The owner's manual recommends replacing the timing belt at 90, 000 miles or nine years.

WSJ: Cars With a Higher Clearance

Is it really necessary to replace the timing belt after nine years, even though the miles are still so much less than 90, 000?

WSJ: Cars With a Higher Clearance

In fact, this bicycle doesn't use any metal parts at all -- the solid tires are made of reconstituted rubber and a car timing belt is used instead of a chain.

ENGADGET: Cardboard bicycle 'close to mass production': tough, green and just $20

My dad was an engineer and I spent countless hours tinkering with him on the DIY projects he had going on around our house, from using an oscilloscope and hand tools, to being allowed to drive the tractor, learning how to set spark plugs and change a timing belt, swapping out alternators, building a computer and soldering circuit paths on to an early motherboard .

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The idea is either a perfect nexus of opportunity and timing, or as some in the Sun Belt believe just another longshot attempt by a cold and downtrodden region to reverse history.

WSJ: Great Lakes region pins economic hopes on water

The regime has proposed needed spending cuts, but its timing is awful -- there is not much political support for belt-tightening when people's standard of living is suffering.

FORBES: Fact and Comment