Here’s something we don’t hear about everyday: a PSP game getting ported to PS3. Japanese gaming mag Famitsu reports that the latest entry in ZeroDiv’s dungeon crawling series Class of Heroes is graduating to the Sony home

The Michigan Daily is reporting that UM “quarterback” Tate Forcier was seen at class today wearing a boot and sporting a pair of crutches;

Sophomore Tate Forcier, a quarterback on the Michigan football team, walked to class at about 10 a.m. this morning with crutches and wearing a black boot around his foot and ankle, a Michigan Daily reporter observed.

When contacted earlier today, Michigan football sports information director David Ablauf said he could not comment on the situation and said that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is the only one who can comment on injuries.

The Wolverines are being hush-hush about it, which means he probably injured it while shredding documents regarding practice sessions.

UPDATE – When asked about the injury, Forcier panicked.  He quickly found the nearest person wearing red and handed them a football.

With less than 30 minutes to go, the Dow is up 100 points.

We’re going to fill the Lehman gap just like that.

Says one trader we spoke with:  “It feels like ’05”

Join the conversation about this story »

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Mazda

According to the crew at Auto Motor und Sport, the Mazda RX-8 won’t be coming back to Europe for the 2011 model year. Why? The rev-rific rotary can’t pass the Euro-5 emission standards and a replacement won’t arrive until 2013.

Mazda Germany exec, Joseph Alois Schmid, told AMuS that retrofitting the current engine would be too cost prohibitive and the Wankel can’t adapt quickly enough to Europe’s stringent emission standards.

Although a replacement is in the works – and a hydrogen version could arrive within the next few years – the next rotary mill will have to be significantly reworked to adhere to the new standards. But even a revised rotary could have problems in 2014, when the new Euro 6 emission rules take effect.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via TTAC]

Report: Mazda RX-8 denied re-entry into Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple axe Gene Munster raised his target to $299. 

This isn’t surprising.  Gene thinks Apple can hit $1,000 a share over the next few years (although he’s wise enough not to say it).

But we do have a friendly question for Gene:

Why $299? 

Why not $300?

Is Apple’s stock going to STOP rising when it hits $299?  If/when it hits $299, should we dump it and run for the hills?

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Apple Stock Fans Really Do Think Different: Buy The Rumor, Buy The News

One more hour to go, and the market is once again going nuts, with the Dow up nearly 90, and new highs being made all over the place.

Someone who’s steaming?

Nouriel Roubini, Dr. Doom.

As this chart from the Ekonomi Turk, the inverse correlation between Roubini’s popularity (as measured by searches on Google), and The S&P 500 couldn’t be more clear.

Nassim Taleb told us that Roubini is robust, though, because he has vulva casting in his apartment and it hasn’t hurt him at all. But is he robust enough to survive a bull market?

And don’t miss: The complete guide to everyone who got this rally wrong >

Join the conversation about this story »

Shmup fans have something to look forward to next month on the PlayStation Network. Eastasiasoft has announced that that’s when Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype hits the Sony download service.

Filed under: Etc.

Despite my better judgement, I had an iPad delivered to my house last weekend. The reasons for the purchase varied from the inexplicable to the absurd, but one of my primary interests was how magazines would adopt/adapt to the new format. Like it or not, Apple’s a leader in mobile content delivery and any publishing house is going to want to be on the “it” platform, just as developers downloaded the iPhone SDK in hoards and the App store became the dominant force for mobile applications.

I’ve checked out some of the general interest pubs (NYT, Time, etc.), which are obviously still getting their sea-legs (and falling on their faces, in many cases), but for gearheads the pickings are non-existent – save Zinio (iTunes link).

Continue reading Car and Driver on iPad : A stopgap for the future of online mags

Car and Driver on iPad : A stopgap for the future of online mags originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few folks sent over Larry Downes excellent recent analysis of both Google’s moves in China and its lawsuit with Viacom over YouTube. He notes that the key similarity in both stories is how property rights don’t make much sense for information, and how using a traditional property analysis in both cases leaves you coming up short. Specifically, with China, he points to a lack of interest in a marketplace of ideas, and with Viacom the problem is that intent is never taken into account. That is, with traditional property analysis, “theft” is done to take something away from someone else for your own good. But in the case of people posting videos to YouTube, the opposite is the case. People are trying to better share Viacom content, to better promote it. As such, Downes wonders if there’s room for an “intent” mechanism in judging certain actions, with a question of whether the use is “productive” or “destructive”:

Both these cases highlight why traditional property ideas don’t fit well with information uses. What would work better? I present what I think is a more useful framework in the book, a view that is so far absent from the law of information. That framework would analyze information uses not under archaic laws of property but would rather weigh the use as being “productive” or “destructive” or both and determine if, on the whole, the net social value created by the use is positive. If so, it should not be treated as illegal, regardless of the law.

What do I mean? Since information can be used simultaneously by everyone and, after use, is still intact if not enhanced by the use, it’s really unhelpful to think about information being “stolen” or, in the censorship context, of being “dangerous.” Rather, the law should evaluate whether a use adds more value to information than it takes away. Information use that adds value (reviewing a movie) is productive and should be legal. A use that only takes value away (for example, identity theft and other forms of Internet fraud) is destructive and should be illegal. Uses that do both (copyright infringement in the service of promoting the underlying content) should be allowed if the net effect is positive.

Of course, there’s nothing really new about this framework. In fact, with copyright at least, it takes us back to the Constitution — which clearly set up copyright to “promote the progress of science and the useful arts” (science, really, when talking about copyright). And, thus, the founders intended for it to be judged on the standard of whether or not it “promoted the progress,” which meshes nicely with Downes’ “productive” use of information that “adds more value to information than it takes away.” Unfortunately, over the years, the definitions and regulations around copyright have been taken hostage by those who seek to use it as a pure monopoly right that only benefits them, rather than “promoting the progress.” The whole attempt to pretend it’s “property” is a result of those efforts. Hopefully using a more reasonable framework will bring us back to a more useful way of dealing with these issues.

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Hey all Sony followers, fans and just those who enjoy Sony quality and design. Sony is offering a very interesting and exciting opportunity to become a Sony blogger at SonyStyle and snatch a couple of amazing prizes (like Sony’s XPERIA X10, woot!?) as well as travel to South Africa to attend the FIFA 2010 World Cup ™ soccer games. Sounds like a fun opportunity for you? Here is what you need to do:

• You’ll want to tell us in 200 words or less why you should be the Sony Style X10 Blogger (deadline to apply is 11:59 PT on May 7, 2010)
• Ten (10) finalists will be selected to receive a Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 phone, PSPgo and FIFA Soccer 10 game
• Beginning May 17, 2010 the ten (10) finalists will then duke it out by blogging for a week on topics such as Sony/Sony Ericsson, soccer and travel to South Africa

Not too bad, huh? Thanks Gina at SonyStyle for an amazing opportunity. Way to jump start a new beginning in a new Sony blog.

Check out more details here and don’t miss the opportunity. Read the fine print as well as it is only open for the US residents.

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

Car buyers forking out a few hundred thousand dollars for a Bentley expect more than just a little luxury. And when the Bentley Mulsanne is unleashed upon the yacht and G5 owners of the world, the folks in Crewe, England know they need to come strong with otherworldly materials and craftsmanship.

A quick peek at the plush Mulsanne interior shows that Bentley designers and engineers have gone all out, but a few high resolution photos doesn’t tell the whole story. Bentley created a five minute video to explain some of the craftsmanship that goes into creating the Mulsanne interior by hand. For example, five people are in charge of inspecting and cutting all the leather that goes into the ultra luxury barge, and those cuts take three hours per vehicle. Hit the jump to watch the video, but only if you can live with the fact that you’ll most likely never even get the chance to sit in such an exquisitely executed interior.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Video: Creating the interior of the Bentley Mulsanne an exercise in craftsmanship

Video: Creating the interior of the Bentley Mulsanne an exercise in craftsmanship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley is getting ready to put the new 2011 Mulsanne sedan into production and announced today that the craftsmen and women of its Crewe, England plant will create a unique and luxurious interior for the flagship sedan, setting new standards for the Bentley marque.

“While Bentley is long renowned for its handcrafted interiors, it was decided at the earliest stages of concept planning that even higher standards of quality and luxury would be required for the new Mulsanne, the company’s new flagship Grand Tourer,” Bentley said in a statement.

“Hundreds of cars were the subject of a painstaking review to define highly challenging targets for every facet of the new Mulsanne’s interior,” said Dirk van Braeckel, leader of Bentley’s design team. “This embraced key elements, such as materials, colour harmony and craftsmanship, ensuring the new Mulsanne will become the purest expression of Bentley design yet.”

Click here for more news on the Bentley Mulsanne.

Refresher: Power for the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne comes from a 6.75L twin-turbocharged V8 making 505-hp with a maximum torque of 752 lb-ft. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Mulsanne can go from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds with a top speed of 184 mph. Prices start at $285,000.

Check out a video of the process involved with building the interior of the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne after the jump.

2011 Bentley Mulsanne:

2011 Bentley Mulsanne:

– By: Kap Shah

If one thing is clear from Citizens Against Government Waste’s new Pig Book, it’s that Obama war on pork was a big clunker.

The non-partisan group counted $16.5 billion in congressional earmarks for FY2010.

Pork is down 10% from last year, but “it’s still above the historical average, and it’s still not at the level that President Obama promised when he took office, which is $7.8 billion,” said CAGW president Tom Schatz.

There’s still plenty of ridiculous, obnoxious pork.

Here’s the worst of this year’s Pig Book >

$50,000 for helicopter improvements at a small-town sheriff’s office

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porker: Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.)

From the Pig Book: $50,000 by House appropriator Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) for the Pulaski County Sheriff Department for helicopter improvements.

$98,257 for a shuttle from a congressman’s hometown to D.C.

Hidden in: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act

Porker: Rep. James Moran (D-Va.)

From the Pig Book: $98,257 by House appropriator James Moran (D-Va.) in SBA money for the Georgetown Metro Connection, a bus service that runs from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. to the neighborhood of Dupont Circle in D.C. and to Rosslyn, Virginia, conveniently located in Rep. Moran’s district.

$190,000 to digitize photos at the ritzy New York Historical Society

Hidden in: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act

Porkers: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY)

From the Pig Book: $190,000 by Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) for digitization of the New York Historical Society Collection.  According to the group’s website, corporate sponsors of $30,000 or more are entitled to “Free admission to the Historical Society (includes special exhibitions) for all employees and up to 3 guests each and a 10% discount at the Historical Society gift shop; Fifty (50) free admission passes to the New York Historical Society for clients/guests (each pass good for up to 2 individuals) and includes all special exhibitions; Twenty five (25) complimentary tickets to Society evening public programs; Discounted tickets to the annual Strawberry Festival luncheon; Discounted tickets to the annual History Makers Gala Benefit; Two (2) invitations to a ‘Dinner with History’; these intimate dinners for 12-15 guests feature an eminent historian and New York Historical Society President Louise Mirrer; and Invitations to annual pre-Thanksgiving balloon inflation viewing event and reception; and a Listing in Annual Report and donor listing on website.”  Taxpayers receive historic deficits and debt.  At the end of 2006, the Society had a fund balance of $58 million; $190,000 represents .3 percent of that amount, or 6.1 corporate sponsors.

$200,000 for a tattoo removal program in California

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porker: Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.)

From the Pig Book: $200,000 by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) for the Providence Holy Cross Foundation tattoo removal violence prevention program in Mission Hills.  In fiscal 2002 there was a $50,000 earmark for a tattoo removal program in San Luis Obispo, in the district of Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.).  It is now time for a pork removal program.

$238,000 to teach Alaska parents about No Child Left Bhind

Hidden in: Labor/HHS Appropriations Act

Porkers: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)

From the Pig Book: $238,000 by Senate appropriator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for the Alaska PTA in Anchorage to “train parents in their roles and responsibilities under the No Child Left Behind Act.”

$245,643 for an Arkansas truck driving school

Hidden in: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act

Porker: Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.)

From the Pig Book: $245,643 by House appropriator Marion Berry (D-Ark.) for the Arkansas Commercial Driver Training Institute at Arkansas State University-Newport, funded through the SBA.  According to a February 27, 2009 press release on Rep. Berry’s website, the Commercial Driver Training Institute “is a national leader in entry-level and enhanced commercial driver training for the over-the-road sector of the transportation industry.  Funds will be utilized to improve ASU-Newport’s Driver Skills Training Range.”

$254,000 grant for the Montana Sheep Institute

Hidden in: Agriculture Appropriations Bill

Porkers: Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)

From the Pig Book: $254,000 by Senate appropriator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) for the Montana Sheep Institute. According to the organization’s website, “The Montana Sheep Institute (MSI) is a cooperative project between Montana Wool Growers Association and Montana State University. The MSI is dedicated to developing and implementing nontraditional adjustment strategies that will increase the competitiveness of Montana’s lamb and wool in the world market. Our goal is to explore opportunities to increase the utilization of sheep in weed management programs and improve the profitability and competitiveness of theMontana Sheep Industry.”  Since 2002, CAGWhas uncovered seven earmarks worth $3,033,950 for theMontana Sheep Institute. This is money b-a-a-a-a-a-a-dly spent. 

$300,000 to preserve the ‘final resting place for Hawaiian royalty’

Hidden in: Interior appropriations

Porker: Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)

From the Pig Book: $13,650,000 for nine projects by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including:  $7,000,000 for the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge; $750,000 for the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology; $500,000 for the Native Hawaiian culture and arts program; and $300,000 for the Royal Mausoleum (Mauna ‘Ala), the final resting place for most of Hawaiian royalty.  According to several online resources, Mauna ‘Ala is the only place in Hawaii where the state flag flies alone without the U.S. flag.

$500,000 for a virtual space exhibition

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porker: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-Texas)

From the Pig Book: $500,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) for the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation in Houston to create “a virtual space community for students.”

$500,000 to maintain a WW1 statue… in France!

Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation

Porkers: Reps. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.)

From the Pig Book: $500,000 by Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) for the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-La-Coquette, France.  Established in 1930, the Lafayette Escadrille is a monument dedicated to the U.S. pilots who flew for France prior to America’s entry in World War I.

$900,000 for Obama’s notorious planetarium

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porkers: Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.)

From the Pig Book: $900,000 by Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), and then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) for equipment for the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago.  In a March 13, 2009 article in the Chicago Tribune jabs were exchanged in reference to the project when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) referred to the project as an overhead projector.  According to the article, “The machine is actually a sophisticated $3 million to $5 million light-projection system that beams images of the stars, planets and galaxies onto the ceiling.  The museum wants to spend millions to update its original, 78-year-old domed Sky Theater auditorium, including replacement of the huge, 40-year-old Zeiss planetarium projection system, which is falling into disrepair.  The Zeiss machine is so old that the German manufacturer longer has employees who know how to fix it. … Most of the funding will come from private and corporate donations.”  The Adler Planetarium’s 2007 tax return showed a fund balance of $31 million; the $900,000 taxpayer “contribution” represents less than 3 percent of that amount.

$951,500 for “green” street lights in Detroit

Hidden in: Energy and Water Appropriations Act

Porkers: Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)

From the Pig Book: $951,500 by Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and House appropriator Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) for downtown Detroit energy efficient street lighting.  That’s the least of the city’s problems.

$1.2 million for an underwater exploration center

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porkers: Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)

From the Pig Book: $1,200,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and House CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), for equipment for at the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Pell Library and Undersea Exploration Center.  According to the Providence Journal, URI broke ground on the Undersea Exploration Center in 2007 after the state’s voters approved a $14 million bond measure for the project (at least Rhode Island taxpayers got to vote on whether or not to give money to the Exploration Center).  The total cost of the Exploration Center was to be $15 million with the “remaining $1 million of the projected cost … secured through private donations.”  Apparently, “private” means “taxpayers.

$1.3 million to a museum dedicated to Pacific Northwest naval heritage

Hidden in: DOD Appropriations

Porker: Norm Dicks (D-Wash.)

From the Pig Book: $1,280,000 by House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee member Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) for the Puget Sound Navy Museum in Bremerton, Washington.  Dedicated to “collecting, preserving, and interpreting the naval heritage of the Pacific Northwest for the benefit of the U.S. Navy and general public,” admission to the Puget Sound Navy Museum is free.  Rep. Dicks directed $1 million to the museum in fiscal year 2008.

$1.24 million for tree snake control in Guam

Hidden in: DOD Appropriations Act

Porkers: Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam)

From the Pig Book: $1,240,000 for two projects for Brown Tree Snakes control and interdiction in Guam by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).  Since 1996, 14 projects worth $14.6 million have been earmarked in Hawaii and Guam for interdiction of Brown Tree Snakes, which are still slithering through the appropriations bill.

$1.9 million for water taxi service at Pleasure Beach, CT

Hidden in: Transportation/Housing and Urban Development

Porker: Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.)

From the Pig Book: $1,900,000 by then-Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service project.  In 1996, a fire destroyed a bridge providing access to the beach, near Bridgeport and Stratford.  Although patrons can still walk to the beach from Stratford or row to it from Bridgeport, some community activists say a water taxi is needed.  Stratford mayor James Miron doesn’t think so.  He told the Stratford Star there’s no support for the bridge and the local government’s priority should be Bridgeport schools.

$3 million for a project to distribute NASA images

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porkers: Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)

From the Pig Book: $3,000,000 by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) for the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks to help make data received from NASA satellite images more accessible to the public.  Apparently the two senators have not heard of NASA TV.  According to the NASA website, “The NASA TV Public and Educational channels are ‘free-to-air,’ meaning your cable or satellite service provider can carry them at no cost.”  Interested viewers should contact their local cable or satellite service provider to get NASA TV, and ask the senators for a rebate of their share of that $3 million.

$3.8 million to save part of a baseball stadium from demolition… for the memories

Hidden in: Transportation/Housing and Urban Development

Porkers: Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.)

From the Pig Book: $3,800,000 by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy for preservation and redevelopment of a public park and related business activities in the Corktown Neighborhood.  Michael LaFaive, a fiscal analyst with the free-market Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, summed up the project’s problems in a Detroit Free Press article on January 27, 2009:  “It’s not only irresponsible to redirect these precious resources to saving Tiger Stadium … it’s unfair to everyone with no voluntary connection to the stadium whatsoever.  And that comes in the form of people who don’t like baseball, people who don’t go to the city of Detroit, people who have no desire to see what remains of the old stadium because of this rescue.”

$4.2 million for a local weapons of mass destruction support team

Hidden in: DOD Appropriations Act

Porker: Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.)

From the Pig Book: $114,800,000 for 53 projects by House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Young (R-Fla.), including:  $4,500,000 for comprehensive maritime domain awareness, $2,400,000 for the Air Warrior-Joint Service Vacuum Packed Life Raft, and four projects for $4,200,000 for a Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team in Florida.

$9.7 million to save Hawaiian sea turtles, monk seals, and crustaceans

Hidden in: Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act

Porker: Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)

From the Pig Book: $32,950,000 for 17 projects by Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee member Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), including:  $7,100,000 for NOAA for the conservation and recovery of endangered Hawaiian sea turtle populations; $2,600,000 for NOAA for the conservation and recovery of the critically endangered monk seal population and conservation of Pacific crustaceans; $2,000,000 for the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii for the promotion of astronomy in Hawaii; $1,750,000 for the International Pacific Research Center at the University of Hawaii to conduct systematic and reliable climatographic research of the Pacific region; $1,500,000 for NOAA to create and implement an integrated system-wide ocean science education program piloted in Hawaii’s schools; $1,250,000 for the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research at the University of Hawaii to conduct research on open ocean fisheries in the Pacific Ocean; and $700,000 for NOAA for the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative at the University of Hawaii to support monitoring and research activities on Hawaii’s coral reefs.

$15 million gift for Ireland

Hidden in: State and Foreign Operations Appropriations

Porkers: Massachusetts?

From the Pig Book: $15,000,000 added by the House for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).  Established in 1986, IFI’s objectives are to “promote economic and social advance and to encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.”  Projects funded by IFI in the past have included building a replica of the Jeanie Johnson (a Canadian ship that once ferried famine victims across the Atlantic), and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream stores.  In his review of a glowing book about IFI released in January 2009, Sean Donlon stated, “While the fund will continue its work for the next couple of years it would be unreasonable to expect external support thereafter, especially in the current relatively stable political and security situation in Northern Ireland.”  CAGW has identified $264 million for this project since 1995.

$27 million for a Tennessee-based homeland security program (not supported by the DHS)

Hidden in: Homeland Security Appropriations Act

Porkers: Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

From the Pig Book: $27,000,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), then-Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee member Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) for the Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI) in Tennessee.  The SERRI website says it “is a ground breaking program managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the US Department of Homeland Security to assist local, state and tribal leaders in developing the tools and methods required to anticipate and forestall terrorist events and to enhance disaster response.  SERRI combines science and technology with validated operational approaches to address regionally unique requirements and suggest regional solutions with potential national implications.”  DHS apparently does not believe SERRI is critical as there was no budget request for the program.

$27.8 million to build fitness centers at three military bases

Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation

Porkers: Congressmen in Texas, South Carolina, and Mississippi

From the Pig Book: $27,820,000 for three projects funding fitness centers:  $11,580,000 by Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) for a fitness center at Naval Air Station Kingsville; $9,900,000 by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. John Spratt (D-S.C.) for a physical fitness center at Shaw Air Force Base; and $6,340,000 by Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Rep. Charles “Chip” Pickering (R-Miss.) for a fitness center at Meridian Naval Air Station.  The YMCA in Sumter, South Carolina, near Shaw Air Force Base charges $46.13 per month for an adult fitness membership, while an unlimited membership at Rec World in Meridian costs $50 per month.

$44.2 million to build chapels at six military bases

Hidden in: Military Construction Appropriation

Porkers: Congressmen in Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky

From the Pig Book: $44,230,000 for six projects funding chapels:  $17,500,000 by House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chet Edwards (D-Texas) and House Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member John Carter (R-Texas) for a chapel with an education center at Fort Hood; $11,600,000 by Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) for a chapel at Fort Bragg; $6,800,000 by then-Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) for a chapel center at Fort Rucker; $4,200,000 by Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee member Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and then-Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) for Phase Two of a chapel complex at Fort Leavenworth; $3,500,000 by Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) for a chapel complex at Fort Leonard Wood; and $630,000 by Senate appropriators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), House appropriator Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), and Reps. John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Edward Whitfield (R-Ky.) for a chapel center in Fort Campbell.

$465 million for continued development of an obsolete fighter engine

Hidden in: DOD Appropriations

Porker: Unspecified

From the Pig Book: $465,000,000 for the continued development of the F-136 engine as an alternative engine in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.  The JSF is $55 billion over its budgeted cost, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  Congress has added funding for an additional engine in order to supposedly increase competition and flexibility for pilots.  However, according to a February 24, 2009 United Press International article, the money was allotted, “despite the fact that the winning engine had already prevailed in half a dozen public and private competitions and despite the fact that no other part of the plane would be competed once production commenced.”  CBS News reported on July 30, 2007 that the Air Force and two independent panels concluded that the second engine is “not necessary and not affordable” and that the professed savings from competition “will never be achieved.”  No wonder that all 435 representatives and 100 senators refused to be identified with this massive waste of tax dollars.

Don’t miss…

Meet The Porkers: 20 Politicians Who Know How To Bring It Home For Their District

Join the conversation about this story »

I have been a teacher for almost three decades and a community-college instructor for the past 16 years. Last spring, President Obama asked me to increase awareness about one of the best-kept secrets of higher education: the very sizable and valuable contribution of community colleges.…

»Read the entire article by Jill Biden in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Hope for a new Syndicate game remains alive. Superannuation has unearthed copyrights for the Syndicate name filed by EA and Starbreeze.

The new 2011 Audi A8 is set to go on sale later this year, however, most of us are waiting to see what Audi has in store for the next-generation S8. A prototype of the next-generation Audi S8 was recently caught at the Nurburgring and sources say that power will come from a Lamborghini-derived V10.

Click here to get prices on the 2009 Audi S8.

So how powerful will the new Audi S8 be? Insiders say that the 5.2L V10 will follow the RS6’s forced-induction recipe with direct-injection and twin turbos that will help produce around 620-hp with a maximum torque of 553 lb-ft. That’s significantly up from the old S8’s 444-hp and 398 lb-ft.

Check out the spy shots of the next-generation S8 over at CAR Magazine.

2011 Audi A8:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: CAR

From Green Right Now Reports

Following criticism that it was too easy for manufacturers to get an Energy Star label, and that some appliances had slipped through the system with less-than promised energy savings, the EPA today announced that it was tightening the Energy Star product certification process.

The changes aim to ensure that only products that truly meet the Energy Star label requirements will receive the federal endorsement.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, which both oversee the Energy Star program, worked over several months to improve “the verification, testing and enforcement aspects of the Energy Star program,” according to an EPA release.

The changes were prompted by a 2009 audit that found some appliances receiving the Energy Star label  were not measuring up, mainly because the Energy Star program failed to track performance.

The audit by the  Energy Department’s inspector general, Gregory H. Friedman found that the Energy Star label for computers and TVs was not “verifiable,” and also turned up problems with some refrigerators, specifically some LG models that did not meet Energy Star standards. (Those problems were resolved after a lawsuit.)

In the report, Friedman noted that the Energy Star label was only as good as its reliability and that problems could reduce consumer confidence in the program. That was a note echoed in today’s news release about tighter controls on the program.

“Consumers trust the Energy Star brand to save them money and reduce carbon pollution,” said Cathy Zoi, DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “The steps we are taking to strengthen the program will ensure that Energy Star continues to be the hallmark for energy efficiency in the years to come.”

The changes to shore up the Energy Star certification will put an end to self-verification by manufacturers, upon whom the EPA had relied for honest assessments. Going forward, manufacturers who want to qualify products for Energy Star label must submit complete lab reports and results for review ahead of time by the EPA.

The EPA also will “no longer (be) relying on an automated approval process,” according to Wednesday’s news release.”  All new qualification applications will be reviewed and approved individually by EPA.

Furthermore, all products across 60 possible categories, from windows to dishwashers, must submit energy testing results by independent accredited labs to the program. That has been a requirement for some products, but not all types of consumer items eligible for the program.

All this is in addition to ongoing testing already in place, the EPA reported.

DOE conducts off-the-shelf product testing for some of the most common household appliances and reports that a recent Inspector General audit found that 98 percent of products tested met  Energy Star requirements.

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Earnings/Financials

By most accounts, Ford had a pretty good first quarter. Sales were up 37 percent versus the first three months of 2009, and The Blue Oval’s market share rose an impressive 2.7 percentage points during the period. According to a report in USA Today, Ford President Mark Fields says that the extra showroom traffic led to added revenue for the company. And while added revenue doesn’t always translate into increased profits, the extra cash generated by increased sales makes an “in the black” first quarter far more likely. If Ford does manage a profit in the first quarter, it would mark the fourth consecutive period of cash gains for the Dearborn, MI-based automaker. Impressive, considering Ford lost nearly $15 billion in 2008.

The sales gains at Ford were realized mostly from the sale of Blue Oval-badged cars, trucks and crossovers. Lincoln and Mercury didn’t see much in the way of gains, but USA Today quotes Ford analyst George Pipas as saying most of the marketing money was spent on Ford, adding “If we were going to fix the business, we had to fix the Ford brand, because that’s where we had the best chance of getting a return.”

The Ford vehicle that realized the most gains in the first quarter was the Fusion. Ford’s mid-size sedan saw an 81 percent increase in sales compared to the first three months of 2009. Ford also increased its share of the pickup truck market. The profit-rich F-Series increased its overall share of the truck market to 38.5 percent, up 5.3 percent year-over-year. Ford is expected to announce official first quarter earnings later in the month.

[Source: USA Today | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Report: Q1 revenue, sales up at Ford on strong F-Series, Fusion sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2011 Porsche Cayenne SUV, which will go on sale in European dealerships on May 8, has attracted orders that have beaten customer expectations, says CEO Michael Macht.

“We’re looking at an incredibly high order intake from almost all markets,” Macht said. “Orders are clearly exceeding our expectations.” He didn’t give figures.

Macht said that Porsche has plans to add models with the goal of doubling yearly sales to as many as 150,000 vehicles over the medium term.

“Everything is suggesting that this negative trend seems to have ended,” Macht. He said that improving deliveries and the 3.7 percent increase in first-half revenue “are encouraging news that indicate that the end of the long drought is indeed in sight.”

Refresher: The 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid is powered by a 333-hp 3 liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine mated to a 47-hp electric-motor, allowing it to produce a total output of 380-hp and a maximum torque of 427 b-ft. Porsche says that that allows the same performance level of a V8 engine while increasing fuel-economy by 20 percent.

2011 Porsche Cayenne:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)