Author: Serkadis

  • IP69K Super Washdown Scales/SW Series

    A&D is pleased to announce the launch of the SW Series of Super Washdown Scales, which are our first IP69K-rated platform scales for the food-processing industry.

    Conventional platform scales tend to break down rather quickly in processing factories for foods such as meat and fish. This occurs because the work environments can be highly damp, or the scales are often exposed to extreme shifts in temperature, which condense the air inside the enclosures. Furthermore, equipment used during food processing typically has to undergo heavy-duty cleaning with high-pressure and high-temperature water every day after work for sanitary reasons. No ordinary devices can withstand such hostile conditions.

    The SW Series is IP69K rated. That is, the scales are protected against heavy-duty washdown with water temperatures up to 85 ¢ªC and pressures up to 10,000 kPa. The SW Series also resists the effects of condensation and prevents the risk of moisture invasion thanks to A&D¡¯s unique know-how, making the scales ideal for long-term use in the harsh environments of food-processing factories.

  • Linde MH delivers first trucks with fuel cells

    Linde Material Handling incorporates fuel cell trucks into its product range
    With the delivery of two fuel-cell trucks to the Linde Gases Division, part of technology company The Linde Group, Linde Material Handling has taken another important step on the road to more intensive use of innovative drive technology. As the first industrial truck manufacturer in Europe, Linde MH has incorporated fuel cell trucks into its product range. The trucks are now offered as standard and with immediate effect, as a “Customised Option”.

    Both fuel-cell trucks are based on the 3-tonne electric counterbalanced truck, the Linde E30. In addition, the enhanced beverage industry version offers an optimised view over the load. In place of the usual 80-volt battery, the trucks have a fuel cell and a tank, which stores 1.6 kilograms of hydrogen gas at 350 bar. The electricity generated from the hydrogen supplies the electric motors that drive the truck. Alongside this are so-called supercaps, large condensers, which act as a buffer and cover performance peaks, such as pulling away or lifting, for example. The trucks bear the CE mark and are permitted for use on public roads. When it comes to performance data, the trucks are not different to the equivalent battery-powered model in the range and they are tailored spe-cially to Linde Gas’ customer requirements.

    The fuel-cell trucks were developed over the last two years with long-term partner, Hydrogenics, the Canadian fuel cell manufacturer. Linde’s contractual partner, Gruma Nutzfahrzeuge, based in Garching, near Munich, has been involved with the project from the beginning and is responsible for all issues re-lated to servicing and maintaining the trucks. One of the trucks is used by Linde Gas for transporting Gas bottles between production halls and the truck embark point, which involves crossing a public road. The second fuel-cell truck operates in the field of gas bottle filling. Both trucks replace diesel trucks with a 3.5-tonne load capacity, which were previously used for this purpose. Filling up the fuel-cell trucks is quick and safe at the Linde hydrogen centre filling pump and is therefore comparable to filling a conventional truck.

  • Pilz makes safety gate monitoring safe

    Manipulation impossible.

    The non-contact safety gate systems PSENslock are a safe alternative to existing mechanical technology. With an electromagnetic holding force of up to 1000 N, PSENslock units prevent swing gates and sliding gates from being opened unintentionally. The actuator is manipulation-proof, providing added safety.

    The non-contact safety gate systems PSENslock combine safety gate monitoring with a non-contact magnetic interlock. This combination of safe position monitoring and process guard locking means that PSENslock are suitable for universal use. Movable guards such as swing gates and sliding gates in particular can enjoy optimum protection.

    Safety gate systems PSENslock are type PDF-M proximity switches with transponder technology (RFID) and as such offer the highest level of protection against manipulation. They are BG-tested for applications up to PL e of EN ISO 13849-1, SIL 3 of EN/IEC 62061 and Category 4 of EN 954-1.

    PSENslock are non-wearing and can be connected in series with non-contact, coded safety switches PSENcode and other safety gate systems PSENslock.

    Pilz safety gate systems combine safety, standard and diagnostic functions in one unit. With IP67 protection, they are also suitable for rugged environments. With an open design, they can be connected to Pilz control technology as well as any other standard evaluation devices. As a result, Pilz components can also be retrofitted to plant and machinery.

  • NASA Preps Shuttle Experiments Utilizing BINDER CO2 Incubators

    During the space shuttle Discovery flight that returned to earth in April, two experiments were conducted that were part of an overall series of studies designed to determine how cells become infected and are able to regenerate in microgravity. A better understanding of exactly how spaceflight affects cell growth and how cells fight off infections is essential for future astronauts on long-term missions, who will need to understand how wounds heal and cells become infected in space.

    The Space Tissue Loss (STL) experiments on STS-131 included a study of how mouse stem cells develop into specialized tissue types, or “differentiate” in space. A second STS-131 biology experiment investigated in-flight infection of human cells using pathogenic bacteria, and will characterize the effect of microgravity on cellular responses to the Salmonella infection. BINDER Inc., the North American subsidiary of BINDER GmbH, loaned two CB 150 CO2 incubators to the team conducting the studies. The incubators were used for the pre-warming, degassing, and maintenance of the flight and ground control fluid bags that were filled with tissue culture medium and fixatives. This storage was critical to the success of the mission, as pH maintenance was required for the medium that would be used for flight. Pre-warmed medium was needed because the medium would be immediately flowed over the cells in the bioreactors, and degassing was needed to eliminate air bubbles that could block fluid movement in the lines. “The incubators performed flawlessly,” said Kevin Sato, STL Project Scientist of Lockheed Martin at NASA’s Ames Research Center who worked with the scientific investigators on this payload. “We easily set up the BINDER incubators and saved time using the automated, internal heat sterilization process instead of performing manual cleaning and sterilization. A microbial test after the sterilization process detected no bacterial or fungal growth in the incubators.” The characteristics that made BINDER CB 150 incubators perform so well make them ideal for use in a variety of cell culture applications. These features, including hot air sterilization at 180 °C, stable pH thanks to a drift-free infrared CO2 measurement system, superior temperature precision with excellent dynamics, and an interior that is condensation-free even at high humidity levels, ensure the best possible cell growth. “The space program has made great technological advances and has drawn both ourselves and our children to the exciting world of science,” said Uwe Ross, president of BINDER Inc. “We are thrilled to have our incubators at the Kennedy Space Center, and are very proud of their performance in experiments that are so important to the future of space travel.

  • Despatch Industries’ UltraFlex(TM) Receives Great Response at SNEC Exhibition

    Minneapolis, Minn., U.S.A. – May 24, 2010 – Despatch Industries, a leading technology and equipment provider for the solar industry, received a very positive response to the UltraFlex(TM) next generation firing furnace on display at the SNEC PV Power Exhibition in Shanghai, China. Attendees were particularly interested in the innovative UltraFlex(TM) Microzone(TM) technology which provides users with infinite profile flexibility and precise control to adapt to industry changes in cell architectures, new pastes and selective emitters.

    Solar manufacturers visiting the stand were very receptive to the new, next-generation technologies Despatch incorporated into the UltraFlex(TM). The new tool offers customers superior performance and flexibility with better operational control, to ultimately achieve higher levels of efficiency. Visitors also appreciated the efficient design features and smaller footprint of the UltraFlex(TM).

    “We have seen unprecedented industry adoption of the UltraFlex(TM) platform, and currently have a backlog of orders in excess of $10 million,” states John Farrell, Managing Director of the Solar Business Group. “With the technology performing above expectations, our focus is now on accelerating production of the UltraFlex(TM) and increasing our manufacturing capacity to meet the demand from our customers.”

    Despatch continues to see orders and steady demand for its industry-leading CF Series firing furnace. The CF Series remains the top-selling metallization firing furnace in the industry, with over 15GW of production capacity sold, and over 350 units placed into China alone. Despatch has sold over 40 UltraFlex(TM) units throughout Europe and Asia.

    Despatch Industries designs and engineers market-leading tools and technology for the solar cell manufacturing industry. The company’s regional offices and complete global service network allow Despatch to provide local sales and product support to all customers worldwide. Despatch equipment is consistently recognized for exceptional performance and process quality, optimal cell efficiency, maximum uptime and reduced operating costs. For more information on Despatch visit our website: www.despatch.com

  • Get This: New Leak Estimate Is 666,666.666 Barrels (BP)

    Devil Fire Costume

    And now we know that the Deepwater Horizon oil leak is the work of the devil.

    New estimates From the US Geological Survey suggest that as many as 28 million gallons of oil may have been spewed, according to LA Times. That’s way higher than the 11 million that were spilled in the Exxon Valdez.

    So how many barrels of oil is that? There are 42 gallons per barrel, meaning that the number of barrels is… 666,666.6666666.

    Yes, we’re talking about the devil here.

    Meanwhile, the head of the MMS has been fired, the first big administration casualty.

    See Also: Nausea-Inducing Photos Of Oil Entering The Marshes

    Join the conversation about this story »

  • Rumormill: Bugatti developing secret Continental GT-based electric supercar

    Filed under: , , , ,


    Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

    With production of the Veyron coming to an end, speculation has been rampant over what Bugatti will build next. A super-sedan based on the 16C Galibier concept could still get the green light. A 1,200-horsepower “Super Veyron” has also re-entered the rumor mill of late. Even an entry-level roadster was mooted at one point. But a new project could give us a clearer (and more radical) picture than ever before.

    According to the rumormongers over at Auto Express, Bugatti is currently working on a massively powerful electric supercar that could eclipse the notions of what was previously thought possible with battery power. A test mule based on sister-company Bentley‘s ubiquitous Continental GT is reportedly undergoing testing at present, powered by two giant electric motors and an advanced lithium-ion power cell to deliver the equivalent of 800 horsepower and some 1,600 lb-ft of torque, all available instantly from a standstill. Yowza!

    Such technology would doubtlessly draw from the work sister-company Audi has been doing with its successive e-Tron concepts. But as AE points out, this wouldn’t be the first time Bugatti has experimented with electric power: Back in its heyday under founder Ettore Bugatti’s direction, the original company built the Type 56. Originally built as a one-off, public demand prompted the Molsheim marque to bring it to market.

    The rumored Continental-based prototype may be strictly a one-off at the moment, but if demand could force the Type 56 to market in the 1930s, it certainly could do the same today.

    Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

    [Source: Auto Express]

    Rumormill: Bugatti developing secret Continental GT-based electric supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

  • There's Life After Piracy, Mininova Strikes Deal with ViewCave

    ViewCave, a new online film distribution and video streaming company based in California, will be alternatively releasing content in torrent form through Mininova’s service. After a court decision forced the famous torrent tracker to remove all infringing content, Mininova’s management finds a glimmer of hope (and possible income) as… (read more)

  • Trans fats replaced with healthier fats improved fattening foods

    Trans fats replaced with healthier fats improved fattening foodsFinally, scientists have good news about the fats in our food. Contrary to what is feared, the majority of food producers and restaurants not only changed an ingredient harmful to health by another when they pulled out of their products the trans fats, which is dangerous because it clogs arteries and affects the heart.

    Even the French fries have long been considered a scourge in the diet, are now made with healthier ingredients. But there is still room for improvement, especially for some items for sale in supermarkets, in which trans fat is replaced with his unhealthy cousin, saturated fat.

    A researcher from Harvard University and a group of consumer advocacy examined 83 foods in which ingredients has been reformulated since 2006. In that year the federal government began to require that on labels have to be placed the amount of trans fats in the packaged products, and the city of New York became the first of several cities in withdrawing it from restaurants.

    Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to liquid oils to harden them so they are used in baking or to extend the products duration on the shelves. Once these fats were targeted by government regulators, food manufacturers and restaurants, they started to experiment with different cooking oils and fat substitutes, trying not to compromise the taste and texture of the food they offer. But how healthy fats are used now?

    Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a researcher at the University of Harvard, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest checked edible products and restaurant menus to measure their fat content. The articles studied included margarine, junk food, confectionery and five popular fast food chains.

    The results were published on Thursday in a letter included in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    Almost all the food samples were free of trans fats, or with low quantity. And many companies and restaurants did not increase their content of saturated fats after cutting trans fats: 65% of products in supermarkets and 90% of the dishes in restaurants contain saturated fat, which levels were lower or unchanged to the previously measured amounts, or only slightly higher.

    However, despite the improvement detected, there were some voices of caution. The fact that trans fats are gone, doesn’t mean that fattening foods are healthy, said Dr. David Heber, who is head of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California at Los Angeles.

    Related posts:

    1. PepsiCo to Cut Sugar, Sodium, & Fat in Products
    2. California County Bans Toys With Fast Food
    3. The diet to fight autism showed no improvement in symptoms

  • New Protests Gearing Up In Athens, As Mayor Enters 29th Day Of Hunger Strike

    elliniko

    The mayor of an Athens suburb is on day 29 of a hunger strike against austerity. Various members of Elliniko’s town council have now joined Christos Kortzidi and are refusing to eat.

    Kortzidi is protesting the government’s plan reduce costs by merging dozens of municipalities across Greece.

    New pictures from the Elliniko website show the mayor alive and well. He’s got a framed poster of Che Guevera in his office, which suggests support for a growing Communist movement. Kortzidi became famous in 2007 when he led a successful 24-day hunger strike to preserve free access to local beaches.

    Greek austerity measures are not going smoothly. Protestors from Elliniko and other towns are arriving in Athens by the busload.

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    YESTERDAY IN ATHENS

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Meanwhile in Elliniko

    Don’t miss…

    Don't miss...

    Image: PIAZZA del POPOLO

    Insane Pictures Of The Worst Athens Riot

    Join the conversation about this story »

  • Sony Will Have Numerous 3D Experience Pavilions During 2010 FIFA World Cup


    During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Sony will open a variety of pavilions in seven countries (including South Africa) where visitors will be able to experience the “3D world Created by Sony,” featuring vivid 3D images of football as well as entertainment content including music, movies and games from across the Sony Group. At these “Sony 3D experience” pavilions, visitors will also be able to watch – for the first time in 3D – highlights of the 25 matches filmed during the 2010 FIFA World Cup (promotional trailer of the official FIFA film in 3D on Blu-ray Disc to be produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).

    The pavilions will vary in size, with the premier location being Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg. Pavilions will also be located at three 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums including Soccer City, Durban, and Cape Town, as well as at the “International FIFA Fan Fest (IFFF)” public viewing events in six cities (Berlin, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, and Sydney). Pavilions at the IFFF events will open during the 2010 FIFA World Cup starting from the first match on June 11 through July 11. Sony’s 3D experience pavilion at the Nelson Mandela Square will open to the public starting Wednesday, June 9.

    Visitors can expect to see for the first time in 3D music videos from Shakira and South African group Freshlyground, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Official Song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” and MISIA’s “MAWARE MAWARE,” (only artist chosen from Japan and Asia for the Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album “Listen Up”). Also at the Nelson Mandela Square, Sony will offer an array of additional live 3D entertainment, including performances by South African music artists featured on the “Hello Afrika” album from Sony Music Entertainment, such as Lira, Freshlyground, Vusi Mahlasela and many more. Additional surprise performances by leading international and South African artists are planned.

  • Novo visual da Suzuki Grand Vitara 2010 é divulgado

    Imagens do veículo

    Foram mostradas pela Suzuki duas fotos oficiais do novo modelo da Grand Vitara 2010, com um visual modificado e com versões de três e cinco portas. Entre as mudanças visuais, podemos perceber que nào existe estepe na porta traseira do veículo.

    Agora a placa de identificação do veículo está mais para cima, no lugar onde o estepe anteriormente estava. O novo modelo terá também como itens de série um leitor de CD e MP3, bancos aquecidos e um sistema de acesso Keyless (sem chaves).

    A versão do Grand Vitara comercializada no Brasil é a V6, com um motor 3.2 V6 a gasolina, com 233 cv de potência. Ainda não existe data confirmada para o início das vendas desse novo modelo.

    Imagens do veículo
    Imagens do veículoImagens do veículo

    Via | Carplace


  • Susan Docherty going to China as GM’s international operations vice president of sales

    Susan DochertyBeginning June 1, Susan Docherty will be based in Shanghai, China, and will serve General Motors Co. as its international operations vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales.

    In this role, Docherty will coordinate GM sales and marketing efforts outside of North America and Europe. Docherty is one of several GM executives to have risen under the tutelage of former-CEO Fritz Henderson but has been observed to fade under new CEO Ed Whitacre. About half of GM’s sales come from international operations, covering 90 markets. In a statement, Whitacre said that GM is relying on Docherty to make a significant contribution to the company’s growth in China and other emerging markets. She reports directly to president of GM International Operations, Tim Lee, who said that the company is “fortunate” to have her join the division at this “important time in GMIO’s history.” He also said that GM will focus on this region and that Docherty brings with her “a wealth of sales and marketing experience.”

    Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

  • Home beta to end this December

    It seems Home will finally be leaving its beta phase behind later this year. That’s according to Veemee, a company that has had a hand in a bunch of Home content including the London Pub and some

  • Brabus Stealth 65: A 809-hp Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series

    Brabus Stealth 65

    About two weeks ago, we saw something called the Brabus VANISH a one-off Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series that makes 788-hp and goes from 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds. It was known as the fastest, most exclusive SL 65 AMG Black Series on planet Earth… until now.

    Click here for prices on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

    Meet the new Brabus Stealth 65. The 6.0L AMG V12 biturbo engine from the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series has been upgraded to produce a whopping 809-hp with a maximum torque of 1,047 lb-ft. The standard SL 65 AMG Black Series makes 661-hp and a peak torque of 738 lb-ft.

    The Brabus Stealth 65 uses the T65 RS tuning kit from the VANISH, but engineers at the tuning firm added a little something extra to give that extra 21-hp.

    Of course, the Stealth 65 is owned by some very rich guy in Dubai with a very expensive license plate.

    Hit the jump for the high-res image gallery.

    Brabus Stealth 65 (Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series):

    – By: Omar Rana

    Source: Brabus (via WCF)


  • Traps, Apps and Digital Maps:

    Almost 10 percent of the country is traveling this weekend, and most will be going more than 50 miles. This makes Memorial Day the perfect time to get caught speeding. You may think more cars on the road equals more cover. But there will also be more police. We have a few ideas for your trip, and all of them involve not getting caught and ticketed.

    It helps if you’re armed with some intelligence about speed traps.

    That’s where Trapster from Reach Unlimited Corporation comes in. It’s a free iPhone app that keeps track of speed traps, heavy enforcement zones and speed cameras in real-time. Users post their own trap and camera locations, and other drivers can see and avoid them. When a driver goes through an area, he can vote on how serious the police presence is. Once started, the app works hands-free. The best way to use it is to mount it on your dash where a GPS usually is, this way it won’t distract you.

    If you don’t have an iPhone, there’s always www.speedtraps.com. This site lists all the major speedtraps in across the country. For those who don’t know, a speedtrap is a spot where police usually hide to catch fast drivers. Sometimes it’s just over a hill or around a curve. Other times, the natural scenery gives officers the perfect cover. In either case, when you’re informed, it’s much easier to check your speed or to just avoid the area entirely.

    Here are some places to really mind your speed.

    California

    – Outside LAX, southbound on Sepulveda

    The officer sets up in a bus stop catching drivers as the speed limit changes.

    – 805 Freeway southbound, just south of the 8 Freeway

    The California Highway Patrol sits around the wide sweeping curve, just past the 8 Freeway. Look out.

    New York

    – FDR Drive under the Brooklyn Bridge

    Slow down before climbing the hill to get on FDR. If you can see the officer, it’s too late.

    – Clearview Expressway southbound off Throngs Neck Bridge

    It’s a large empty road with few vehicles, easy to speed, easy to get caught.

    Michigan

    – I-94 near Ten Mile Road

    The speed limit drops from 70 to 55 near a curve. Keep your head up and speed down.

    – Eight Mile Road near John R. Road.

    It’s easy to come off the freeway at a good clip onto Eight Mile, but the speed limit is 40 mph.

    Texas

    – U.S. Highway 183 near Oak Knoll Drive

    Cops target cars going north. Drivers have to illegally cross three lanes to get to Frontage Road. Don’t do it!

    North Carolina

    – Liles Parkway between Poplar Tent and Weddington Road.

    Police sit on an unused turnoff; they point toward Poplar Tent.

    Maryland

    – I-95 southbound in Baltimore near Whitemarsh Boulevard. The speed limit changes near the McHenry tunnel, right by the speed cameras.

    Arizona

    – I-10 westbound to SR51 north

    This is another place where the speed limit drops unexpectedly, with an unmanned speed camera waiting.

    Rural Road near Rio Salado Parkway

    – One of many speed traps in the Tempe-Scottsdale area, the limit goes to 35 mph and the sign is hard to see.

    For more


    Ford Police Car

    Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

  • Chevrolet already scrapping week-old “Excellence for All” campaign?

    Filed under: , ,

    Click above to view the video after the jump

    Sometimes an advertising tag-line is so right, people remember it for decades. In the automotive realm, BMW’s “Ultimate Driving Machine” and Cadillac’s “Standard of the World” stand out and catch on. Apparently “excellence for all” didn’t. The new ad line was developed by Publicis Worldwide which had been tapped to replace Campbell-Ewald as Chevrolet’s ad agency just over a month ago.

    New General Motors VP of Marketing Joel Ewanick dropped Publicis barely a week after taking the job and the tag-line which had only been used in some print ads in recent weeks won’t be seen again. New television ads that are running now close out with “everyone deserves excellence” and the main focus is on the so-called “Red-x” quality engineers.

    With Ewanick clearly taking charge at GM marketing, it will be interesting to see what new Chevrolet agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners comes up with. Make the jump for the aforementioned Red-X engineers spot.

    [Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

    Continue reading Chevrolet already scrapping week-old “Excellence for All” campaign?

    Chevrolet already scrapping week-old “Excellence for All” campaign? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

  • Big Studios Willing To Let Fan Fiction Fly?

    We recently had a discussion about the legalities of fan fiction, and how some authors were adamantly against the concept (even if their views were on shaky legal grounds). While it is true that certain derivative works can be stopped, that also doesn’t mean it’s a smart thing, from the perspective of cultivating fans. Reader Eilieen now points us to the news of a fan-made film that builds on Joss Whedon’s Firefly TV show and Serenity movie:


    Browncoats: Redemption was made by the fans for the fans,” director Michael Dougherty explained to Wired.com by e-mail. “But we view this as an independent film; we had Firefly fans travel from all over the U.S. to volunteer their time as extras and other supportive roles in its production. Without them, this film would not exist, and it will only be successful with their continued help and support.”

    Unfortunately, the article at Wired totally leaves out the question of whether or not the copyright holders know about this particular fan film, and if they’re okay with it. Plenty of movie makers — such as George Lucas — are perfectly happy with fan flicks, even to the point of encouraging them. But, in this case, it’s not clear if this is, in any way, sanctioned. While the filmmakers say they’re doing this for charity, that still suggests they’re hoping to make some money from the film to give to charity — which often is the trigger that sets off Hollywood lawyers.

    Whedon, for his part, has always been good about cultivating super-loyal fans, and at the same time, of experimenting with smart business models. But, not everyone associated with Firefly/Serentiy have always been so sharp. Back when Universal Studios tried to market Serenity via its biggest fans, the lawyers at Universal (apparently kept separate from the marketers) tried to demand licensing fees from the fans that the marketing department was urging to promote the film.

    Looking over the site of the movie itself, it does suggest that they were able to secure permission from everyone necessary — including both Universal and Fox (who ran the TV show) along with Whedon himself:


    So here’s how it is, we’ve reached out to FOX, Universal Studios, Joss’ agent at CAA, and even Mary Parent who is now at MGM. Everyone we’ve dealt with has been extremely helpful and completely blown away the stereotype of what the Hollywood experience is like. And much to our surprise, we even have the blessing of Joss Whedon himself. We’ve reached out to both Fox and Universal to get a greater understanding of the legal permissions we needed to make this a reality and we set out to complete it. And thanks to mighty fine Browncoats like yourself…we have.

    That’s slightly cryptic, but it sounds like all the legal permissions were granted, and perhaps this fan film will go ahead with all the official blessings. While it’s silly that such a permission-based culture is necessary, just to make a film celebrating something that people love, at the very least, it’s nice to see some Hollywood folks recognizing that fan fiction and fan films aren’t inherently bad things.

    Permalink | Comments | Email This Story





  • Mayor and City Council Pass Special Law to Shut Down Defamatory Website

    Fed up with the defamatory content found on one website on the Internet, Bordentown Mayor James E. Lynch Jr. convinced City Council members to pass a law forcing the hosting service of that website to take down its pages.

    The website BordentownMayorReallySucks.com greets visitors with a raunchy dose of criti… (read more)

  • Report: Mini Beachcomber Concept very likely to enter production

    Mini Beachcomber Concept

    The Mini Moke is back… well, almost. Mini bosses are currently looking at whether or not to put the buggy-inspired Beachcomber concept into production. Mini says that the new Countryman based crossover concept was a huge hit at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show in January.

    “We will come back to this to see if there is a business basis, as we were overwhelmed by the reaction. MINI will never show a concept that won’t make production,” said head of brand management Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht.

    The Mini Beachcomber Concept was built around the road-going version of the Countryman, but gave up two doors to pay tribute to the Mini Moke – the legendary Mini-based take on the classic beach buggy.

    Would you like to see the Beachcomber go into production? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section after the jump.

    Mini Beachcomber Concept:

    Mini Beachcomber Concept Mini Beachcomber Concept Mini Beachcomber Concept Mini Beachcomber Concept

    – By: Kap Shah

    Source: AutoExpress