45^th anniversary** The Soviet Union launched Venera 3, the first spacecraft to impact the surface of another planet.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1965-092A

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center has released a report that evaluates value-added propositions for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that might help overcome the initial price premium related to comparable internal combustion engine and hybrid electric vehicles. The report also assesses other non-monetary benefits and barriers related to an emerging PHEV fleet, including environmental, societal, and electric grid impacts.

Image Courtesy: Dept of Energy - Click image to access the entire report



Here is a quick peek into the study’s background, objectives, results and conclusions as shown in the fact sheet:

Results:

Study results indicate that a single PHEV-30 on the road in 2030 will:

• Consume 65% and 75% less gasoline than a comparable HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and ICE (Internal Combustion Engine),  respectively.
• Displace 7.25 and 4.25 barrels of imported oil each year if substituted for equivalent ICEs and HEVs, respectively, assuming 60% of the nation’s oil consumed is imported.
• Reduce net ownership cost over 10 years by 8-10% relative to a comparable ICE and be highly cost competitive with a comparable HEV.
• Use 18-22% less total W2W energy than a comparable ICE, but 8-13% more than a comparable HEV (assuming a 70/30 split of E10 and E85 use in 2030).
• Emit 10% less Well to Wheel (W2W) CO2 than equivalent ICEs in southern California and emits 13% more W2W CO2 than equivalent ICEs in the ECAR region. This also assumes a 70/30 split of E10 and E85 (ethanol blends) use in 2030.

Image Courtesy: Dept of Energy - Click image to access the entire report

Conclusions:

PHEVs and other plug-in vehicles on the road in 2030 may offer many valuable benefits to utilities, business owners, individual consumers, and society as a whole by:

• Promoting national energy security by displacing large volumes of imported oil.
• Supporting a secure economy through the expansion of domestic vehicle and component manufacturing.
• Offsetting the vehicle’s initial price premium with lifetime operating cost savings (e.g., lower fuel and maintenance costs).
• Supporting the use of off-peak renewable energy through smart charging practices. However, smart grid technology is not a prerequisite for realizing the benefits of PHEVs.
• Potentially using its bidirectional electricity flow capability to aid in emergency situations or to help better manage a building’s or entire grid’s load.

PHEVs and other plug-in vehicles still face barriers to commercial acceptance:

• In the near term, the cost of energy storage, charging equipment, and PE&EM components must continue to descend to competitive levels, such as the ones assumed in this study. Industry trends imply that these cost reductions are on track to reach competitive price levels.
• PHEVs’ inability to reduce carbon emissions relative to ICEs unless they are powered primarily by non-carbon energy sources. A grid-connected vehicle’s high dependence on its region’s generation mix is very evident in this study’s findings. Operating in regions with a high percentage of non- or low-carbon energy sources (e.g., renewable, nuclear, and natural gas) would ultimately help improve the long-term environmental impacts of PHEVs.

Note: The Acronym PHEV-30 stands for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with an All Electric Range (AER) equivalent of 30 miles.

Click here to download/access the entire report (PDF – 218 pages long).

Related articles

• Study Finds Public Policies Needed to Boost EV Fleet Purchases (environmentalleader.com)
• Electric Vehicle Sales in Asia Pacific to Total 1.4 Million by 2015, Forecasts Pike Research (eon.businesswire.com)
• Electrification Coalition Releases Plan for 16M Electric Fleet Vehicles (solarfeeds.com)
• “Plug-in Prius is NOT a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle!” and related posts (hybridcarblog.com)
• Pike survey finds unproven technology and reliability concerns may hinder consumer demand for plug-in electric vehicle, although about 44% of respondents are interested in purchasing one (greencarcongress.com)
• Reportlinker Adds Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Fleet Markets (prnewswire.com)
• 3.2 Million Plug-in Electric Vehicles to be Sold Worldwide by 2015, Forecasts Pike Research (eon.businesswire.com)
• Electrification Coalition releases Fleet Electrification Roadmap; suggests fleet adoption could put a cumulative 200,000 PHEVs and EVs on the road by 2015 (greencarcongress.com)
• Pike forecasts Asia-Pacific to be largest PEV market, with more than 1.2M units by 2015; China to represent 53% of total sales (greencarcongress.com)
• Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts plug-in electric vehicles could account for up to 9% of US auto sales in 2020 and 22% in 2030 (greencarcongress.com)
• J.D. Power forecasts hybrid- and battery-electric vehicles will represent 7.3% of global auto sales in 2020 (greencarcongress.com)
• Hybrid Fleet Vehicle Sales to Surpass 740,000 Units per Year in 2015, According to Pike Research (eon.businesswire.com)
• Plug-In EV Market to Sell 3.2M Units by 2015 (environmentalleader.com)
• BeFrugal.com Proposes Cost Equivalent MPG Calculation for Electric Vehicles (prnewswire.com)

(Source: Huffingtonpost; The Washington Monthly)

Let me make this clear upfront that my intention is not to make a political statement with this post.  I’m simply trying to find a reason and logic (possibly seek help from others to find these elements in our society).  Today’s Huff post had this article

“…On Tuesday morning, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that she wants to redefine exactly what an earmark is. Specifically, she said, transportation projects should not be placed under the umbrella. Advocating for transportation projects for ones district in my mind does not equate to an earmark,” said the Minnesota Republican. “I don’t believe that building roads and bridges and interchanges should be considered an earmark… There’s a big difference between funding a tea pot museum and a bridge over a vital waterway.” The Star-Tribune notes that Bachmann “did solicit some earmarks when she first came to Congress” but “has been outspoken in pushing House Republicans to continue an earmark moratorium enacted last year.” But transportation funds are vital for job creation. And it seems likely that the reality of having a major spigot cut off is a bit frightening to even the self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives on the Hill.

Isn’t that what the White House was trying to accomplish via the Stimulus package – revitalize our nation’s infrastructure with targeted spending? Why did they take so much flak and blame for out of control spending? If such selective exclusions are to be made for one sector (i.e., transportation), why not make it possible for other sectors (i.e., agriculture, education, etc.)?  Does this mean Ms. Bachmann would be supportive of building a High-speed rail network, which is  identified (and funded) by the White House as an important piece of the nation’s future growth strategy, if it is funded as an earmark?  Are Earmarks are bad, unless they’re going to Ms. Bachmann’s district? Cutting spending is good, except for the “legitimate projects that have to be done.”Are we missing something here?

Related articles

• Bachmann Wants Earmarks Redefined To Exclude Transportation Projects (huffingtonpost.com)
• Bachmann explains budgeting as only she can (washingtonmonthly.com)
• The Earmark Game (talkingpointsmemo.com)
• Leave Earmarks Alone (newser.com)
• Obama, Republicans agree: Reform culture of earmarks (ac360.blogs.cnn.com)
• Inhofe says he’ll keep earmarking (politico.com)
• GOP Supports Earmark Ban … for Now (pajamasmedia.com)
• Top Senate Republican joins push to stop earmarks (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• After DeMint: How Will Senate Democrats Handle Earmarks? (swampland.blogs.time.com)
• Senate Democrat joins GOP pushing for earmark vote (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Mitch McConnell Changes Course, Moves to Ban Earmarks (politicsdaily.com)
• Conservative senator lauds McConnell on earmarks (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Chris Weigant: Tea Party Republicans Win Earmark Fight (huffingtonpost.com)
• Earmark Ban Won’t Get the Federal Deficit Under Control (politics.usnews.com)

Monday, November 15, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Remodeled Terminal Would Create Blind Spots at LAX, Officials Acknowledge

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/remodeled-bradley-terminal-would-create-blind-spots-officials-acknowledge.html

2) Report Out on FAA 2009 Telecommunications Outage

Link to article on AvStop.Com:

http://avstop.com/news_november_2010/fti_review_panel_report_out_on_faa_telecommunications_outage.htm

CAMERAS

3) Ireland Deploys Privatized Mobile Speed Camera System

Link to article in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1115/breaking3.html

GPS / NAVIGATION

4) Smart Phone Sales Taking Toll on GPS Devices

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/technology/15iht-navigate.html?_r=1&src=busln

5) GLONASS Goes to India

Link to article on Russia & India Report:

http://indrus.in/articles/2010/11/15/glonass_goes_to_india04889.html

6) Meet Karen Jacobsen, the ‘Guiding Voice’ of GPS

Link to story and video on CBS News’ The Early Show:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/15/earlyshow/main7055871.shtml

7) GPS Addict? It May be Eroding Your Brain

Link to story on MSNBC.com:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40138522/ns/health-mental_health/

OTHER

8) New Lebanon Traffic Law to Punish Use of Radar-Locator App

Link to article in The Daily Star:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=121530#axzz15GSWSGtp

9) Speaking in Codes on Jakarta Police Radio

Link to article in The Jakarta Post:

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/11/13/speaking-codes-police-radio.html

10) Canada Ends US Exemption for Cargo Data

Link to article in The Journal of Commerce:

http://www.joc.com/government-regulation/canada-ends-us-exemption-cargo-data

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

11) Arizona’s University Medical Center Billboards Warn Red Light Runners

Link to article in the Arizona Daily Star:

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/article_ecca2b1d-c2fd-5490-ab5e-d1bd42d9d66b.html

RAILROADS

12) French Railroad Regrets Role in WWII Deportations

Statement is confined to SNCF’s English language Web site.

Link to AP article:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/14/1925562/french-railroad-regrets-role-in.html

ROADWAYS

13) Drivers on Florida’s Sungrass Expressway Find Toll Plaza Confusing

Link to article in the Sun Sentinel:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-sawgrass-toll-plaza-20101113,0,6489315.story

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) Viral Video Spotlights Airport Security Debate

Link to story and video on CNN’s American Morning:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/11/15/california.airport.security/

15) New York Approaches Halfway Point for Anti-terror Camera Network

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/11/12/bloomberg1376-LBQATG1A1I4H01-3AGOIFL22G54FMK6C2654FBBKO.DTL

TRANSIT

16) Passenger Exposes NJ Transit Bus Driver’s Dangerous Conduct and Shines Light on Customer Complaint System

Link to article and video in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/11/nj_transit_bus_drivers_dangero.html

17) New York City Transit Union Chief Seeks to Unmask Blogger

Link to AP article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/APe6cc1f55210a4aedb7806def5cc97bcb.html

18) Announcing the Subway Announcement Lady

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/announcing-the-subway-announcement-lady/

19) Technology Keeps Chicago ‘L’ Riders Happy

Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/traffic/ct-met-getting-around1115-20101114,0,5954378.column

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

20) Can Technology Get Calgarians Moving Again?

Link to article in the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology+moving+again/3825752/story.html

21) 82 CCTVs to be Installed in Jammu, India for Traffic Management

Link to article in The Indian Express:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/82-CCTVs-to-be-installed-in-Jammu-city-for-traffic-management/711458

22) Best Practices in Traffic Incident Management

Link to report from FHWA:

http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop10050/index.htm

VEHICLES

23) Tweeting to Sell Cars

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704658204575610593926104822.html

WEATHER

24) Tracking a Storm: Satellite Images Come from Virginia Station

Link to article in The Daily Times:

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201011140304

News Releases

1) Melbourne’s M1 Freeway Upgrade and SUNA Traffic Channel Win ITS Australia Awards

2) Zurich Report Highlights How Telematics Helps Reduce Fleet Crashes

3) Toyota is the First Automotive Manufacturer to Incorporate Clear Channel’s iheartradio

Job Postings

–  Operations Research Analyst – Research and Innovative Technology Administration – Cambridge, Massachusetts

http://goo.gl/PhWUI

Solicitation

–  Request for Proposals – Intelligent Transportation Systems Technology Pre-deployment Strategy – San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)

https://vendors.planetbids.com/SANDAG/biddtl.cfm?BidNo=99&Status=Bidding

Upcoming Events

AAAE Aviation Issues Conference – January 9-13 – Kona, Hawaii

http://events.aaae.org/sites/110101/

Today in Transportation History

1940 **70^th anniversary** The Queens Midtown Tunnel, which connects Manhattan and Queens under the East River in New York City, was opened.

http://mta.info/news/stories/?story=139

1990 **20^th anniversary** President George H.W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/education/lesson_plans/clean_air_act/

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net

(source: the Telegraph, UK)

What has this country come to?  A used car dealership, Nations Trucks,  in Florida has launched an unusual promotion to help it through the sluggish US economic recovery: a complimentary AK-47 with every purchase.   The only comforting news here is customers would have to pass a background check before using the $400 gun shop voucher.

What if you are not a communist who likes weapons with Russian roots? Or, even better what if you are an anti-assault weapon kind of guy who happens to like driving a big rig?  No worries.  The dealership still got you covered – totally.  The customers are also offered the option of using the money toward other firearms, or they can request a check in that amount instead.  So, no need to worry about carrying that big old assault to threaten the guy who cut you off on the highway.  You can still manage to make the dude pee in his pants with a Glock, right?

If anything, the wonderful campaign got the entire nation talking.  That’s what you want when you are a used car dealer – all the attention!

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Related articles

• Buy a truck, get a free AK-47: used car dealership launches unusual promotion (telegraph.co.uk)
• This Exists: Florida Dealership Will Give You A Free AK-47 If You Buy A Truck (mediaite.com)
• Florida dealer: Buy a truck, get an AK-47 (boston.com)
• Get a Free Ak-47 With the Purchase of a Used Truck… (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)
• Florida dealership offers used-truck buyers AK-47 incentive (chron.com)
• “Get an AK-47 with your truck purchase at Florida dealership” and related posts (arbroath.blogspot.com)
• Fla. dealership offers free AK-47 for truck buyers (sfgate.com)
• Florida residents entitled to a free AK-47 rifle (rt.com)
• Sanford dealership offers free AK-47s with used trucks to hike sales (purestrange.wordpress.com)

We all know the art of marketing/selling a product is as important as making a great product.  Looks like BMW has achieved this on both fronts.  I was stunned by the subtleness and awesome creativity behind this simple yet effective ad campaign by BMW. I’m sure you would agree with me as well.  Register your comments below.