Commentary on urbanism and nonprofit communications by Jeff Muckensturm.
Nissan is building a car, to be available in Europe and Asia next year, priced around only $3,000. While there’s no indication yet about gas mileage, the car is promised to be safe and comfortable. Rather than stripping down a previously released model, Nissan is designing this car from scratch. Hopefully they will last long enough to be both environmentally and economically conscious.
Check out the article “Under $3000: The Race To Build Really Cheap Cars” on TreeHugger.
The BBC reports that London has turned on its free wi-fi network in the city’s business district. London’s hope is that the network will “be invaluable to traders, bankers and brokers who want access to their data when they are on the move–or out at lunch.” Hopefully this effort will pay off and eventually spread to the rest of London.
Politicians and power companies promise lower prices and better service when arguing for a deregulated utilities industry. However, the article “Power Bills Soar After Electric Deregulation” shows deregulation leads to higher utility bills. For example, “An Associated Press analysis of federal data shows consumers in the 17 deregulated areas paid an average of 30 percent more for power in 2006 than their counterparts in regulated states. That’s up from a 24 percent gap in 1990.”
Two things from Engadget today. First, is the robotic parking garage (Pictured above). While there have been problems in the past with automated parking garages, including 300 cars being trapped for over 24 hours in Hoboken, NJ, this system looks safe and efficient. Check out the Popular Mechanics video on the Engadget post.
Microsoft will start selling its software, including Windows and Office, in developing nations for $3. But what seems like a philanthropic effort is questioned by Engadget which claims it “is in reality a shrewd business move to both compete with pirates and get kids hooked on Windows.” Microsoft’s Orlando Ayala supported Engadget’s argument by telling Reuters, “This is not a philanthropic effort: this is a business.”
Instead of Microsoft, let’s support OLPC XO which uses open-source software.