Author: Serkadis

Carbon sequestration, the processing and storing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is one of the leading methods for the reduction of greenhouse gases. A group of scientists has now found a copper complex that is capable of reacting with carbon dioxide at a slightly elevated electric potential. The process turns the carbon dioxide into a usable byproduct which can be recycled and reused for this purpose multiple times.

An easy way to get carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere is to find a chemical that combines easily with it, similar to the way that some metals oxidize. For example, compounds involving copper will usually combine with oxygen in the atmosphere voluntarily without catalysts, covering the surface of the copper material with a green patina, like the Statue of Liberty.

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Since the Swedish IPRED law went into effect, basically requiring ISPs to hand over info on those accused of copyright infringement, many ISPs have begun questioning the legality of the law itself — specifically noting that the law clearly conflicts with privacy laws already in place in Sweden, as well as wider EU privacy rules. Last year, the ISP Ephone appealed a demand for info, and now Swedish telco giant Telia Sonera is doing the same in appealing a demand for info on whoever runs SweTorrents:

In its appeal, the ISP argues that IPRED is in direct violation of the EU’s data retention directive, under which the privacy of the SweTorrents owner would be protected….

“The protection of privacy contained in the directive prevents the application of the Swedish IPRED law in this case,” TeliaSonera’s lawyer Patrick Hiselius said in a comment.

Separately, TeliaSonera also pointed out that the court doesn’t seem to understand the most basic technical aspects of BitTorrent, in that it spoke of “the material that is uploaded on the website” in referring to SweTorrents. But SweTorrents is just a tracker, and thus there is no infringing material uploaded to its website. TeliaSonera points out that the demands for information on SweTorrents, then, is “based on faulty technical knowledge.”

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Though it gave no indication as to when a deal might be struck, Dutch automaker Spyker Cars has said that talks between them and GM regarding the purchase of Swedish manufacturer Saab, are still going on. GM had begun to wind-down the Swedish company last week, but said that it was continuing to consider bids.

A spokesman for GM Europe had said earlier that the company was still in fact involved in talks concerning Saab, but declined to identify any other involved parties. Spyker CEO Victor Muller denied reports of a joint bid with another bidder backed by Formula One head Bernie Ecclestone.

GM and Spyker have been involved in talks recently concerning Saab which have stalled. This bout of talks comes after display by more than 500 Saab enthusiasts whereby they drove in conveys into the Netherlands to show their support for the brand.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Videos, Chrysler, Humor

So we found this new website after our trip to the D for the 2010 Detroit Auto Show called Do You Come with the Car? It’s written by an anonymous auto show model who, as we speak, is likely standing on a platform in Cobo Hall fielding that very same question from some old guy who thinks he’s funny. We’ve always been fascinated by this trade, so her insights into the inner workings of the auto show model profession, particularly while the Detroit show is open to the public, are interesting, at least to us.

Her latest blog post illustrates just one of the many frustrations with which auto show models have to do deal on a daily basis. A reporter from FOX Toledo roped a Chrysler model named Lauren into an on-camera interview – you may remember her from our gallery – and then uses the occasion to ask such probing questions as “Is that comfortable?” (referring to her metallic mini-dress) and remarking “I hope you can’t read what my eyes are saying.” Top notch reporting, creepy dude. He increases his creepiness quotient to skin crawling levels by closing the interview with a come on in his final question. Being the savvy, street smart girl we assume her to be, Lauren gives him the cold (bare) shoulder and walks away.

We’re no strangers to accusations of sexism and exploitation when we publish galleries of these models after an auto show, but we very much respect them and what they do. Having been trained to speak knowledgeably about whatever vehicle they’re showcasing, they probably know more about the car than most of us. Hopefully that respect comes across when we’re taking their picture (we usually ask permission first unless the model is posing for a crowd of photogs) and to everyone else when we publish those galleries. We’d certainly hate to be lumped into the same class as this guy. Follow the jump to watch him go down in flames.

[Source: Do You Come with the Car?]

Video: Reporter gets deservedly dissed by Chrysler model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Renault

Flavio Briatore is out for blood. The flamboyant Italian billionaire and disgraced former director of the Renault Formula One team was kicked out of the sport by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in the wake of the “Crashgate” affair involving Nelson Piquet Jr., but subsequently won an appeal in French courts overturning the FIA’s ban (along with that of his cohort Pat Symonds) The courts upheld the argument made by Briatore’s lawyers that the FIA’s judicial process was corrupted under Max Mosley’s presidency, and that its rulings were illegal.

Despite the legal victory, Briatore says he’ll never manage another F1 team again. He is, however, reportedly opening another lawsuit against the FIA for lost income. Part of the lifetime ban imposed by the motorsport governing body included Briatore’s driver management agency, which had to give up such talents as Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen. The lawsuit will seek damages for those lost revenues, as well as the damage caused to Briatore’s professional reputation.

For its part, the FIA – now under new leadership – has announced its intention to overhaul its procedures to separate the powers, but that won’t stop Flavio from seeking his day in court.

[Sources: Pitpass, Autosport | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Flavio Briatore suing the FIA… again?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Auctions, Ford

John Dillinger’s 1930 Ford Model A – Click above for high-res image gallery

If you saw Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, the car above may look familiar. It isn’t just the same model that the notorious John Dillinger used to escape The Law in one of the most daring shootouts in American history – it’s the actual car. And the same one used in the movie.

After robbing banks across the country, Dillinger and his gang took refuge in the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, on April 22, 1934. When the proprietors alerted law enforcement to their presence, the FBI – led by the legendary Melvin Purvis – arrived on the scene and shot the place up. Dillinger, along with two of his cronies, escaped out the windows into the woods nearby before stumbling upon Robert Johnson driving the Ford Model A coupe you see here. They commandeered the car and the driver along with it, and escaped to Minnesota as Dillinger smashed the rear window and opened fire with his tommy-gun at pursuing law enforcement.

The bullet-ridden car remained in the possession of the Dillinger family for decades until it was carefully and faithfully restored by the producers of Public Enenies for use in the scene depicting the historic chase. Now the coupe will be up for auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, by Barrett-Jackson. Follow the jump for the full story in the press release, and check out the images in the gallery below.

[Source: Barrett-Jackson]

Continue reading Dillinger’s 1930 Ford Model A getaway car up for auction at Barrett-Jackson

Dillinger’s 1930 Ford Model A getaway car up for auction at Barrett-Jackson originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It was just a day or two ago that I was recommending Brando’s flash accessory kit to someone. Among the many (many, many) products at that online shop, their photographic accessories are some of the best deals, because even the most basic softboxen and other photo extras are ridiculously expensive elsewhere. Sure, they may not be as high quality as the “real” versions, but they do 90% of the job for 50% of the price.

This LED kit is a bit specific in its applications, but if you take a lot of macro shots you know that lighting is hard to get right on tiny subjects, and having a one-sided light source like this can add some much-needed contrast to what might otherwise be a flat-lit shot.

It’s basically a donut flash like the one Dexter uses (that’s all I can think of, I’m catching up on the latest season) but not nearly as bright — up close, that could totally blow out a macro subject (or scare it off). You can control which side of the donut is lit, or have it fully on. There’s a diffuser so you don’t need to worry about bulb rings, and at $58 it’s cheaper than a flashlight with a comparable number of LEDs. Check it out over at Brando.

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Filed under: Cult of Mac, Other Events

With the Apple tablet announcement growing closer by the day, we at TUAW have been putting on our thinking caps trying to brainstorm out exactly what the new device might be called. Of course, since we don’t have a clue to base our guesses on (aside from the thin support of domain name registrations), we decided to turn over the decision and brainstorming process to you, the TUAW reader. What do you think the new device will be called? Place your vote in the following poll, and add your guesses to the comments. Let your imagination free — but do remember we’re a family friendly site.

Speaking of thin support & quite amusing — It’s not much to go on with respect to a name, but as suggested by reader Nicholas, we did take a closer look at Apple’s invitation copy. “Apple’s latest creation,” without the spaces, becomes “Appleslatestcreation,” which of course does contain the phrase “Apple Slate.” Yes, well, it seems pretty silly and inelegant to me too, and not something Apple would do… and yet.

TUAWTake two tablets and call us in the morning originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before moving to the Valley I thought stock was something you made by simmering meat and vegetables in a pot of boiling water. To this day I’m still no expert in negotiating for equity, but I recognize a great resource when I see one. Fansnap co-founder and investor Andrew Payne recently wrote an article entitled, Startup Equity for Employees. Payne offers a stock cheat sheet and some useful points to consider.

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Options & Vesting:You generally don’t get your stock right away and most companies grant you an “option” to purchase stock over time at a fixed strike rate. This time period is your vesting period and your strike rate is the price of purchase. As the company goes through changes Payne advises employees to pay attention to how their strike rates increase and renegotiate accordingly. Higher strike rates may mean that employees will be less capable of exercising all of their options.

Outstanding Shares: Says Payne, “a share number is meaningless without knowing the total number of shares outstanding.” As an employee, you should figure out what percentage of the company you own based on the number of shares that exist.

Preferred Stock: Writes Payne,”Common stockholders should care about the preference, because that preference is ahead of the commons in any acquisition outcome.” Unless you’ve invested a significant amount of money in your company, you likely have common stock. In the event of an acquisition, preferred stock holders such as investors and founder/investors get paid out on their investments first before common stock holders earn any money. Once you get the total preference number for the company, you can roughly calculate how much you’re likely to make or not make in the event of an acquisition.

Dilution: Companies raise new money by creating and selling new shares. The number of outstanding shares then increase and your shares are diluted and reduce in value. While many companies grant additional stock to employees, according to Payne, it’s rarely enough to compensate. He advises you to, “negotiate for the largest equity portion you can, because that initial grant is going to be the bulk of your ownership and will get diluted down from there.”

Incentive Stock Option Pool: Find out the size of the ISO pool and how much stock has been allotted to employees until the next round of funding. Without a decent stock incentive, you may find your company hiring only the lackluster employees who’ll accept a less-than-generous offer.

For Payne’s complete article visit Payne.org and for more advice check out Salary.com. Once you’ve read these articles you should have enough information to consult with your lawyer and accountant.

If you’ve got more resources to suggest, let us know in the comments below.

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Regardless of what happens in the Bay State tomorrow, it’s too early to write off healthcare as dead.

Nancy Pelosi told reporters today that Democrats will get a bill some way or another, according to ABC News.

And now the New York Times reports that the way forward is to have the House vote directly on the Senate version which wouldn’t require a second vote in the Senate.

Of course, that will be tough, as it will require all of the supporting Democrats to support a bill they’re not crazy about, even in the face of a stunning election result.

Yesterday we outlined six possible scenarios, including this one, that healthcare might take in the event of a Scott Brown victory.

We’ll say this, in all sincerity: If Pelosi can get this done, she and Reid deserve MAJOR credit for what will be a triumph of party unity, to pass something this gigantic on 100% party-line votes, in the face of overwhelming political risk. Nothing like this has ever been done.

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See Also:

• It’s Over: Scott Brown Is The 3:1 Favorite Over Martha Coakley
• It’s A Mess: 6 Possible Scenarios If Republicans Win The Massachusetts Senate Race
• Here’s What Will Happen To Healthcare Stocks If Scott Brown Wins Tomorrow

Sony has stated December 2009 PlayStation 3 sales in the U.S. rose nearly 90 percent shattering the existing monthly record after a 25 percent price cut attracted holiday shoppers to the rapidly evolving console. PlayStation 3 game sales also advanced 60 percent from a year earlier, Sony said in an e-mailed statement. Software numbers were obviously incredible with massive hits like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Assassin’s Creed II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Final Fantasy XIII smashing sales charts. In the USA, Sony sold 726,000 PS3 players last December, according to NPD Group Inc. and Sony stated that in the five weeks following the last week in November they sold 3.8 million units worldwide. However, things are not so sunny overall in comparison to last year, where there has been a $1.3 billion drop in Sony’s revenues from its line of PlayStation systems.

Gamasutra has written some excellent thoughts towards PlayStation’s performance in 2009,

According to comments made by Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, we estimate that PlayStation 2 software revenues dropped by around $700 million in 2009, compared to 2008. That decline alone would explain more than half of Sony’s loss. The PlayStation 2 hardware also received a price cut in 2009, which could have contributed another $150 million in lost revenue.

Another $225 million or more have come from the annual loss of 1.3 million PSP system sales. According to Creutz of Cowen & Company, the handheld software segment shed $200 million in annual revenue from 2008 to 2009, and we estimate at least half of that loss can be attributed to declining PSP software sales.

Without more precise figures, we cannot illuminate the situation further. However, the general outline is clear: The PlayStation 3 platform — albeit the subject of a recent price cut — is still growing, but the contraction in Sony’s legacy and handheld segments has overwhelmed those gains. Sony cannot revive the PlayStation 2, and that system’s revenue contribution is on a terminal trajectory. (To use Pachter’s terms, the PlayStation 2 will “cease being relevant in 2010.”) We furthermore remain skeptical that Sony can reverse the fortunes of the PSP, at least at retail.

By mid-2010 we should know more about whether Sony will continue to back the PSP platform, and in particular the premium PSP Go model. We would not be surprised to hear of a successor to the PSP in 2010, especially if it provides backward compatibility to first-generation PSP software and network integration comparable to modern mobile devices.

Sony does have several ace cards coming to the PS3 console in 2010 that could really capitalize on the momentum brought forth by the cheaper PS3 slim. Sony is planning to vigorously enhance the network content and services aspect of the PS3, as well as tapping into a wider audience through the introduction of a new Motion Controller. PlayStation 3 units will become available to play 3D stereoscopic games through a firmware update, scheduled to be available in summer of 2010. Playback of 3D content on “Blu-ray” discs will also be possible by upgrading PlayStation 3 with a further firmware update.

Remember those rumored HTC Android / Chrome OS touch tablets that were supposedly being shown behind the scenes at CES? In a brief statement given to Australia’s Channel News, Sales and Marketing Director Anthony Petts not only confirms the existence of the aforementioned project, he also announces in the same breath —
way to be efficient, guys — that the slate are on hold as the company is now “focusing their efforts on a new generation of mobile phones.” He’s not saying never, but don’t get your hopes up for the near future. At any rate, if a 4.3-inch device like the HTC HD2 is still considered a phone by its standards, we can be happy with that — maybe they can try five on for size while they’re at it.

Rumored HTC tablet project both confirmed and suspended in one fell swoop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen KIST’s Marhu robot tooling around here before, but now they’re showing off the latest models, the Mahru-Z (with some help from Mahru-M), in some super useful scenarios. Mahru-Z and M have been successfully demonstrating their service abilities by carrying cups of tea, and retrieving toast from toasters and delivering it as well. The Z-version bot is a bit shorter than previous iterations, and also sports different, more dextrous arms. He stands about 4 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 122 pounds. Both bots are networked and use 3D object recognition in their task completion. Overall, the improvements to the Mahru bots are iterative, but it sure is great to hear that one day we’ll have someone to bring our breakfast to us in bed. Video is after the break.

Continue reading KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly

KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flagship Studios is long gone, but part of its legacy remains. The ill-fated Hellgate: London is alive and kicking in Korea, and HanbitSoft has plans to bring it back west as well.

HanbitSoft has finally acquired the full rights from Namco Bandai, paving the way for its return to North America. Namco Bandai previously held the western publishing rights, which hampered HanbitSoft’s plans for a relaunch.

“We would like to thank Namco Bandai Games America for allowing us to acquire the Hellgate publishing rights and are thrilled to have eager gamers worldwide return and enjoy the franchise,” said HanbitSoft CEO Kee-Young Kim.

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With a thicker stylus and a larger screen, some people have made the argument that Nintendo’s new DSi XL’s only potential market is old people. That’s simply not the case, Nintendo contends, and there are far more people that just those in the “old people” demographic that will be interested in the XL when it’s released outside of Japan this year.

“It’s absolutely not [just for old people]. DSi XL appeals to as many people, if not more, than its predecessors,” Nintendo’s DS senior product manager, James Honeywell, explained to CVG. “With bigger screens and a larger pen-like stylus it’s likely that older users may find the DSi XL easier and more comfortable to use but there are many more people it can and will appeal to. Gamers will undoubtedly appreciate the bigger screens so they can experience their favourite and the latest DS titles bigger and in a greater level of detail than ever before.”

But how about specifically — just who would take advantage of those features? Honeywell offered, “We certainly know that a lot of families who play DS together will enjoy the wider viewing angle the DSi XL allows so they can play together at home and the fact the bigger stylus is less likely to get lost down the back of the sofa is another bonus for them.”

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Ready go on sale in the UK in May 2010, the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia will carry a starting price tag of £169,545 ($277,124 USD). Ferrari is also offering racing seats at £4276 ($6,989 USD), a Ferrari shield on the wings for £945 ($1,544 USD), power seats at £2,120 ($3,465 USD) and a luggage set for the rear bench for £2987 ($4,882 USD).

We’re still waiting for Ferrari to release pricing details for the United States. Stay tuned.

Click here for more news on the Ferrari 458 Italia.

Refresher: Power comes from a mid-rear mounted 4.5L V8 producing 570-hp at 9,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 398 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. Mated to a dual-clutch 7-speed F1 gearbox, 0 to 62 mph comes in just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of over 202 mph.

Ferrari 458 Italia:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

Eriez Magnetics Europe Ltd announces the launch of the new and high quality ProGradeTM range. The line includes Grate Magnets available in XtremeTM Rare Earth magnetic strength, ideal for application in all processing industries. All ProGrade products are available for immediate despatch to meet the ever increasing demands of customers.

The ProGrade Square, Rectangular and Round Permanent Magnetic Grates are designed to remove ferrous contamination in hoppers, chutes, floor openings and other areas where free flowing materials are present. They are of a sanitary construction which makes them ideal for the food industry and other processing applications.

The ProGrade Easy to Clean Grate in Housing is also available. Consisting of two rows of staggered magnets, it is designed to enable operators to quickly remove accumulated fine iron contamination and clean the magnets. All of the Grates in the ProGrade range are manufactured to the highest quality with a glass bead surface finish and stainless steel construction.

Another new ProGrade product is the Eriez Ceramic Permanent Magnetic Hoppagrid. The Hoppagrid Magnet is a simple yet effective low strength device for removing tramp iron from free-flowing granular or powdered materials. It is predominantly used in the plastics industry to stop damage to equipment resulting from ferrous metal contamination like nails, nuts, bolts and screws.

Paul Fears, Managing Director at Eriez Europe commented, “We [Eriez] always try to respond to the needs of our customers. The ProGrade range is our latest initiative to achieve this goal by supplying standard size products at very competitive prices and offering immediate despatch. We have also not only maintained, but improved the quality and finish. The benefits for our customers are clear for all to see.”

For more details on the ProGrade range please visit en-gb.eriez.com or alternatively email [email protected]

The parts to be cleaned are placed into a revolving basket Rapid cleaning is achieved by spraying hot detergent solution from three spray pipes located around the backet.

Applications:
– Cleaning of parts
– Cleaning of tools
– Surface treatment
– Cleaning of parts for reconditioning and renovation.
– Degreasing of heavily contaminated parts within a few minutes..

We have developed a new spring-applied / oil-released brake named ID800-N. It’s the spring applied version of our traditional brake ID800 and it can supply a braking force up to 13 kN in a compact size. Its modular design is an innovative solution in this range of clamping force. Ideal for applications such as handling and lifting of small and medium capacity.

ü Brake body made in steel and not cast iron: Improved mechanical strength and lower risk of oil leaking;
ü Pads guided by pins so the tangential braking load is transferred to the brake body and not to the piston; longer life of piston and seals, lower risk of oil leaking;
ü Pads fixed with a magnet for fast replacement and sure release;
ü Cup springs and seals are accessible from the top of the thruster for easy maintenance;
ü Polyuretahne seals for better performance at high pressure; suitable for vegetable oil too;
ü Steel body and steel parts treated with manganese phosphation for protection against corrosion;
ü Piston treated with Tenifer QPQ (Quench-Polish-Quench) for high resistance to corrosion, high surface hardness and surface lubrication;
ü Pads supplied with wear indicator as a standard;
ü On-off switch available as an option; explosion-proof version available upon request.