The Innovation Zone

Now this is a Hybrid!

What, you say you're in the market for a hybrid? Well if you can wait a few more months and want to not only get 30MPG+ but also want to slip the surly bonds of earth-bound commuters for the tranquility of blue skies I may just have the vehicle for you. Terrafugia, Inc. is developing the Transition®, a roadable Light-Sport Aircraft that will be able to land at the airport, fold up its wings, and drive on the road. Yes, I know, you've heard it all before. Talk about car/plane mashups has been around for over 100 years, since the car and the plane were first invented. Check out the Roadable Times web site to see the absurd and the even more absurd examples. But Terrafugia seems to have finally cracked the code on this with an "A" team and an "A" idea. In fact you can even pre-order your very own and be flying it by the end of 2009 with a deposit of $7400. It's been years since I flew small aircraft but this might just get me back in the pilot's seat! - tango kilo

How Wise are the Crowds?

In the spirit of  "The Wisdom of Crowds" - check this out - FBI turns to crowdsourcing to help solve 36 year-old case of skydiving hijacker D.B.Cooper.

Panic Attack!

Panic Attack

Do you panic when you see that U.S. companies are spending less on R&D, as a percent of worldwide R&D, from 43%  in 1986, to 32% in 2006?   

It's easy to buy into the gloom and doom scenario being painted for the US economy, run for cover, and, like super model Gisele Bundchen, require payment in Euros. But perhaps there's more to this story than the current moment of crisis.