Author: Serkadis

Matthew Broderick has landed his own television sitcom.

The Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star is making the transition to the small screen in Beach Lane, a new comedy premiering on NBC next fall.

The father of three — who is married to actress Sarah Jessica Parker — will play celebrity author who is hired to revive a flagging small-town newspaper, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Broderick was approached for the role last year, but only agreed to star in the series after reading the final script.

What? Did Intel release a new processor or something? HP is just the latest PC vendor to make the Core i7 jump as it plans to put its new TouchSmart 600 Quad series up for sale starting today. The beefed up 23-inch all-in-one starts at $1,699 with options for a 1.6GHz Core i7 720QM or 1.73GHz Core i7 820QM Intel quad-core processor. Otherwise, the rest of the specs remain unchanged for this Windows 7 AIO. Still, if you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger since hearing about this update from our December leaks, well, keep refreshing that source link boy, it’ll be available shortly.

HP TouchSmart 600 Quad series does the Core i7 thing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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People sure do like getting something for nothing. Since Nokia made the big move to stop charging for its walk and drive navigation last week, 1.4 million of us have downloaded the Ovi Maps software — on average, that’s a download a second since launch. The response has been so good that it’s exceeded Nokia’s expectations according to Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia Executive Vice President, with China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain representing the top 5 downloaders. Hardly a surprise to see consumers responding so favorably to a free offering that makes a device you already have (your smartphone) that much smarter even if it does make your dedicated satnav somewhat mostly redundant. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading Ovi Maps downloaded 1.4 million times in first week since going free

Ovi Maps downloaded 1.4 million times in first week since going free originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stefan GP really means business, as the Serbian team doesn’t seem to let go their desire to be part of the Formula One championship from as early as the season opening round in Bahrain. According to the team’s latest press release, their newly purchased car from Toyota F1 Team will hit the track for testing later this month.

To be more precise, the first testing session with the Stefan S-01 – official designation of the former Toyota TF110, which the team bought from the Japanese manufacturer… (read more)

While General Motors goes further with its restructuring plan for Opel, the German government demands the US-based manufacturer to contribute with more money before receiving state loans to fund the process. According to Bloomberg News, the German economy minister traveled to the United States this week to meet with treasury secretary Timothy Geithner and discuss the matter.

Up until now, General Motors said it will contribute to Opel’s restructuring with 600 million Euros but also asked the … (read more)

These days, most automakers that still have some cash to promote their models are preparing their new ads for the Super Bowl. Despite the trend, Honda decided its time to draw some attention to the Honda Odyssey, so the Japanese launched a new ad for this model which is not made especially for the Super Bowl.

The latest ad for 2010 Honda Odyssey has a simple message: If your kids can imagine it, we can build it." The men responsible for the ad are Salvador Veloso and Marco Vega, Creative… (read more)

In response to the appeal made by former US President Bill Clinton for the automotive industry to pull ranks and provide at least 100 trucks for the shattered Haiti, German carmaker Daimler announced it will donate 20 Fuso Canter trucks.

Everyone who looks at the images coming out of Haiti is asking himself, ‘What can I do?’ And trucks are what we do best. That’s why we’re giving the helpers in Haiti 20 trucks worth over half a million euros," Andreas Renschler Daimler board membe… (read more)

Oh dear, Richard Cohen’s gonna have to make a Costco run for depends.

In a letter to congressional leaders sent Monday night, White House adviser John Brennan, the assistant to President Obama for homeland security and counterterrorism, argued that President Obama had made “significant improvements to the detainee review process” under President Bush and pointed out that all the former detainees released or transferred who have returned to terrorist activities were released or transferred under President Bush.

Oh, and the whines of consternation about the Nigerian underwear bomber getting read his Miranda Rights?

Republicans may have a hard time keeping up their talking point about how reading Miranda rights to the Christmas Day bomber represented a dangerous new direction under President Barack Obama.

It turns out that that back in December 2001, Richard Reid — the “shoe bomber” — was read or reminded of his Miranda rights four times in two days, beginning five minutes after being taken into custody.

Meanwhile, despite the desires of Cohen, and every right-wing sadists, er, every Republican from Bill Kristol to Susan Collins, it appears that torturing a guy just isn’t as affective as those boring old traditional non-abusive interrogation techniques:

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit on Dec. 25, started talking to investigators after two of his family members arrived in the United States and helped earn his cooperation, a senior administration official said Tuesday evening.

And that was after he was given his Miranda rights and everything.

The real tragedy in all this, of course, is that not torturing people deprives Dick Cheney of a rare boner.

By Cari Tuna, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

While some of the latest government wage data appears to show that Silicon Valley’s high-tech workers are making more now than they did in 2000, a closer look at the numbers shows that’s not exactly the case.

High-tech employees in Silicon Valley – including semiconductor, computer and software makers, Internet workers and scientific-research-and-development workers, among others – earned $130,700 per person in 2009, based on annualized wage data from the first half of last year, compared with $120,100 in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But adjusted for inflation, such workers made just $105,500 apiece in 2009 based on annualized data, or 12.2 percent less than those in 2000, the BLS said Tuesday as it released a report on trends in high-tech wages and employment since the dot-com area.

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By Andy Pasztor

(Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2010) The White House has decided to begin funding private companies to carry NASA astronauts into space, but the proposal faces major political and budget hurdles, according to people familiar with the matter.  The controversial proposal, expected to be included in the Obama administration’s next budget, would open a new chapter in the U.S. space program. The goal is to set up a multiyear, multi-billion-dollar initiative allowing private firms, including some start-ups, to compete to build and operate spacecraft capable of ferrying U.S. astronauts into orbit—and eventually deeper into the solar system.  Congress is likely to challenge the concept’s safety and may balk at shifting dollars from existing National Aeronautics and Space Administration programs already hurting for funding to the new initiative. The White House’s ultimate commitment to the initiative is murky, according to these people, because the budget isn’t expected to outline a clear, long-term funding plan.

The White House’s NASA budget also envisions stepped-up support for climate-monitoring and environmental projects, along with enhanced international cooperation across both manned and unmanned programs.

Press officials for NASA and the White House have declined to comment. Industry and government officials have talked about the direction of the next NASA budget, but declined to be identified.

The idea of outsourcing a portion of NASA’s manned space program to the private sector gained momentum after recommendations from a presidential panel appointed last year. The panel, chaired by former Lockheed Martin Corp. Chairman Norman Augustine, argued that allowing companies to build and launch their own rockets and spacecraft to carry American astronauts into orbit would save money and also free up NASA to focus on more ambitious, longer-term goals.  Click here to read more…

Lady Gaga is honoring her fans with a new ink. The Grammy winner TwitPic’d a snapshot of her new tattoo on Twitter Tuesday.

The etching on the inside of her left arm reads “Little Monsters” — Gaga’s affectionate term for her fans.

“Look what i did last night. little monsters forever, on the arm that holds my mic. xx….” she Tweeted.

Interactive media company NeuStep and the Chicago Automobile Trade Association announced they plan to provide the illusion of depth perception to all car enthusiasts. The two companies will launch a web-based, 3D interactive tour of the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, offering virtual visitors the feeling of a real experience.
 
The Chicago Auto Show and NeuStep will collaborate for the third consecutive year for a web-based, interactive experience, only this time it will be a 3D glimpse of automotive… (read more)

Out of all of the risk factors for heart disease, high cholesterol risk factors are probably one of the easier ones to modify. High cholesterol levels, especially if left undiagnosed, can deposit on the walls of your arteries through a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis forms a waxy plaque on the walls of arteries and can limit blood flow to vital organs and tissues. Many factors can place you at risk for high cholesterol. Although most of these factors can be modified through changing your lifestyle, some risk factors cannot be changed.

The following circumstances are risk factors associated with high cholesterol levels:

Poor diet – A diet high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fats and low in fiber is a recipe for high cholesterol levels. If you want to keep your cholesterol levels low, be sure to eat foods that are low in fat and high in soluble fiber. Examples of foods to include in your diet include vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, since these foods are high in fiber and other nutrients needed by your body. Some foods you may want to avoid include chips, pastries, cookies, and other sweets. These generally contain foods that are high in saturated fats, which can raise your cholesterol levels.

Sedentary lifestyle – Sitting in front of the television or computer scores no points when it comes to keeping your cholesterol low. Exercise -– whether it is aerobic or low impact –- is the key in lowering your risk of having high cholesterol.

Age – Your age also matters when it comes to your risk of having high cholesterol levels. The older you get, your risk of having high cholesterol increases.

Smoking – If you are smoking, quit now. This can lower your good cholesterol levels (HDL) and raise your total cholesterol levels.

Your Family Tree – High cholesterol levels can be inherited, too. Knowing your family history can also give you a good idea of whether or not you are at risk of having high cholesterol levels. Do you have a mother, a father, or a sibling with high cholesterol levels? Have you had a male first-degree relative under 45 years of age, or a female first-degree relative under 55 years of age, diagnosed with coronary heart disease? If so, you could be at risk of having high cholesterol levels.

Your Gender – Being male or female can also make a difference in your risk of having high cholesterol levels. Hormone levels can also influence your cholesterol levels. For instance, females are at highest risk of high cholesterol levels during pregnancy and after menopause due to fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone.

Disease Management – Certain diseases could also place you at risk of having high cholesterol levels. These conditions include diabetes and certain thyroid conditions. By managing these conditions, you could also help lower your cholesterol levels.

From About Cholesterol

2010 April’s Fool Day will see a not so funny law becoming effective in Beijing: the city’s downtown daytime parking fees will be doubled starting April 1, in an effort to ease the traffic, as China Daily reports.

The municipal committee of development and reform published the announcement on its website: the highest parking fees will be $1.46 per hour in 13 key interest zones, such as shopping districts and railway stations. In addition to this, drivers who park their cars on the side of the… (read more)

In an online survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association of 1,129 workers, more than 40% said their employer was either supportive or very supportive of workers who sought out care for health concerns. Of these same employees, however, a high percentage believed that seeking help for particular psychological problems – such as drug addiction (76%), alcoholism (73%) and depression (62%) – would not be as accepted.

“It is important to support an environment that encourages employees taking care of their physical and mental health,” said Dr. Alan Axelson, chairman of the association’s Partnership for Workplace Health Advisory Council, in a press release. “Research supports the fact that when people receive needed care, they are healthier and more productive – and employers realize the return on their health care investment.”

The partnership offers the following suggestions for employers:

• Supervisors and managers should set a good example by taking care of their own physical and mental health.
• Workplaces should promote prevention, early intervention and wellness programs.
• Employees should be discouraged from coming to work when they are not well.
• Employees should be reminded of health benefits and programs available to them and shown how to access care.
• Employees should be reassured about confidentiality, especially in the area of mental health care.

From About Depression

Following his first day of testing with the McLaren Mercedes MP4-25 in Valencia, Lewis Hamilton admitted his excitement over driving the much-improved McLaren single-seater – as compared to its 2009 predecessor. According to the former world champion, the new car feels like a night and day difference as compared to the faulty MP4-24.

It was a night and day difference and feeling compared to the first lap and the first test day in 2009. I have a positive feeling. I’ve obviously kept a close ey… (read more)

Patients who receive the antidepressant escitalopram (Lexapro) appeared to do better in recovering their thinking, learning and memory skills than those who took a placebo or who participated in problem-solving therapy, according to an article published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

According to background information in the article, there is growing interest in therapies which can be administered in the first few months after a stroke, which is the time period when there is the most spontaneous recovery of lost motor and cognitive skills. Antidepressants are believed to be potentially helpful to stroke patients in their recovery because they stimulate production of substances essential for nerve cell growth.

Dr. Ricardo E. Jorge and his associates at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, studied one particular antidepressant, escitalopram, by randomly assigning a group of 129 stroke patients to receive either the drug or a placebo or to participate in problem-solving therapy.

Following 12 weeks of treatment, the patients taking the antidepressant had higher scores in neuropsychological tests assessing their thinking, learning and memory than the other two patient groups. More importantly, the authors noted, the changes resulted in an improvement in related activities of daily living.

According to the article, there is increasing evidence that antidepressants causes changes in brain structure, which may be responsible for the improvements seen in this study. Jorge noted, however, that “whatever may be the mechanism of improved cognitive recovery…the utility of antidepressants in the process of post-stroke recovery deserves to be further investigated.”

From About Depression

By White House and ARNEWS

(Army News Service, January 21, 2010) — President Obama Wednesday announced his intentions to nominate Katherine G. Hammack as assistant secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment.  Hammack has more than 25 years of experience as an energy and sustainability professional with private industry. Currently she is a leader in Ernst & Young’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services, an international professional services firm.  The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations & Environment has oversight of the design, construction, operations, maintenance and management of Army installations. It is involved in the privatization of Army family housing, real estate and utilities. The office is responsible for the Army’s environmental compliance and clean-up programs; and management of the Army’s safety and occupational health programs. It is also responsible for the Army’s Energy Security Implementation Strategy.

Hammack has focused on the evaluation of energy-conservation projects at Ernst and Young, including green buildings, energy-efficiency strategies, demand side management programs, and marketing electricity in deregulated markets. In that capacity she worked with clients to obtain Energy Star or LEED certification for their new construction or existing buildings.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a set of standards for “green” buildings or environmentally sustainable construction. LEED-certified buildings are designed to use resources more efficiently than conventional buildings. Since LEED standards were developed in the 1990s, more than 14,000 projects in 30 countries have adhered to the standards. Click here to read more…