Author: Serkadis

All the big financial stocks are selling off on the news that Goldman Sachs (GS) is being charged by the SEC for subprime mortgage fraud.

The SEC itself says the charges are part of a broader investigation.

So does this mean that more charges against other banks are inevitable?

No.

Remember, Goldman Sachs isn’t being charged for selling CDOs. It’s not even being charged for selling CDOs that were structured by a hedge fund (Paulson & Co.).

It’s being charged for something very specific, that its employee Fabrice Tourre mislead investors about who selected the assets, and what direction he was betting on.

Unless teh SEC can fine a Fabrice Tourre at Barclays (BCS), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Morgan Stanley (MS), and JPMorgan (JPM) then they’ll probably be unlikely to pull the trigger.

Now see the full guide to our coverage here >

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What is in a story about personal health and wellness? We all have them; every one of us. Yours might be about your relationship with food, or about your body image, or about weight loss, or about overcoming illness or injury. If you’ve read my book you’re familiar with mine. I was a cardio junkie who swallowed the Conventional Wisdom-bait, hook, line and sinker for many years, paid the price, and then rebuilt my life using the powerful principles described in The Primal Blueprint. Whatever the theme, though, one thing can be certain. Health is a journey. It has its ups and downs, struggles and achievements, moments of dramatic change, plateaus and periods of homeostasis. Health is not static. And this is a good thing! It means that at any time we have the opportunity to reverse course and begin sending our genes the right signals for positive expression.

Last week we all had the pleasure of reading how the Primal lives of Griff, Michelle, Melissa and Sterling have been progressing. This week you’ll hear back from Apurva, Diana, Lisa and Christian. Find out what they’ve learned, experienced and come up against since last we heard from them, and then maybe take a moment to reflect on what your narrative is and what it could become. What is your story up to this point, April 16, 2010? Now get creative. Imagine what your story will be 1, 10, or 20 years from now. Are you healthy, energetic, happy and productive, or are you out of shape, tired and struggling through life? Tell yourself the story of your future self, and then take the steps to make it a reality. Read on for a little real life inspiration…

Apurva

Hello Mark, thanks for your interest in my progress. I think the last time I sent you details about how my lifestyle changes were going was in March 2008, which makes it 2 years now.

Two years ago, I was on my way to getting primal and had enjoyed dramatic initial results. Since then, the progress has continued, albeit gradually, and involving a lot more effort. At that time, I had dropped a lot of fat and was bordering on looking skinny-fat. My diet was mostly primal, but carbs were not totally eliminated, and I was liable to the occasional binge. I also consumed a lot of fruit (a cup of papaya for breakfast, bananas, apples, etc.) My workouts were based on de Vany’s superset training involving quite a lot of isolation movement. My goals then were to get rid of the stubborn fat and to build muscle.

In the past two years, the changes in my diet and exercise have been quite big. Nowadays, I eat almost 100% primally: only meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, all by-and-large locally and organically grown. My fruit intake is severely curtailed, though in the spring and summer I help myself to the berries that become available on the local farmers’ market. My nut consumption has dropped significantly from the initially copious amounts that I consumed when I first made the shift away from carbs. I do indulge in red wine and dark chocolate.

As far as exercise goes, I have been doing CrossFit regularly for nearly 20 months now. I work off the main site WODs, scaled according to the recommendations at crossfitbrandx.com. I also regularly do yoga, play tennis, bike around town, and sprint every week or so (except when all the fields are drenched). I usually do 3-4 CrossFit workouts in the week, yoga 2-3 times a week. So it is a pretty active lifestyle.

I think the biggest change from two years ago is in my relationship to food and in my physical capacity.

As far as food goes, I feel I have made it to a place where my natural response to food is exactly where I want it to be. If I am not hungry, I can easily not eat, or eat a little if the social situation demands it. If something carby (like bread on a restaurant table) is placed in front of me, it is easy to resist, or have the temptation be automatically wiped out with one bite. Hunger is very bearable, and I know how to eat so that I never feel full, and almost always leave a meal with a satisfied feeling. I think this highly tuned natural response is the best thing that has happened in the last year.

In terms of physical capacity, I think a workout last week showed just how far I have come: when I started CrossFit, I could not do a single pull up and barely 7-8 dips at a stretch. Last week, I did a workout that included 120 pull ups, 120 dips, and weighted squats. My time was not great, but the fact that I could do that much work in a single session was striking to me. My times on the benchmark CF workouts continue to fall, my score on the CrossFit Total has increased by more than 150 since I started. And I have not gotten so much as a sore throat or a sniffling nose for years (touch wood)!

So I am in quite a good place as far as health and fitness goes. It took a lot of effort and a lot of tinkering to create this lifestyle. I have hit many plateaus, and have realized that not all the recommendations on the site worked: intermittent fasting did not really make a difference (I tried it for 15 months); the general idea that you can eat as much fat and protein as you want as long as you cut the carbs did not apply to me (I have realized that was consuming way to many calories for my system and as a result the stubborn fat was going nowhere); etc.

In the past two years, I feel that I have learnt many valuable lessons on fitness and health:

I have learnt that one has to find one’s own niche within the “Ten laws of the Primal Blueprint,” and that there is no silver bullet to finding the path of sustainable and continued progress. What worked yesterday will probably not work tomorrow, and what works for somebody else will probably not work for you. It is all about sharpening awareness of what is happening in your system and then experimenting with your lifestyle to find a way forward. Finally, it is important to have tangible, coherent, metrics (the Crossfit Workouts are great in that respect, and so is your waist size) so that you can gauge progress. But defining goals and identifying those metrics is again a very personal thing.

But I think my biggest gain in the last two years has been in fully accepting that building and maintaining fitness and health is a process and not a destination. One has to be willing to adapt to ones circumstances as they change. I have found that the “Ten Laws of the Primal Blueprint” provide wonderful guidance on how to adapt in the most healthful and effortless way. In addition, the experimental and empirical flavor of your work truly encourage the near constant tinkering that is necessary if one is to make long-lasting improvements to one’s life. It is in these capacities that the Primal Blueprint has proven invaluable to me in my fitness journey.

Read Apurva’s original Success Story here.

Diana

I’m still working hard to get rid of those last few inches around the middle. It’s coming down to loose skin at this point, and I’ve started taking donations to save up for surgery to fix some of the aesthetic issues that come from big weight loss. My weight has increased by about 5 pounds since I’m currently working on building some very nice muscle, especially in my arms. My legs are much stronger than they used to be, even when I was running. I can do REAL push-ups now! I’ve also started living in Vibrams, my hair is thicker and healthier after discontinuing shampoo, and my skin looks better than it ever has. I’m hoping by next summer, between intense workouts and maybe a little nip/tuck to be in a bikini for the first time in my life. This summer I plan on taking a 20-mile trek from my apartment to my parents’ house… just to see what it’s like to travel the old fashioned way.

Grok On, and thanks for all the help.

Read Diana’s original Success Story here. Also, check out Diana’s blog, The Wilderness Childe.

Lisa

When last we met, you were getting a slightly different perspective from me than most. I wasn’t the poster child for a ripped, sleek body and I certainly didn’t have the “luxury”, if you will, of changing all aspects of my life to Primal. Being a full-time mother, caregiver (to an elderly parent with dementia) wife and business owner has essentially trapped me in a life that is seemingly incompatible with the Primal Lifestyle. But I’ve decided to not worry about that and be what I call “Primal inspired” instead (or sometimes, when I’m having a rough day “Primal enough”).

I was trying to decide what I could share with you in terms of further success as my weight hadn’t changed much. But what I’ve come up is that I think I’ve succeeded with health and well-being during some of the most challenging times of my life and I suspect my diet has also been positively directly linked to my continued fertility too. Sure, it’s anecdotal, but I think there is something to it.

Specifically, I realized that this fall…when we had our WORST wedding season yet (again, our business is wedding photography)…that I managed to survive it WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT. Wow. Do you realize what this meant for me? I mean, for at least the last 4 years if not more, I have gained weight every fall wedding season. Even when I lost weight earlier in the year, each and every time October rolled around, I’d finally give in to the stress (and lack of time to exercise) and my weight would jump back up…which set me up nicely for the holidays (**sarcasm alert**) and it’s been a rough haul ever since. It was the classic yo-yo pattern I’m sure so many of you know. But this year…eating according to the Primal Blueprint…it was FINALLY different. The photo I’m sharing is from October! I felt like I finally broke the cycle. And honestly, until the week after Christmas, I did fairly well. I did indulge a bit too much in sugary treats, but the first of year was back on track again.

So why have I no longer dropped weight since then? Well, because I have some amazing news. I’m pregnant! I am expecting our second child at the end of September.

It was quite a surprise for us and I was stunned by the news, but I feel utterly and exceptionally blessed. Though I can’t prove it, I’ve often wondered about my low carb lifestyle and my fertility.  I’m not saying there was ever anything wrong that I knew about, but I’m amazed that here I am — “later in life” (I’m turning 40 in a little over a month) — and I’ve had no problems becoming pregnant. And I’m feeling good with no complications thus far (keeping fingers crossed). It seems all I’ve heard from SO many women is that they’ve had issues regarding that. As a matter of fact, I only have one friend who hasn’t had some kind of fertility issue. And the more you hear those things, the more you wonder if it’s your fate too.

Add to that some more information I read recently when I was at the OB office: There was an article on increasing your fertility that involved things like reducing sugar intake (and grains too – refined carbs in general work against fertility), going organic, avoiding chemicals such as BPA, and a bunch of other things that really made me stop and take note. These are all the things I’ve done that can be attributed to my LC lifestyle! And things have only gotten better over the years as I took on advice from the Eadeses (Protein Power) and then further tweaked my lifestyle according to Mark Sisson’s Primal Blueprint.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I think eating and living as I have have poised me for the best chances and I’m encouraged to think what a good lifestyle this has been in SO many more ways than just looking good naked, ya know? It’s the kind of things I need to keep reminding myself about to encourage continued adherence.

Just in case you’re curious, just like last time (eating LC also) I’ve had no morning sickness and relatively mild symptoms overall. My bloodwork just came back wonderful and I’m not the least bit worried about gestational diabetes (didn’t have it last time, don’t expect to have it this time). I am exercising a bit lighter than before and listening to my body. And I’m resting even more when I can. Every PB law really fits perfectly into a good pregnancy lifestyle, including play time with my son, and I’m doing just that. (I just need the NY winter to give way to spring!) I’m also doing my best to forgive myself my carb transgressions when they happen. And they do happen. But it’s ok because I know exactly where to go once I get off track. So where am I now? In a Primal Pregnancy and feeling great. Tired, sure. But great.

Read Lisa’s original Success Story here.

Christian

My life since going primal about a year ago has been nothing but positive. I am currently happy with the way I look/feel and have only focused on maintenance for quite sometime now. Maintenance has been quite easy for me. Even when I go crazy at times with the 80/20 rule, my body seems to be able to recover from a time to time carb binge fest without much struggle. I thought I’d see some major set backs after a week long business trip to S. Korea, where I consumed way too much alcohol and grain infested foods that I love so much and grew up on… but to the contrary, it didn’t do much damage at all. Now if were to permanently relocate there, I might be in big trouble…

Lately, I’ve been experimenting more with intermittent fasting and have added it more frequently to my schedule due to the convenience factor, but I’ll eat if I feel hungry or social situations dictate I should. I work out a bit less than I’ve ever done. Probably about 1-3 times heavy lifting (10-30 mins) and an occasional sprint or jogging session with walking added in through out the week. My fat percentage is still under 10% and weight has not fluctuated. The primal lifestyle really seems to be effortless.

My biggest challenge lately has been to shut my mouth to those who are not seeking advice. While I’ve gotten better, I can’t help but want to help people when I see them struggling with conventional wisdom of losing weight. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s not for everyone… well at least not yet…=)

Thanks,
Christian

P.S. I haven’t taken a photo of myself without a shirt on in a while… it’s been cold on the east coast. I’ll try to send you an updated photo, but I pretty much look the same as I did last year…

Read Christian’s original Success Story here.

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Related posts:

1. Sensible Vices: Round 2
2. How Much is Too Much? – Round 2
3. Cheap Meat Round II: “Thrift Cuts”

This post is part of the Entrepreneurship series – sponsored by AcceptPay from American Express, a new online solution that lets you electronically invoice customers and accept online payments-all in one place. Offer more payment options, manage your cash flow and get paid faster with AcceptPay. Learn more here.
Of course, the content of this post consists entirely of the thoughts and opinions of the author.

The entire premise behind copyright law is that by making sure there is enough financial remuneration, people will be more interested in creating more great content. The argument of those who push for ever stronger copyright law is always based on this very premise, with the often explicit claim being “if artists can’t make enough money making art, they’ll do something else instead” while suggesting that would be a net negative to society. Now I’m all for artists making money and being able to create more art. It’s why I spend so much time discussing business models that work for those artists. But what if that entire concept — that we need this monetary incentive to create — is bunk?

Peter Friedman points us to a short piece by Malcolm Gladwell, discussing the findings of Dan Pink in his new book Drive, which compiles tons of scientific research on motivation — and finds that money can actually hinder, rather than help, the incentives to create:

His jumping-off point is the academic work done over the past few decades that consistently shows that financial rewards hinder creativity. These studies have been around for a while. But Pink follows through on their implications in a way that is provocative and fascinating. The way we structure organizations and innovation, after all, almost always assumes that the prospect of financial reward is the prime human motivator. We think that the more we pay people, the better results we’ll get. But what if that isn’t true? What the research shows, instead, is that the great wellspring of creativity is intrinsic motivation–that is, I do my best work for personal rewards (out of love or intellectual fulfillment) and not external motivation (money).

Indeed, the more you think about this, the more obvious it becomes. There are lots of reasons why people do things, and economic motivation is for marginal benefit, which some (bad) economists equate directly to cash. But many people value other things much more than cold hard cash — and it’s quite interesting to see that the pursuit of money may actually hinder aspects of creativity.

Again, this is not to say artists should not get paid. I’m very much in favor of business models where artists do get paid. But it absolutely calls into question the very central argument for copyright, and suggests that, if anything, copyright may hinder the incentive to create, rather than promote it. This is a big, big deal — and if we had an evidence-based copyright regime, rather than a faith-based one, it’s something that Congress would consider. Tragically, that seems quite unlikely any time soon.

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Obviously, Goldman is selling off big time post-SEC charges. But just how much trading is being done?

A lot. The average daily volume of GS is 9.94 million, according to Google Finance. Today’s volume so far? 51.03 million. That’s more than 5x the daily volume and it’s only 12:30 PM right now.

Additionally, S&P 500 futures are also ramping up. SPY is seeing volume of 202.6 million so far today with an average daily volume of 161.19 million.

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Did someone know something ahead of these Goldman Sachs (GS) charges?

No doubt many will suspect after seeing this news from Wednesday.

MarketIntelliSearch:

SKF options saw interesting call activity today. A total of 2,285 put and 28,907 call contracts were traded raising a low Put/Call volume alert. Today’s traded Put/Call ratio is 0.08. There were 12.65 calls traded for each put contract.

Unusual volume provides reliable clues that the stock is expected to make a move. Investors can use the Put/Call ratio statistics to measure trader sentiment. A high Put/Call ratio suggests that the overall investment sentiment is bearish and that investors expect the underlying stock to decrease in value. Conversely, a low Put/Call ratio implies that the overall investor sentiment is bullish based on the large amount of call options.

See our complete guide to the SEC charges against Goldman Sachs here >

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It’s possible the market is overreacting to this Goldman Sachs (GS) news, but considering how complacent the market had become, and how out-of-the-blue these charges are, this is causing quite a shock to the market.

The Dow is off nearly 140…

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Foi confirmado pela Peugeot em um evento que aconteceu na Espanha, que o novo modelo 3008 vai sair no Brasil em 2010. O veículo possui características de uma minivan e um utilitário esportivo, vai estrar no mercado brasileiro no segundo semestre de 2010 e vai aparecer também no Salão do Automóvel de São Paulo em outubro.

O modelo possui quatro tipos de motorização, dois deles a diesel e dois a gasolina. É provável que a versão que virá ao Brasil vai ser a 1.6 turbo a gasolina de 156 cv e câmbio automático. Na Europa, o novo 3008 custa € 23,8 e possui controle eletrônico de estabilidade, freios ABS, air bags frontais, laterais e de cortina, rodas de liva leve 17 pol. e piloto automático.

Agora temos que aguardar maiores informações do lançamento no mercado nacional, pois não existem informações de valores e dos equipamentos que estão inclusos na nossa versão.

Imagens do novo utilitário da Peugeot

Via | Carplace

PALATINE, IL – The Harper College Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Dr. Ronald Ally as the College’s new Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations, effective July 1, 2010. Dr. Ally has more than 17 years of experience in Illinois community colleges, having served as Vice President for Administrative Services and Treasurer at McHenry County College; Director of Financial Affairs and Controller at College of DuPage; and Controller at Moraine Valley Community College.

He will succeed Judy Thorson, Vice President of Administrative Services, who retired from Harper last year.

Dr. Ally is a Certified Public Accountant and a consultant and evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission, and is a former member of the Finance Advisory Committee of the Illinois Community College Board.

Most recently, he was Chief Financial and Operations Officer for School District U-46 in Elgin. His educational finance experience also includes serving as a manager at a public accounting firm that specialized in working with local and state government units, including community colleges, school districts and municipalities.

Dr. Ally holds a doctorate from Northern Illinois University, and has earned a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He has presented at national and local conferences and workshops on public finance topics, and has been active in professional organizations – serving as Secretary of the Illinois Association of School Business Officers’ Accounting Committee and Treasurer of the Community College Insurance Consortium, and sitting on committees for the Illinois CPA Society and the Central Association of College and University Business Officers. He holds an Illinois Type 75 Chief School Business Official certification.

Dr. Ally was chosen for the Harper position following a national search, and spent two days on campus with administrators, student leaders, faculty and other employees as part of the interview process.

He was formally appointed at the Harper College Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Thursday, April 15.

From Green Right Now Reports

The Nature Conservancy, which has worked over the years to preserve California’s 278 state parks, wants residents to visit and enjoy these resources, especially as waters warm and flowers bloom this spring and summer.

So this week, the Nature Conservancy presented its picks for the “Ocean Oscars,” highlighting some of the best beach-side state parks. Here, by category, with descriptions written by the Nature Conservancy, are the winners:

• Best Urban Retreat – Eastshore State Park – San Francisco Bay Area.  This seashore is amidst one of the most developed areas in California.  Nestled right outside San Francisco, Eastshore State Park is an urban retreat with miles of walking and biking trails and panoramic views of the bay.  Tidal wetlands, marshes and sandy beaches are home to thousands of birds, delighting any naturalist or photographer.
  

  Point Lobos Natural Reserve

• Best Diving – Point Lobos State Reserve – Carmel. Often referred to as the “crown jewel” of California’s state park system, Point Lobos State Reserve (Point of the Sea Wolves) is truly a gem.  It’s one of the premiere protected dive sites on the famous Central Coast, with access at Whalers and Bluefish coves that are teeming with underwater life.  You’ll only see half of this majestic reserve unless you visit this underwater realm. But, the rest of the park is not half bad either …Whether it’s viewing endangered archeological sites, spotting migrating whales, seals, sea lions and birds, cataloguing unique plants and rock formations, exploring hidden coves, or talking a guided walk, this park has something spectacular for everyone.

• Best Adventure – Montana de Oro State Park – San Luis Obispo. The Conservancy worked with California State Parks to expand the magnificent Montana de Oro (Mountain of Gold), named for the golden wildflowers that carpet it every spring.  People looking for solitude and freedom come to this rugged and secluded spot to get away from it all. The beaches, especially Spooner’s Cove, coastal plains, canyons and streams are the perfect backdrop to have a weekend adventure. Some of California’s best camping, horseback riding, hiking and fishing can be experienced here, as well as guided tours, tidal pool exploring and charming historical sites.
  

  Huntington Beach State Park (Photo: California State Parks)

• Best Surfing – Huntington State Beach – Orange County. Southern California is one of the most famous places on Earth to hang ten, and Huntington State Beach is right at the epicenter offering world-class surfing and competitions. After catching some waves, you can hang out by a bonfire and watch the sun sink into the Pacific. This popular beach is also a nesting sanctuary for the California least tern, a rare and endangered species. The beach is also home to the threatened snowy plover. The park offers other activities, including a bicycle trail, volleyball, basketball, skating, and surf fishing.

• Best Walk on the Beach – Manchester State Park – Manchester. With five miles of gentle, sandy beach stretching out towards the Point Arena Lighthouse, Manchester State Park is the perfect place to take a long stroll with someone special.  The San Andreas Fault meets the sea, creating a dramatic backdrop. This park has over 18,000 feet of ocean frontage which includes flat grassland, sand dunes, and two outstanding steelhead streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek.  Every spring coastal wildflowers dot the park, including sea pinks, poppies, lupines, baby blue eyes and blue irises.  Visitors can come for the day to hike and view wildlife, or stay overnight in the campground.

Tree at Tomales Bay State Park (Photo: Oscar Vasquez, California State Parks)

• Best Windsurfing – Tomales Bay State Park – Inverness. Just a short day trip from San Francisco, Tomales Bay State Park is a windsurfers’ mecca.  It is ideal for riding the wind, with four gently sloping, surf-free beaches protected from unmanageable winds by Inverness Ridge. Tomales is the backbone of the Point Reyes Peninsula.  And, the park boasts one of the finest remaining virgin groves of Bishop pine and an abundance of wildlife like foxes, bobcats, monarch butterflies, puffins and great blue heron.  It is a popular place for hiking, picnicking, swimming, clamming and boating.

• Best Swimming – Will Rogers State Beach – Los Angeles County. Not far from the bustle of Los Angeles and just off Pacific Coast Highway, Will Rogers State Beach is recognized all over the world as an iconic California beach.  It’s named after film legend Will Rogers and is where Baywatch was filmed.  It is also one of the nicest beaches in California to take a dip in the ocean and bask in the sunshine on a beach towel. Other activities include skin diving, horseback riding, surfing, volleyball, hiking and guided tours.

• Best Beachcombing – Andrew Molera State Park – Big Sur. In the heart of magical Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park is still relatively undeveloped and offers some of the best beachcombing in California. Natural treasures are cast up from the sea and waiting along the tide line for the adventurous to claim. The park, a 7 1/2–mile jewel that was first protected by the Conservancy in 1965, offers some of the state’s best of surfing, camping, fishing, hiking, and biking. Miles of trails wind along Molera Ridge through chaparral and then drop into oak woodlands, redwood groves and stands of sycamores and madrones. Keep walking and you’ll find yourself at the beach, where the Big Sur River empties into the Pacific Ocean and the sun sets slowly into the horizon.

Financials are taking a huge hit thanks to Goldman Sachs.

Here’s a breakdown of how things are looking right now:

• Goldman Sachs (GS): $161.33 / -12.35%
• JP Morgan (JPM): $45.76 / -4.29%
• Wells Fargo (WFC): $32.25 / -3.73%
• Bank of America (BAC): $18.37 / -5.70%
• Citigroup (C): $4.55 / -5.41%
• American International Group (AIG): $40.65 / +1.68%
• UBS: $16.87 / -3.32%
• Bank of NY Mellon (BK): $31.19 / -2.75%

Follow Our Full Goldman Sachs SEC Charges Coverage Here >

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The Goldman/SEC debacle has really hurt the markets. Financials in the S&P 500 are bleeding red while the Dow is down triple digits. The NASDAQ is down 30 points and the S&P puked 20 points or 1.7%.

Goldman Sachs’ stock is down nearly 15% at the moment at $158.79.

Follow Our Full Goldman Sachs SEC Charges Coverage Here >

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Ning, the social network platform which enables anyone to create their own interest-based networks, has hit some rough times, or at least, that’s what the latest moves at the company would indicate. In one fell swoop, the company’s newly appointed CEO is shutting down the site’s free offering and is laying off 40 percent of its… (read more)

In January 2010, I had first talked about the East Coast Hydrogen Highway system being developed by SunHydro. The New York Times has now added a few details about the plan including the company’s founder and how the plan is to be financed.

In my last blog post, I roughly calculated the farthest distance between the 11 hydrogen fueling stations that run from Portland Maine to Orlando, Florida as being 145 miles apart. In the NYT article it states, however that according to Wired.com the stations, “…will be strategically located from Portland, Me., down to Miami, Fla., to account for the 300 mile range that state-of-the-art hydrogen cars are capable of traveling.”

When I checked the Wired article, however, this is not stated in the article itself but from someone commenting on the article. Why this is important is that if the 300 mile distance between stations is indeed accurate this would exclude the Honda Clarity and many other hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that do not have a 300 mile range. So, I’m checking on the details now about this one point.

SunHydro is a startup company that was founded by Tom Sullivan who made $544 million in sales last year from the other company he founded Lumber Liquidators. Another company called Proton Energy Systems was put up for auction and Mr. Sullivan paid $10.2 million for this company. Proton Energy Systems is building the electrolyzers for the 11 hydrogen fueling stations which will use solar panels and water to create clean energy for the hydrogen vehicles.

Mr. Sullivan expects to put $15 – $20 million into the building of the 11 hydrogen fueling stations along the East Coast Hydrogen Highway network. Mr. Sullivan has now secured most of the land he will need for this project and the first station is set to go online June 2010 in Wallingford, Connecticut at the Proton Energy Systems headquarters.

Coheed and Cambria is set to pitch in three more tracks into Rock Band this week, all of them coming off the band’s new Year of the Black Rainbow Album. Also on this week’s batch are Siouxsie

The Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series is already an impressive car, but the Brabus tuning company had to modify it even further for a customer in Dubai. Calling it the Vanish, Brabus hooked up the Mercedes SL65 with larger turbos, huge brakes, a new transmission, matte black wrap, and a strange plastic piece on the hood to push 800 horsepower. The tuned Mercedes SL65 AMG features the 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 all concealed inside the complete carbon fiber body that shaved off a whopping 551 pounds. This raised the top speed to 199 mph, accomplished a 0-60 time in the three second range, but sadly only 350 will ever be made.

Enter all of the above modifications and you have the recipe for what is called the Brabus Vanish. The only problem with the custom Mercedes SL65 Black Series is that the transmission can’t handle the max torque of 885 lb-ft, so it has been limited to 737 lb-ft. However, the matte black car wrap on the Mercedes AMG flows well with the large blacked out wheels. Just what the heck is that on the hood of this tuned car?

[Source: jalopnik]

Source: Fancy Tuning – the latest car tuning news

Sairam novas imagens do Novo Astra europeu, que foi flagrada pelo site Autohome. O modelo que será chamado de Buick Excelle no mercado chinês vai ser apresentado oficialmente no próximo Salão do Automóvel de Pequim, no próximo dia 25 de abril.

O design do carro está bem interessante, com um detalhe cromado sob a tampa do porta malas que apesar de diferente, ficou bonito. O novo Astra terá versões com motores 1.6 turbo de 180 cv e um 2.0i turbo de 220 cv.

Como sempre, um modelo legal assim não vai entrar no mercado brasileiro tão cedo pra não dizer nunca, já que os planos da Chevrolet para nós será o de lançar o Cruzue.

Imagens do Novo Astra

Via | Carplace

Over at Jeff’s new digs at Fox Sports Ohio, he published an article about today’s practice session.

You see, today is “QB and TE Day” with the media.  All those players will be made available to the media.  So Jeff asked his Fox Sports Ohio readers for some help.

What would YOU ask Terrelle Pryor?

There will be dozens of cameras and microphones all around TP, and the odds are good that Jeff will only get to ask him one question.

So he asked his FSN readers, and now he asks you, faithful BBC readers….what should that one question be?

Either head over to the article about Pryor, or e-mail him at jeffseemann-at-yahoo-dot-com, or leave your question here.  Jeff says he’ll give credit in his article tonight to whomever submits the best question.

Is the SEC’s war on Wall Street’s pre-eminent bank the move that will break the amazing calm in this market?

Right now it feels like it.

Goldman is down now 9%. The Dow is off over 60.

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