You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested Precis Syndicate, Inc. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2425 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Informed Drivers And The Internet: The Prescription For A Healthy Vehicle (NAPSA)—For do-it-yourselfers, the Internet provides a variety of valuable and readily available information. Web sites such as WebMD, Travelocity, Kelley Blue Book, Wikipedia and Goodwrench.com receive millions of hits a month as consumers seek to discover answers on their own. This trend is particularly prevalent among automotive consumers who are completing research online for both auto sales and service. A recent study by Compete Inc., commissioned by Google Inc., revealed that 75 percent of those who research parts and services indicate they are using the Web more today to research compared to two years ago. Additionally, 92 percent of consumers researching automotive service information online indicate the Internet influenced their purchase decision. The challenge for consumers is ensuring that the information they find on the Web is accurate before attempting to solve an issue by themselves. “There’s nothing better than well-informed customers who accurately describe a vehicle issue or potential repair when visiting their service center for maintenance,” said Peter Lord, executive director, GM Service Operations. “Problems can occur when vehicle owners take significant repairs into their own hands, or trust them to a weekend mechanic, after getting the wrong information. Sometimes they’ve misdiagnosed the issue and end up doing more harm than good.” For example, replacing the alternator instead of the battery Accurate online automotive service research can help consumers learn more about their cars. because a car isn’t starting correctly or holding a charge can be a pricey misdiagnosis. Hundreds of dollars could have been saved had the issue been identified correctly and repaired right the first time by a certified technician. Web sites such as Goodwrench.com provide a variety of reliable maintenance tips. Whether the issue is major or minor, owners can bring their vehicle to their dealer for an expert diagnosis by a Goodwrench technician trained to fix all GM vehicles. The site offers a number of helpful tips and topics for vehicle owners to check and repair various parts of their vehicles. Topics include tutorials on “How Your GM Vehicle Really Works,” automotive definitions and terms, expert maintenance tips for warm- and cold-weather driving, and even insider tips for checking tire wear. Tires Of all major categories of carrelated parts, tires and wheels are the most researched parts, with 41 percent of people searching for information online. Tire service also represents the mostresearched car-related service. Car tires are usually a good vehicle component that drivers can easily self-diagnose. For example, new tires are needed if: • Three or more treadwear indicators—“wear bars” that look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread—can be seen; • Cord or fabric is showing through the rubber; • The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric; • The tire has a bulge or split; • The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that can’t be repaired correctly. To ensure tire performance, handling and durability under a variety of driving conditions, GM’s tire and wheel engineers developed industry-leading Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) specifications. Tires approved through the TPC process are stamped with a TPC spec number, so customers can go to a GM dealership or a national tire brand retail store and order a new tire specifically engineered to go with a particular vehicle. Replacing a car ’s tires with anything besides the original equipment TPC-specified tire can impact many safety and performance aspects of a vehicle, including braking, steering, cornering, ride and handling, noise and vibration, traction and even fuel economy. For more information, visit www.goodwrench.com. Style Suggests A World Of Ideas, Combinations (NAPSA)—While decorating can prove challenging if you have a clean slate to work from, there are a few simple ways to begin the process of creating a space within your home. In many homes, the den or living room is a high-traffic area. It’s also the room that guests initially see and the one that forms a lasting impression about your home. Hence, the living area should be well decorated, well laid out and inviting to guests and family members. It should project a homey, comfortable yet elegant image. For example, it’s always good to arrange furniture in off-square angles. This makes the room warmer and more casual. And instead of placing a large sofa directly against the wall, why not place it a foot or so away from the wall and put a lamp or plant behind it instead? Speaking of sofas, there are a number of factors to consider before you shop. First, determine what size sofa you need. That may not necessarily be determined by the size of your room. If you live in an upstairs apartment, it may be determined by the width of the stairs or the height of the elevator doors. Next, remember that trends come and go. Start with a sturdy, stylish model. After that, it’s usually safest to pick a neutral color that can be dressed up with throw pillows. Pillows are inexpensive and you can change the look of your room to match the latest decorating ideas. Finally, pick an upholstery fabric or leather that will wear well No matter what your budget or your personal tastes, quality sofas are something that never go out of style. with your lifestyle. For instance, if you have kids, you should investigate protected leathers that hold up well against wear from kids and pets. No matter what your budget, seeking quality and an affordable price doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. Natuzzi offers a wide range of products in terms of style, coverings and functions, creating living rooms where each element is artfully combined to create a harmonious atmosphere. The many furnishing offerings, in combination with the company’s lamps, rugs, tables, wall units and accessories, create personalized spaces that are adaptable to any lifestyle. “Our models have a timeless appeal,” says chairman and chief designer Pasquale Natuzzi. “Quality, care for details, love for beauty and refinement, innovative design and Italian passion for excellence are some of the elements that characterize our collection.” To learn more, visit the Web site at www.natuzzi.com.