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01 Aug 2009 13:15

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Biz, U.S.: What happens to the vehicles clunked for cash?

  • It’s kind of backwards because we’re used to fixing them. But it’s kind of fun to destroy them at the same time.
  • Auto technician John Eichorn • Describing what he does with the gas-guzzler vehicles exchanged in the Cash-for-Clunkers program. Eichorn has to put a special chemical in the motor that freezes it, preventing it from running (the vehicle gets a special stamp noting this), but other parts of the vehicle can be re-used once it’s brought to a salvage yard. “Some of it is a shame because they are good running vehicles,” he says, “but the program wouldn’t be effective if the car wasn’t destroyed because it can’t be on the road anymore.” • source

12 May 2009 22:20

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Offbeat, U.S.: This airplane feeds on things smaller than it, like baggage carts

  • With our luck, our suitcase was probably lodged inside the baggage cart that this airplane apparently ate at LAX. It’s hungry.source

15 Jan 2009 22:26

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Tech, U.S.: Oh yeah, Twitter was on the plane crash scene first

Just as the plane hit the water, one Twitter user was on the scene first. source

15 Jan 2009 22:17

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U.S.: On the plus side, nobody died in the plane crash

  • 155 people got out of the floating plane safely source

15 Jan 2009 22:13

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U.S.: That plane crash today? Caused by birds. It’s not uncommon.

  • 486 planes have been downed by bird collisions since 2000 source