Jeff Vaughn's Blog

Are You A Good Citizen? Take The Test

2008-07-04T13:32:00Z

It's Independence Day and I thought it would be fitting to see if I have what it takes to be an American citizen. I was born in Kansas, so I am a natural born citizen, but what if I wanted to immigrate to the US. Could I pass the citizenship test?

When immigrants want to become Americans, they must take a civics test as part of their naturalization interview before a Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS) officer. The questions are usually selected from a list of 100 sample questions that prospective citizens can look at ahead of the interview. Some are easy, some are not.

To take the test, go to this MSNBC website. After taking the quiz, you learn if you are a good citizen or not.

I got 80% correct! That's makes me a good citizen.

Of course, I could have failed and nothing would happen to me because I was born in the USA, but it was nice to know I knew most of the answers. I credit my KSU degree in political science for helping me, and my high school civics teacher, Mr. O'Hara.

Happy 4th of July.

Is Obama A Patriot?

2008-07-03T12:45:00Z

Monday, Senator Barack Obama travelled to Independence, Missouri and gave a speech on patriotism called "The America We Love." Why? Was it because it was a few days before the Independence Day holiday? Probably not.

Obama has been called unpatriotic for not always wearing an American flag lapel pin and not always covering his heart or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Some call that unpatriotic. I must admit, it's a little odd for a politician to not do those things, all the time. Most candidates want as many votes as possible and would not make a stand against the red, white and blue. However, Obama has prompted a thought provoking debate about patriotism.

In a poll, conducted by USA Today/Gallup, those surveyed said reciting the Pledge is saying "a great deal" about a person's patriotism. The poll also reveals Americans like to show their support and disdain for the USA, but it is somewhat divided by party. Six in ten surveyed say sporting an American flag pin is important. Republicans see it as more important than Democrats, according to the survey.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain routinely wears the US flag on his lapel because "I'm proud of the American flag."

Democrats are nearly twice as likely as conservatives to see protest as patriotic.

So, what does this mean? Nothing really. It means McCain and Obama are acting like their respective political party members. No big deal. It would be a big deal if Obama and McCain decided NOT to vote. Almost everyone polled sees that as unpatriotic

Watermelon Feeds Libido

2008-07-02T09:08:00Z

Before you chow down on that watermelon at your July 4th picnic, read the latest, and stock up. After this story the summer fruit may be hard to find!

Men (and some women) no longer need Viagra. Watermelon will work, so says researchers.

According to the Assocaited Press, new research shows that eating watermelon can give a Viagra like effect. A study at Texas A & M show a certain ingredient in the fruit gives men the extra boost and might even increase libido.

There is a catch. The stimulating ingredient is found mainly in the watermelon rind.

For more on the natural Viagra, go to WebMD.

8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture Named

2008-07-01T14:06:00Z

Kansas is not known for its stunning architecture, but Kansas State University is one of the premier architecture schools in the nation. I should know, I failed the attempt at the major.

Kansas has a few architectural gems. The Kansas Sampler Foundation recognized: Chase County Courthouse, Cottonwood Falls; Cooper Barn Colby; Fromme-Birney Round Barn, Mullinville; Holy Cross Church, Pfeifer; Kansas State Capitol, Topeka; Lebold Mansion, Abilene; Ness County Bank Building, Ness City; Seelye Mansion, Abilene.

I have not seen all eight of the Wonders, but my favorite from the list is the Chase County Courthouse, a native sandstone structure that is still being used today. I passed by it every trip from Arkansas City to Manhattan while attending K-State.

For more information, go to the Kansas City Star, our reporting partners.

Apple Fries Don't Sound Healthy

2008-07-01T08:47:00Z

Burger King is rolling out a new menu for children, pledging to offer healthier options at around 350 to 560 calories per serving. But apple fries? Yes, apple fries are part of the menu and they don't sound healthy, do they? The name apple fries to me means fried apples. They aren't.

The fast-food chain is offering sliced raw apples as part of the new menu that are cut to resemble fries. BK will use US grown apples and offer a 2.5 ounce serving as a side dish that weighs in at 35 calories. Compare that to real fries that are 230 calories per serving and 13 grams of fat, according to Burger King.

No dunking these apples in caramel, chocolate or peanut butter. These are raw apples that come packaged only with a slice of lemon to keep them fresh.

For more on the new menu, go to this article at MSNBC.

Where Does Lightning Come From?

2008-06-27T12:56:00Z

NBC Action News Viewer Jeff Davis of Overland Park needs our weather department to settle a debate about Zeus' bolts. Davis asks, "Does lightning come from the ground or the sky?" Good Question, Jeff. I went to meteorologist Gary Lezak for the answer.

His response:

In a way, lightning comes from both the ground and the sky. The usual lightning flash between cloud and ground begins with a visually undetected downward-moving traveling spark called the stepped leader. When the stepped leader reaches the ground, the whole column becomes illuminated as the lightning bolt we are used to. It can appear to come from the ground or from the cloud in this return stroke. It appears that it comes from the cloud, but more often than not it actually is visible on the ground and then shoots up into the cloud.

There is cloud to ground lightning, ground to cloud lightning, cloud to cloud lightning, and even cloud to air lightning, but no ground to ground lightning.

There you go, Jeff. I hope it helps.

By the way, this is Lighting Awareness Week and the National Weather Service has great stats about bolts at www.nws.noaa.gov.

Which River is Longer, Mississippi or Missouri?

2008-06-25T14:20:00Z

NBC Action News viewer Alex Domingues from KCK wants to know if the Mississippi river is the longest in the US. Good Question.

I have received a lot of Good Questions about rivers and sandbags and flooding since the recent storms inundated the Midwest with flood waters.

The answer: The longest river is the Missouri, which flows for approximately 2,500 miles. However, the Mississippi is the largest of the more than 250,000 US rivers, and flows at a volume of 593,000 cubic feet per second! Source: www.americanrivers.org

Got a Good Question? Email me at vaughn@nbcactionnews.com

My Headline Pick of the Day

2008-06-25T09:49:00Z

USATODAY: MORE STATES SAY CELL PHONES AND DRIVING DON'T MIX

I talked about the above headline this morning on NBC Action News Today. Some of you may want more information on new state laws in California and Washington restricting cell phone usage for drivers. Check it out here.

I picked this headline because, I must admit, drivers using cell phones is a pet peeve of mine. It seems every driver that almost hits me or cuts me off is yakking on their phone, or texting, or both and sometimes doing too many things at once (see above photo).

Currrently Kansas and Missouri do not restrict cell phone usage behind the wheel. But, in 2000 lawmakers tried and a measure failed in the Kansas House of Representatives.

I am not advocating prohibiting cell phones while driving, just responsible talking.

Who Should Replace Tim Russert?

2008-06-24T12:41:00Z

NBC has some big shoes to fill. Broadcaster Tim Russert was the perfect fit for Meet the Press. But who will take his place? Good Question.

A polldaddy.com poll shows the current named host, Tom Brokaw, who has agreed to host through the election, as the favorite. I personally like David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell for the job. What do you think?

Here are the poll results.

Who should replace Tim Russert on NBC?

Tom Brokaw 41%

Brian Williams 3%

Chris Matthews 4%

Andrea Mitchell 15%

David Gregory 14%

Keith Olbermann 4%

Other 19%

Under the "other" category, names like Katie Couric, Chuck Todd and Joe Scarborough were given: even Stephen Colbert and Tim Stewart were mentioned.

What Happens to Sand & Bags After Floods?

2008-06-23T15:04:00Z

Millions of sandbags are now being used to quell the flooding in the Midwest, especially along the Mississippi near St. Louis where residents are bracing for the river's crest today.

NBC Action News viewer Amanda Sparks from Kansas City wants to know what happens to sandbags and sand after the floods. Good Question.

According to the Army Corp of Engineers, the wet bags can be re-used and the sand spread over lawns and gardens. However, toxins floating in the flooded waters may pose a health risk, so the once wet sand is not suggested to be used in children's play areas. A lot of the wet sand bags end up in landfills.

Where do the sandbags come from? Good Question. Many companies provide the bags for emergency purposes. Gulf Coast Bag in Houston is one company that donates and offers bags cheap for flood victims. According to Gulf Coast they are made from woven polypropylene, and no longer use burlap.

Driving A (Very) Small Car

2008-06-23T12:43:00Z

Driving through Europe in a very small car was quite the experience for this SUV owning, V-8 charged motorist that loves his four wheel drive, gas-guzzling Jeep. My Jeep Grand Cherokee gets about 18 mpg, the Chevy Matiz gets 61 mpg. I'm not planning on getting rid of my Jeep--it's paid off--but, driving the Matiz made me think about it.

I rented the above teeny-tiny car while honeymooning in Italy and after 800 miles of driving through the Tuscan countryside, I filled up the tank just once. At about $6 a gallon in Europe, I spent only about sixty American dollars on gas my entire trip. Heck, I spend $100 a week on gas just going to and from work.

But, there is a downside to the puny Chevy: It's really, really small. I felt fine driving in Europe, where the roads are shared with other small cars and even smaller vehicles like the Smart car. Motorcycles and scooters are very popular as well, and semi trucks stay to the right side, so driving the Matiz made me feel safe there. I don't know that I would have that same feeling here.

Americans drive more defensively than Europeans. That's a polite way of saying we all drive too fast, selfishly and with too many distractions like cell phones, texting, and fast food. Italians do have a chaotic way of travelling, but it's efficient. I didn't see one accident in Italy, and I never noticed road rage despite the congestion. This wasn't my first international driving experience. I rented an even smaller car while travelling in Spain and the experience was similar.

I will not give up my gas guzzler, yet. But, I do believe my next car will be smaller. Does a Corvette (my dream car) pass as smaller than an SUV?

Is it Cheaper by Bus or Plane to Denver?

2008-06-03T13:18:00Z

Got the itch to get out of town, but don't want to fill your tank? How about booking a trip to Denver? What's the best way? Good Question.

Tuesday morning on NBC Action News Today we compared bus and airline fares to some major Midwest cities, but we left out Denver.

Here's the info on Greyhound versus an airline to the Mile High city. They are both about the same, believe it or not.

On a seven day advanced booking flight to Denver on Southwest, it was just $59, if you book online. Greyhound with the same advance was $55.

Bull Riding is Easy; Walking is Hard

2008-06-03T12:49:00Z

Getting bucked off a mechanical bull was a blast.

NBC Action News viewers helped me raise more than $1,600 to fight Multiple Sclerosis by placing me aboard the bull seen above. I was promptly bucked to the ground. It was fun and easier than walking.

Following the bull ride, which we broadcasted live on NBC Action News Today Thursday, I participated in the MS Challenge Walk, a three day 50 mile trek through the KC suburbs. That was a lot harder that falling off a mechanical bull.

After just eight miles in the scorching heat my feet began to swell and I was ready to call it quits, but the many walkers I encountered along the route gave me the motivation I needed to finish the day. Many I walked with are battling MS. How could I stop and take it easy when they continue to fight the aching feet, the temperatures--and MS?

They face the challenge like they face the disease, with courage, strength and stamina. Thanks to them, I continued to walk each and every day of the event.

Thanks to the viewers for all the support.

This leads me to ask what should be done next year to raise even more money for MS. Got a dare? Drop me a line at vaughn@nbcactionnews.com.

Gas at 12 cents per gallon!

2008-05-28T15:32:00Z

With gasoline prices reaching $4 a gallon, we are lucky--believe it or not. Although gas prices in Venezuela, a gas producing nation is at only 12 cents a gallon and the cheapest, some drivers are paying $9 a gallon. Ouch.

Take a look at the cnnmoney.com graph below showing gas prices globally. Out of 155 countries surveyed, the US ranks a relatively cheap 44th place.

Still doesn't take the sting out of filling up, though, does it?

Most expensive places to buy gas

Rank	Country	Price/gal
1.	Eritrea	$9.58
2.	Norway	$8.73
3.	United Kingdom	$8.38
4.	Netherlands	$8.37
5.	Monaco	$8.31
6.	Iceland	$8.28
7.	Belgium	$8.22
8.	France	$8.07
9.	Germany	$7.86
10.	Portugal	$7.84
108.	United States	$3.45

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Where gasoline is cheapest

Rank	Country	Price/gal
1.	Venezuela	12 cents
2.	Iran	40 cents
3.	Saudi Arabia	45 cents
4.	Libya	50 cents
5.	Swaziland	54 cents
6.	Qatar	73 cents
7.	Bahrain	81 cents
8.	Egypt	89 cents
9.	Kuwait	90 cents
10.	Seychelles	98 cents
44.	United States	$3.45
155 countries surveyed between March 17 and April 1, 2008. Prices not adjusted for cost of living or exchange rates.

Gas Saving Myths

2008-05-27T13:46:00Z

NBC Action News viewer Trey Parker of Paola, Kansas wants to know if putting magnets in your gas tank will give a car better gas mileage. Good Question. Simple answer, an emphatic NO!

During these high gas prices many theories occur which promise to cut your gasoline consumption.

There are a few ways you can improve your gas mileage and I list those below. But first, the many myths released by an Edmunds.com/Consumer Reports study and as reported on NBC Action News Today.

Turn off your A/C. There's a notion that turning on your air conditioning drains the engine's power and reduces fuel efficiency. True, with old cars, but not with new technology. Today, running your car's A/C results in losing only a minimal amount of gas mileage, possibly less than a mile a gallon. In fact, turning off your air conditioning and opening the windows, especially on the highway, causes drag and burns more gasoline.

Buy gas on Wednesday. Some drivers insist it's the best day to purchase petro because gas prices have cooled from the weekend run-up. Although gas prices do spike on weekends, Consumer Reports say your best bet in finding frugal fuel is to go online at the many price watching websites, like Gasbuddy.com.

Fill your tank in the a.m. The theory goes that fluids are more dense in the morning, so a gallon of gas has more molecules in the a-m. More molecules, more gas, right? No, the temperature at the nozzle varies little during the course of the day.

Over-inflate your tires. Proper inflation is important, and under inflation will reduce your gas mileage, but don't over compensate by over-filling your tires. Pumped up tires offer minimal fuel savings and is dangerous for steering and braking.

Don't rely on gimmicks like a "fuel pill", magnets or additives that promise to increase a car's efficiency by 30-percent. Consumers Reports have tested dozens of these products and have found that none offer any significant improvement.

Now to a few factual gas saving tips you can use:

Remove excess weight. The Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between 3 and 5 cents a gallon just by removing those golf clubs.

Use your car's cruise control, especially on long trips. Edmunds.com's study shows that using cruise can give you a savings of 7% on your trip.

The biggest fuel saver is driving sensibly and at the speed limit. Rapid stops and starts rob your car's fuel efficiency. Going the speed limit can save anywhere between 15 and 98 cents a gallon.