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I once did a typical U-Haul move, employer paid, with a van and a car transporter for front-wheel drive, and just three days to get it all done. When I realized how much less painful PODS would be, I felt almost physically ill.

PODS http://www.pods.com/

The better way to move. PODS are 8×8×12 or 8×8×16-foot steel cargo containers with a wood lining and roll-up doors. They're delivered by special hydraulic-lift trucks to ground level—no ramps!—loaded at your leisure, delivered across town or across the country, or stored for you in a dry warehouse. This is a very nifty idea, if there's a PODS facility in your area: domestic container freight for the masses.

gethuman http://gethuman.com/
Get2Human http://www.get2human.com/

Databases that tell how you can bypass automated phone menus and reach a human being, for dozens of companies, by categories. Spare yourself the aggravation.

Inductrack http://www.llnl.gov/str/Post.html Wikipedia

A passive design for maglev (magnetically levitated) high-speed trains. Inductrack doesn't require cryogenic superconducting magnets, complex active stability control, or even any external power applied to the tracks. They think they can make a train do 300+ mph with just a turbine-powered ducted fan at the back. A modified version is being investigated for NASA as a means of accelerating a future SSTO shuttle up close to Mach 1 before engine ignition, probably up the side of a mountain.

Zipcar http://www.zipcar.com/

Car sharing, an interesting new idea, so far only available in large markets, but supposedly expanding. It's supposed to be cheaper and more convenient than traditional car rental. You can reserve a car online, as far ahead as you want, for as long as you want, and they bill you. They take care of maintenance and repairs.

Earthship Biotecture http://www.earthship.net/

Self-sufficient houses, that collect rainwater and generate their own power, built of rammed earth in recycled car tires, providing thermal mass temperature stabilization.

Rite in the Rain® http://www.riteintherain.com/

Waterproof paper and products that allow you to take notes out in the weather with ordinary pens and pencils. Wish I'd had this stuff when I was a backpacker.

makestickers.com   makesigns.com   (Tinley Park IL)

Custom bumper stickers. This very cool company can make you one (1) bumper sticker with your choice of text on it, for five bucks, and you'll probably have it in a week. You can type text into one of their predesigned templates, or you can upload your own JPG/GIF/TIFF graphics files and they'll scale them to fit. You always get to preview before you order.

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CafePress http://www.cafepress.com/

Customized clothing such as T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, aprons, and even boxers and thongs, and you can design and order just one if you like. They can also do custom coffee mugs. You can browse and buy other people's creations.