This Just In: New on the Net

A new study has found that people who take anti-depressants are worse drivers than folks who don’t. I don’t really know what to say about those findings, but I after I banged up my Jag, I was pretty depressed. Anyway, here’s the news:

• Like cowboys, Lone Star beer and the right to carry a firearm into church, pickup trucks have a special place in the hearts of Texans. So when his home owner’s association told Jim Greenwood he couldn’t park his new F150 in his driveway, he got pissed. The kicker? Escalades and other SUVs are allowed, because they "cater to a different class of people." Seriously. Dallas Morning News
• The United States is winning a lot of medals at the Olympic games, and that’s great, if you care. But right now, there are ten times more engineering students in China than there are here at home, and in the grand scheme of things, that means a lot more than some victories in an athletic competition. Wired
• The General is betting a lot on the Volt, so its a little surprising that the company is going to market the car as an Opel in Europe. What’s the deal? Doesn’t the company want everyone to know that bad boy is its baby? Motor Authority
• In other GM-related news, the General will not be plunking down dollars to sponsor the Oscars or the Emmys this year. Now, it could be a money thing, but it could also have something to do with the fact neither telecast is remotely entertaining. Detroit News
• Everybody knows Ma Mopar isn’t in the best shape, but if you were wondering how tense the execs are, the following exchange might give you a hint. When asked how long Chrysler could stay afloat, president Tom LaSorda fired back "We’re gonna rebound, it’s just a matter of when." Um, ok. Whatever you say man. Freep