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September 30. 2005

Nissan's new concept car: a rotating egg on wheels

By Reuters | September 30, 2005

TOKYO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Tired of all those three-point turns? Nissan Motor Co. could have a solution. Japan's second-biggest auto maker has developed a concept car featuring an egg-shaped cabin atop a wheeled platform that can swivel around 360 degrees, doing away with the need to reverse when emerging from narrow spaces.

"With this feature, parking in tight spots is a cinch," chief designer Masato Inoue told reporters at a sneak preview of the bubble-shaped, three-seater electric car this week.

The car, named Pivo after the word "pivot," operates on an experimental system called drive-by-wire, which eliminates the mechanical linkages between cabin and chassis to enable steering, braking and shifting through electronic signals.

The system is the car's version of fly-by-wire technology, which has controlled commercial jets for more than a decade.

Nissan will showcase the Pivo at the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public on Oct. 22.

At the preview this week in Zama city, near Tokyo, a driver slid the 2.7-metre (8-foot) long Pivo into a tight imaginary parking spot, then rotated the cabin with the push of a button to face "backwards" to come out of the space in one motion.

"With the Pivo concept, we want to demonstrate the myriad possibilities that drive-by-wire could achieve," Inoue said. [...]

Other auto makers such as General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG have also developed drive-by-wire concept cars featuring cabin interiors that resemble cockpits.

Hmmm. And the golf clubs go...?

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September 29, 2005

Skype

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I thought the dot com bubble had burst until ebay bought Skype for a frothy $2.6 billion. For our American readers who haven’t heard of the company, Skype provides downloadable software to make voice communications over the internet.

Although computer-to-computer calls are free, international computer-to-phone calls (SkypeOut) cost in the range of two cents per minute. In addition, the company sells voice mail and “SkypeIn”, a service that allows users to receive calls though a personalized phone number via their internet service provider.

Amazingly, Skype has amassed more than 54 million customers in an industry that Google and Microsoft are still scrambling to figure out. And, with Skype's projected revenue of $60 million this year it looks like Ebay bought much more than a promise (this is no "dot com").

So, do you Skype?

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(via hyscience)

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September 28, 2005

In search of ... A perfect $10

WASHINGTON — Hooray for the red, yellow and orange! Those are the colors featured on the newly redesigned $10 bill, the third currency denomination to add splashes of color to the traditional green of U.S. currency.

Some 800 million of the new bills will be put into circulation starting early next year in the government’s latest effort to stay ahead of tech-savvy counterfeiters.

"The craftsmanship that goes into our currency is unmatched anywhere in the world. So is our commitment to safe-guarding that currency," said Treasury Secretary John Snow, who participated in an unveiling ceremony on Ellis Island in the New York harbor.

The location was selected to highlight one of the bill’s new features — a red image of the Statue of Liberty’s torch on the left side of a revised portrait of Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the Treasury, who is shown without the traditional oval frame around his portrait. Thomas A. Ferguson, the director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which produces all U.S. paper money, said the government plans to redesign the currency every seven to 10 years to keep ahead of counterfeiters armed with ever more sophisticated devices.

The makeover of the $10 bill follows similar colorization of the $20 bill in 2003 and the $50 bill last year. Plans call for the $100 bill to be redesigned in 2007, a rollout delayed so more security features can be added to the favorite denomination of counterfeiters outside the United States. There are no plans to change the $1, $2 and $5 bills.

Since 1995, digitally produced counterfeit notes have increased from less than 1 percent of those detected in the United States to about 54 percent.

Is it just me, or is ol' AH sporting a major makeover? The "colonial metrosexual" look?

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September 28, 2005

Sea Monster 'Caught' on Tape

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At one time sailors who braved the mysterious seas in the great age of sailing ships continually brought back reports of giant sea monsters large enough to bring down an entire craft. Such reports of giant creatures with tentacles were ridiculed and scoffed at by scientists as fables by homesick and disillusioned men that defied the "laws of nature."

While the existence of these great sea monsters has now been well established, a pair of Japanese scientists have photographed for the first time in the wild a live 25-foot giant squid, one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep-sea. The Architeuthis is shown in pictures attacking a baited fishing line off the Ogasawara Islands.

Giant squid are carnivorous mollusks that have a long, torpedo shaped body. At one end, surrounding a beak-like mouth strong enough to cut through steel cable, are five pairs of arms. One pair, thinner and longer than the rest, are used to catch food and bring it to the mouth. Just past the mouth are the eyes. Eyes that are the largest in the animal kingdom, getting as big as eighteen inches across.

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(via hyscience)

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September 26, 2005

Otherworld

Technology and nature blend together seamlessly to create a breezy and soothingly upbeat vibe in 1st Ave Machine's latest creation, SIXES LAST, a music video for the artist Alias, who is currently signed with record label Anticon. Taken off the musician’s album MUTED, the video debuted at RESFEST in September 2005 in the Cinema Electronica Showcase.

Blurring the line between fantasy and reality, SIXES LAST explores the beauty of nature and human innovation. A visually stunning piece taking into consideration both the importance of color and shapes, 1st Ave Machine focused on the integration of the artificial and organic.

The video opens with sleek white worm-like shapes zipping in and out of various donut-shaped forms growing along the side of a tree like contemporary-styled ornaments. The documentary-inspired piece continues with its lustrous technology-infused nature theme as the heart of its visual aesthetic.

"It is about is how artificiality is creeping into the modern day world," said director Arvind Palep. "We were looking at a merge between synthetic biology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and what could spawn from them."

Essentially creating an alien nature, the video dabbles in the ideas of evolution and undiscovered terrain. Viewers are able to explore uncharted plant life forms compliments of the imaginative minds of 1st Ave. Machine’s and New York's botanical gardens. Given complete creative freedom, the company lensed the entire concept. [...]

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September 24, 2005

Pixel Envy

Marvel. Because there is nothing quite like it. With 5 widescreen UltraSpeed™ LCD Panels featuring resolutions of up to a mammoth 19200 x 2400 Pixels, the new Athens Display Series brings desktop views and resolutions to unheard of new heights. The all-new Athens Display Series is exclusively custom-built in an all-aluminum design, breaking grounds in every engineering and design detail, making every other monitor out there look like... well... just monitors.

Bringing your computing graphics and pro visuals to a whole new level, the new Athens Display Series are breathtakingly designed, maximizing both their enclosure size and the flexibility of positioning where physical space is at a premium. Under 2.5" thin, they are the ultimate adrenaline rush for the hardcore graphics professional, the high-end home theatre user and the multi-panel and presentation business environments.

Available with future upgradeability like Bluetooth Wireless connectivity, they represent ideal tool for creative professionals for when display space maximization and image quality are absolute priorities, delivering resolutions of up to 19200 x 2400 pixels and 16.7 million colors in an ultra-wide color gamut, allied to a super wide viewing angle, and bringing you out-of-this-world incredible color fidelity and an ultra fast pixel response.

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September 23, 2005

Pour Behavior

A tasting-room veteran offers some no-bull wine-tasting tips for Generation Next. For your own sake, abide.

By Ella Lawrence

Merlot and chardonnay are easy varietals to pronounce, which is probably why they're the Top 2 selling wines in America. Harder to say are pinot noir, syrah, sauvignon blanc. And unless you've got some background in wine snobbery, you don't dare try to order sangiovese, marsanne or viognier.

How to find out more about wine without embarrassing yourself in front of your dinner date as your waiter rolls his eyes and haughtily sighs, "It's pronounced Vee-on-yay, Sir"? Head to one of the many wineries around Santa Cruz County and the entire state.

California has become a virtual mecca of wineries, both boutique and corporate, in the last 10 years, and most of these places will have tasting rooms in addition to winemaking facilities. [...]

In order to maximize the wine-tasting experience, this sometimes-surly-tattooed-hipster-tasting-room-employee-turned-writer has come up with a list of dos and don'ts for tasting-room etiquette, gathered from a number of tasting-room employees, hereon referred to as "tastrons."  

Continue reading

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September 22, 2005

Liquid Sculpture

Liquid Sculpture is the process of creating shapes by dropping and splashing water, or other liquids. These sculptures are then photographed, since they last only a few thousandths of a second. Creating and capturing these engaging forms requires careful manipulation of the materials and precise control of the lighting and timing...

These sculptures (splashes) come in endless varieties. Their specific natures arise from the timing and position of the drops, exactly when they are photographed, and the qualities of the liquid. The behavior of the liquid is determined by its surface tension, density, and viscosity...

Liquid Sculpture images are mostly (though not necessarily) recognizable as liquid splashes, but they also provide engaging metaphors. The forms are as intriguing to the eye as they are provocative to the mind.

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September 21, 2005

Nerd TV

Robert Cringley’s new series, NerdTV, is well worth some of your spare time. Cringley calls it, "Pete Rose for nerds... only without the table... and, of course, Pete isn't here..." The format is casual with a nice mix of history and commentary. Call it continuing education if you must, but it's very entertaining.

His first guest was Andy Hertzfeld, a member of the original Macintosh team. I watched it over the weekend and found it enjoyable, filled with history, unique perspective and anecdotes. With guests like Andy, Max Levchin and Bill Joy already in the can, and scheduled appearances by Steve Wozniac and Linus Torlvolds, among others, the show will surely be a success.

A PBS production, NerdTV provides viewing choices: direct download or bit torrent in a variety of formats, even podcast. So you can watch whenever you want, pause for breaks, or watch it in smaller pieces. The content is first rate, and the delivery format makes it an enjoyable experience I recommend to anyone interested in technology's evolution and future.

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September 20, 2005

The H2R...

...BMW says it will introduce a "duel fuel" version during the current run of its 7-Series. That's the foreseeable future, folks!

BMW unveiled the world's fastest hydrogen-powered car last year about this time. The H2R exceeds speeds of 185 miles per hour, runs on a modified 12-cylinder combustion engine, and emits nothing but steam.

Cool! Of course, the oil companies will most likely control the sale of hydrogen through their current distribution channels... Uh oh.

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September 20, 2005

The Emmys (yawn). So just who is Tess Smith?

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September 19, 2005

Redskins at Dallas tonight...

                                                                                Image via Webskins.org

The Cowboys are 38-27 on MNF and tonight against Washington can tie Miami (39-32) for the NFL lead in wins on Monday night. And they're 24-9 in home openers at Texas Stadium. In his last eight starts (seven for Buffalo and one for Dallas), Drew Bledsoe has a 7-1 record with 14 TD passes and 6 interceptions... But the Redskins have allowed 18 points or fewer in their last seven games (4-3 record).

So, a low scoring game with Dallas edging the skins by five as predicted? Maybe not. The Skins really want this one. Look for them to blitz often and sack Bledsoe a half dozen times.

UPDATE: Redskins Edge Cowboys 14-13!

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September 19, 2005

Ayyyy matey, it be...

Click on th' image fer more information an' t' learn t' talk like a buccaneer, ya scurvy cur whut deserves th' black spot!

An' here be some information linkin' global warmin' t' th' decreasin' number o' sea dogs, ya scallywag who ortin' t' be keel hauled!

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September 17, 2005

Kerry Demands Silver Star for Piloting Swift Boat Through New Orleans
by Jeremy Robb

WASHINGTON, DC --- John Kerry contacted the Pentagon today to request a Silver Star for a recent swift boat mission he ran through the streets of New Orleans.  While the Pentagon claims the mission was unauthorized, Kerry claims it was a secret mission approved by the highest levels of the government.

"I clearly remember listening to the radio and hearing President Bush deny that swift boats were in New Orleans," said Kerry.  "And there I was on a swift boat in New Orleans.  Dodging bullets.  Scanning the shore for enemy fire and mortar attack.  The band aid on my hand covers a wound I received while moving too quickly on deck for a photo op and scraping against the railing."

Sean Penn tried to join Kerry on his own swift boat, but it sank before leaving dock.  Penn forgot to put the plug in the bottom of the boat and refused to stuff his Communist flag in the hole to prevent flooding.

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September 16, 2005

XP users beware... 

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Another reason why Firefox should be your browser:

A flaw has been discovered in Microsoft's Internet Explorer that could launch a remote attack on systems running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, according to an advisory issued Thursday by security firm eEye Digital Security.

The flaw, which also affects systems running Windows XP, is found in the default installations of IE, according to eEye's advisory.

"The flaw is not wormable but allows for the remote execution (of code) with some level of end-user intervention," said Mike Puterbaugh, eEye's senior director of product marketing.

The discovery of this IE flaw comes just over a month after the software giant issued a cumulative patch addressing three vulnerabilities for IE.

The new IE flaw also adds to another vulnerability, discovered last month, that affects systems using Windows XP SP2.

Microsoft's Windows XP with SP2 is designed to make it more difficult for attackers to run malicious software on users' computers.

Microsoft was not available for immediate comment...

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(Via Scott)

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September 16, 2005

Grilling

The grilling continues and Roberts stands tall. The man is brilliant; he's going to make a great Chief Justice. If you're keeping score, Michelle Malkin is following the proceedings. I think the Dems are ready to throw in the towel...

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September 15, 2005

Cindy Sheehan Moving to New Orleans to Recapture Media Attention
by Jeremy Robb

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana --- Cindy Sheehan announced plans to move to New Orleans in order to make the media pay attention to her again.  The protester admitted that she is going through withdrawals and depression since the media stopped listening to her and focused on Hurricane Katrina.

"My story is important," said Cindy. "More important than a few dead people killed by Bush's global warming-induced hurricane. Bush has killed millions of people in Iraq, and the media needs to start listening to me again. Maybe now that I'm in New Orleans I'll get the attention I deserve again."

Cindy is currently on a waiting list to move to New Orleans now that other forgotten politicians and celebrities are rushing to the city for more press coverage. Al Gore and Sean Penn expressed support for Cindy but were concerned she would derail their attempt to get noticed again while they are in New Orleans. (Read the article)

(Via Chronwatch)

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September 15, 2005

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September 14, 2005

AMAZING!

I enjoy unusual art forms. This "sand art" performance is of the highest caliber. It's big, so it may require broadband...

Hat tip to Michael

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September 14, 2005

Bush Sells Louisiana Back to the French

BATON ROUGE, LA. – The White House announced today that President Bush has successfully sold the state of Louisiana back to the French at more than double its original selling price of $11,250,000.

“This is a bold step forward for America,” said Bush. “And America will be stronger and better as a result. I stand here today in unity with French Prime Minister Jack Shiraq, who was so kind to accept my offer of Louisiana in exchange for 25 million dollars cash.”

The state, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, will cost hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild.

“Jack understands full well that this one’s a ‘fixer upper,’” said Bush. “He and the French people are quite prepared to pump out all that water, and make Louisiana a decent place to live again. And they’ve got a lot of work to do. But Jack’s assured me, if it’s not right, they’re going to fix it.” (...)  Continue reading

[BS News]

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September 13, 2005

River Cats Lose Heartbreaker in Series Finale

The Sacramento River Cats lost a heart-breaker to the Tacoma Rainiers in game five of the PCL’s Pacific Conference Championship Series, 5-2, Sunday night at Raley Field. Tacoma scored 3 runs in the 11th Inning to advance to the League Championship Series endind the Cats' bid for a Three-peat. Next year, guys.

We enjoyed some good games and fun family times this season. This photo was taken by Shannon Sinclair from our seats behind home plate. Let's do it again next year!

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September 12, 2005

And on a lighter note...

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W Cuts Vacation Short

"It was widely reported that GWB cut short his most recent vacation and that he had recruited his father to assist with the relief effort in areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. Here's the rest of the story!"

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At least that's the way the above photo was captioned by Larry when I received it. But I suspect the photo may be a fake! I mean, everyone knows it's not striper season...!

Thanks Larry!

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September 11, 2005

A day for remembering...

Click on the image to watch Jim Byers' "Blood of Heroes" (Requires Flash player.)

Then listen to this. (MP3)

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September 9, 2005

A provocative article from The Intellectual Activist.

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An Unnatural Disaster: A Hurricane Exposes the Man-Made Disaster of the Welfare State

by Robert Tracinski

September 2, 2005

It took four long days for state and federal officials to figure out how to deal with the disaster in New Orleans. I can't blame them, because it also took me four long days to figure out what was going on there. The reason is that the events there make no sense if you think that we are confronting a natural disaster.

If this is just a natural disaster, the response for public officials is obvious: you bring in food, water, and doctors; you send transportation to evacuate refugees to temporary shelters; you send engineers to stop the flooding and rebuild the city's infrastructure. For journalists, natural disasters also have a familiar pattern: the heroism of ordinary people pulling together to survive; the hard work and dedication of doctors, nurses, and rescue workers; the steps being taken to clean up and rebuild.

Public officials did not expect that the first thing they would have to do is to send thousands of armed troops in armored vehicle, as if they are suppressing an enemy insurgency. And journalists—myself included—did not expect that the story would not be about rain, wind, and flooding, but about rape, murder, and looting.

But this is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made disaster.

The man-made disaster is not an inadequate or incompetent response by federal relief agencies, and it was not directly caused by Hurricane Katrina. This is where just about every newspaper and television channel has gotten the story wrong.

The man-made disaster we are now witnessing in New Orleans did not happen over four days last week. It happened over the past four decades. Hurricane Katrina merely exposed it to public view.

The man-made disaster is the welfare state. [...]

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Read the entire article

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September 8, 2005

Drowning New Orleans

Who could have predicted a disaster of this magnitude?

Indeed.

Turns out a lot of folks. New Orleans has been a disaster waiting to happen for decades, yet Louisiana has callously ignored the warnings. In fact, city and state governments have made matters even worse.

"New Orleans is a disaster waiting to happen..."

 

"If a big, slow-moving hurricane crossed the Gulf of Mexico on the right track, it would drive a sea surge that would drown New Orleans under twenty feet of water..."

Mark Fischetti penned an article in Scientific American four years ago that explained the problem in chilling detail. If you want to get to the bottom line regarding this massive disaster, you should read it. Click on the image to download the entire article in pdf format.

And what of rebuilding? First "fill the bathtub" with land fill? Or rebuild it as it was, gambling that hurricanes never strike twice in the same place?

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September 7, 2005

So long, little buddy...

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'Gilligan's Island' star Bob Denver dies
Dennis McLellan,  Los Angeles Times

Bob Denver, who shot to fame on television in the late 1950s playing beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" but achieved cult status in the '60s starring as the lovably inept first mate on "Gilligan's Island," has died at 70.

Denver, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery earlier this year, died Friday of complications from treatment he was receiving for cancer at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital in North Carolina, said his agent, Mike Eisenstadt.

A graduate of Loyola University in Los Angeles (now Loyola Marymount University) with a degree in political science, Denver had worked as a part-time teacher, sports coach and mailman before landing his role on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," the popular situation comedy starring Dwayne Hickman. As Maynard, the bongo-playing, goateed, beatnik, Denver was the polar opposite of Hickman's crew-cut, buttoned-down "typical" American teenager, Dobie.

"The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" aired from 1959 to 1963. But it was Denver's role on "Gilligan's Island" that endeared him to generations of TV fans. The series ran on CBS from 1964 to 1967 but has aired continuously in syndication since then.

Denver, who was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., left Los Angeles in the '70s. After many years living in Las Vegas, he moved to Princeton, W.Va., in the 1990s with his most recent wife, Dreama Denver. They co-hosted an oldies radio show.

Dreama and his children, Patrick, Megan, Emily and Colin, were with him when he died. He also is survived by a granddaughter.

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...We'll miss you.

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September 6, 2005

Sean Penn to the Rescue!

(via ALMTTR)

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EFFORTS by Hollywood actor Sean Penn to aid New Orleans victims stranded by Hurricane Katrina foundered badly overnight, when the boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.

Penn had planned to rescue children waylaid by Katrina’s flood waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch. The actor, known for his political activism, was seen wearing what appeared to be a white flak jacket and frantically bailing water out of the sinking vessel with a red plastic cup.

With the boat loaded with members of Penn’s entourage, including a personal photographer, one bystander taunted the actor: “How are you going to get any people in that thing?” 

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Local, state and federal authorities have said repeatedly not to come to the city to help as it makes official efforts more difficult. But it would appear Mr. Penn was unable to resist the photo-op. And forgetting the transom plug? Priceless!  [Herald Sun]

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September 1, 2005

 Gas Panic

Gas prices jumped by more than 50 cents in some states following the destruction of refineries and pipelines along the Gulf Coast. Georgia is hit hardest, where gas nears the $6 mark in some areas.

"We don't have a shortage of gasoline. We have a delivery problem," said Bill Weatherspoon, executive director of the North Carolina Petroleum Council, which represents major retailers that get gasoline from the pipelines.

In Georgia, a few gas stations were charging as much as $6 per gallon Wednesday after other retailers had run out of gas and long lines were reported across the state. In response, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed an executive order authorizing state sanctions against gas retailers who gouge consumers. Read more...

I think it's time to freeze gas prices, at least temporarily. And while we're at it, let's stop social services to illegal aliens. And suspend foreign aid! Geez, we could rebuild the Gulf Coast AND eliminate the deficit...