Another Tech Blog

So, LED traffics lights are great, right? Low power consumption, high visibility, low maintenance.

Turns out they don’t produce enought heat to melt snow though, so in cold climates they are dangerous to the point of causing fatal accidents.  Incandesent lights generate heat that melts the snow that covers them.  OOOPS!!!  Major dope slap.

Full article from Engadget here.

I know this is off topic for a Tech blog, but it concerns Google, so please indulge me.

According to Google’s blog, they are using Goats to mow the grass at their Mountain View headquarters.  “A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time. The goats are herded with the help of Jen, a border collie. It costs us about the same as mowing, and goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.”

The Goats are from California Grazing, who have  “800 environmentally friendly, self propelled weed eaters for weed control and brush control, that are ready for your project.”  

You can’t make this stuff up.

Tesla’s Model S debuted in Manhattan on April 30th.  If only I had $50k that I didn’t need, I’d love to pick one of these up.  Electric cars have been around a long time, but Tesla really gets it right.  There is no reason in the world that electric has to equal boring.  Both Tesla cars are incredible pieces of technology that are changing the way people think about electric cars.  The Roadster does 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds,  tops out at 125 MPH, and will go 244 miles on a charge.  Although I’d like to see more range, 244 miles is a little less than a standard tank of gas on most luxury cars so will do.

The Model S is a little slower 0 to 60, (does it in 5.6 seconds) but is no slouch.  It has a 300 mile range, seats 7, and has a new “quick charge” mode that can recharge the battery in 45 minutes (at 480v – it will charge slower at 120v).  It also has a 17″ touch screen with internet access and streaming audio in addition to what you would expect from an on board computer.

The Model S is a beautiful car to – very sleek looking – looks like a Maserati or an Aston Martin.  I’m mostly a 4×4 guy, but both Tesla make me want to go back to 2WD!