Kia is being sued over the background track, preformed by “The Heavy,” used in the Korean automaker’s weird Super Bowl ad for the 2010 Kia Sorento. Drive-In Music Co. has filed a lawsuit against Kia, CBS and NFL claiming that the featured song “How You Like Me Now” is originally by a British rock band know as Dyke and the Blazers.
Well, score one for the little guy. Or, as the case may be, the guy that won an eBay auction, getting himself one helluva mondo deal on a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To refresh your memory, a Southern California dealer called Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep had the Challenger in question on eBay. The Buy It Now price was $43,425 and the reserve (according to Glenn E Thomas) was $42,995. Then the dealer lowered the Buy It Now price to $43,425 and suddenly, somehow the reserve disappeared.
That’s when Alex (aka Hitman from Challengertalk.com) pounced and won himself a 250-mile SRT8 for the crazy price of $29,100. Only thing is, of course, Glenn E Thomas didn’t feel like taking a $14,000 bath and refused to honor the auction. Their argument was that they didn’t intend to remove the reserve and, in fact, they may not have removed it. They contend that there may have been a glitch in eBay’s software. Glenn Dodge did offer to meet Alex halfway, promising him a great deal on the Challenger of his choice, but Alex hung tough, demanding the car he won. It seemed as if the two sides had reached the kind of impasse that can only be settled by those of the lawyerly persuasion. But that was last week.
Yesterday, Alex updated his original post at Challengertalk.com with a picture of the keys to his new car and the following message:
First of all, “Thank You” to everyone for cheering me on and helping me move forward in a positive way. A lot of message boards picked up this thread and have to thank everyone for passing the word around too. There you have it. Visual of the keys in my possession of the SRT8 deal that Glenn E. Thomas Dodge honored for $29.1K plus tax and license fees of course.
Both parties had plenty to talk about that day but in the end of it all, things worked out for everyone. So there is praise to be made to both sides, especially the dealer who did honor the auction. Would encourage everyone to send them praise and not attack anyone in that establishment as this was not the point of this thread. I’m sure there will be questions on how things went down.
While swallowing a nearly $14,000 loss must be a bitter pill to choke down, we can all agree that in the end Glenn E Thomas did the right thing. Actually, they did better than the right thing, selling Alex a 2010 Challenger SRT8 rather than the 250-mile car he won in the auction. Put another way, in terms of positive publicity, this will turn out to be the best $14,000 they ever spent.
Lexus announced today that the new 2011 CT 200h compact hybrid hatchback will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011 as the first dedicated hybrid in the luxury compact segment.
“The CT 200h is expected to lead the class in fuel economy and deliver low emissions, but the CT 200h isn’t just about being a hybrid, it’s about having fun,” said Mark Templin, Lexus division group vice president and general manager. “The stylish CT 200h has an attitude and driving dynamic unlike any other Lexus hybrid. It will excite eco-conscious, young consumers and symbolize urban, luxury living.”
Lexus has yet to announce official fuel-economy and performance figures of the CT 200h, but they’re expected to be impressive nonetheless – at least the fuel-economy figures. Prices will be announced closer to launch date.
The 2011 Lexus CT 200h will make its stateside debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show next week. We’ll be there live covering the show as it happens so make sure you join us starting March 31.
Hit the jump for the press release for more details.
Refresher: Power for the Lexus CT 200h comes from a 1.8L VVT-i gasoline engine mated to a powerful electric-motor fueled by nickel-metal hydride batteries. Unlike a mild-hybrid system, the CT 200h has an EV (electric-vehicle) mode that allows it to run on only on its electric-motor for up to 1.2 miles at speeds of up to 28 mph.
2011 Lexus CT 200h:
Press Release:
Lexus Announces CT 200h Premium Compact Hybrid For U.S. Market – On Display at 2010 New York International Auto Show
* Only Dedicated Hybrid Vehicle in the Premium Compact Segment
* Expected to Lead the Class in Fuel Economy Numbers
* Standard Safety Features Include Eight Airbags
NEW YORK – March 22, 2010 – Lexus announced today that the all-new CT 200h premium compact hybrid will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2011 as the first dedicated hybrid vehicle in the premium compact segment.
The sporty five-door will be on display March 31 through April 11 at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. The new CT 200h debuted at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in early March and will join the HS 250h as Lexus’ second dedicated hybrid.
To reach this energetic and technology-savvy buyer, Lexus is taking a new approach to marketing the CT 200h. As part of an integrated launch in the U.S., Lexus will release a breakthrough interactive short film that offers a new take on the test drive by providing the viewer a fully immersive way to experience the new Lexus CT 200h.
Hybrid Powertrain
The CT 200h is powered by a 1.8L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gas engine with Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) and Lexus Hybrid Drive technology.
The CT 200h’s Lexus Hybrid Drive technology features two motor generators. Each performs specific functions and can operate as both a motor and generator. The engine-driven generator can charge the battery pack or provide additional power to the drive motor as needed. The drive motor is driven by electrical power from the hybrid battery pack or generator and provides motive force for the front wheels. The hybrid battery pack is located under the rear cargo area within the wheelbase for optimized balance.
The electric motor, generator and power split device are all housed in one highly compact casing the size of a conventional gearbox, with drive to the front wheels provided by Lexus Hybrid Drive’s quiet and smooth shift-by-wire, electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
The CT 200h will also be equipped with four drive-modes: Normal, Eco, Sport and EV. Normal mode has an essentially linear throttle response that gives naturally progressive power while the Power Control Unit (PCU) limits drive voltage to a maximum of 500 volts. The Eco mode adjusts air conditioning settings and the throttle for the best possible fuel economy. For an enhanced fun-to-drive experience, Sport mode, a first for the Lexus hybrid line-up, can be selected. Sport mode provides more direct Electric Power Steering (EPS) settings and throttle while the PCU boosts drive voltage to a maximum output of 650 volts. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) are less intrusive when Sport mode is selected, allowing for more lively driving. In EV mode, under certain circumstances, the vehicle can be driven up to one mile using only the electric motors.
The sporty premium compact hybrid will also feature an ECO driving indicator that illuminates when the vehicle is being operated in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Active and Passive Safety
Like all Lexus vehicles, CT 200h will be equipped with many standard active safety features including an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), TRAC and VSC.
The four-channel, four-sensor ABS helps reduce stopping time and improves control while braking. EBD monitors all four wheels during braking and varies brake pressure to each wheel based on driving conditions and available traction.
During hard braking the BA system helps boost braking force when the driver does not apply enough pressure to the brake pedal. BA intervenes when the system senses that the driver’s action indicates an emergency-stopping situation and allows the driver to benefit from more of the vehicle’s full braking power.
TRAC helps optimize traction by working with the Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS), ABS and VSC to help prevent the drive wheels from spinning while accelerating under slippery conditions.
The VSC system is designed to help identify when the tires experience lateral slippage during cornering, or turning on slippery road surfaces. VSC responds by applying the brakes and reducing the throttle to help keep the vehicle on track. VSC works in concert with ABS and TRAC systems on slippery or dry road surfaces.
The Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control will be available as an option on CT 200h. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control uses millimeter-wave radar to measure and help maintain a pre-set distance from a vehicle traveling ahead. PCS is equipped with a front-mounted radar sensor that can detect certain obstacles in front of the car. The PCS computer helps determine whether a frontal collision is unavoidable using information from the radar sensor, vehicle speed, steering angle and yaw-rate inputs. In such a situation, PCS alerts the driver with audible and visual warnings, and pre-initializes BA so that increased braking will be applied the instant the driver depresses the pedal. In addition, PCS will preemptively retract front seat belts.
The CT 200h will incorporate a standard eight airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with dual-stage airbags and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags, and front seat-mounted side airbags to help protect passengers in certain types of severe frontal or side collisions.
Chassis/Body/Suspension
Lexus engineers developed the five-passenger CT 200h for excellent handling and a comfortable ride. Its fun-to-drive experience is aided by the lowest possible center of gravity for the car and the concentration of mass as close to the center as possible. Engineers positioned the seats as low and as close together in the chassis as possible without sacrificing comfort. They also created a low ride height and driver’s hip point to further enhance driving control and enjoyment.
For superior driving dynamics, particular attention has been paid to structural rigidity through the optimization of weld points, and the reinforcement of the wheel mounts, steering gearbox mount, steering column assembly, and the suspension members. To help minimize unnecessary engine movement and achieve a precise steering feel, the front engine mounts have unique lateral stabilizers.
The CT 200h will offer a comfortable ride and have a more direct steering feel with the help of a feature unique in the premium compact segment, a front and rear body-damping system. This system, a first to the Lexus line-up, absorbs and minimizes undesirable body vibrations.
A custom suspension design combining a MacPherson strut front system with a unique, double wishbone architecture to the rear helps the CT 200h offer excellent handling. Numerous elements of the MacPherson strut front suspension system were developed exclusively for the CT 200h by Lexus engineers. The rear suspension features a lightweight trailing arm and positions the coil spring and shock absorber separately to minimize system intrusion into the cargo floor.
Exterior Design
CT 200h, with visible links to the LF-Ch compact hybrid concept that debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, was designed to be a fun-to-drive luxury vehicle that achieves high fuel efficiency. The overall design combines sportiness, and elegance. The low center of gravity design combines short front and rear overhangs with a lowered edge of the rear roof allowing the CT 200h to cut through the wind. The grille and headlamps with standard LED daytime running lamps illustrate airflow with their three-dimensional arrowhead-shaped design cues, and strongly emphasize the unique, dynamic face of the CT 200h. Like all Lexus hybrids, the CT 200h has a blue “L” logo in the center of its grille.
The CT 200h is further distinguished by its long, aerodynamic roofline and unique Lexus slingshot window graphic. Its elegant silhouette is marked by a steeply raked windshield and flowing roofline. In the rear, the trailing edge of the roof overhangs the wide, wraparound window to create a seamlessly integrated spoiler housing a high-mount stop light. A pronounced step in the rear bumper flows from the muscular rear wheel arch shoulders, and is anchored by a sweeping taillamp design that incorporates a Lexus-unique L-shaped motif, first introduced in the LS flagship luxury sedan. In addition, the hood and rear hatch door are made of aluminum to minimize weight.
Interior Design
The CT 200h interior focuses on the driver, and is based on clearly divided display and operational zones. This layout positions functional equipment such as Remote Touch, the shift lever and steering wheel mounted audio controls close at hand, allowing the driver to operate them without having to change posture or divert attention from the road. The instrument panel, center cluster and console all make up what Lexus designers call advanced Human-Machine Interface (HMI). Based on Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, the interior exudes a sporty yet spacious environment. The driver-centered cabin then combines these sporty touches with refined interior components that have been carefully designed to express the true form and fit of the material. The cabin is trimmed with metal and a new synthetic material called NuLuxe™ that is soft to the touch like leather. Leather-trimmed seating will be available as an option.
A sporty, wide-grip steering wheel gives the driver command of the road while three large, high-visibility dials, speedometer, tachometer/hybrid meter and fuel gauge, in the instrument panel (IP), provide the driver with pertinent information. In Normal or Eco modes, the IP features a blue background. When the Sport mode is selected, a tachometer replaces the hybrid meter on the IP and the IP back lighting turns red. The drive mode switch and center console are also illuminated in red adding to the cabin’s sporty atmosphere.
Luxury/Comfort/Convenience
Standard comfort and convenience features will include fold-flat rear seats, SmartAccess key system, tilt and telescopic steering wheel column, steering wheel audio controls, front sport seats, an eight-way power and memory driver’s seat and Safety Connect™ (includes complimentary one-year trial subscription).
A six-speaker Lexus Premium audio system with a CD player, auxiliary and USB inputs, integrated iPod® control, Bluetooth® audio wireless connectivity, and an integrated XM® Radio receiver will also be standard.
An optional moonroof will also be available. For added convenience the optional hard disc drive (HDD) Lexus Navigation system features a back-up camera, voice command casual language-based voice recognition system, Bluetooth phonebook download and Lexus’ exclusive Remote Touch controller with user-adjustable haptic feedback. Vehicles equipped with navigation will also have Lexus Enform™ with Safety Connect (includes complimentary one-year trial subscription), XM® Radio with NavTraffic, NavWeather, and Sports & Stocks. All XM services will include a complimentary 90-day trial subscription.
The world’s largest marketer of gold coins, Vienna’s Muenze Oesterreich AG, plans to slash production by 32% next year as it predicts Europe’s financial woes will lessen demand for metals.
Commodity Online: “There’s no more upward surge in gold price to titillate buyers,” said Mr. Tattersall, who retires this year after more than two decades with the mint. “A lot of people feel more relaxed about the economic crisis.” For the whole of 2010, Tattersall said he expects the mint’s sales to fall to 2006 levels, without providing figures. Austria’s mint says it supplies about a fifth of the global gold-coin market and makes about half of all gold coins sold in Europe.”
While climate change gets most of the ink in environmental news sections, biodiversity is at a “point of no return” says Hilary Benn, the UK environment secretary. If ecosystems fail, their ability to sequester carbon or provide flood control diminishes. These ecosystems then also fail to provide the habitat necessary to preserve diverse species that rely on complex interactions with one another to survive. One possible solution is “rewilding,” a model that can be implemented piecemeal across landscapes to promote the reconnection of isolated habitats, form bridging corridors that help revive complex natural systems, and reintroduce predators. The approach is designed to restore biodiversity in places where it has been lost.
According to Carolyn Fraser, a noted environmental writer who recently discussed rewilding in Yale University’s Environment 360, the idea is also known as “cores, corridors and carnivores,” and was originally developed by Michael Soule and Reed Noss, two leading conservation biologists. Since conception, it has been picked up at the grassroots level across the world. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is using these ideas to connect ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains. The idea has spread as conservationists have “grown bolder in the size of their conservation programs.”
Fraser says the model has proven adaptable because it can function outside of structured park systems. In Kenya, “eleven group ranches have since joined the Northern Rangelands Trust, with eight of those creating their own conservancies, setting aside a percentage of their grazing land for wildlife and planning eco-lodges. Those with lodges have already dedicated revenue for community improvements, such as schools and medical clinics. A million-and-a-half acres of northern Kenya have thus been set aside for wildlife management, and security for people and wildlife has improved.” The model has also been successfully tested in Nepal where a community forestry program is restoring corridors for Asian tigers, rhinoceri, and elephants.
The model was successfully applied in the American Southwest in part because incentives were used to keep predators alive. In many range areas, ranchers kill predator species that prey on their livestock. Instead, in one program, the ranchers were paid to demonstrate they had kept them alive, preserving their role in a wider ecosystem. ”In the American Southwest, galvanized by surprise sightings of jaguars, conservationists have banded together to buy private land in northern Mexico, establishing a core wilderness area to keep that species — and a host of other unique wildlife — viable. They have also reached out to the reserve’s neighbors: Mexican ranchers, like American ones, have always shot big predators on sight, but biologists with Defenders of Wildlife designed a clever contest, equipping ranches with remote camera traps. For every picture of a live jaguar, mountain lion, or other cat, participating ranchers who promised to leave the animals unmolested were paid a handsome sum — $500 for a jaguar, $100 for a mountain lion.”
In South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, a failure in the model occurred when the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) attempted to reconnect ecosystems, but failed to alert local communities to the new elephants, lions and other potentially dangerous animals that had been released into the zone. Community involvement in roll-out is critical.
Fraser contends that even if there are hiccups in implementation the model’s core strength lies in the fact that it presents a model for “sustainable conservation” that will put people to work and also mitigate climate change. As Fraser describes, a few key components can be fit together to form a new, more practical sustainable conservation model:
Create endowments that can support reconnecting ecosystems and rewilding private or community-owned land. As an example, she points to Dan Janzen, an innovative conservationist: ”University of Pennsylvania biologist Daniel Janzen has been instrumental in the phenomenal success of the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica, which accomplished what was once thought impossible by restoring former cattle ranches to dry tropical forest and rainforest. ACG thrives on the interest from its $30 million endowment. Janzen is now seeking a half-billion dollars to endow the entire Costa Rican park system in perpetuity.”
Use rewilding programs to create new green jobs. Local people can take “bioliteracy” courses so they develop conservation job skills and aid trained conservationists in their taxonomy work. Through taxonomy work, conservationists and local communities can catalog a region’s biodiversity and map out where ecosystems can best be connected. (The green jobs component is particularly crucial given huge increases in population are expected in many developing countries with key natural resources.)
Link climate change mitigation (through bio-carbon sequestration) with native habitat conservation. ”The Baviaanskloof Mega-reserve Project in South Africa has created hundreds of jobs in ecotourism and restoration, training workers to remove invasives and plant native bush in a delicate Cape habitat overgrazed by goats. In Australia, ecological restoration of salt-damaged wheat farms conducted by the Gondwana Link project has provided carbon sequestration while regrowing native bush.”
Fraser concludes that the Puget Sound Partnership demonstrates the great potential of the model: “In the United States, the restoration of wetlands is generating jobs, from Chesapeake Bay in the east to Puget Sound in the west. The Puget Sound Partnership, a network of environmental groups and state agencies — tasked with cleaning up decades of pollutants — represents one of the most massive ecological restoration projects in the nation’s history: The partnership recently identified a half-a-billion dollars worth of “shovel-ready” stimulus projects, from removing tons of fishing nets and other debris to restoring tidal salt marsh habitat, itself a powerfully-effective means of sequestering carbon.”
Spyker Cars announced today that Saab’s Trollhattan plant begin rolling again today, “heralding a new era for the Swedish premium car maker as an independent company. To celebrate the occasion, Saab Automobile CEO Jan Ake Jonsson, Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller and Trollhattan Plant Director Gunnar Brunius took up positions on the line alongside assembly workers as the first batch of cars was built.
“Today’s resumption of production is a milestone in the history of our company” said Jan Ake Jonsson. “We are up and running as an independent manufacturer and I am delighted to share the experience on the line alongside our workforce. They have shown tremendous commitment to the company and we are all now focused on ramping up production to meet customer demand.”
Production at Trollhattan was originally halted for seven weeks prior to the purchase of Saab by Spyker.
The first vehicle off the line today was the all-new 2010 Saab 9-5.
“We have a highly flexible, world-class facility here at Trollhättan,” said Plant Director Gunnar Brunius. “Our ability to build so many different models in one location improves plant utilization and will deliver valuable efficiency gains. With these state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated workforce, we are in excellent shape.”
Coarse-grinding and flat-grinding
60 to 90° shore A coatings mostly serrated coatings medium to hard grinding belts of grit 60 – grit 80 types A66, A77 or plastidur types A8, A11
Normal grinding
coatings medium approx. 60° shore A grinding belts of grit 150 – grit 280 types A1, A66, A77 Typen A 1, A 66, A 77 mostly flat face, at times serrated
Fine grinding
coatings medium to soft, 30 to 60° shore A grinding belts of grit 280 – grit 500 types A1, A9, A90, A10, A100, A14
Contour grinding
coatings soft from 30 to 40° shore A grinding belts of grit 150 – grit 500 types A9, A90, A10, A100, A14, A15
For a world leading manufacturer of injection moulders, quality is of highest importance. Product security is as important as responsibility for customers, consumers and the environment. When problems occurred in the production process, caused by metal particles within plastic granulate, the company decided to install magnetic separators.
Excellent results during test phase
S+S Separation and Sorting Technology provided ten SAFEMAG magnet systems for a test phase. The test results were excellent and by now over 1000 injection moulders are equipped with magnet systems.
The magnet systems developed by S+S can be installed directly at the material feeder of injection moulders, below the metering unit. They work as a “last chance controller” to ensure metal is separated at the last possible stage. An important advantage of this type of installation is that only one magnet system per machine is needed.
The injection moulder required a flat design to ensure that the magnet system could be installed in existing machines. Reconstruction of the pipelines above the machines would have been both time-consuming and expensive. Only a small space of about 80mm was available for installation.
Customised solutions
To face this challenge, S+S developed a high-performance and compact magnet system measuring only 60mm. The compact and solid aluminium block design of the SAFEMAG made it possible, to install conveying, mixing and metering units directly on the pipeline magnet.
Handling is very simple. The magnet system is equipped with a drawer at the front. Just release the two screws at the front and pull out the aluminium block with magnet bars for cleaning. Metal contamination can then be removed manually from the magnet bars.
Stephan Treml, Productmanager S+S-Magnet Systems, is satisfied with the impressive success of the SAFEMAG:
“SAFEMAGs provide the best cleaning results for ferromagnetic contamination. They protect plastics manufacturers and prevent expensive machinery downtimes and repairs and increase process continuity and productivity. To further separate non-magnetic metals from plastic granulates and increase product security even more, inductive metal detectors can be integrated into the machine as well.”
It’s been over five years since the E90 BMW3 Series was introduced, and according to Automobile, the all-new bread-and-butter Bimmer is set to hit the market in 2012. Codenamed F30, the next 3er is reportedly set to employ the F20 1 Series‘ front strut layout instead of the 5, 6 and 7 Series double wishbone arrangement. But the new underpinnings aren’t the real news.
Five body styles will make up the 2012 3 Series: The standard sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible (each coming out about six months after the former’s introduction), along with a Gran Turismo model in 2013. The slant-roof five-door we’ve reportedonpreviously will take cues from the 5 Series that shares the same name, but will feature a one-piece hatch unlike it’s bigger brother’s two-piece unit.
Automobile also reports that the next two-door will feature bespoke sheetmetal with a more canted windshield, lower roofline and sculpted flanks, while the convertible will continue to use a retractable hardtop instead of a canvas roof.
Naturally, the M division is hard at work on the next M3, and it’s likely to drop the 420-horsepower V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six putting out around 450 hp. There’s a slight – very slight – possibility that M could develop a “Speedster” variant of the 3 Series with a fabric roof and cut-down windshield, and BMW is looking into creating a three-door shooting brake 3 Series, which we whole-heartedly approve.
This 16 bits instrument represents a large step forward in the field of electrical resistivity measurement (VES). It is the ideal instrument for subsoil groundwater prospecting from shallow to medium depth, studies of salt water contamination in fresh water layers, archeological prospecting. Reliable and portable, the 16GL system is characterized by really first-rate performances at a really affordable price. The possibility to download data through the RS-232 port enables a quick interpretation with the SEV2000 interpretation software. It is recommended, as to exploit its capabilities, to use it in conjunction with one or more P-100 rechargeable accumulators.
Via Michael Scott, we learn that there was recently a debate over whether or not the government could use the phrase “music piracy” to describe the actions of an individual who had been charged with criminal copyright infringement. The case involved Adil Cassim, who had been arrested last year and charged with running a “release group,” which are the private networks of people online who work hard to get unauthorized copyrighted materials (music, movies, etc.) distributed as quickly as possible. While Cassim was apparently acquitted by the jury (so far, I can’t find any more info on what happened… Update: TorrentFreak has some details), there was a discussion over how the gov’t could refer to his actions. His lawyer argued that “music piracy” is a prejudicial term, not related to the issues in the lawsuit, and that the gov’t should not be allowed to use that term in front of the jury. The judge denied this:
Defendants seeks to exclude any use of the terms “music piracy” from the jury. They argue that this term is not evidentiary, has no probative value, and is highly inflammatory such that it will create undue prejudice. The Government, in response, argues that this term would be highly probative of the Defendants’ knowledge of the unlawful object of the conspiracy. The Court finds that, because this term was and is commonly used to refer to the conduct in question, it will be difficult for witnesses and lawyers to generate an adequate substitute during questioning. It need not, therefore, be entirely excluded. However, the Court invites counsel for Defendants to suggest any possible limiting instructions which, if offered to the jury, might mitigate any possible prejudice that the term might create.
However, as Ray Dowd points out in the link above, this doesn’t seem to make much sense. The word piracy is not in the statute, and the crime he’s charged with is criminal copyright infringement, not piracy, so there’s no reason that the proper terms can’t be used:
I have litigated many copyright infringement cases without the need to refer to the word “piracy” though as a civil plaintiff it is a nice synonym referring to a person who makes multiple exact duplicates, rather than someone who borrowed portions of a copyrighted work. But it certainly is not necessary in a civil proceeding and would appear to me to be highly improper to use in a criminal proceeding.
Of course, since the guy was acquitted anyway, perhaps the entertainment industry is correct that “piracy” isn’t derogatory enough anymore.
While on the surface it may seem like Toyota is surviving its sudden and unintended acceleration recall crisis, buyer interest in the Japanese automaker’s vehicles have drastically declined.
Toyota’s sales declined slightly in February and early signs are pointing to another strong performance in March but that’s only because of one of the most aggressive financing and cash incentives in history. Also, sales promotions haven’t really cut into the value of Toyota’s used vehicles. Kelley Blue Book reported Monday that the average year-over-year change in the 36-month residual values for Toyota vehicles is expected to increase 4.2 percent points in May-June. That’s only a little bit less than the industry average of 6.2 percent.
However, according to a market research study reviewed by Fortune, the recall issues for Toyota vehicles have battered the company’s reputation, including brand consideration.
In a research conducted by Hall and Partners USA, the company surveyed consumers who are currently considering buying a new car in the next two years and who would consider a foreign model.
The survey found that there is a 89 percent awareness of Toyota recalls and the impact of that number on those considering buying a Toyota was significant. Only more than half of those who were aware of recalls said they are “much less likely” or “somewhat less likely” to buy a Toyota in the future.
Toyota’s brand consideration fell 49 percent in February from 75 percent in January. That’s below Nissan’s 54 percent and on par with Ford, which scored 49 percent. GM’s Chevrolet brand came in with 46 percent.
Stocks were jumpy at first as the Futures market pegged losses for the Dow and S&P this morning but they’ve since rebounded and are posting truly solid gains.
Dow: Currently up 59 points to 10,801.
NASDAQ: Up 23 points to 2398.
S&P 500: Up 6 points to 1166.
Gold has dropped to under $1100 an ounce as it rests at $1097.80, down $9.80. Silver is down $0.16 to $16.88 an ounce.
Oil is cruising along, up $0.62 to $81.30 a barrel.
And of course, here’s the biggest gainers and losers in the S&P 500:
Gainers:
Tenet Healthcare Corp (THC): $6.29 / +9.39%
Western Digital Corp (WDC): $40.42 / +5.98%
Wynn Resorts Ltd (WYNN): $75.85 / +5.71%
SanDisk Corp (SNDK): $33.70 / +4.49%
Office Depot Inc (ODP): $8.08 / +4.12%
Losers:
American International Group Inc (AIG): $33.26 / -4.43%
Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK): $23.34 / -3.59%
First Solar Inc (FSLR): $109.28 / -3.55%
E*TRADE Financial Corp (FHN): $1.53 / -2.71%
First Horizon National Corp (FHN): $14.06 / -2.63%
Audi Q5 Custom Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Once upon a time the in-house performance studios of Germany’s finest automakers wouldn’t have anything to do with crossovers and SUVs. But several Mercedes-Benz G55 AMGs and BMW X6 Ms later, Audi‘s quattro GmbH is reportedly looking to join the fold with a pair of super-tuned Q5s.
The reports claim that Audi is preparing an SQ5 and an RSQ5, both backed by versions of the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the latest S4 sedan, offering 333 horsepower in the SQ5 and as much as 408 in the RSQ5. Along with the engine upgrades, we could expect commensurate chassis, brakes and appearance enhancements as well.
For better or worse, these appear to be simple rumors at the time, but we’ll be keeping our eyes open for more info, so stay tuned.
The Santa Fe Trail by Judy Alter is a book about settlers traveling West in order to find a better life in the United States. However, much of what is talked about in the book is the different terrain that the settlers come across while on their journey out West. The book includes many photos and illustrations of the types of terrain settlers dealt with on their long journey, including overgrown grassy fields, the Rocky mountains, and even deserts. The book also illustrates maps of the trail as well as states it ran through. The Santa Fe Trail goes into depth as well about westward expansion, important figures who were involved, and even gives a list of important vocabulary words in the back of the book as well as a timeline of events.
Curriculum Connections
This book would be great to use in a unit about traveling out West, particularly on trails such as the Santa Fe. This book would be best for grades 3-5 because it involves quite a bit of text as well as vocabulary words that might be somewhat advanced for younger grades. In Virginia, this book would be a great resource to use with Virginia SOL standards USII.2 and USII.3.
Additional Resources
1. Here is a fun way for students to learn more about the Santa Fe Trail through a webquest.
2. This site is not a webquest but allows students to visit various interesting sites about the Santa Fe Trail in order to fill in the blanks for questions they are supposed to answer (listed on site). Teachers can go over these questions in class once students have completed the assignment.
3. This is an activity book with lots of fun games about the Santa Fe Trail for students to play.
Who will be open-minded and ready to get involved in a variety of activities aiming to support children in difficult situation.
Interest in Child Care.
A commitment to learning and a willingness to encourage others to participate in activities.
Flexibility
Fluent in English or French.
Strong inter-personal skills and experience in working with a wide variety of people; cultural sensitivity, and ability to work on sensitive topics.
Ready to share the lifestyle of local people (simple accommodation, transport by bus or bicycle, local food).
High motivation and to be ready to face language and cultural differences.
The center requires volunteers with counseling and teaching skills; preferably teachers in English or French and teachers for early childhood education and nursery schooling. However, we have an open policy and applicants with other ideas to share are also welcome to apply and will be considered. Volunteers need to contribute/initiate ideas and by that would be promoting the growth of the center. This is an opportunity for the volunteers to work at a community/grassroot level in capacity building and training in self-sustainability.
While this is the first Tata Nano we’ve ever seen go up in flames, this is apparently the second one (third or fourth – we’re not sure). Either way, the story goes that insurance agent Satish Sawant took delivery of his Nano in Prabhadevi, Mumbai.
Tata Motors arranged a company chauffeur to deliver the Nano to Sawant’s home since he doesn’t know how to drive (don’t ask us why he bought a car). On his way back home from the dealership, a biker on the Easter Express Highway overtook Sawant’s Nano and signaled that something was wrong with the car. After noticing flames coming out of the rear-end, Sawant and the driver immediately jumped out of the $2,500 car.
According to Sawant:
I have no idea what happened. A motorcycle rider overtook me and told me that the vehicle was on fire. The engine was behind me and I did not realize that the car was on fire.
The guys over at Indian Autos Blog are speculating that something could be wrong with the cooling system. We guess the saying “you get what you pay for” holds true on this case.
2008 Dodge Dakota – Click above for high-res image gallery
Chrysler is dropping more hints about an upcoming unibody pickup that would be positioned below the Dodge Dakota. You may recall that first word of the new small truck came back in November when Fred Diaz, CEO of Chrysler’s newly-created Ram brand, dropped tidbits about the company “considering” a Dakota replacement. We speculated that it could be built on a platform derived from the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee/Dodge Durango architecture.
Interviewed at the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Show in St. Louis this month, Joe Veltri, Chrysler Group vice president of product planning, touched on the subject once again. “We’re thinking of something that will separate itself from the full-sized truck more than what happens today, both in capability, price and size,” said Veltri. While the automaker has reportedly shelved the idea of developing a mid-size truck on a unibody platform (the segment is currently owned by the HondaRidgeline – its sales plummeted 51 percent between 2008 and 2009), the company feels there is a need for a smaller and more fuel efficient pickup without the unnecessary size or capabilities. According to Veltri, buyers still want pickup trucks but they want better fuel economy. “Everybody has gotten the formula wrong,” he adds. Well, everyone except Ford and the ancient-though-still-small Ranger.
