Author: Serkadis

According to John Cafaro, director of design for Buick and Chevrolet, Buick is currently undergoing what Cadillac went through.

“Cadillac said: ‘What we are doing is not working. Our customers are dying off. We have to carve a new image.’ That is where Buick is right now,” Cafaro said. He said that General Motors is now considering adding a coupe to Buick’s lineup just as Cadillac did with the CTS Coupe.

“A coupe is definitely where you say, ‘I’m back,’” Cafaro said. He said that a coupe would make a strong statement for Buick “and a statement means it is going to be the flagship. All the design cues and everything would drive themselves down into all Buicks.”

Get pricing on the all-new 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

So far, five new models have been approved to give Buick its makeover. The redesigned 2010 LaCrosse went on sale last fall and will be joined by the 2011 Regal later this spring. A small, unnamed sedan is expected in 2011 and will share the platform with the Chevrolet Cruze. The Buick Enclave is due for a redesign and a new small crossover is also in the works. The ugly Lucerne will be dropped in a year.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Smartphone sales have skyrocketed in the past years and continue to grow, spurred in no small part by the popularity of the iPhone. The largest traditional smartphone maker, catering more to business oriented users, RIM (Research in Motion, maker of the popular BlackBerry phones) has been keeping up in terms of sales but is falling behind when it c… (read more)

It looks like we’ll finally get to see more of Sony’s PS3 motion controller next month. A session called “Introducing the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller” has been confirmed for GDC 2010.

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Porsche, Beijing Motor Show

Starting in May, fans of the big four-door gran turismo from Porsche will be able to opt for a more affordable and fuel efficient variant. The V6-powered Panamera and all-wheel-drive Panamera 4 will debut on April 23 at the Beijing Motor Show before going on sale worldwide a few weeks later. The new non-S and non-turbo variants are propelled by an updated 3.6-liter V6 engine that is also shared with the Cayenne and various other vehicles within the sprawling Volkswagen Group.

For the Panamera, and presumably the new Cayenne that debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks, the V6 now produces 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That’s a bump of 10 hp and 22 lb-ft from the V6 in the current Cayenne. All V6-powered Panameras get Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual clutch gearbox with drive torque going to the rear axle or both axles in the case of the Panamera 4. Like V8-powered Panameras that have been on sale since last fall, the V6 versions also get automatic start-stop. EPA fuel economy numbers won’t be available until closer to the on-sale date in the U.S., but the German press release quotes a combined rating of 25.3 mile per gallon (U.S.) for the rear-drive model and 24.5 mpg for the all-wheel-drive model. U.S. numbers will probably be about 3-4 mpg lower thanks to the more conservative test procedure used by the EPA.

In addition to lower operating costs, the V6 Panamera will also be less expensive to buy. The rear-drive model starts at $74,400 with the Panamera 4 carrying a base sticker of $78,900.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Panamera V6 and AWD Panamera 4 will bow in Beijing

Porsche Panamera V6 and AWD Panamera 4 will bow in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even though the United States was the first country to get the Lexus brand (in 1989), the luxury Toyota brand will be ditching us with the upcoming Lexus CT 200h. Scheduled to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March, Inside Line has learned that stateside consumers are unlikely to see the new compact hybrid.

“There are no plans, at present, to bring this vehicle to the U.S.,” Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister said.

Guess we’ll have to stick with the Lexus HS 25oh for now.

Click here to get pricing on the 2010 Lexus HS 250h.

The Lexus CT 200h, which is based on the LF-Ch Concept, will be equipped with the second-generation Lexus Hybrid Drive technology. More details will be released next month.

2009 LA: Lexus LF-Ch Concept:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Kap Shah – egmCarTech.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Inside Line

Novartis licenses alisporivir, a new drug that is currently in Phase IIb development for the treatment of Hepatitis C.

Novartis licenses Hepatitis C drug

Feb. 9, 2010

By Steve Goldstein

LONDON (MarketWatch) — Novartis /quotes/comstock/13*!nvs/quotes/nls/nvs (NVS 53.73, +0.02, +0.04%) /quotes/comstock/06p!novn (CH:NOVN 57.80, 0.00, 0.00%) said it has licensed Debio 025, or alisporivir, a potential first-in-class antiviral agent currently in Phase IIb development for the treatment of hepatitis C. Debio 025 is the first in a new class of drugs called cyclophilin inhibitors which could become part of the future standard of care for the disease.

Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/novartis-licenses-hepatitis-c-drug-2010-02-09

A Mokena woman was charged Monday with murder in the brutal stabbing death of her elderly mother.

Gaye Wern, 57, came into Mokena’s police station at 1:45 p.m. Monday and confessed to killing her 89-year-old mother, police Cmdr. Chris Surdel said.

Police executed a search warrant at Wern’s mother’s condominium in the 19500 block of 116th Avenue and found the woman dead in her bathtub with multiple stab wounds in the torso, Surdel said.

Wern was being held at the Will County Jail late Monday night on one count of first-degree murder and was expected to appear today for a bond hearing at the county courthouse in Joliet.

Surdel said the mother’s identity was being withheld Monday night until other family members were notified of her death.

Despite Wern’s confession, the reason for the slaying remained unclear Monday night, police said.

“Detectives said they questioned (Wern) on two different occasions, and they cannot pinpoint a motive,” Surdel said.

He said Wern previously lived elsewhere in Mokena but had been living with her mother at the condo for about six months.

Mokena police, evidence technicians and officials from the Will County coroner’s office spent much of Monday evening combing through evidence in the home in the Pheasant Ridge condominium complex.

A van from the Mokena Emergency Services and Disaster Agency blocked off the entrance to the complex, while authorities could be seen moving around the second-story condo in the back of the complex.

Some Pheasant Ridge residents said Monday night that while they didn’t know the 89-year-old woman well, she was a pleasant neighbor.
“She was a very friendly person whenever I talked to her,” Ron Kuchar said.

John Scanell, a 25-year resident of the complex, said he rarely saw the woman outside of her home other than her trips to the mailbox.
“She usually had Christmas lights on her garage,” he said.

The murder is the second in the quiet suburb in less than a year. In May 2009, 18-year-old Keith Randulich was charged with stabbing to death his 4-year-old half sister, Sabrina Clement. He’s in the Will County Jail awaiting trial.

Authorities said at the time that it was the first murder in Mokena in 25 years.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Not so fast, drivers.

A group of bills pending before the Illinois General Assembly is looking to put the brakes on red light cameras throughout the Chicago area.

The proposals are seeking to limit or ban the use of cameras that snap pictures of motorists who ignore traffic signals.

“I want to stop the red light racket,” said state Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Barrington). “It’s completely unfair. It has nothing to do with a red light, it has to do with raising money.”

Duffy’s plan is one of a handful of proposals before the Illinois Legislature that deal with the use of controversial red light cameras.

Proposals range from imposing new limits on how the red light cameras are used to Duffy’s call for an outright ban anywhere except around railroad crossings and road construction.

Camera proponents say the cameras force motorists to slow down when approaching intersections and make travel safer by reducing crashes. Opponents, meanwhile, say the devices only serve to enrich local governments and endanger more people by causing drivers to brake quickly to avoid costly fines.

Red light cameras are already in use in a number of towns throughout the Southland, including Oak Lawn, Orland Park and Worth.

Duffy says he’s opposed to them because he believes they’re geared more toward bringing in money for local governments and the companies that operate the cameras than improving safety. Motorists who try to defend themselves also face an uphill battle, Duffy said.

“I get hundreds and hundreds of e-mails on this,” Duffy said. “You’re guilty until you prove yourself innocent.”

Dan Persky, an attorney for the Chicago-based Active Transportation Alliance, said his organization opposes any legislation that would limit or ban the use of red light cameras. Persky said they cause motorists to pay greater attention around intersections and increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers.

He’d like revenue from tickets to go toward improving road safety in areas that have the cameras in place.

“In order to reduce traffic crashes in general, we need to reduce speeds,” Persky said. “And we need cars to stop.”

Duffy’s plan is scheduled for a hearing this afternoon before the Senate Transportation Committee. He said he’s unsure of its prospects, but thinks people “are going to go nuts” if it doesn’t pass.

But Worth Police Chief John M. Scarpino said the cameras allow officers to focus on more pressing duties while maintaining traffic safety. He calls the cameras a “win-win” and opposes legislation to ban them.

Instead, Scarpino said he supports more uniformity in how the cameras are used.

Crashes have decreased at the Worth intersections that have the cameras in place, Scarpino said. And, at least in Worth, statistics show a reduction in the number of rear-end crashes since the cameras went up in 2008, he said.

Sworn officers review each alleged incident before a ticket is sent out, Scarpino said. The fine is $100 per ticket, Scarpino said.

“The program, from what I can see, is all positive,” Scarpino said. “We set out to reduce crashes and we did it just by having photo enforcement. It’s a sore spot for people because no one wants to get a ticket.”

But Hugo Blanco, of Palos Heights, said he felt the cameras are a “scam.”

Blanco, who was at a hearing Monday in Worth to protest a red light camera ticket, said he did not feel there were adequate warning signs at the intersection.

“This is a scam. They take the money from your pocket,” Blanco said. “They’re supposed to protect the people, not scam them.”

The village hearing officer ruled against Blanco, though, and now he plans to appeal the ticket to a judge.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Raymond James strategist Jeff Saut has been on top of his market-timing game, calling both the runup and the recent dip.

So you might want to pay attention to the fact that he’s licking his chops again, at least per his latest weekly call:

—-

We revisit The Great Blizzard of 1888 this morning because of the weather that has crippled the Northeast corridor over the past few weeks. Fortunately, communities are more capable of dealing with such storms today than they were more than a century ago. Still, the loss of productivity is likely going to be impactful in some of the upcoming economic reports.

That said, over the long weekend we studied the D-J Industrial Average (DJIA) chart from 1888 and found that March 11 – March 14 marked a bottom for the stock market. Also of interest is that today is session 18 in the envisioned “selling stampede” so often discussed in these missives.

For new readers, “selling stampedes” tend to last 17 to 25 sessions, with only one- to three-day counter trend rally attempts before they exhaust themselves on the downside. While it is true that some stampedes have extended for 25 to 30 sessions, it is rare to have one last for more than 30 days. Accordingly, we are getting increasingly interested in stocks again, and have been adding
names to our “watch list.” As for Dow Theory, which we have often been asked to comment on over the last few weeks, so far there is no signal, at least as we were taught to interpret it.

Indeed, for a “sell signal” to be generated it requires the following set up (as paraphrased by Mark
Hulbert):

1) The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Dow Jones Transportation Average must undergo a significant correction from joint new highs.

2) In their subsequent rally attempt following that correction, either one or both of the averages must fail to rise above their pre-correction highs.

3) Both averages must then drop below their respective correction lows. Therefore, the stage is set because the DJIA recorded its closing high on January 19th at 10725.43, while the DJTA hit its closing high of 4262.86 on January 11th. Their subsequent lows came simultaneously on February 8th at 9908.39 (DJIA) and 3792.89 (DJTA),
respectively.

Thus, if the two indices can rally back above their aforementioned “highs,” it would reinforce the Dow Theory “buy signal” generated last summer. If, however, they fail to better those highs, and then break below their February lows, a “sell signal” will be rendered. Regrettably, there is no way to anticipate such signals.

We tend to use Dow Theory for the strategic side of the portfolio (read: investing). To that point, the “buy signal” registered last summer remains in force until it is negated. Optimistically, we continue to believe that negation is not in the cards. Indeed, with credit spreads back below pre-Lehman bankruptcy levels, we think there is no reason why the downside vacuum created in the S&P
500 (SPX/1075.51) chart by said bankruptcy cannot be filled to the upside, especially given the improving fundamental backdrop, suggesting targets of 1200 – 1250. Driving that sort of pricing action has been explained in past missives where we have exhorted that the typical economic recovery cycle is for corporate profits to boom, driving an inventory rebuild cycle that fosters capital
equipment expenditures. As companies spend money on the capex, people are hired, and then consumption “reboots.” Importantly, hiring and consumption come on the backend of the cycle, NOT the front end.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Jeff Saut: Don’t Get Suckered By Friday, We’re Just Halfway Through The Selling Stampede
• Jeff Saut: We’re Just Half Way Through A Typical "Selling Stampede"
• Saut: Don’t Get Greedy And Buy This Dip

In pretty exciting news for HTC HD2 owners (amongst which I count myself as one).  The smartphone was spotted at Mobile World Congress running Windows Phone 7 series. (I only assumed this part, but it is not actually explicitly said in the source article)

Winmo.nl reports some very important information:

1. The device had a current copy of TomTom installed, which launched and ran perfectly fine! So much for no backward compatibility.
2. It ran fast, faster than the HTC HD2 runs on WM 6.5.
3. Lastly, the software was multi-lingual out of the box.

As mentioned earlier, this is great news for HTC HD2 owners.  Even if HTC never releases an official upgrade it will not be long before this ROM leaks.  In fact HD2 owners may end up running WP7 well before anyone else!

Read more at WinMo.nl here.

Thanks JVP for the tip.

Volkswagen has announced that it is offering three all-new 2010 special edition models at its dealer showrooms nationwide.

“Volkswagen constantly looks for ways of providing our customers special limited edition models that provide the opportunity of owning something unique,” said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “The CC R-Line, Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, and Red Rock Edition New Beetle demonstrate our brands ability to provide our customers something truly special.”

Our favorite of the trio has to be the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, because we’re fans of V-Dubs’ diesel lineup (you’ll find out later today why).

Get pricing on the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition.

Prices for the 2010 Volkswagen CC R-Line start at $29,590, while the Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition stars at $24,990 and the new 2010 Beetle Red Rock Edition starts at $20,390. You can learn more about each model in the press release after the jump.

2010 Volkswagen Passat CC R-Line:

Press Release:

Three All-New Special Edition Volkswagens Now Available in Dealer Showrooms

The 2010 CC R-Line, 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition, And 2010 New Beetle Red Rock Edition add performance and individuality

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced that three all-new 2010 special edition models are now available in dealer showrooms. The CC R-Line, Jetta TDI® Cup Street Edition, and New Beetle Red Rock Edition all build on the already great features of their standard versions, with unique elements and design cues exclusive to these special models.

The 2010 CC R-Line

Volkswagen’s CC is one of the most stylish and sporty coupe sedans currently available in the market today. For drivers who want a more aggressive look to match, the new CC R-Line comes outfitted with a number of visual enhancements for a decidedly sporty look. A body kit with side skirts and a new front bumper, including an integrated chin spoiler, give a more aggressive appearance. Special 18-inch “Mallory” wheels, R-Line badges on the front fenders, and smoked taillamps complete the exterior upgrades. Brushed aluminum door sills are added to the interior. The CC R-Line is powered by the highly acclaimed, performance-bred 2.0T engine, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission, or a six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG®) equipped with paddle shifters.

The 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

Born from the popularity of Volkswagen’s groundbreaking Jetta TDI Cup race series – now entering its 3rd season – and enthusiast demand for a race-inspired version of the popular Jetta TDI, comes the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition. Various modifications inside and out ensure the Street Edition is instantly connected to the TDI Cup cars racing on tracks throughout North America. The Street Edition offers the same full body kit found on the TDI Cup race cars with an aerodynamic front bumper, side skirts, and rear valance. Also included are 18-inch “Charleston” wheels with high-performance tires, larger GLI brakes with red painted calipers, and the European-tuned sport suspension from the GLI. Sport seats with Interlagos cloth, a leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel, and brushed aluminum door sills mark the interior. Volkswagen’s proven 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel engine makes 140 horsepower and 236 lbs.-ft. of torque, sent through either a six-speed manual, or a six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG®) transmission.

The 2010 New Beetle Red Rock Edition

The charm and passion of Volkswagen’s iconic New Beetle, which was unveiled at the 1998 North American International Auto Show, continues with the 2010 New Beetle Red Rock Edition. Only 750 of the custom coupes will be available, each with a unique, two-toned exterior comprised of Red Rock metallic paint and a painted black roof. An all black interior complements the overall color scheme, while select 17-inch wheels and a full sport suspension improve driving excitement out on the open road.

The 2010 CC R-Line (starting at $29,590), the 2010 Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition (starting at $24,990), and the 2010 New Beetle Red Rock Edition ($20,390) are all available now.

– By: Kap Shah

CHICAGO — A college student was arrested Valentine’s Day and charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing three shirts and a jacket worth $721 from Macy’s on State Street in the Loop, police said.

Quinn Albrecht, 21, 1725 W. Glenlake Ave., was charged at 4:07 p.m. Monday with felony retail theft, police said.

Albrecht was arrested at 6 p.m. Sunday at Macy’s at 111 N. State St. after allegedly stealing three shirts and a jacket worth $721 from the Loop department store, according to a police report.

The report said Albrecht told police he was a student at Loyola University of Chicago.

Belmont Area detectives are investigating.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

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Just click this line you’re reading, right here, right NOW – and feed your ears some happy thoughts and advice via my freebie JOY JOLTS!

If you enjoy my JOY JOLTS, feel free to post the link on FACEBOOK, or TWITTER – or pass on the link to your friends/family/crushes! It’s this link here: http://notsalmon.com/joy-jolts/

Happy day to you, dammit!

del.icio.us · Slashdot · Digg · Facebook · Technorati · Google · StumbleUpon · Yahoo

The folks over at Public Knowledge have officially unveiled their plan for copyright reform, focusing on five key areas:

1. strengthen fair use, including reforming outrageously high statutory damages, which deter innovation and creativity;
2. reform the DMCA to permit circumvention of digital locks for lawful purposes;
3. update the limitations and exceptions to copyright protection to better conform with how digital technologies work;
4. provide recourse for people and companies who are recklessly accused of copyright infringement and who are recklessly sent improper DMCA take-down notices; and
5. streamline arcane music licensing laws to encourage new and better business models for selling music.

Good stuff all around, though I’m not sure why statutory damages are dumped in with fair use, when it seems like they could be separate discussions entirely.

I think it’s great that Public Knowledge is pushing this (with the assistance, apparently, of the Stanford Cyberlaw Clinic and the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at the UC Berkeley School of Law), though of course the chances of this actually getting anywhere seem slim. But, as a conversation starter on an important topic, it’s a good first step.



So even if the chances of it going anywhere are slim, I’d love to hear from defenders of current copyright law the reasons why any of these particular reforms don’t make sense.

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CHICAGO — We may finally know who won the Republican nomination for governor by the end of the day Tuesday.

Tuesday is the deadline for counting absentee and provisional votes.

Election officials have five days to get the results to the state board of elections.

The primary race between State Senator Bill Brady and Senator Kirk Dillard has been too close to call.

• Watch Kirk Dillard on Good Day Chicago
• Watch Bill Brady on Fox Chicago Sunday

Brady is leading Dillard by just 420 votes. Dillard hopes the absentee votes narrow the gap, and he has not identified a threshold around which he would concede the election.

Both campaigns say they’ll follow the vote counts closely.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

Glen Ellyn – Stalled freight trains have delayed multiple Metra train Tuesday morning in the western suburbs.

Because of a stalled freight train in Glen Ellyn, Metra Union Pacific West Line commuters cannot board inbound trains at the Glen Ellyn station, according to Metra’s Web site.

Passengers going to Chicago should board westbound train No. 13 and exit at College Avenue. Train No. 22 will make an additional stop at College Avenue to accommodate passengers traveling to Chicago, Metra said.

Passengers can also board inbound trains directly at the College Avenue or Lombard stations.

On Metra’s BNSF Railway station, a stalled freight train in Western Springs means commuters cannot board trains at the Western Springs station, Metra said. Commuters can board trains from either Highlands or LaGrange Stone Avnue.

The duration of the service disruption is not immediately known.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

JOLIET, Ill. — Drew Peterson seemed to love the limelight in the year and a half between his fourth wife’s disappearance in late 2007 and his arrest in May for allegedly murdering wife No. 3.

In custody, Peterson languished alone in a jail cell, effectively cut off from the public by a judicial order limiting his calls to an approved list of his friends, family and attorneys.

That abruptly changed Jan. 19, when a parade of witnesses took the stand to talk about Peterson.

They recalled, among other sordid stories and accusations, how his last two wives lived in fear that he might kill them and make their deaths appear accidental, how he tried hiring a co-worker to do away with his third wife and of course, how he is considered by nearly everyone who knows him to be an inveterate “jokester.”

While “jokester” was about the best thing any of the 68 men and women called into court had to say about Peterson, the former Bolingbrook cop and serial marrier at least had the chance to grab the spotlight for himself once again.

This most recent star turn by Peterson is expected to end Wednesday with the conclusion of the 17-day hearing to determine what hearsay evidence will be allowed at Peterson’s upcoming murder trial.

Peterson’s attorneys will supposedly call a single witness to testify before facing off with prosecutors in closing arguments.

Peterson is charged with murdering Kathleen Savio, his third wife and the mother of two of his six children. Savio turned up drowned in a dry bathtub in March 2004.

State Police investigators quickly decided her death was an accident and closed the case.

State Police reopened their investigation when Peterson’s next wife, Stacy Peterson, vanished in October 2007.

She remains missing and the State Police believe Peterson may have had a hand in killing her, but have not charged him with harming her.

As part of the hearsay hearing, prosecutors are trying to prove Peterson killed Stacy to keep her from testifying against him at his murder trial.

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services