Pat Gaudette

‘Random Thoughts’

The announcement by Toyota that they would stop selling and building eight of their models because of accelerator pedal problems is not something that Toyota owners should ignore. The recall affects 2.3 million vehicles that have been sold but it is too late for the 18 people who have died and 275 crashes because of “sudden, uncontrollable acceleration in Toyotas since 1999″ which have been identifed by a private firm. The latest notice comes after their November 25, 2009 advisory regarding floor mat problems on certain Toyota and Lexus models.

Here’s the notice from Toyota’s website: Latest News About Toyota’s Safety Recall Campaign. Models include Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, RAV4, Sequoia, and Tundra. According to this notice on Toyota’s website, “No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by these actions. Also not affected are Toyota P5rius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and Camry hybrids, which will remain for sale.” Read more »

The December issue of O Magazine contained a full page ad for Dysport, a prescription only “injection to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults less than 65 years of age.” One half of the entire page shows the almost life-size, flawlessly unlined, face of a young blonde model (whose photo may or may not have been enhanced by photo editing — a common practice in the advertising world). 

The ad also has two 1-1/4 inch x 3/4 inch before and after photos of a “Maximum Frown” — not of the same model since the eyes and brows are different. The “after” photo shows the subject’s attempt to frown on “Day 14″ after “50 units” have been injected into the frown area (I would be curious how she looks on days 1-13 and as the injection begins losing effect). It appears the woman couldn’t have frowned if her life depended on it, and from the wording in the four pages of fine print that accompany the ad, in some cases, it could. Read more »

I admit it. I’m a Real Housewives junkie. Yes, watching how the totally unreal housewives of Orange County or New York or Atlanta or New Jersey supposedly live is a complete waste of time and brain space. Perhaps the only positive is that I can watch while I exercise… occasionally. Read more »

There’s plenty of confusion about what the “swine flu” is and what the symptoms are. Here’s a link to H1N1 (Swine Flu) and You from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important reading!