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Category: Interesting
Bend Has A Segway Dealer?
Tipped off by a Google Alert, I came across this story that said “Now, Segway is opening dealerships across the country — including a new one in Portland this week to boost the number to 67, including outlets that have already opened in Bend and Corvallis.” I thought to myself “We have a Segway dealership in Bend?” Sure enough, we do. It’s over in the Reed Market area, it looks like.
Looking up that address on Google, it appears that they sell Segways at Central Oregon Workensport. I might have to go down there and test drive one of these things, but I doubt they’ll sell too well here. Considering they run $3,000+ for the basic model, and Bend’s streets and sidewalks aren’t really well-designed for the machines, they’ll be lucky to make much money on them at all. And I’m sure they do really crappy in the snow and ice, meaning that you only have about three months of the year you can use it.
And on that above linked page, their phone number is in the 702 area code, which, last I checked, was Las Vegas, not Oregon.
Update on 11/15: Apparently East Safeway in Bend has them and is allowing you to test-drive them for 48 hours. I don’t think I could do it; It’s a $3,000 toy, and I know I’d break the thing and be forced to buy it.
For The Conspiracy Theorists
Evidence Mounts That The Vote May Have Been Hacked. Take this with a grain of salt, folks.
This Is Going To Be A Close One
If the Electoral Vote Predictor is remotely accurate, it’s going to be a long night ((if that link doesn’t work, change the number in the domain so it reads any number between electoral-vote1.com and electoral-vote8.com). The predictor currently has 262 electoral college votes for Kerry, 261 for Bush. Yesterday, Kerry had a bigger lead, but some new polls came out narrowing things down (you can see an animated map of the states polls here). Regardless, he’ll be updating the calendar as the night goes on.
Couple things I would like to say here: Regardless of your views on who will win, at least get out there and vote today. Your opinion on things means nothing if you don’t exercise your right (the electoral college is flawed, but that’s another debate entirely).
Also, I want to wish a good luck out there to all the journalists out there who will be covering this mess tonight. I’ve done all-nighters covering smaller elections before (running the show online), and it’s no picnic. Order pizza, take care of everybody on the staff, you’re all in this together. If you don’t already have a plan of attack for the evening, you’re screwed. Also, if you work for a larger newspaper, befriend the food critic, and have him bring the booze. There is a great deal of helpful information for journalists at Poynter’s Election Coverage site, so read through it while it’s still slow this morning, and get ready to rock and roll later tonight.
The One-Handed Keyboard
This is obviously meant for people who only have one arm, but I’m sure you can imagine other cases where being able to type one handed would be quite handy.
The Battle of the Bulge
So what was that bulge underneath Bush’s coat during the debates? Think what you will, but one NASA Scientist doesn’t believe it was a problem with his shirt.
He knew the president was not telling the truth. And Nelson is neither conspiracy theorist nor midnight blogger. He’s a senior research scientist for NASA and for Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and an international authority on image analysis. Currently he’s engrossed in analyzing digital photos of Saturn’s moon Titan, determining its shape, whether it contains craters or canyons.
For the past week, while at home, using his own computers, and off the clock at Caltech and NASA, Nelson has been analyzing images of the president’s back during the debates. A professional physicist and photo analyst for more than 30 years, he speaks earnestly and thoughtfully about his subject. “I am willing to stake my scientific reputation to the statement that Bush was wearing something under his jacket during the debate,” he says. “This is not about a bad suit. And there’s no way the bulge can be described as a wrinkled shirt.”
I really do wish the truth would come out about this, as I have a hard time believing that he wasn’t wired. Thanks Barn for the link.
Why Kerry Will Win On Tuesday
Barney sends me a note he got from a mailing list he’s on:
Further solid evidence that Kerry will win on Tuesday comes in the score Green Bay 28, Washington 14. Since 1933, when the Redskins have lost their home game just prior to a presidential election, so has the incumbent.
Well if that doesn’t cinch it all up, I don’t know what does. Really.
It’s Every Actor’s Dream
Budding actors: Haven’t you ever wanted to punch the leading lady in the face and beat up the director? Somebody lived your dream.
Hobbits Were People, Too
Scientists have discovered a new and tiny species of human that lived in Indonesia at the same time our own ancestors were colonising the world. The three-foot tall species – dubbed “the Hobbit” – lived on Flores island until at least 12,000 years ago. Full Story. Thanks Cheryl for the link.
The Rest Of The World Can’t See Bush
Really, I’d consider it a blessing:
Surfers outside the US have been unable to visit the official re-election site of President George W Bush.
The blocking of browsers sited outside the US began in the early hours of Monday morning.
Since then people outside the US trying to browse the site get a message saying they are not authorised to view it.
The blocking does not appear to be due to an attack by vandals or malicious hackers, but as a result of a policy decision by the Bush camp.
Really, though, this isn’t a very smart move on Bush’s part, because there are a ton of American citizens that will be voting but live overseas. He just cut every one of them out.