January 2015

Video Game Cheat Sheet for Parents The video game exploded into mainstream entertainment nearly 40 years ago and is still going strong today. Game sales ($24 billion annually) regularly outpace movie box office sales ($10 billion per year). Gaming is also now more of a family affair than it was in the beginning. According to the Entertainment Software Association, 89 percent of parents are involved in their kids’ gaming. The association notes, “In barely more…

For the second time in less than three weeks, two drivers of an Uber ride sharing service have been charged separately with assaulting passengers in the Chicago area. The relatively new taxi service, which has become popular in many large cities through downloading an app on one’s mobile device, has been criticized by many, including senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, Robert Clifford, for its lack of safety precautions, background checks and insurance coverage. The latest…

Learn How Uber Connects Riders With Drivers Uber is a transportation networking company (TNC) that connects riders directly with drivers through a downloadable smartphone app and other advanced technologies. See how it works on the Uber YouTube channel. View video. “Who’s Driving You” Takes On Ridesharing “Who’s Driving You” is an initiative of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association that opposes unregulated ridesharing services, such as Uber, and highlights the risks for passengers, drivers and…

$10 Billion after just five years in business- Uber is expected to hit $10 billion in annual revenues by the end of 2015. Uber’s take is 20 percent after paying drivers, or an estimated $2 billion. Uber is now available in more than 200 cities in 53 countries. But rapid growth has also fueled an anti-Uber backlash throughout the world. “F” Rating Uber recently received an “F” from the Better Business Bureau, stemming from 200…

Controversy Grows With Popularity of Uber Uber created a better mousetrap in the world of for-hire transportation. Its technology seamlessly links riders and drivers through a smartphone app that is one-tap easy to use. Becoming an Uber driver is almost as effortless, allowing people from all walks of life to earn money with their personal vehicle. The results have been staggering: Raving fans have propelled Uber from a tiny San Francisco startup in 2009 to…

On Tuesday (Jan. 6, 2014), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final rule requiring most U.S. airlines to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) by 2018, according to an FAA press release. SMS is a formal, organization-wide approach that assists in managing safety risks by providing airlines a set of business procedures to compile data from everyday operations, the FAA press release explained. With this data, airlines are able to isolate trends that may be…

The American Bar Endowment (ABE) passed along some New Year’s resolutions that Health.com released on its website. Interestingly, Health.com reported that 75 percent of resolution makers keep their promises for at least a week, but less than half (46 percent) continue to maintain their resolutions six months later. Here’s 10 healthy resolutions Health.com suggests: 1) lose weight 2) stay in touch 3) stop smoking – or don’t start 4) save money 5) cut your stress…

Forty-one novel medicines were approved in 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, fourteen more than in 2013, according to Reuters. While the FDA does not develop or test products, their experts review testing performed by manufacturers and grant approval when they determine that the overall benefit of the product outweighs the risks of the intended use, the Science Times Reported. This number is second only to the…

A garage explosion that rocked the far north suburban neighborhood of Mundelein has reportedly left one person killed and another injured, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Fire officials responded to numerous calls from residents in the area of the 900 block of Killanary Pass Drive at about 11:30 a.m. Friday (Jan. 2, 2015). Fire officials reported that the explosion started in the garage behind the house and fire quickly spread to the…