Archive for June 4th, 2007
Workers at Swedish club get $12,000 tip
by Fukdatshhh Viewers on Jun.04, 2007, under Weird News
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (UPI) – When the Hell’s Kitchen nightclub in the Swedish city of Stockholm closed its doors last weekend, its workers left happily with a tip of more than $12,000.
A U.S. tourist who had been partying at the nightclub last weekend decided to round out a night of generosity by giving club employees a tip of $12,250 to split, The Local said Wednesday.
Apparently the unidentified tourist entered Hell’s Kitchen Saturday with five friends and was soon joined by several female acquaintances. The foreign reveler then began racking up a tab by ordering drinks for his fellow partygoers, including a rare bottle of Dom Perignon.
Once the night’s festivities were completed, the man’s tab sat at nearly $13,000.
The Local said that for one last instance of generosity, the tourist offered the club’s staff his thanks with the surprising tip.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Hybrid cars face ‘Catch 22′ situation
by Fukdatshhh Viewers on Jun.04, 2007, under Technology
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (UPI) – A U.S. study suggests a hybrid car with the same performance and price as a gasoline vehicle won’t sell well — even if it is three times more fuel efficient.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology analysis found, among other things, until many alternative fuel vehicles are on the road, people won’t consider buying one — so there won’t be many on the road, thereby producing a “Catch-22″ situation.
“The challenge is not just introducing an (alternative fuel) vehicle,” said postdoctoral associate Jeroen Struben of the Sloan School of Management. “Consumer acceptance, the fueling infrastructure and manufacturing capability all have to evolve at the same time.”
Thus, he said, fuel suppliers won’t build alternate fuel stations until they’re certain of future demand; but until the fuel is widely available, consumers won’t buy the vehicles. And manufacturers can’t make such vehicles cheaper and better until production volume is high; but high-volume production won’t happen until such improvements are in place to attract buyers.
The research was supported by MIT, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Shell Hydrogen.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
