by Scott Feldman

Have you heard the news? GM is phasing out the Pontiac brand no later than 2010. Back in college, many, many years ago, hah!, I had friends with Pontiacs. One guy drove a Trans-Am. Before I got my Mustang, he loaned me the car for a hot date. Another buddy of mine had a GTO. It was one of America’s first muscle cars. It was so cool, it was immortalized in a popular song by Ronny and the Daytonas.

Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin’ up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

General Motors tried over the last few years to market Pontiac as a performance-oriented brand. But, it just didn’t work. So, now, GM says given big pressure from Washington to consolidate its eight brands, Pontiac will be gone soon. Do you remember their famous tag line? – ”Pontiac builds excitement.” Not any more.

by Scott Feldman

Mexico is a popular destination for Long Islanders in February, March and April. And then again in the summer months of June and July. But now with the swine flu outbreak, a lot of plans are in limbo.  Each of the airlines has its own rules. Most allow you to change dates without a penalty. As for Carnival Cruise lines, they’ve been changing itinerary’s on a weekly basis, giving customers 5 to 7 days notice. Barbara Thiemann, a travel agent in Baldwin, says you can opt for the new destinations or get a full credit to use within a year. It doesn’t have to be Mexico, you can pick another location. Some people like the idea of travel insurance. But, speaking from personal experience, you’ve got to read the fine print from whomever you take out the policy. Here are some key websites.

www.carnival.com www.travelguard.com www.accessamerica.com

By Colleen McVey

This week Nassau and Suffolk got the go-ahead from the state to install red light cameras at fifty intersections. The timing is perfect, because this week my son got his driver’s license. I hope the cameras will make him think twice before he tries to “make the light”, something I’ve been guilty of doing. Years ago, when my oldest son was in elementary school he told us that “RED means STOP, GREEN means GO, and YELLOW means GO FASTER”. His back seat observation was enLIGHTening! Since then I’ve tried to change my ways – much to the disappointment of drivers behind me who still think YELLOW means GO FASTER.

In addition to the red light cameras, I also like the idea of a new law in New Jersey where teenagers have to put a sticker on their car indicating there is a young driver behind the wheel. The law, as I understand it, is mainly for police to watch out for teens texting or talking on the phone while driving, but as a parent, I hope other drivers who see the sticker will give the inexperienced teen driver a little space and patience – like what you should do when you see a Driver’s Education car on the road.

Now, as a nervous mother, I’d like to take the New Jersey law even further. How about requiring teenaged drivers to have a bumper sticker on their cars similar to the ones used by commercial truck companies. The bumper sticker would simply say: HOW’S MY DRIVING ? COMPLAINTS? CALL 1-800-PAR-ENTS.

By Jill Conway

Concern is growing among Long Islanders about the swine flu. Many people we spoke with today say they didn’t know all the facts about the virus and wanted to know how they can protect themselves and their children from getting it. While no one we spoke with today felt a sense of alarm, many said they are trying not to let themselves get overwhelmed or start to panic. By the way, Doctors say the best preventative measure – is to avoid crowds and wash your hands!! All the time !!

For more on the symptoms and general information, here are some links..

www.cdc.gov

www.health.state.ny.us

By Jodi Applegate

Greetings to all News12.com visitors.  I’m kinda new to News12. I started 2 months ago. And I’m new to Long Island too.  I’m very excited to be here and I’m having a great time watching everything green up here on the Island.  Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.  Okay … I’m stalling.  In a world of iPhones, Blackberries, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube etc … we’re all constantly communicating instantly with anyone and everyone.

This reporter is left to wonder if there’s anything interesting left to be said about anything.

Well, of course there is.  Wasn’t it in the late 1800s that they thought all the great inventions had already been invented?

So…I could wax philosophical about politics.  Or the economy.  But most of my non-work life revolves around my dog, Willow.  So this is a DogBlog.

If you hate fluffy, adorable Golden Retriever puppies romping in the grass, then avert your eyes now.  If their goofy antics annoy you, I beseech you, click away immediately.  When they attack hapless plush toys… or clumsily wrestle with almost-equally adorable Bernese Mountain Dog puppies….if this sends you into insulin shock, then you must flee and never return.

ABANDON ALL GLOOM YE WHO ENTER HERE:
Miss Willoughby T. GoodPuppy here…..

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Hey…that’s mine!

Uh oh…I guess I’m not so tough after all.

Maybe this is my

karma…

(not to be confused with dogma…)

This is Jodi talking again:

Well…just like with kids..a tired dog is a good dog.

Stay tuned for the further adventures of Willow….