Fuel Efficient Cars

With gas prices inching upward, having a car with a good gas milage rating is becoming the smart thing to do. MSN put together this list of top-rated cars by class. What struck me as odd, is that whenever a car manufacturer builds a new high-tech engine, they feel that it should be packaged in a futuristic looking body style.

Faith & Healing

Newsweek’s cover story is called Faith & Healing. Some religions believe that healing is a matter of faith, others providence or God’s design. In any event, the interest in spiritual matters, as they relate to health and wellness, is on the rise. Thought-provoking read.

Filibuster 101

filibuster is “The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.” It’s not unheard of to find one party using the filibuster strategy when haggling over a piece of legislation. But what is unprecedented is for one party to use a filibuster to block a vote on nominees. The Constitution gives the executive branch the responsibility to appoint Federal judges. Then the Senate votes to confirm those judges unless they aren’t qualified for the position. So now the Democrats are filibustering the call for a vote, not because the nominees aren’t qualified but because they don’t like them. The irony is that most of these blocked nominees have been women and/or minorities, groups that the Democrats have said they supported.

From Estrada to the latest victim—Janice Rogers Brown—it hasn’t been about qualifications, but rather… partisan politics.

Solar Flare Coming Our Way

Don’t know how positive this is (more “scary” news than “positive” news) but our sun shot a flare last Thursday that’s due to arrive here today. Learn more from Space.com. The images are certainly amazing.

The Economy Is Improving

I still notice a lot of mixed message out there.

1. The economy still stinks because of Iraq.
2. There never was a recession.
3. The economy must be bad if people can’t get a job.

Looking at the numbers: durable goods sales rose, consumer confidence numbers are improving, and projected car sales for 2004 look good. So it’s not just Bush who says that the economy showing signs of life. That’s to say nothing of the jump in the markets since March. Obviously this is good news for all of us.

Computers: Style over Substance?

Is it only me, or does anyone notice that on television they always use the newest Apple computers? Gotta be the styling. Some PC manufacturers are trying to “dress up” their offerings, particularly Gateway. Me? I’ve got my eye on the Tek Panel 300. Sweet fancy Moses.

Generous Golfer

Most probably think that people with a great deal of money should be donating large amounts to charity—a grand here, 50 g’s there. But I wonder what the percentage turns out to be? Tom Watson just won the Champion Tour’s season prize of $1 million, then he gave it away. Looking at his name on the money list, he was listed at $108, 017. So that means he just gave away 90% of his yearly salary. ALS charities will certainly benefit from his generosity and Tom has just moved up my list of favorite golfers.

Throw Your Head Back

Nothing says “Fun!” like PEZ. The Easton Museum of PEZ has about 1,500 of those crazy, something hard-to-find candy dispensors. Austrian, Edward Haas probably never guessed at what would eventually become of his little invention. Heck, there’s even an urban legen about these things.

Darn You Dyson

The addiction is strong in you, young timekiller. [via Coudal]

IE Changes, Developers Beware

Looks like Microsoft is changing the way IE works, and it a big way. It effects Flash developers too. Most agree that this is in response to a recent court decision. Bad news: More work for Internet developers. Good news: News earlier rather than later.

Senate Sends an Abortion Ban to Bush

This is wonderful news. Just think of the lives it will save! view article

Governor Orders Feeding Resumed for Florida Woman

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday ordered doctors to resume tube-feeding a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of a long-running battle between family members over whether she should live or die.

Pick Tea Over Soda

The positive health news regarding tea just keeps coming. So, now I poor some Lipton over my All Bran each morning.

Design Gets Face Time

All I have to say is, it’s about time. Design matters and it matters more than people think, but it rarely gets the attention that other attributes—features, price, performance, etc.— seem to get. Now Newsweek is devoting a cover story to good design. It seems Crate and Barrel is having a broader influence that previously thought.

Ghosts and Ghouls

Halloween is right around the corner and I’ve been saving up a few links for you, my pretties. Buy a costumes or some candy, download a screamsavers or learn to make special jack-o-lanterns. Find a haunted house in your state, or if you dare, visit one that might be real. I found stuff for kids, stuff for adults, even stuff for your home. Learn how Holloween began. You can even raise money for Unicef by sending a ghostcard. That should keep you ghouls busy for a day or so.