Ever Feel Like You Was Bein' Watched?
The Detroit News reports: Big Brother is listening, too, in bid to keep traffic moving. Man, we so badly wanted to write Missourra but didn't want to look like we were from Missourra.... Anyway, Missouri is going to monitor the amount of cell phone traffic and where it seems to be so they can figure out when and where there's traffic. Which, actually, sorta makes sense. But how about everyone stop talking while driving!? Although, since we know so little about phones... and driving... and Missourra that we bet the phone sends out a signal all the time even if you aren't talking. And this is a good point, too:
The Electronic Privacy Information Center suggests that someone should notify cell phone owners that their phones are being monitored for traffic data.Privacy experts also worry that the traffic monitoring could later evolve into other uses -- perhaps to catch speeders or fugitives.
That's because each cell phone has a unique serial number, in addition to its call number and a code that indicates its service provider. A cell phone company must always be able to track the location of its phones in order to know where to route a call.
Lillie Coney, associate director of Washington, D.C.-based EPIC, noted, "They may start out saying we want to know if there's a traffic problem and then take that information and start using it for different purposes."
Len Hunt Comes Back For More!
AutoWeek reports: Kia's new chief will stress value, looks to push sportiness, fun-to-drive character. Len! We've missed you. After you split VW we thought maybe you were gonna take it easy, chew some straw and reminisce about VW and Audi. Maybe he'll make Kia the new VW except better quality. And more affordable. Freakin' VWs are pricey as balls now!
New MB Hydrogen Car Can Now Make It As Far As Next Fillin' Station!
AutoWeek reports: 2005 Tokyo: Mercedes claims 97 mpg for fuel cell concept car. All of this hydrogen stuff is certainly cool and we think research should continue full throttle but fuel cells cars are still a long ways off as a viable consumer product. So we wish everyone would stop talking about these things like they're right around the corner. In recognition of that, we'll stfu now.
Toyota: The Razor Blade Race But With Transmissions
Autoblog reports: Toyota working on eight-speed transmissions. Hey! Razors now have five blades! While we have yet to come across Toyota's frank announcement like this one from Gillette. You know what Toyota should work on? A transmissions with ten speeds! Wouldn't it be cool to have those two-lever shifters like when we were kids? You see, now that Toyota announced eight speeds, everyone is going to start working on nine in order to "one-up" Toyota. Anyway Toyota should just focus on perfecting CVTs which have no gears, get better gas mileage and offer better performance. But, sigh, eight is cool, too.
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