| Primer 3: Recreation
The Forest Service is halfway through a four-year process to designate routes for off-roaders in every national forest. In Utah, the BLM is revising its management plans to limit riders to designated trails rather than continuing to allow unfettered cross-country use. It remains to be seen whether the agencies will succeed in creating workable plans that provide reasonable access for off-roaders and other recreationists while also conserving land and wildlife. But giving them sufficient funding to do the job is the obvious first step in preserving the Wests recreation legacy. Listed below are links to some of High Country News best recreation stories in recent years. .
Why cars now seem thirstier
New cars in American showrooms this autumn are more fuel-efficient than they've been in 20 years. On average, they get nearly 2 percent more miles per gallon than new cars did in 2004 -- America's worst year for gas guzzling since the country's fuel-economy figures peaked in 1987. Even large trucks and sports-utility vehicles are sipping less. This year's models achieve 6 percent better mileage than their equivalents in 2004. You wouldn't know it. In fact, you would be forgiven for thinking precisely the opposite. That's because the Environment Protection Agency has finally changed how it measures the fuel consumption of new vehicles. Though the vast majority of new vehicles haven't fundamentally changed since last year, the EPA's revised way of testing fuel efficiency -- displayed by law on the windows of all new cars, trucks and SUVs -- is yielding significantly lower results.
Back in the swim
Fallston swimming co-coach Sheri Huppenthal will never forget the phone call she received from Cougars swimmer Nick Tomechko on the morning of Nov. 26.
"Coach Sheri, when you see me this afternoon, I'll be walking," he said.
Tomechko had been seriously injured Sept. 10 when he lost control of his car and slammed into a tree. The senior dislocated his left hip and broke his left pelvis, which required three plates and nine screws to repair.
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Check out the 2008 Audi S5
I can't recall the last time I drove a red Audi. Audis don't shout; they whisper. But the crimson-coated S5 that landed in my parking lot cried out for attention -- and deserved it. The very name "Audi," by the way, means "listen" in Latin. Stunningly designed, the S5 seemed to beckon playmates with its aggressive stance, muscular physique and wide-eyed, teeth-baring visage. Clearly, the racy TT roadster's DNA has altered the gene pool of a once-stodgy luxury-car brand known mostly for quattro all-wheel drive. Yes, the benchmark quattro system is still with us. But, as the S5 demonstrates, a safety feature can also contribute to performance. We're talking control here, lots of it. There's probably a way to topple this car, but you're going to need a ramp.
Junior Charting New Career Path
It's one of the biggest sports marketing changes we've ever seen, if not the biggest, because it's happening in a sport where endorsements and sponsorships are more critical than any other sport," says David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California's Sports Business Institute. "He certainly has a real chance to build the most iconic brand ever in terms of motor sports."
Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler watched Earnhardt's father become a fan favorite with an intimidating driving style that led to 76 victories and a record-tying seven championships. Wheeler says the son's new look will need to be accompanied by results on the track.
"You can only go so long without winning," Wheeler says. "He has to win to keep his status up."
'I want to prove I'm a great one'
Earnhardt's bid for greatness comes as NASCAR, whose popularity soared for a decade beginning in the mid-1990s, is trying to reverse a two-year slump in TV ratings.
Industry Wrapups
Real estate: Reilly spices up his little slice of downtown S.F. On the money: BofA's Countrywide buy might look like a steal Health care: Pacific Partners taps No. 2 after CEO's mystery exit Enterprise Gateway to growth Small business: Survey: Public supports employer health mandate Small biz how to: Companies punch up profits with fitness programs Entrepreneur profile: Mike Kerwin In Depth: Health, Insurance and Benefits Quietly efficient Employers get blamed for billions in comp fraud Health-care 'report cards' generate confusion PAMF hopes its online info system bucks trend Opinion Our view: Health mandate eats at restaurants and pocketbooks Editor's notebook: Don't try this diet at home Guest opinion: Energy independence trumps fly-fishing Guest opinion: What America needs is a good recession Letter to the editor: S.F.
Smoltz reinventing self (again)
Thanks for blogging on the weekend. Just want to say that I am so excited that baseball is starting back up and can't wait to see the Braves in action. The Braves are such a classy oganization from the front office down to the coaches, players, scouts, etc. Sometimes we take that for granted-but after seeing the debacle that was the Falcons this year, I appreciate it even more. I have enjoyed your blog for some time and always look forward to reading the real story of what's going on along with your unique style. Thanks. .
AUTOS: Chrysler to extend Plastech contract
Also, Bloomberg News reported Friday that Magna International Inc., Canada's largest auto-parts maker, may get the biggest share of $200 million in work that Chrysler LLC wants to take away from the bankrupt supplier. The automaker plans to move proprietary molds and dies that make 121 plastic parts from Plastech to a Magna unit, according to a Chrysler planning document. Lear says restructuring costs to continue Lear Corp., the second-biggest maker of automotive seats, said it expects restructuring-related expenses "beyond the current year" as customers cut back production. The company made the comment Friday in an annual U.S. regulatory filing. Lear estimated it has paid $386 million in such costs since 2005. "In light of current industry conditions, particularly in North America, we expect to make significant restructuring and related investments beyond the current year," the Southfield-based company said in the filing.
Reed, Sekulow in on Romney-as-face-of-conservatism meeting
Romney does support NCLB. He has flipped on several major issues leading one to believe even Romney doesn't know what he believes. He's flipped on abortion, gun control, education, Bush tax cuts, civil unions, etc. As far as gay marriage in MA goes, read the facts. The court told the legislature to do something and they didn't. No one told Romney to do ANYTHING. But Mitt took the initiative and changed the forms for marriage and allowed same sex partners to begin getting married and then ordered justices of the peace, etc. to abide by those state forms. Why did Romney act on his own? He was never told or forced to act but did so on his own initiative. The record IS clear. When protection of marriage counted on Romney he cowled down to liberals. Half truth on Rocky Anderson? Nope. Mitt's face is on a Anderson campaign ad still on his website.
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