MP3 HyS: late 2008

French site Scooter Station reports that Piaggio plans to offer the gas/electric hybrid MP3 125 by late 2008. A prototype hybrid MP3 was unveiled in August along with the release of the Ape Calessino and the Vespa S, but no date was set for its public release. The bike features the HyS hybrid engine that’s been on test by Milan municipal vehicles since April, 2006. No word yet on whether the other HyS-equipped Vespa and Piaggio scooters will be available sooner (or at all).

Bastianelli vs. Pontedera

Ryan’s honeymoon photos from the Vespa factory and museum. The Massimiliano Fuksas’ new museum appears to be dead in the water, a museum employee told Ryan there was a new museum expected to open in late 2008 “near the factory.” Fuksas’ site doesn’t mention the project, either, so it looks like those floating red clouds were just more pre-IPO public relations hype. Bummer.

Pickitup pickitup pickitup pickitup…

I have this whole rant about how parents today think they’re so badass and hip and enlightened, when they’re really just forcing their embarassingly lame 20-year-old values on their poor kids just like every other parent before them (They Might Be Giants and IKEA are actually several notches down the hip scale from Shel Silverstein and avocado-colored appliances). But today I’ll spare you that lecture and pretend it’s cool that my Debbie-Harry-obsessed daughter watches a kids’ show that runs stuff like this.

That’s Parker Jacobs’ nifty animation for a nifty GoGo13 song that appeared on Yo Gabba Gabba, a show produced by one of the Aquabats that often features Mark Mothersbaugh and Biz Markie, neither of whom are nearly as hip as we’d like to think. But we love the show and the seeds for yet another wave (is this the seventh?) of ska are sown, and my little peanut will do anything a brother in an orange jumpsuit tells her to.

Return of the Cold Weather Challenge

Ryetronics got hitched last week and abandoned the Cold Weather Challenge, so a couple other schlubs are taking it over. They promise some big rules changes and high-tech improvements, but while we wait for that, they’ve organized a CWC kickoff ride this Sunday, November 11, 2007. Meet at The Bagel (3107 N Broadway, Chicago) for breakfast, the ride leaves at 10:30 for the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 exhibit. Admission is allegedly free in honor of the MCA’s 40th anniversary. They promise to not kill any chickens this year unless it’s absolutely necessary.