Today’s collection of lunchtime news chum all relate to things that are either obsolete, becoming obsolete, or potentially obsolete:
- Call Boxes. The SF Chronicle has an interesting article on how the cell phone is making call boxes obsolete. What the article forgets to mention is the real history of the call box, probably because this is the San Francisco Chronicle. Call boxes in California were created by Los Angeles Supervisor Kenneth Hahn for LA County freeways and selected highways. They were originally hardwired, not solar-powered cell-phones.
- Hey! Taxi!. The Crown Victoria is out as the standard NYC Taxicab. NYC has selected a new standard taxi: the Nissan NV200 (which beat out an unspecified Ford model and Karsan high-concept design). The cab, which should start to appear in 2013, will have airplane-style reading lights, passenger air bags, power outlets to plug in phones and laptops; a transparent roof for city views; exterior lights that warn cyclists and pedestrians about opening doors; and custom climate controls for each seat. The back seat has more leg room than the old couch-on-wheels Checker cab. It will have a so-called low-annoyance horn, engineered to stifle flagrant honkers (additionally, the entire cab will be illuminated, outside and in, whenever its horn sounds, the better to help police track down noisy cabbies). Its seats are coated to resist stains and bacteria, and the floors are equipped with lights to ease the recovery of purses and briefcases on a late-night ride. The charging station includes a regular outlet and two USB ports. Sliding doors will prevent “dooring” of cyclists and passing cars.
- What Did You Say? When I grew up, “geronimo” was effectively a synonym for “go!”. In fact, the slang dictionary shows it is slang used when you make a parachute jump. But in today’s PC society, nothing is safe. The Senate Indian Affairs Subcommittee is looking into the use of the term as the code word for the recent Bin Ladin operation. They feel it was a slur against Native Americans.
- Hail To Old Ivy. Is college obsolete in this day and age, or is it an effective insurance policy for a good job. NPR explores this question, exploring whether a college education is a luxury good, an investment, or an insurance policy.
- Simple Disclosures. The NY Times has an article about how checking accounts are now coming with 111 page disclosures, probably all in 4-point type. Hint: If it takes that many words to say it, it probably isn’t in your favor.
P.S.: Everyone is writing about the death of Jackie Cooper, but I also wanted to note the death of Marian Mercer, who I will always remember as the restaurant owner in the sitcom “It’s a Living” (which made Ann Gillian a star), shot in the Bonadventure in downtown LA.
