FSP 1.1

google redesign vs self cache

This week's google interfacelift removed some tabs.
Forgot what the google looked like before the facelift ?
View the google cache.

(As a pedant I observe google disowns its own cache.)

Click on thumbnail for pop-up enlargement.

Yes, I use tabs.

Previously about Google:
google is sixth brand
google adverts' contextual dissonance
better google rankings
brand yourself with google
google spell checking finds the mode
silly google searches
...
all previous posts on google

Audi A6: hit with the Bangle stick ?

Note the ridge between the glass and the door handles.
Note the outward flare above the rocker panel at the bottom of the doors.
Note the absence of any bodylong, bumper-rub-strip to bumper-rub-strip
door edge moulding.
Note the high horizontal seam between the rear fender and rear
bumpercover which begins at the wheel arch.

First is the BMW 5er (e60) which debuted a year ago, and which defines
the mid-200x decade midsize sedan form.

With all the same style follows the new Audi A6, which debuted last month.

Previously:
If money were no object, what vehicle would you be driving right now?
Audi RS6; and Lotus Elise; signing the stop Chris Bangle petition.

New season for f1, autocross

The Formula1 circus comes to town in Australia.

The red cars go fast ! More ridiculous smack-talking from
disgruntled Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone on
Saturday after once again putting Ferrari in pole position
for the Australian Grand Prix.

Ecclestone had sounded dismayed at the prospect of the
Italian team, who have won the constructors' title for the
last five years, embarking on another triumphant year
after dominating Friday's practice.

This is not the sort of day we were expecting or wanted
to see," he had told reporters. "It's a disaster. Ferrari were
not supposed to be going this fast. They were supposed to
have all sorts of problems with tyres and their engines but
it doesn't look like they have.

Nice impartial comments from the top man in the sport's
management. [News Credit: AtlasF1.]

In other motorsport news, year 2004 national level autocross:
The National Tour, Pro Solo come to Castle Airport, Atwater, Northern California.

2004 SCCA National Tour Autocross at Castle Airport, Atwater, CA.
2004 Pro Solo SCCA Pro Solo Autocross at Castle Airport, Atwater, CA.
Both hosted by San Francisco Region SCCA.

Commuter elasticty: London Congestion Charge

Price: up from 0 to £5.
Quantity consumed: down 30%

In most cases, the introduction of the daily £5 charge on cars
entering central London has been a great success. Traffic volume into
inner London has fallen by more than expected, and the use of public
transport has risen. There are few, if any, signs of the "rat runs"
at the edges of the zone promised by the more apocalyptic critics.
Even the perennially disgruntled London cab drivers seem to approve of
the 30% improvement in congestion since the £5 charge began.

The congestion charge's very success has seen it raise less money than
expected to fund public transport: £68m in the first year, compared
with Mr Livingstone's original projections of £140m -- although even a
£72m shortfall is relatively small beer in a total London transport
budget of £4bn. Businesses inside the zone continue to complain that
it has hurt their profits, although the evidence is mixed. And the
165,000 penalty notices sent to drivers each month for failing to pay
on time suggests administration needs to be improved.

[I'm not sure exactly what '30% improvement in congestion' means.
30 % fewer cars ? 30 % shorted delays ? 30 % shorter travel time ?
In any case, it must mean less traffic. ]

The Guardian (UK).

See previously: Commuter elasticity: Golden Gate Bridge Toll hikes raise revenue.