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June 2nd 2008

Neil Young Takes His Hybrid-Electric ‘59 Lincoln For A Test Drive

Cruise almost ends in disaster...

Filed under: cars-houses, transport — michael @ 2:59 pm

Hot on the heels of Matt Damon taking an electric vehicle out for a spin, rocker Neil Young hit the road with his still-under-development green vehicle: A 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV that’s being turned into a beautiful serial-electric hybrid by John Goodwin. Young has been working on having the car transformed since the announcement of the project last October. ”Johnathan and this car are going to make history,” said Young in an interview with The Wichita Eagle. ”We’re going to change the world, we’re going to create a car that will allow us to stop giving our wealth to other countries for petroleum. And we’re going to do it right here in Wichita, a great place that I now love, where people know how to make things, and make things happen.”

Of course, there have been a few bumps along the road. The $120,000 project almost ended in disaster during a recent test-drive with Young and Goodwin. From the article,

“Because there is no gas pedal, Goodwin had to drive with his left hand, with no power steering, while twisting half around and turning an acceleration knob in the back seat with his right hand. ‘And we just about crashed it,” Goodwin said. At K-96 and Webb, as they approached the entrance ramp, Goodwin turned the knob the wrong way, and the car leaped toward the back end of another car. In a micro-second, Young, from the passenger seat, stomped the brake, averting disaster.

‘Still needs a little work,’ Goodwin said.”

For more pictures — and a video — of Young’s hybird Lincoln, jump to the article here. 

May 12th 2008

Razzi Snap: Scientist Names New Spider In Honor Of Rocker Neil Young

Filed under: animals, campaigns, donations, politics — michael @ 2:27 pm

Neil Young has been immortalized as the official name of a newly discovered species of spider, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi. The honor was bestowed by Jason Bond, a biologist at East Carolina University. “I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice,” he said. Jason’s wife, who apparently isn’t cool enough to be immortalized as an eight-legged critter, had no comment. [via livescience]

Whitney Houston sang a rare live gig for the Caudwell Children’s Ball last week amidst the swirling rumors that she was paid anywhere from six to seven figures for the act. If it’s true, we think it’s BS that she would take so much cash to perform for a children’s charity. [via the cheers]

Ever wonder what an Al Gore presidency might have been like instead of the disaster that was the current administration? Sure, Saturday Night Live did a hysterical take, but the Huffington Post’s Norman McAfee really lays it all out for us. January ‘09 can’t come soon enough. [via Huffington Post]

Victoria Beckham is hoping some actual good will come out the toxic disaster that was the Spice Girls World Tour by auctioning off the swanky outfits she wore on stage. Posh expects almost $2 million dollars to be raised from the various auctions — with all the proceeds benefiting her children’s charity. [via sunday mirror]