Author: Serkadis

Akio Toyoda is known for his intercultural awkwardness, and in preparation for next Wednesday’s congressional appearance, will be undergoing a series of intense preparation sessions, including a mock questioning in English to assess his comprehension. This is Toyota’s chance to augment what many perceive to be a major public relations flop in the wake of Toyota’s disastrous recalls. Toyoda has been criticized for his sluggish response to the crisis facing the company.

On the type of questioning Toyoda will be facing, Deborah Hayden of Kreab Gavin Anderson, a communications consultancy in Japan said the following: “They’ve got to be very careful. They’ve got to be very factual. The statements can’t be bland generalizations, they must be easily supported by facts — they’ll have a lot of lawyers looking at what he says.”

There is a strong need for Toyoda to speak honestly and sincerely, but he must be sure to balance this against risks incurred from taking legal responsibility. While PR consultants have advised that Toyoda communicate in Japanese, the decision has yet to be made. Toyoda is known to struggle when it comes to commenting in English.

Toyoda also came under fire in Japan for his body language; he bowed at the wrong angle, and some consultants are worried that he may have the same problem here with regard to eye contact. There is much for Toyoda to bear in mind and struggling with proper English grammar and annunciation in front of congress may be too much for him to handle at the moment.

-By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Reuters

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Hatchback, Acura

With Acura‘s decision to nix V8 power and rear-wheel drive in favor of new hybrid drivetrains, dealers are worried that the brand’s relentless pursuit of Tier 1 status – on par with Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz – may be threatened. But that’s not the real news.

Buried at the end of an Automotive News piece about a recent Acura dealer meeting was this gem:

“[Jeff Conrad, vice president of the Acura division] confirmed that Acura is considering a small car below the TSX sedan. The vehicle not only would compete against the BMW 1 series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 but also would help meet looming CAFE regulations.”

With the TSX‘s growth spurt, a smaller offering from the automaker could be in order, and judging by the competition, that could mean the rebirth of the RSX. Then again, Acura could pull a CSX (an upgraded Civic for the Canadian market) or maybe even a CR-Z-based offering. Judging by the choice wording, we somehow doubt the former is in the cards, but with Acura’s recent hybrid push, something with a gas-electric drivetrain seems likely.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Report: Acura considering small car below TSX originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nearly everyone is guilty of texting-while-driving, in at least some capacity. In order to combat this dangerous practice – 6,000 people died in 2008 due to distracted or inattentive drivers while more than 500,000 were injured – the NHTSA has prepared sample legislation for states to adopt what would authorize law enforcement officials to stop a vehicle and issue a citation to drivers who are observed texting while driving.

Under the proposed guidelines, drivers who are caught texting while driving face a minimum fine of $75.00 and action against their driving privilege. In those instances where a death occurs, the texting driver could possibly face felony charges. 19 states plus the District of Columbia already have anti-texting measures in place, while seven have banned the use of handheld devices while driving all together.

Regulators attribute the threat in texting while driving to the three-pronged distraction that is caused; visual, manual, and cognitive. NHTSA research also shows that the vast majority of texting-drivers are men and women under the age of 20; the least-experienced drivers.

The DOT offered their own guidance earlier this year in the form of a prohibition on texting while driving commercial vehicles, at the risk of civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.00. The federal government currently prohibits employees from texting while operating government-owned vehicles and equipment.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: CNN

One weekend left of the regular season, then it’s on to the 3 tournaments.  Thanks to everyone for sending in their scores.  Lots of good games, and a few blow-outs.  Good job, everyone.

BB Scores ending 2-20

Filed under: Motorsports, Australia, Racing

Ah, those Aussies, they never quit, do they? Ten years in the making, a fellow by the name of Jon Crooke has developed the Hyper PRO Racer, a so-called “Superkart” delivering massive power and minimum weight. Using a Yamaha 450 WR four-stroke motorcycle engine that runs through a five-speed sequential gearbox, the Hyper PRO weighs just 352 pounds minus the weight of a person tucked into the cramped driving position. That isn’t too much more than the enduro bike the engine is taken from.

The weight savings is courtesy of the superkart’s spaceframe, which also acts as an FIA-approved roll cage. Instead of building a frame that accessories would be mounted to with brackets, the superkart’s externals are mounted directly to a highly designed and minimalist chassis frame without additional hardware. Those externals include Ohlins aluminum-bodied race shocks, four-wheel cross-vented disc brakes with billet four-pot aluminum brake calipers.

The result, according to Hyper PRO, is a track runner that can lap a little faster than an Aussie racing car (not a V8 Supercar), a little slower than a GT Production car. But it beats them all for price: the track day Racer S is $29,500 Australian ($26,546 U.S.), the hillclimb Racer R is $35,500 ($31,947 U.S.). Follow the jump to check out video of the Hyper Pro Race in rather fast action, or have a slower look in the gallery below.

[Source: Hyper Pro Racer via Caradisiac (translated)]

Continue reading Hyper Pro Racer: Because the Ariel Atom really is a bit lardy, isn’t it? [w/video]

Hyper Pro Racer: Because the Ariel Atom really is a bit lardy, isn’t it? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 2.22.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We were just writing — yet again — about EMI’s short-sighted decision to block all embedding of Ok Go’s videos (even ones that the band produced entirely on their own). This is despite the fact that it was the widespread embedding of the famed treadmill video that helped Ok Go become as well known as it has — earning EMI a lot of money. Now comes the news of a “resolution” to the issue, as EMI will allow an Ok Go video to be embedded thanks to an as-yet-unexplained “sponsorship” by State Farm. While this shows, in some way, how different business models can step in and help pay for content, it worries me that EMI now seems to think a video needs to be directly sponsored to allow for embedding. Does EMI truly not understand that embedding is what helped Ok Go become so well known? There’s no reason why they couldn’t have allowed the regular embedding to remain and still have done a sponsor deal on top of it.

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Maserati announced today that it will debut a special edition version of the Quattroporte Sport GT S at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next month. Known as the Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition,” the special-edition version celebrates six years of the Quattroporte’s existence.

Based on the Quattroporte Sport GT S, the special-edition model gets a unique Quarzo fuso exterior color, chrome trims on the side air vents and radiator surround, 20-inch Multi Trident dark grey rims in satin finish and special Brembo brakes that for the first time get polished calipers. The interior also gets some touches with new Poltrona Frau leather seats with Alcantara touched, brushed aluminum door sills and Piano Black satin-finish wood moldings. The boot gets a full black trim finished in chrome touches and a leather side pocket.

All Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition” models will get a series-plate. Sales begin in the later half of 2010 as a 2011 model year.

Click through for the high-res image gallery.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition:

– By: Omar Rana

Cause of death for a man found facedown on a South Peoria street early Sunday may not be known for at least another week.

An autopsy conducted Monday on Kelvin Mosley, 44, of 1617 S. Stanley St. did not show any signs of trauma or determine a cause of death, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said.

“We believe cause of death may be revealed in toxicology testing,” Ingersoll said of results that will take 1 to 2 weeks to process.

Ingersoll said additional testing also will be done to determine if any underlying illness could have led to Mosley’s death.

Mosley was found lying in the street near his house by a group of teens about 1:45 a.m. Sunday. Mosley had no pulse, and he was pronounced dead at the scene about 45 minutes later.
 

Read the original article from Journal Star.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

A Cook County judge sentenced a 19-year-old Streamwood man to prison for six years Monday in exchange for his guilty plea to a July 2009 armed robbery he committed on the block where he lived.

Marcus Mallett, of the 1500 block of McKool Ave., and two other men approached the three victims, one of whom recognized Mallett as his neighbor, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Andre.

Mallett reportedly “chambered a round” and pointed the gun at the victims, taking from them wallets, money and cell phones, Andre said.

Police located Mallett, who was on probation for retail theft at the time, the following day, Andre said.

Mallett, who has been incarcerated in Cook County Jail since his arrest, received more than 200 days of credit for time served, Andre said.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Article Tags: ClimateGate, Lorne Gunter

Why does Climategate matter? Who cares whether the climate data on a computer at some obscure English university has been deliberately corrupted?

In one form or another, I have had to answer these questions from dozens of readers in the three months since thousands of e-mails and computer files were leaked from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia.

There are plenty of ways in which these disclosures have been crucial, but the principal change has been the uncertainty creeping into the remarks of former True Believers. Some of those who for years have insisted the science is ?settled,? are now admitting we don?t know all we need to before making trillion-dollar policy decisions.

Consider the remarks Phil Jones, the former head of CRU, made last week to the BBC. Prof. Jones, who has stepped down from his directorship of the CRU pending official investigations into the leaks, told the Beeb there has been no “statistically significant” global warming since 1995 – that’s the past 15 years!

Source: network.nationalpost.com

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Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Crossover, Mini

Mini will be debuting a new system dubbed Mini Connected at the Geneva Motor Show, which the brand describes as a new, exciting innovation in infotainment. However, we have little idea of what Mini Connected actually does beyond using “a newly developed USB interface whose unique functionality allows maximum integration of the iPhone into the in-car audio and infotainment system.”

We do know you can get web radio in your Mini now, and there’s Mini: Mission Control in which “vehicle-related signals are used to generate constantly changing, situation-dependent messages.” Other than that, Mini Connected will be launched as an option on the Countryman. We’ll have to wait until Geneva to bring you the rest, but you can make the jump to glean all you can from the press release in the meantime.

[Source: Mini]

Continue reading Mini gets Connected in the Countryman, doesn’t exactly say how

Mini gets Connected in the Countryman, doesn’t exactly say how originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GLENWOOD (STMW)  — Two south suburban men have been charged with allegedly operating a “mobile meth lab” out of their home and minivan.

Kevin Halter, 51, was arrested while driving the minivan from his Glenwood home Friday night. His roommate, George Wagner 56, was arrested later that night at their home, where more drugs and lab equipment were seized, according to a Cook County Sheriff’s office press release.

Bond was set at $75,000 for Halter on Sunday, while bond for Wagner was set at $50,000, the release said. Both men remained at the Cook County Jail on Monday.

County officers and federal agents spent the weekend going through their rental home before turning it over to the owners — who were notified it must be decontaminated before it can be rented out again.

Methamphetamine is made with a mixture of household chemicals and over-the-counter drugs, the release said. It is considered to be highly addictive and can be extremely volatile when mixed.

Halter was pulled over about a block from his home and in the back of his Nissan quest, with police finding 11.7 grams of methamphetamine, worth about $1,100, along with an ammonia tank, tubes, piping and glass, as well as several drugs and chemicals used to manufacture the drug.

Halter had spent three years in prison for methamphetamine charges out of Lawrence County, Ill. and had just been released from parole on Jan. 30, the release said.

He told investigators he works as a truck driver and sells his drugs to those parked at truck stops, but he also sells it to people from his home.

Investigators raided his Glenwood home and arrested Wagner, while also finding three more grams of methamphetamine, valued at $300. Additionally, police recovered more tanks, including restructured fire extinguishers and tubing to mix the chemicals.

Halter is charged with six felonies — unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia, unlawful participation in methamphetamine manufacturing, unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized container and unlawful use of property under the methamphetamine manufacturing act, the release said. Police also charged him with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia for a digital scale found in the minivan.

Wagner is charged with four felonies — unlawful possession of methamphetamines, possession of methamphetamine manufacturing materials, unlawful use of property under the methamphetamine manufacturing act, as well as unlawfully participating in methamphetamine manufacturing.

Both men will appear for a preliminary hearing on March 16 at the Markham courthouse.

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

ADDISON (STMW)  — A high school in west suburban Addison was evacuated Monday morning after someone found a bomb threat written on a piece of toilet paper.

Police responded to the Technology Center of DuPage, 301 S. Swift Rd., after the school notified police of a bomb threat, prompting the evacuation of the building, Addison Police Chief Tim Hayden said.

The threat was found written on a piece of toilet paper, according to Hayden, who said police scoured the school but did not find any evidence of a bomb.

The school operates as a technology-based high school by day and offers classes for adults at night, Hayden said.

Police had no leads or suspects and the incident remained under investigation Monday afternoon, Hayden said.

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

For anyone watching the Olympics lately (despite the efforts of NBC — really, NBC? Why air one of the most anticipated events of the games on MSNBC?! ), you may have seen this engaging Old Spice commercial where a man is magically transported from his bathroom, to a boat, and finally to a horse. The commercial was actually interesting enough for me to stop my TiVo and replay it twice when I first saw it.

The commercial itself has garnered over 2.5 million views on YouTube — and that’s just for the “official” version, there are many other accounts that have uploaded the commercial, which Old Spice has wisely not asked to be taken down (yet?). This serves as a fantastic reminder of a point that we’ve illustrated here before: advertising is content, and content is advertising. When you make a fantastic commercial like Old Spice did, not only do people actually seek out your commercial to see it, but they discuss it as well. I know personally that I have had no less than 10 discussions amongst my friends about the commercial. In fact, Leo Laporte’s video, where he interviews the creators of the commercial about how it was done, has gotten over 100k views.



The big question is, however, how effective this ad was for actually increasing the sales of Old Spice.

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Reasoning that a person who brings about a change in the law should be rewarded for his effort, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that death row inmate John Ward is entitled to a chance to prove that his state postconviction petition should be reviewed on the merits.

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Filed under: Performance, Wagon, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows, Luxury

BMW has announced the debut of the company’s latest generation 5 Series Touring, so rumors of the Touring’s demise may have been exaggerated. To be fair, the BMW 5 Series Touring was never going to go away altogether – not when it sells in big numbers in European markets. That said, BMW foresees its new double-hinged hatchback 5 Series Gran Turismo as cannibalizing the wagon’s already tiny sales in the U.S., so we don’t expect to see the new Touring model in American showrooms. The rest of the world can look forward to a new wagon that is lower, lighter and more of a looker than the hunchback on the other side of the showroom.

The world premiere of the new 5 Touring will take place at the 2010 Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig. Although no photos or details have been released, this fourth generation 5 Series station wagon will share a lot in common with the recently introduced F10 2011 5 Series sedan that we sampled in Spain last month. That means new engines, gearboxes, suspension architecture, rear-wheel steering, user-selectable adaptive drive settings, brake energy regeneration and another generation of iDrive, for better or for worse. We’ll get you more details and photos as they become available, in the meantime, make the jump for the official press release.

Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW confirms 5 Series Touring reveal for Leipzig

BMW confirms 5 Series Touring reveal for Leipzig originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Supreme Court seems willing to let a group of African American applicants sue the city of Chicago for discrimination for using test scores to decide who would become a firefighter trainee.

People who scored under 65 on the Chicago test were deemed unqualified. But the city only hired firefighter trainees who scored 89 and above.

The issue before the court Monday was whether the Chicago applicants waited too long to sue. People are supposed to sue within 300 days after an employment action they wish to challenge as unlawful.

The city says the clock started when it announced use of the test scores in 1996. But the applicants say a new act of discrimination happened each time the scores were used.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services