Author: Serkadis

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Auctions, Ferrari

Crockett and Tubbs sure looked pimpin’ cruising the streets of Miami in their Ferrari Daytona Spyder. Thing is, as big a Ferrari nut as producer Michael Mann is, he wasn’t man enough to get hold of a real drop-top Daytona: the one featured in Miami Vice was a replica. But Mann wasn’t the only American executive trying to get his hands on one. Though his great grandfather may have lost the opportunity to buy Enzo Ferrari’s outfit outright, Edsel Ford II managed to acquire this very rare and highly sought-after Daytona Spyder on his own.

Only 121 examples were officially produced by Maranello – supplemented by a wealth of chop-jobs perpetrated on the more common Daytona coupe – and this one was once owned, among its three pink-slip holders – by Edsel Ford II. One of only 22 made in yellow, this example has recently undergone a full restoration and comes certified by the rigorous Ferrari Classiche program. It’s anticipated to fetch upwards of $1 million when it crosses RM’s auction block on Amelia Island in March.

The Daytona isn’t the only rare, million-dollar Ferrari classic among the early consignments lined up for Amelia Island, though. The RM Auction event will also feature a rare four-cam, alloy-bodied 275 GTB/4. The car was acquired by Luigi Chinetti, the official importer of Ferraris to the United States, and displayed at the 1967 New York Auto Show. The fully restored show car, in a rather striking copper paint scheme, is estimated to fetch between $1,350,000 and $1,750,000. The auction is stillstill several months away, so stay tuned for more key consignments as they’re announced. In the meantime, you can check out these particularly stunning stallions in the galleries below.

[Source: RM Auctions]

Edsel’s Ferrari Daytona Spyder, Chinetti’s 275 up for auction at RM Amelia Island originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pitchers and Catchers to report Wednesday, Feb. 17

The Chicago Cubs today announced the club has invited 19 non-roster players to Major League Spring Training, which begins Wednesday, Feb. 17 when pitchers and catchers are invited to report in Mesa, Ariz.

Their first workout will take place on Thursday, Feb. 18. Position players report to camp Monday, February 22 with the team’s first full workout Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Overall, 12 of the 19 invitees are homegrown players either drafted or originally signed by the Cubs.

Additionally, each of the club’s last four first-round draft picks will be in camp: outfielder Tyler Colvin (2006, now on the club’s 40-man roster), infielder Josh Vitters (2007), righthander Andrew Cashner (2008) and outfielder Brett Jackson (2009).

Seven pitchers – lefthanders J.R. Mathes and James Russell and righthanders Cashner, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Jeff Kennard and Vince Perkins – have been invited to major league camp, as well as catchers Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger, Blake Lalli and Chris Robinson. Infielders Darwin Barney, Matt Camp, Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair, Bobby Scales and Vitters have also been invited, along with outfielders Jackson and Brad Snyder.

Darwin Barney, 24, begins his fourth pro season after hitting .293 (136-for-464) with 24 doubles and 49 RBI in 137 games with Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2009. A right-handed hitter and fielder, he was selected by Chicago in the fourth round of the 2007 Draft after helping Oregon State University to the 2006 and 2007 College World Series titles.

Matt Camp, 25, was converted from an infielder to an outfielder prior to last season. Camp spent a majority of 2009 with Triple-A Iowa, batting .282 (98-for-348) with 13 doubles, one triple, two homers and 44 RBI in 99 contests. He opened the season with Double-A Tennessee, owning a .298 (14-for-47) average in 14 games before his promotion. This marks the left-handed hitter’s fifth season in the Cubs organization after being selected by Chicago in the 13th round of 2006 Draft.

Andrew Cashner, 23, was selected by the Cubs in the first round (19th overall) of the 2008 Draft. The righthander went 3-4 with a 2.60 ERA (29 ER/100.1 IP) between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee last year, surrendering just one home run in 100.1 innings of work. In five June contests in 2009, the TCU product owned a monthly-best 0.93 ERA (2 ER/19.1 IP) with 14 strikeouts, holding the opponent scoreless in four of those five contests. Cashner is ranked by Baseball America as the Cubs’ Number Four prospect entering 2010

Starlin Castro, 19, was signed by the Cubs prior to the 2007 season and begins his fourth year in the organization. He batted a combined .299 (140-for-469) with three homers and 49 RBI in 127 games between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. The right-handed hitter was named to the 2009 All-Star Futures Game for the World Team, going 1-for-1 with a run scored in the World’s 7-5 victory over the USA. He hit .376 (38-for-101) with 10 RBI in 26 games with the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Castro is ranked by Baseball America as the Cubs’ top prospect entering 2010.

Robinson Chirinos, 25, who begins his 10th season in the Cubs organization, was converted from an infielder to a catcher prior to the 2009 campaign. Chirinos set numerous career highs in his first season as a catcher, batting .294 (77-for-262) with 11 homers and 52 RBI in 81 games between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee. The right-handed batter and fielder was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cubs July 2, 2000 at the age of 16.

Steve Clevenger, 23, batted .290 (89-for-307) between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa last season, collecting 16 doubles and 36 RBI in 94 games. The left-handed batter has hit .286 or better in each of his first four pro campaigns since he was selected by the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft.

Casey Coleman, 22, went 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA (61 ER/149.0 IP) in 27 starts with Double-A Tennessee en route to the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2009. The righthander surrendered two or fewer walks in 18 of his starts last season, while tossing 6.0 or more innings 13 times. He is entering his third pro season after being selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2008 Draft.

Thomas Diamond, 26, joined the Cubs September 4, 2009 when he was claimed off waivers from Texas. The righty combined to go 2-3 with one save and a 4.20 ERA (26 ER/55.2 IP) in 38 games (one start) between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma City. In 117 career minor league games (77 starts) in the Rangers’ system, Diamond is 31-17 with two saves and a 4.01 ERA (194 ER/435.0 IP), striking out 487 batters while walking just 241. He was selected by Texas in the first round (10th overall) of the 2004 draft.

Brett Jackson, 21, compiled a .318 batting average (67-for-211) with six doubles, three triples, eight homers and 36 RBI in 53 games between Rookie-League Mesa, Single-A Boise and Single-A Peoria in 2009. Selected by the Cubs in the first round (31st overall) of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Jackson batted .303 (146-for-481) with 91 runs scored, 25 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs and 85 RBI in 152 career games with the University of California-Berkeley. Jackson is ranked by Baseball America as the Cubs’ Number Two prospect entering 2010.

Jeff Kennard, 28, spent the 2009 season with Triple-A Louisville in the Reds’ system, going 3-1 with two saves and a 2.83 ERA (17 ER/54.0 IP) in 40 games before signing a minor league deal with Chicago this offseason. Kennard has appeared in 338 minor league games, all but one in relief, within the Yankees (2001-07), Angels (2007-08) and Reds (2009) organizations. The righty attended Rend Lake Community College in Ina, Illinois.

Bryan LaHair, 27, spent his entire career in Seattle’s organization before signing with the Cubs this offseason, making his major league debut in 2008. In 2009, Bryan batted .289 (132-for-457) in 121 games with Triple-A Tacoma, while setting a career high with 26 home runs. In 45 major league games, the left-handed hitter is 34-for-136 (.250) with four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI. LaHair owns a .287 batting average (789-for-2746) with 194 doubles, seven triples, 96 home runs and 461 RBI in 716 career minor league games.

Blake Lalli, 26, was named to the Southern League post-season All-Star team after finishing 2009 with a .314 batting average (117-for-373), five home runs and 52 RBI in a career-high 118 games for Double-A Tennessee. Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in May of 2006, Lalli boasts a .304 batting average (339-for-1115), 79 doubles, 20 homers and 159 RBI in 332 career minor league contests.

J.R. Mathes, 28, earned Pitcher of the Year honors for Triple-A Iowa, going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA (52 ER/129.1 IP) in 26 games (21 starts) last season. The lefty ranked ninth in the Pacific Coast League in ERA. This marks his seventh season with the club after being selected by the Cubs in the 16th round of the 2004 Draft. He is 56-37 with a 4.20 ERA (361 ER/773.0 IP) in 146 career minor league games (129 starts).

Vince Perkins, 28, owns a 33-33 mark with six saves and a 3.69 ERA (238 ER/581.0 IP) in 182 career minor league appearances (89 starts) spanning eight seasons. The righthander combined to go 7-2 with five saves and a 3.02 ERA (29 ER/86.1 IP) in 53 games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2009. Perkins, who was signed by the Cubs as a minor league free agent prior to the 2009 season, was a member of Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009 and has spent time with the Blue Jays (2001-06), Brewers (2006-07), White Sox (2007-08) and Cubs organizations.

Chris Robinson, 25, earned Iowa’s Most Valuable Player honors after hitting .326 (101-for-310) with 37 runs scored, 22 doubles, three triples, two homers and 48 RBI in 91 games for the I-Cubs last season. The 2009 Pacific Coast League All-Star attended the University of Illinois, played for Team Canada in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 and was acquired by the Cubs from the Detroit Tigers August 20, 2006 for INF Neifi Perez.

James Russell, 24, was selected by the Cubs in the 14th round of the 2007 Draft. The southpaw combined to go 5-6 with a 4.03 ERA (46 ER/102.2 IP) in 37 games (12 starts) with Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2009. He is 11-16 with a 4.63 ERA (123 ER/239.0 IP) in 66 career minor league games (40 starts) and his father, Jeff Russell, pitched for five teams during a 14-year major league career.

Bobby Scales, 32, made his major league debut with Chicago in 2009 following 11 seasons and more than 1,000 career minor league contests. He appeared in 51 games for the Cubs last season and hit .500 (7-for-14) with two homers and five RBI as a pinch-hitter. A switch-hitter and right-handed fielder, he begins his 12th pro season after he was originally selected by San Diego in the 14th round of the 1999 Draft.

Brad Snyder, 27, batted .278 (66-for-237) with 16 doubles, three triples, 14 homers and 44 RBI with Triple-A Iowa in his first season in the Cubs organization, but was limited to just 69 games due to a sprained left wrist. The left-handed hitter and fielder began his career with Cleveland after he was selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 2003 Draft out of Ball State University.

Josh Vitters, 20, begins his fourth pro season after combining to hit .284 (130-for-458) with 19 doubles, 18 homers and 68 RBI in a career-high 120 games between Single-A Peoria and Single-A Daytona in 2009. The 2009 Midwest League mid-season All-Star was selected by Chicago in the first round (third overall) of the 2007 Draft and is ranked by Baseball America as the Cubs’ Number Three prospect entering 2010.

Frank Gatson will be mentoring on this Saturday’s ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ in the UK. Earlier this morning he appeared on BBC Breakfast where he talked about working with Beyonce. Click here to watch the interview.

The Google-China debacle has finally spilled over into Sino-American relations. The U.S. State Department said today that it plans to demand a Chinese government investigation into the cyberattacks on Google’s (GOOG) computers that the company claims originated in China. “We will be issuing a formal demarche to the Chinese government in Beijing on this issue in the coming days, probably early this week,” said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley. “It will express our concern for this incident and request information from China as to an explanation of how it happened and what they plan to do about it.”

What they plan to do about it?

Not much, if yesterday’s comments from Beijing are any indication. Consider this report from Xinhua News, the official press agency of Chinese government:

… cyber attacks are a commonplace issue across the globe even if countries have been making every effort to combat hackers.

On Tuesday, China’s largest Internet search engine Baidu, which is also Google’s major rival in the Chinese market, suffered an hacker attack that paralyzed its website for more than three hours.

Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer has said that “There are attacks every day …We’re attacked every day from all parts of the world and I think everybody else is too. We didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

So it’s far-fetched to blame China as a scapegoat for cyber attacks just because Google said something about that.

In addition, it’s quite natural for a multinational company to shift its market strategy or even pull out business from a certain area.

Since Google.cn was launched in January 2006, it has seen a continuous rise in its market share in China. But it is still unlikely for Google to rock Baidu’s status quo as a superpower in the Chinese search market.

Baidu and Google took 63.9 percent and 31.1 percent of shares, respectively, of China’s Internet search market in the third quarter last year, according to data from Analysys International, a leading advisor on technology, media and telecom industry in China.

While Google’s global share is over 90 percent, according to web analytics company Stat Counter.

Till now, Google’s real intentions to quit China are still not clear.

There is no sense blowing things out of proportion and turning a business issue into a political or diplomatic dispute.

Above all, Google’s decision is no bigger than a corporate action, no matter where the company comes from or how powerful it is.

Clearly, Beijing has no plans to compromise — at this point, anyway.

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Zero is back! Not in a new game, though. Capcom Japan has announced a new DS title that packs the four Mega Man Zero GBA titles into one DS cart.

Mercedes-Benz has introduced two new special edition versions of the SL-Class and the SLK-Class. Known as the SL Night Edition and the SLK Grand Edition, both models feature stylish interior and exterior upgrades.

The Mercedes-Benz SL Night Edition gets a designo magno night black matte paint finish with 19-inch two-tone 5-spoke light-alloy wheels, silver-painted front brake calipers with the Mercedes-Benz logo, smoked out headlamps and tail lamps and a badge on the front that identifies the Night Edition. Inside, the SL Night Edition gets black nappa leather, shining chrome trim, a black sports steering wheel, shift lever and roof lining and a high-gloss finish on the silver-colored AIRSCARF vents.

The SLK Grand Edition gets much of the same interior touches but is finished in designo graphite paint on the outside. Other exterior modifications include 18-inch light alloy 5-spoke wheels, a third brake light and headlamps that match the paint finish.

Click through for the press release and European pricing details.

Mercedes-Benz SL Night Edition and SLK Grand Edition:

Press Release:

Mercedes-Benz SL Night Edition and SLK Grand Edition
Two new Roadster editions from Mercedes-Benz

Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz is now offering special editions of the SL and SLK, both of which feature a stylish interior with numerous sophisticated highlights. The optional designo magno night black matt paint finish accentuates the exclusive, sporty appearance of the SL Night Edition, while the special designo graphite paint finish makes the SLK Grand Edition a real eye-catcher. Both of these new special models combine the advantages of a roadster with those of a coupé, and are both thoroughbred sports cars and comfortable everyday cars.

Masterpieces to dream of – the theme for the two new special editions of the Mercedes-Benz SL and SLK sports car series. The special designo magno night black paint finish specially developed exclusively for the SL Night Edition is particularly effective with the dramatic design of the SL. 19-inch AMG five-spoke light-alloy wheels in a two-tone, high-gloss finish, silver-painted front brake callipers with the Mercedes-Benz logo and darkened headlamps/tail lights accentuate the exclusive status of these special models. A badge on the front wings identifies the Night Edition.

Black nappa leather and shining chrome trim provide striking contrasts in the interior, with numerous fine details interacting to produce an intriguing effect. The newly designed seats have arrow-shaped seams and silver-coloured contrasting features. The sports steering wheel, shift lever and roof lining are in black. The trim strip of the draught-stop has a high-gloss finish complemented by the silver-coloured vents of the AIRSCARF® system, which bathes the driver in warm air when the soft top is down in cool ambient temperatures.

SLK Grand Edition – in stylish grey

The exclusivity of the SLK Grand Edition is underlined by the elegant designo graphite paint finish. Other highlights include exclusive 18-inch light-alloy wheels with five triple spokes, silver-coloured fins on the bonnet, headlamps matching the paint finish and a third brake light.

In the interior of the SLK Grand Edition, the AIRSCARF® system included as standard ensures that the open-top season can last all year. The driver and passenger are cosseted by finely coordinated materials in a restrained, stylish grey. The newly designed seats are upholstered in basalt grey nappy leather, with arrow-shaped seams and designo pearl leather on the side bolsters. The effect is complemented by the tone-in-tone, grey seat belts. Basalt grey nappa leather is also used for the door linings, with a harmonious contrast provided by the designo pearl leather armrests. Finely executed, red topstitching on the seats and door armrests create a special look. Colour-coordinated trim in designo pearl leather – with the embossed Grand Edition emblem above the glove compartment – rounds off the interior. The floor mats bordered in the same shade of grey also bear this logo.

The SL Night Edition and SLK Grand Edition can be ordered now. Depending on the engine variant, the additional cost for the special model is between 3700 and 5200 Euro for the SL Night Edition and between 2300 and 3500 Euro for the SLK Grand Edition. The special paint finishes cost an additional 3640 Euro for designo magno night black and 1800 Euro for designo graphite (German list prices incl. VAT).

– By: Kap Shah

This morning’s most fascinating read in Scatterville was Michiko Kakutani’s review in the New York Times of You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto, the new book by Silicon Valley insider Jaron Lanier.

Lanier, one of the people who brought you virtual reality, has been worrying the past few years about something he calls “digital Maoism,” the sort of edge-polishing collectivism driving Wikipedia and the Google search engine. Lanier argues some interesting things:

• Basic software engineering decisions shape how we use and think about the Internet, so it’s good to get them right.
• Free is not necessarily a very good price: It can kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
• Anonymity undermines the Web, and probably the culture at large.

Kakutani expounds:

“(A)nonymity has helped enable the dark side of human nature. Nasty, anonymous attacks on individuals and institutions have flourished, and what Mr. Lanier calls a ‘culture of sadism’ has gone mainstream. In some countries anonymity and mob behavior have resulted in actual witch hunts. ‘In 2007,’ Mr. Lanier reports, ‘a series of Scarlet Letter postings in China incited online throngs to hunt down accused adulterers. In 2008, the focus shifted to Tibet sympathizers.’ “

Lanier and Kakutani and probably all of you reading this know a lot more about these issues than Mr. Scatter does. The proprietor does not Tweet, does not have a Facebook account, and, let’s face it, basically publishes dead tree-style ramblings in cyberspace (for free). What Mr. Scatter does not understand about computer engineering and even the possibilities of his woefully underutilized “smart” phone is pretty much everything.

Yet parts of this argument make sense — the dangers inherent in the loss of authorship, for instance, in an online world in which the going price for any and all information is free. Or the triumph of marketing over value in a world where worth is measured in number of hits (although marketing has had a huge impact on intellectual and popular success since long before the Internet). Certainly in the sobering spectacle of new media eating up old media and spitting it out, even though new media relies for most of its content on the production of old media, which it is killing off. How much sense does that make?

The collectivism that Lanier sees in the cyberworld is reflected in our broader cultural and political lives, as well. Surely this sort of mob mentality contributed to our squishy, nobody-likes-it response to the global economic disaster: Good and possibly superior ideas from isolated corners were steamrollered in the rush to create something that the majority, or a majority of prominent stakeholders, could reluctantly agree on. Ditto for health care reform. Then again, is any of this new?

For a counterbalancing view on Lanier’s book, take a look at Michael Agger’s review in Canada’s National Post. Agger isn’t drinking the Kool-Aid, at least not more than a few sips:

Lanier has good instincts: We need to be wary of joining in the wisdom of the crowds, of embracing the growing orthodoxy that making cultural products free will benefit the actual producers of those cultural products. But his critique is ultimately just a brand of snobbery. Lanier is a romantic snob.

That’s the nut. But Agger’s overview is much more nuanced, and worth a look.

***************

Goodbye, Teddy Pendergrass: The great, smooth soul singer from Philadelphia died Wednesday night. He was 59 and had been treated for colon cancer. Paralyzed in a 1982 car accident, he never stopped bringing what Jon Pareles, in his obituary for the Times, called his “gospel dynamic to bedroom vows.”

He was a great popular singer, and he’s going to be missed in a lot of ways. How many children owe their existence to Teddy Pendergrass’s voice spinning on the turntable in the background?

A VMWare, uma empresa bastante conhecida no que toca a virtualização de software e sistemas operativos, anunciou a compra do Zimbra, um software opensource de colaboração e gestão de e-mails direccionado para grupos de trabalho.

O Zimbra tinha sido adquirido pela Yahoo! em 2007 pelo valor de 350 milhões de dólares. A aquisição deste software irá permitir à VMWare a disponibilização e integração da solução nos seus serviços de cloud computing.

A compra será finalizada até ao final do primeiro trimestre de 2010, podem verificar aqui o Press Release da VMWare.

WebTuga – VMWare comprou Zimbra ao Yahoo!

Psychology professor, two Fermilab employees earn rank as AAAS fellows

Professor in Psychology Susan Levine and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory employees Marge Bardeen and Patty McBride have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

They are among 531 AAAS members to be elevated this year by their peers to the rank of fellow. Individuals are recognized for their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

Bardeen was elected to the AAAS section on education for “sustained, imaginative, and diverse contributions to the educational experience of K-12 teachers and students, including active engagement of teachers and students in research.”

McBride was cited for “important contributions to particle physics experiments and for her leadership in the international scientific community.” She was elected to the AAAS section on physics.

The University plays a major role in managing Fermilab under contract with the DOE through Fermi Research Alliance, LLC.

Levine, Professor in Psychology, was recognized for “fundamental work on cognitive development in the domains of language, mathematics and space, and the integration of neuropsychology with work on normative development.”

Levine, a specialist on early learning, has published on development and plasticity of spatial skills, early quantitative development, and language development and functional plasticity in children with early brain injury.

She co-directs the Center for Early Childhood Research and chairs the Psychology Department’s program on cognition and cognitive neuroscience.

New fellows will receive an official certificate and a gold and blue (representing science and engineering, respectively) rosette pin on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the AAAS fellows forum during the 2010 AAAS annual meeting in San Diego.

The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal, Science (sciencemag.org) as well as Science Translational Medicine (sciencetranslationalmedicine.org) and Science Signaling (sciencesignaling.org).

Founded in 1848, the association includes some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals.

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Performance, Truck, Ford

We don’t often feature custom cars owned by individuals, but this 1975 Ford Ranchero is too good to pass up. One look at the massive rear tires or the dual nitrous bottles in the trunk will tell you that this isn’t your everyday sedan-based pickup.

You might initially think that the wood paneling along the side of the Ranchero, a feature of the Squire model, is the coolest part of the package, but wait until you get a look underneath the hood. Owner Mike Miller has swapped out the original Cleveland V8 with a 604ci V8 specially built by JBA Engines in San Diego, California that puts out 870 horsepower and 822 lb-ft torque on 91 octane. And that’s without the 250 shot of nitrous. Check out the chromed V8 and the rest of the Ranchero’s tasty details in our high-res gallery below.

Potent Pickup: The baddest Ford Ranchero you’ve ever seen originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Lady Michelle Obama is joining the movement to help Haitian earthquake victims.

“The images from Haiti are heartbreaking. Homes, hospitals and schools are destroyed. Families searching for loved ones, parents trying to feed their children, but we can all do something. We can help the American Red Cross as it delivers the food, water, and medicine that can save lives,” Mrs. O says in a new PSA released on Friday.

The First Lady explains that Americans can donate $10 to the relief efforts by texting HAITI to 90999 or by visiting www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

Well….this is interesting. Despite being too dehydrated and exhausted to play a show Indiana last night, Lady Gaga made her O debut this morning. Appearing with the Queen of Talk on the weekly “Oprah Fridays Live from Chicago” show.

The “Bad Romance” hitmaker was scheduled to perform at Purdue University in Indiana but pulled out at the last minute after paramedics discovered her heart was beating irregularly. The show has been rescheduled for Jan. 26.

Oddly, Gaga made a speedy recovery and traveled to Chicago to sing live on Winfrey’s show. She displayed no signs of illness as she performed dressed in a spiked black outfit and swinging a gold spiked ball and chain.

In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., is voluntarily recalling certain lots of OTC products in the Americas, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Fiji.

ALL RECALLED PRODUCTS ARE LISTED BELOW.

The company is initiating this recall following an investigation of consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that, in a small number of cases, was associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal events.

These include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. This precautionary action is voluntary and has been taken in consultation with the FDA.

Based on this investigation, McNeil Consumer Healthcare has determined that the reported uncharacteristic smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA).

This can result from the breakdown of a chemical that is sometimes applied to wood that is used to build wood pallets that transport and store product packaging materials. The health effects of this chemical have not been well studied but no serious events have been documented in the medical literature.

A small number of the product lots being recalled were associated with the complaints of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor, and some of these lots were found to contain trace amounts of TBA.

In December 2009, McNeil Consumer Healthcare also recalled all lots of TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain 100 count with EZ-OPEN CAP related to this issue.  McNeil Consumer Healthcare has now applied broader criteria to identify and remove all product lots that it believes may have the potential to be affected, even if they have not been the subject of consumer complaints.

In addition to the product recall, McNeil Consumer Healthcare is continuing their investigation into this issue and is taking further actions that include ceasing shipment of products produced using materials shipped on these wood pallets and requiring suppliers who ship materials to our plants to discontinue the use of these pallets.

We will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the situation and consult with the FDA.

Consumers who purchased product from the lots included in this recall should stop using the product and contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare for instructions on a refund or replacement.

For these instructions or information regarding how to return or dispose of the product, consumers should log on to the internet at mcneilproductrecall.com or call 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time).

Consumers who have medical concerns or questions should contact their healthcare provider.

Any adverse reactions may also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at fda.gov/medwatch.

The affected product lot numbers for the recalled products can be found on the side of the bottle label.

McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the-counter (OTC) products.

FULL RECALLED PRODUCT LIST:

CONSUMER INQUIRIES:

1-888-222-6036 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST, and Sat-Sun 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST)

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Marc Boston, 215-273-7649

Bonnie Jacobs, 215-273-8994

Teresa Panas, 908-904-3198

If you’re a fan of The Food Networks Iron Chef then you definitely need to tune in this Sunday (Jan. 17th, 9pm EST) because newly designated Iron Chef Jose Garces is going to be up against some big talent. This is Jose’s first debut as Iron Chef on Iron Chef America where he’ll compete to hold his title.

I was given the opportunity to interview him but couldn’t attend the conference call. His publicist was kind of enough to ask my questions. These included questions about his start as a chef, his influences, and signature dishes. His Latin background is his biggest influence and is what he has become known for. Aside from earning the title of Iron Chef, he is also a successful Restaurant owner. In Philadelphia he owns five hot spots and one restaurant in Chicago.

To download the interview (which I suggest you do) go to this link! http://www.sendspace.com/file/qhh7bt

For this post I’ve included the recipe for one of his signature dishes:

Mexican Esquites

This is a traditional Mexican corn dish that goes great with tacos.

Ingredients:

* 1 Medium onion, small dice
* 8 Cups corn kernels off the cobb
* 4 Cups corn stock (recipe follows)
* 4 Oz. Butter
* Epazote, a fresh Mexican herb *
* Garnish
* Lime Mayonnaise (recipe follows)
* Queso Fresco *
* Chili Piquin *
* can all be found in any of the Mexican/Latin markets in South Philly

Directions:

1. Sweat diced onions in butter. Add corn kernels and cook until soft (About 15 minutes). Add corn stock and simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, leaving some liquid. Season with salt to taste. Fold in epazote. Serve warm in large bowl. Top with a light layer of Lime Mayonnaise, crumbled Queso Fresco and a gentle shake of Chile Piquin.
2. Corn Stock
3. 6 corn cobs, kernels removed
4. 1 medium onion, sliced thin
5. 3 cloves garlic, crushed
6. 2 tbs olive oil
7. 4 quarts water
8. Salt to taste
9. Gently sweat onions and garlic in olive oil until very soft. Add corn cobs and water and cook until stock is very fragrant and flavorful, about one hour. Strain to remove cobs and onion and season to taste with salt.
10. Lime Mayonnaise
11. 1 cup prepared mayonnaise
12. 1/8 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
13. Salt to taste
14. Combine mayonnaise and lime juice in a small bowl and mix well. Season to taste with salt.

***

If you’re not mouth watering for this recipe then get pumped for this weekends edition of Iron Chef America with Iron Chef Jose Garces on The Food Network! It’s going to be a night to remember.

Here’s a teaser clip!

Recipe & Image: Courtesy of Jose Garces at CookEatShare.com

Post from: Blisstree

Interview w/ Iron Chef Jose Garces

The Japanese equivalent of the SEMA show, the Tokyo Auto Salon, is going on right now and Toyota has unveiled its new FT-86 G Sports Concept, a vehicle that hints at the aftermarket modifications that will be available on the Japanese automaker’s new rear-wheel-drive sports car.

The Toyota FT-86 G Sports concept will also be featured in the upcoming (said to be delayed) Gran Turismo 5. Toyota says that the concept also debuts the ”G Sports” badge, which Toyota plans to use  in a series of cars modified by Gazoo Racing to be released only in Japan.

Besides the aggressive modifications you see made to the Toyota FT-86 here, no technical or performance details were released.

Click through to see the virtual Toyota FT-86 G Sports in action.

Toyota FT-86 G Sports Concept:

– By: Omar Rana

For mega multinational behemoths like Intel, the economy is really starting to get good again.

But for the little guy, not so much.

Today’s chart comes from the National Federation of Independent Businesses and it shows the (dis-)connection between small business expectations and reality. As you can see, the two tracked pretty nicely on the way down.

But last year, small business optimism started to spike in the shape of a “V,” perhaps buoyed by the ra-ra optimism of the media and the rebounding stock market. But the reality has been far worse, and the gap between reality and results is gigantic.

Don’t miss: The 13 charts that show why job creation isn’t happening anytime soon — >

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