Headphones Can Kill You & More in Chad’s Steaming Pile

Here are just a few things in Chad’s Pile that you will hear on Lubbock’s First News this morning. Give Chad your feedback on the steaming topics.

1. Killer Headphones (link)

According to U.S. researchers, serious injuries involving people wearing headphones have more than tripled in the last 8 years. Not only have headphones caused serious injury, but in 70% of the cases they led to death.

Serious injuries involving pedestrians wearing headphones have more than tripled since 2004, a U.S. study showed.

Researchers from the University of Maryland found that people often were hit by vehicles because their music blocked out horns or sirens alerting them to danger.

In 70 percent of cases, the headphone-wearing pedestrians died as a result of the injuries they sustained from being hit by traffic.

The researchers studied the data of 116 accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones between 2004 and 2011. The number of incidents rose from 16 in 2004 to 47 in 2011.

"Everybody is aware of the risk of cell phones and texting in automobiles, but I see more and more teens distracted with the latest devices and headphones in their ears," lead author Dr. Richard Lichenstein said. "Unfortunately, as we make more and more enticing devices, the risk of injury from distraction and blocking out other sounds increases."

Okay well it's not really headphone that kill people. Instead it's just stupid people contributing to their own death. It's always happened and will continue to happen. That said, it does make me wonder if people are really paying attention when I see them with headphones on while driving.

I wonder how long until headphones come with a government warning label.

2. Turkey is mad (link)

So Governor Rick Perry managed to tick off the country of Turkey this week.

U.S. Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry drew Turkey's ire on Tuesday after suggesting the country is ruled by Islamic terrorists and questioning its NATO membership.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry released a scathing statement saying Perry's comments were "baseless and inappropriate" and that the United States has no time to waste with candidates "who do not even know their allies."

The U.S. State Department also distanced the U.S. government from Perry's remarks late Tuesday.

"We absolutely and fundamentally disagree with that assertion," spokesman Mark Toner said.

Perry, the Texas governor whose candidacy briefly soared when he entered the race in August but whose shine faded after a series of weak debate performances, said Turkey was ruled by "what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists" and questioned the country's NATO membership.

I'm not saying Rick Perry is right or wrong, but as of right now it doesn't seem as though Turkey is that big of a problem. Turkey doesn't have to worry about Rick Perry though, he won't be getting the nomination.

3. Dumb story of the morning (link)

Here is your dumb story of the morning, and as an extra bonus it's Obama related!

The Charlotte Observer reports that President Obama will formally accept the Democratic nomination at Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, N.C. — an outdoor venue:

The move to the Carolina Panthers' 74,000-seat stadium would replicate the 2008 convention, where Obama accepted the nomination at a packed Invesco Field in Denver.

The move, which would open the speech to the public, is designed to help mobilize voters in North Carolina, a key swing state. It could also serve as a perk to donors, who could be rewarded with skybox seats.

Aside from the optics of Obama accepting the nomination at a stadium sponsored by a financial institution in a year of intense anti-Wall Street sentiment, the outdoor venue increases the risk of weather-related complications. In 2008, campaign officials gambled on good weather for a huge outdoor address in Denver, Colo. This year's speech, however, takes place during the eastern seaboard's unpredictable hurricane season.

So, will Obama and the dems be able to fill the stadium?

These and many more topics coming up on Wednesday’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App.