Author: Serkadis

from climatenoborders, 11 December 2009: “As part of the range of actions during the UN COP15 Climate Summit in Copenhagen, activists have designated December 14th the ‘No Borders! No Climate Refugees!” Day of Action. As such, the international network, No Borders, is organizing an action targeting the Danish Ministry of Defence as a symbol of the military role in creating refugees and enforcing repressive border regimes…” more

Amsterdam, Holland | Musical Wonders

In a city chockablock with museums, one of the smallest and most unusual is home to about 50 mechanical player pianos and almost 20,000 punched rolls of music.

The player piano was an American invention of the late 1800s that very quickly became popular. The latest evolution of musical automata, self-playing pianos began to emerge along with mechanical adaptations for standard pianos in the 1870s. Most of them required a human user to use the foot pedal bellows to run machinery which pulled scrolls of pre-programmed music past the mechanical parts, which then activated the keys of the piano.

The popularity of the player pianos was launched with their performance in the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition and lasted until the stock market decline of the 1930’s. Combined with the accessibility of record players and the advent of radio, the market for these expensive music machines evaporated.

The name Pianola was a trademark of the The Aeolian Corporation of New York in the 1890s, but the name was broadly applied to all player pianos. Export to Europe began in 1899 where they quickly gained popularity in homes and music halls. Queen Victoria owned one for the last two years of her life.

The program scrolls were made of normal paper, punched with holes or slits to correspond to notes, much like early computer punch cards. Some composers took advantage of the new technology to design songs that could not be played with a mere ten fingers, creating unique pieces exclusive to the machines inexhaustible supply of virtual fingers.

The museum is housed in a small but atmospheric building in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam.

Obama just loves all Electric and stays Cool himself, could we also stop to be cynical and truly endorse the “Feel Good Investment Play” for real?

Fisker Karma

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Instead of fulfilling your New Year’s weight goal with a low-carb diet that’s high in fat, a better choice for your heart might be a low-fat, high-carb diet with exercise. According to a new study, high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets won’t help you lose weight faster, and they could be putting you at risk for heart disease.

New research lead by Dr. Steven Hunter from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast reveals that the risks of high-fat, low-carb diets far outweigh any potential benefits of weight loss reaped by overweight and obese people.

The study participants included a group of obese pre-diabetic adults. Researchers compared the results of a low-fat, high-carb diet of 20% fat and 60% carbs with a high-fat, low-carb diet of 60% fat and 20% carbs. Findings showed the diets have equal health benefits, except that the the high-fat, low-carb diet held risks for cardiovascular disease. With both diets, the same amount of weight was lost. Plus, the low-carb diet wasn’t shown to be a faster route for weight loss.

Dr. Hunter said:

“High-fat diets have become popular because they seemingly promote more rapid weight loss and because of their palatability. However, we now have proof that they do not help people lose weight any faster than more conventional diets, and the potential negatives of increased cardiovascular risks far outweigh the potential positives of more easily sustained dieting/weight loss, especially when there is a proven and safe alternative in low-fat high-carbohydrate weight loss diets.”

The study showed a “significant difference in overall systemic arterial stiffness,” which pointed to increased cardiovascular risk factors from high-fat, low-carb diets. Dr. Hunter warns that doctors who advocate for the high-fat, low-carb diet to defend against obesity and diabetes may actually be contributing to a rise in cardiovascular disease.

How do you feel about the safety of low-carb, high-fat diets?

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

High Fat, Low Carb May Put Heart at Risk

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, BMW

When BMW launched the new Z4 early this year, they made it clear that, unlike the last Z4 and the Z3 before it, there were no plans to create an M version this time around. Of course, forgoing the M nomenclature doesn’t mean that BMW won’t create a faster Z4 than what’s currently in showrooms.

In fact, the first of those faster roadsters will debut next month at the Detroit Auto Show. The Z4 sDrive35is is based on the existing 35i, with its delicious twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six. Compared to the existing turbo Z4, the new model gets a higher-flow intake and the turbos are allowed to spin up to higher boost pressures, resulting in an 11 percent bump in both power and torque output. The ’35is now makes 335 hp and 332 pound-feet. In fact, for brief bursts, the 35is can crank up the boost even higher resulting in short periods of up to 369 pound-feet of torque.

BMW claims the Z4 sDrive35is will get to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. Other features of the 35is include revised electric electric power steering programming, a standard dual-clutch gearbox, and brake energy regeneration. Visually, the 35is wears some M Sport aero and suspension bits and sees its ride height dropped 0.4 inches lower than the standard 35i. They may not be calling this a full M Roadster, but in most respects, that’s exactly what this new model is.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: BMW to unveil faster Z4 sDrive35is, almost an M

Detroit Preview: BMW to unveil faster Z4 sDrive35is, almost an M originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from occupied london, 11 December 2009: ““Resalto” is the anarchist space in Western Athens that was raided by police on the evening of December 5th. The 22 comrades arrested during the brutal break-in of the space were released by the Piraeus Court at the dawn of Tuesday, December, 8th. However, the court imposed strict bail conditions on them all, which included very high amounts of bail money: The total amount of this bail money equals 51,000 euros. More specifically, for one of those arrested bail was set at 15.000 euros, for three of them at 5,000 euros each and for the remaining seven, bail was 3,000 euros…” more

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Technology, Vauxhall, UK

Parallel parking isn’t difficult, but we have generally found ways to make it so. Between cars that almost kinda park for you to those with video game displays that turn parking into a Microsoft Flight Simulator landing attempt to the automated cars that park themselves (a frickin’ robot! To park!), getting a car into a space couldn’t be more complex.

It is a university scientist and engineers at Vauxhall, though, that have proposed the most difficult parking solution we’ve encountered so far: a not-exactly-short equation. To make it work you’ll need to know your car’s turning radius, wheelbase, the distance from the center of your car’s front wheel to the car’s front bumper, and the width of the parked car you’re trying to fit behind or in front of.

Drop those numbers into their proper places, let the slide rule dance, use the result to take a few pulls at the wheel, and voila! All you need to do now is leave your insurance information on the cars you just plowed into. If anyone can get this to work, successfully, please let us know. But we though everybody knew the answer to parking is “42.” It’s the question that’s the hard part… Cap tip to Eralp

[Source: Daily Telegraph | Image credit: AtomicNebula via CC2.0]

REPORT: Vauxhall team creates mathematical formula for perfect parking originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London, U.K. | Museums and Collections

This new art venue, opened in October 2009, contains the biggest collection of outsider art in London, and maybe the world.

“Outsider Art” is a term used to describe art made outside of the mainstream art world, by individuals who did not receive traditional artistic training. In reality, this often means art made by the clinically insane, hermits, criminals, or obsessive-compulsive individuals.

The Museum of Everything has a fascinating collection and is a peek into the mind of madmen, and next to each artist’s works is a commentary by a well-known contemporary artist.

The museum is located in the Primrose Hill area of London, a short walk from the Camden Town markets and Regent’s Park

We told you earlier that Windows Phone would be arriving at Latin America, and now we can also bring the welcome news that the Samsung Omnia II will be available soon in Argentina, through the carrier Personal.

The Omnia 2 will cost ARS$ 1499 with the All Inclusive Plan that includes 300 sms, 300 minutes of voice, 300MB and 5 numbers to communicate free of charge (4 lines of Staff and 1 land line).  Another option costs ARS$ 1699 with the All Inclusive Plan 200, which includes 200 SMS, 200 voice minutes, 200 MB and 5 friends to communicate with unlimited numbers free (4 lines of Staff and 1 land line).

Customers can reserve theirs on the website of Personal at www.personal.com.ar here.

Source

This post was submitted by teo.

Just a week after receiving a Distinguished Service Award in Japan, the Nintendo DS made news again by conquering another corner of the globe, having sold 10 million units in the UK. As for the Wii, the

So much for America getting all the oil it spent billions of dollars, and thousands of lives to “liberate.”

—–

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN (AP) – 10 hours ago

BAGHDAD — A consortium led by Russia’s private oil giant won the biggest prize of Iraq’s second oil auction this year, nabbing a field initially promised them a decade ago by Saddam Hussein while other companies Saturday showed little interest in offerings outside the secure southern part of the country.

Lukoil and Norway’s Statoil ASA won rights to develop the 12.88 billion barrel West Qurna Phase 2 field in the Basra region, beating out three other consortiums led by France’s Total SA, Malaysia’s state-run Petronas and British giant BP PLC.

The field was the crown jewel of Iraq’s second international oil auction, which has placed some of the country’s most coveted sites up for grabs compared with the riskier fields that drew little interest in the first auction in June. In all, 15 fields were offered over two days, and of the seven offered Saturday, four were awarded.

“It is a big victory for Iraq,” Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told reporters after the final field was auctioned. “It is a big achievement for Iraq to win such contracts at the current prices.”

Al-Shahristani said that the contracts awarded over the two days, coupled with those awarded over the past few months — including the June auction — would help the country boost production to 12 million barrels per day in six years. Iraq currently struggles to produce 2.5 million barrels a day.

The aggressive interest in West Qurna 2 — the biggest of the 15 offered — reflected not only its ample reserve base and cheap development costs, but also its location in the relatively Shiite heartland in Iraq’s south.

In the opening round of the two-day auction Friday, an alliance grouping European giant Shell and Petronas was awarded the 12.5 billion barrel Majnoon field, also in the south.

But the bidding quickly tapered off as representatives from the 44 international companies participating in the auction showed little interest for fields located in the more restive eastern parts of Iraq, near Baghdad or near Mosul in the north.

“We are very happy today,” said Lukoil representative Andrey Kuzyaev.

The Lukoil-Statoil alliance will get $1.15 per barrel they produce and will work to raise output from West Qurna 2 to 1.8 million barrels per day over 13 years.

Overall, the second and final day of the event drew more interest than the first in which only two fields went on the spot.

On Friday, companies steered clear from fields in the restive eastern region, as well as near Baghdad and in the north — opting instead for offerings that were both safe and cheap to develop.

Iraq was forced to withdraw five fields Friday and announce it would develop them by itself.

Even so, officials hailed that day as a success, as much perhaps for the actual outcome as the need to make up for the dismal showing in the June international auction — the country’s first in over three decades.

At that event, only one deal field was struck on the spot, with Britain’s BP and China National Petroleum Corp. nabbing the 17.8 billion barrel Rumaila field in the south. Deals on two other southern fields were brokered later.

Analysts said that event failed as much because of Iraq’s restrictive terms as for security concerns.

In this bidding round, Iraq appeared to be more flexible, giving the companies more operational control over the fields while still focusing on heavily on the price it was willing to pay them for each barrel produced.

Companies must accept 20-year service contracts and receive a flat fee per barrel produced for their services instead of production-sharing contracts, which are much more lucrative.

Iraq, which holds the world’s third-largest proven reserves of crude, is desperate for foreign oil investment to boost production and bring in new technology to revamp an oil sector battered by decades of war and sanctions.

It was counting on this auction to help them do just that.

But with no bids submitted on over half the fields offered, it was clear that the promise of Iraq’s mother lode of oil was not enough to overcome concerns about operating in a country where bombings — while less frequent that just two years ago — are still a fact of life.

In other deals Saturday, the roughly 863 million barrel Gharraf field in the south went to Petronas and Japex, which outbid three other consortiums led by Turkey’s TPAO, Kazakhstan’s Kaz Munai and Petramania. The Petronas-Japex alliance will get $1.49 per barrel of oil they produce and are targeting boosting output to 230,000 barrels per day over 13 years.

Meanwhile, a consortium grouping Russia’s Gazprom, TPAO, Korea’s KOGAS and Petronas walked away with the Badra field in central Iraq, but only after they revised down their bid to match the $5.50 per barrel Iraq was willing to pay the companies for their efforts in the field.

The consortium had initially requested $6 per barrel and promised to raise output in the field to 170,000 barrels per day within seven years.

Three other fields on offer in central Iraq — Kifl, West Kifl and Merjan in Karbala and Najaf provinces — attracted no bids and al-Shahristani said the country would develop them by itself.

Nejma, the final field on offer, attracted interest only from Angola’s Sonangol. The firm had to revise down its request for $8.5 per barrel produced in the northern field to the $6 per barrel Iraq was willing to pay.

Sonangol also agreed Saturday to Iraq’s lower financial terms for the Qayara field near Mosul, also in the north.

On Friday, it has offered a bid that was initially rejected as too high.

AP Business Writer Tarek El-Tablawy contributed from Cairo.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Oil’s Going To $225 By 2012, Says Analyst
• Gazprom: Shale Is A Joke, And It Can’t Possibly Compete With Gas
• Analyst: Oil Is Off Its Rocker

Filed under: Classics, Convertible

For the past fourteen years, Florida’s Amelia Island has been putting on a little Concours d’Elegance. And we mean little as in quantity (about 250 cars), not quality. Take last year’s winner, for example: a 1931 Voisin C20 Demi-Berline, which, along with the Daimler Double Six 50 and Bentley 8 holds the title for most intimidating-yet-beautiful pre-war car. And to celebrate the Concours’ 15th year, Amelia Island’s got something nifty up its sleeve.

You are looking at… Well, you see, we don’t know what it is you’re looking at. However, we do know it’s a roadster from the 1940s that was “conceived and built by a widely-respected and distinguished automotive engineer.” And really, that’s all we have. Any guesses? Obviously, you’re looking at the before pics. The powers that be claim that they’ll send us the after shots, which follow a multi-zillion-dollar ground-up from the chassis plate restoration, in a couple of days. As to what it actually is, commence guessing. The press release follows after the jump.

[Source: Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance]

Continue reading Can you name the mystery star of the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance?

Can you name the mystery star of the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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