Dede Haskins's cellphone has been her constant companion for more than a decade. And she has always considered herself a careful driver -- even using a hands-free set so she could keep both hands on the wheel. But after missing one too many exits because she was distracted by a phone call, Ms. Haskins decided it was time to get tough with herself. So she signed up for ZoomSafer, a free service that uses her phone's GPS sensors to determine whether she's at driving speeds, and then disables her cellphone until she stops the car. "I really love my cellphone," said Ms. Haskins, the chief executive of a software company in Washington. "But I know I'm not driving safely if I'm using it while behind the wheel."Of course, there is a simpler, no-cost solution to limiting phone use while driving: the off button. But going cold turkey is hard for many Americans who have become addicted to their gadgets. And so technology companies are trying to solve a problem caused by technology with more technology.
Dede Haskins's cellphone has been her constant companion for more than a decade. And she has always considered herself a careful driver -- even using a hands-free set so she could keep both hands on the wheel.
But after missing one too many exits because she was distracted by a phone call, Ms. Haskins decided it was time to get tough with herself. So she signed up for ZoomSafer, a free service that uses her phone's GPS sensors to determine whether she's at driving speeds, and then disables her cellphone until she stops the car.
"I really love my cellphone," said Ms. Haskins, the chief executive of a software company in Washington. "But I know I'm not driving safely if I'm using it while behind the wheel."
Of course, there is a simpler, no-cost solution to limiting phone use while driving: the off button. But going cold turkey is hard for many Americans who have become addicted to their gadgets. And so technology companies are trying to solve a problem caused by technology with more technology.
In this video clip from New York University's annual talent show four years ago, Stefani Germanotta -- aka Lady Gaga -- performs two songs she wrote herself. She came in third place. At the end of her performance, one of the judges says: "Norah Jones, look out!" Little did she know that Lady Gaga would not be making Norah Jones-ish music at all.
The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
The black and white shots of María Dolores de Cospedal in a smart cocktail suit appeared, to some, to represent sobriety itself. But the photos of one of Spain's leading conservative politicians, which appear in the December issue of Vanity Fair España, have reignited controversy surrounding female politicians who are tempted by the lure of the flashgun. Ms Cospedal, who is Secretary General of the conservative opposition, the Popular Party (PP), is under fire for appearing in the magazine. Critics have accused her of undermining the seriousness of her position by promoting sexist stereotypes of women. "There are more and more politicians who seemed to want their voice heard in fashion and society magazines and ... to become a model for a day," the Spanish daily La Razon said.
The black and white shots of María Dolores de Cospedal in a smart cocktail suit appeared, to some, to represent sobriety itself.
But the photos of one of Spain's leading conservative politicians, which appear in the December issue of Vanity Fair España, have reignited controversy surrounding female politicians who are tempted by the lure of the flashgun.
Ms Cospedal, who is Secretary General of the conservative opposition, the Popular Party (PP), is under fire for appearing in the magazine. Critics have accused her of undermining the seriousness of her position by promoting sexist stereotypes of women.
"There are more and more politicians who seemed to want their voice heard in fashion and society magazines and ... to become a model for a day," the Spanish daily La Razon said.
