On May 30, 2011 Narces Benoit started videotaping officers firing rounds of bullets into a car driven by Raymond Herisse, who died on the scene. The 4 a.m. police chase occurred on Collins Avenue, as a dozen officers fired their guns repeatedly into Raymond Herisse’s blue Hyundai (Miami Herald).

Police did find a black Berretta 92-F semiautomatic pistol in the car owned by Herisse, who had been an armed robbery suspect.

“Benoit filmed the incident from the sidewalk on the northeast corner of 13th Street and Collins Avenue, close enough to see some officers’ faces and individual muzzle flashes,” as the Miami newspaper reported.

But here’s the interesting part. As Narces Benoit and his girlfriend Ericka Davis were driving away from the scene, a cop pointed a gun at them. They were thrown down on the ground and held at gunpoint, before being hauled to jail.

The police must have noticed that several bystanders were recording the shooting. Benoit filmed the shooting on his mobile phone.

The police officers stomped on Benoit’s phone before sliding it into his pocket. But the officers didn’t know that Benoit had secretly put the SIM card in his mouth before they grabbed the phone and smashed it. Narces Benoit actually kept the memory card in his mouth the entire time the police interviewed him at the station.

He removed the card afterwards. The police demanded the phone and the video, but they never got the memory card.

You can hear Benoit’s comments  on the video. “They done killed this man. If that man ain’t dead, he’s dead now”.

About the OpenWatch Project from OpenWatch on Vimeo.

You feel that local police in your hood are too violent and too aggressive? You need an app to spy on them? No sweat, SuperHacker Rich Jones has got you covered with that.

If the local bullying neighorhood cop is engaging in his typical abusive style or you happen to have a corrupt politician that’s behaving badly, here’s what you can do. Go to OpenWatch and download the CopRecorder App.

OpenWatch is a participatory citizen media project which uses mobile technology to enable public monitoring of authority figures.

Rich Jones gives superb instructions in the video to guide you in your future endeavor.

A word of caution. Recording a cop may be illegal in some states (Massachusetts and Illinois). Hard to imagine but it could be possible. See if your state is record-a-cop friendly.

It’s called scientific journalism. Let’s keep government honest. Shall we?

Oh, and Jones will post your audio recording if you submit it and he agrees to it.

A current CDC report warns U.S. travelers that are traveling to Germany of an organism causing an outbreak — E. coli O104:H4, producing Shiga toxin. Many people have been hospitalized, several requiring intensive care, and some people have died. It is reported over 20 people have died.

Most infections have been reported in people in northern Germany (mainly Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein) or in people who have recently traveled to these areas. Cases in travelers to northern Germany have been reported in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Officials are trying to locate the source of the outbreak. Raw vegetables are suspected to be the source. Authorities claim that suspicion falls on a farm south of Hamburg.

The sprouts are believed to have come from the organic Gärtenhof farm in the village of Steddorf, near the small town of Bienenbüttel in Lower Saxony (guardian.co.uk). The Uelzen farm has been shut down and its produce recalled.

German health authorities recommend that people in Germany, especially in the northern part of the country, avoid eating raw tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, and leafy salads, until further notice.

If you have traveled to Germany and have bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps or symptoms of HUS, go to a doctor right away and tell him or her about your recent travel.

STEC infections can cause different gastrointestinal symptoms, which often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it is generally not very high (less than 101°F [38.3°C]). HUS is a disorder that usually occurs when an infection in the digestive system (such as STEC) produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells and cause kidney injury. Early symptoms of HUS include decreased frequency or volume of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in the cheeks and inside the lower eyelids. Signs of HUS typically start 5–7 days after the start of diarrhea, and diarrhea or bloody stools may no longer be present when HUS develops.

PREVENTION SAFETY TIPS

1. CLEAN – Wash produce. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables in running tap water to remove visible dirt and grime. Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food.

2. SEPARATE – Don’t cross-contaminate one food with another.

3. COOK – Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly. Use a thermometer when cooking meat. Around 145°F for whole meats, 160°F for ground meats, and 165°F for all poultry. Eggs should be cooked until the yolk is firm.

4. CHILL – Refrigerate leftover foods if they are not going to be eaten within 4 hours.

5. REPORT – Report suspected foodborne illnesses to your local health department.

In case you haven’t heard about it, the Feds are adamant about the notion of installing a black box in every vehicle in the United States.

The event data recorder (EDR) is a device that’s similar to what we know of in airplanes which is called a “black box”. Information from the EDR can be collected after a crash and analyzed to help determine what the vehicles were doing before, during and after the crash or event (Wikipedia).

The NHTSA had originally set a time table for auto manufacturers to be compliant by September 1, 2010. Now the target date is going to be September 1, 2012. The NHTSA had hoped by 2010 over 85% of vehicles would have EDR’s installed.

The EDR is as you might already have guessed is very controversial. There are legal issues and privacy concerns. The EDR also has a history of inaccuracies.

There are at the present time thirteen states that make a specific reference to Motor Vehicle Event Data Recorders. That probably means that the EDR data would be recognized by a court of law in those states.

General Motors and Ford both are already implementing  this technology in new vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and Audi both are not using this technology at all.

Near the driver’s knees under the dashboard, is where the Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC) is usually located at. Downloading the module which is attached to the airbag, is possible by hooking it up to the DLC. The download will use a system called “Bosch Diagnostic’s Crash Data Retrieval System”.

The little black box may provide valuable information to police officers and insurance companies. But many drivers will object to having Big Brother spy under the hood. It seems that there will always be a privacy issue with the EDR and a stigma attached to it.

Nevertheless, legislators are bent on making this law. Next month there might be legislation presented again. And if you have an airbag in your vehicle, the chances are good that you already have this little black box there as well. Drive safely.

The phrase that is being used for research purposes is called “following too closely”. This is a desription of a careless driver that intentionally follows another driver too close and absolutely ignores the consequences of his/her doing so. There is one reason that drivers in certain states in America do it – they are legally permitted to hover right behind you. The law does not prevent them.

This generally isn’t considered a traffic violation in most states. While you have taken every precaution to be a safe, law-abiding, caring citizen behind the wheel, more frequently agressive drivers are driving in a wreckless manner. Sometimes a driver in addition will honk the horn as if they have every right to do so. Is this behavior acceptable?

My question is this. Isn’t this a major form of harassment? If it is not, why is it not? Following too closely behind another vehicle is by any standards of driving considered to be unsafe, while endangering the safety of your own passengers as well as of those in the other vehicle. It can be determined to be wreckless driving and is as dangerous as someone speeding. Because you are distracting the driver(s) near you.

So what are your legal rights as a driver when being harassed as such by a bully following you? Well, that depends on the state that you live in. Some states have Agressive Driving Laws which protect innocent drivers, while the other states literally turn a blind eye.

In the meantime, an officer can write you up for speeding even though you have harmed no other soul. It has become politically expedient for them to do so and politically popular. But if their job is truly to protect the public from harm, then that duty is not being fulfilled.

States that have such laws against agressive drivers are: Arizonia, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia.

If you live in the other states you are basically on your own. The state cop has to witness the agressive driver in action in order to prosecute. Good luck with that one.

You know the old proverbial – the thieves are always one step behind the technology. Here’s another episode you may be interested to know about, especially if your car employs a remote keyless system.

Snopes.com has a nice article with sources that expand on the subject of security code grabbing and retransmitting.

According to the article, the cars that are the most vulnerable were made in the mid 1990′s. Newer cars are less vulnerable because the newer cars transmit random codes with variable sequences that are more difficult to copy.

The code bandits do have the technology to break the newer codes, but they have to be near you when you lock the car. It is advised that when you lock your vehicle by remote, stand close as not to broadcast the signal at long range, where the bandits can easily intercept the signal. If in a crowded area and not sure, manually lock your doors.

While modern systems do implement encryption that makes it harder for thieves to intercept, drivers should be aware that car thieves do work in crowded areas and they do keep up with technology.

Is it possible for a cell phone to receive the signal and retransmit? Click here to find out…

The “long beanpole”, as the Berlin radio tower is affectionately called, is since its construction in 1926, one of the most famous landmarks of the capital. An elevator carries visitors to the 135 meter high observation platform, where you can enjoy a wonderful view over the rooftops of the city, the Brandenburg Gate, Alex, and the Victory Column, as well as the green surroundings, which follow directly from the sprawling fairgrounds. Guests can expect a grand view and fine seating arrangements. The original 20′s style restaurant features many walls adorned with walnut. The culinary concept is varied and well thought out – absolute freshness and top quality products, the recipe for success. For the regular menu, the restaurant offers a daily changing lunch menu. Each course, even soups, cooked a la minute, can be found in the radio tower restaurant, always professional along with very friendly service. [Source: A LA CARTE]

Details: Funkturm Restaurant
Map: Mapquest

The 2011 Ford Explorer has been described as “buff”. The new Ford face has a 3-bar grill, thin chrome, and beautiful head lamps. Observe, it even says “Explorer” in the the lamps. The look is enhanced by the head lamps. What the customer really wants in a new vehicle is -  looks and capability. Ford’s overall theme is simplicity.

Although the styling is gorgeous, aerodynamics also delivers a better fuel economy. Aerodynamics translates into better gas mileage for the driver.

The 2011 Ford Explorer tows 5,000 lbs. Buyers will find a back-up, reverse camera, also known as rear camera, and trailer sway mitigation technology (TSM) to make less of a chore for delivering the goods.

Under the hood is the standard 3.5-litre Ti-VCT, which gives you 290 engine HP. It delivers best in fuel economy. If you prefer jaw-dropping economy Ford kept you in mind. An optional four-cylinder engine is also offered, which is a 2-litre I-4. Yes, that’s correct, a four-cylinder under the hood of an Explorer, which provides you 30% improvement over the standard engine.

Customer safety awareness always plays into development and sales of today’s vehicles. Safety is a must for the driver. The bumper beam is made of Boron  which is high-strained steel. The intent of doing that is, it’s stronger and stiffer than regular steel.

An industry first, Ford uses rear inflatable safety belts. The idea is to distribute the load of the seatbelt, keeping in mind the impact of a child, or an elderly person.

Looking into the obviously well-crafted interior one will notice the Sony entertainment system. The MyFord Touch technology allows drivers to personalize many aspects of the in-car experience, including home screen, technology settings and convenience features.

It has beautiful displays which exudes technology. Voice control can be used, through toggled switches, or pushing on the systems. You have climate, navigation, radio, and phone. Ford Motor Company hopes to dazzle customers with the use of technology in this new well designed Explorer.

President Bush signed another deal that mainstream America may just now become aware of. The deal is called Republic of Korea-United States Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). The treaty was concluded in April and signed in June of 2007. Another fast-track deal of course.

But the deal has never been fully approved of yet by the U.S. Congress. The full court press is on. South Korean officials are wanting a deal, as other nations are willing to sign similar agreements. The other entities being Chile, the EU, and Australia. America’s beef and pork industry would stand to gain the most on this deal. And time is running out, according to the U.S. meat industry.

On the other side of the dispute is the South Korean farmer. Farmers are very unhappy with FTA. Protestors in South Korea have held nationwide rallies against FTA. This is serious business with them.

The big issue is with both Ford and UAW. Ford has a lucrative market in the United States, especially in the truck category. Ford trucks are extremely popular. There currently is a 25% tariff on pickup truck imports and U.S. automakers want to keep it that way (BusinessWeek).

Michigan lawmakers are crying foul. They have a good argument; they are trying to protect jobs in the auto industry.

“The Big Three U.S. automakers sold fewer than 7,000 automobiles in South Korea last year, while Hyundai alone has sold nearly 375,000 cars in the U.S. this year”, as posted on TheHill.com website. Now what would make Koreans buy any more vehicles that they already are? Is this going to change anything?

In 2005, only 5,795 American cars were sold in South Korea. Korean automakers sold 730,863 vehicles the same year.

In 2006, only 4,000 American cars were sold in South Korea. While in that same year, over 800,000 cars produced by Korean automakers were sold in the United States.

In 2007, the Hyundai plant in Alabama 775,000 Korean cars were sold in the U.S. Out of those, 250,000 were made at the Hyundai plant in Alabama. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) currently gives 2,700 jobs to Alabama residents.

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. received over 44,000 job applications between Nov. 3, 2009 and May 7, 2010. That’s quite an impact in the state of Georgia.

From KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia:  On March 13, 2006, Kia Motors America (KMA), Kia’s sales and marketing company in the U.S. , and the State of Georgia executed the Site Acquisition and Development Agreement, which announced plans to construct a $1 billion automotive assembly and manufacturing plant on 2,259 acres of land in West Point, Ga., the first plant for Kia in North America.

Will the KORUS-FTA bring more pain to the U.S. auto sector? Or could this bring more jobs to Alabama and Georgia? Is Japan looking over its shoulder at the South Korean auto industry?

On September 15, 2010, Li-ion Motors (OTC BB: LMCO.OB) will launch its new all electric super car –“The Inizio”. Buyers with get their choice of two versions. The powerful Inizio will do more than 200 mph and the less powerful version will do 170 mph/241.4 km. The LiV Inizio  can be ordered now, if you’re interested.

The Inizio green car will use an advanced lithium-ion battery pack that takes eight hours to recharge. The pack is expected to get a range of 200 miles/321.8km per charge. This luxurious sports car will not come with: engine, starter, tailpipe and muffler. Therefore, no motor means – no oil change and no oil filter change.

Acceleration of the car is 0-60 in 4.0 seconds. Charge time for the battery pack is 8+ hours. The cycle life is 2500+ full charges.

Li-ion Motors was previously EV Innovations, and formerly known as  Hybrid Technologies. The company’s vehicles are used daily at the NASA Space Center in Florida. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has manufacturing facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina.

The corporate goal is just not to try and sell people on the idea of an electric vehicle, but to show them how much fun they can have in electric versions of their favorite cars. Li-ion Motors want people to start thinking of battery power as a kind of high-end option, like a convertible top or a navigation system.