POR (Pelosi-Obama-Reid) Economy Cash Crunch Update (sources: Last Daily Treasury Statements of Oct. ‘09, Oct. ‘08, and Oct. ‘07; Monthly Statement for Oct. ‘08):

October 2007 was the first month of the 26th consecutive quarter of economic growth in the Bush 43 Economy. October 2008 was the fourth full month of the POR (Pelosi-Obama-Reid) Economy, also known as the POR Recession/”Repression” as Normal People Define It. October 2009 was the 16th full month of the PORSource: BizzyBlog RSS Feed

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Audi

MIT and Audi present Aida — Click above to watch video
We don’t know where carmakers got the idea that we want intelligent robots learning our behavior and then talking to us. Wherever it was, we don’t want it any more than they thought we did 25 years ago in a talking Maxima. Nissan has its PIVO concept, which has the distinction of being as creepy as it is cute. Now Audi’s in the game with it’s much cuter, Wall-E reminiscent cyberneticSource: Autoblog RSS Feed

Bla1ze from crackberry reports on the recently availability of the Rogers Bold 9700. The new device has “became available today for retailers to order through hardware management”. Rogers has been quietly shipping dummy devices to their retail channels, with the devices now available in the inventory to certain CSRs, how much longer before the retail Rogers Bold 9700 launch? Also available are the White Bold 9000, as well as a cameraless Bold 9000.

Matt Cameron aka W4LNUT forSource: BlackBerryCool RSS Feed

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s nice to see when innovations in science and technology trickle down to the grade school level where they can directly benefit students. No longer will hoodlums have to settle for Kleenex-based spit balls since they can now take advantage of advanced polymers to rain down terror on their fellow classmates. Available from Edmund Scientific for $4.95 a pack, these Spit Balls will grow to 200x their original size and according to the packaging willSource: OhGizmo! RSS Feed

Filed under: Government/Legal, Toyota

James Norwood was hired on at Old Mill Toyota in Omaha, Nebraska in 2000, eventually working his way up to parts and service director. At the same time, Norwood reportedly sold over $548,000 in goods as a hard-working eBay business owner, praised by customers for being dedicated and a fast shipper. Norwood sounds a lot like a man living the American dream, except prosecutors in Omaha allege that the entrepreneur has been stealing parts fromSource: Autoblog RSS Feed

Filed under: MPG, GM, Opel

2010 Opel Corsa ecoFlex – click above for high-res image gallery
Opel has just introduced an updated version of its high-mileage, low-CO2 sub-compact Corsa. The refreshed Corsa ecoFLEX now gets 20 hp more from its 1.3-liter CDTi diesel engine than before, bringing its total to 95 hp along with 140 pound-feet of torque. Despite that boosted output, CO2 emissions drop by 10 percent making the Corsa GM’s first sub-100 g/km car at just 98 g/km. The Corsa Source: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed

On one level this was what Google Checkout was originally intended to be: a trusted, simple way to pay for things across the Web. But Checkout has largely failed to gain consumer adoption to date, although Google is trying to revive it in several ways (including making it the payments platform for Android apps).

However the new Amazon “PayPhrase” system is really innovative and could be used in the real world for transactions, though that’s not part of theSource: Screenwerk RSS Feed

By Chris Scott Barr

There are some people in this world that need to be connected to the internet at all times. Sure, I’m an internet junkie, but I don’t think I’d ever go so far as to install a permanent WiFi hotspot in my car. GM announced that they will soon start offering Autonet, an always-on wireless internet solution for your car.

The device can be installed in your new van, SUV, truck or crossover starting later this month. Installation will set you back $499,Source: OhGizmo! RSS Feed

With talk of Fiat-Chrysler plans and the return of Alfa Romeo to the US with the new models Alfa MiTo, Alfa Milano and Alfa Giulia, here’s another rendering to keep our interest going. This design of a hypothetical Alfa Giulia shows a sporty, agressive front, while keeping the smooth lines of the sedan intact.

The Fiat group will first make its appearance on US shores with the Fiat 500, and it is expected to be every bit as successful as in Europe, having become anSource: EuroCarBlog RSS Feed

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Audi

Audi Avatar Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
There are a lot of fanciful renderings out there that try to imagine what kind of vehicles we’ll be driving in the coming decades. The renderings from Yanko Design are some of the strangest, including the latest, the Audi Avatar Concept. The ultralight, three-seat Avatar is supposed to be reminiscent of the unreal vehicles from racing video games. The wheels areSource: AutoblogGreen RSS Feed