Maybe there’s something I’m not understanding, but $89,000 buys you an automatic toilet. In Seattle.
According to the New York Times, which monitors such activity, the city of Seattle spent $5 million fours year ago to install five automated public toilets around town. Now it’s, well, shitcanning the whole project and selling the commodes on eBay.
Explains [...]

More signs of the end-times–from the New York Times: a cup of coffee from a machine which costs more than a car. A good car.

Oil spilled in San Francisco came from Port of Long Beach
In the most important story on the Nov. 8 spill, LBReport.com says the bunker fuel dumped in San Francisco had its origins in our backyard–and editor Bill Pearl isn’t just talking about the fact that the Hanjin freighter took on its load at the Port [...]

A skin-deep survey
Ever feel like an ugly duckling among the beautiful (and possibly surgically-enhanced) swans of Southern California?  Forget cosmetic surgery– to feel better about your appearance, all you need to do is visit Philadelphia.

First the earworm, then the taste– neither welcome. That’s how I’ve always thought about Rice-a-Roni, the few times I have thought about it since becoming an adult. That peppy, peppy jingle– “Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat”– so annoying. The taste… not exactly a treat. Even as kid I wondered why San [...]