The Death of a Mini-Van... or not?

Mazda decided to discontinue its' production of the MPV in America. 2006 was the last year the MPV was sold in America, and it is now replaced my the smaller Mazda 5, which is a six passanger vehicle. The reason for this, is that it was too small of a mini-van for Americans. So what did Mazda do? They pulled the MPVs' production out of America, and continued its' production in Japan, where it now holds the title, "Mazda 8." From a front view, I thought it was a SUV, but then the side exposes the sliding door which, tells me it is a mini-van. Did I mention the Mazda 8 has been completely redesigned? Well it has been remodled, and Japan is lucky to have such a cool mini-van out on its' market. Note: On the left hand side is the 2007 Mazda 8 (MPV), and on the right is the 2006 Mazda MPV.

Click Here to take survey

Hey! I am in a psychology class and it's coming to an end, Yikes! So, I am working on my final project (more like my only project) and I have a survey that I need to be filled out. I Designed the survey, but the questions are derived from a survey I found online. My topic is on physical appearance through clothing. Anyways, please fill it out if you have the time. Just click on "Click Here to take survey" at the top of this post. Thank You!

Work is a cool thing! For me, I can't say that I usually look forward to work, but as soon as I start I get a good feeling inside. When I'm working (whether its my job, chores, school, or exercising) I don't feel any guilt for being lazy, and I feel more accomplished because I get an insuring feeling that I am on task. Well... I got to help my family clean up dinner, so I'll try and write later.

Cars From Afar Off

Last week I took some time to look up cars from foreign countries. I enjoy informing myself about today's cars, and I was bored with what America has to offer, so I spent almost 45 minutes viewing Toyota vehicles that are sold in Japan. I was amazed at what Japan has to offer- sure they had some really odd-shaped and weird looking vehicles, but most of them were modernized and futuristic. I began develop the impression that Japan is keeping a little of their technology only for themselves (which isn't a bad thing, it just make me a little jealous). I am happy for those who live in Japan and get to enjoy the cools cars, and I know that it is only a matter of time before Japan introduces some of it's best to America, but by that time; they will already have a new "best."

I'm Back!

Hey! ....I'm back! This is Daniel, and I am hoping that I can get this blog thing down, because it has been difficult for me in the past to do so. I really think I have the worst luck when it comes to starting up a blog. I am on my third blog now, and none of them have functioned properly for me; that may seem weird, but that's okay, because I blame my computer for all my problems with blogging. Luckily, my computer crashed, so now I have a new one. I'm now also missing a "years-worth" of photos, documents, and whatever else is on a computer (that's the down side). I'm one of those people, than when they talk, it's so boring that you can't Wait for them to shut their mouth just so you can have your turn to speak (I know... because I've listened to myself). So I'll let you go now, but I want you to know that I will try hard to entertain and not bore you. Hope to be back soon! -Daniel

"Pass the Butter"

~ ~ This is interesting ~ ~. . . Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellowcoloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever newflavorings. DO YOU KNOW...the difference between margarine and butter?Read on to the end...gets very interesting!Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher insaturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. Eating margarine canincrease heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount ofbutter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in otherfoods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a fewonly because they are added! Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavorsof other foods.Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around forless than 100 years.And now, for Margarine... Very high in trans fatty acids. Triple riskof coronary heart disease. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this isthe bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.Lowers quality of breast milk. Decreases immune response. Decreasesinsulin response. And here's the most disturbing fact....HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life andanything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added,changing the molecular structure of the substance). You can try thisyourself: Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage orshaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:* No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (thatshould tell you something)* It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value* Nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms willnot a find a home to grow.Why?Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spreadthat on your toast? Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to "butter them up")! Chinese Proverb: "When someone shares something of value with you andyou benefit from it, You have a moral obligation to share it with others

US Flag Code

This information on how to take proper care of the US flag is really long, but I thought it was interesting, so you may want to take a quick peek at it. Sec. 6. Time and occasions for display (a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. (b) The flag should be hoisted briskly25 and lowered ceremoniously. (c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement,26 except when an all weather flag is displayed. (d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on New Year's Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Lincoln's Birthday, February 12; Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday (variable); Mother's Day, second Sunday in May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag Day, June 14; Independence Day, July 4; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17; Columbus Day, second Monday in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, December 25; and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date of admission); and on State holidays. (e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution. (f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election days. (g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse. Sec. 7. Position and manner of display (a) The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. (b) The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section. (c) The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis27 or clamped to the right fender. (d) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence28 or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place with the United Sates or any Territory or possession thereof; provided, that nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations. (e) The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag. The American flag as it should be positioned when displayed with another flag (f) The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs. (g) When flags of States, cities or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard29 with the flag of the United States, the latter30should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent31 staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted32 first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right. (h) When the flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of any one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. (i) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union (the blue, starry section) of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building. (j) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against the wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. (k) The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. The flag shall be flown at half-staff thirty days from the death of the President or a former President; ten days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sec. 8. Respect for the Flag (a) No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors,33 state flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor. (b) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress34 in instances of extreme danger to life or property. (c) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise. (d) The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft35 and free. (e) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned,36 drawn back, nor up, in fold, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting37 of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general. (f) The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling. (g) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown. (h) The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel38 flag pin being a replica,39 should be worn on the left lapel near the heart. Sec. 9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flagDuring the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present except those in uniform should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute. When not in uniform, men should remove their headdress40 with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Aliens41 should stand at attention. The salute to the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.