ZIMBABWE WHISPERS

South Africa’s rand has weakened by more than 38% against the dollar in 2001. Money outflows have grown dramatically surging 19.3 Billion rand ($1.6 Billion) in the first three quarters of 2001 from 11.5 Billlion rand over the whole of year 2000. Fearing a possible 12% inflation and a possible civil war in neighboring Zimbabwe, where presidential elections are scheduled for March, this a serious decline of monetary value.

Mugabe’s top rival was detained Friday and Saturday and charged with possession of an unliscenced two-way radio. Zimbabwe’s president, who is facing March elections, has likened political campaigns to war.

BY Graham Kaye-Eddie – Master Urban Designer.

Makabusi Inc. – Bakersfield – California

Email – makabusi@pacbell.net

Cow Smells

Suburban sensibilities offended

AMTRAK REFORM COUNCIL (ARC)

In reviewing options for restructuring Amtrak’s passenger rail service, Thomas Till, executive director is suggesting that “ getting the states below the federal level is a better approach. The Council has concluded that Amtrak wouldn’t meet it’s congressional deadline for operating without federal subsidies by the end of next year. Congress could decide to follow the ARC recommendations, stay with the current Amtrak system or adopt some other approach.

The ARC is recommending the government provide the infrastructure, the states implement the program, and the private sector would compete to operate transportation services. Does this sound like our current national airport fiasco? Meanwhile the Amtrak model is charged with administrating the national program, operating the trains and fixing the infrastructure. Does this not remind one of a monopoly?

The real question is how to align resources and technology to compete for a national new ground transportation system.

GINGER the Segway, IT Scooter

This is a must to visit and look through all the cartoons of this invention. May I request a response from those who do visit--please let me know which one tickled you most!

Self-Cooling Buildings

Faced with the high cost of air-conditioning and its environmental impact, architects in the U.S. are studying techniques for cooling building using natural means.

No Such Thing!

Author Jane Holtz Kay challenges environmentalists and others concerned with the problems created by autos not to settle for so-called "clean cars."

AUTOMAKERS UNVEIL CLEANER CARS

Leading carmakers unveiled cleaner cars at the Electric Transportation Industry Conference.