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TravelSmart and a Philosophical Formula for the Urge to Drive
By Sarah Rich, Worldchanging
Even with a bike, a bus pass, or a sturdy pair of shoes at your disposal, you still might feel compelled to hop in your car for a trip to the local store. Alan Durning of the Sightline Institute calls this impulse a 'reflexive response to most mobility needs.' There are companies out there, however, that are willing to show you that it's just as easy to not drive. TravelSmart, an outfit that operates in Germany, Australia, and select cities in the United States, provides personalized maps and information on biking, walking, and public transportation. To avoid overwhelming consumers with information, folks from TravelSmart will even pay people a visit to work out car-free routes around town. -- Rachel Anderson
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/004929.html

Logo RIP
By The Stone Twins
A self-proclaimed 'Commemoration of Dead Logotypes,' the website (and book) Logo RIP features amusing promotional relics like the Betamax 'B' and the Commodore 'C' alongside political images of the hammer and sickle and the swastika. Particularly interesting is the section titled 'Book of Condolences,' which blends personal musings with the thoughts of professional typographists and graphic designers as they parse the meanings behind these once-ubiquitous images. (Thanks, Cabinet.) -- Elizabeth Oliver
http://www.logorip.com/

Backpacks Appeal to the Tech-Savvy Set
By Tom Regan, Christian Science Monitor
The days when having a He-Man backpack drew the admiration of other school kids are long gone. Even wheels and a handle don't cut it for 'cool' anymore. Today's trendy backpacks require batteries and are cell phone, iPod, and Bluetooth capable, reports Tom Regan. These high-tech backpacks currently run up to $249, but one New York technology researcher told the Monitor that prices are likely to fall, 'sooner rather than later, as new tech tools are integrated faster.' In the meantime, parents looking to tamp down on school supply costs can just remind their kids that retro is 'in.' -- Jenna Fisher
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0921/p14s02-cogn.html

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