Author: Serkadis

This bit of news shouldn’t really be surprising at all, considering how well Red Dead Redemption’s been performing on Amazon’s Best Seller list. Still, it’s comforting to find corroboration in its numbers. According to the preliminary data

Vicon Revue [http://www.viconrevue.com] is the commercial reincarnation of Microsoft’s Sensecam concept: a wearable digital camera that is designed to take photographs passively, without user intervention, while it is being worn. Its purpose is to support life-loggers wanting to track and document their everyday movements as digital memories. In combination with other physical sensors or additional image-recognition algorithms, the potential opportunities are enormous.

Unlike a regular digital camera or a cameraphone, Vicon Revue does not have a viewfinder or a display that can be used to frame photos. Instead, it is fitted with a wide-angle lens that maximizes its field-of-view and ensures that nearly everything in the wearer’s view is captured by the camera. Next to the 640x480px camera sensor, the device also contains several sensors, such as a temperature sensor, a light color and intensity sensor, an infra-red motion detector, a multi-axis accelerometer, and a 3-axis magnetometer (compass). Images are downloaded at the end of the user’s day, which will hopefully form the basis of some interesting visualizations.

Being promised since 2007, the Vicon Revue is finally shipping to the normal public and sells for £500 / $720 / 576€. Watch a movie consisting of 24 hours worth of images, below. Read some experience reports at

The American actress, Valerie Bertinelli is now engaged to her long time boyfriend Tom Vitale. She revealed the issue in the June issue of AARP The Magazine.

“I’ve never had a male friend like I have with Tom,” she said to the magazine of Tom Vitale, who she has been dating for nearly six years now. It is like she had a wonderful six years with Tom and now is the right time for them to get married. Tom proposed to Valerie during their trip in Florence, Italy. As we can remember, Valerie was married to ’80s rock legend Eddie Van Halen so this will be her second marriage. She has a son named Wolfgang who is now 19 years old.

Valerie starred as Barbara Cooper on TV’s One Day at A time; however, she grew up to a chubby actress. But recently, the actress worked hard in loosing weight. She even stated at her blog in Jenny Craig.com “While running and training for the marathon, my weight crept up a bit. Could be the extra muscle, a shift in extra carbs from training the week before…In fact, I know, logically, all of the reasons for my little weight gain (a couple of pounds), but that number on the scale still haunts me sometimes. Even at 50. Even at the top of my game. Now, the old me would have probably said, ‘Screw it, let’s break out the jalapeno poppers.’” She further stated “Sure, maintenance takes work — I’ve always joked that losing the weight was the easy part — but I live a very controlled and scheduled life (well, relatively) — and I always try and make sure I’m one step ahead of myself. So those few extra pounds were a big thing for me — regardless of my being in the best shape of my life.”

Now, she looks stunning, and it is a big celebration for her as she is now getting married.

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After his appearance in Oprah after being treated for a brain hemorrhage, Brett Michaels back in hospital after a “warning stroke” also known as a “transient ischemic attack”. Brett Michaels the 47 years old Poison singer experienced numbness on the left side of his body.

In Brett Michael’s website a message post stated that Brett “was readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering numbness on the left side of his body, predominantly his face and hands, which doctors described as a transient ischemic attack, or warning stroke.”

After some test and observation Brett Michael’s doctor discovered that he has a hole in his heart. “The good news is that it is operable and treatable, and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the transient ischemic attack. However, we feel it is highly unlikely this is connected to the brain hemorrhage he suffered a few weeks earlier.”

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These are the first images to have been released of the Peugeot 308’s sporty version, the GTi. This model is offered exclusively as a five-door model which is quite unusual for a sport-oriented car.

To distinguish the 308 GTi from the regular versions, it has received some technical and styling upgrades. This car will be the first to have the GTi badge that will be used all over Europe, not only in the UK. Powering the 308 GTi is the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, which delivers 200hp, and has from 5,500 to 6,800 rpm, and a constant 202.8 lb ft of torque (275 Nm) between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm.

This engine, which is also found on the Peugeot RCZ and the Citroen DS3, offers low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Its average fuel rating is 34.1 mpg (6.9 liters/100 km), while its CO2 emissions level is at 159 g/km.

This engine is a product of the BMW-PSA partnership, which brought together a number of innovative technologies like THP (Twin-Scroll turbocharger and direct petrol injection), and VTi (variable valve lift and valve timing).

The unit is coupled with a 6-speed manual gearbox, enabling the car to go from zero to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 147.2 mph (237 km/h).

Peugeot installed the Sound System technology on this model, offering an engine noise that’s quite distinctive. In France, the 308 GTi will be launched on the10th June, priced at 26,900 €.

Errors: http://4wheelsnews.com/images/2010/may/peugeot/308-gti/2010_peugeot_308_gti_2.jpg is not accessible or supported filetype.

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

UK’s Auto Express confirmed that the Nürburgring circuit in Gran Turismo 5 will in fact have a night time mode as well. Not only that, but the Lexus IS-F that Yamauchi drove in the 24-hour race event

Romenesko points us to a story of a West Virginia newspaper that photoshopped three politicians out of a bill signing photo that ran with a story about the bill. Here’s both the original image and the one that ran:

Even the photographer was shocked that his image was modified in this manner. But what’s stunning to me is that the newspaper appears to be defending the decision and not backing down:

[The] reason the delegates were removed was due to the newspaper’s policy not to publish pictures of candidates running for re-election during the political season….

In the newspaper, the photo caption includes the term “photo illustration” to indicate the photo had been changed.

This is a newspaper that won’t run photos of candidates running for election? It makes you wonder how they report on those elections. With illustrations? And then to claim that it’s okay to edit a photograph by then calling it a “photo illustration” rather than a photo that’s been edited seems a bit questionable no matter where you stand on the question of journalistic ethics.

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Death Row’s former CEO, Marion “Suge” Knight, was arrested on Los Angeles on Thursday morning and he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. He was said to be drawing his gun towards another motorist in a public place, as stated by Los Angeles cops.

Knowing this, the California High Patrol officers pulled over the hip-hop chieftain in a white Cadillac Escalade around midnight Thursday. The rapper was held custody after the incident and the bail was set at $65,000.

Knight was the former CEO of the Death Row records. He co-founded it with Dr. Dre, a member of the N.W.A. and who wished to depart from both his group and their label, Ruthless records, run by Eazy-E. Knight promised to make the Death Row records “the Motown of the 90’s”.

Knight made good on his ambitions, as he secured a distribution deal with Interscope and Dre’s 1992 solo debut, “The Chronic” which became one of the most influential rap albums of all time. Death row records also discovered Snoop Doggy Dogg, whose debut album, Doggy style, was another smash hit in 1993. Death row became a brand name for gangster rapper fans out there.

On 1995, Knight offered to pay the bail of Tupac, if he will agree to sign in for the Death Row records. Tupac Amaru Shakur agreed and had a 1996 blockbuster double album All Eyez on Me and the smash hits “California Love” and “How Do U want it”. Shakur was the one who helped Death Row records to be on top of a market place.

However, with the death of the famous Tupac, Snoop Doggy Dogg openly blasted Suge Knight for the murder of Shakur and he decided to leave the label, which he did in 1997.

There were big troubles for Suge until now and he was arrested for many times for cases like drug and aggravated assault charges, assault with deadly weapon and he was also seen beating his girl friend of three years on August 2008.

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This is a major change of looks.
The 43 year old singer-actress Janet Jackson who typically wears a feminine hairstyle, long either tied up or curled down falling below the shoulders left the Cecconi restaurant at London last Wednesday with a very short shaved type of haircut wearing leather jacket and plain jeans with high black platform footwear.
On the left is a before and after picture of the actress. Although this is kind of new to her image, many fans still regard this innovated looks as unique, sassy and trendy. Either with long hair or with short ones, Janet will always be fantastic to her fans.

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Via UFO Casebook News Feed

Needville, TX – Mother/Daughter Photograph/Video Orange-Yellow Unknown Object

Toyota Motor Corporation and Tesla Motors have announced that they intend to cooperate on the production of electric-vehicles, parts and production system and engineering support. Toyota will purchase a $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned IPO.

Both companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts.

“I sensed the great potential of Tesla’s technology and was impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda.

“Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “We look forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota’s legendary engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise.”

Tesla also announced that it has purchased the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California, where it will build the Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles.

“The Tesla Factory effectively leverages an ideal combination of hardcore Silicon Valley engineering talent, traditional automotive engineering talent and the proven Toyota production system,” said Musk. “The new Tesla Factory will give us plenty of room to grow.”

The Tesla Model S, said to be the first pure electric premium sedan, is design from the ground up. The Model S sedan will start at $49,900 (including a federal tax credit) and will get a range of 160 miles. With an optional extended-range battery pack, the Model S can travel over 300 miles per charge. 0 to 60 comes in just 5.6 seconds with a top speed that is limited to 130 mph.

Production of the Tesla Model S is expected to start in 2012.

Tesla Model S:

– By: Omar Rana

The two companies of the auto world, Tesla Motors Inc. and Toyota Motors Corp, declared their partnership on Thursday at an auto plant in the San Francisco Bay area. They will join as partners in developing and building electric cars. Toyota’s CEO, Akio Toyoda announced that his company will invest $ 50 million in Tesla, while the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk stated that his company will purchase Nummi, a New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont. It is in Fremont where the Model S electric sedan will be built.

“We’re going to create electric cars together,” Musk told a news conference at Tesla’s office in Palo Alto. “It’s a great honor to work with a company like Toyota, one of the automobile leaders of the world and one I’ve personally long admired.”

Tesla, which is currently making electric sports car costing about $ 109,000, stated that its goal is to make affordable electric cars which are good for the consumers out there. As Nissan released the electric car Leaf, many consumers knew how electric cars are environment friendly and it will not cost much because it does not need fuel anymore. Good for Toyota and Tesla, they had joined as partners in creating electric cars that are affordable.

How ever, the news about that partnership shocked city officials from Downey. Downey spent months courting Tesla to locate its factory there and officials said they were certain of settling a deal after meeting with Musk recently.

Downey Councilman Mario Guerra said “Tesla has been extremely disingenuous in their dealing with Downey, and I now have new appreciation as to why America is fed up with many large corporations,” She further stated, “This last-minute betrayal is even more shocking because (Downey) was hours away from signing the lease with Tesla that would have been an economic boon for the city.”

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All eyes seems to focus on Media Molecule again these days with the upcoming release LittleBigPlanet 2. Checkout this brand new video interview as the team reveals more details on the new dimensions of level design and

“Dude, I try, but I’m not nailing the baby fashion. It’s intimidating,” Katherine Heigl says Harper’s Bazarr. “I get beautiful outfits form Gap and baby Juicy, but I’m not layering it or putting her in Prada flats. It’s really stressing me out.” Heigl who appears on the cover of US Harper’s Bazaar said that Naleigh’s no fashionista yet.

Naleigh, 18 month old adopted daughter of Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelly, was repaired with open heart surgery due to a congenital defect before she left Korea. Heigl states, “Her heart is 100 percent fine now. She has a scar, so she won’t be wearing bikinis, which is fine by us. A lot of children don’t find forever homes because they’re on that special-needs list, even if it’s because of something as simple as her mother smoked cigarettes for a month, not knowing she was pregnant. That’s not so huge that you couldn’t handle it.”

“If parent time interferes with sexy time, that’s that,” she added as she was referring to an incident when Naleigh spit up all over her lingerie. And one more thing, Heigl says that she does not want to spoil Naleigh. “I want her privilege to afford her to seek many different things that might fulfill her. I don’t want her to have a Beemer on her 16th birthday or spend the summer at a beach house with friends. Nope. You want a beach house, you pay for it.”

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Seems like Sonic’s ride to the top hit a little development snag today as Sega has announced that they are pushing back the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 from the original summer release to

Calvin Murphy have confirmed and even proved that the rumor between Lebron James’s mother Gloria James and Delonte West affair is existing. The story of Gloria James-Delonte West affair has been a pancake issue in the web. A rumor has spread stating LeBron James’s mother is having a relationship with Delonte West. It has been reported that this rumored affair has affected the performance of Lebron James in his games.

The rumor came out to be true as Calvin Murphy proved the issue. Calvin Murphy could be a reliable source for this issue. Calvin Murphy is a former American professional basketball player, playing as a guard for the NBA’s Houston Rockets from 1970-1983. He has been elected as a Basketball Hall of Famer and he has also been member of the Rockets’ broadcast team. He hosted ESPN Radio’s The Calvin Murphy Show.

Stay tune for more updates of Gloria James-Delonte West affair. How this confirmation of Calvin Murphy will affect LeBron James? Let’s wait and see!

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American Lance Armstrong, seven time Tour de France, left Thursday’s Amgen Tour of California after an accident in the fifth stage of the cycling test, said his team’s sporting director RadioShack, Johan Bruyneel.

“I am sorry to report that there was a great fall and Chechu (Rubiera) and Lance (Armstrong) were involved. Lance was forced to leave and went to the hospital to take X-rays”, Bruyneel said in a message via Twitter.

Armstrong, the defending champion of the test and his teammate Levi Leipheimer, as well as Stuart O’Grady estadouidense also were involved in the crash, which occurred near the game in the town of Visalia.

Armstrong had started the day denying the allegations of doping former teammate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his title of Tour de France 2006 after failing a doping test. Armstrong said “not worth even commenting” Landis’s accusations. ”I will not waste my time or yours,” he said.

“I have nothing to hide,” Armstrong said before the start of the fifth stage of the Californian twist, accompanied by Johan Bruyneel, general manager of his team, RadioShack, and Landis was also charged with being involved in doping maneuvers .

At the time of the accident, Armstrong marched in the sixteenth place, 27 seconds behind the leader and compatriot David Zabriskie.

Armstrong served test preparation for the Tour de France (July 3-25). In March last year, in another accident at the Tour of Castilla-León, Spain, he suffered a broken collarbone that disrupted his training for the big French turn, but he recover in time and participate.

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This really shouldn’t surprise anyone, but hopefully this means that more folks in the press will realize a simple point: their job isn’t just to report on what both sides said, but to say directly when someone is lying or being misleading. The AP, which has had some issues in this department in the past, has started aggressively fact checking politicians and now claims that those fact check pieces are the most popular pieces they do. They’re the most clicked and the most linked to stories. This is good news. One of the major frustrations with the press is how they seem to just reprint press releases and talking points, rather than challenging questionable claims. If they start to realize that people really do look to the press to tell them who’s being truthful, perhaps some of these publications wouldn’t be struggling quite so much.

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Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Tesla, Electric

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda held a joint press in Palo Alto, California to announce that the two companies would be collaborating on electric vehicle development and production, with Tesla will taking over the recently closed NUMMI factory in Fremont, CA to produce the Model S sedan.

Toyota will invest $50 million for a private placement of Tesla common stock and the state of California will provide a sales tax abatement to Tesla for capital equipment expenditures to tool up the plant. Musk estimated that the abatement will amount to about $20 million over the next several years.

According to Musk, production of the Model S will bring about 1,000 employees back to the NUMMI plant to produce about 20,000 cars a year at first, and as the facility expands – possibly to include the production of more models – it could employ up to 10,000 workers. Musk revealed that some employees have already been rehired, but was non-committal on the subject of union representation. NUMMI was the only Toyota plant in North America that was unionized.

An additional benefit to Tesla from this deal is that it will be able to take advantage of the Toyota production system and possibly some of Toyota’s suppliers. That’s sure to help Tesla avoid many of the logistical problems that hampered early Roadster production and costs.

Production of the Model S is still planned to start in 2012 and Musk said more advanced prototypes would be revealed later this year. No decisions have been made yet about additional vehicles to be produced at the plant which previously had a capacity of more than 300,000 vehicles a year.

The deal for the NUMMI plant leaves Downey, CA jilted at the altar with the city’s mayor “feeling stabbed in the back by Tesla.” The Toyota deal apparently came together very quickly and Musk acknowledged that he would still like to work with Downey, perhaps for a future Space-X facility. Hit the jump for all the details.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading BREAKING: Toyota and Tesla to partner on EV production in California

BREAKING: Toyota and Tesla to partner on EV production in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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President Barack Obama will replace the former Director of National Intelligence Admiral Dennis Blair whose resignation will come as soon as tomorrow.  President Obama had a discussion with Blair this afternoon on a secure phone line about the best way forward. Blair offered to resign and the president said that he accepted his resignation. There were a number of intelligence failures during Blair’s tenure, these involved the Fort Hood shooter, Failed Christmas Day Bomber – Umar Farouq Abdulmuttalab and Failed Times Square Bomber – Faisal Shahzad. There were reports that President Obama sought Blair’s resignation earlier this week, however Blair pushed back and hoped to convince the president to change his mind. The ultimate reason for Blair gone is due to the dissatisfaction of President Obama and the National Security Staff with Blair’s ability to share intelligence in a tight, coherent timely way.

Blair has had battles which made it clear to the White House that they would have more confidence in others such as counterterrorism and homeland security adviser John Brennan. Blair attempted to pick the chief US intelligence officer in each country despite the CIA Director Leon Panetta’s wish. The White House sided with Panetta. After a mocking report on intelligent failures and Abdulmuttalab was made by the Senate Intelligence Committee, Blair answered in a statement “institutional and technological barriers remain that prevent seamless sharing of information.”

Several Candidates have been interviewed for the national intelligence director’s job which is to oversee the nation’s 16 intelligence agencies. A US official confirmed that Lt. Gen. James Clapper, currently the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, is the leading Candidate.

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