Google Releases New Web Browser

Google has released its own Web browser called “Chrome.” The browser is free of cost and it supposedly is more innovative and has more tools for surfing than its competitors. It is going to be available today for downloading in more than 100 countries for computers that are running on Microsoft's Windows operating system.

XM Satellite and Sirius Completes Merger

XM Satellite and Sirius Satellite Radio have completed their merger. The merged company will change its name to Sirius XM Radio Inc. Their stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol SIRI. The company now has more than 18.5 million subscribers and expects to save about $400 million in costs in 2009.

The High Costs of Raising Children

It is found that the average cost of raising a child to the age of 21 is $338,000. Providing shelter will cost about $105,000 until the age of 18. Food will cost about $41,400 and health care costs will be about $17,400. The overall average cost also includes the cost of college.

GM Introduces New Hybrid Pickups

General Motors will introduce a new hybrid full-size pickup and a concept hybrid truck this week at the Chicago Auto Show. The company says that the 2009 GMC Sierra hybrid gives 25 percent more in fuel economy and you don’t have to lose anything in performance. The Sierra is also the next large GM vehicle to get the new two-mode hybrid system. The GMC Denali XT concept gives 50 percent more in fuel economy than most other small pickups. The SUV hybrids are suppose to be on the market early this year and the Sierra is suppose to be on the market at the end of 2008.

Two-mode hybrid cars run without the gas engine at low speeds and at higher speeds the electric motor gives more power. A two-mode system is good for towing.

Hybrid vehicles initially cost more but drivers can driver longer distances before the car needs to be refueled so you can save money in the long run. Small businesses can take advantage of the government tax breaks for hybrids.

Child Born With Four Arms and Four Legs

In India, a team of 13 surgeons have started operating on a two year old girl named Lakshmi Tatama who was born with four arms and four legs. She had a parasitic twin that stopped developing after birth. The twins are joined at the pelvis and both have a pair of arms and legs but only Lakshmi has a head. Her parents see her as a reincarnation of a Hindu goddess but she needs the operation if she is going to live past her adolescent years. The operation will last for 40 hours and the family isn’t being charged anything for any of the costs.

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