Author: Serkadis

Shamu, the stage/show name for killer whales at Orlando’s SeaWorld killed a trainer today. We started covering the story earlier today, but there have been more developments, read about them after the jump.

The killer whale involved in the killing today is named Tilikum, and this is the third time Tilikum has been involved in a human fatality. In 1991 the whale drowned a young trainer at Sealand of the Pacific in Canada, and then he killed again in 1999 after being shipped to SeaWorld Orlando. The second time involved a park visitor staying after hours and falling into the tank, where Tilikum drowned the man. Tilikum is the father of a killer whale named Ky who is famous for trying to drown his trainer at SeaWorld San Antonio in an incident that was recorded:

Video of killer whale attacking trainer

Dawn Brancheau is the name of the trainer who was killed today. Witnesses say Tilikum pulled Brancheau into the water, and pulled her underwater with his mouth.

Here is video of Tilikum in a stage show where nothing went wrong:

Video of Tilikum the killer whale

Given that this is the third time this has happened, maybe SeaWorld should rethink putting mature adult male killer whales on display?

One of the country’s largest gatherings of trophy whitetail deer is coming back to Peoria in 2011.

The Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic returns to the Peoria Civic Center next March after spending 10 years at Bloomington’s Interstate Center.

Show organizer Glenn Helgeland said Peoria was his only viable option after Birkey’s Farm Stores of Rantoul purchased the Interstate Center’s main expo building and adjacent parking lots. Birkey’s sells Case IH farm and construction equipment.

“When you lose 30 percent of your exhibit space and roughly the same percentage of parking space, the decision is made for you,” Helgeland said. “We looked at Springfield and Bloomington, but Peoria is the only place big enough for this show.

“Well, we could have gone to Chicago. But that would be a dumb move.”

The Deer Classic has grown steadily since starting in Decatur in 1990. The event quickly outgrew available facilities in Decatur and Springfield and was held in Peoria from 1995-2000.

Helgeland said a conflict over available dates was one reason he moved the popular hunting trade show to Bloomington. This year’s 20th annual Classic is Friday through Sunday at the Interstate Center and is expected to draw 22,000 spectators, 500 trophy deer heads and a record number of 349 vendors, most of whom sell hunting-related products and services.

Vendors and spectators last year came from 19 different states.

Crystal Howard of the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the three-day show has had a direct economic impact of $80,000 to $100,000 based on visitors staying in hotel rooms.

“Most of the people staying over are actual exhibitors,” Howard said. “A lot of people attending the show come through and go back home. For the most part they are not staying overnight.”

Bringing the Classic back to Peoria has been a goal of Civic Center assistant general manager Jim Wetherington, a hunter with a display of mounted deer heads and wild turkeys in his office.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Civic Center and the community,” Wetherington said. “A lot of sportsmen have been telling me for years that they would like to see (The Classic) back here.

“And it’s giving Glenn an opportunity to grow and to take his show up a level in appearance.”

Moving to the Civic Center offers Helgeland 90,000 square feet of space for vendors – one-third more than at the Interstate Center. Helgeland plans to use that space to provide more room for showgoers.

“The addition Peoria did to the original Civic Center is tremendous,” Helgeland said. “We will be in one building on one floor. The aisles are a little wider and it’s more user-friendly. People don’t need to go through tunnels and find buildings.”

Next year’s show will be March 25-27 and Helgeland said moving one month later should not be a problem.

“That’s still earlier than turkey hunting season, earlier than spring fish runs and earlier than spring planting, so the date change will be fine,” he said. “We might lose a few people on the eastern border of the state, but what we lose we’ll pick up from the Peoria area and west and south of you.”

Jeff Lampe can be reached at 686-3212 or [email protected].

Read the original article from Journal Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Less than a year ago, Paul Graham wrote one of his fantastic essays suggesting that the world needs a startup founder’s visa. The problem, of course, is that our immigration policies have made it quite difficult for immigrants to come to the US to start companies, even though many of the most innovative companies these days are founded by immigrants. Tragically, our immigration policy is often created under the belief that immigration and jobs are a zero sum game — whereby more immigrants means fewer jobs. But if those immigrants are creating new companies that create new jobs, the opposite is true. Thus the impetus for a startup founder’s visa that would allow immigrants to come to the US to build new companies here, creating jobs here, rather than creating those companies elsewhere.

In the fall, venture capitalist Brad Feld felt compelled to try to get actual political support for the idea (now called the “startup visa” rather than the “founder’s visa”) and in just a few months has succeeded in at least getting Senators Kerry and Lugar (bipartisan support, which is good) to introduce the Startup Visa Act in the Senate. You can read the text of the bill (pdf).

While I’m still a huge supporter of the concept of the startup visa, I’m still a bit concerned that the focus is only on supporting entrepreneurs who have taken a certain amount of venture capital money. There could be unintended consequences with that, in forcing immigrant entrepreneurs to take venture capital that they don’t need just to secure their visas. The risk, then, is that immigrant entrepreneurs become way too dependent on their VCs. One of the great things about the startup world today is that capital requirements have changed for many types of startups, and the ability to bootstrap a startup has increased greatly — but bootstrappers aren’t welcome under the startup visa. I’ve been told that this was a political necessity, and including some sort of venture capital “sponsor” was the only way this bill would move forward — so hopefully this passes, but further changes are made later to account for the fact that not all startups need venture money, and without forcing an entrepreneur into taking money from someone just to get his or her visa.

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Zipper Interactive has released the full details of the upcoming patch for MAG which will go live later today. Notable features of the latest update includes a revamped weapon tuning, much improve weapon and gear swapping, more

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said that Toyota has become a bit ‘safety-deaf’, and that Akio Toyoda’s visit to the U.S. has become a game changer. LaHood had mentioned what he perceived to be a lack of communication inside Toyota’s organization as the chief reason these concerns weren’t immediately addressed. He mentioned doubts that the news made it all the way to Japan.

In his testimony before Congress Toyoda said, “We pursued growth over the speed at which we were able to develop our people and our organization, and we should sincerely be mindful of that. I regret that this has resulted in the safety issues described in the recalls we face today.”

LaHood said that he personally had spoken with Toyoda in recent months and urged a recall, as had other NHTSA officials.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

So you think that the 2010 BMW Alpina B7 is a pretty exciting high-performance 7-Series – wait until you see what G-Power has in the works. Meet the G-Power 760i Storm, a 715-hp 7-Series built on a made-to-order basis for new buyers.

Using the 6.0L V12 bi-turbo “TwinPower” from BMW, G-Power asked ASA to create a set of turbocharger compressors units that work off the crankshaft, thus increasing output to 715-hp with a maximum torque of 738 lb-ft. Changes were also made to the standard 8-speed transmission. After all the modifications, the G-Power 760i Storm is capable of running a 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds, while 0-124 mph takes 11.9. Top speed of the G-Power 760i Storm comes in at a whopping 214 mph.

Other modifications include aerodynamic changes including a new front skirt, bonnet, side skirts, doors, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler. Ride height is dropped by 30mm.

G-Power says that it will only produce 10 units of the 760i Storm.

Make the jump for the press release.

G-Power 760i Storm:

Press Release:

M-Feeling for the BMW “Luxusliner” – thanks to the G-POWER manufactory

After the large success of the two world record cars G-POWER M5 HURRICANE RS and G-POWER M6 HURRICANE CS which with their 750 hp strong 5,0l V10 bi-compressor engine can be only obtained as a complete vehicle via the G-POWER manufactory, the so-called “G-POWER Supercars” will become an inherent part of the future G-POWER programme. The G-POWER manufactory is a strongly growing business branch of the company G-POWER in which all individually produced complete vehicles, the so-called “G-POWER Supercars” are produced as an inherent part of the G-PWER programme and are entirely made by hand.

The company philosophy of the G-POWER manufactory which solely produces its automobiles in limited edition, is 100% customer dedication as far as the features and the strictly limited edition of the G-POWER Supercars are concerned and also the entire revision of the individual basic engines with the clear objective to produce the strongest and fastest BMW model in the world.

The latest masterpiece and an impressive example for the exceptional performance of the G-POWER manufactory is the G-POWER 760i STORM which now closes a gap in the BMW programme: M-Feeling for the BMW “Luxusliner”.

Due to customer preference, G-POWER, so far predominantly well known on modifying the potent BMW M models, has now focused on the BMW flagship in the luxury segment and developed an overall concept which optimally adjusts aerodynamics, rims and increased engine performance.

The core part of the G-POWER performance enhancement for the 6,0l V12 bi-turbo engine is a substantial modification of both “TwinPower” turbo chargers used by BMW. In co-operation with the compressor manufacturer ASA which can rely on 20 years experience in developing and producing radial compressors (basically, radial compressors are turbo charger compressor units which are put into motion by the crankshaft via a belt driven transmission), the performance of both turbo chargers was significantly improved without affecting their endurance.

As a result, the maximum boost pressure of 0.5 bar (relative) rises to 0.9 bar (relative). Flanking measures at the engine ensure that the increasing boost pressure can also be transformed into according extra power. Therefore, additional 181 hp (133 KW) are gained which enhance the overall performance to strong 725 hp at 5,500 r.p.m and render the maximum torque of 1000 Nm at already 2,000 r.p.m. In order to achieve this impressive extra performance, larger injection valves and an entirely new exhaust system for the reduction of dynamic pressure including the therefore necessary sports catalysers have been added, et al. A re-programmed engine control and significant modifications at BMW´s serial 8-speed transmission perfect the overall package harmoniously.

The enormous performance potential of the BMW V12 bi-turbo engine modified by G-POWER allows the G-POWER 760i driving performances which catapult it into the top range of its vehicle class. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h only takes 4.2 seconds. After 11.9 seconds, already 200 km/h are achieved. The top speed is 345 km/h.

But not only due to its enormous performance, the G-POWER 760i STORM propels to the top of its vehicle class, also the visual appearance of the aerodynamics kit which was exclusively developed for the STORM by G-POWER, underlines the exceptional quality of this G-POWER Supercar. Thereby, the aerodynamics pack in the brand-typical design is not only an end in itself, but it also improves the cold air supply to the cooling water and oil coolers at the vehicle front due to the enlarged air inlets at the front skirt and the vent holes in the bonnet. Due to these changes, the overall cooling performance has been increased by approx. 15 percent – a basis for the thermally always harmless performance enhancement.

The most outstanding component of the G-POWER aerodynamics kit for the BMW 760i, is the strikingly styled front skirt made of carbon fibre which entire replaces the original part. It gives the serially unobtrusive front of the current BMW 7-model the necessary aggressiveness which an automobile with 725 hp and a top speed of 345 km/h requires. Due to the elaborate shape, the aerodynamic lifting forces at the front axles were able to be reduced. Another highlight is the G-POWER STORM bonnet made of Kevlar hybrid which has a central Venturi engine compartment ventilation for the operation and two lateral ABS grids for the ventilation when the car stands still and guarantees an improved discharge of hot air from both turbo chargers out of the engine compartment and shapes the new face of the BMW 760i.

The G-POWER full carbon add-ons for the serial side skirts and the doors render a visual harmonious connection between the wheel houses by visually stretching the silhouette of the BMW 7-model. The wheel houses themselves are filled with forged three-part G-POWER SILVERSTONE RS aluminium wheels measuring 9.5×22 and 10.5×22 inches which are equipped with high-performance tyres of the development partner Michelin in the dimensions 265/30 ZR 22 at the front axle and 295/25 ZR 22 at the rear axle. Set up this way, the G-POWER 760i STORM always renders an optimal traction and a sporty handling which is additionally improved by the G-POWER sports spring set and a lowering by 30 mm.

At the rear, a full carbon rear spoiler and a full carbon diffuser which elegantly emphasise the 4 x 100 mm end pipes with integrated G-POWER logo generate more downforce at the rear axle and at the same time visually enhance the back section.

G-POWER refines the interior of the BMW 760i with exclusive accessories such as an ergonomically shaped sports steering wheel, a speedometer in G-POWER design and fine carbon rails for the side casing, central console and dashboard. Further customer wishes for exclusive interiors can always be fulfilled by the G-POWER manufactory with all possible leather- and ultra-suede colours.

The G-POWER 760i STORM is only available in a strictly limited small edition of only 10 automobiles world-wide from the G-POWER manufactory in Autenzell.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: G-Power (via WCF)

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Porsche, Tesla, Electric

Tesla Roadster Sport versus Porsche Boxster Spyder – click above to watch video

We’ve been fortunate enough to drive a number of different Tesla Roadster models now, including a week-long review that was just published. Owners of high performance sportscars like the Roadster sometimes like to take their rides to the track for some of the kind of fun you can’t really have when you are constantly on the lookout for hidden constables. While we haven’t had the chance to track a Tesla, one of the favorite cars for such activities is the Porsche Boxster.

Motor Trend magazine’s Kim Reynolds and Arthur St. Antoine took the latest edition of the Boxster, the new Spyder to Willow Springs along with a 2010 Roadster Sport. It makes for very interesting comparison since the 2011 Boxster Spyder is the most minimalist version of the Porsche and the Tesla has a slightly more upscale interior than its Lotus Elise progenitor.

At nearly twice the price of the German, the Tesla offers tremendous performance but requires more effort to learn its limits in part because of the reduced feedback it offers. Nevertheless, St. Antoine in particular was surprised at how well Tesla’s “science experiment” works. When considered purely from a bang-for-the-buck perspective, the Roadster makes no sense compared to the Porsche, but to be fair, on-track performance has never been the Tesla’s raison d’etre anyhow. Check out the video after the jump.

Tesla photos by Brad Wood / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Video: MT pits Tesla Roadster Sport against Porsche Boxster Spyder

Video: MT pits Tesla Roadster Sport against Porsche Boxster Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sync/Lost [3bits.net] is a multi-user data visualization installation that allows users to become immersed in the history of electronic music. Starting from a complex timeline, user interactivity allows rhythms and sub-rhythms to merge into new sounds. The user interaction is accomplished with wiimote controls, wireless handheld pointers which are relatively easy to use and learn. The audible feedback is provided via wireless headphones.

The project’s objective is to create an interface where people can explore all the connections between the main styles of electronic music through both visual and audible feedback. The interaction with the resulting network graph leads to “a collective consequence in the spatial visualization of information”.

Via Visual Complexity.

The House Oversight Committee accused the NHTSA under Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood of being a ‘lap dog’ to the automakers; an accusation which LaHood vehemently denied. “On my watch we have been a lapdog for nobody,” LaHood said. “We’ve been a lapdog for the people who drive cars and want to safely. That’s who we have been a lap dog for.”

Reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles was brought to the attention of the NHTSA as early as 2007 by the State Farm Insurance Agency. LaHood agreed with the assertion that Toyota acted less than expeditiously to the concerns raised by, among others, the NHTSA.

Also a point of contention, is the issue of former employees of regulatory agencies going to work for companies that they previously regulated; a practice that Toyota has indulged in.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: CNNMoney

A Chicago man was convicted Wednesday of robbing a pizza delivery man at gunpoint in Aurora two years ago, prosecutors said.

Sean N. Lewis, 26, of the 100 block of South Longwood Drive, was found guilty of armed robbery, a Class X felony, following a two-day bench trial in front of Kane County Circuit Judge Thomas E. Mueller.

The robbery happened about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26, 2008, as the victim delivered an order of sandwiches and pizza to an address on the 300 block of Liberty Avenue.

Authorities said Lewis handed off the food to another person, then paid for it with a $100 bill. When the delivery man went to make change, Lewis pulled out a .380-caliber Beretta handgun and robbed him, according to prosecutors.

By law, Lewis faces an enhanced prison term of 21 to 45 years at sentencing March 31 because he possessed a firearm in the commissioning of a crime.

Assistant State’s Attorney Scott Schwertley credited Aurora police for a “thorough investigation and follow-up,” which led to Lewis’ capture and the recovery of important evidence.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Dallas police weren’t exactly cheering after reading how they supposedly handled searching for gear reported stolen over the weekend by a group of Buffalo Grove-based cheerleaders.

Dallas police spokesman Kevin Janse said Wednesday officers continue to investigate and “exhausted every avenue” in trying to locate the gear.

Speaking for the first time to the Daily Herald, Janse said it struck a nerve when he read that cheerleading coach Jeff Siegal said police didn’t follow a tip on where the missing bags were because they said that neighborhood was too dangerous.

“That’s a flat-out lie; an officer isn’t going to say that,” Janse said. The assertion that officers didn’t want to enter a dangerous area is “almost comical” as “police officers get paid to do dangerous things,” he added.

Two groups of cheerleaders from California also reported their bags stolen from the Dallas Convention Center, Janse said. The local cheerleaders, who practice at Ace Athletics in Mundelein, reported nine bags stolen from behind the stage while they were competing Saturday at the National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship.

After the theft was reported, one of the girls called police and said her credit card had been used. She also used GPS to track her missing cell phone to a Dallas intersection. But Janse said when Dallas police arrived at the intersection, the suspects and bags weren’t there.

Siegal stood by his previous comments Wednesday and said Dallas police never returned his phone calls. He praised NCA, which purchased bags to replace the ones stolen.

“The NCA was the only help for us down there,” he said.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Chicago has the best hot dogs in the world! – BC

   <<< Click & Watch    

Aspiring hot-dog-cart entrepreneurs learn the science of steaming a bun at Vienna Beef’s Hot Dog University – Crain’s Chicago Business – has text and video

PS – this is my favorite hot dog, Lucy.  She assists me as editor of this blog.

According to a report by AutoCar, AMG will develop its own version of a new entry-level Mercedes-Benz coupe, previewed by the F800 Style concept that will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Sources say that the car will be an entry-level model that will compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R and the Audi S3.

The move is a part of AMG’s efforts to attract younger customers to the high-performance brand, providing Mercedes-Benz with an image-boosting model for the U.S.

The report says that the model will use a turbocharged 2.0L direct-injected 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and an all-wheel-drive system. Output is rumored to come in around 300-hp with a peak torque of 220 lb-ft.

The all-wheel-drive system will be shared with the new BLK, a compact SUV that will compete with the X1.

Click here to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz F800 Style.

Mercedes-Benz F800 Style Concept:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Ford

One of the common, angry refrains that veteran 24 Hours of LeMons teams voice is the fact that the $500 junker series keeps increasing the safety requirements, especially when it comes to roll cages. After all, their cage passed the tech inspection last time, no problem. Why the hassle, man?

It can be safely assumed however, that the driver of the Ford Escort ZX2 sees no problem with tighter, tougher (and yes, safer) LeMons roll cage requirements. First and foremost, the driver walked away from the wreck (it took place at last weekend’s Gator-O-Rama 2010 race near Houston, TX) with zero injuries. Second of all, the following video is a very good lesson in why your wheels shouldn’t stick out past your car’s fenders. Sadly, the AMC Gremlin that the Escort climbed up isn’t visible. However, you can see a little piece of its side wing airborne in the image above. Watch the video, after the jump. Thanks to DrWife for capturing the footage!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 24 Hours of LeMons Ford Escort ZX2 flips out

Video: 24 Hours of LeMons Ford Escort ZX2 flips out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged brings the adventure home

After a week with the Sport Supercharged, Range Rover has managed to defy both physics and logic with its 510 hp luxo-ute.

Geneva Preview: Lotus formally introduces Evora 414E Hybrid

When Lotus does a hybrid, you know the crew from Hethel will do it right. And with the Evora 414E, they’ve managed to squeeze both power and fuel economy into one svelt sports car concept.

GM announces Hummer sale cannot be concluded, brand to be wound down

The Chinese government has snubbed the sale of Hummer to Sichuan Tengzhong, forcing GM to order the wind down of the brand.

Also of interest:

• First images of new 2011 Porsche Cayenne dribble onto information superhighway
• Rear-drive Hybrid Lexus IS, V10-powered GS F on the way?
• Abarth 500C and Punto Evo are pocket rockets we’d welcome
• Lexus and Hummer top 2010 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study
• Mansory tunes Rolls-Royce Ghost, beats it with gilded ugly stick

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 2.24.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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has a list – White House Considering New Steps to Delay Home Foreclosures: Sources – By Peter Barnes – FOXBusiness

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The Building Bubble in China – By Michael Forsythe and Kevin Hamlin – Much of China’s stimulus money was spent on skyscrapers, spurring fears of a real estate bust – … Rodman figures about half of the city’s commercial space is vacant, and to prove it he keeps a slide show of 55 empty office buildings in the Chinese capital on his computer. There are an additional dozen, he says, that he hasn’t had time to photograph.  … – hattip to Mr. M – BusinessWeek
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80% Of Today’s Delinquent Homeowners Will Lose Their Houses — 6 Million In All – Henry Blodget – Money Game at Business Insider

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Fewer People Falling Behind on Home Loans – Reuters – … However, the delinquency rate for mortgages on one-to-four-unit residential properties fell to a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.47 percent of all loans outstanding as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, down from 9.64 percent in the third quarter but up from 7.88 percent in the same quarter a year earlier, the MBA said in its National Delinquency Survey. 
"This drop in the delinquency rate is good news and shows that the problem may not get much bigger. But it is still a big problem," Jay Brinkmann, MBA chief economist told Reuters in an interview. … – CNBC

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Some Homeowners Overly Cynical on Home Property Values: Zillow – by AUSTIN KILGORE – … According to the quarterly survey, one in five, or 20%, of the 2,200 homeowners surveyed believed their property value increased during 2009. That’s the lowest percentage in seven quarters.  “Homeowners are finally succumbing to the notion that, in most areas, declining home values over the past year are no longer the exception, they are the rule,” said Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries. . – HousingWire

read this – Basically, It’s Over – By Charles Munger – A parable about how one nation came to financial ruin. – Slate.com

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How Long, To The Point Of No Return? – David Merkel – Alea posted a paper, and The Big Picture a slideshow on sovereign debts, by the same author. (<has links) … The main point of the paper is that we are past the point of no return in most major nations, without significant changes that would diminish living standards for some time. Add the implicit obligations to the explicit debt, and there is quite a mountain to climb.  Defaults are coming, the only question is what nations will default. – more thoughts at – The Aleph Blog

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CPI Number Reported INTENTIONALLY INCORRECT? – Carl Denninger – … Rather, it is virtually certain that this "reported" value was in fact intentionally false, and the persons doing so were too clumsy to "fix" the evidence behind it so that it would "add up." … – Market Ticker

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Wealth Disparities Approach the Levels of the 1920’s – This graph was an eye opener for me (not that I should be surprised): – has more comments – Housing Time Bomb

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The Pain in Spain – By John Mauldin –
Germany, Greece, and Spain; Two Views on the Euro; The Pain in Spain
How Much Is Too Much?  – … and to close, I want to show a chart from today’s Wall Street Journal, from a column by Daniel Henninger. … This is the definition of an unsustainable path. Spending has grown 7 times as much in real (inflation-adjusted) terms as median household income over the last 40 years … -  Thoughts Form The Frontline

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huss1   Notes on a Difficult Employment Outlook – John P. Hussman, Ph.D. – … Moreover, the share of employed individuals who are employed full time has also dropped by 3 percentage points, resulting in a significant contraction of employment activity. Even this would not be a difficulty had we not also vastly expanded the debt burden on the average family since then. … Simply put, current employment levels are incongruous with servicing existing levels of household debt. … – Hussman Funds
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Loans Beat Bonds for First Time in Four Years: Credit Markets – By Emre Peker and Alan Goldstein – Leveraged loans are outperforming high-yield, high-risk bonds after lagging behind the last four years as the Federal Reserve takes steps to withdraw the unprecedented amount of cash it pumped into the economy. – Bloomberg BusinessWeek

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Don’t Panic over China’s US Treasuries Sales – by Philip Bowring – … However, this thinking both grossly exaggerates the degree of leverage that China has through its treasury holdings, and invents a political driver behind what was most probably a technical adjustment, not a fundamental change in China’s reserves policy …  more thoughts – Asia Sentinel

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Audi, Rumormill

The Audi R8 Spyder was introduced at Frankfurt with a stonking V10 powertrain nestled snugly in its boot, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the righteous 525-horsepower mill will be the R8 droptop’s only source of power. Our West Coast friends at Inside LIne insist that the more reasonable 4.2-liter V8 that powers the “base” R8 is going to be offered as well… eventually.

The availability of a V8-powered Spyder could drop the price of entry by $30,000 or more, and it could prove to be an attractive option to potential customers who are more interested in the R8 Spyder as a fashion statement than as a near-supercar with outstanding performance. IL estimates that a V8-powered, topless R8 could arrive in showrooms sometime next year.

Who knows, perhaps Audi will find it in its collective heart to utilize the updated, better-breathing 450-hp 4.2-liter that is scheduled to arrive under the bonnet of the RS5 – not a bad consolation prize for a luxury car buyer looking to become part of the 500 Horsepower Club.

[Source: Inside Line]

V8-powered Audi R8 Spyder in the pipeline? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the last few weeks there’s been all this talk about some site called PleaseRobMe that uses Twitter’s API to post the Tweets of people (mainly using location “check-in” service Foursquare) announcing that they’re “not home.” The site claims it’s just “raising awareness” of the potential hazards of announcing your location — though, plenty of people have pointed out that a more effective way of seeing that someone is not home is watching them leave in the morning. But this sort of moral panic over location information is not new. Consumerist points us to a fun post at Waxy that highlights two similar stories from decades past. First, there’s the fear from 1983 that answering machines would alert people to the fact you weren’t home (as if just not answering the phone wouldn’t?). The second is from 1977, and suggests people not publish funeral or wedding announcements in the newspaper, since that alerts potential burglars that you’ll be out as well.

The thing is, if a burglar wants to find out if you’re out, there are lots of ways to do that, outside of modern technology. Fearing that this is one more way to do so doesn’t seem particularly productive.

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