Hand-held translator, Emergency maneuvers

With dozens of languages spoken in Los Angeles, police sometimes have trouble being understood. But a new hand-held device called the Phraselator has eased the communication gap. An officer merely selects a language—

Korean, say—and barks the phrase such as “medical assistance” into the microphone. A speaker in the patrol car then blares a preprogrammed Korean phrase, “If you require medical assistance, please approach the nearest officer.” Police Capt. Dennis Kato says the device is “not quite like that translator thing on Star Trek,” which instantly translated anything a speaker said into the desired language. “But when it comes to crowd control, natural disasters, or medical emergencies, it can be a lifesaver.”

Marion Anderson was driving her 9-year-old son, Jonathan, to school on a busy road near Plymouth, England, when she blacked out at 70 mph. Jonathan, who is autistic and fascinated by cars and other mechanical objects, knew just what to do. Holding the wheel with one hand, he hit the emergency brake to slow the vehicle as he maneuvered through three lanes of traffic until the car came to a rest. He then put on the hazard lights and waited for help. Jonathan admitted that he was scared. “I’ve never driven a car before,” he said.

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An engagement ring that a British woman lost 67 years ago has been found by her grandson. In 1941, Violet Bailey was walking with her fiancé, Samuel Booth, when they had an argument that spurred her to throw the diamond ring into a field. The couple made up and married two months later, but they couldn’t find the ring. Recently, Violet’s grandson Leighton Boyes

decided to try. He bought a metal detector, located the field, and found the ring after only two hours. “It certainly brought back a few memories,” said Violet, whose husband died 15 years ago. “It’s something to remember Samuel by.