Play Games at Rutgers Day ? Countdown to Rutgers Day 2012

Mason Gross theatre students Justin Kruger, Jasmine Carmichael and Maggie Diambrose "clown around" during Rutgers Day.

Are you in the mood for a little friendly competition? An array of exciting games (and prizes!) will be presented by schools, fraternities and cultural organizations during Rutgers Day.

A gaming extravaganza awaits you on College Avenue Campus. Start at the Zimmerli Art Museum, where your entire family is invited to become art detectives by solving puzzles for exciting prizes in the museum?s galleries.

The Asian American Cultural Center and the Center for European Studies are just two examples of cultural crafting and game stations on the College Avenue Campus. (You mustn?t miss the astounding paper cutting talents of Master Hou-Tien Cheng.)

The Delta Gammas challenge you to Tic-Tac-Toe on College Avenue.

Who?s better at tic-tac-toe ? you or a Delta Gamma? ?Not only will there be prizes for those who best the sorority members on College Avenue, but you are welcome to ask more about Greek life and discover the mission of their organization.

While you?re on Cook/Douglass Campus, enjoy Kingyo-Sukui , the traditional Japanese festival game of scooping goldfish. Winners get to take their new pets home along with new knowledge about Japanese culture courtesy of the Anime and Japanese Environmental Society.

Rutgers Business School student Daniel Moore guides a young visitor's aim at the RBS Bean Bag Toss.

After acquiring your new pet fish, toss a pie or dunk a Lambda Theta Phi fraternity brother to provide scholarships for Latino college students. ?The campus Girl Scouts, Troop RU, will host a scavenger hunt (with cookies).

Test your aim and coordination on Busch Campus by tossing rings around the neck of a glass bottle or bean bags to spell ?R-B-S? and win prizes from Rutgers Business School. ?It?s so much harder than it looks.

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Will Smith, Denzel Washington eyed for 'Uptown Saturday Night' remake

Will Denzel Washington and Will Smith tackle the criminal underworld together?

Credit: AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini (Smith); AP Photo/Charles Sykes (Washington)

"Anchorman 2" director Adam McKay ("The Other Guys", "Talladega Nights") may have already found his next project.

According to Deadline, the filmmaker is in talks to direct "Uptown Saturday Night", a remake of the 1974 Bill Cosby-Sidney Poitier comedy that's being eyed as as starring vehicle for Will Smith and Denzel Washington. If both actors sign on for the film, it will serve as their first-ever on-screen pairing.

If all works out as planned, McKay would helm the film (the most recent draft of which was written by "Role Models" scribe Timothy Dowling) following the completion of the recently-announced Will Ferrell sequel, which is scheduled to being filming early next year for a release sometime in 2014.

Overbrook Entertainment, Smith's production company with James Lassiter, has been developing the project since 2002.

The original "Uptown Saturday Night" starred Cosby and Poitier as two friends who must pursue a winning lottery ticket after the wallet containing it is stolen by thieves. It was followed by two similar films starring the duo, "Let's Do It Again" (1975) and "A Piece of the Action" (1977).

Smith's next film is the belated sci-fi sequel "Men in Black 3", which hits theaters on May 25. Following that, he's got a starring role opposite his son Jaden in M. Night Shyamalan's "After Earth", which is slated for release next summer.

As for Washington, his last film, the crime thriller "Safe House" opposite Ryan Reynolds, grossed over $200 million worldwide. His next appearance on the big screen will be in the plane crash drama "Flight" opposite Kely Reilly, John Goodman, Don Cheadle, Bruce Greenwood and Melissa Leo. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis.

Do you think Smith and Washington would make for a good on-screen pairing? Would they be able to live up to Cosby and Poitier's original chemistry? Sound off in the comments!

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Obama slow jam on 'Fallon' just a taste of 'epic' social media war ahead

President Obama's slow jam on 'Jimmy Fallon' shows how candidates will try to become part of clips that will be passed around on social media. A huge social media effort by MoveOn.org also shows how Election 2012 may play out online.

A new campaign by the liberal political action group?MoveOn.org?to place an ad on the Facebook page of every college student in the US is the opening shot of what some experts are calling a ?truly epic war." The result, they say, will see social-media use in Election 2012 become far more savvy and sophisticated than it was four years ago.

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The campaign, which is launching this week, starts with the student loan issue. MoveOn.org is raising money to target every potential youth vote with an interest in keeping loan rates from doubling in July.

?This is a curtain raiser for what to expect in the general?election this year,? says Kevin Phelan, managing director for North America at the Meltwater Group, a social media monitoring software firm in Boston.

While social media have been playing ever-larger roles in political campaigns, ?the technology available today versus four years ago is so advanced that the battle waged by the two camps should be epic,??he adds.

A key priority is a steadily increasing ability to microtarget potential voters as well as supporters and ?influencers? ? the social media-savvy partisans who can be leveraged for their wide-ranging contacts, says Mr. Phelan.

His firm has spent the past year working with some 100 different companies, all prepping for this final push. he says, noting advancements in "social media monitoring," known as CRM, ?to gather passionate advocates and analytics will allow these digital natives to stay behind the scenes but still have a major impact on the election and media.?

The explosion of companies devoted to ?scraping,? whereby computers gather and collate the tiniest bit of information about online activities, has allowed them to create a digital profile for virtually every Internet user, he says.

?So, if you have 600 friends and you have mentioned even once that you support Obama, for instance,? that campaign has the ability to track and target you in virtually your every online move to determine how and when you might be useful in getting their word out, he says.

?It may not be things we haven?t dreamt of,? says David Jackson, associate political science professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, ?but it will be much more sophisticated than we have seen before.?

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Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Marijuana Legalization At White House Correspondents' Dinner 2012

Jimmy Kimmel Whcd Pot

Jimmy Kimmel, host of the 2012 White House Correspondents' Dinner, addressed marijuana legalization in his speech.

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While delivering his remarks at the 2012 White House Correspondents' Dinner, comedian Jimmy Kimmel addressed the issue of marijuana legalization.

"What is with the marijuana crackdown? Seriously, what is the concern? We will deplete the nation's Funyun supply?" Kimmel said. "Pot smokers vote too. Sometimes a week after the election, but they vote."

Kimmel then posed a challenge to the crowd, which was made up of celebrities like Kim Kardashian and George Clooney.

"I would like everyone in this room to raise your hand if you've never smoked pot," Kimmel said.

Few hands went up.

Noting the crowd's reaction, Kimmel addressed Obama directly.

"Marijuana is something that real people care about," Kimmel said.

Obama, who recently said he doesn't "mind a debate" about drug legalization, has increased the crackdown on medical marijuana producers across the nation, including a recent high-profile raid on a California training school. He addressed the crackdown and attempted to clarify his 2008 comments that he was "not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws [on medical marijuana]" in a recent interview with Rolling Stone:

Speaking with Rolling Stone, the president tried to explain his original comments, claiming that the recent pressure on dispensaries and providers was in line with his intent.

"What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," Obama said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana -- and the reason is, because it's against federal law."

The president continued: "I can't nullify congressional law. I can't ask the Justice Department to say, 'Ignore completely a federal law that's on the books.' What I can say is, 'Use your prosecutorial discretion and properly prioritize your resources to go after things that are really doing folks damage.' As a consequence, there haven't been prosecutions of users of marijuana for medical purposes."

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Bad song choices send another 'Idol' home

Fox via Getty Images

The bottom two contestants, Hollie Cavanagh, left, and Elise Testone hug onstage during Thursday's "American Idol" elmination show.

By Craig Berman, TODAY.com contributor

After three weeks of being unpredictable, "American Idol" voters finally did something conventional and sent home someone who was expecting the bad news.

For Elise Testone, nothing on "Idol" had been easy. Every week she seemingly had to start from square one with both the judges and a less-committed fan base. Mentor Jimmy Iovine, who?is right more often than he?s wrong, noted a couple of weeks ago that her difficulty at getting votes after anything other than spectacular performances meant that she was always one bad week away from going home.

That proved to be the case, and the inevitable happened when she was voted off Thursday. She finished in sixth place, meaning the rebirth of classic rock on ?Idol? will have to wait for another year.

Though the judges and Jimmy criticized Elise for her song choices, there was nothing wrong with her vocals. To channel one of Randy Jackson?s favorite phrases, she can definitely sing. Her problem was the same thing that often vexes contestants at this stage ? voters tend to pick singers who sound like people already on the radio or on their iPods.

Fox

Elise stayed in her classic-rock lane on the show, and it worked out well for her most of the time. But on a night where there wasn?t anyone who did truly awful, she was the finalist who didn?t sound like anyone on the radio. People who sing like Elise does rarely last until the end on ?Idol,? so making it even this far was a surprise.

The shame of it was that they had to send her home instead of the other live acts. Given the efforts of?Queen Extravaganza, Katy Perry and season 10's Stefano Langone on?Thursday night,?any of them would have been more deserving of the boot.

Also in the bottom three?this week were Skylar Laine and Hollie Cavanagh. Skylar was a surprise given how well she?s done lately, which will surely get her fans pumped up to vote earlier and more often next week. Hollie was much better this week than last, but it would be a big shock if she wasn?t the next to go.

That having been said, Skylar?s low vote total wasn?t the shocker of the night. That goes to Ryan Seacrest, who looked like he was totally cured from whatever ailed him on Wednesday?s show. (Whatever he took,?we want some for the next time?we get sick.)

Meanwhile, despite getting similar feedback as Elise as far as song choice is concerned, Phillip Phillips avoided the bottom three yet again and looks like a lock for the final. He had an off week, had his song choices criticized and he still gets nothing but love from the crowd. Will he have to throw up onstage to lose some fan support? We're starting to wonder.

Joining him in the top three were Joshua Ledet and?... Jessica Sanchez! It?s great news for Jessica, who is making the judges look smart for using the save on her. Joshua, on the other hand,?has such a big voice and great attitude that it?s hard not to like him, and the judges clearly do.

Still, like everyone else, he?s just one bad week away from going home.

What did you think of?Jimmy's criticisms of Elise??Was he right, or too harsh??Share your thoughts on our Facebook page!

Do you think Phillip will eventually land in the bottom three?

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Some Iconia Tab A500s getting Ice Cream Sandwich early, Acer Ring is MIA

Some Iconia Tab A500s getting Ice Cream Sandwich early, Acer Ring is MIA

Last week, Acer announced that Ice Cream Sandwich would make its way to Iconia Tabs A100 and A500 in Canada and the US starting April 27th, but Phone Arena reports that some owners of the 10.1-inch A500 are getting the option to update a day ahead of schedule. If you're one of the lucky few to be in on the early upgrade, you should be ready to rock with Android 4.0.3 after a 30-minute install. The one potential downside to getting ICS ahead of time? You'll have to wait for the Acer Ring hub, which didn't make the cut for this update.

Some Iconia Tab A500s getting Ice Cream Sandwich early, Acer Ring is MIA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taiwan set for Chinese invasion - of investors

Taiwan's economy is poised grow significantly this year as the island relaxes barriers to investment from its old rival, mainland China.?

Taiwan?s economy, the world?s 19th largest, is poised to grow significantly this year as officials open pipelines to new investment from China, capitalizing on an old political foe that has recently agreed to talk business.

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Economic planners on the manufacturing-intensive island raised stock market investment caps on certain high-tech firms last month. They said they would later increase the 247 categories of business that are open to Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI), meaning they can pay directly into a Taiwanese company in exchange for a portion of any profits.?

Going a step further, Taiwan?s top China policymaker, Lai Shin-yuan, says the government is studying when to let China?s wealthy investors pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&As). And Chinese investors may one day find it easier to buy real estate in Taiwan, provided they need the property for routine business, not speculation.

The taps are expected to begin flowing from June after the two sides sign agreements offering first-ever legal protections to each other?s investors. The opening marks a major diplomatic embrace for the two rivals, a relationship long seen as a dangerous flashpoint in Asia.?

?The signing of the [accord] will be the first step. After that we will see a progressive lifting of investment caps,? says Wai Ho Leong, regional economist with Barclays Capital in Singapore. ?My sense is that this will unlock M&A flows from China into Taiwan and, along with it, also substantial amounts of FDI flows.?

Before 2008, presidents in self-ruled Taiwan advocated the island?s formal independence from China, enraging the communist leadership and making trade or investment deals all but impossible. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s and wants eventual reunification.

While Taiwan stood its ground, Beijing negotiated trade deals with South Korea and countries in Southeast Asia, hurting Taiwan?s export competitiveness as its rivals got a piece of China?s economy, now No. 2 in the world with a GDP of about $7 trillion.

But Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou set aside political differences after taking office in 2008 to establish trade, transit, and tourism links with China, ties worth billions of US dollars to the island economy. Mr. Ma was reelected this year with pledges to pick up the momentum.

Growing economic ties also reduce the risk of war, Taiwan's government has argued. As late as 2005, officials in Beijing said they would strike Taiwan if the two sides could not unify through peaceful means. But Beijing has not repeated the threat since Ma took office, signalling a record low in tensions over the past six decades.

?The so-called peace dividend from China will only continue to grow following President Ma?s re-election,? says Chang Ching-I, chief investment officer with HSBC Global Asset Management in Taiwan.

New capital from China would buffer Taiwan?s stock market whenever the island?s exports slow during economic downturns in Europe or the US. Inflows would particularly lift the island?s best firms, in turn raising employment at home and sales overseas.?

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Cancer survivors urged to exercise and eat healthy in new guidelines

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In a Wednesday, April 25, 2012 photo, cancer survivor Lawrence Gentner, 68, of Snellville, Ga., talks with his exercise group after a class, in Atlanta.

(Credit: AP) (CBS/AP) New guidelines from the American Cancer Society urge people who beat cancer to exercise and eat healthier: It just may provide a better chance of preventing the cancer from coming back.

That's not something most doctors do, said Dr. Omer Kucuk, an Emory University oncologist who has researched the effect of nutrition on prostate cancer. Most doctors discuss surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments for their patients.

"Usually the last thing on their mind is to talk about diet and exercise," Kucuk said.

Almost half of cancer survivors die of another disease, study shows
Exercise called "wonder drug" for cancer patients: What can it do?
PICTURES: Got cancer? 10 secrets for better decisions

Cancer society officials have long encouraged healthy eating and exercise as a way to prevent certain cancers. They and others have tried to spread that gospel to cancer survivors as well. Indeed, the cancer society has a certification program for fitness professionals who work with cancer survivors.

But until now, the group didn't think there was enough research to support a strong statement for cancer survivors.

Hastine Reese, a breast cancer survivor, says she began to exercise because her husband - not her doctor - pushed her. Besides being good for her health, he thought it might help pull her out of the depression that followed her diagnosis and double-mastectomy.

"When you're first diagnosed with cancer, you go into a dark place," said Reese, as she finished a one-hour exercise class this week at DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, Ga.

Exercise has changed that. "I'm coming into the light, and it's getting brighter and brighter," she said.

Being overweight or obese has long been tied to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, pancreas and - in postmenopausal women - breast. But there hadn't been much evidence on the effects of diet and exercise for people who had had cancer.

The last five years saw more than 100 studies involving cancer survivors, many of them showing that exercise and/or a healthy diet was associated with lower cancer recurrence rates and longer survival.

Most of the research was on breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. The evidence is more meager when it comes to other cancers, including the deadliest kind, lung cancer. Also, most of the work involved observational studies, which can't prove a cause and effect. Still, the volume of research was compelling.

"We've got enough data now to make these recommendations," said Colleen Doyle, the organization's director of nutrition and physical activity.

At least two other medical groups have strongly recommended exercise and healthier eating for cancer survivors, but the cancer society's new guidelines are expected to have much greater impact. It's the nation's largest cancer charity in both donations and the number of volunteers, and it funds more cancer research than any other non-governmental agency.

There was a time when cancer patients were thought of as gaunt and dying souls. Many cancers were diagnosed at a late stage, after the disease had ravaged the body and caused weight loss.

But better screening and treatment has made early diagnosis of cancer more common and survival more likely. Today, more than two-thirds of cancer patients live at least five years. The ranks of cancer survivors have grown, with more than 12 million Americans identified as cancer survivors.

Meanwhile, obesity has boomed. More than two-thirds of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese - a trend that has impacted cancer rates in general. A recent CDC report has found cancer rates have fallen in the U.S. but cases tied to obesity are on the rise, HealthPop reported.

The guidelines recognize that for some people just eating enough food is a priority, and that diet advice can vary during treatment. The cancer society also notes that some people may be too weak at times for vigorous exercise. But experts say that even modest activities, like lifting soup cans while watching TV, can help.

Women seem to take to exercise and diet recommendations more readily than men, or to push their spouses to follow the advice, some doctors said. Most of Reese's classmates were women.

"I find women to be very, very proactive," said Dr. Allen Lawhead, a gynecologic oncologist at DeKalb Medical Center. "Men, we traditionally go back into our man cave and hide."

Lawrence Genter, a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was one of three men in Reese's class of about a dozen. "I'm here because of my wife," he said.

For another cancer survivor, exercise came easy but eating healthy was a challenge. During chemotherapy, nausea is common and food can seem unappetizing.

"The key thing is to eat period - whatever you can get down and keep down," said Bob Falkenberg of Alpharetta, Ga., who was a marathoner and long-distance cyclist before he was diagnosed with leukemia.

What did he eat during chemo? Mexican food. Hamburgers.

"I had people bring in pizza at one point," he laughed.


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Language Teaching: Jobs: German paraprofessional position, Twin ...

Jobs: German paraprofessional position, Twin Cities Immersion School, St. Paul, MN

Twin Cities German Immersion School 2012-2013 School Year Location: St. Paul, MN FTE: Full-time Positions: General Education Paraprofessional Salary: $13.00 an hour Posting Date: April 24, 2012 Closing Date: Open until filled  Position Description: The Twin Cities German Immersion School is accepting applications for qualified Special Education paraprofessionals. As an immersion school, instructional content is delivered in German so candidates should be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking. Additional information about the school can be found at www.germanschool-mn.org.  We're looking for passionate, dedicated and resourceful candidates who are supportive of the charter school concept; are willing to work in a team environment with special and general education staff; committed to delivering high quality curriculum using best practices; and able to connect and build positive relationships with students and staff members.  Qualifications: Meets Minnesota Department of Education criteria*; fluent in German; and experience in an educational setting. The qualified candidate will have a flexible approach, able to follow the directions of the classroom teacher and special education teacher.  To apply submit a letter of introduction, resume, transcripts, copy of teaching license if applicable and two letters of reference to adavis@germanschool-mn.org; Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1745 University Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104 Phone:?????????????651-492-7106??????.  This is a general advertisement for the 2012-2013 school year. You will be contacted if selected for an interview.  *One of the following five requirements must be met under No Child Left Behind: 1) AA, AS, AAS (or higher degree, 2) 60 postsecondary academic credits, 3) a passing score on the ParaPro test, 4) demonstrating paraprofessional core competencies by local district validation of a portfolio, or 5) demonstration of skill using Para eLink.

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Teen-led study highlights dangers of texting and driving

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Apr-2012
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Contact: Susan Stevens Martin
ssmartin@aap.org
847-434-7131
American Academy of Pediatrics

Young drivers using simulators make many mistakes regardless of whether phone is in view

BOSTON Some people have questioned whether a ban on texting while driving will actually lead to more crashes because drivers will conceal their cell phones, making it more dangerous to read and type messages. Research led by high school students, however, shows that texting while driving is unsafe regardless of where the phone is positioned.

The study, part of a project called Generation tXt, will be presented by one of the high school authors on Sunday, April 29, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.

Generation tXt was designed by Oklahoma youths to help new teen drivers and families practice safe driving by addressing the hazards of texting while behind the wheel. The project consists of research, advocacy and education.

Generation tXt student leaders developed and conducted the research, and faculty from the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine served as advisers.

In addition to exploring how phone position affects driving safety, the study aimed to address whether young drivers who are proficient texters can drive and text safely.

Thirty students ages 15-19 participated in the study. Nearly 60 percent had been driving less than a year. Using simulators, the teens drove under three conditions: 1) without a cell phone, 2) texting with the phone hidden so they had to look down to see texts and 3) texting with the phone in a position of their choice. The simulators recorded unintentional lane shifts, speeding, crashes/near crashes and other driving infractions.

The result showed the teens consistently drove worse when texting, regardless of whether the phone was hidden. The young drivers drifted out of lanes more often while texting (mean of 13 times with the phone in a position of their choice, 17 times with the phone hidden and less than three times when not using cell phone). They also had more near crashes with other cars and pedestrians without being aware of these mistakes while texting (four for both cell phone positions vs. two without a cell phone).

The total number of driving infractions while texting was higher, too (18 with the phone in a position of their choice, 22 with phone hidden and five with no cell phone).

"These data demonstrate that there is no 'safe' or 'better' position that makes texting less dangerous," said Glade Inhofe, the high school student who is the lead author.

Mark D. Fox, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, who advised the teens and is associate dean for Community Health and Research Development at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine concurred. "Any texting while driving has an adverse impact on driving performance among teenage drivers under simulated conditions," he said.

Dr. Fox indicated that the student leaders hope to use their research findings to change public policy and educate teens about the dangers of texting while driving.

###

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) are four individual pediatric organizations that co-sponsor the PAS Annual Meeting the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Academic Pediatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Members of these organizations are pediatricians and other health care providers who are practicing in the research, academic and clinical arenas. The four sponsoring organizations are leaders in the advancement of pediatric research and child advocacy within pediatrics, and all share a common mission of fostering the health and well-being of children worldwide. For more information, visit www.pas-meeting.org. Follow news of the PAS meeting on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PedAcadSoc.>


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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Apr-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Susan Stevens Martin
ssmartin@aap.org
847-434-7131
American Academy of Pediatrics

Young drivers using simulators make many mistakes regardless of whether phone is in view

BOSTON Some people have questioned whether a ban on texting while driving will actually lead to more crashes because drivers will conceal their cell phones, making it more dangerous to read and type messages. Research led by high school students, however, shows that texting while driving is unsafe regardless of where the phone is positioned.

The study, part of a project called Generation tXt, will be presented by one of the high school authors on Sunday, April 29, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.

Generation tXt was designed by Oklahoma youths to help new teen drivers and families practice safe driving by addressing the hazards of texting while behind the wheel. The project consists of research, advocacy and education.

Generation tXt student leaders developed and conducted the research, and faculty from the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine served as advisers.

In addition to exploring how phone position affects driving safety, the study aimed to address whether young drivers who are proficient texters can drive and text safely.

Thirty students ages 15-19 participated in the study. Nearly 60 percent had been driving less than a year. Using simulators, the teens drove under three conditions: 1) without a cell phone, 2) texting with the phone hidden so they had to look down to see texts and 3) texting with the phone in a position of their choice. The simulators recorded unintentional lane shifts, speeding, crashes/near crashes and other driving infractions.

The result showed the teens consistently drove worse when texting, regardless of whether the phone was hidden. The young drivers drifted out of lanes more often while texting (mean of 13 times with the phone in a position of their choice, 17 times with the phone hidden and less than three times when not using cell phone). They also had more near crashes with other cars and pedestrians without being aware of these mistakes while texting (four for both cell phone positions vs. two without a cell phone).

The total number of driving infractions while texting was higher, too (18 with the phone in a position of their choice, 22 with phone hidden and five with no cell phone).

"These data demonstrate that there is no 'safe' or 'better' position that makes texting less dangerous," said Glade Inhofe, the high school student who is the lead author.

Mark D. Fox, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, who advised the teens and is associate dean for Community Health and Research Development at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine concurred. "Any texting while driving has an adverse impact on driving performance among teenage drivers under simulated conditions," he said.

Dr. Fox indicated that the student leaders hope to use their research findings to change public policy and educate teens about the dangers of texting while driving.

###

The Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) are four individual pediatric organizations that co-sponsor the PAS Annual Meeting the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Academic Pediatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Members of these organizations are pediatricians and other health care providers who are practicing in the research, academic and clinical arenas. The four sponsoring organizations are leaders in the advancement of pediatric research and child advocacy within pediatrics, and all share a common mission of fostering the health and well-being of children worldwide. For more information, visit www.pas-meeting.org. Follow news of the PAS meeting on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PedAcadSoc.>


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


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