I always wanted to have a Vespa. *Buys* [Born Rich]

Business Insider posted an interesting chart of Apple Mac sales with an eye on Windows releases. BI's quoted analysts claim that Mac sales shoot up with the introduction of each new version of Windows—which would be an interesting statistic, if it were at all true. We're not sure which chart they're looking at, but to us, there's absolutely no such trend. In fact, the reverse might even be true: Apple's sales have generally been increasing since a low point in mid-2000, but Apple sales have actually decreased in the quarter immediately following the release of Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

Braodpoint analyst Brian Marshall sees that as a "delayed accelerant." How do I see it? I think Marshall is looking for a specific conclusion which the data doesn't bear out, even a little. Mac sales have just been increasing in general since mid-2000, and there's absolutely no indication that Windows releases have had any positive effect on those numbers. [Business Insider]

Texas Instruments' graphing calculators are the standard in high schools and colleges, and enthusiastic users have long been writing alternate firmware to unlock the potential of the calculator's hardware. For some reason, TI sees that as some kind of war gesture, and is seeking to stamp out the alternate firmware and those who make and use it. They even went so far as to ask MAKE to take down a post on the subject, and now the Electronic Frontier Foundation is hitting back at TI. The EFF is warning TI that they will not take TI's "baseless legal threats" lying down, and intends to fight them wholeheartedly. The (super nerdy) game is on, people. [MAKE]

This is a rocking horse made from a Vespa scooter. There's not much more to say about that, except congratulations, kid: You won the grandpa lottery. [LikeCool via Crunchgear]

The Naval Research Laboratory's Ion Tiger, a 37-pound, hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered UAV, managed to stay aloft for a whopping 23 hours and 17 minutes, unofficially a world record. It's powered by a 550-Watt, 0.75-horsepower fuel cell, which apparently provides 7 times the power of an equivalent-sized battery and 4 times that of a combustion engine. See, even tiny battle robots can be environmentally conscious! [Science Daily via Pop Sci]

Craftsman Carlos Alberto came across a Vespa that was in complete disrepair, so he gutted it and carved a body from wood—which he then coated in a multitude of beautiful steam-molded veneers. Stunning stuff. But am I the only one who takes a look at those wheels and imagines little roulette tables? [Carpintaria Carlos Alberto via Jalopnik]

Going more than 60MPH on this freakish little scooter is somewhat terrifying, but when it comes to plug-in hybrid technology pretty much any progress is welcome. Actual plug-in hybrid cars, like the admittedly attractive Volt, are still a long way off, so this'll do for now. The MP3 Hybrid should be on the road by next year. NOTE: I have been informed by a number of readers that the original MP3 scooter is, in fact, "Rad." So there's that. [Autopia]

But to a lanky...ok, kinda fat...6'1" American male like myself, Vespas more often equate with looking like a tool. Luckily for me, I can take the Italian love affair to my desk with the 1946 Vespa Clock. Manufactured from an authentic vintage headlamp, this AA-powered timepiece captures the elegant Vespa style without housing my bulgy, less intended curvature. $178 – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via newlaunches]

2006 Vespa 150cc Custom Installation [Aut Nav 2000]
Magellan RoadMate 760 on a 2006 150cc Vespa [Navigadget]

Vespa Unveils Two Hybrid Scooters [Retro Thing]