Avoid the Traffic With Push of a Button
If you’re frantic about freeway traffic jams--and with 7 million cars on the road in the Los Angeles area, who could blame you--Autotalk may be just the ticket. The coded conversion device allows drivers to hear up-to-the-minute traffic reports through their car radios.
Introduced in Los Angeles by Santa Clara-based Autotalk Inc., the device tunes in continuous regionally specific traffic reports through SAP (Secondary Audio Program) television signals. The company also gets traffic data from Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and the Shadow Traffic Network. It has access to the experimental “smart” navigation system along the Santa Monica Freeway corridor as well.
Just by punching in the appropriate two-digit code, you can get traffic reports for the area you need, says Gary Miller of Glendale, Autotalk’s director of sales. Miller adds that the black box is easily installed on any conventional car radio and can be mounted on the dashboard.
If you get tired of hearing about traffic, you can tune in through Autotalk to the National Weather Service broadcast or to the audio portion of your favorite TV show.
Autotalk ($129) has no monthly subscriber fee. It is operational only in Southern California, but the company plans to introduce Autotalk in Northern California later this year. Within three to five years, it should be available in 30 metropolitan areas across the country, says Miller.
Motorists can purchase Autotalk at all Al & Ed’s Autosound stores, B & M Mobile Electronics in Los Angeles, D & G Auto Sound in West Los Angeles, Automotive Entertainment in Pasadena, Mark’s Auto Sound in San Gabriel, Crystal Sonics in Glendale, Audio Specialist in Alhambra, All American Paging in Castaic, California Car Sound in Culver City, Crazy Stereo in Harbor City, Taormina Industries Inc. in Anaheim, Solder Joint Service Inc. in Orange and Viejo Auto Stereo in Mission Viejo.
If there is no outlet in your area, you can order the device from Autotalk Inc., 3350 Scott Blvd., Building No. 4102, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054; (408) 727-8800.
Mitts Guard Against Kitchen Burnout
California-based Tucker Industries, which has produced protective kitchen apparel for commercial restaurants for several years, has introduced BurnGuard Plus oven mitts for home use.
Company president Vincent Tucker says his mitt is the only one that’s heat and flame resistant; is impervious to hot liquids, steam and grease, and is washable. The BurnGuard mitt is made of Nomex III and Kevlar, fabrics developed by DuPont and used in bulletproof vests, race-car driving suits and fire-retardant clothing. The mitts can be washed as often as necessary and should last about 10 months.
Before launching his mitt for home use, Tucker had it tested in several commercial kitchens, including those of Burger King, Courtyard by Marriott, California Pizza Kitchens, Arby’s, Stuart Anderson’s and, yes, the Pentagon. Each reported a significant reduction in burns.
“We tested the oven mitts for 15 months,” says Joseph Kuban, loss control manager of Burger King’s Atlanta sector, “and we have seen a 50% reduction in burns for the personnel baking our breakfast food items alone.”
BurnGuard Plus mitts ($25 for a 15-inch puppet style) are available by calling the Gardena firm at (800) 786-7287.
Wash Your Hands of Harsh Detergents
Colgate-Palmolive has just introduced Palmolive Sensitive Skin, a dishwashing detergent that helps prevent hand irritation while still getting dishes clean. But it’s not the familiar Palmolive green: It’s clear.
Colgate-Palmolive representatives say the dermatologist-tested liquid cleaner was developed with a new, customized formula that’s biodegradable and contains no dyes or harsh chemicals. “It puts cleaning molecules--surfactants--to work dislodging caked-on food and grease without upsetting the skin’s natural protective oil balance,” says Colgate-Palmolive’s Grace Richardson, vice president of consumer affairs.
Sensitive Skin comes in three sizes: 22 ounce ($1.79), 32 ounce ($2.59) and 42 ounce ($3.29). It is available nationwide in supermarkets, drug stores and other retail outlets. In Southern California, you can find it at Target, Ralphs, Lucky, Hughes, Albertsons, Vons, Alpha Beta and Stater Bros.
