KJOY’s Check It Out!

Today, Friday, Feb 5, is “National Wear Red Day”! Stand up and speak out against heart disease in women by wearing red today! For more infomation, click here: Go Red For Women!

Toyota issued a recall covering 2.3 million late model cars, SUVs and pickup trucks Thursday, broadening its largest such action ever and acknowledging that potential accelerator pedal problems were deeper than previously acknowledged.

The automaker previously recalled about 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal “entrapment” caused by floor mats, according to a news release issued by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. About 1.7 million Toyota vehicles are subject to both recalls, the company said.

“In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats,” Toyota group Vice President Irv Miller said in the statement.

In “rare instances” the accelerator pedal may stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position, he said.

Toyota previously had maintained there was no evidence of a mechanical fault linked to reported bursts of unintended acceleration that prompted the original recall last year.

As recently as November, Bob Carter, Toyota’s U.S. brand chief, said there was “no evidence” to support claims that the reported safety problems could be caused by anything other than loose floor mats interfering with the accelerator pedal.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had received reports of 100 incidents at the time of Toyota’s first recall. Those reports included 17 crashes and five fatalities possibly linked to floor mats and accelerator pedals in Toyota cars and trucks.

One of those crashes involved a Lexus that accelerated to more than 120 mph before crashing in San Diego, killing four people.

The safety stumbles have dinged Toyota’s reputation in the U.S. as a builder of dependable, high-quality cars. Last year’s recall was the sixth-largest ever in the United States.

Vehicles affected by the latest recall are:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

The previous recall affected Camry and Avalon sedans, the Prius hybrid, the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks, and the luxury Lexus models IS250, IS350 and ES350.

Toyota said concerned customers could call its Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

About 1.5 million Graco strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children’s fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.

The recall by Graco Children’s Products Inc. includes certain model numbers of its Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. The Exton, Pa., company received seven reports of children placing their fingers in a stroller’s canopy hinge as the canopy was being opened or closed. Five children had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.

The strollers were made in China by Graco and sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 to December 2009.

In announcing the recall Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the strollers pose an amputation and laceration hazard to children when opening or closing the canopy. The government advised consumers to stop using the strollers and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.

The recall involves strollers made between October 2004 and February 2008. The model numbers and manufacture dates are on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.

This is the second major recall in recent months of strollers that led to fingertip amputations and injuries. Last November, about a million Maclaren strollers were recalled after there were 12 reports of children’s fingertips being amputated by a hinge mechanism.

The safety commission is now examining all strollers with the designs that have caused the fingertip amputations, said spokesman Scott Wolfson.

“CPSC is taking a larger look at the entire product line to determine what steps need to be taken to keep children safe in and around strollers,” he said.

For more information about the recalled strollers, consumers can call 800-345-4109 or visit http://www.cpsc.gov.

Check out this great video from Newsweek - the entire decade in about 7 minutes!

 A 3 year old boy plays “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz on the ukulele…sort of. Check it out:

This is a home from Pittsburgh, where the owner has 55,000 more lights covering his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home than he had last year. He spent nearly three months hanging the lights and programming the display to music. Click below and enjoy! :

 265,000 Christmas Lights Set To Music!

While lending a helping hand at an Atlanta food collection program, Paul Deen of the Food Network got a frozen ham thrown in her face! Deen was on a collection line, loading food into a truck and was caught off guard when the ham was tossed her way. Except for a sore nose, Deen was fine. Check out the video here:

While performing last night at the “American Music Awards” , North Shore resident Jennifer Lopez took a tumble while doing a dance routine. She quickly regained her composure and finshed her performance. Check out the whole routine here:

In an effort to raise money for the state, New York will be issuing new license plates in April at $25 a pop. This is what they will look like: