Author: Serkadis

After Koenigsegg’s bid for Saab fell through and General Motors announced their ailing Swedish subsidiary would begin winding down operations in January, Dutch supercar maker Spyker once again prepared a bid for the brand. Rejected twice during preliminary negotiations for failing to agree to perform thrice weekly fellatio, or something equally as absurd, Spyker now appears to be topping the General’s list of preferred bidders. By Friday, a formal offer is expected to be filed that, in keeping with their apparent custom, GM will proceed to blow.

Check back later for official updates, or don’t. You could probably write the story yourself at this point.

Bonus round: how many phallic references were made in this article? Could there have been more? Discuss.

Source: Reuters

Social media continues to grow and more people are finding themselves spending an increasing amount of time on places like Twitter or Facebook. So much time in fact that some are worrying if this isn’t affecting other aspects of their lives. Thankfully, if you’re one of those wanting to leave it all behind for good, a number of sites have popped up which offer ‘virtual suicide’, a means of deleting your online identities. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t like these kind of sites too much and has been fighting to block them starting with Sepukoo and now moving on to “Web 2.0 Suicide Machine,” a website offering a similar way of deleting your accounts and data from Facebook and other sites.

“After more than 50.000 friends being unfriended and more than 500 forever ‘signed-out’ users, Facebook started to block our suicidemachine from their servers without any comment! We are currently looking in ways to circumvent this ungrounded restriction imposed on our service!,” the site now informs its visitors in a popup overlay.

It’s obvious why Facebook doesn’t like the site very much but, like with Sepukoo before, it does have a legitimate claim in blocking it as it clearly violates at least a couple of Facebook’s policies. The social network’s terms of service specifically prohibit users from handing out t… (read more)

Thus it's time for a dollar-bashers beat down, according to Morgan Stanley (MS). The Fed will lend a helping hand.

Stephen Hull at Morgan Stanley: We can capture what happened in the 2009 currency market through the ‘Punish the Printer’ theme. The most aggressive printers (the UK and US) had the weakest currencies while those that did not print (AUD, NZD, NOK, BRL, etc. – see Exhibits 5 and 6) had stronger currencies. The euro also outperformed the US dollar, with the ECB having a more sensible ‘passive’ balance sheet expansion, allowing the market to determine the need for liquidity rather than the central bank purchasing assets. The market certainly punished the most aggressive printers in the currency space. However, this theme has left many of the non-printers extremely over-valued, as Exhibit 7 overleaf shows.

...

In 2010, we expect a partial reversal of this theme, although a complete unwind seems unlikely to us until the major central banks have successfully exited their super-easy policies. It is extremely unclear how this will occur. The economic recovery must continue for the central banks to exit their QE policies, but there is some risk that it doesn’t occur at all. However, we expect the Federal Reserve to begin draining liquidity from the system as early as March, with the federal funds rate likely to be increased in 3Q10. Presumably by then the Fed will have completed its exit strategy.

Here's a nice table of their relative currency rankings, below. The U.S. looks pretty dismal on many counts, but has growth and value on it side according to MS. Overall, the biggest loser for 2010 FX could be the yen.

As things stand, we are forecasting a trade-weighted rise in the US dollar of 8.0% against the major currencies while it remains roughly unchanged on a broad trade-weighted basis in 2010 as we expect many EM currencies to outperform. We expect the yen to weaken by 20% against a broad basket of its main trading partners and for the euro to decline 5.0%, again on a broad basis (see Exhibit 4).

(Via Morgan Stanley, Global Currency Outlook 2010, Stephen Hull, 4 January 2010)

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See Also:

• Faber: Dollar Will Rally 10% More, Stocks Will Keep Running Higher
• JPMorgan: Short The Dollar, Buy AAA CMBS, And Go Long Emerging Market Credit In 2010
• With The Euro Crumbling, Foreign Central Banks Are Running Out Of Dollar Alternatives

If you read the headline, then you already know that Samsung pushed out 2.6 million LED LCD TVs in 2009. That’s nearly equal to the population of San Diego. But the company also expects 2010 to be bigger — a lot bigger. Samsung plans on moving 10 million LED LCD TVs in 2010, which would be one to every person living in Beijing. That’s a lot, folks.

We’ll get a closer look at Samsung’s 2010 HDTV lineup with week at CES. It will likely include LED-backlit HDTVs in smaller sizes, which will help the company reach the lofty 10mil goal. Previously, the LED technology was mainly a top-tier feature, reserved for larger models with high price tags. But like everything, the technology is flowing down-market and into models that were previously lit with CFLs.

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The RCA brand is still around thanks to TTE Corportation and is ready for 2010 with a full-scale HDTV assault. Most of the nine upcoming models are a snozefest, but a few stand out from the rest with with modern specs, Energy Star 4.0 ratings and presumably low prices.

The F11 series all feature a new slim profile and down-firing speakers that allows the TV to maintain its sleek look. The 24-inch, 26-inch, and 32-inch are all 1366×768 panels and are equipped with the usual HDMI and component inputs. The 40-inch (L40FHD2XF11) and 46-inch (L46FHD2XF11) however are 1080p sets with 120Hz support. All the sets besides the 24-inch already have the necessary specs to meet the Energy Star 4.0 specs when they are enacted on May 1st, 2010.

Prices for these sets haven’t been released yet, but it’s probably safe to assume that they will be on the lower scale of things.

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The gadget-frenzy that is the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off this week, and like in recent years past (2009, 2008), we’re keeping an eye out on the energy efficient and “greener” gadgets on display at the show. Like in 2008 and 2009, expect to see a variety of light emitting diodes (LED) products, energy-efficient […]

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Apple

The Apple tablet, whether you want to call it the iSlate, the iTablet, or “Betty,” hasn’t even been verified to exist at this point. However, that’s not keeping other manufacturers from coming out with their own competition to the mythical device.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, which runs from Thursday, January 7th through Sunday, January 10th, several vendors may be showing devices to compete with an Apple design that hasn’t even been leaked, cheesy specs notwithstanding.

Mobile handset heavyweight HTC, the same company that will debut the new Google Nexus One Android phone on January 5th, is expected to have a tablet ready to show at CES. HTC is an OEM, so it’s not likely that a tablet will appear under the HTC label. Instead, traditional PC sellers such as ASUS, HP, and Dell will probably announce devices that have been designed and built by HTC or other OEMs.

HTC isn’t the only company jumping into the tablet fray; Freescale Semiconductor will be showing a “tablet reference design” at CES as well. The Freescale device (at right) has a 7″ display and is designed to take up about one-third the volume of a current netbook. Freescale’s tablet will be shown running both Google Android OS and some variety of Linux, and is rumored to have “all day” battery life and instant-on functionality.

While the HTC and Freescale tablets are designed for sale by other companies, an Indian startup called Notion Ink will be showing a 10.1″ touchscreen device at CES that they have designed and will build. Even Microsoft could get into the CES tablet action by having CEO Steve Ballmer demonstrate the Courier device.

The announcements are sure to place some price pressure on Apple: Freescale’s design is intended for retail prices in the $200 range, much less than the $600 – $1,000 expected for Apple’s device. Of course, Apple is all about the design, functionality, and user experience of their devices and software, and the capabilities of the tablet will need to show perceived value to potential customers. One thing is for sure — tablets have sparked the imagination of the public and manufacturers, and we’re going to hear a lot about them in the upcoming year.

[via Smarthouse, I4U]

TUAWHTC and other OEMs prepared to challenge the iSlate originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZOMM uses Bluetooth to tether you to your phone, your phone to you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In his latest routine forum visit, Meizu CEO Jack Wong dropped a couple of teasers about what’s coming up in his fancy Zhuhai-based factory. First is that the M8 3G will need at least another six months to brew, which is slightly off the March release date we last heard. Initial versions will pack W-CDMA (aka, UMTS) and China’s own TD-SCDMA radios, then maybe a CDMA version whenever Jack’s ready to pay “premium license fees” to enter the “narrow international market [of EV-DO].” Next up is word that apparently the infamous Windows CE-based M8 may get a dose of Windows Phone apps in a future firmware update, courtesy of “a project that Microsoft is working on.” Sure, it all sounds great, but given Meizu’s record of underestimating the complexities of manufacturing mobile phones, we’ll believe it when we see it.

Meizu CEO: M8 3G launch pushed, original M8 getting Windows Phone apps (maybe) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Horizon’s Hydrofill converts water to hydrogen, hydrogen into juice for your gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Lenovo IdeaCentre B500 hands-on impressions

Lenovo IdeaCentre B500 hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Andrew LaVallee, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Will 2010 be the year that Internet users cut back on friending, tweeting and connecting with their long-lost acquaintances?

A site called the Web 2.0 Suicide Machine is banking on it. It offers to help visitors “kill” their online presence on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn by clicking a “commit” link (complete with a noose icon).

It works by prompting users for their account information, then removing their friends, updates and other content, then changing the password and logging out — leaving an intact but bare profile.

The site offers this service for free and coaxes the uncertain with words like “delete all your energy sucking social-networking profiles,” “feel free like a real bird again and untwitter yourself” and “you want your actual life back?”

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By default, Windows’ 7’s Control Panel broadly groups its options, tucking the nitty-gritty stuff you might be looking for into very general categories. You can, however, create a shortcut that lists all your Control Panel options in one list.

If you’re a tech news follower, you might have seen this listed recently as a “God mode” explorer hack. But that is, as Ed Bott points out, kind of ridiculous. It’s merely a kind of back-alley way of creating a shortcut, using a specialized identifier name, to present a search results list showing everything available in the Control Panel.

At his home away from Lifehacker, the How-To Geek has a handy step-by-step on creating what he dubs the “How-To Geek Mode.” If you’re handy with Windows, all you have to do is right-click on the desktop or in a folder, choose New->Folder, and give the new item something like this name:

How-To Geek.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Feel free, of course, to replace “How-To Geek” with “God mode” or whatever self-aggrandizing shortcut name you’d like.

Update: This tip only works on Windows 7—other versions of Windows may produce unsavory results.

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Filed under: Car Buying, China, Volvo, Geely

Volvo’s pending sale to Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group could lead to big changes (or not) for the Swedish automaker and its thousands of employees, but what about its hundreds of Volvo dealerships here in the States? Could Volvo dealers be granted Geely franchises? Will the Chinese automaker utilize its new sales channels to slowly introduce low-cost Chinese vehicles to the U.S. market? Automotive News asked dealers from around the country if they would be interested in selling Geely models, and the responses were mixed at best.

According to AN, many dealers were “receptive” to selling low-cost Geely models; a seemingly expected answer for any good business type. Mark O’Steen of O’Steen Volvo in Jacksonville, Florida reportedly called the possibility of selling Geely models “appealing,” adding “it is just another niche that we don’t cover, and hopefully they do have some potential in the United States.” Mike DiChristofano, vice president of Volvo of Tucson in Arizona had perhaps the best answer of all, pointing to the inability of General Motors to selll off Saab (at least to this point), adding “until this deal goes down, I’m not even thinking about selling a Geely car.”

Even if Geely does plan to begin selling Chinese vehicles to the U.S. market by using Volvo dealers, the plan will likely take a lot of time to materialize. Geely reportedly has a lot of work to do to improve safety and quality before being ready for the U.S. market. Global Insight analyst Lin Huaibin told AN that Geely is at least five years away from having products ready for American showrooms.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req. | Image: David McNew/Getty]

U.S. Volvo dealers interested in selling Geely models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gov. Pat Quinn, along with Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Jonathon E. Monken, today announced that 2009 was the safest year on Illinois roadways in 88 years as traffic fatality numbers dropped below 1,000.

Illinois now joins a small, elite group of states who have experienced less than 1,000 highway fatalities in a calendar year. During 2009, more than 100 fewer people were killed on Illinois highways than in 2008, while safety belt usage exceeded 91 percent.

“With the assistance of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, and local law enforcement, Illinois continues to make great strides in the area of public safety,” said Gov. Quinn.

“This is a proud and historic day for the men and women dedicated to traffic safety who have made travelling in our state safer.”

In 2008, 1,043 fatalities occurred on Illinois roadways, and in 2007, 1,248 highway fatalities were reported. Since 2003, the data compiled represents a historic downward trend in crash-related deaths.

During the same timeframe, safety belt usage has increased each year from 76 percent in 2003 to nearly 92 percent in 2009.

“Throughout the year, the Illinois State Police has partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and local law enforcement agencies to implement safety programs that target crashes on our roadways,” said Director Monken.

“There is little doubt the combination of programs designed to address teen driving, impaired driving, and safety belts contributed to successfully reducing Illinois fatalities to their lowest level in 88 years.”

ISP and local law enforcement agencies have aggressively targeted what are known as the “Fatal Five” violations in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

These violations are known to be contributing factors in traffic crash fatalities and include speeding, safety belts, improper lane usage, following too closely and driving under the influence.

Governor Quinn has made the reduction of traffic crash fatalities and the improvement of traffic safety a top priority during his administration. Records compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that driver distraction is a significant factor in traffic crashes resulting in injury or death.

The use of a cell phone while driving can increase the chances of becoming involved in a crash by 400 percent.

On Jan. 1, 2010, two new traffic laws take effect in Illinois which:

• Restrict drivers under the age of 19 (with an instruction permit or graduated license) from using a wireless or cellular phone while driving. The law also prohibits the use of wireless telephones for all drivers, regardless of age, while operating a vehicle in a school zone or construction zone.
• Prohibit text messaging, composing, reading or sending electronic messages, or accessing internet sites while driving a motor vehicle.

In addition, Gov. Quinn continues to support initiatives designed to reduce fatalities on Illinois roadways including:

• “Operation Save 100” – a campaign aimed to reduce traffic crash fatalities in Illinois and have at least 100 fewer deaths on its roadways in 2009.
• “Operation Teen Safe Driving” – a program which enlists young people to teach safe driving skills to their peers in an effort to reduce teen road fatalities.

Be sure to check out this week’s PlayStation Store update this Thursday Matt Hazard and his bloody parody-clad new adventure are on their way to PSN. That’s right, the star of Eat Lead: The Return of

i have no idea about the sound quality of these earphones, but i am pretty sure that it’s gonna be quite fun to wear! lol. available in various forms including kinoko (mushroom), katana (sword), nyan (cat’s paw). 2,000 yen each. (~750 baht)

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Quick Spin

The Dodge Challenger has found plenty of happy homes, and we’ve had the pleasure of driving quite a few examples, ranging from various production models to an array of tuner versions, including the Classic Design Concepts Widebody Challenger and the Hurst Series 4 Challenger. We can now add one more to the list: Mr. Norm’s Super Cuda. Yes, it isn’t a Challenger by name, but few will mistake what vehicle forms the base of this coupe despite its uniquely Plymouth appearance.

With a supercharger fitted atop a Hemi V8 to make a prodigious amount power, Mr. Norm’s Super Cuda has the potential to make muscle car fans swoon and green types have a heart attack. Is this a case of muscle car overdose, or do we have a genuine classic on our hands? Read on to find out…

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: Mr. Norm’s Super Cuda is retro to the extreme

Quick Spin: Mr. Norm’s Super Cuda is retro to the extreme originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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