Author: Serkadis

  • Global Warming Climate Change – A Second Hand Car Whose Wheels Are Falling Off

    Two more stories today on how the wheels are falling off this Global Warming/Climate Change debate.

    This first new story is from the Times in the UK, and mentions how some of the experts are now backing away from their earlier claims.

    The second story is also from the UK, this time from the Mail, and it details how the data used as proof may have gone missing, so now we’ll just have to take their word for it. They are also beginning to mention that there may have been periods of time in the Earth’s earlier history when ‘Warming’ occurred, and it may not have been induced by man.

    THE GLOBAL WARMING/CLIMATE CHANGE CAR

    When it originally came out, it was a shiny new car.  They called it Global Warming. It didn’t sell very well at the start, but then hundreds of ‘experts’ came on board to tell us how good it was. It started to become popular, and when the people started to actually buy it, politicians then scrambled aboard the bandwagon, because there was something in it for them. Those experts now saw those Government people in a different light. The Government people then threw all sorts of cash at those experts in the way of Government grants to tell them more about how good this new car really was. Those experts then saw all that money, and how easy it was to get hold of, so they told those Government people exactly what they wanted to hear, and wonder of wonders, more Government money flowed to them, for as long as they said what those Government people wanted to hear.

    They then released a new upgrade of the original model with a new paint job, and they gave the new model a new name, Climate Change. More experts then said just how great this new model was, and more and more people started to buy it. This new model even ran on renewable fuel ….. no old fossil fuel for this shiny new car.

    Some people didn’t think this new car was much good, and they tried to tell people to hold on a minute. Those experts and Government people saw the danger in this, and used every method known to man to shout them down, calling them names and sneering at them, and telling the people that those speaking against this new car were just trying to live in the past, and in fact were actually trying to destroy the Planet we were all living on because they didn’t see the wonder of this shiny new car, and how great it really was.

    Some of those urging caution tried vainly to get the idea across that the whole premise this new car was based upon was bogus. They also mentioned that the new fuels they were running on were unreliable, didn’t work anywhere near as well as those older fuels, and in fact could leave Climate Change car owners in trouble if that fuel was not available when it was needed the most. The new fuels were also vastly more expensive than the existing fuels.

    These people also were howled down as more and more experts came on board. In fact, those experts were awarded wonderful awards and prizes for extolling the virtues of this new car, the thinking being that these awards would further enhance the belief that this new car was indeed really good.

    Now we are finding that, while the new car still looks nice and shiny, the wheels are starting to fall off. The engine doesn’t run very well on those new fuels, and a lot of the stuff those experts told us about how good it was might not have been correct, and in fact some of the things they said may have been based on data that was invented, or misconstrued, artfully explained, and now lost.

    For those of us who have urged caution all along, this comes as no consolation. There’s no glib smugness here. The task we have now before us is not to sit back and say I told you this car was a turkey.

    No! We need to keep pressing hard to highlight that the car was a turkey when it was introduced, is still a turkey now, and no matter how much it is dressed up with shiny new paint, the wheels are still falling off.

    Global Warming is a fact. There has always been Global Warming, and even Global Cooling. The Climate will always change, and has done through many extremes in the history of the Planet. The World will warm and cool in the future as it always has previously.

    However, Global Warming/Climate Change is not now, never has been, and never will be caused by the emissions of Carbon Dioxide, the absolute tiniest of trace gases in the Atmosphere around us all.

    Global Warming/Climate Change is a car whose time has passed. It needs to retired.

    It was nothing but an Edsel, only slightly different. The Edsel only looked like a turkey. It still ran okay. This Climate Change car will not run at all without any wheels, a dud engine, and fuel that is marginal at best for efficient running.

    Filed under: Blundering Bureaucrats, Climate Alarmists, Climate Change, Conniving Politicians, Environment, Environmental activists, Fanatics, Fear-mongering, Fraud/Waste, Global Warming, Humor, Liberals, Lily-Livered Liberals, Limp-Wrist Liberals, Political Prostitutes, Politics, Power Hungry, Propaganda, Public Opinion, Satire, Spine Donor Politicians Tagged: Climate Change Fraud, Climate Change Religion, Climategate, Global Warming Alarmism, Global Warming Hype, Satire

  • Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011

    Filed under: , , ,

    2011 Buick Regal – Click above for high-res image gallery

    General Motors of Canada has confirmed that production of the 2011 Buick Regal will kick off at its Oshawa assembly plant in the first quarter of 2011. That move has been assumed long before the Regal was even confirmed as an addition to the North American product lineup when a GM-CAW document listed production of a mid-size sedan to be added to the plant.

    General Motors will bring back up to 700 laid off workers to staff a second shift on the flexible manufacturing line at the plant east of Toronto. The front-wheel drive Regal will be built on the same assembly line as the hot-selling Camaro. About the same time as Camaro production begins, GM will also add production of the new Camaro convertible. Initial supplies of the Regal will be coming from the Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany when it goes on sale this summer.

    Gallery: 2011 Buick Regal

    [Source: General Motors ]

    Continue reading Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011

    Buick Regal, Camaro convertible production to launch in Oshawa plant Q1 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Just When I Started to Waiver on the Death Penalty…

    Two stories this week reaffirmed that some people are just not fit or deserving to live in this world.

    The first took place in Vegas. And is so horrific it makes my heart hurt.

    Harold E. Montague, 33 and married with two children, took a two and a half foot “medieval-style battle ax” an stabbed his mentally disabled sister-in-law more than 20 times in the torso, stomach and legs. He was her “caregiver.”

    The he left the house and proceeded to attack a random woman walking down the street with her 4 month old baby. The mother has been hospitalized with “disfiguring face and head injuries” and the baby boy was found dead near the overturned stroller. He was finally subdued with a Taser and arrested.

    He hacked to death a 4 moth old baby and severely maimed the mother that was taking blows to her face with an ax to protect her son. He needs to die.

    The second took place here in Pennsylvania and involves another mentally challenged woman (who was 30 but said to have the mind of a young teen) Jennifer Daugherty.

    This story is a bit more convoluted and this horrific crime that involves more than 33 hours of torture was perpetrated by a gang of six social misfits/rejects/outcasts (whatever word you prefer).

    “They shaved her head and smeared her face with nail polish. They forced Daugherty to drink and eat urine, detergent, medication, spices and vegetable oil. They beat her with a towel rack, a vacuum hose and a crutch. They wrapped Christmas lights around her. Knight stabbed her in the chest, side and neck, an affidavit said. Smyrnes told police he cut her in the wrist. The suspects implicated each other in the murder, police said.

    Knight and Smyrnes stuffed the victim into a trash can and dragged it a few blocks to the parking lot of Greensburg Salem Middle School, police allege. It was found about 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

    Police said they are working to determine how the six lives twisted together to end in murder…” (source)

    One of the 6 is only 17…so he can’t receive the death penalty. But anyone that could conceive of these deranged things and then execute them. Anyone that could watch another human being suffer for that many hours. That human being doesn’t get the privilege of existing in this civilized society. All five should get the death penalty and the 6th life.

    I want the cases to be airtight. I want there to be irrefutable DNA evidence. I don’t want even the possibility of an innocent person wrongly convicted. But once the case is set in stone I want each of these sub-humans to meet their maker…ticket courtesy of my tax dollars.

  • Incumbents Blocking Broadband Stimulus Efforts Because They Don’t Like Competition

    Back when the $7.2 billion broadband stimulus plan was announced, we were a bit worried that it was really just a bailout plan for incumbent broadband providers. The focus of the plan was on “shovel ready” projects in an attempt to create jobs, and that generally meant incumbent providers who could hire a lot of people. The last thing the government wanted to do in the middle of a recession was help fund an innovative startup that would disrupt a big employer. But there was one interesting aspect of the stimulus package: it suggested that anyone taking the government money would have to share access to infrastructure — something that makes a lot of sense, if you’re encouraging competition.

    But, of course, the incumbents don’t want competition at all. They’ve based their entire business models on the very lack of competition in the marketplace. So, it quickly became clear that they would not only resist taking any of the money, but they would actively seek to block upstarts from taking it as well. And… that’s exactly what appears to be happening. lavi d points us to the news that lots of smaller companies are applying for the federal funds, and (surprise, surprise) the incumbents are not applying for the funds at all, but are drafting legislation in various local governments to prevent any upstart competitors from getting those funds. So, not only is it not stimulating the creation of jobs, it’s not really providing much more broadband or competition.

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  • Toshiba TG02 – TG01 goes capacitive

    BARCELONA, 15th February, 2010 – Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd, Mobile Communications Division, today debuts two new mobile handsets for the first time at Mobile World Congress 2010. Expanding Toshiba’s mobile handset range, the TG02 and K01 will offer capacitive touchscreens and fast internal processors, joining Toshiba’s highly successful TG01 Windows® phone, which launched in 2009. Toshiba’s drive to lead innovation in the mobile arena will also be showcased with the display of new mobile technologies, combined with a first-hand demonstration of its multi-screen solutions.

    Two new handsets added to Toshiba’s mobile range
    The TG02 builds on the super-slim form of the Toshiba TG01 Windows® phone, and is the ideal device for users who demand high-quality entertainment on the go. Sleek in design, the TG02 features a wide 10.4cm (4.1″)[i] VGA capacitive touchscreen, offering a fast, responsive user experience, while the same internal image tuning technology as used on the TG01 delivers rich, high-quality visuals in a slim (9.9mm1) and portable device – making it ideal for viewing movies and images while on the move.

    A newly designed and highly-intuitive 3D menu system on the TG02 makes it easy for users to browse though the handset and access a range of entertainment features. Based on the very latest Windows Mobile® 6.5 platform, the TG02 enhances the user experience with its quick and easy operation. An internal 1GHz[ii] processor also makes the TG02 an ideal device for internet browsing, enabling users to quickly access and load websites or stream content.

    New Toshiba technologies at the Innovation Hub
    As well as showcasing the new additions to its mobile line-up, Toshiba will be displaying a range of new mobile technologies in a special area within the Toshiba stand called the Innovation Hub.

    The Innovation Hub will display a range of software solutions developed by Toshiba to improve the mobile user experience. Visitors will be able to see a range of new technologies for the very first time, including the mobile implementation of Resolution+ image tuning technology fostered from Toshiba’s REGZA TVs. Re-developed for Toshiba mobile handsets, Resolution+ improves video playback by analysing image definition and intelligently upscaling video quality to offer a sharper, clearer and richer viewing experience.

    Another key development which will be showcased at the Innovation Hub is LCD Control – a technology that ensures users can get the same high-quality images with no loss of contrast in difficult lighting conditions. For example, when using a mobile in bright sunlight, the reflection and effect on image contrast often makes using a handset for viewing videos and images difficult. LCD Control boosts contrast detail to levels that are unaffected by the bright lighting, providing a hassle-free way to check messages, write emails or even watch videos under daylight conditions.

    Toshiba will also be demonstrating Voice Translation – a helpful programme that uses Toshiba’s Speech Recognition, Machine Translation and Speech Synthesis technology to translate different languages[iv], synthesize back into a voice and repeat back in real time, without the need for an internet connection. Originally developed for Toshiba notebooks, Voice Translation is an ideal tool for international business use or holidays, allowing users to communicate easily using their mobile phone, wherever they are in the world.

    More Toshiba laptops and netbooks with embedded Mobile Broadband
    Toshiba’s new line-up of Mobile Broadband-enabled laptops will also be showcased, including new versions of its recently announced 25.7 cm (10.1″) Toshiba mini NB300 and mini NB305 netbooks, featuring embedded Mobile Broadband modules. The availability of a mobile data connection with data rates up to 7.2 Megabit per second[v], together with an outstanding battery life of up to 11 hours and a light weight of only 1.33 kg, make these netbooks ideal as highly portable companions. In addition, Toshiba is also debuting Mobile Broadband-ready versions of the recently unveiled professional laptops targeted at small offices and companies, medium businesses and large enterprises: the Tecra M11, A11 and S11, and the ultra-slim Satellite Pro T110 and Satellite Pro T130. For consumers, Toshiba offers the Satellite T110 and Satellite T130 with embedded Mobile Broadband.

    Toshiba’s multi-screen solution makes sharing media easier than ever
    As well as debuting a new mobile line-up and showcasing it’s latest mobile broadband laptops and netbooks, Toshiba will also be demonstrating first-hand its vision for a world of multiple interacting devices that will allow users to share photos, music and movies across different screens at the touch of a button.

    The Toshiba Media Controller (TMC) software allows users to stream content across connected multimedia devices with ease, regardless of screen size. Users can share media from their handset to a PC, notebook, or television, and vice versa across a network (whether a home network, enterprise network or WLAN), using the easy to set-up device. Toshiba is committed to offering users a connected world, where devices are used together to form a simple, effective media offering regardless of screen size.

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  • Toshiba K01 made official, spots 4.1 inch OLED capacitive screen, QWERTY slider

    TOSHIBA DEBUTS NEW HANDSETS AND LEADING MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AT MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2010

    · Toshiba previews wide-screen TG02 entertainment phone and K01 with sliding QWERTY keyboard

    · Fast 1GHz processors and wide, high-quality capacitive touchscreens on both handsets

    · Toshiba’s latest laptops and its vision of multiple interacting devices demonstrated first-hand on the Toshiba stand

    · New mobile technologies, including Resolution+, LCD control and VoiceTranslation showcased at Toshiba’s Innovation Hub, Hall 8, Stand 8A111

    BARCELONA, 15th February, 2010 – Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd, Mobile Communications Division, today debuts two new mobile handsets for the first time at Mobile World Congress 2010. Expanding Toshiba’s mobile handset range, the TG02 and K01 will offer capacitive touchscreens and fast internal processors, joining Toshiba’s highly successful TG01 Windows® phone, which launched in 2009. Toshiba’s drive to lead innovation in the mobile arena will also be showcased with the display of new mobile technologies, combined with a first-hand demonstration of its multi-screen solutions.

    Two new handsets added to Toshiba’s mobile range
    The TG02 builds on the super-slim form of the Toshiba TG01 Windows® phone, and is the ideal device for users who demand high-quality entertainment on the go. Sleek in design, the TG02 features a wide 10.4cm (4.1″)[i] VGA capacitive touchscreen, offering a fast, responsive user experience, while the same internal image tuning technology as used on the TG01 delivers rich, high-quality visuals in a slim (9.9mm1) and portable device – making it ideal for viewing movies and images while on the move.

    A newly designed and highly-intuitive 3D menu system on the TG02 makes it easy for users to browse though the handset and access a range of entertainment features. Based on the very latest Windows Mobile® 6.5 platform, the TG02 enhances the user experience with its quick and easy operation. An internal 1GHz[ii] processor also makes the TG02 an ideal device for internet browsing, enabling users to quickly access and load websites or stream content.

    Joining the TG02 at MWC is the impressive new K01 – a stylish, powerful and easy to use media device optimised for mobile messaging. Featuring a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that makes typing easy and comfortable, the K01 also offers Toshiba’s first-ever Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) capactive 10.4cm (4.1″)1 wide-screen – providing bright colour, contrast, lower power consumption and faster response times than ever before. The K01 also features super-slim design, measuring 12.9mm1 front to back, making each handset portable and stylish in equal measure.

    The new user interface lets users quickly browse to their favourite features, saving time and making the mobile experience more enjoyable. The K01 also features a fast 1GHz2 processer and storage can be expanded up to 32GB[iii] using microSDHC cards, allowing users to store their favourite movies, music and games with plenty of room to spare.

    New Toshiba technologies at the Innovation Hub
    As well as showcasing the new additions to its mobile line-up, Toshiba will be displaying a range of new mobile technologies in a special area within the Toshiba stand called the Innovation Hub.

    The Innovation Hub will display a range of software solutions developed by Toshiba to improve the mobile user experience. Visitors will be able to see a range of new technologies for the very first time, including the mobile implementation of Resolution+ image tuning technology fostered from Toshiba’s REGZA TVs. Re-developed for Toshiba mobile handsets, Resolution+ improves video playback by analysing image definition and intelligently upscaling video quality to offer a sharper, clearer and richer viewing experience.

    Another key development which will be showcased at the Innovation Hub is LCD Control – a technology that ensures users can get the same high-quality images with no loss of contrast in difficult lighting conditions. For example, when using a mobile in bright sunlight, the reflection and effect on image contrast often makes using a handset for viewing videos and images difficult. LCD Control boosts contrast detail to levels that are unaffected by the bright lighting, providing a hassle-free way to check messages, write emails or even watch videos under daylight conditions.

    Toshiba will also be demonstrating Voice Translation – a helpful programme that uses Toshiba’s Speech Recognition, Machine Translation and Speech Synthesis technology to translate different languages[iv], synthesize back into a voice and repeat back in real time, without the need for an internet connection. Originally developed for Toshiba notebooks, Voice Translation is an ideal tool for international business use or holidays, allowing users to communicate easily using their mobile phone, wherever they are in the world.

    More Toshiba laptops and netbooks with embedded Mobile Broadband
    Toshiba’s new line-up of Mobile Broadband-enabled laptops will also be showcased, including new versions of its recently announced 25.7 cm (10.1″) Toshiba mini NB300 and mini NB305 netbooks, featuring embedded Mobile Broadband modules. The availability of a mobile data connection with data rates up to 7.2 Megabit per second[v], together with an outstanding battery life of up to 11 hours and a light weight of only 1.33 kg, make these netbooks ideal as highly portable companions. In addition, Toshiba is also debuting Mobile Broadband-ready versions of the recently unveiled professional laptops targeted at small offices and companies, medium businesses and large enterprises: the Tecra M11, A11 and S11, and the ultra-slim Satellite Pro T110 and Satellite Pro T130. For consumers, Toshiba offers the Satellite T110 and Satellite T130 with embedded Mobile Broadband.

    Toshiba’s multi-screen solution makes sharing media easier than ever
    As well as debuting a new mobile line-up and showcasing it’s latest mobile broadband laptops and netbooks, Toshiba will also be demonstrating first-hand its vision for a world of multiple interacting devices that will allow users to share photos, music and movies across different screens at the touch of a button.

    The Toshiba Media Controller (TMC) software allows users to stream content across connected multimedia devices with ease, regardless of screen size. Users can share media from their handset to a PC, notebook, or television, and vice versa across a network (whether a home network, enterprise network or WLAN), using the easy to set-up device. Toshiba is committed to offering users a connected world, where devices are used together to form a simple, effective media offering regardless of screen size.

    Via Engadget.com

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  • Cities Freaking Out Over The Fact That Government Housing Intervention Might End One Day

    Foreclosure Stockton

    The government’s response to the housing bust has been to double down on the same policies that got us into trouble in the first place.

    Since the crash, there’s been a push to make money even cheaper, and to expand programs that allow people with little money to buy homes.

    Shockingly, considering how ugly the housing market remains, these efforts have probably mitigated economic pain somewhat.

    And as such, there’s already a freakout over the possibility that the government will withdraw its support measures.

    The New York Times profiles Elkhart, Indiana, a city Obama has already visited twice.

    A few years ago, only one in 10 buyers in Elkhart used the housing agency program. Now about half do. Across the country, the agency has greatly expanded its reach so that it now insures six million mortgages.

    “There has been all kinds of help for housing. I’m not unappreciative,” said Barb Swartley, president of the Elkhart County Board of Realtors. “But you can’t turn real estate into a government-sponsored operation forever.”

    So, what kinds of buyers in Elkhart are taking advantage of government largesse?

    The programs favor first-time buyers, who have the fewest resources to bring to a deal. Heather Stevens, a 23-year-old nurse here, is closing on a three-bedroom house this week. Since her loan was insured by the Federal Housing Administration, she had to put down only 3.5 percent of the $74,900 purchase price.

    “It was a breeze to get approved,” she said.

    The sellers are covering her closing costs, which agents say is often the case here. That meant Ms. Stevens had to come up with only the $2,600 down payment, which still took all her savings.

    But the best part is the $7,500 tax credit. She will use that to remodel the kitchen. “If it wasn’t for the credit, we would have waited to buy,” said Ms. Stevens, who is getting married this year.

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • Anonymous' Project Freeweb to Take to the Streets in Australia

    Australia’s Internet censorship plans are starting to generate some well-deserved backlash and the issue is getting more and more attention as the government moves further with the goal of blocking anyone in Australia from accessing content it, arbitrarily or not, deems inappropriate.

    Last week, several government website… (read more)

  • Banker Caught Watching Nude Pics on Live TV

    65E589BA-37A9-433B-87DD-ABE79F776226.jpg

    When we published photos of Miranda Kerr nude in GQ magazine, we knew they were hot. But apparently so did a banker in Australia who was caught checking out the Miranda Kerr pics in the background (that’s him in the upper left there) while his boss gets interviewed on TV. Now we’re not saying he’s looking at Just A Guy Thing, but you never know.

    To make matters worse, the dude turns towards the camera at the very end, so all the world – including his wife- can see exactly who he is. Now a word of warning: if you’re going to check out sexy photos on Just A Guy Thing or any other website don’t do it at work, and especially don’t do it at work if you might be caught on national TV doing it. Just a helpful tip.


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    1. Miranda Kerr Nude in GQ
    2. Your Thanksgiving Mantelligence Briefing

  • MWC 10: Microsoft’s stand before the press conference.

    Here is some pictures from Microsoft’s Mobile World Congress stand. Obviously Windows Mobile 7 has not been announced yet, so nothing big yet, but the Toshiba TG02 did make an appearance. Also to the left is the Toshiba KG01. If this is related to the Toshiba K01 it is quite a monster, with a 4.1 inch capacitive screen and QWERTY keyboard slider, running WM 6.5.

    Stay tuned for more from Mobile World Congress.

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  • Spain Begs Markets To Stop Comparing It To Greece

    Greek bling

    Spanish officials are battling to kill off unflattering comparisons to the embattled Greek economy.

    Unfortunately, while some of Spain looks better than Greece in many respects, it still has substantial problems — notably 20% unemployment and a budget deficit at 11.4% of GDP. (With union challenges to spending cuts just like in Greece)

    Moreover, fighting to change market perception doesn’t say much about their confidence. If your debt is truly secure then you don’t need to jawbone, thus this just makes us more worried:

    AP:

    Spanish officials argue they are better off in several respects. National debt as a proportion of GDP — 66 percent this year and peaking at 74 percent in 2012 — is well below the EU average and far under Greece’s 113.4 percent for 2009.

    Spain’s Socialist government rejects suggestions that the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy, which had posted budget surpluses and robust growth as recently as 2007 but has suffered dearly following the collapse of a real estate bubble, has a debt mess similar to Greece’s, which has driven down the euro and shaken the European Union.

    But Spain did see fit to dispatch a team led by Finance Minister Elena Salgado to London and Paris last week to meet with ratings agencies and investors in an effort to explain Spain’s deficit-reduction plans and restore its credibility.

    And at times the government has looked on the defensive.

    Last week it sent Brussels a document that raised the possibility of lowering most Spaniards’ retirement pensions by changing the way it measures their working life. Amid a furious outcry from unions, hours later the government literally erased that paragraph from the document, saying it was not a firm proposal but rather an accounting simulation.

    Read more here >

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  • A Boombox You Could Wear on Your Sleeve

    1FE201AC-6B96-49D8-9760-505F2EA65345.jpg

    Coming in somewhere between science and art, the Future Mobile Device is an intriguing design concept for next generation MP3 players. Designed by Mac Funamizu the device is a transparent strip worn around the wrist that doubles as a watch.

    56221B17-EE8E-44E8-B39F-49B60FF2AF4A.jpg

    C0A58E39-E881-4A3B-B5F7-AED3B08F930F.jpg

    Even the headphones are cool looking:

    6F8C9E00-CBCA-4A38-BB40-B0428DCF4EA6.jpg

    The Future Mobile Device is just a drawing at this point, but here’s to hoping some daring electronics manufacturer will make it real. Hey Apple – instead wasting everyone’s time with the iPad, create one of these gizmos.

    [via Behance.net]

    Related posts:

    1. A Stereo Headset that Vibrates with the Music
    2. Preview of the New Zune HD
    3. The Get Smart Shoe Phone is Now a Reality

  • Goldman: Here’s Five Trends That Guarantee A Weak Recovery

    flood(This post originally appeared at the author’s blog)

    The latest from Goldman’s Chief Economist, Jan Hatzius, is not exactly a ringing endorsement of the stock market.  Hatzius says the recovery is likely to continue to be very slow and that unemployment is likely to spike higher in the near-term accompanied by little to no inflation. 

    Hatzius claims that the second half recovery in 2009 was entirely driven by the stimulus and inventory restocking.  In other words, it is nothing to get excited about as neither are sustainable trends.   What concerns Hatzius most going forward are 5 continuing negative trends:

    1.  Continued saving by households

    2.  Weak labor income

    3.  Fiscal drag from states and local governments

    4.  Vacant homes and unused industrial capacity resulting in low private sector investment

    5.  Limited credit availability

    Although the labor markets are showing signs of improvement in recent weeks Hatzius sees a continuing “jobless recovery” and persistent weakness into 2011.  He is calling for a climb in the unemployment rate from the current level of 9.7% to 10.5%.  He continues to believe inflation will remain well below trend and that the Fed is on hold for the remainder of 2010 AND 2011.

    Based on this data Goldman is now calling for just 1.5% growth in GDP in the second half of 2010.

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • MWC 10: Is this Windows Mobile 7?

    Spotted under a poster, this Windows Mobile handset sports an interface unlike any other we have seen so far.

    Quite simplistic, it bears some resemblance to the pinned albums in the ZuneHD user interface.

    We should know more very soon.

    See more pics at HTC-HD2.org


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  • Activist Investor Carl Icahn Gives Up On Yahoo, Selling Down His Massive Stake (YHOO)

    carlicahnap031909After accumulating a massive stake as an activist investor, it looks like even Carl Icahn has lost faith in Yahoo:

    Cnet:

    The billionaire investor had just under 12 million shares of Yahoo at the end of 2009, according to the new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. That compares with more 60 million shares he held last summer.

    Two years ago when Microsoft was attempting an acquisition of Yahoo, Icahn amassed a huge stake in the Internet pioneer. When Yahoo turned down Microsoft’s offer, Icahn started a proxy fight and sought to oust Yahoo’s board in order to influence the deal. In the end, he reached a settlement that placed him and two others of his choosing on the board.

    Read more here >

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  • Google Features 2-in-1 Olympics and Valentine's Day Doodle

    It was bound to happen sooner or later, Google’s growing obsession with custom logos, aka doodles, to mark special events and celebrations has reached a point where it had to choose between two major occasions to feature on the homepage.

    Since the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics kicked off a couple of days ago, Google has… (read more)

  • The Latest Advances in Hair Loss Treatments

    hair_sm

    This post is sponsored by Revivogen.

    Are you seeing more of your hair swirl down the drain every time you take a shower? We lose 60 to 100 hairs every day, but if you’re going bald chances are you’re losing even more than that. Yes, it’s a bummer, but no – it’s not time to panic quite yet.

    Hair loss happens to millions of guys – about 50 million men, to be exact – but there are more options now to stop the progression of your hair loss and even regrow some of your lost hair than ever before. Before you run and and grab the first product you see on the shelf of your local pharmacy, it’s helpful to dispel a few hair loss myths.

    Hair Loss Myths

    Some shampoos and cleansers claim that by opening up your hair follicles’ pores you’ll grow more hair. Sounds good, except for the pesky fact that clogged pores lead to ingrown hair, not hair loss.

    Another myth is that poor circulation causes hair loss. Nope. If you get a hair transplant the hair grows in the bald areas which supposedly have poor circulation.

    Think you can regrow your hair using nutritional supplements? Sorry – even healthy, well nourished individuals can still lose hair and adding supplements does not grow it back.

    The Causes of Hair Loss

    For most guys hair loss is a genetic condition, so if you’re going bald you can thank your mom or dad. Ninety five percent of all hair loss is inherited and it can start any time after puberty. About half of us will suffer from some degree of hair loss by the time we reach the age of 50. Depressing statistics, I know.

    follicleBut inheriting the hair loss gene is not a bald sentence on its own. To trigger the hair loss gene you need DHT – which is the more potent form of testosterone produced by both men and women after puberty.

    DHT turns on the hair loss genes that result in follicles to producing shorter, thinner hair. After a few years the follicle eventually dies out and is replaced with scar tissue. Once the follicle is gone only hair transplantation can grow hair in the bald areas so the sooner you treat your hair loss the better chance you have for success.

    Available Treatments

    There are lots of hair loss products on the market, probably the best known of which is Rogaine (Minoxidil). Rogaine activates the hair follicle into growth phase, but it can have side effects like headaches and reduced blood pressure. There are many products on the market under various names that have Minoxdil as the active ingredient in them.

    These products will have the same benefits and side effects as Rogaine so don’t be fooled by fancy names that sell for a few times the price of Rogaine but contain Minoxidil. One major drawback of Rogaine is that it does not block DHT, the main culprit of hereditary hair loss. So for best results Rogaine should be used along with a DHT blocker.

    Propecia is another medication for treatment of hair loss and this works by reducing DHT production over your entire body. Again, though, there are sometimes rare side effects, one of which is decreased libido. Yikes! Also, you need a doctor’s prescription to get Propecia.

    revivogenRevivogen is a natural product formulated by board certified dermatologist Alex Khadavi, MD. Revivogen utilizes natural ingredients that are proven to reduce DHT production and stimulate the follicles like Propecia and Rogaine. Less DHT means your hair follicle growth cycle is activated and you start to produce longer, thicker hair.

    According to the folks at Revivogen, the product has a success rate of 88%, similar to Rogaine and Propecia, without systemic side effects. It takes about 60 to 90 days to stop your hair loss and about a year and a half to see maximum improvement.

    Revivogen is certainly not a miracle cure. It only works for hereditary hair loss and it will only grow back the hair you have lost in the last 3 to 5 years. You also have to use it daily for 18 months and keep using it 3 to 5 times a week to maintain results. But if you are looking for a natural hair loss treatment without the side effects, Revivogen could be a good option.

    We’ve got a special deal for Just A Guy Thing readers. Cruise on over to Revivogen and pick up a three month supply of Revivogen Scalp Therapy plus 1 shampoo and conditioner for $89.00 with free shipping. The regular price is $119, so you’re saving 15% just for being smart enough to read this far. The offer is valid for first time customers and is one time only. The product comes with a 90 day money back guarantee, so go ahead and test it out.

    For more info or to order the product, go to the Revivogen website.

    photo credit (top): broma

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  • AutoblogGreen for 02.15.10

    Quick Spin: Ford Transit Connect Electric a good sign of things to come
    Urban delivery drivers have a lot to look forward to with this van.
    Class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Prius, Lexus hybrid owners
    Here it comes.
    Smart uses hot dog costumes, street gamblers to lure customers
    Because this is what you think about when you think about the Fortwo, right?
    Other news:

    AutoblogGreen for 02.15.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

  • Greek Polls Show Massive Resistance To Any Form Of Financial Discipline

    greece strike

     Greeks have little confidence that their government can push through necessary spending cuts without facing massive public opposition:

    Business Week:

    Eighty percent of people questioned said they see more protests in the next two to three months, Kathimerini newspaper reported. The survey, published yesterday, was conducted Feb. 4- 9, after Prime Minister George Papandreou announced an increase in fuel taxes and a higher retirement age to tackle the deficit.

    In the poll of 1,042 people by Public Issue pollsters, 52 percent of respondents said they believe Greece is moving in the right direction, compared with 57 percent in January. The poll has a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points.

    In a separate poll by Proto Thema newspaper, also published yesterday, 65 percent of those surveyed said the deficit measures were necessary. Still, 41 percent said the government’s efforts won’t be sufficient to meet its budget targets.

    While on paper Greek and European leaders may think that they can cut spending, reality could prove to be much different. In the end money has to come from somewhere if Greece can’t cut spending. So get ready for a game of chicken between Greek unions and European leaders who would need to foot the bill in the even of a true Greece bailout. Germany could be forced to pay for cushy Greek government jobs.

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • MWC – Microsoft’s hotel before the battle

    Here are some pictures of Microsoft’s hotel before their press conference later today.

     Garden conference room where the Microsoft conference will take place – it was used for breakfast at that time.

    Arne Hess from theunwired.net and Dieter Bohn from WMExperts.com

    Stay tuned for more from MWC.

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