Did you ever read “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley? In it, Huxley presents a world of assembly-line-manufactured humans. The smartest, most physically fit people are Alphas, followed by Betas and more. The deity to which these people give thanks is Ford. Yes, Ford. The uncharacteristically rainy weather at a 2010 Ford Taurus event I recently attended in Denver had me thinking of this futuristic tale, which takes place in foggy, wet London. 

As I headed to the event, I wondered if the new Taurus would live up to the hype and expectations placed on it. The American auto industry had been under scrutiny, and Ford, which has managed the recession better than its Big Three counterparts, is no exception.

Four- to 8-year-olds riding in booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash, according to a study published in the current edition of the Pediatrics journal. If that’s not a reason to keep your child in a booster seat until age 8, I don’t know what is.

The study, which was conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, analyzed data from 7,151 children who were involved in 6,591 car accidents. Researchers found 70 percent of these children were restrained in a car with a seat belt while 30% used a booster seat. Those using only a seat belt had twice the injury risk as the children riding in booster seats.

A parent’s work is never done; that’s especially true when it comes to teens and driving. Today is the first day of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which gives parents a reason to check in on their teen’s driving and make sure their rules are being followed.

Car accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The purpose of National Teen Driver Safety Week is to raise awareness and provide solutions to teen driving deaths.

Who’s easier to raise: boys or girls? My unscientific guess is neither. Each gender definitely has its challenges. I love my two boys who are nonstop from the minute they get up in the morning, but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally wish that my boys could sit still as well my friend’s daughters. These bloggers share their opinions on boys versus girls.

The Difference Between Boys and Girls, Slate.com
Slate senior editor Michael Agger has traded roles with his wife, Susan Burton, an editor for “This American Life” who works from home while taking care of their two sons. He’s staying home with the boys, and she’s going to the office. They’re been documenting their experiment on Slate.com. Michael recently wrote of his girl envy after spending the day with his friend and her daughter. “His daughter was doing delightful things like picking flowers and hopping along with them. Not for the first time, I was overcome with girl envy. They like to sit still and color. They talk to you about the things besides poop.”

Do you want to help the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation raise money and awareness about breast cancer? With the help of local Lincoln dealerships, you can raise money for the foundation and have fun with Lincoln’s test drive a car for the cure. 

In celebration of the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT’s arrival (a car that MotherProof.com is looking forward to test driving) and in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, participating dealerships will have an evening soirée tonight featuring door prizes and more.

The best part is Lincoln will donate $20 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation for every completed test drive. So what are you doing tonight? Stop by a Lincoln dealership and take the MKT for a spin.

For more ways to contribute to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, click here.

Heather Christensen is a hero. Last weekend, the 33-year-old tried to steer a bus loaded with band students after the bus driver blacked out behind the wheel, according to the Associated Press. Christensen was killed in the crash, but her quick thinking saved the lives of the 46 students riding on the bus.

Christensen was a woodwinds instructor for the band at American Fork High School in American Fork, Utah. The band had just won a competition hosted by Idaho State University before the crash. While traveling along Interstate 15 in Idaho, the bus driver passed out. Christensen grabbed the steering wheel and tried to steer the bus back onto the road. She died when was partially ejected from the bus, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. 

Ford plans to recall 4.5 million vehicles with a faulty cruise control deactivation switch, according to the Detroit News. This faulty switch has now lead to the recall of 14 million vehicles over a 10-year period.

The automaker said the part “may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke or burn.” There have been more than 1,500 complaints and at least 550 vehicle fires because of the switch.

This new recall affects a lot of mom-mobiles, including

I love to see everyday objects transformed into something unusual. With the help of my two backseat test riders, I’ve noticed lots of cars with custom paint jobs and decals. Spotting those snazzy-looking cars is the new favorite topic of our I-Spy car game. In an everyday life that can include too much time in the car, it’s fun to see something different on the road.

I’m not the only one who thinks this. Upscale car manufacturers allow customers to select from a variety of custom paint colors for their new cars. Automakers also use these custom jobs to build a buzz and promote their brands. Lexus recently covered an IS 350 in tennis-ball felt for tennis’ U.S. Open, and each year, a famous artist gives custom paint job to a BMW as part of the automaker’s BMW Art Cars project. Of course, my favorite part of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” is the fabulous paint jobs on the participant’s vehicle.