Angel Reyes Blog

Denture Creams Cause Neurological Problems

Angel Reyes — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:48:53 -0600

GlaxoSmithKline is in the news again. Glaxo makes and markets Super Poligrip Original, Ultra Fresh, and Extra Care denture cream products. Unfortunately, Super Poligrip, Ultra Fresh, and Extra Care denture cream products contain zinc. For years lawsuits have alleged that zinc in the products causes severe neurological problems. Some of the neurological problems were severe enough to cripple people.

Glaxo decided to stop making and marketing Super Poligrip, Ultra Fresh, and Extra Care on the heels of hundreds of lawsuits poised to go to trial, alleging that Poligrip caused nerve damage and paralysis. As many as 30 million Americans wear dentures and use denture cream products like Poligrip. Was this change of heart an admission by Glaxo that its products caused harm? Perhaps. We’ll see how the litigation turns out. If the plaintiffs are right, Proctor & Gamble will have to consider making some changes to its popular denture cream product, Fixodent.

Feds Pressure Toyota With Criminal Investigation

Angel Reyes — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:42:09 -0600

The Japanese automaker Toyota now faces a criminal investigation over how it handled safety issues. As I noted in a previous post, Toyota’s internal documents boasted about the hundreds of millions in savings it was able to earn by defeating previous investigations and lobbying Congress ever so vigilantly. Now it appears that Congress will test Toyota’s boast and investigate whether Toyota covered up and/or misled investigators looking into sudden acceleration, braking, and other safety problems alleged against Toyota.

It doesn’t stop there, the Securities and Exchange Committee is seeking to unearth documents related to how Toyota disclosed certain problems. Remember, the company boasted about the hundreds of millions it saved and presumably those savings, along with vigorous denials about safety problems, propped up the stock price of the world’s largest auto manufacturer, Toyota. Ray LaHood the Secretary of Transportation retreated a few weeks ago after having said that “if you own a Toyota, stop driving it.” Maybe he was right to say that after all. Stay tuned.

Toyota Executive Concedes, Problems With Toyota May Be Bigger Than Thought

Angel Reyes — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:34:27 -0600

Toyota executives testifying today before Congress suggests that an earlier recall of millions of Toyota vehicles may not solve the acceleration problems Toyota has been charged with. In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, several victims of Toyota sudden acceleration problems testified about their harrowing experiences trying to stop runaway Toyotas. The plot thickens. See the Full NY Times article by clicking below.

NY Times, Published: February 23, 2010

Toyota Official Says Recall May Not Fully Solve Safety Problem Sign in to Recommend
By MICHELINE MAYNARD

WASHINGTON — A Toyota executive told the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that the company’s huge recall might “not totally” solve the problem of unintended sudden acceleration in its vehicles.

In response to a question by the committee chairman, Henry A. Waxman, the executive, James E. Lentz III, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., said that Toyota was still examining the sudden acceleration problem, including the possibility that the electronics system may be at fault. At this point, he said, Toyota has found no evidence of a computer problem, but “we continue to look for potential causes.”

There is the possibility, he said “of mechanical, human or some other type of error.”

“We need to be vigilant and continue to investigate all the complaint of the consumers,” Mr. Lentz said.

Mr. Lentz also told the committee that Toyota was installing a new brake system that can override the gas pedal on almost all its new vehicles and most of those already on the road. He said that more than 800,000 recalled vehicles have been repaired.

Mr. Waxman, while criticizing Toyota’s response to the recall, told Mr. Lentz: “We need to be sure that you’re doing a full and adequate analysis of something you’ve denied, but that other witnesses have shown us is very possible.”

“Consumer complaints need to be taken seriously,” Mr. Waxman said in his opening remarks. “The possibility of electronic defects must be actively investigated.”

In a confrontational back-and-forth, Representative Edward Markey of Massachusetts told Mr. Lentz, “You said you had solved the problem, you don’t know if you have solved the problem.”

Referring to the tests the company is running on its computer systems, Mr. Markey added, “You’re only at the beginning of your investigation.”

“We have not seen failures,” Mr. Lentz reiterated.

Since last fall, Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide — more than six million in the United States alone — in two actions related to complaints about accelerator pedals that can stick, making it hard to stop the vehicles. Witnesses before Mr. Lentz detailed how an electronic problem could have caused sudden unintended accelerations.

And one witness, Rhonda Smith, recounted the harrowing moments of Oct. 12, 2006, when her Lexus sedan sped out of control at 100 miles an hour.

Ms. Smith told the energy committee that she furiously pushed buttons, shifted gears, and slammed on the brakes as she tried to stop the vehicle, Finally, after six miles, she was able to stop the car.

She was the first witness in the first of three hearings on Toyota’s recall of millions of its cars. In their opening remarks, lawmakers said they wanted to understand why the Toyota failed to adequately respond to reports of the unintended acceleration, and they questioned whether the car’s computer system was at fault, rather than, as Toyota asserts, the floor mats and gas pedals.

Ms. Smith told the committee that she felt that Toyota’s response to her complaint was “a farce.” She said a company technician told her he was not able to replicate the episode and suggested that it was caused by pressing on the brakes while the tires were spinning.

“Of course we were insulted, and furious over being called liars,” Mrs. Smith said.

Later, Mr. Lentz said he was “embarrassed about what happened” to the Smiths. “We’re going to down and get that car and see what happened,” he said.

Mr. Lentz grew emotional when he spoke of losing his brother in an auto accident 26 years ago. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of what these families go through,” he said, his voice breaking.

Asked why Toyota had moved away from a business model that prized quality and openness, Mr. Lentz offered a simple explanation: “We lost sight of our customers.”

“We outgrew our engineering resource,” he said. “We’re suffering from that today.”

Lawmakers on Tuesday repeatedly pointed out that their only goal was the safety of the American consumer.

“Safety must come first,” Mr. Waxman said while also faulting investigators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for not aggressively pursuing problems with Toyota vehicles.

Representative Marsha Blackburn, a Republican of Tennessee said the goal was to “make sure that mistakes of the past are not repeated and to be responsible when so much is on the line.” Tennessee has a plant from Denso, a major Toyota supplier, as well as a Nissan factory and a Volkswagen plant under construction near Chattanooga.

In a statement prepared for delivery to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday, the president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, said he took full responsibility for the safety crisis facing his company.

Mr. Toyoda, in his statement, said he feared the pace at which the company grew in the last decade was too quick. Toyota increased its global sales by about 50 percent, in part by building plants around the world, and became the world’s biggest auto company in 2008.

Traditionally, he said the company’s priorities had been safety, quality and volume. But in its growth spurt, “these priorities became confused, and we were not able to stop, think and make improvements as much as we were before,” he said in the prepared testimony. “We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization. I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today, and I am sincerely sorry for any accidents that Toyota drivers have experienced.”

And he apologized to members the Saylor family, which was involved in an accident last fall in San Diego that killed four people and brought the issue of sudden acceleration into the spotlight.

Toyota...Profits Over People

Angel Reyes — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:53:23 -0600

Unless you're living in a cave, you've been hearing and reading about Toyota's problems with the Camry, Prius, and Lexus. Should you care? Yes! Toyota, in a presentation to its staff, reported it saved over $100 million by delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations and otherwise slowing down industry requirements on its vehicles.

Hmm. Anyone remember the Ford Pinto? I do. Ford sure does; that's why they make cars that comply with industry standards.

Toyota used its vast resources to lobby over the past decade in an effort to put off regulators. They could have spent that money making safer cars, but decided that was less important and potentially costlier! It worked. Toyota now must face the music and fix millions of cars it sold in America. Otherwise, more Americans will lose their lives to corporate greed and malfeasance.

Fed Report Shows Diabetes Drug Avandia Can Kill You

Angel Reyes — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:53:26 -0600

Recent reports by Dr. David Graham and Dr. Kate Gelperin show that GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from the market. The reason? It can kill you!

This comes as no surprise to many of us who have been filing cases against GlaxoSmithKline. Avandia was once the best selling diabetes drug in the world. In 2006, fueled by a mega-million dollar marketing campaign, Avandia sales hit $3.2 billion dollars a year. Soon after hitting blockbuster sales records, reports by the Cleveland Clinic suggesting the drug increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems caused the FDA to issue a warning. That warning, along with further negative studies, caused a precipitous drop in sales for Avandia. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of diabetics continued to take Avandia.

It gets worse. For several years the US Senate has worked on a bipartisan investigation into Avandia and increased heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular risks. The report from the investigation is highly critical of GlaxoSmithKline. Indeed, the report says that Glaxo failed to warn patients that Avandia could kill them! Further, the report goes on to say that Glaxo executives "attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk, and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug [Actos] might reduce cardiovascular risk."

If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of diabetics still taking Avandia, consider talking to your physician and ask about Actos. You just might save your life.

Recalls Recalls, We All Call for Recalls!

Angel Reyes — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:08:12 -0600

Wow, what a week it's been. First Toyota decides to recall 400,000 Prius and other hybrid cars for braking problems. Mind you, this was on the heels of a global recall of over 7 million vehicles in recent months because of sudden acceleration and other problems! It gets worse, Toyota also recalled 7,300 Toyota Camrys to check for a power steering problem.

Here is the list of recalled Toyota and Lexus vehicles: 2.3 million of the following vehicles for sticky gas pedals:

2009-10 Corolla
2009-10 Matrix
2005-10 Avalon
2007-10 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-10 Tundra
2008-10 Sequoia
2009-10 RAV4

Toyota recalled over 5.3 million vehicles for floor mat entrapment of the gas pedals:

2007-10 Camry
2005-10 Avalon
2004-09 Prius
2005-10 Tacoma
2007-10 Tundra
2008-10 Highlander
2009-10 Corolla
2009-10 Venza
2009-10 Matrix
2007-10 Lexus ES 350
2006-10 Lexus IS250/IS350
2009-10 Pontiac Vibe built by Toyota and GM
2005-10 Avalon
2007-10 Camry
2007-10 Tundra

Toyota recalled 147,500 vehicles on hybrids affected by non-responsive brakes:

2010 Prius
2010 Lexus HS350h

Toyota recalled 7,300 vehicles for power steering problems:

2010 Camry

It gets worse for the Japanese automakers. Honda expanded its global recall of vehicles with air bag problems. That recall affects 2001 and 2002 Accords sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small utility vehicles and some Acura TL sedans.

Whatever you think about the "Buy American" slogan, maybe it's time to start paying attention and buying American. American manufacturers have come a long way, baby!

Please Join Me for a Fundraising Event for Judge Martin Hoffman

Angel Reyes — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:58:14 -0600

Since November of 2006, Judge Martin Hoffman has served the 68^th District Court, Dallas County with dignity, conviction and purpose. He has a long history of supporting Dallas, previously as a member of Dallas County School District’s Board of Trustees, as a member of the governing body of The Texas Democratic Party and as President of The Dallas Homeowners League. Judge Hoffman’s commitment to the community is first and foremost among his priorities and I’m pleased to support his upcoming reelection. I invite you to join me at my home next Monday, February 15, 2010 for a special fundraiser for Judge Hoffman’s campaign. For further details, email me at angel@reyeslaw.com.

2010 Minority Business Leader, Dallas Business Journal

Angel Reyes — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:10:38 -0600

I was awarded the honor of being a 2010 Minority Business Leader by the Dallas Business Journal. According to the publication, “You are being honored for making a difference in your profession, our local business community and our community. You were chosen by Dallas Business Journal editors from a very competitive field of nominees and we are proud to recognize you. Honorees were selected based on professional achievements and leadership in their industry and in the overall community.”

Please look for the announcement in the February 12 issue of the Dallas Business Journal.

Truckers Had Better Get The Message.

Angel Reyes — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:15:53 -0600

Before CB radios, 18-wheelers were killing people. Before cell phones, 18-wheelers were killing people. And certainly before texting, 18-wheelers were killing people. These behemoths have been killing people on the road since their introduction. But now, texting has put us in even more grave danger. In fact, a study from last year found that truck drivers who text while behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be in a crash.

Now the government has finally taken action by putting a ban on texting by both truck drivers and bus drivers. It’s about time. Let’s hope there are more serious crackdowns that will help prevent the devastation caused by these death machines.

Please see yesterday’s Dallas Morning News article:

Ban slams the brakes on texting by truckers
12:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER and TOM BENNING / The Dallas Morning News

President Barack Obama to truckers: Keep your hands on the wheel and save your text messages for later.

Truck driver Larry Fender of Adel, Ga., awaits a call from his dispatcher at the Pilot Travel Center in Dallas. Federal rules went into effect Tuesday forbidding truckers and bus drivers from texting while at the wheel.

Obama's transportation secretary on Tuesday banned truckers and commercial bus drivers from sending and receiving text messages, leaving the Texas Department of Public Safety scrambling to figure out how to enforce it.

The new rules, first broached last fall but announced with little warning Tuesday, carry stiff fines and prohibit sending or receiving text messages by truckers and commercial bus drivers, as well as by some local drivers, such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit operators.

"Today we're sending a strong message," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "We don't merely expect you to share the road responsibly with other travelers – we require you to do so."

It's the latest in a Washington campaign to make drivers keep their eyes on the road in an age of wireless devices increasingly prone to distract them.

A truck driver chats on his cellphone while traveling north on Interstate 35E in Dallas. The new rules don't ban talking on mobile phones but do prohibit reading, as well as sending, text messages while truckers are behind the wheel.

Last month, Obama ordered about 3 million federal workers to stay off their cellphones while driving. He strongly encouraged states and companies alike to follow suit.

The news was greeted by lukewarm support from the trucking industry, which sees such bans as appropriate, but faulted the haste with which the move was made.

Texas trucker Jeff Barker says he sees no reason to single out commercial drivers, although after 14 years of crisscrossing the continent, he said he readily agrees that drivers who text are courting disaster. He often drives through Dallas, where he will be today, he said.

"I used to do it, until I began seeing the effect it was having on other drivers," said Barker of San Antonio. "Now I pull over before I send a text. But it should apply to all drivers. To single out bus drivers and truckers is kind of stupid.

"I can see it every day from drivers of all types: A distracted driver is a hell of a danger to everybody out there, and it doesn't matter what kind of vehicle they are in."

"You can pretty much see everything [from inside a truck cab], and you can tell when a driver is distracted, by putting on makeup, by talking on the phone or sending texts. We can see a lot from up here, including folks typing on laptops and doing a lot of other things."

Already, 19 states ban texting from behind the wheel. Texas forbids texting by drivers younger than 18, by school bus drivers and by motorists in a school zone or who are transporting a child.

But Tuesday's announcement makes sending, or even reading, a text message while driving a federal safety offense, too, and could put some commercial drivers at risk of losing their authority to operate – plus subject them to fines of up to $2,750 for each offense.

How those tickets will be issued and under what circumstances wasn't immediately clear. Federal safety rules are typically enforced by state inspectors and highway patrols.

Tela Mange, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, said Tuesday's announcement came with so little warning that her agency is still working out the details of how to police the thousands of commercial operators on Texas roads each day.

"Generally, they would propose something like this and say, 'Within a certain amount of days, we're going to do this,' " Mange said. "But this is them saying, 'We're going to start doing this today.' So it's going to take us a while, at least a few days, to figure out how we're going to enforce it."

Mange said DPS patrols already routinely cite drivers for violations of state and federal safety rules, including violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act.

The Obama administration has embarked on a spirited campaign to protect drivers from distracted driving, which some experts have called as dangerous as drunken driving.

Earlier this month, LaHood stood with Grapevine resident Jennifer Smith to announce the formation of FocusDriven, a national nonprofit organization that will campaign for bans on talking and texting while driving. The group, modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving, put its first local chapter in the Dallas area.

Smith said Tuesday the ban made her "very happy."

"This shows that the federal government is taking this seriously," she said. "The dangers exist, and there need to be safety measures involved."

LaHood said no new laws are needed for the texting ban, since the government already has authority to regulate drivers' use of technology from behind the wheel when evidence shows it is unsafe.

Last year, a study conducted for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that truck drivers who text while behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be in a crash.

The new rules do not ban talking on cellphones while driving nor limit the use of dispatching devices used by truckers to stay on schedule.

More comprehensive rules, including a more complete ban on texting by school bus drivers, will be developed in coming months, said Olivia Alair, press secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Product Safety Standards Won't Change For All The Tea In China

Angel Reyes — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:59:20 -0600

Sometimes I feel like a broken record. But the real record-breaker is the United States government, which is still allowing the importation of defective children's products from China. What will it take for the powers that be to finally take action? Let's see, a boy's three-piece Santa set that causes a choking hazard, horse toy figures with poisonous lead paint, toy helicopters that cause a fire hazard, and the recalls just keep on coming!

We do everything possible to ensure our children's safety, while unbeknownst to us, there's ever-present danger from their own toys!

Please see the press releases issued yesterday by the CPSC by clicking "CONTINUE READING" below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2010
Release # 10-119

Boy's Three-Piece Santa Sets Recalled by Macy's Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: First Impressions Boy's Three-Piece Santa Set

Units: About 9,600

Importer: Macy's Merchandising Group, Inc, of New York, N.Y.

Hazard: Loose buttons on the suit's jacket may easily detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries reported.

Description: This recall includes First Impressions boy's three-piece Santa Sets in sizes 0-24 months, including a jacket, pants and hat. For units sold at Macy's and on macys.com the UPCs are: 0689439416622, 0689439417131, 0689439417148, 0689439417155, 0689439417162, and 0689439417179. For units sold at the Navy Exchange stores the UPCs are: 0706254537346, 0706254537353, 0706254537360, 0706254537377, 0706254537384, and 0706254537391. For all products the tracking label information sewn into the side seam of the top and bottom includes: Style 9131, Supplier 22155, Mfg 34837, Aug. 2009, Macy's Inc.

Sold at: Macy's and macys.com, including locations in Puerto Rico, from September to December 2009, and at U.S. Navy Exchange stores from November through December 2009 for about $20 to $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the buttons from the jacket to eliminate the hazard or return the garment to any Macy's or U.S. Navy Exchange store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Macy's toll-free at (888) 257-5949 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit Macy's Web site at www.macys.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10119.html

------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2010
Release # 10-120

Horse Toy Figures Recalled by Blip Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Nature Wonders HD Pinto Horse Toy Figures

Units: About 15,000

Importer: Blip Toys, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The surface paint coating on the horse contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the Nature Wonders HD pinto horse toy figures with model number 92093. The plastic horse is white with brown spots and measures about 4 inches tall. The model number and "Nature Wonders HD" are printed on the retail tag wrapped around the horse's leg.

Sold by: Walmart stores nationwide from January 2009 through July 2009 for about $4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Blip Toys to receive a free replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Blip Toys toll-free at (888) 405-7696 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.bliptoys.com/recall

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10120.html

------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2010
Release # 10-121

RadioShack Recalls Knight Hawk Toy Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Danbar Knight Hawk Toy Helicopters

Units: About 6,000

Importer: RadioShack Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas

Hazard: The battery housing under the helicopter canopy can overheat while charging, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a fire that started while a store demo toy was charging. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Danbar Toys Knight Hawk 3D remote control helicopters. The helicopter can be identified by model number 006047 marked on the back of the controller and the Knight Hawk 3D logo on the front of the controller. The product was sold at RadioShack as catalog number 600-0566 (60-566) for ages 8 and up.

Sold at: RadioShack stores, RadioShack dealer franchise stores nationwide and at www.radioshack.com from October 2009 through November 2009 for about $60.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the helicopters away from children and return the toy to the nearest RadioShack store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RadioShack at (800) 843-7422 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.radioshack.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10121.html

Major Recall on Strollers

Angel Reyes — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:23:11 -0600

I previously blogged about Maclaren strollers that were recalled for a fingertip amputation hazard. Now the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall from Graco on about 1.5 million of the manufacturer's strollers. Once again, this recall is due to a child opening or closing hinges on the stroller's canopy, which also causes a fingertip amputation and laceration. To date, Graco received seven reports of injuries - five fingertip amputations and two fingertip lacerations. And where are these strollers manufactured? China, of course. It's time to stop importing dangerous products from countries that employ limited to no safety precautions and bring our manufacturing home!

The full press release from the CPSC follows:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Graco's Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems

Units: About 1.5 million

Manufacturer: Graco Children's Products Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.

Hazard: The hinges on the stroller's canopy pose a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is opening or closing the canopy.

Incidents/Injuries: Graco has received seven reports of children placing their fingers in the stroller's canopy hinge mechanism while the canopy was being opened or closed, resulting in five fingertip amputations and two fingertip lacerations.

Description: This recall involves Graco Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems with the following model numbers and specific hinge mechanisms:

Model Numbers

6303MYC, 6303MYC3
6320IVY, 6320LAU
6330CAP, 6330THR,6330THR3
6F00QIN3, 6F00RRY3
6F03GLN3
6G10CSE3
7235GGA, 7235GGA2
7236CDR2
7237HOL2, 7237HOL3
7240DNB, 7240DNB2, 7240MKL2, 7240MKL3
7241DDH2, 7241DHO3
7255CLP, 7255CLP2, 7255CRA2, 7255CRA3, 7255CSA3, 7255GPK3, 7255GRN,
7255GRN2, 7255JJB3, 7255ORC2, 7255WLO2, 7255WLO3 7F07EMA3
7256CLO2, 7256SPM2, 7256SPM3
7260BAN, 7260BAN2, 7260BAN3, 7260MRA2, 7260MRA3, 7260PKR, 7260PKR2
7270BIA, 7270BIA2
7E01JON2, 7E01JON3
7F00LPE3, 7F00RSH3
7F01FOR3
7F02GLM3
7F04TAY3
7F08DSW3, 7F08LAN3
7G00DLS3, 7G00DLS4
7G01CRL3
7G04KRA3
7G05GPR3, 7G06WSR3
7G07ABB3, 7G07BAT3

Graco manufactured two different styles of hinge mechanisms for these stroller models. Only strollers or travel systems with a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism that has indented canopy positioning notches (see photo below) are included in this recall. The recalled strollers were manufactured between October 2004 and February 2008. The model number and manufacture date are located on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.

Sold at: AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies "R" Us, Toys "R" Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijers, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Walmart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 and December 2009 for between $80 and $90 for the strollers and between $150 and $200 for the travel systems.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Graco to receive a free protective cover repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Graco at (800) 345-4109 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit thefirm's Web site at www.gracobaby.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10115.html

McKinney Man Dies in Trench Collapse

Angel Reyes — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:15:49 -0600

Denise Hickey, spokeswoman with the North Texas Municipal Water District, said a main died while working on a McKinney wastewater pipeline project.

McKinney’s Assistant Fire Chief Frank Roma indicated that the worker who died worked for Davis Excavation. The trench collapse occurred earlier today near Airport Road south of U.S. Highway 380. Chief Roma said one man was killed and another injured and that both men were transported to the Medical Center of McKinney. Fortunately, one of the men's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

McKinney fire and police personnel responded to the scene, as did the city's code and engineering departments. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also on hand to investigate.

Trench collapses are often deadly. Construction companies need to take extra precaution when sending their workers into trenches to do pipeline work.

CPSC Demands Recall of 635,000 Cribs

Angel Reyes — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:03:36 -0600

The Associated Press continues to do its part to keep dangerous Chinese imports from harming our kids. The AP reported yesterday, "A Barbados-based company on Tuesday recalled about 635,000 cribs sold by Kmart, Sears, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of a 6-month-old boy and multiple reports of injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of 20 models of Dorel Asia cribs with both drop sides and fixed front rails. Some of the Chinese- and Vietnamese-made cribs were recalled because their drop sides can detach, creating a space where a child can be trapped and suffocate or strangled."

The Los Angeles Times reports, "The safety commission said a 6-month-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, became trapped and died in one of the cribs after the drop-side hardware broke. The agency and Dorel Asia received 31 reports of drop-side incidents and 36 of slat breakage; a total of 10 injuries were reported." Dorel Asia, the crib manufacturer, when questioned about these reports and the death of an Iowa child, said "it learned from a safety investigator that the 6-month-old's crib had been previously broken and that the parents had used duct tape to hold it together."

I've written extensively about the dangers defective cribs pose to babies and small children. To see a video of how these cribs can kill, see my interview on Good Morning Texas.

Feds Warn Consumers About Harm of Cadmium

Angel Reyes — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:57:43 -0600

Yesterday, Inez Tenenbaum, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) told parents not to let their children play with cheap metal jewelry, especially when they are unsupervised. The CSPC noted that it had proof of that lead in children’s jewelry is dangerous and that many imports from China contained lead. The CSPC also noted that many imports from China also contained cadmium, which is another heavy metal that is dangerous if ingested. The CSPC cited the AP investigation I wrote about earlier this week.

In a related development, Senator Charles Schumer is pursuing legislation that would ban cadmium and other heavy metals from children’s jewelry and toys. Congress is expected to take the matter up next week when it resumes.

Toy Safety Concerns: Highlight Cadmium

Angel Reyes — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:22:44 -0600

Last month I was interviewed by Good Morning Texas about toy safety. Toy safety is a year around issue, and it is especially timely before and after the biggest toy giving holiday of the year, Christmas. As many people know, lead paint in toys is a major safety issue. I told the Good Morning Texas viewers about lead hazards in toys and children’s jewelry. I also mentioned a super website, www.toysafety.mobi where parents can go to check the safety ratings of every toy they’re buying.

Children who ingest lead are known to suffer from harmed cognitive development. Children often regularly suck or chew on jewelry, toys, pendants, and charms. These glittering imports almost inevitably trace back to China. The Chinese have been barred from using lead paint in children’s jewelry and toys because it causes harm to children who ingest it. The Chinese are now using cadmium in the charm bracelets and shiny pendants sold across the United States in stores like Wal-Mart, Claire’s, and Dollar N More.

Cadmium is known to be more toxic to children than lead. Both lead and cadmium are known carcinogens. A recent Associated Press investigation showed that of 103 children’s jewelry purchases in November and December 2009, 12% of the pieces contained dangerous amounts of cadmium. Various items like the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” charm bracelet, the “Best Friends” bracelet, and “The Princess and the Frog” necklaces, were purchased from retail stores across Texas, New York, Ohio, and California. Those items all contained levels of cadmium deemed dangerous by Bruce Fowler, a cadmium specialist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are currently no safety standards that govern the amount of cadmium in toys, charms, and children’s jewelry. It appears as if it is time to set some new limits on Chinese imports that contain cadmium.

Lollipop, Lollipop, Doctor, I've Got a Major Headache

Angel Reyes — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:19:15 -0600

Update on Actiq and Fentora: Opioid Narcotics Prescribed Off-Label for Headache Pain?

Over the past few years I’ve written extensively about fentanyl pain patches such as the Duragesic patches sold by Sandoz, Alza Pharmaceutica and Johnson & Johnson. Fentanyl pain patches are also sold by Mylan, Watson and Actavis. Currently hundreds of wrongful death lawsuits are pending against this collection of fentanyl pain patch manufacturers. At least four cases have gone to trial against J&J, Sandoz, and Alza, all of which resulted in the plaintiff recovering money for damages, in these cases wrongful death, caused by the fentanyl pain patches.

Now comes an update to an earlier post about Actiq and Fentora, two lollipops that pack a powerful fentanyl punch. Indeed, hundreds of people have died due to respiratory failure caused by the active ingredient in Actiq and Fentora, fentanyl. Actiq and Fentora were approved by the FDA only for use by opiod tolerant patients. Cephalon brought its supercharged marketing to Actiq back in 2000. Since that time, sales, which were in the tens of millions before Cephalon got involved, surged into the hundreds of millions by 2006. This didn’t happen by accident, according to Prime Therapeutics, Actiq was being prescribed “off-label” 90% of the time. That means that doctors were listening to Cephalon’s bonus driven sales force and prescribing the drug to people who complained of headache pain! Who cares about the important warning that the drug only be prescribed to opioid tolerant patients? Thankfully, the FDA did. Cephalon has since pled guilty to a criminal charge for Distribution of Misbranded Drugs and paid a fine of $425 million.

Did that stop Cephalon? Heck no, as soon as Actiq became open to generics, Cephalon bought Fentora, a new opiod drug manufactured by Cima Labs. Cephalon super charged Fentora’s marketing in the fall of 2006. Soon sales were zooming and so was “off-label” prescriptions. Sound familiar? It should, that’s exactly what Cephalon did with Actiq! The lesson here is this; before you take any prescription with fentanyl in it, be darn sure that you are opiod tolerant, because your doctor may not.

Dallas-area Movers and Shakers Share the Thoughts that Guide Them

Angel Reyes — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:22:16 -0600

Cheryl Hall wrote an interesting article yesterday that appeared in the Dallas Morning News. Her work is always insightful. Take a look:

Dallas-area Movers and Shakers Share the Thoughts that Guide Them

My boss, Jim Moroney, chief executive of The Dallas Morning News, has a sign displayed prominently in his office: People who don't get carried away should be.

He's not certain who coined the phrase, but he believes it wholeheartedly as the publisher of this newspaper. "What we do every day helps preserve and strengthen our democracy, which is the foundation of the precious liberties we enjoy," Moroney says. "If you can't get passionate about that, you need to find another line of work."

We all have truisms that shape our business and life philosophies.Ruth Altshuler, Dallas civic leader

My first business editor, Al Altwegg, taught me: You can't sell what you give away.

Truer words for the newspaper industry were never spoken.

The motto I drummed into my daughter is: A smile costs you nothing . It's often unexpected. And the rewards can be awesome.

Lately, friends have been e-mailing me one that's tearing up the Internet: Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning, the devil says, "Oh crap, she's up."

They say it makes them think of me. I hope they mean that as a compliment.

During my 37-year career here, I've been blessed with verbal presents from business legends. Norman Brinker always reminded me: Begin with the end in mind. Stanley Marcus' caution was: It's just as wrong to be too early to market as too late.

Ross Perot is passionate about Never give in – never, never, never, never.

Turns out, this Churchill quote is also a favorite of Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly. "Whether it's a bad-weather day for the airline, a health issue or a pickup stuck in the mud, things happen, and you have to persevere," Kelly says. "Getting older just reinforces that truism, and it makes one even more grateful for all the good things in life."

To get us off to a fresh start in 2010, I asked business, academic and community leaders to share a guiding truism.

I was overwhelmed with wonderful responses.

Some are original. Most are treasured words from parents, colleagues, mentors or famous folks. Some came without explanation, others with personal meanings.

Some cheated and sent several, leaving me the difficult task of selecting one.

Enjoy!

Randy Johnston, partner, Johnston Tobey PC

I only use my gun whenever kindness fails. - Robert Earl Keen

This reminds me not to start out every legal conflict by using all my lawyerly weapons if I can get it by being nice. If the other side wants the fight, well then, kindness has failed, and it is time to become the hired gun.

Adelfa Callejo, attorney and community leader

Be a master of the job before you. Be a student of the job above you. And be a teacher of the job below you.

I finished high school when I was 16. I was 17 when I had my first job in an office. An old Spaniard who was my mentor told me this saying. He said that would guarantee me an interesting and fruitful life. It's worked for me.

Craig Hall, real estate developer

Never see a lawyer without seeing a lawyer first.

The truth is, except for marrying one and having a lot of them as friends, I try to stay away from them.

Legends

T. Boone Pickens, energy billionaire

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. In the event you didn't plant one then, the second-best time is today.

I use this to highlight the need to adopt a meaningful energy policy that will actually begin to reduce foreign oil use, something every president and presidential candidate going back to Richard Nixon has promised.

Sam Wyly billionaire entrepreneur and author

In all aspects of our lives, each of us must choose between the trivial many and the vital few.

When the first company I founded, University Computing, became publicly owned, I got more than 100 letters and phone calls every day. I had to choose which were the vital few and focus my thoughts on them.

Ross Perot, Perot Systems

Corp. founder

The difference between winning and losing is quitting.

Morton Meyerson, entrepreneur

The point of living, and of being an optimist, is to be foolish enough to believe the best is yet to come. - Peter Ustinov My grandparents wouldn't have left Russia to come to Texas if they believed in sitting still and kvetching. So I try look forward with optimism, believing we all can do better.

Ebby Halliday, Dallas Realtor

Don't drink. Don't smoke. Don't retire.

Liener Temerlin, chairman emeritus, Temerlin McClain

There is no such thing as overkill.

If you jump one hoop, jumping three probably would be better.

Stan Richards, The Richards Group

The only thing that matters is the work, the work, the work. If the work is terrific, everything else will take care of itself.

I sought my God whom I could not see.

I sought my soul. It eluded me.

I sought my brother, and I found all three.

Garrett Boone, co-founder, Container Store

Nothing is more common than a good idea. Nothing is less common than a good idea carried out. - Will Rogers

Perseverance

Valerie Freeman, chief executive, Imprimis Group Inc.

If you're going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchill

Jerry White

, director, Southern Methodist University's Caruth Institute for Owner-Managed Business

It's not the hand that's dealt you that's important. It's how you play the hand that's dealt you that's important.

Wanda Brice, executive director, the Women's Museum

When confronted with a mountain to move, start with one rock. - My motherWhen I feel almost paralyzed with the enormity of a project or a problem, I get started by completing one task or action. It always gives me the momentum to move on.

Gloria Campos, news anchor, WFAA-TV (Channel 8)

Winners never quit, and quitters never win. - My dad There have been a few trying times in my career when I wanted to quit, but I thought of all the people I would be letting down, particularly being a woman and a Latina in what was then a white male-dominated business.

Ruth P. Morgan, provost emeritus, Southern Methodist University

Use perceived bias as a spur to performance rather than as an excuse for disappointment.

David Davis

, director, public relations, Adolphus hotel

Per aspera ad astra

This is a Latin phrase for "To the stars through difficulties." I had this printed on my very first business notepad to remind me that if I just stuck with it and surmounted the daily obstacles, I'd feel the exhilaration of touching the stars. On occasion, I have.

Introspection

Brenda Jackson, senior vice president, Oncor

Electric Delivery Co.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and famous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. - Nelson Mandela

I keep his words in a prominent place in my office so I am reminded to do my best and to be respectful of others.

Eric Affeldt, chief executive, ClubCorp Inc.

Goodbye, said the fox. And now here is my secret, a very simple secret. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Tosawi Marshall, executive director, American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Texas

Religion is for people afraid of going to hell; spirituality is for people who have already been.

There is a difference between being religious and being spiritual. I am a spiritual person like my [Comanche] ancestors before me. It is something that resonates from the DNA of my soul, my being.

Ray Hunt, chief executive, Hunt Consolidated Inc.

A person's reputation is like his shadow; it is always longer or shorter than the real thing.

I read that some 30 to 35 years ago. It is a truth that someone always needs to keep in mind.

Don Chapman, director, Catapult Partners

For me there is only traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that has heart, and there I travel – looking, looking, breathlessly. - Carlos Castaneda

, The Teachings of Don Juan

It reminds me to keep my eyes up off the floor and my mind open to finding the joy in whatever is around me.

Bob Buford, author

At this stage of your life, it is your job to release and direct energy, not to supply it. - Peter Drucker

In the mid-1990s, Drucker used this to explain my aging to me. I find Peter's admonition fits almost everyone in life's second half.

Bob Beaudine, author

The real problem of finding your dream or achieving isn't about who you don't know but whom you've neglected.

People have been taught, incorrectly, that mixing business and friends is taboo. The key to success is doing life – and business – with friends.

Hala Moddelmog, chief executive, Susan G. Komen for the Cure

There is a subtle difference between a mission and a promise. A mission is something you strive to accomplish – a promise is something you are compelled to keep. One is individual, the other is shared. When a mission and a promise are one and the same, that's when mountains are moved and races are won.

Mark Kane, owner, Entertainmart LLC

I was wrong.

Rather than make excuses, equivocate or issue general denials, I have required that my children, as well as my employees, simply say I was wrong. I was dead wrong. This utterance will typically put an end to any further discussion on the topic.

Living in the present

Mark Cuban

, owner, Dallas Mavericks

Today is the youngest you will ever be. Live like it. - My dadIt's a reminder never to think that I'm old. There is always someone older who wishes they were my age and regrets taking the vitality that comes with that age for granted.

Connie Beck, executive vice president, Comerica

Bank

Life is not a dress rehearsal.

This is a great reminder to enjoy the moment, not put off anything important to us, to know that we want to get the most of our life, etc.

Melissa Reiff, president, Container Store

At the moment of commitment the entire universe conspires to assist you. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When we have made the choice to be clear-thinking and focused, the universe does conspire to assist. We persevere and succeed.

Naomi Pevsner, owner, Naomi Designs Inc.

Success is a journey and not a destination. - My father

This quote that he loved reminds me to live in the moment and to enjoy the journey just exactly as it unfolds. The highest peaks and the bumpy parts, too.

Risk-taking and execution

Angel L. Reyes III, Reyes Bartolomei Browne

It's better to dare mighty things, even if checkered by failure, than to end up someone who doesn't know victory or defeat.

This proves valuable to me every time my law firm takes on a big hairy new project. If I didn't remind myself that it's OK to fail, I wouldn't be able to stomach being an entrepreneur.

Gail Cooksey, president, Cooksey Communications

If you don't have time to do it right, when do you have time to do it over?

A good one to say to yourself when you get in a hurry. Works well for employees, too.

Jeff Sinelli, president, Sinelli Concepts Inc.

Get in the game, and the game will open up for you. - Paul Sinelli, my father

You must first make a commitment. Too many people sit on the sidelines talking, wishing, and never take action and hence never get in the game. Every time I put myself in a game, great things happen.

Russ Williamson, Texas director, Pfizer Inc

Always make the maximum effort.

This is my modification of a Vince Lombardi saying regarding the second effort.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn

Keep your nose to the grindstone.

Importance of humor

Michael Boone, partner, Haynes and Boone LLP

Kick 'em when they're down but leave 'em laughing.

A few years ago I came up against a very unreasonable New York lawyer representing a company being acquired by our client. I picked up a big rubber band and put it around my head like a basketball player's headband. A few minutes later, I put on a second one, and a little later, a third one. I explained that I was trying to help him become a better negotiator. I told him I was putting one on each time he made an inappropriate negotiation request and promised to take one off each time he made a reasonable request. By looking at me across the table, he could tell how well he was doing. At one point, I put on four or five rubber bands at once, explaining that he had just made the worst request that I had ever heard in my entire legal career. The humor broke the tension, and we got the deal done.

Cappy McGarr, executive producer, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize

Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. - Mark Twain

I have a close friend whose teenage son was recently in a boating accident and has had multiple hand surgeries. We talk every day and cry about his son's situation, but we never end the call without a laugh or at least a smile. Laughter is medicine we all need.

Business

Jim Hess, chief executive, Leapfrog HR Executives

Survival precedes success.

Many impressive/promising organizations, small and large, were not able to persevere long enough to be around when a difference-making opportunity knocked.

Dale Wamstad, restaurateur

Non lesse illegitimus de carborundum.

Pseudo Latin for Don't let the bastards grind you down. Don't worry about what your competitor is doing. Take care of your own business. That you can control.

Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, chief executive, Harwood International

Quality remains long after price is forgotten. - Stanley Marcus

It's my inspiration for Harwood International's vision: Yesterday we planned for today, today we plan for tomorrow.

Wendy Lopez, vice president, URS Corp.

Cash is king.

Cash gives you freedom to make the decisions without seeking permission from investors.

Karyl Innis, chief executive, Innis Co.

The skills that bring you to the table don't keep you at the feast.

It's often the breakthrough idea that clears a path for important career growth.

Eknauth Persaud, chief executive, Ayoka LLC

Eat your own dog food.

You've got to follow the same process model that you provide your customers. This is the best way to understand your clients.

Emmitt Smith, chief executive, ESmith Legacy Inc.

It's only a dream until you write it down. Then it becomes a goal.

Pete Schenkel, former vice chairman, Dean Foods

Co.

You get what you tolerate.

You inspect what you expect. - The late Jack Evans, former Dallas mayor and CEO of Tom Thumb

Lynn Blodgett, CEO, Affiliated Computer Services Inc

I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. - Abraham Lincoln

In a letter he wrote to Horace Greeley in 1862, Lincoln wrote this about the importance of remaining flexible. I admire this quote because an unbending devotion to flexibility has been an asset in the last 18 months since the recession began to rear its head. Managing a Fortune 500 company requires leaders to be nimble, but the economic uncertainty challenging clients around the world is forcing executives to reach even deeper and maintain a flexible vigilance to meeting their clients' expectations but also leading a large enterprise.

Leadership

June Jones, head football coach, Southern Methodist University

You cannot manage men into battle.

You manage things. You lead people by conducting yourself in such a way that you will lift those around to a higher level of performance.

Carl Sewell, Sewell Automotive Cos.

Leadership is performance. - Peter Drucker

Ideas, plans, hopes and dreams are nice, but performance is really all that counts. The older I get, the clearer it gets that it is not about intentions, it's about results.

Paul Spiegelman, founder and chief executive, Beryl Cos.

The seven most important words in business: I don't know, what do you think? - J.W. Marriott

A leader may know the answers, but if he lets co-workers come up with answers and gives them credit, the company will reach its goals with an engaged, empowered workforce.

Mike Rawlings, chief executive, Legends Hospitality Management

There are simplifiers and complicators. Simplifiers always lead better.

If I want to communicate effectively, I can't get lost in the details.

Fear of failure

Ruth Fitzgibbons, principal, Richards Partners Public Relations

Success is never permanent. Neither is failure.

My late husband had a little sign on his desk that packed a wallop of wisdom in a few short words. That little saw is handy when you're either thinking you're the bees' knees or when you've just bombed spectacularly.

Helen Harkness, Career Design Associates Inc.

We change careers when our pain is greater than our fear.

I also connect with Helen Hayes' If you rest, you rust, since I plan to become a centenarian.

Melendy Lovett, president of education technology, Texas Instruments Inc.

Courage is about the management of fear, not the absence of fear. - Rudy Giuliani

I learned this saying from my former boss and mentor, Steve Leven. It has encouraged me to make courageous decisions and act boldly.

Homespun truths

Ed Pratt III, co-founder, Sunrise Equity Investors LLC

Always be humble. Always be frugal. Always be kind. And remember, it's a short trip from the penthouse to the poorhouse.

Life has a funny way of humbling you when you least expect it. How many examples have we seen in the last year with so many big-name companies going under or needing a government rescue to survive? How many executives of those companies can now tell you how short the trip really is?

Carol Reed, Reeds Public Relations Corp.

When someone is committing suicide, you don't have to kill them and Silence is the best substitute for brains.

Jerry Meyer, chairman, Walls Industries Inc.

Explain not – Friends don't expect it, and enemies won't believe it.

Carl Westcott, entrepreneur

You got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. - Kenny Rogers

Over my career, I've closed a couple of businesses that were underperforming and had doubtful future prospects. I felt that we should take the loss, focus on our more promising prospects and live to fight another day.

Roland Dickey, Dickey's Barbecue Pit

We don't eat nothin' that wasn't bigger than we are when it died.

That's what's above the doors to the trailers that we Dickeys live in. We've leave all the fish and the chickens to others. As big as some members of my family are getting, that's getting harder and harder to live by. There's less and less things bigger than they are.

Jerry Clements, chairwoman, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP

Pretty is as pretty does. - My mother

Without a good and decent heart, nothing on the outside matters. I've made a point of passing it on to my children.

Todd Wagner, billionaire philanthropist and entrepreneur

Pigs get fat, and hogs get slaughtered.

You should try to get what is coming your way, but not at the expense of the other side. Become hoggish, and it can come back to bite you.

Mary Brinegar, president and chief executive, the Dallas Arboretum

The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons . - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Erin Botsford, chief executive, the Botsford Group

Confidence is the electricity that powers human achievement. With confidence you can do anything. ... Without it, you can do nothing.

Bronwyn Allen, president, High Profile Inc.

There are only good days or great days.

If you wake up in the morning – alive, healthy and get to see your family – at the bare minimum, it's going to be a good day.

Paul Bass, vice chairman, First Southwest Co.

If there's a will, try and get in it.

Larry Friedman, managing partner, Friedman & Feiger LLP

When in doubt, take the high road.

Social responsibility

Jim Keyes, chief executive, Blockbuster Inc.

Education IS freedom.

I saw this on a T-shirt on a student at my alma mater, Columbia University.

This is a simple, elegant truth – whether inspiring a young person to stay in school or reminding myself that the answer to a particularly challenging business problem lies in educating myself to make an informed decision.

Paige Flink, executive director, Family Place

If not me, who? If not now, when? - Parapharase of Rabbi Hillel; also attributed to Robert Kennedy

Larry North, fitness expert

Poor is a way of life, and broke is just a temporary state. - My father

Knowing this simple fact has influenced me to take risks, challenges and never be afraid to make mistakes.

Kathleen Mason, chief executive, Tuesday Morning Inc.

What you lose on the swings, you can pick up on the merry-go-round.

It means if you lose out one way, there's an opportunity to win another way.

Gene Street, restaurateur

There is a lot of good water in my commode, but I just can't drink it.

It's from my mom and dad. Anytime I've been approached with a "too-good-to-be-true, we'll-make-a-killing idea," I've used this phrase as a nice, plain, simple way to say, "I am not interested." I've used it several times with overseas investors whose interpreters had a little difficulty in explaining it.

Ike Vanden Eykel, partner, Koons, Fuller, Vanden Eykel & Robertson PC

When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging.

My kids got very sick of hearing it.

Bobby Haas, Haas Wheat & Partners

When in doubt, make the more correctable mistake.

When you are in doubt between two choices, assume you'll guess wrong and take the path that causes the least damage when you seek to undo your choice. Not sure whether you should marry someone? Don't do it! Not sure whether to do a deal? Don't do it! I have used this pearl of wisdom with my daughters so often that it is now ingrained in the Haas family DNA.

Kim Askew, partner, K&L Gates LLP

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

My all-time favorite saying from Gandhi is posted on my office door, on my desktop and in the corner of my bedroom closet. My life has been spent in some pretty nontraditional roles for women. When the going gets tough, I frequently remind myself that this is the greater purpose for which I stand.

Michael Brown

, Nobel laureate, UT Southwestern Medical School

The most important decision facing any scientist is the choice of a spouse.

I tell all of our students: With an understanding partner, anything can be accomplished. I took my own advice when I married Alice 45 years ago, and I have benefited ever since.

Larry Lavine, restaurateur

BFC – Behavior is a function of consequence.

Most people do not take the time to thank others for an action that they would like repeated. People will respond to a positive remark much better than being told they did something wrong. This works with employees, your spouse, children and even your dog.

Susan Byrne, chairman, Westwood Holdings Group Inc.

Never try to catch an anvil in the air when you can pick it up off the ground.

My best rule for investing: Wait for the dust to settle before committing capital.

Ken Schnitzer, chairman, Park Place Dealerships

Keep doing what you've always done, and you'll keep getting what you've always gotten.

This is my Texas twist on Benjamin Franklin's "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Today's leaders should always be evaluating new ideas that ultimately will result in providing the best service or product to the client. When a company becomes stagnant in its processes, the result is a loss of innovation.

Roger Staubach, Jones Lang LaSalle

It takes a lot of unspectacular preparation to get spectacular results , which leads into There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

Two of my favorite sayings go hand in hand. My coach switched me to quarterback in high school. I didn't really want to play quarterback, but I worked hard to be the best I could be, and it changed my life. I have always felt the same about business. If you go the extra mile, you are usually rewarded for it. Nothing comes easy.

Charles Terrell, insurance executive and former chairman of the Texas criminal justice system

Remember the Alamo.

It means: Don't get mad. Get even.

Where Did the Aughts Go?

Angel Reyes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:12:37 -0600

The past decade has been a chimera. Wall Street argued, when it served its interests, that we were in the age of prosperity. Truth is we were in the age of hubris and exaggeration. The more the pundits exaggerated, the more Wall Street made. In the end, the losers were all small investors. As usual.

If you make less than $1MM a year, keep reading. If you make more, kudos to you. You can sit back and laugh at this posting.

Recall, the pundits cried..."The markets will be the common man's buddy...". Ha, ha. 401K accounts are down 40% or more, executive retirement accounts are up 8% +. Why is that? I'll let my readers ponder. Ok. You've pondered. It's because execs get GUARANTEED returns!!! Do you, loyal company woman?

Wall Street assured the "public" that it was on their side. What Wall Street really wanted was for Americans to not understand that Wall Street was not exactly squaring with them!

What happened next? Americans began to "believe" that the regulators, thanks to President Bush, were sabotaging their lives. What was really happening in their lives is that the regulators were ignoring their lives!

So, should any of us question the INCREDIBLE class differences that are now so obvious in this country?

Question: Should we continue to believe that Wall Street has our best interests at heart? Or should all Americans wake up and smell the coffee that Wall Street looks after Wall Street and Main Street should look after Main Street? I should hope so.

Simplicity Cribs Linked to 11 Deaths

Angel Reyes — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:01:49 -0600

I've previously reported about the problem with Simplicity bassinets. Several recalls since December, 2005, have reduced the number of Simplicity bassinets in people's homes. The Consumer Product Safety Commission now says that at least 11 infants died from the defective bassinets. The most recent death occurred in September 2009 when a 7 month old baby got entrapped in the crib.

If you have a Simplicity bassinet in your house, destroy it.

Feds Recall 50 Million Roman-Style Shades and Roll Up Blinds

Angel Reyes — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:16:02 -0600

Yesterday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission along with the window-covering industry, recalled over 50 million Roman-style and roll-up blinds due to the strangulation risk they posed to children. Roman shades are problematic because their cords can get wrapped around a child’s neck, which can lead to tragic results. Roll-up blinds pose a strangulation risk if the lifting loop slides off a side and becomes wrapped around a child’s neck.

All parents are urged to examine the type of blinds or shades they have in their homes and if they have accessible cords. The best type of window coverings for homes with children are cordless. If you purchases Roman-style or roll-up blinds from Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Big Lots, Ace Hardware, Williams-Sonoma, or Pottery Barn, you can obtain free retrofit kits for Roman shades and roll-up blinds at www.windowcoverings.org or you can call the Window Covering Safety Council at 1-800-506-4636.