Author: Serkadis

Just after midnight on September 21, Rebecca Rush of Lilburn in Gwinnett County woke to crackling lightning and the sound of pounding thunder and her two dogs barking excitedly. The heavy storm system that had pounded the Atlanta metropolitan counties for four days, dumping up to 22 inches of rain. Within 30 minutes of waking the following morning, Rush was knee-deep in floodwaters.

“Two days after being rescued from clinging to the tree, I returned to the house and could not walk through the front door,” said Rush. “You know it’s going to be bad, but when you actually see everything, you just cry. The floodwater line on the walls reached nearly seven feet. Everything was covered in thick mud and sludge. It smelled like a sewer. Everything was contaminated.”

“I was convinced at the time I bought the policy that I didn’t actually need flood insurance,” said Rush. “That’s the reason I just bought what I had to—coverage for the structure and not my contents. Looking back, that was not the wise thing to do.”

Read the entire Best Practice: http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/bestPracticeDetail.do?mitssId=7031

Find additional Resources: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/bestpractices/resources.shtm

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Videos, Chevrolet, Electric

As the popularity of hybrids has grown over the last few years, advocates for the blind have been raising a red flag about noise, or — more to the point — the lack of it. Because electric-drive vehicles emit much lower levels of sound on the street, blind pedestrians who’ve relied on the noise emitted from traditional vehicles lose a major source of information when navigating the streets and sidewalks.

There have been movements in various legislatures to mandate some minimum sound level from electric vehicles to ensure that blind pedestrians can tell when they’re approaching, and General Motors recently conducted a test session at its Milford Proving Grounds with a group of the visually-challenged to assess the audible warning systems on the Chevrolet Volt.

The engineers have employed the car’s horn to emit a series of warning chirps when a pedestrian is in proximity to GM’s gas-electric hybrid, evaluating the nature and level of the warnings to alert pedestrians rather than startle them. GM spokesman Rob Peterson tells us that on the first generation Volt the warnings will be manually activated by the driver, although future iterations are likely to incorporate some sort of active system. Currently, the biggest hurdle is developing an active system that can distinguish a pedestrian from another vehicle. Otherwise, without a reliable detection system, the horns would be going off at all times, increasing noise levels and making it largely useless.

[Source: ChevroletVoltage.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chevrolet Volt tests driver-controlled audio warning system with the blind

VIDEO: Chevrolet Volt tests driver-controlled audio warning system with the blind originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’d like to give a shout out to what may possibly be the greatest gift to give this Holidays for that special someone who is a true music aficionado. The Miles Davis Complete Columbia Album Collection (currently $293) is a deluxe, limited edition retrospective of the iconic music Miles Davis created during his 30 years with Columbia Records. If you don’t know, Miles Davis was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. But he was just more than that, he was an iconic figure whose music has withstood the tests of time and plays in a way that always captures you. Widely considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music including cool jazz, hard bop, free jazz, fusion and techno. Many well-known jazz musicians made their names as members of Davis’s ensembles.

Anyway, this exquisite package, comprised of 70 CDs (!) and 1 DVD, contains all 52 of Miles’ Columbia recordings in Japanese-styled mini LP jackets and includes a 250-page book with a biography, a fully annotated discography, a complete song index, and rare photos. It’s so amazing to see such a large box set of Miles Davis like this – I would dedicate the time to eventually listen to every CD. I couldn’t imagine trying to do it in one sitting, though.

Appearing on DVD for the first time in this box is Live in Europe ’67, shot in Stockholm and Karlsruhe during the Miles Davis Quintet’s European tour of 1967. Completely remastered from the original broadcast tapes, these performances feature Miles with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. In addition to the DVD, there will be a first-time audio release of the full performance from the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Bonus tracks and other rarities that have been added to the CD reissues of individual albums in past years are also included.

Just to whet your whistle, here is one of my favorite Miles Davis songs:

GTTV’s Geoff Keighley has revealed via Twitter that Tron Legacy won’t be the only game premiering at this year’s Spike Video Game Awards. Apparently a…

Its not the biggest budget production ever, but this promotional video by HP shows perfectly well who the target market for the HP Glisten (previously HP iPAQ Obsidian) is, and also demonstrates what the Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional smartphone is useful for.

While the device misses out on the high level of customization seen in HTC’s devices, the native Windows Mobile 6.5 user interface is perfectly fine for the business and busy people market its aiming for.

Are any of our readers considering this device? Let us know in the comments.

The accelerator pedal, right, in a 2010 Toyota Avalon is seen on the show room floor of Bobby Rahal Toyota in Mechanicsburg, Pa. , Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.

When the news of Toyota’s spontaneously accelerating vehicles first broke, it was in the form of a grisly accident in Texas involving a Lexus, a jammed accelerator pedal, and 3 unfortunate fatalities. In response to the outcry immediately following the accident Toyota released a 3.8 million vehicle recall, pinning the primary source of the problem on improperly secured floor mats. Suspecting something significantly more sinister at play, a class-action lawsuit sprung up in California alleging that the problem was not with wayward accessories but rather an intrinsic, and fatal, design flaw.

Today, just a few short weeks after the lawsuit was filed, Toyota has recalled the same group of vehicles affected by the flighty floor mats for a different issue: misshapen accelerator pedals. Apparently, Toyota reached the conclusion that jerry-rigging the floor mats was not enough to eliminate the problem entirely and although they have not admitted to any faulty engineering, they do appear to be treating the issue with considerably more severity. In addition to reconfiguring the shape of the accelerator pedal in all vehicles recalled (which includes the bulk of the current line-up), Toyota will also install a brake override system in Camry, Avalon, and Lexus ES 350, IS 350 and IS 250 models.

Toyota will begin notifying owners by the end of the year and dealerships will begin receiving vehicles for repair in April, assuming both the vehicle and the owner are still in one piece.

Source: AutoNews
Image Cred: AP Photo

The folks in Hollywood have been working overtime lately trying to convince the world that piracy is harming the industry, even as the industry is having its best year ever in terms of both money made and the number of movies released. It’s an uphill slog, so lobbyists, lawyers and execs from the various studios have resorted to what can only be described as “making stuff up.” But, like the poor corn farmers that NBC Universal lawyers think are being hurt by movie piracy, most of these claims don’t pass the laugh test.

But, of course, the story goes even deeper than that. As we’ve noted before, despite claims to the contrary, “piracy” is almost always an indicator of unmet consumer demand and a failure on the part of the industry to meet that demand. Matt Mason’s book from last year made this quite clear, and now the EFF’s Fred von Lohmann has done a great job detailing how any “problems” that Hollywood might face from “piracy” are problems of its own making. He points to the attempts by the major studios to block Redbox and delay movie rentals.

It’s the same thing we’ve seen over and over again. You don’t win customers by taking rights away from them. You win customers by adding more value. But that seems to be total anathema to Hollywood. Instead, it seems to think that the only way to run a business is to take away or disable rights and features from users, and then charge them to re-enable them. It’s not difficult to see why this is not just a recipe for failure, but one that will only drive more people to piracy, after the industry blocks them from getting what it seems perfectly reasonable to expect — and what the technology clearly allows.

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Filed under: Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Diesel

AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock – Click above for high-res image gallery

It could be argued that Mercedes-Benz’ AMG division — more than any other brand — is culpable for perpetuating the horsepower wars. Not that we’re complaining, mind you, but sooner or later, consumer demands for environmental responsibility will catch up even with these stratospheric performance automobiles. The power-crazed tuners at the Benz performance division can see the writing on the wall, and are reportedly preparing to do something about it. More than one thing, actually.

First up is the electric version of the SLS, AMG’s first in-house developed product. Confirmation came this past summer that an electric SLS – with the equivalent of 526 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque on tap – would see production, although no launch date has been revealed at this point. There’s no telling if the electric powertrain in the green gullwing will foreshadow the trickle-down effect into other vehicles, but we’d hardly be surprised.

What could end up powering more commonplace future AMG products, however, are diesel engines. The possibility was first mooted nearly two years ago, and confirmed as a possible course of action a bit over a year ago by AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg. According to the latest reports, AMG is still toying with the idea, but given the torque-heavy capacity of modern diesels – German ones, especially – we could be looking at oil-burning performance Mercedes before we know it.

[Source: What Car?]

Mercedes-AMG presses on with alternative energy powertrains originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google is always tweaking the design of its products even, or especially, that of its search engine. The site has evolved in time but for the most part the changes have been subdued and discrete. Not anymore though, Google is planning a major revamp of its search engine, by Google standards anyway, promising to be the biggest single redesign to date. The company is already testing the design with a number of users, but the rest of us will have to wait until next year to get to see it in action. However, if you just can’t wait that long, there’s a little trick you can use to get into the trial.

The trick involves modifying the cookies Google stores on your computer to keep various settings and data. This sounds more complicated than it really is, all you need to do is copy and paste the code below into your browser’s address bar. You need to sign out of your Google account either before or after pasting the code and then you should see the brand-new design regardless of whether you’re signed in or not.

After this, the new design is all yours in all its Technicolor glory. It’s still the same minimalist Google design that we all know and love, but it’s gotten a bit livelier. A lot livelier actually, thanks to the small icons adorning the categories in the now-permanent sidebar, but espe… (read more)

Since she decided to drop the corporate attire for the apron, Flo has been womanning tables like a girl possessed. It looks like she’s been doing a s…

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Ferrari

2008 Dodge Viper ACR – Click above for high-res image gallery

After setting a new lap record at Laguna Seca the other day, Dodge announced some minor revisions to the all-conquering Viper ACR for the 2010 model year. The snake that swallowed the famed 11-turn race track whole will be treated to some revised gearing and aerodynamics, a new short-throw shifter, the addition of a new color to the catalog and an updated interior to boot. There’ll also be a special edition ACR to commemorate the record-breaking lap time. But in the process, a senior Chrysler executive clarified some rumors that have been circulating regarding the next generation Dodge supercar.

Back in August we reported that the next-gen Viper could get a heart transplant in the form of a Ferrari-developed modular engine. The program spearheaded by Chrysler’s new corporate cousin in Maranello was tipped to form the basis for new engines that would find their way into the bays of upcoming Maseratis, Ferraris and Vipers. But in speaking with AutoWeek, Dodge brand chief Ralph Gilles reportedly put the brakes on the rampant speculation, saying that any collaboration between Dodge and Ferrari on the Viper’s replacement wouldn’t extend beyond some input from the Italian marque on the car’s development. And while that doesn’t necessarily mean the engine programs couldn’t be merged, “Ferrari is Ferrari, according to Gilles, and “Viper is Viper”.

[Source: AutoWeek]

REPORT: Ralph Gilles puts the brakes on Viper-Ferrari collaboration rumors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Once again, Danny Sullivan is ripping to shreds the arguments being made by newspaper execs who are talking about how Google is a “parasite” on their content, despite sending tons of traffic. In this episode, Danny looks at the silly claim that visitors from Google are worthless, by comparing the situation to a regular shopfront and how they handle browsers vs. requiring a fee to get inside in the first place. He also goes on to look at how the Wall Street Journal (to which he is a subscriber) tries to monetize him online, and the only clear conclusion is that if News Corp. execs think that traffic from Google is worthless, it’s only because they’re making it worthless by doing an incredibly poor job capitalizing on all that free traffic.

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Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Renault

A few weeks back, Renault announced plans to revive the classic Gordini badge for its new high performance variants and now, the first model has been unveiled. Based on the automaker’s smallest model, the Renault Twingo Gordini R.S. should prove to be mighty quick, with a 133 hp 1.6-liter engine to twist its 17 inch front wheels, along with an uprated suspension package and brakes.

Outside, the Twingo is coated in the historic blue hue that adorned French racing cars in the days before corporate sponsor colors took everything over, and buyers can also opt for pearlescent black to go with the white accents. Renault is displaying the car at their “Christmas in Blue” exhibit in Paris through the holidays and deliveries will start in March. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it will surely come in at a level that would make American consumers blanche for such a small car.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Renault introduces Twingo Gordini R.S. hot hatch

Renault introduces Twingo Gordini R.S. hot hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There has been a lot of talk about the DS systems getting a lot of shovelware, but hopefully, Marvelous’ stab into the edutainment market in Japan w…

If you’re planning to get the big releases coming in the first half of 2010, you better make damn sure you get a lot of money this Christmas.Adding to…

We don’t know if this is a sign of HTC giving up on making Windows Mobile finger-friendly (the HTC HD2 actually works pretty well sans stylus) or of the company just giving in to demand, but according to Clove we can expect an official Capacitive Stylus from HTC pretty soon, and at a reasonable price.

Manufacturer
HTC

Product Code
HTC-STYHD2

Price
£15 (£17.25 inc VAT)

Overview of HTC HD2 Capacitive Stylus

PRICE, SPECIFICATION AND AVAILABILITY TO BE CONFIRMED

Have you been struggling to get to grips with the HTC HD2’s capacitive touch screen? Been screaming out for a stylus that will allow you to select items and navigate the screen with more ease?

Worry no more.  This official stylus from HTC is designed specifically to work with the capacitive touch screen of the HTC HD2. Using the latest technology the stylus will allow you to better use your HD2. No more fingers or thumbs!

What do our readers think – should HTC just forge ahead and drop styli, or is this a sign that styli are just better than fingers?  Let us know in the comments.

Via Mobiletechworld.com

My in-laws have a tradition of making a huge pot of turkey soup the day after Thanksgiving.  It’s a great way to use every last bit of the bird, and you’ll have enough to freeze several batches to enjoy throughout the winter months.  Our kids love Nonno’s turkey soup!

In addition to using up leftover turkey, you’ll also use up any leftover vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, green beans, potatoes, yams, butternut squash, corn, or whatever else was served with the turkey.  You can even stir in leftover stuffing for a thicker soup.

The main time-consuming part is boiling the turkey bones to create rich stock.  Boiling the bones for hours may seem daunting, but it’s the only way to get that true depth of flavor that you simply can’t get out of a box or can.  It’s worth it, we promise!  And especially after all the gorging on Thanksgiving day, it’s nice to balance it out with a light meal of turkey soup and fresh salad.

So while you’re recovering from Thanksgiving food coma, put a pot ofturkey soup on the stove while you relax on the couch or get an earlystart on holiday decorating.

After Thanksgiving Turkey Soup

1 leftover turkey carcass
4 qts (16 cups) water or chicken broth
1 pkg Poultry Blend, or any blend of rosemary, thyme, sage or sage, tied together with twine
2 bay leaves
1 pkg Mirepoix (or chop up 1 onion, 3 carrots, and 2 ribs of celery)
3 cloves garlic, crushed, or 3 cubes frozen Crushed Garlic
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice, brown rice, barley, or other grains
4 cups leftover vegetables, cut into bite size pieces (such as Brussels sprouts, potatoes, yams, green beans, butternut squash)
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Break turkey carcass into pieces so that it fits in a large pot or Dutch oven.  Cover with water or broth.  Using broth will yield a richer tasting soup.  I used half water, half broth.  Add herbs and bring to a boil.  If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use 1 tsp each of dried herbs.  If you are using just water, add 1 tsp salt.  When water is boiling, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.
2. Optional step: you can refrigerate the broth, which makes any fat in the broth rise to the surface, for easy removal with a spoon.  I found that I didn’t have much fat at all, since I didn’t throw in any skin with the carcass.  However, if you want to make sure every last bit of fat is removed, you can take this step.  I did do this with the juices that came out of the turkey while roasting, and after removing the fat, added the fat-free juices to the pot for the soup.
3. Remove carcass using a slotted spoon or tongs.  Allow to cool.  While carcass is cooling, add Mirepoix and rice to the soup and continue cooking.  If you’re using raw vegetables instead of leftovers, you can add them to the soup at this point.  Pick meat off carcass and tear into bite size pieces.  You’ll have about 3-4 cups of meat.  If you don’t, and want more, you can add leftover turkey meat.  Add this meat into the soup and continue cooking about 45 minutes longer.
4. Add cooked leftover vegetables and simmer for 10-15 minutes until heated through.  Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

If freezing, allow soup to cool completely before placing into containers or Ziploc bags for freezing.

Variation: For an Italian turkey soup, use red peppers and zucchini for the vegetables, add some beans, and use pasta instead of rice (add the pasta during the last 10 mintues of cooking so it doesn’t overcook).

Prep time: 20 minutes
Hand-off cooking time: 3 hours
Serves 16