SPORTS SCORES INSIDE

T H E N A T I O NS N E W S P A P E R

$1.00

After fall from grace, Kurt Busch restarts with a small team, 1C

At a crossroads

Action Sports Photography

Silence is golden
COVER STORY

Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo in The Artist. The Weinstein Co.

Its the quiet eloquence among Oscar contenders that has race abuzz, 1D

WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 1719, 2012

Newsline

By Paul Morse for USA TODAY

High school band members train year-round to stay in tune and in step while dodging boozy revelers, 3A

Mardi Gras bands a competitive sport

Leap of faith launched new star

uABC banks on Lin to score in ratings, 3C

New push to disable texting if driving

Guidelines aimed at limiting distractions
By Chris Woodyard and Fred Meier USA TODAY The Transportation Department has ramped up its effort to prevent distracted driving by proposing its first-ever guidelines aimed at simplifying or disabling many communications and infotainment functions when the car is moving. The voluntary guidelines for visual and manual operation of built-in devices specifically call for disabling text messaging, Internet browsing, social-media browsing, navigation destination entry and phone dialing unless the vehicle is stopped and the driver puts it in park. The proposal announced Thursday also calls for limiting displays of text, cutting complexity and time needed to perform tasks and designing devices that need only one hand to use and divert the drivers eyes for no more than two seconds. The department said distracted driving claimed 3,000 lives in 2010 alone and was a factor in 17% of police-reported accidents. Voice-command systems, which many automakers have developed and are deploying, are being encouraged as an alternative. High-tech electronics systems have become increasingly important to automakers, both as profit-making options and as brand image boosters. While many cars already disable many tasks when in motion or allow control through voice commands, David Strickland, administrator of the DOTs National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said there are others that do not. There are some automakers that have no strategy at all for device safety, he said. Automakers contacted referred calls to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group. A statement from AAM said it was impressed DOT incorporated recommendations the group already had made to members and added, Consumers expect to have access to new technology, so integrating and adapting this technology to enable safe driving is the solution. But Washington, D.C.-based auto safety advocate Sean Kane questioned if officials went far enough. They are not pushing the envelope. Strickland was careful to say NHTSA isnt against technology. Consumers want these devices and want this functionality, he said. Were trying to make sure if they are used in the vehicle, they are used in a safe way. NHTSA plans for hearings across the nation on the guidelines and said later guidelines may cover devices that drivers bring into the vehicle and also voice-controlled in-car systems.

Medication can be delivered via microchip, researchers say

No more forgetting doses or fear of injections, implanted microchips can deliver drugs following prescription plan sent by radio signal. 3A.

MEXICO FOR WIMPS

Dont be scared by drug war. Safe destinations abound.
By Bill Kostroun, AP

TRAVEL, 4D

Soaring: Jeremy Lins rapid rise is a boon for the NBA and a source of pride for Asian Americans.

3 years later, stimulus impact on economy still debatable

Using online charts and videos, the Obama administration points to surging recovery; Republicans show a struggling nation. 5A.

How did everyone miss that Lin would be a hit?

By Jeff Zillgitt USA TODAY An undrafted Asian American from Harvard excelling for the storied New York Knicks in the NBAs most famous arena is unlikely enough. Marry that with a timely confluence of unpredictable events and unique circumstances, and Knicks sensation Jeremy Lins unprecedented rise from bench warmer to global basketball star in 14 days begs the perplexing question: How did Lin go so unnoticed for so long? Lins unforeseen performance hardly an NBA coach, general manager, scout or fan saw this coming has captivated sports fans throughout the world, including Asia, where Lin has roots. He is the NBAs first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin is changing perceptions of Asian-Americans, in ways that both reinforce and deeply challenge existing stereotypes, said Thad Williamson, a University of Richmond professor of

Apples OS X Mountain Lion to bring iPad features to Mac

Highlights include iMessage, Reminders and Notes, and Notification Center. Preview, 1B.

Flight policy change for pets angers some military families

Rule means pets that cant fly in cabin must travel as cargo, costing owners up to $1,400. 1B.

Small businesses turn to social media for growth

Many mom-and-pop operations find interacting with customers via Facebook, Twitter have helped them propel their success. 3B.

leadership studies. On the one hand, he is the prototypical high academic-achieving Asian American. But on the other hand he is a baller who has shown he can not only compete but excel against the worlds best players. Said Knicks legend and TV analyst Walt Frazier, This league is dominated by African-Americans. What are the odds of an Asian guy coming on and having this impact? Its amazing. Its inexplicable. It began with a desperate attempt by coach Mike DAntoni to jump-start the then-struggling Knicks. The answer turned out to be Lin, a 6-3, 200-pound guard with an economics degree, and faith in God, who just happened to be a perfect fit for DAntonis offensive system. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who played basketball at Harvard, has developed a relationship with Lin and worked out with him on the court. Everyone who thinks this an overnight success fundamentally gets this wrong, Duncan said in an interview with USA TODAY. Jeremy has been very good for a long time and just never quite had the opportunity. Please see COVER STORY next page u

See news photos of the day on your smartphone

Scan with any QR reader or download the code scanner at scan.mobi. (Available on nearly every U.S. smartphone.)

Restored cinemas revive classic theater experience

Crossword, Sudoku 5D Editorial/Forum 8-9A Market scoreboard 4B Marketplace Today 5D State-by-state 6A Weekend TV 7-8D

QIJFAF-05005v(K)m

COPYRIGHT 2012 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co., Inc.

Home Delivery, customer service 1-800-872-0001 www.usatodayservice.com

USA TODAY Snapshots SA DA DA

Small Business Administration loans to African-American companies
1 7,16 6 2,50 5 2,81
2000 2005 2011

Note: years ending Sept. 30 Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

By Rachel Huggins and Sam Ward, USA TODAY A TODAY

Ore., remains open during its renovations, which include the replacement of 70-yearold seats in three auditoriIf you go to a movie this ums. Built in 1926, the art weekend, theres an increasdeco theater recently hosted ing chance you might make a combined film and live muyour way to a classic old theasic production of a movie ter instead of a modern multi called Turkish Star Wars. screen complex. uThe Joy Theater in New Elegant old theaters Orleans reopened in Decemaround the USA are getting a ber as a largely performing new lease because they still arts venue. During Hurricane strike a chord in anyone who Katrina, the roof was ripped loves the classic movie expeoff, and the basement filled rience, says John Bell, head of with water. When the buildthe 1920s-era Tampa Theatre By Cheryl Gerber ing was surveyed for renoin Tampa. These theaters are vation, there was so much imbued with a sense of histoMore water, a boat was needed to ry and collective memory online: that you just dont get at a Read about measure the back wall. Morgan Little, a student at cineplex, Bell says. The ro- the Joy Theater in Keene State College in New mance and nostalgia captures New Orleans at usatoday.com Hampshire, works part-time peoples imagination. at the Colonial Theatre and Numbers arent kept on how many theaters are getting a second says students appreciate seeing familiar faces at the venue. When they go to the life, but examples are plentiful: uIn Fowler Ind., renovations of the Colonial, Little says, they get a sense of Fowler Theatre are underway. The thea- community. ter closed Jan. 25 and will reopen this Some theaters are still waiting for a summer. The Fowler is run by a volun- second chance. Howard Haas, president teer staff. No one involved with opera- of Friends of the Boyd, says the historic tions from the projection booth to the Boyd Theatre in Philadelphia is for sale concession counter earns a salary. and needs investors to revive it. We uThe Hollywood Theatre in Portland, need an angel of some sort, Haas says. By Adam Sylvain USA TODAY

AT&T introduces Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket

Get to the good stuff faster.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network. Screen images simulated. 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.