Safe Sex

Spain's hookers are required to wear reflective safety vests when they work in traffic. No vest = 40 Euro fine.

California Considers License Plate Ads

In a desperation move to shore up the state budget, California lawmakers are considering a bill that authorizes a feasibility study on digital advertising on license plates.

In addition to being a moneymaker, the high-tech plates also could be used to streamline automobile registration procedures and to quickly tell motorists about hazardous road conditions and Amber Alerts, officials suggest. Critics warn, however, that the ads would distract drivers and add to a growing clutter of roadside digital billboards, freeway message boards and other intrusive signage. Some also fear that the computerized equipment that would control the advertising could be hacked and hijacked by vandals intent on posting rogue messages. Backers of the advertising idea say the digital plates could be programmed to display the ads only after an auto has been stopped for four seconds. The car's license plate number would be visible in small type at the corner of the plate when ads are being displayed, they say. The ads would disappear and the plate numbers would be shown when the car was moving.

Schwarzenegger has promised to veto the bill.

NYC Declares Balconies Unsafe At 16 Buildings After Deadly Fall

Following the death of a Manhattan man after the railing on his 24th floor balcony gave way, NYC has banned residents at 16 buildings from using their balconies.

Inspectors have also found that about 800 building owners have failed to file inspection reports, required every five years, demonstrating the safety of their balconies and terraces. Teams have been conducting street-level examinations, with inspectors and engineers peering up at balconies with binoculars and entering buildings for physical inspections. They have found loose railings, crumbing concrete and unsecured railing posts. “Our inspectors and engineers have visited more than 530 buildings across the city to determine whether the property owners maintained the exterior of their buildings, including balconies,” said Tony Sclafani, the chief spokesman for the Department of Buildings. The enforcement effort is one of the most sweeping on balcony safety in years, and city officials said it was in its early stages.

And this being NYC, residents at the affected buildings seem more worried about their apartments' resale values than falling dozens of stories to a grisly death.

Volvo Safety Demonstration Fail

When you invite a bunch of journalists to witness your new automatic collision prevention braking system, you should probably have the bugs worked out first.

In Case Of Zombies

In the event of a zombie attack during your sleep, the Safe Bedside Table quickly disassembles into a medieval-ish club and shield. Get yours here.

And When You Flip The Car, The iPad Screen Conveniently Auto-Rotates

Somebody's already mounted their iPad on their dashboard.