Blowing Up Hoverboards on Purpose
Northbrook, Ill. — The sign on the reinforced door read “Projectile Testing” and the crowd gathered in the corridor outside had been warned to expect a small explosion. But when the hoverboard battery blew up with an almighty BANG and a flash of yellow flame, Barbara Guthrie flinched all the same. “Huh!,” UL’s chief public safety officer said with a nervous laugh as she adjusted her safety glasses. “Would you say that’s something you...
Report: Rail Safety Failing
Washington — Federal regulators are failing to refer serious safety violations involving freight rail shipments of crude oil and other hazardous cargo for criminal prosecution, and are going lightly on civil fines, according to a report released Friday by a government watchdog. The Federal Railroad Administration routinely applies only modest civil penalties for hazardous materials safety violations, even though inspectors request...
People in Business: Jan. 17, 2016
Hillary Halleck, of Newport, director of human resources at Red River Computer Co., in Claremont, was recently honored as 2015 HR Practitioner of the Year by the River Valley Human Resources Association. The award was recently presented at the association’s annual meeting, held in Quechee. “Hillary is a consummate HR professional who encourages collaboration, diversity and candor,” said the award nomination by her colleague Dan McGee....
Elegance, Performance and More
Cornwall, n.y. — It is a car beautiful in appearance and performance. It is small, gifted with a terrifically improved suspension and symmetrical all-wheel drive, meaning it is wonderfully maneuverable in weather fair and foul. Just one note on the latter point: It is a sports car usually shod with summer high-performance tires. Winter demands compromise. To wit: For improved winter traction and safety, sacrifice some handling and...
Money Talk: Don’t Help Teen Buy Luxury Car
Question: My son is almost 16 and has his heart set on a used luxury convertible. We have found a few that are priced at about $23,000 with about 50,000 miles. We are debating whether this is the right choice for him. The type he wants is not overpowered (it has a six-cylinder engine), has many safety features and gets decent gas mileage. He has worked hard since he was 8 in our business and has saved about half the money needed. (He...
