Mulled Marc

Don’t want to get lost in the crowd with your boring land-based scooter? Hammacher Schlemmer is selling this “miniature flying saucer with handlebars” (quote from The New York Times) for $16999.95. The unit has a four-stroke engine and can go approximately 15 mph. A full tank of unleaded gasoline will get you one hour of hoverfun.

via NewLaunches

If you think you’re just not paying enough for that dozen roses for your loved ones, suggest that your florist buy one of these. This flower printer supposedly can print directly on your delicate rose without causing any damage. The unit will set you back $1250, but is a diminutive 17.4″ X 11.6″ X 10.7″.

via OhGizmo!

Love your thumb drive, but tired of keeping track of it? First get some pockets, it’s not THAT hard to keep track of, then get one of these. The Imation Flash Wristband stores 256MB of flash in a stylish blue or black rubber wristband.

According to Imation’s product page, these will be available at Target stores in mid-January.

via Gizmodo

XCO2 has released the quietrevolution 6kW, and “elegant” vertical axis wind turbine. The turbine, which XCO2 claims is virtually silent and vibration fee, is being installed on a roundabout in bristol in the UK. The turbine has optional LEDs in the blades that can display ads or welcome messages. For the Britol project, XCO2 will sell ads using the LEDs to environment friendly companies.

Technical information from the quietrevolution website:
Dimensions: 5m high x 3.1m in diameter
Operation mode: Max wind speed: 16m/s; Min wind speed: 4.5m/s
Design life: 20 years (annual inspections recommended)
Rotor construction: Carbon fibre & epoxy resin blades and connection arms

via Treehugger

Everyone else has their own reality show, and the helpful reality show genre seems to grow every season, so it’s about time that Dave was brought into the fold. From the producers’ website:

Actual Reality Pictures is now casting a new reality show, THE DAVE RAMSEY PROJECT, that will help families learn to conquer their overwhelming financial situation. With Dave’s help, over a period of 3 to 6 months, these families will undergo a total money make over and begin a journey towards a debt free life. Shooting will begin in early March.

Actual Reality Pictures
Information from DaveRamsey.com

Workers at Ford’s Dearborn truck plant will have to hike across the street if they don’t show a little loyalty. Employees will only be allowed to park in the primary parking lot if they drive a Ford or a car from one of it’s subsidiaries. If they choose to drive another maker’s car they will have to park in a lot across the street from the plant.

via WOODTV.com

The Detroit Free Press is running an article about the walk-in clinics opening in some Meijer locations-Meijer is a super center chain based in Michigan. The clinic has a limited services and all work is done by a nurse practitioner. The prices are fixed and the article has a list of services and prices.

This isn’t a new idea, but is a growing trend as people try to control the cost of medical treatments, and make it more convenient.

Replublican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma announced today that they plan to make the practice of earmarking more difficult, and more public. Earmarks, pet budget items designed to ingratiate voters to their representatives, were estimated by Citizens Against Government Waste to cost $27.3 billion last year.

McCain also plans to introduct a reform bill that would require disclosure of any gifts worth more than $20 and any travel provided to members of congress. Members would also be required to pay fair market value for flights on private planes.

Now here comes the rant part of this post. Can someone explain to me why the federal government ever gives money to states or local governments? The federal government is supposed to protect us, protect trade, etc. If they have the money to give send back down the chain, they probably are taking too much of our money.

Here’s my theory of taxation: Collect money at the state level and let them buy services from the federal government. The federal government should have a national sales tax set at a level that allows the running of the military, border control, federal court system, etc. Social Security could still exist, but states would have the option of buying into the system (passing up taxes that they collected), running their own system, or hiring a private company to run the program. The federal government can run just as many programs as it does today if it can convince states that it can do it better.

All of this is, of course, is a by-product of the Abramoff scandal. This scandal along with the rumored Barrett Report illustrate how we have given too much power to the federal government and the “statesmen” running it. If you’re not familiar with the Barret Report see this column from Robert Novak. No matter what your political viewpoint, the idea that YOUR government can investigate itself and then hide the result from you should send a shudder down your spine.

via CNN and The Washington Post

China in coordination with Russia, Japan, the United States, the European Union, China and the Republic of Korea have plans to build “a full superconducting experimental Tokamak fusion device, nicknamed ‘artificial sun’”.

I won’t even pretend to understand what this means or how they’re going to do it, so if you want more information check out the article here. Does anyone else think that humans may have gotten a little “big for their britches”?
via Groovy Green

Comedy Central and Nickelodeon both announced that they will have shows appearing on iTunes. Comedy Central will begin offering Drawn Together, South Park, and various stand-up programs. The February 1 episode of Drawn Together will be released to iTunes three days before it’s airing on Comedy Central.

Nickelodeon announced that they will offer episodes of Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Zoey 101, and South of Nowhere. The new episode of Zoey 101, “Girls Will Be Boys”, will be available today, and will air on television on January 29.