A down side for hybrid cars -- Apparently, Toyota Motor Corp's (NYSE:TM) Prius and other such gas/electric vehicles are not popular among one segment of Americans, the visually disabled. The National Federation of the Blind has asked that the vehicles be equipped with some sort of warning noise so that the sight-impaired can avoid stepping in front of the almost-silent cars. I wonder what can be done to help the iPod impaired, who often aren't aware of approaching fire engines until the bumper hits them in the ass.Another interesting transportation story comes to us from the bicycle-crazy Netherlands. The new Bikedispenser is a fully-automated bicycle rental station. Much like the baggage cart rentals in airports, Bikedispenser stores 50 or more all-purpose bikes, ready to pop one out to the customer that scans his/her debit card. The company expects to install the machines at train stations and other public transportation hubs.
In the category of fun --- How much time could I waste on the web site J! Archive? The right answer is tons. The site has compiled all of the Jeopardy! game show questions, player answers, and real answers for the entire run of the show, since 1983, over 110,000 questions in all.
Finally, hairdresser Lee Becks thought he was getting a tattoo of the Mandarin characters for "Love, honor and obey." To his dismay, he found, after the fact, that the lettering on his arm actually translates as "At the end of the day, this is an ugly boy."
via cantonese.sheik.co.uk
Comfort Zone Investing: The unmighty dollar
Five winners of a weak dollar
For a quick-read on the U.S. economy, check the price of gasoline
