Toyota Recalls 2.3 Million More Cars

What's going on with Toyota these days? The company seems to be going downhill in quality, as we now have the second recall in just a few months.

Now they're having a "voluntary recall" of about 2.3 millions cars for faulty accelerators. Yeah, some of them might stick when used. If you drive any of the following models, better get in touch with Toyota pronto:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

By the way, this is not the same as the other recall that affects over 4 million other cars, although some may be in both groups. So we're looking at almost six million cars with problems. Maybe it's time to turn in that Toyota and buy a safer vehicle.

Haitian Earthquake Relief - Don't Be Scammed

We all know what's happening in Haiti right now after that terrible earthquake. Many want to help in some way. The best way is to make a cash donation to a reputable charity.

Don't be fooled by scam emails, websites or Twitter tweets. After every disaster, soulless creeps come out and bilk millions from people. If you don't know the organization, check it out on Google.

Better yet, give instead to those who are legitimate. There are plenty of organizations to choose from, and any of them will welcome your donations in this crisis.

First, though, let's kill a couple of rumors that are making the rounds. Twitter can be a help, but it also spreads a lot of false information.

The United Parcel Service (UPS) is NOT sending free parcels to Haiti. They are making their own contribution, as noted from this exerpt in their press release:

The $1 million donation will include $500,000 in cash and up to $500,000 of in-kind services for the shipment of needed supplies. The funds will be divided between The American Red Cross, CARE, UNICEF and other organizations that assist with long-term relief activities.

Then there's the tale of JetBlue and free flights for medical personnel. Not quite. Some people are being flown in, but not everybody:

A spokeswoman for JetBlue said the airline is flying relief workers from agencies such as the American Red Cross free of charge to Santo Domingo in the neighboring Dominican Republic, but only after they have been vetted by the Haitian Consulate. The consulate then arranges transportation for passengers from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince, she said. "We're not offering free transportation for just any doctors who walk up and want to fly there."

Okay, so where can you send your cash to help Haitian earthquake relief? Try these organizations:

American Red Cross
The International Red Cross
Doctors without Borders
Mercy Corps via Amazon.com

You can also visit Interaction.org's list of accredited relief agencies for other groups involved in the earthquake relief efforts.

Further, you can text donations in the following way:
HAITI to 90999 for a $10 donation (added to your phone bill)
YELE to 501501 for a $5 donation to Jean Wyclef's Yele Foundation

Folks, if you can afford to give something, even just the $5 amount, please donate today. The Haitians really are in severe need. Thank you.

Google Ready To Dump China

Google is finally showing some backbone. The company announced today (1/12/10) they will no longer filter search results on their Chinese search engine, Google.cn.

Of course, this isn't for any humanitarian reasons. Hacking attempts from inside China, especially towards Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, are the main cause for the announcement.

Google, as any other business, likes money. But they really hate it when anyone tries to mess with their products. And hackers are number one on Google's hate list.

Google will be discussing the matter with the Chinese government, to see if some sort of agreement can be reached. Given the intransigence of China on matters of censorship, that doesn't seem likely. And Google has said they will pull out of China if that happens.

Yet I have my doubts. China is a big market for Google, censorship or no. They could possibly pull off a deal. After all, they were willing to censor results in the first place to enter the Chinese market. Despite outrage in more liberal countries, they went ahead with it.

So yeah, this could just be some "make nice" PR on Google's part. Or they could really mean it. I'll be keeping an eye on this one to see if Google really has the guts to stand by their word or not.

Ford Transit Connect Grabs Truck Award At Auto Show

For the second time in a row, Ford Motors has taken Truck Of The Year honors. The Transit Connect was chosen winner today at the Detroit Auto Show by a panel of 49 automotive journalists in the U.S. and Canada.

However, this isn't really all that new. The Ford Transit Connect was sold previously in Europe. So it's about time the truck showed up here at home. Its main use is as a small commercial van, though anyone who needs a small, reliable truck can use it.

The down side to this, though, is that neither the Ford Transit Connect, nor the Ford Fusion Hybrid (which won Car Of The Year at the show) was built in America.

Can you believe it? Ford was the only automaker that didn't file for bankruptcy last year and ask for a bailout. In fact, they gained market share.

So you have to wonder why they needed to have their best vehicles built in Mexico (Hybrid) and Turkey (Transit Connect). C'mon guys, help the economy. Build American cars in America!

January 10th NFL Playoffs - Finished

Okay, sports fans. The final scores are in. Congrats to the Baltimore Ravens, who wrecked the Pats with a score of 33-14. Also, congrats to the Arizona Cardinals, who bested the Packers in overtime, 51-45. Not what you would call a defensive game, even if the defense won it for the birds. Next weekend is going to be very interesting!