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Talk of the day

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 12, 2006

Cloning cats generates more publicity than profits

Even for the most devoted pet lovers, there's a limit to how far they will go to have their favorite feline or canine for life. Genetic Savings & Clone, a biotechnology company that sold cloned pets, sent letters to its customers last month informing them it will close at the end of the year because of little demand for cloned cats. The company had recently reduced the price from $50,000 to $32,000. The letters said the Sausalito, Calif., company was not accepting new orders for clones because it was "unable to develop the technology to the point that cloning pets is commercially viable." The company was launched by billionaire and University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, who had hoped to have his hunting dog, Missy, cloned - a feat that was never accomplished. Since the company opened for business in 2000, it was behind the creation of five cloned cats, but sold only two to paying customers.

White Sox fan? You'll know what time the game starts

The Chicago White Sox will start weeknight home games at 7:11 p.m. under a sponsorship deal struck with the convenience store chain. Scott Reifert of the White Sox would not disclose the value of the three-year deal with 7-Eleven Inc. The new 7:11 p.m. start time does not represent a drastic change since many weeknight games at U.S. Cellular Field start at 7:07 p.m., Reifert said. "Every time the media announces the game's start time it will be a gentle reminder of our sponsorship," Margaret Chabris of 7-Eleven said.

Battery-powered car idea keeps chugging along

The battery-powered electric car isn't dead yet. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said in Tokyo on Wednesday that it would introduce the third generation of its battery-powered electric car Oct. 23. The research vehicle will be tested by two Japanese power companies beginning in January. The car is based on Mitsubishi's popular four-seat minicar, the i. Mitsubishi says the electric car has a top speed of 80 mph and can travel 80 to 100 miles on a single charge. Most major automakers have dumped that technology - exemplified in the United States by General Motors Corp.'s defunct EV-1 - and are attempting to develop hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles that use on-board electrochemical power plants to convert hydrogen to electricity.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 23:53:14]