Author: Serkadis

Article Tags: ClimateGate

Penn State’s probe that mostly cleared climate change scientist Michael Mann for any wrongdoing doesn’t begin to scratch the surface, say critics.

How thoroughly did Penn State University investigate a top climate scientist who brought hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to the school? A growing number of critics say they hardly looked at all.

Penn State ended a two-month probe into the work of Michael Mann, a top climate scientist whose “hockey stick” graph of climbing world temperature helped galvanize support for the climate change movement, on Wednesday.

The probe stemmed from the release of thousands of hacked e-mails from a server at the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in England that showed the internal debate and, some say, the manipulation of data, to support the scientific underpinnings of the case for global, man-made warming of the planet. Mann’s e-mails were among those released and critics charged that he used “tricks” to make his data match studies that confirmed warming trends.

A three-person board of inquiry cleared Mann of three of four charges brought by the university that he falsified or tried to destroy data, and recommended further study on the fourth charge that his methods “deviated from accepted practices” of the scientific community.

They wrote in their report that “that there exists no credible evidence that Dr. Mann had ever engaged in, or participated in, directly or indirectly, any actions with intent to delete, conceal or otherwise destroy emails, information and/or data.”

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Source: foxnews.com

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A housekeeper who once worked for reality star Kim Kardashian is reportedly suing the Calabasas socialite over a bounced paycheck written when Kim was married to Damon Thomas in 2006.

According to TMZ.com, Isabel Hernandez claims Kim and Damon wrote her a check for $13,100 four years ago, which was returned for insufficient funds. The maid also claims she was supposed to earn $7,800 annually, but wasn’t paid in 2007 and 2008. Additionally, she’s suing for $300 for 2009. In total, Hernandez is seeking $29,000.

An attorney for Kardashian says his client divorced Thomas in 2004 and moved out in February, 2003.

Filed under: Classics, Mercedes-Benz

Located in Stuttgart, Germany, the new Mercedes-Benz museum houses more than 160 vehicles and 1,500 exhibits ranging from the company’s first cars, dating back to 1886, to the SLS AMG supercar of today. Built in 2006, the facility has accommodated no fewer than 2.8 million visitors who have had the option of taking a guided tour or browsing the car collection on their own. Unfortunately, haven’t gotten the opportunity to be included in that list of visitors yet.

Thankfully, Mercedes-Benz has unloaded nearly 100 new photos of the 16,500-square-meter facility. You can see everything from the legendary Silver Arrows, to Formula 1 racers, to beautiful pre-war cars. All are included in the gallery below, or you can even take a virtual tour of the building at the museum’s official web site.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: Mercedes-Benz museum showcases 120 years of automotive history

Pics Aplenty: Mercedes-Benz museum showcases 120 years of automotive history originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We have written earlier about TMoNews’s speculation that the HTC HD2 was coming in March, based on a Dark Project Training date on the 19th March. They have not managed to narrow down the date even further by laying their hands on this slide, which clearly shows the handset with a launch date of the 24th March.

I know some of our US readers are pretty impatient for the device to arrive, but it is clear that even in 6 weeks time the HTC HD2 will still be the best specified handset in the US.

Via WMExperts.com

Pop newcomer Ke$ha has sparked reports that she defaced the infamous Hollywood sign after she posted this short film online early Thursday.

In the video, Hollywood becomes Ke$hawood’ – thanks to some spray-painted sheets draped over the letters. It is unclear whether the prank actually happened or whether the online video is just a hoax, but Ke$ha insists the joke is for real, writing on Twitter: “HwOOD $IgN I$ oFFiciaLLY My bIZnatCH!!!!! Good work2allmyHoTCULpritss!! LOOK AT THE SIGN LA!.”

Here is another Sony product that has not gotten any attention…just yet. Sony introduced a Bravia TV with an integrated Blu-ray player something similar to what Sharp has been doing for a while now. It’s a pretty good size and solution for small areas and not at a bad price point as well. There are two models available in 32 and 40 inch sizes (KDL-32EX40B and KDL-40EX40B). Being a Bravia TV it offers all the regular features like Internet widgets, DLNA, Wi-Fi ready with an optional USB dongle, USB media player (plug in a USB device and enjoy movies, photos and music on your TV using USB playback). Not sure if this Bravia will make it to the US, but will definitely be sold in Europe. Check for all the specs here at Sony Latvia site, where we spotted it.

Now, if they made a similar awesome TV slider I own like TAV-L1 (DVD/SACD integrated within a speaker panel) only with a few design changes like: make it slimmer, offer bigger LCD panel, I’d be all over it.

Victoria Justice — who played Jamie Lynn Spears’ sidekick, Lola, on the now-defunct Nickelodeon series Zoey 101 — has landed a show of her own on Nick. In Victorious, Victoria, 16, plays Tori Vega, a talented kid attending a performing arts high school in the Hollywood Hills. The new half-hour comedy is scheduled to premiere on March 27 — right after the Kid’s Choice Awards.

The show is being produced by Dan Schneider, who previously produced Zoey, iCarly, and Drake & Josh.

There’s something very ultimate about the God of War III limited editions. For one thing, those boxes look pretty amazing, and I’m not even talking about the Pandora Box replica inside them. The mere packaging of all

Over the past few weeks, Costa Rica has been bombarded with political advertisements due to the proximity of the presidential election, which will be held on Sunday, February 7th, 2010. Because of this, the presidential candidates have been doing everything possible to attract more supporters with the main goal of winning the election. In response to this overload of media, the Costa Rican bloggers have been giving their opinions on the ads from the political parties, some of which have been featured here.

This phenomenon began when candidate Luis Fishman of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), also known as “the lesser evil,” released an ad supporting pregnant women and their children The women in the ad insult their husbands who left them alone with their children, and which the candidate responded that he will help them with the pensions that parents should give their children. The announcement was described by ridiculous by some, as well as the blogger from Hell in Costa Rica [es], who published the video of the ad and wrote the following:

Saludos queridas almas: Les dejamos esta parodia del comercial de las embarazadas cantándole al menos malo. Disfrútenlo.

The only female candidate, Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party (PLN), has released a new advertisement about her trajectory from childhood to today, which seeks to demonstrate her firmness and honesty to Costa Ricans. Cristian Cambronero of the blog Fusil de Chispas [es] also showed the ad and asked the opinion of his readers, many of whom say the ad is too boring. Cambronero provides his opinion:

Ahora sí, mi opinión: un spot sencillo, más racional que emotivo, formalmente conservador (ha sido el tono a lo largo de toda la campaña). Al igual que en el caso de los del PAC, yo habría esperado algo más “festivo”, pero no le veo nada malo como para destruirlo solo porque sí.

Finally, the candidate Ottón Solis of the Citizens Action Party (PAC) also showed new ad in recent days, inviting the youth to use their identification cards for the first time by voting for him. Solis has been trying to attract the votes of first time young voters and those who voted for him in previous elections so that he does not remain “así” (”like that” – in other words, not victorious). Once again, Cambronero of the blog Fusil de Chispas [es] published the ads, and asked opinions from his readers. Rodrigo Garnier writes:

Está bien trabajado. Ottón se ve y se siente algo diferente. Sin embargo el peso de lo hecho durante años anteriores y durante la campaña creo que no le alcanzarán, se quedará en “así”.

Although the party candidate Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement (ML) showed new ads and showed more progress, according to society, he has seemed calmer than in previous elections. This ad tries to convince Costa Rican families that a positive change in the country means improving health care and education, but always in opposition to the National Liberation Party.

Wednesday, February 3rd was the last day for political advertising and now all candidates can do is wait.

Multi-faceted entertainer Justin Timberlake is Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Man of the Year. The Grammy and Emmy award winner was roasted during a performance from the Hasty Pudding Club theatricals, the oldest college theatrical group in the nation.

J.T. participated in a skit with Harvard students dressed in drag and playing the role of Timberlake’s childhood sweetheart, singer Britney Spears, as well as singers Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals said the singer, songwriter, actor and producer was selected because he’s “one of pop culture’s most influential entertainers.” Actress Anne Hathaway was honored as Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year last week.

Timberlake is currently shooting the upcoming movie The Social Network, chronicling the early days of the Facebook social networking site — set at Harvard. The movie is expected to be released later this year.

How to Reform Our Financial System – By PAUL VOLCKER – on proprietary trading and TBTF – NY Times Opinion

Cloudy Future for Fannie and Freddie – By CHARLES DUHIGG – …  Fifteen months after Fannie and Freddie were effectively nationalized, neither the Obama administration nor Congressional leaders see a quick solution to one of the thorniest problems in American finance: how to fix the twin mortgage giants without choking the flow of credit to homeowners and dealing a blow to a still-fragile housing market. … – NY Times

U.S. to Help Banks in Distressed Areas – By SEWELL CHAN – The Treasury Department will invest up to $1 billion from the federal bank bailout fund in small banks and credit unions that make loans to small businesses in some of the communities most ravaged by the economic downturn, officials announced on Wednesday. About 210 institutions will be eligible for low-cost capital under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, created in 2008 to buy assets from troubled banks, Treasury officials said. The eligible institutions are 60 banks and thrifts with a total of $21 billion in assets and 150 credit unions with a combined $5 billion in assets. – NY Times

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Bank Director Training? – If this is not a joke, I am very very scared.  This website appears to be a training resource for bank directors made by the federal reserve.  Please go through a few of the “lessons” so that you can get a feel for my fear.  Lesson 1) What is a Bank?  Are you serious? – Surly Trader

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Barney Frank: Friend or Foe to Fannie and Freddie? – By Darryl R. Isherwood – When U.S. Rep. Barney Frank announced last month his interest in possibly abolishing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it was a stunning reversal of his years-long support of the two mortgage associations. – FOXBusiness
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Did The Obama Administration Do ANY Homework Before Announcing The Volcker Rule? – Jeff Madrick – … What is disturbing is how poorly the Volcker rule has been thought through. When first announced, it sounded like a worthy and needed step in the right direction, and a suggestion the Obama team was waking up to reality. But I also expected more sophisticated details to come.  So far, there are none. … – Clusterstock at Business Insider
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Does Anyone in Washington Know What Needs to Be Done to Create Jobs? – Paul Kasriel – Before we declare the fiscal stimulus a failure or enact yet another one, why don’t we hold judgment until the ARRA has been fully implemented. You see, according to ProPublica, as of January 25, only approximately 30% of the $580 billion allocated spending in the 2009 fiscal stimulus program has actually been disbursed to date. … – Northern Trust 
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Goldman’s (Arthur) Levitt Calls Obama’s Gimmick To Keep GSEs Off The Balance Sheet “Shades Of Enron” – Submitted by Tyler Durden – Zero Hedge

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Official says Fed might buy more mortgage-backed securities – By Neil Irwin – The Federal Reserve would consider reopening its program to support the mortgage market if interest rates spiked or the economy showed new weakness, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William C. Dudley said in two new interviews. – Washington Post

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No Turning Back on Fannie, Freddie, Lockhart Says – By Theo Francis – The U.S. investment in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may be too deep to effectively transition the mortgage-finance companies out of government control and back into the hands of private investors, their former regulator said. “I would love to figure out how to get there, but I think we may be too far along the line of government involvement,” James B. Lockhart III, who ran the Federal Housing Finance Agency and its predecessor agency from 2006 until August 2009, said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. – Bloomberg

With every installment to annual sports titles, the boxart honors are given to the athletes that made waves in their respectives sports. For UFC Undisputed 2010, that honor goes to former WWE superstar and current UFC heavyweight

For the first time since the early 1990s, the debt load of US consumers is finally dropping.  And it’s dropping at a faster rate than it ever has.

Most of this austerity is probably forced: Lending standards have (finally) tightened, 10% of the country is unemployed, and many folks have walked away from their debts.  But there are probably some lessons-learned in there, too.

Regardless of of what’s causing it, in the long-term, the debt-reduction is good: We borrowed so heavily from the early 1980s through 2007 that consumer credit soared over 100% of GDP.  Reducing this debt, and strengthening the consumer balance sheet, will eventually make the economy more healthy.

In the short term, of course, reducing our debts means spending less, because you can’t spend money you aren’t borrowing.  (The notable exception to this is when the debt is reduced via default, in which case the debt is merely transferred to the government and taxpayers via bank bailouts and subsidies).

Here’s a snapshot of the consumer debt picture from Asha Bangalore at Northern Trust:

And here, from the Fed, is US consumer debt:

And here, from Ned Davis, is consumer debt as a percent of GDP:

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Stop Freaking Out About The Deficit — It’s Just More Republican Scaremongering
• Rosenberg: Without The Consumer And Households, The Recovery Is Toast
• Lone Pine’s Steve Mandel’s Message To Investors: Stay Long, But Beware The Extended Consumer Hangover

Filed under: Etc., Bentley, Luxury

Their pricing might be different (by order of magnitude), and their vehicles might be radically different as well, but Bugatti and Bentley largely cater to the same cadre of elite clientele. The two auto marques – both subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group and both managed by the same CEO – share a common branding approach as well, so it should hardly come as any great surprise that, following Bugatti’s collaboration with Italian pensmiths Ferrari da Varese, Bentley’s gone a similar route with Tibaldi.

Fact of the matter is, like the timepiece collaboration with Breitling, Bentley and Tibaldi have been working together for several years already. We reported on one of their previous collaborations a few years ago, and now the Italian pen-maker has released their latest in honor of the new Bentley Mulsanne.

The Tibaldi for Bentley Mulsanne pen series includes roller-balls and fountain pens crafted in sterling silver and 18-karat rose gold. They feature knurled metal grips and wood trim in any of Bentley’s three veneers: dark stained vavona, burr oak or burr walnut. With a clip reminiscent of Bentley switchgear and an emblem styled after the car’s starter button, you can bet the Mulsanne pens have a feel to them as weighty as the car they’re designed to compliment. And just to gild the lily, each comes in a specially crafted wooden box to match. Have a look for yourself in the gallery below and read the details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Tibaldi]

Continue reading Write Hand Redux: Bentley Mulsanne pen by Tibaldi

Write Hand Redux: Bentley Mulsanne pen by Tibaldi originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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