3D Mobility

With the upcoming release of the Star Trek movie, I've naturally been thinking about flying cars. YIPPEE! Ever since I saw a Harrier jet take off from a San Diego base, I've been lusting after the idea of VTOL - Vertical take off and landing, and there's car that can do just that. SKYCAR Cruise above the fray at 275 mph. Burn ethanol (or any number of other fuels) at up to 20 mpg. 750 mile range. Fly up to 36,000 feet. Need I say more?

World Taxi Meter

A great website for determining cab fares in a smattering of major US and European cities and beyond. I hope the site keeps growing and adding more destinations. Love it. World Taxi Meter

Fear not - Furry Friend

Every Friday night, dog lovers gather round the glow-box to see the newest episode of the "Dog Whisperer." And every Saturday morning, the household's Fido is shocked by the change in behavior of the pack leader (ie his owner), armed with a couple of new behavior modification ideas. Shorter leashes, controlled growls, less eye contact, foreign hand signals, a reprimand for something formerly OK. Thankfully, resolutions may be quickly forgotten and the weekend only lasts two days, so the furries can retreat back to their loud, hedonistic ways on Monday, as the pack leader heads out to earn more cash for kibble. So - how do the critters cope with this startling weekend chaos? Easy - they just "close their eyes and think of England." :b

Bugging me all week ....

I may not be the brightest bulb in the chandelier but I just heard for the first time the phrase "Chindia" during a radio interview with a sociologist. The interviewee went on to explain "Chindia" as representing the emerging middle classes of India and China. (Thank god - he felt the need to explain it or I would've felt like a real dolt having to google it later.) So ummm I was ok with Bennifer and Brangelina because those phrases germinated from celeb mags and you gotta hook that audience with cute phrases - the literary equivalent of shiny, bright things. And - the phrases each only represented 2 people. But when clever people, referring to more that 1 billion people, start imitating the writing styles of gossip columnists - specifically the Indian economist, Jairam Ramesh (yes - I googled after all) who is credited with coining the phrase - I start to sweat ... and I'm actually more bothered by the fact that I don't know exactly why this upsets me so much. *sigh* I have no answer.

Early Speed Metal Fetish

A 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Tear Drop Coupe. 1937! One of only 16 recently sold at auction for $3.52 million. Purrrrrrrrrrrr

It's raining in So Cal ....

and oooooohhhhhh how I wish I could play on one of these. An all-terrain concept vehicle called the Hyanide - designed by Oliver Keller and Tillman Schlootz.

I, Too, Sing America

I, Too, Sing America
by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

When polite becomes scary

It was a clash of cultures when I noticed an incredibly beautiful young Japanese woman wearing a surgical face mask, strolling down PCH. In Japan, it's common to wear a face mask when one has a cold, in theory to protect others from your germs. In SoCal? Ummm, errrrr .... not so much. I almost, ALMOST pulled over to tell her this but then my light turned green and I had to get going. Oh well. Happy New Year!

Crush Pad - I can't stop loving you

I've stumbled upon one of the most accommodating wineries I've ever heard of, planted right in the heart of Portrero Hill in San Francisco. Crush Pad Wine is a do-it-yourself winery where you can learn to make wine. They have all the equipment and will help the wine-making newbie through the entire process - all the way down to designing the label for your bottle. 50 vineyards, 14 varietals, 25 cases of your own wine. 'Scuse me while I kiss the sky. Crush Pad Wine

Drinking Up Vagueness

A Singapore company, called Out of the Box, produces a line of beverages called "Anything" and "Whatever." It seems the drinks' developer started noticing repeated mild recklessness in his friends and colleagues when he would offer them a drink. They'd respond with "Whatever" or "Anything." (Some folks may call that being an accommodating guest but let's pretend otherwise :) Well, that enterprising host decided to capitalize on people's exact words - kinda like that old Brady Bunch episode - "Now Marcia - Were those your EXACT words?" So he started a beverage line and packages all the different drinks into generic cans - so you don't know what you're drinking 'til it hits your tongue. Your only choice is bubbly (Anything) or flat (Whatever). They're all non-alcoholic but things could get more interesting with a third beverage line named "I need a stiff one." Their website is here. Bottoms up!