Sandy Dredges Up Human Skeleton in Connecticut

It was a dark and super-stormy night.

That?s the obvious beginning to a ghost story that the kids of New Haven, Conn., will tell on Halloweens to come, about the skeleton that broke from its ancient grave when Hurricane Sandy hit.

The anomalous storm uprooted a century-old oak tree in New Haven's town green on Monday night (Oct. 29), unearthing human remains that likely date back to colonial times, according to local station WTNH.

The downed oak tree was first planted in 1909 to commemorate a New Haven-born Civil War hero, and on Tuesday afternoon, the site of the tree's destruction had already drawn onlookers before New Haven resident Katie Carbo spotted bones where its roots had once been.?

Carbo called the police, who investigated the open grave and alerted the state's medical examiner.

The New Haven Green, a 16-acre park in the center of town, was the center of the original Puritan colony there and was first used as a burial site in the 1650s, according to WTNH.

Though they don't usually present themselves in such dramatic fashion, old bones have shown up in New Haven before.

In June 2011, a construction crew working on an expansion of the Yale-New Haven hospital turned up the remains of bodies buried in New Haven's first Catholic cemetery, sometime in the early 19th century.

Superstorm Sandy's meteorological and alphabetical forebear, Hurricane Rafael, also turned up a mysterious skeleton. A skull and partial rib cage reportedly washed ashore, or were unearthed, after the storm hit the small West Indies country St. Kitts and Nevis earlier this month.

The remains were discovered on Oct. 14 by a passerby on Friar's Bay beach, and local police collected them for analysis, according to skninews.com.?

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Copyright 2012 Lifes Little Mysteries, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sandy-dredges-human-skeleton-connecticut-182003851.html

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Online medical help? Not so much. 95% of prostate cancer sites are ...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - There's no shortage of websites with information on prostate cancer treatment, but they may be well beyond the average person's comprehension, a new study finds.

The study, of 62 such websites, found that only three had treatment information written below a 9th-grade reading level. Most often, sites aimed for the reading level of a high school senior - far beyond the reading skills of many Americans.

That's a worry, researchers say, because there is a range of treatment options for prostate cancer. And if men are going to make good choices, they need to understand the information out there.

Dr. Chandy Ellimoottil, who worked on the study, said he regularly asks newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients whether they've done any online research on their own, and what they've found.

"And I could tell from the conversations that they often really don't understand what they are reading," Ellimoottil said.

So he and his colleagues at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois, decided to test the "readability" of websites with resources on prostate cancer treatment. They pulled information from 62 websites and used two standard tools that gauge how easy a text is to read.

They found that a 12th grade reading level was typical of the sites, and more than half required college-level reading skills to comprehend.

It's surprising that so many websites would be written at such a high level, according to Dr. Gopal Gupta, who also worked on the study.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that written information for patients be at the 4th to 6th grade reading level, Gupta noted.

Yet none of the sites his team analyzed met that goal. And only a few were written at an 8th-grade reading level or below - even though that is the reading level of about one-third of Americans.

Gupta pointed out that even the patient education materials from the American Urological Association Foundation - the specialists who treat men with prostate cancer - were written at a college reading level.

He said the message for health professionals is to "look at your literature. Are patients really going to understand it?"

For now, Ellimoottil said there are some websites that are both trustworthy and relatively readable when it comes to prostate cancer treatment.

The NIH website MedlinePlus has information written at the 8th to 9th grade level (though that's still above the NIH's own recommendation). And the National Comprehensive Cancer Network gives information at about a 7th to 8th grade reading level.

And if you find information that you don't fully understand, you can print it out and bring it to your doctor to discuss, Ellimoottil said.

But always be wary of the source of that online information, cautioned Dr. Kerry L. Kilbridge, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Information from sponsored sites - those funded by drug companies or device makers - may be biased, said Kilbridge, who was not involved in the study.

"It's best to stick to vetted, unbiased sites like those maintained by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society," Kilbridge said in an email.

Both Ellimoottil and Gupta agreed that skepticism is in order. And with prostate cancer, Gupta said, being well-informed is especially important because men often have a number of treatment options - and they are not necessarily easy to understand.

Prostate cancer is often slow-growing and may never progress to the point of threatening a man's life. In fact, about half of U.S. men diagnosed with prostate cancer fall into that "low risk" group, according to the National Cancer Institute.

"If you have low-risk disease," Gupta said, "you have four reasonable treatment options: active surveillance, surgery and two types of radiation therapy."

Active surveillance means delaying treatment and instead monitoring the cancer to see if it progresses. Many men balk at that, Gupta said. "They think, 'What do you mean you're not going to do anything? Get it (the cancer) out of me.'"

If men don't fully understand active surveillance, he noted, they may not choose it even if it's a good option for them.

Of course, there are other information sources than the Internet. Besides your own doctor, Kilbridge said, the National Cancer Institute has a toll-free number (1-800-4-CANCER) staffed by specialists who can help cancer patients get the information they need.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/RiPkJg Journal of Urology, online October 18, 2012.

Copyright 2012 MedCity News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://medcitynews.com/2012/10/online-medical-help-not-so-much-5-percent-of-prostate-cancer-sites-are-above-patients-heads/

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Cute Food For Kids?: 28 Halloween Drink Recipes For Kids

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Here are some kids friendly Halloween drink recipes:

- Fruit smoothies?with meringue eyes from Better Homes and Gardens

- candy corn smoothies from Pillsbury

- Mummy juice box from Parents via 41 Cutest Halloween recipes on Cute Food For Kids

- Jack o'lantern Smoothie also from Pillsbury
- Ghoulish Punch?from Kraft Foods - Gummy worm ice cubes for Halloween from Martha Stewart

- Boo-?Nilla shake also from Martha Stewart?via 41 Cutest Halloween recipes on Cute Food For Kids

- What a fun way to serve drinks on the Halloween party!
From Fete a Fete - Orange Hot Chocolate from Kaboose - Throw a ice hand in your punch.
From Simply Started
- Slime punch from Parents - How about throw some spider ice cubes in your drink? Spooky ~~~~
From Fahrenheit 365 - Hot cocoa with marshmallow eyes from Taste of Home - Pumpkin soda from Jac O' Lyn Murphy - Straw bets from Scrapbooks etc - Frankenstein lime sherbet punch from Be Different Act Normal

- Eyeball Tableware from Martha Stewart - Add Halloween labels on your water bottles from Kara's Party Ideas - Halloween milk shooters for your little ghost from Babble - Get printable soda labels from Centsational Girl

- Gold fish in my drink!
from FamilyFun

- Ghost punch recipe from Better Homes and Gardens

- Buy poison water bottle labels from Etsy

- Fizzy Pumpkin Halloween Drink in Jars from Homes.com

- Bug Juice and other bug theme party ideas from Casa Sonrisa

- Virgin tequila sunshine with licorice rope spider from Apron Strings
- Glow in the dark drink from Our Best Bites

- Medusa Ice Face and Hands from Martha Stewart
Maybe a bit too spooky for kids?

Please give me a "like on Facebook, join me on Pinterest or follow me on Twitter to get instant notifications on new fun food ideas! Thank you.

TweetPin It

Source: http://www.cutefoodforkids.com/2012/10/28-halloween-drink-recipes-for-kids.html

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MHC Goes Green With Eco-Themed Events :: News & Events ...

October 24, 2012

To celebrate National Campus Sustainability Day, members of the Mount Holyoke College community will be gathering in Blanchard Campus Center today to showcase their contributions toward making the College eco-friendly.

From 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm, representatives from College offices such as Environmental Stewardship and Facilities Management will join students on Blanchard?s second-floor lounge area to show videos, make demonstrations, and provide tips on how to help keep MHC green. Later in the evening, the student groups Food Justice Society and Eco-Reps are sponsoring an ?Eco-Jeopardy? game, hosted by environmental studies chair Tim Farnham, in the Blanchard Great Room.

Wednesday?s events are part of the College?s Sustainability Week, made up of various academic, informational, and recreational events that celebrate responsible environmental stewardship.

Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/stories/5684110

Source: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/22/stories/5684110

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Does co-signing a mortgage put house at risk for unpaid credit card ...

By Erica?Sandberg

Opening Credits

Erica Sandberg is a prominent personal finance authority and author of "Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families." She writes "Opening Credits," a weekly reader Q&A column about issues for people who are new to credit, for CreditCards.com. Ask a question. 'Opening Credits' stories

Dear Opening Credits,
I'm being sued for credit card debt. My son's house is in both of our names because I co-signed for him in 2005. I had to go out on permanent disability in 2006. It's a debt of somewhere around $7,000. My question is can they do anything to my son's house? I don't have anything of value or any money, but, I'm just worried about his house. ? -- Cathy?

Dear Cathy,
For cardholders, that piece of plastic comes with a hidden silver lining that goes into effect in case of emergency. Yes, you are under a contractual obligation to repay what you borrow, but if you have no way to pay (that emergency situation I just mentioned), the credit card company can have a hard time forcing you to do so.

As you now are fully aware, your creditor can sue you. If it wins the case, it may be granted the right to recoup its losses by attaching your wages or taking assets. However, if you have no income to garnish or property to claim, the consequences for being sued are not dire. There will be credit report damage, as a judgment would appear in the public records section of your report for a total of seven years. Still, your file is probably already showing missed payments and high debts, so it's already not looking so hot.

But as you fear, problems can erupt when you do have something that the judgment creditor can seize through a levy. That may be cash or things. Of course that's a positive for the lender, since it will get back at least some of what you owe.

The first thing you need to do now is inventory all of what you own and understand which of those items are at risk. You say you have nothing, but many times people have more than they think they have. Some property is considered exempt, meaning that it may remain in your possession. Exemption laws vary by state, but people who are sued for unsecured debts typically get to keep:

• Welfare benefits
• Supplemental Security Income
• Social Security distributions
• Unemployment and workers' compensation
• Pension and retirement benefits
• A portion of their wages
• Clothing
• Household goods, appliances, furniture
• A few thousand dollars in cash for one person, about twice that for married couples
• A vehicle (equity varies considerably by state but it's usually a few thousand dollars)
• A home (also dependent on the state but often around $100,000)
• Tools you might need for a business, worth up to a few thousand dollars

So what happens when you are a co-signer on a piece of property and you are sued for an unsecured debt? If the title is in both of your names, making you truly joint owners, and you have significant equity in it, then yes, it is possible for a judgment creditor to force a sale. Mind you, though, that people rarely lose their homes this way. What is more likely to happen is that a lien may be placed on the property, making the title unclear until the liability is paid.

On the other hand, if the house is in your son's name and you only helped him get the mortgage with your signature, then neither of you have anything to worry about.

Whatever the case, contact the creditor immediately to see if something can be worked out. Explain your financial circumstances and explain that you have no income to garnish nor things to take (if that's accurate, of course). After hearing you out, they may decide that suing you is a waste of time and resources.?

See related: Protect funds from garnishment when disabled

Erica Sandberg's articles and insight are featured in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Pregnancy, Babytalk, Redbook, Bank Investment Consultant, Prosper.com, MSNMoney.com, and Smartmoney.com. An active television and radio commentator, Erica is the credit and money management expert for San Francisco?s KRON-TV, a frequent guest on Forbes Video Network, Fox Business News, Businessweek-TV, and all Bay Area networks. Prior to launching her own reporting and consulting business, she was affiliated with Consumer Credit Counseling Services of San Francisco where she counseled individuals, conducted educational workshops, and led the media relations department. Erica is a member of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and on the advisory committee for Project Money.

Send your question to Erica.

Published: October 24, 2012

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Source: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/cosigned-mortgage-house-at-risk-unpaid-debt-1377.php

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Skooba Design is offering their two newest bags at a 25% savings if you pre-order before release day. ?The Photo / Tablet Traveler V.3 is a portable “digital studio”, with room for a DSLR and mounted lens plus a tablet. ?(Click the image for a larger view.) ?There are more than a dozen pockets, including [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/10/25/pre-order-skooba-designs-new-photo-tablet-traveler-v-3-and-the-cable-stable-rollup-kit-and-save-25/

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Medical studies with striking results often prove false

If a medical study seems too good to be true, it probably is, according to a new analysis.

In a statistical analysis of nearly 230,000 trials compiled from a variety of disciplines, study results that claimed a "very large effect" rarely held up when other research teams tried to replicate them, researchers reported in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

"The effects largely go away; they become much smaller," said Dr. John Ioannidis, the Stanford University researcher who was the report's senior author. "It's likely that most interventions that are effective have modest effects."

Ioannidis and his colleagues came to this conclusion after examining 228,220 trials grouped into more than 85,000 "topics" ? collections of studies that paired a single medical intervention (such as taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for postoperative pain) with a single outcome (such as experiencing 50% relief over six hours). In 16% of those topics, at least one study in the group claimed that the intervention made patients at least five times more likely to either benefit or suffer compared with control patients who did not receive the treatment.

In at least 90% of those cases, the team found, including data from subsequent trials reduced those odds.

The analysis revealed several reasons to question the significance of the very-large-effect studies, Ioannidis said.

Studies that reported striking results were more likely to be small, with fewer than 100 subjects who experienced fewer than 20 medical events. With such small sample sizes, Ioannidis said, large effects are more likely to be the result of chance.

"Trials need to be of a magnitude that can give useful information," he said.

What's more, the studies that claimed a very large effect tended to measure intermediate effects ? for example, whether patients who took a statin drug reduced their levels of bad cholesterol in their blood ? rather than incidence of disease or death itself, outcomes that are more meaningful in assessing medical treatments.

The analysis did not examine individual study characteristics, such as whether the experimental methods were flawed.

The report should remind patients, physicians and policymakers not to give too much credence to small, early studies that show huge treatment effects, Ioannidis said.

One such example: the cancer drug Avastin. Clinical trials suggested the drug might double the time breast cancer patients could live with their disease without getting worse. But follow-up studies found no improvements in progression-free survival, overall survival or patients' quality of life. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011 withdrew its approval to use the drug to treat breast cancer, though it is still approved to treat several other types of cancer.

With early glowing reports, Ioannidis said, "one should be cautious and wait for a better trial."

Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at UC San Francisco who was not involved in the study, said devices and drugs frequently get accelerated approval on the basis of small studies that use intermediate end points.

"Perhaps we don't need to be in such a rush to approve them," she said.

The notion that dramatic results don't hold up under closer scrutiny isn't new. Ioannidis, a well-known critic of the methods used in medical research, has written for years about the ways studies published in peer-reviewed journals fall short. (He's perhaps best known for a 2005 essay in the journal PLoS Medicine titled, "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False.")

But the scope of the JAMA analysis sets it apart from Ioannidis' earlier efforts, said Dr. Gordon Guyatt, a clinical epidemiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, who was not involved in the work.

"They looked through a lot of stuff," he said.

Despite widespread recognition that big effects are likely to disappear upon further scrutiny, people still "get excited, and misguidedly so" when presented with home-run results, Guyatt said.

He emphasized that modest effects could benefit patients and were often "very important" on a cumulative basis.

eryn.brown@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/BgFtIeYKXUY/la-sci-medical-studies-uncertain-20121024,0,5207372.story

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2013 Chevrolet Sonic (LTZ, RS, LT, LS) review ... - Auto Spectator

Since its introduction in late 2011, the Chevrolet Sonic ? the only subcompact built in America ? has been making a name for itself as a small car with big attitude. For 2013, an all-new, performance-inspired, Sonic RS five-door hatchback model joins the Sonic family.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photoFind more new 2013 Chevrolet Sonic pictures in our 2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo gallery (73 photos)

Sonic RS goes into production in the fourth quarter of 2012.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Sonic also adds an available version of Chevrolet?s MyLink infotainment system, which uses owners? smartphones to personalize delivery of music, video, photo galleries, phone books and other information into the vehicle ? including full-function navigation via an available smartphone app.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Standard on LTZ and RS and available on LS and LT models, MyLink for Sonic includes a seven-inch diagonal color screen, AM/FM stereo with seek-and-scan and digital clock, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and selected phones, voice recognition for compatible smartphones, and Pandora and Stitcher compatibility. Easy-to-use and intuitive, MyLink for Sonic was influenced by Chevrolet consumer data that shows 90 percent of target Sonic buyers own and are heavy users of smartphones.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Other additions to the 2013 Sonic lineup include the addition of a rear decklid spoiler on the LTZ sedan.

Sonic was designated as one of the Best Family Cars of 2012 by Edmunds and Parents magazine, and its interior was named one of Ward?s 10 Best Interiors for 2012.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Sonic family at a glance

The Chevrolet Sonic is offered in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback in LS, LT, LTZ and RS models (five-door hatchback only). Each body style delivers class-leading rear-seat roominess and cargo space. Standard and available features include:

Standard Ecotec 1.8L engine (non-RS models) paired with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions
Standard electric power steering and StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover sensing
Sedan offers more trunk capacity than most compact cars; the hatchback and sedan offer better rear-seat roominess than Ford Fiesta. With a rear seat that folds nearly flat, the Sonic hatchback has greater cargo capacity than Fiesta
Connectivity includes OnStar with six months of Directions and Connections service, including Turn-by-Turn navigation. Available infotainment features include SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with three trial months of service), USB and Bluetooth functionality and MyChevrolet mobile application through OnStar
Remote start, heated front seats and sunroof ? all rarities in the segment
Ten standard air bags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, and OnStar with Automatic Crash Response.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Aggressive, youthful design

From every angle, the Sonic sedan and five-door hatchback convey strength, stability and refinement. A wide, planted stance, with wheels-at-the-corners proportions, hints at performance.

Other aggressive design cues, including fender flares and motorcycle-inspired round headlamps, are blended with Chevrolet global design cues such as a dual-element grille and round taillamps. The leading edge of the hood forms a character line above the headlamps, which flows in a sleek side profile characterized by uninterrupted body side lines, a high beltline and low roofline. The side mirrors carry the same shape as the car and seemingly disappear into the profile. For 2013, they include integral blind spot mirrors for enhanced visibility.

LT and LTZ sedans also add a new rear decklid spoiler ? it?s included in an available 16-inch wheel and fog lamp package on LT and standard on LTZ.

Other details that reinforce Sonic?s quality and attention to detail include chrome grille surrounds and matte black honeycomb grille inserts on all models. A range of wheel sizes, including 17-inch alloy wheels, reinforces its sporty demeanor.

Sonic colors include Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic, Victory Red and Blue Topaz Metallic. Crystal Red Tintcoat, Inferno Orange Metallic and a new, premium exterior color, Black Granite Metallic, are available for an additional charge.

A power, tilt-sliding sunroof with express-open and wind deflector feature is available.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Award-winning Sonic interior

Sonic?s cabin complements the motorcycle-inspired exterior with a detailed instrument cluster featuring a large, round analog tachometer set within an asymmetrical LCD readout, with a large digital speedometer display.

Depending on the trim level ordered, Sonic offers two varieties each of cloth and leather seating surfaces. Interior colors and combinations include Jet Black/Dark Titanium; Jet Black/Brick; Dark Pewter / Dark Titanium and Jet Black (RS).

The mid-instrument panel surface flows seamlessly into the upper doors, with premium, low-gloss finishes. The automatic shift knob has a ?cobra head? design, while the manual shifter has a chrome-finished knob.

The interior is functional, too, with storage compartments in the center stack and doors. The rear seats fold virtually flat for carrying larger items such as sports gear.

Front bucket seats are standard and heated front seats are available.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Chevrolet MyLink details

MyLink is standard on Sonic LTZ and RS, and available on Sonic LS and LT models. It consists of an AM/FM/SiriusXM Satellite Radio (with three months of service) stereo with seek-and-scan, digital clock, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, voice recognition for compatible smartphones and six speakers.

On Sonic, MyLink operates by integrating the owner?s compatible smartphone and stored media ? via Bluetooth, plug-in outlet or USB ? with the radio. This lets owners enjoy simple, safe and personalized connectivity while their smartphone is stowed.

MyLink is simple to use: The owner selects from options projected onto the touch screen: Audio, Pictures & Movies, Telephone, Smartphone Link and Settings. Each menu selection takes the user though a list of easy-to-select functions.

MyLink-equipped Sonic models will launch with compatibility for two apps: Pandora internet radio and Stitcher Smart Radio. When owners with these services connect their compatible smartphones, they can access these and other functions:

Personal playlists of stored music
Hands-free calling with Bluetooth-enabled voice activation from the customer?s smartphone when the steering wheel button is depressed. (Visit gm.com/Bluetooth for a list of compatible smartphones)
Ability to project video via USB while the vehicle is parked
Ability to project a photo album in ?slideshow? mode via USB while the vehicle is parked, with the last music selection playing in the background. Once the vehicle is moving, a single photo is viewable.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

Later, full-function navigation will be available ? for an additional charge ? for MyLink via an embedded smartphone application that also delivers live traffic updates.

The navigation app includes:

Emergency information such as police, fire and the nearest hospital
Thousands of points of interest
Local Search via Google
Where am I ? locator
Live traffic functionality provides crash reports and lane closures, and with alternative routes
3-D maps
Ability to store native maps to the customer?s smartphone, giving them access to locations and turn-by-turn directions even when phone signal quality is poor. Many GPS-enabled apps do not do this.

Sonic performance

Chevrolet Sonic models are powered by efficient, power-dense, small-displacement engines, including the standard Ecotec 1.8L and the available Ecotec 1.4L turbo (standard on RS).

Several transmissions are available: a five-speed manual and six-speed automatic with the 1.8L and a six-speed manual and six-speed automatic with the 1.4L turbo.

The naturally aspirated Ecotec 1.8L engine has many of the same features of the Ecotec 1.4L turbo, including:

It is a compact and durable four-cylinder engine designed for low maintenance, low emissions and fuel efficiency.
Its two-stage variable intake manifold allows approximately 90 percent of peak torque to be available from 2,400 rpm to 6,500 rpm.
It is rated at 138 horsepower (103 kW) along with 125 lb.-ft. of torque (170 Nm) at 3,800 rpm.

The Ecotec 1.4L turbo?s power ratings are 138 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm.

The wide rpm range for the maximum torque ? a specific trait of turbocharged engines ? helps the engine deliver a better driving experience and performance.

Premium design elements give the engine world-class smoothness and durability, including a low-mass, hollow-frame cast iron block, dual overhead camshafts with variable valve timing, chain-driven cams and roller-finger camshaft followers, piston-cooling oil jets and integrated oil cooler, a variable-flow oil pump and an electronically controlled thermostat.

The 1.4L?s turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility. A reinforced crankshaft and stronger connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine?s pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.

Engineers who also work on the Corvette tuned the Sonic?s ride and handling, giving it a more direct feel, while balancing the vehicle for the broad range of driving conditions in North America. Sonic?s standard hill start assist feature makes it easier to pull away from a stopped position when the vehicle is on an uphill or downhill slope.

Sonic RS offers stiffer, performance-oriented tuning, as well as a lowered (10 mm) suspension and four-wheel disc brakes.

Sonic safety and crash-avoidance features

The Sonic is the only car in its segment to achieve an overall five-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it also earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Sonic is designed to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting the occupants in the event a crash occurs. Safety begins with a strong body structure designed to absorb crash energy and provide a protective ?safety cage? around occupants. More than 60 percent of the body structure is composed of advanced steels.

Other safety and security features include:

Ten standard air bags include side curtain air bags, which provide head protection for outboard passengers in the event of a side-impact or rollover crash
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system helps reduce the risk of rollover crashes by keeping the vehicle in the driver?s intended path by applying throttle, braking or a combination of both
Power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes are standard; front and rear disc brakes are standard on RS.
Four-channel antilock braking is standard and incorporates electronic brake force distribution, which balances braking performance based on such factors as road conditions and the weight of passengers and/or cargo
Pretensioners minimize forward movement during a collision, and are standard on the front safety belts. Load-limiting retractors cinch the belt more tightly
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat attachment system, which is included in all second-row seating positions
Tire pressure monitoring system on all models
Standard OnStar.

2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo

OnStar details

Six months of OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on Sonic. OnStar is the global leading provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and advanced information technology.

OnStar?s RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. A new, opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.

Sonic also features new OnStar button icons. Drivers will notice an updated look for the Hands-Free Calling button, blue OnStar button and red Emergency button.

Find more new 2013 Chevrolet Sonic pictures in our 2013 Chevrolet Sonic photo gallery (73 photos)

New 2013 Chevrolet Sonic specifications, photos and images courtesy of Chevrolet.

Scroll down for related links:

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Source: http://www.autospectator.com/cars/models/2013-chevrolet-sonic-ltz-rs-lt-ls-review-specs-photos-features

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