There used to be free parking near our local REI, underneath the freeway. They just installed solar-powered parking meters there.

Notice I said, “under the freeway.” Apparently the geniuses at the City of Portland who replaced all the old parking meters with the new, solar powered “SmartMeters,” also have to pull out the batteries and recharge them on a regular schedule. Somehow I don’t think they’re ever going to make back the money they spent on the meters, but that’s progress, I guess.