The recent bond selloff might just be noise, but of course it’s causing people to discuss the long-term sustainability of US debt.
We can only speculate (though our current favorite theory is that what we’re seeing is simply an expression of optimism, and the rush out of bonds into stocks), and have no crystal ball as to what’s going on.
But it is a good time to dust off this chart of the nearly 30-year bull market in 10-year notes (expressed here by falling yields) and wonder: is there anyone trading bonds anymore that really remembers the bear market? Maybe a couple.
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Almost 2 months ago we heard reports that Ford is working special-edition stripped-out Clubsport RS to bid farewell to the current Focus RS before the next-generation model comes out. Well, it can now be confirmed that the model will be called the Focus RS5000 and it will be unveiled in 5 days.
The Ford Focus RS5000 will be limited to just 500 units with power coming from an uprated 2.5L 5-cylinder turbo making 350-hp. After stripping down the weight with extensive use of carbon fiber and adding racing seats, the Focus RS5000 will run a 0-60 mph time in 5 seconds flat.
You can check out http://www.focusrs500.com/ for more info in 5 days or just come back here because we’ll have all the info for you.
Ford Focus RS 500 on the test track – Click above to watch video after the jump
On March 31 we’re going to find out about a thing called the Ford Focus RS 500. The Blue Oval has posted a video of the even-more-hotted-up Focus doing a twilight round of its European test track in Lommel, Belgium. And it sounds rather… fierce. We’re trying to figure out exactly what the 500 stands for: Units? Horsepower (don’t be silly!)? Something else?
While we stew, you can follow the jump and listen to the sound of it in the video. And if any of you know what’s coming, feel free to let us know in the comments.
Hyundai today released a teaser of its first hybrid for the U.S. market, a gas-electric version of its 2011 Sonata sedan. The model will make its world debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show next week.
Refresher: The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is currently on sale with prices starting at $19,195 for the base GLS model. Power for the 2011 Sonata GLS comes from a 2.4L direct-injected 4-cylinder making 198-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE starts at $22,595 and is powered by a 2.4L 4-cylinder uprated to 200-hp.
Porsche continua trabajando en la nueva generación de su aclamado 911 y prueba de ello son estas fotos espía que llevan circulando por la red desde hace unas horas. En las imágenes podemos ver la futura versión del Porsche 911 Targa.
El modelo incopora un techo de cristal abierto y los característicos faros delanteros de la versión actual. Toda la parte delantera carece casi por completo de camuflaje alguno. Cabe recordar que llegará al mercado durante el próximo año.
Las versiones llegarán de forma escalonada siendo la primera el Coupé y después el Cabrio, Turbo y Targa.
Recently, there’s been some talk about David Shield’s new book, Reality Hunger, which is getting some press attention for the fact that most of the book is “plagiarized.” Or, rather, the book is derivative. It’s a literary collage, of sorts, with only an appendix at the end that links the works back to the original authors — and that appendix was put in against Shield’s original wishes, but on the command of his publishers’ lawyers. Of course, as many have noted, even the idea is derivative. Three years ago we wrote about Jonathan Lethem’s wonderful Harper’s article, The Ecstasy of Influence, which, again, was a collage of other people’s works.
And, of course, this follows on the recent “controversy” over a German teen who had done something similar, but did as Shields originally wished, in that she chose not to directly credit the sources in the book.
While some are confused by all of this into thinking that the entire concept of “authorship” is at risk — many are realizing that’s utter hogwash, and this actually shows how unique forms of new content creation are thriving.
However, there is a separate issue that’s worth pointing out. While there is some controversy over these sorts of books, we’re not hearing about lawsuits — and we’re definitely not hearing about demands for licensing fees. Yet, in the music world, thanks to a series of highly questionable legal rulings, it’s impossible to do the same thing. If you make a collage in music, you have to clear every sample or risk getting sued. In some cases, such as Girl Talk, the lawsuits haven’t come, but plenty of sampling lawsuits are still filed, and many in the music business want to clear every sample.
But this vast split between the process of creating a remixed/collage book and a remixed/collage music is reasonably upsetting many. Copycense points us to a manifesto, refering back to the discussion on Reality Hunger, suggesting that musicians should stand up for their rights to make derivative, transformative works without having to pay for every sample — just as what’s happening in the literary world:
Rather than take offense however, I’d like to turn the tables. Indeed what Shields has done is art, and should be treated as original despite being a derivative work. Where this is accepted, and every day it remains on the market supports its acceptance, then all other original derivative works must be held to the same standard. The archaic practice of extorting sample based artists for their profits on the legal basis of treating their art only on intellectual property terms, must be out eliminated. If an author is legally protected in their use of derivative works by simply citing the reference to their usage, there can be no double standard when it comes to musicians.
And so I put forth to sample based producers, and the labels who support them, it’s time to take this issue to task. End your relationships with the sampling clearing houses. Create your art without the fear of legal repercussions. Release it for profit, with your sample sources clearly stated. At first there will be legal cases brought up, but DO NOT BACK DOWN. You are on the side of the right, and it is only by pushing forward that the laws will change to reflect that. I believe there are lawyers and activists who need to, as well as those who already do, stand with us to take this as far as it needs to go, but it begins with us the artists not being afraid to stand up for what is right.
Of course, some might argue that it’s not necessarily that this is legal in the literary space, just that it’s rare for a lawsuit to be filed over such appropriation. Tragically, that’s not the case in the music business. But, on the whole, I do agree that it’s high time that the courts fix what they got so very, very, very wrong on the legality of de minimis copying of music — and one way to make that happen is to get musicians who sample to stand up for their rights to sample without having to pay a toll.
Winston tears the bumper off a police cruiser – Click above to watch video after the jump
Take one Chattanooga, Tennessee police cruiser, add a dog named Winston, and subtract one bumper. That’s the math caught on video when Winston decided for reasons only he knows to completely tear off the bumper of the moving police car.
Kudos go to the officer driving the patrol car, who showed marvelous restraint in not simply making a Winston pancake. Following a stint in an animal shelter (where he was a model of good behavior), Winston has been sentenced to obedience school and his owner has bought him a Peterbilt for a chew toy when he gets out. Follow the jump for the action in both a CNN new package and via unedited police dashboard camera footage. Thanks for the tip, Peter!
Ron Paul was interviewed on MSNBC’s Morning Joe this morning. The Congressman believes that Obamacare will benefit Republicans in the 2010 midterm elections only because many voters have already forgotten how bad Republicans were when they were in power. The next generation of independent-minded individuals realize that both parties are basically the same and that the ideas of liberty need to influence the people and the two parties from the ground up.
Show: Morning Joe Channel: MSNBC Date: 03/26/2010
Transcript
Joe Scarborough: Let’s bring in Ron Paul right now. I don’t think that matters a whole heck of a lot right now. Obviously, the 2012 election is far off. But Ron Paul, how will this healthcare debate shape the election that’s coming up in November in 2010?
Ron Paul: Well, I think it certainly will. I think a lot is yet to happen, because more people are going to understand this bill and how bad it really is. I think 2010 seems to be such a long way off. I think, you know, a lot more can happen. But I definitely think it is going to make a difference. I think it is going to help the Republicans and they’re going to come close to taking over the House.
But, to me, the whole thing is a huge mess. You know, they had this big excitement over 20 words. Well, it was good that they’re trying to follow the rules, but coming from my viewpoint where I can’t even find out where there is authority in the Constitution for running medical care. And 2,000 pages? I think they’re all wrong. And now we’re going to worry about 20 words? Well, I guess its good they’re worried about 20 words, but I’d like to have them worried about the 2,000 pages.
Joe Scarborough: Well, let’s talk about both of the parties, because when I go out and talk, it’s not just people concerned about the Democratic Party. They’ll say, “Yes, were concerned about how the Democratic Party is expanding the government’s footprint in our life when it comes to healthcare. But you Republicans”, they will say to me, “passed a Medicare drug benefit plan that had a cost of 7 trillion dollars”. If you look out there right now, Ron, it doesn’t look like Americans have a real good choice if they’re small government conservatives. They’re getting it from both parties, they’re getting it from Bush, now they’re getting it from Obama.
Ron Paul: And thank goodness the people are waking up. You know, the people can have an influence when they finally wake up; and they are on this issue. And you make the very important point, because when the Republicans were in charge they were were doing the same thing; running up deficits, expanding the role of government, and expanding the Department of Education and the whole mess. So the people are catching on. But the reason they’re catching on is because they’re realizing our government and our country is bankrupt. And nobody believes that they can give 30 million new people medical care and not charge them and lower the deficit. I mean, it is astounding that they do this with a straight face. And everything is just so much partisan bickering. And like you point out, they’re saying the same thing, but it’s partisanship; it’s who gets to favor their friends the most, who’s going to run it and who gets the power.
Joe Scarborough: And that’s what’s so fascinating to me: the harsh partisanship in Washington DC. When you look at the arc of the federal government over the past decade, there is just not a lot – and this drives partisans on both sides crazy when I say it, but when it comes to the size of government, there is just not a real difference between Republicans and Democrats – how Republicans acted over 8 years when they we’re in power, and how Democrats are acting now. They’re both spending money we don’t have. Pat Buchanan, do you have a question for Ron Paul?
Pat Buchanan: Sure. But you’re right, Joe, George W. Bush was a Great Society Republican. But let me ask Ron this: “Repeal and Reform” sounds like a good message to run on, and I think it’s got real credibility with the American people. There are some aspects to that bill they may like, others they may detest. But as a practical matter, the president’s got a veto pen, you’d have to have 2/3rds of both houses to override his veto. As a practical matter you can’t repeal and reform, can you?
Ron Paul: No, not under these circumstances. Maybe someday when the country goes bankrupt and we rebuild the whole society, we’re going to have to reform. But right now there is no chance of this happening. I would like to preserve and save something. You know, in this whole medical debate, they talked about the public option for a long time. I wondered why they never said, “Why can’t we preserve a private option?” To me, one of the worst things they’ve done with this bill is take away a private choice. They undermine the health savings accounts, giving a person to opt out. But they don’t want you to opt out. Matter of fact, this time they’re forcing everybody to go in and buy government mandated insurance. So they’re moving in the wrong direction. At least in education, as bad as it is, with public education and what they’ve done to it, you know, you can opt out. You could teach your kids at home and you could still go to private school. But now, in medicine, you can’t opt out. And that is why the medical care quality is going to deteriorate, and why the cost is going to escalate and eventually everybody is going to be a lot more unhappy.
Joe Scarborough: Pat Buchanan, I want to go to your point, though, about repealing this bill, or portions of it, if Republicans take control of the House of Representatives. The one thing that we knew in 1994 when we got elected is, even if the liberal Republicans in the Senate didn’t go along with this, even if Bill Clinton didn’t go along with this, you look at the Constitution and the House of Representatives has the checkbook. Nothing gets paid for unless the House of Representatives says it gets paid for. So you have a lot of programs that could be defunded by a conservative House in 2011 and 2012. Nothing passes, nothing gets done unless the House says it does. And that seems to me, Ron Paul, like an opportunity. If you ask me, “Do you want Republicans to take over the House or the Senate?” I’d’ say let them take over the House, because you can’t spend a dime unless the House says, “You can spend a dime”.
Ron Paul: That’s the way it’s supposed to be. But that’s not the way it happens. The Congress, for decades now, has given up their prerogatives to the executive branch. We’ve had Republicans who loved a strong executive. Still today the executive can go to war without a declaration, the Federal Reserve can spend $2 trillion without appropriation. The other day what did Obama do? When the Congress couldn’t do something, they’d welcomed, “Oh, write an executive order, it’s the force of law”. So the executive branch writes laws constantly, the judicial system writes laws constantly. You’re absolutely right about what the House should do. But we have strayed so far form that responsibility. The House be able to control the whole process through the purse. But they give up on it too easily. And it is astounding to me that the Congress has giving up so much of their authority and responsibilities.
Joe Scarborough: Let me ask you this, Ron, in 2006 and 2008 there were a lot of small government conservatives that helped Ronald Reagan get elected in 1980, that helped people like me get elected in 1994, that said, “Why do I want to make phone calls for the Republicans? Why do I want to knock on doors for the Republicans, because if they win, they’re not going to be conservative. Can you tell small government conservatives today in 2010 that if Republicans take control of the House next year, that they have learnt their lessons? That they’ll be any different than they were the last 8 years they controlled the House? Will it be different this time?
Ron Paul: Oh, I don’t think so, unless you get a new crop up here; you have to have different people up here. And I think the frustration that you’re expressing is the fact that the two parties are very similar, and therefore there aren’t any choices. We don’t really have a democratic process here, because if you try to do it as a third party, all the rules are biased against you. You can’t get on ballots, you can’t get in debates, you’re dismissed by the media. So we do have one party and all they fight over is power and influence. They do not fight over philosophy. So if you want that, if you want to see a change, the Republicans have to change their image. Right now they’ve gained a whole lot, not because people are convinced of the Republicans, but they are convinced that the Democrats are so bad and they actually are now worse than what they remember the Republicans to be. So we have a long way to go to straighten this mess out.
Joe Scarborough: Pat Buchanan?
Pat Buchanan: A quick question, Ron. Look, the Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney agree 100% the bill shouldn’t have passed on healthcare. On foreign policy, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Ron Paul and Sarah Palin are on opposite sides completely. And each has your point of view can prevail in the Republican Party on foreign policy, or is that hopeless?
Ron Paul: No, it’s not hopeless. We’re making progress and this is where I’m excited. Not on the House floor yet. But the people’s minds are being changed. Tomorrow night I’ll be at Boise State University in Idaho, and believe me, we’ll have a large crowd and they are going to endorse the views of non-intervention, coming to our senses, we’re bankrupt, and we can’t police the world. We’re broke here in this country. Why are we spending a trillion dollars a year managing an empire that is unmanageable and only gets us into trouble? That attitude is changing. The next generation will know we have to change that policy.
Mika Brzezinski: Yeah. That’s actually Congressman Ron Paul echoing what you said at your speech at CATO last week.
Joe Scarborough: Well, there are a lot of people. And Ron Paul’s exactly right; there are a lot of people that are saying we’re bankrupt and what are we doing trying to rebuild countries a decade after we went into Afghanistan, and how much longer are we going to be there. We have got to narrow our focus, we have got to show restraint at home, we have got to show restraint abroad. And the party that does that, Ron, I think is going to start winning elections.
Mika Brzezinski: Yeah.
Ron Paul: Yep, that’s it, and we need the influence of these independent-minded people, but unfortunately they don’t have another party, so they’ll have to influence both parties.
Mika Brzezinski: He says we need a new crop. Ron Paul, thank you very much.
2010 Hennessey V700 – Click above for high-res image gallery
There are two kinds of people in the world. The first kind drives Cadillac’s supercharged CTS-V, experiences the thrill of 556 horsepower paired with 551 pound-feet of torque and declares, “This thing is a monster. This is the fastest, most incredible American performance sedan ever made.” Then you have the other type of person, the kind that takes the 4,300-pound CTS-V to 60 miles per hour in just over four seconds, runs the quarter-mile in 12.5 seconds at 115 mph and says, “Meh.” Should you fall into that second category, John Hennessey has got a car for you.
John’s calling it the Hennessey V700 and, as you might have ascertained, it’s a Cadillac CTS-V pumped up on the best auto-steroids available in the Houston area. One crank of the fake key and your ears quickly explain that the gnashing, metal-on-metal-on-lava sounds leaking out from beneath the floor pan don’t come from some run-of-the-mill super-Cadillac. No, something special is going on under that thar tortured hood. Viciously special. Follow the jump to find out exactly what.
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Blue Drive- Click above to enlarge
Next Wednesday at the New York Auto Show, Hyundai will unveil its first U.S. market hybrid model based on the just released Sonata sedan, which thoroughly impressed us during our recent review. Unlike the Fusion and Camry hybrids which are barely distinguishable from their conventional counterparts, the Sonata Hybrid gets a completely new front fascia. The new look adds a massive lower grille inspired by the Blue-Will Concept that shown at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
We believe the Sonata hybrid will retain the same 2.4-liter direct injected inline-four found in the sedans that are on sale now. However, it may be re-tuned to operate on the more efficient Atkinson cycle like other hybrids. Unlike the gas-electrics from Ford and Toyota, Hyundai’s system is expected to use a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox in conjunction with a 30 kilowatt electric motor.
The Sonata hybrid and a range-topping gasoline 2.0-liter turbo model will both be revealed during a live video webcast on HyundaiMediaLive.com at 1:35pm on Wednesday, March 31. Following the presentation, CEO John Krafcik and sales VP Dave Zuchowski will be online to answer questions from the audience. You can submit your questions now at the site and tune in Wednesday for answers.
Over the last couple weeks I’ve had the pleasure to announce two PrimalCon speakers: Maya White and Brad Kearns. As you may recall, Maya will be teaching PrimalCon participants how to sit, stand and walk like Grok, and Brad will be explaining how to apply the Primal Blueprint principles to endurance training. Today I’m pleased to announce the 3rd of 4 PrimalCon speakers. Nicoletta Florio, green-living expert extraordinaire, will show attendees how living a sustainable, green life is not only what’s best for the earth, but also what is best for your health. If you’ve ever wondered whether the PB could be considered a “green” diet, whether the world over could feasibly adopt the PB eating patterns, or what sort of impact our dietary choices have on our health and the planet this session is for you. Read on to to learn more from Nikki in her own words…
During the past several years, sustainable products and services have gone from niche to mainstream. While there are several explanations for this, the most important reasons are for the improvement of environmental and personal health.
In every aspect of our lives, from the choice we make regarding what we eat, what we wear and drive, where we live, and more, we have an affect on both our personal physical being and the environment.
As Americans, we tend to think of these things – our bodies and the environment – as two separate entities, however, they are deeply connected. We are eating foods which, within the past several decades have been genetically altered, residing in buildings in which chemicals are constantly off-gassing, using technological tools that poison us with radiation and the list goes on. We are connected to these things because we live on the same Planet in which these things are made. From production to consumption, the lines of products that we use have had an impact on air/land and water systems. Many so toxic that they are coming back and affecting our health.
Green Living and Health is designed to introduce the guests of PrimalCon to information about how to live our lives in a healthier manner while decreasing our impact on an overburdened Planet. Topics related to health will include definitions, food, buildings, technology, travel and more. We will demonstrate that living sustainably will increase your health and well being while simultaneously being good to your wallet.
Nikki’s Bio
Nicoletta Florio is a 20 year resident of the Lake Tahoe region. After completing the teaching program at Sierra Nevada College she designed the Tahoe Regional Environmental Education (TREE) Program; a tri-branch program that focused on Natural Sciences and Green Living in the Sierras. During the past decade Nicoletta has educated thousands of students, community and business members regarding the benefits of living in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and has hosted Tahoe’s only fully integrated Organic Food and Green Building Expos.
“As long as we stay on the track, don’t run into anybody and the pit stops are good…” were the famous last words of Dave Binks, Corvette Racing crew chief. He spoke these words on the afternoon of Friday, March 19 following qualifying for this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring. Some 24 hours later, they turned out to be a bit too prophetic, and not in a good way.
The second episode of the Corvette Racing Series takes a look back at a less-than-successful outing for the C6.Rs at the American Le Mans Series opening round. The two Corvettes actually ended up running into each other in the pitlane and spent extended periods getting repaired.
As program manager Doug Fehan closes out with, the team now has to go back to the shop, looks at what they did wrong and learn so that it doesn’t happen again. Now on to Long Beach. Check out the video after the jump.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about Lindsay Lohan’s bizarre lawsuit against E*Trade over a commercial with a talking baby named Lindsay that Lohan insisted was actually supposed to be her… mainly due to a reference to her being a “milkaholic.” This resulted in a series of interesting points — including the fact that many, many, many people who saw the commercial made absolutely no association with Lohan at all, especially given that Lindsay is a decently popular name. But, many people also wondered if this was really some bizarre marketing scheme for both E*Trade and Lohan — and if that’s true, then it worked. m3mnoch points out that the commercial in question shot to the top of the “most viewed online commercial” list. I doubt that E*Trade will owe any money to Lohan for the lawsuit, but perhaps it should pay up for the “ad placement.”
“Four weeks later, there were ducklings! Fluffy wanted Baron to be the first one to meet them.”
Fluffy and Baron, written and illustrated by Laura Rankin, is a delightful story about the friendship shared between a farm dog named Baron and a duckling named Fluffy. Fluffy and Baron enjoy games together in the pond and in the field. They share meals together and sleep together. As the year progresses and the seasons change, Fluffy grows up and joins the wild ducks in the pond. Baron is lonely. When the wild ducks fly away, Fluffy stays but she cannot play with Baron yet. She must tend to her new nest of nine eggs.
This is a charming book that shows the life cycle of ducks in relation to the seasons. The back of the book gives detailed information about the life of Mallards and Pekins. The author’s note introduces the reader to concepts such as domesticated, wild, migratory habits, and incubation periods.
Curriculum Connections
This book can be used in the classroom to introduce students to living and nonliving things (K.6) and to study the basic needs of animals (K.7, 1.5, 2.4, 3.4). The relationship between Fluffy and Baron and the relationship between Fluffy and the wild ducks can begin a discussion about interdependence. Teachers can use this book to introduce a science unit on ducks and expand teaching to include songs, poetry, art, and continued life science studies.
Anyone who has ever spent more than 10 minutes on an automotive forum knows that a flame war is only one inflammatory comment away. Fanboys love to trash anything that doesn’t carry their badge of choice, but tread on their beloved marquee and the thread turns into Niagra Falls. But rather than frown upon the typical forum vitriol, a report from the Autoblog Podcast veterans at the Hooniverse shows that Speed TV plans to give these automotive fanatics some air time instead.
The new show is called “Forum Wars,” and the premise is to give these big talkers track access to replace wimpy words with tire-smoking action. You think your pristine Dodge Challenger is better than a Mustang forum owner’s Bullitt? You may have a chance to take it to the track to decide who’s right, once and for all. The show is scheduled to hit the airwaves on Monday, April 5, with the inaugural episode pitting a Shelby Mustang GT500 against a Nissan 350Z. Drivers will hit the bends and take on the straightaways at a drag strip, so all bases are covered. Hit the jump to view Speed TV‘s 30-second show promo. Looks like this show could be interesting.
from irr, 25 March 2010: “Baroness O’Loan’s report to the UK Border Agency uncovers casual brutality and callous neglect in detention centres. She details serious injuries to detainees during attempts to remove them from the UK included a broken finger, a dislocated knee and a punctured lung. Force was frequently resorted to as a first rather than last resort, with no consideration given to its necessity or proportionality…” more
A montadora indiana Tata com seu pequeno Nano está dominando uma boa parte do mercado indiano com seu modelo, que vende muito bem mesmo com os recentes relatos de incêncios no veículo, em que algumas pessoas questionam o fato de não ser um complô de concorrentes devido ao sucesso do pequeno carro no mercado.
Especulações à parte, a Hyundai irá apresentar o seu modelo H800 como concorrente direto do Nano, com um motor de 800cc, sendo produzido (junto com demais peças) na Coréia. A previsão de lançamento na metade do ano de 2010, o carro será produzido na fábrica de Sriperumbdur, próximo de Chennai, na Índia.
Acredita-se também que o novo compacto da Hyundai seja lançado não somente na Índia, mas também em países emergentes como China, Rússia e o Brasil, além de países menores da Ásia e África. Será que o baixo custo conseguirá ser mantido juntamente com a qualidade e a segurança?
from newint, 25 March 2010: “Recently I listened to a radio programme on the growth of not just mega cities (those of over 10 million people) but meta cities with 20 million or more people – some crossing national borders – as a kind of corridor of mass humanity. One thing that the discussion failed to mention was the increase in forced removals of the poor from informal urban settlements to the outskirts of the mega/meta cities. The Shackdweller movement Abahlali baseMondolo, based in Durban, South Africa, has been under siege for the past four years and last September the Kennedy Road settlement came under attack from outsiders…” more
from email, 25 March 2010: “Assemble 12 Noon, Wednesday 14 April, Olympia Way W14, near Kensington Olympia, West Kensington, High Street Kensington, and Barons Court stations. Sponsored by arms company Thales, and organised by Clarion Events – responsible for Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi), the world’s largest arms fair, the Counter Terror Expo takes place between 14-15 April 2010 at Olympia, London…” more
