Even though it hasn’t been in the news much, the Tibet issue hasn’t gone away. And while this issue has come up from time to time in the past, the scenario was less sensitive and precarious.
There’s reason to believe that relations between the two countries are at a low point or, if you will, low considering how important the US-Sino relationship is to the global economy (and especially the citizens of the respective nations).
Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery
The hybrid drive system being used by Porsche in its new 911 GT3 R isn’t what you find in your average Prius or Fusion. Instead of a battery for energy storage, the 911 will use an electro-mechanical flywheel. The system being used was actually developed by the Williams formula one team and its Williams Hybrid Power subsidiary.
The system is comprised of an electrically driven flywheel and a motor/generator on the gearbox. During braking the gearbox mounted generator drives the flywheel to spin it up to 40,000 rpm. When needed for extra acceleration, the flywheel drives its integrated motor/generator to spin provide power back to the unit on the gearbox.
In the case of the 911, a pair motor generators are actually on the front wheels instead of the single unit on the gearbox as it was on the Williams F1 car last year. This provides more regenerative braking capability as well as all wheel drive.
The flywheel itself is made of a composite material that is infused with magnetic particles when it is being molded. This actually acts as the permanent magnet for the motor, helping to keep the overall weight down. The result is a very efficient system with less mass than a battery system and the ability to absorb energy more rapidly than a battery similar to an ultracapaitor. Like ultracapacitors the downside for automotive applications is limited energy storage capacity.
As a result, electric driving is limited meaning that this really behaves more like a mild hybrid system than a strong hybrid. However, the power output is closer to what is available from most strong hybrids. Williams Hybrid Power is working with a number of automakers on implementing its flywheel system although only Porsche has been publicly identified. Porsche’s has setup a microsite for its new Hybrid racecar, and for more details, make the jump for the release and a video explaining the system, along with two promo videos.
The 2010 Nissan Leaf ended its 3-month tour today in New York City after making 63 stops in 24 cities. Nissan announced today that it will begin taking firm orders for the Leaf electric-car in August in a single transaction that includes the battery.
Those interested can register for more information about the Nissan Leaf over at www.nissanusa.com. The reservation process will begin in April, shortly after Nissan announces pricing details of the Leaf. Registrants will be among the first in line to be able to order the Leaf with a fully refundable $100 reservations fee.
Nissan will then begin taking firm orders in August with deliveries to roll out in December 2010.
Hit the jump for the press release for more details on ordering the Leaf.
Refresher: Power for the Nissan Leaf comes from a 107-hp electric-motor that runs on power supplied by lithium ion cells. On a full-charge, the Nissan Leaf allows for a driving range of 100 miles with a top speed of 87 mph. A full charge takes up to 8 hours on a standard 200V outlet. Buyers can opt for the DC 50kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.
2010 Nissan Leaf EV:
Press Release:
NISSAN ANNOUNCES NISSAN LEAF PURCHASE PROCESS; GIVES FIRST GLIMPSE AT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour Culminates in New York
The Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour culminated today with an appearance in New York City. The three-month tour, which made 63 stops in 24 cities, offered the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving.
The tour helped pave the way for the 2010 introduction of Nissan LEAF, the world’s first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market, and leads up to the start of the vehicle-purchase process. The Nissan LEAF will be available to consumers via lease or sale, in a single transaction that includes the battery. Steps to acquiring a Nissan LEAF are:
* REGISTER: Interested people can register for more information about the Nissan LEAF on www.NissanUSA.com. To date, close to 50,000 people have registered on the website. Registrants will be given first priority to reserve a Nissan LEAF.
* RESERVE: The reservation process will begin in April, shortly after the announcement of the price of the Nissan LEAF. Upon paying a fully refundable $100 reservation fee, registrants will be among the first in line able to order a Nissan LEAF.
* ORDER: Nissan will begin taking firm orders in August, for deliveries when sales begin in the driver’s particular market.
* EARLY DELIVERIES: Rollout begins in select markets in December 2010, with vehicles available in all major launch markets quickly thereafter.
“The Nissan LEAF purchase process is effortless, transparent and accessible, offering value with a one-stop-shop approach for everything related to the car, including the assessment, permitting and installation of in-home battery charging units,” said Carlos Tavares, Chairman, Nissan Americas. “We want everyone to feel good about having a car that is affordable, fun to drive and good for the environment.”
Coinciding with this next phase of the Nissan LEAF launch is the debut of Nissan’s initial global marketing campaign, which is called “The New Car.” A first look at the campaign — which illustrates Nissan’s passion about the potential for zero-emission mobility and a better, cleaner world — was shown in New York as part of the culmination of the Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour.
The Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour covered 10,000 miles in the United States and Canada, providing the first opportunity for more than 100,000 people to see and learn about the Nissan LEAF first hand.
“There was a groundswell of grassroots support from coast to coast,” said Tavares. “Everywhere we went, people recognized a new form of mobility — a turning point — and they wanted to be a part of it. The response was spontaneous and diverse. We were joined by mayors and government officials, CEOs, utility partners, car enthusiasts, students, dealers, media, environmentalists, Twitter users and lots of families.”
Tour Highlights:
* Diverse tour stops, stretching from Stanford University to the Kennedy Space Center. Other stops included: Phoenix on New Year’s Eve, in conjunction with the Fiesta Bowl; Qwest Field in Seattle; the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland; and a charging-station-equipped McDonald’s in Cary, N.C. The tour also stopped at Nissan Americas in Franklin, Tenn; the Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing facility where the Nissan LEAF will be built starting in 2012; and Nissan Design Americas in San Diego. New York area stops include Madison Square Garden (Feb. 10), and upcoming public displays at the Time Warner Center (Feb. 12) and the Liberty Science Center (Feb. 13).
* Due to the high level of interest, Atlanta and Boston were added to the original tour schedule, bringing total cities to 24.
* Nearly 50,000 people have registered to receive information and learn more about the Nissan LEAF on www.NissanUSA.com as a result of the tour. Signing up online is the first step in the reservation and purchase process.
* Already, the Nissan LEAF has received more than 10 media and environmental awards, including the Green Car Vision Award, presented at the Washington Auto Show by Green Car Journal.
* The announcement of the closing of Nissan’s loan with the U.S. Department of Energy. The $1.4 billion loan will fund the modification of Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing plant to produce the Nissan LEAF and batteries to power it. Groundbreaking for the new battery plant will take place in May.
* The announcement of a joint commitment with Hertz, the world’s largest general market rental brand, to bring zero-emission mobility car rental to the United States and Europe in 2011. Hertz is developing a rollout of the Nissan LEAF at select rental sites in both major markets.
* Nissan announced that AeroVironment will supply and install home charging stations for the Nissan LEAF, creating a one-stop shop for the Nissan LEAF and its charging equipment.
* The tour reached all markets that are part of The EV Project, the world’s largest EV infrastructure deployment ever undertaken. The EV Project, funded by a $98 million grant from the Department of Energy and led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division of Ecotality, will provide an unprecedented number (6,510) of public charging stations across the 5 participating markets and will provide home charging stations for up to 4700 Nissan Leafs sold in those markets. The public stations will include both Level 2 (240V) and Level 3 DC fast chargers. The EV Project markets are Seattle, Oregon, Tennessee (Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga), Phoenix/Tucson, Ariz., and San Diego.
* The tour also served as the backdrop to announce newly established partnerships with Reliant Energy of Houston; the City of Orlando and the Orlando Utilities Commission; the City of Houston; and the State of Massachusetts. These agreements, like three dozen others globally, are designed to promote the development of an electric-vehicle charging network and policies to support the widespread adoption of electric cars.
* Existing partnerships furthered progress, taking steps like securing letters of intent for vehicle fleet purchases and the formation of working groups and task forces to foster the development of the electric-vehicle infrastructure, such as Oregon’s Governor’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Working Group. In North America, Nissan has spearheaded a holistic approach to zero-emission mobility by working with states, municipalities, utility companies and other partners, to prepare markets and infrastructure. Nissan has formed 18 partnerships in the United States, in areas including State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego and San Francisco in California, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Washington D.C., Seattle, with the City of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission, with Progress Energy in Raleigh, N.C., with the City of Houston and Houston-based Reliant Energy, with the State of Massachusetts. Nissan also has formed partnerships with Mexico City and Vancouver, Canada.
Nissan, along with alliance partner Renault, is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale.
Racecars at Chicago Auto Show – Click above for high-res image gallery
It isn’t so much “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,” here at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, maybe more like “Show on Sunday, sell on Monday.” While many manufacturers have their newest production cars on display here at McCormick Place, a number of them also dragged out their racecars to remind the public of their motorsports heritage.
Racecars are always a popular attraction at auto shows, and the ones here in Chicago are exemplary. There are dragsters, funny cars, and pro stockers for the quarter-mile fans, NASCAR stock cars, amateur racers, open wheelers, and even Le Mans runners. Mazda, Audi, Ford, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Acura, Honda, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mitsubishi and others are all here with stickered up and numbered racecars. You can see them all by clicking through to the gallery below.
Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you’re one of the 50,000 people that have signed up for updates on the NissanLeaf EV, you’re one step closer to purchase.
Nissan has announced preliminary details on the sale and lease of its all-new electric vehicle, outlining the steps necessary to get your hands on what the automaker is calling “the world’s first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market.”
If you haven’t done so already, you can register on Nissan’s website to ensure you’re on the list. After Nissan announces official pricing in April (which, for the record, includes the battery pack), you’ll be able to put down a refundable $100 reservation fee, with official ordering beginning in August. Early deliveries are set to take place in select markets in 2010, with the EV coming to “all major markets quickly thereafter.”
If you’ve already signed up, make the jump for the official release with all the details, along with the Leaf’s first promotional video.
You may not use or otherwise export or re-export the Licensed Application except as authorized by United States law and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Licensed Application was obtained. In particular, but without limitation, the Licensed Application may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Person’s List or Entity List. By using the Licensed Application, you represent and warrant that you are not located in any such country or on any such list. You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of nuclear, missiles, or chemical or biological weapons.
And, as Nate Oman notes:
Notice, as I read this clause not only are terrorists — or at least those on terrorist watch lists — prohibited from using iTunes to manufacture WMD, they are also prohibited from even downloading and using iTunes. So all the Al-Qaeda operatives holed up in the Northwest Frontier Provinces of Pakistan, dodging drone attacks while listening to Britney Spears songs downloaded with iTunes are in violation of the terms and conditions, even if they paid for the music!
That’ll show ’em…
Now wouldn’t that be a great lawsuit? Seeing Apple take those on the US terrorist list to court for breaking their iTunes terms of service?
What you see here is the first teaser picture of the Bentley Continental Flying Star by Touring Superleggera. The model, which will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, is a shooting brake version of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.
In a short statement released earlier this month, Touring said that the Continental Flying Star is “inspired by the success and the extraordinary characteristics of Bentley automobiles, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera of Milan, with the support of Bentley Motors Limited, developed and built a fascinating new coach built Bentley, faithful to its long tradition of Italian coach building.”
The conversion will be available with a 6.0 W12 engine from the GTC Speed. Only 20 units will be built according to buyers’ individual specifications.
One of the most mysterious places in Athens is rarely ever visited. This is in part because there is so much superstition surrounding the mountainside of Pendeli that even modern people are hesitant to explore it.
Pendeli Mountain is historically important because it’s where the marble for the Parthenon was quarried. The stone was then moved down to the city with an intricate network of carts and pulleys, and you can still see the tracks today!
But the most fascinating thing about the mountain is certainly Davelis Cave, named for the nineteenth-century brigand named Davelis. His band used this cave as a hideout, and legend has it that there was a maze of tunnels there which could take him all the way to the mansion of his lover—reputedly a French Duchess living in the village of Pendeli. (Unfortunately, this legend is not true.)
Inside the cave is a rare double Byzantine church built directly into the rock. One half is dedicated to St. Spyradon and the other to St. Nicolas. It was used by twelfth-century Christian hermits associated with the Gnostics. A bit deeper into the cave, an even older god was worshiped—Pan. Many artifacts excavated from the Pendeli cave depict Pan and his nymphs. These objects can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Athens.
The cave has been plagued with rumors and strange sightings, including electronics going haywire, water rolling up instead of down, and sightings of cat-like creatures walking on two legs. On the left wall, you can see the etchings of past travelers, including several nineteenth- and early twentieth-century English writers.
Should you visit the cave, you will need to arrange transportation, as there is no public means of getting past neo-Penteli village. But please be respectful: The cave has no guards or gates, so it is unprotected as of now. Some of locals and nature enthusiasts are wary of the comings and goings of visitors, however, due to vandalism and accounts of occult sacrifices.
The podium at the 2009 European Grand Prix – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has put together a new points system which has subsequently been adopted by both Formula One and the World Rally Championship. Starting with the 2010 seasons for both motorsport disciplines, the top ten finishers in each race or rally will earn points, instead of the top eight as in recent seasons.
The new system awards points on a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 basis. An earlier tweak to the system would have awarded 25 points to first place and 20 to second, but further consideration by both F1 and WRC opted instead to give race winners a wider point margin than second place in a bid to encourage drivers to push for the win instead of taking a calculated second place points finish.
The Sporting Working Group – billed as a think-tank within the FIA – reportedly also considered proposals for F1 to award points for fastest laps and pole positions, as well as another proposal to mandate at least two pit stops per race despite the ban on mid-race refueling. These proposals, however, were not approved.
[Source: Autosport | Image: Fred DuFour/AFP/Getty]
The HD2 seems to be taking Windows Mobile on its back because it seems that even Microsoft is giving one away. The contest is asking you “What would you do for an HD2”, which if you live in the USA is a slight rip of “What would you do for a Klondike bar.” The contest has some pretty simple rules, you must be a registered resident of the UK and most be 18 or older:
You will need to be a registered member of the Website. In order to register with the Website go to: http://www.twitter.com/ and follow the instructions.
Follow @windowsphoneUK via http://www.twitter.com/windowsphoneuk. To be eligible to win a prize you must state what you would do to win an HTC HD2 handset and include the hashtag ‘#iwantawindowsphone’ in your tweet, within the time period set out in paragraph 3 below. Any entries deemed to be offensive, abusive (including the use of profanity) or to contravene UK law will not be included in the competition. Users submitting such entries may be reported to the Website and/or the relevant legal authority.
We will track all hash tagged entries using the technology provided by the Website. You may only submit one (1) entry. Please do not spam your friends. Any entries received outside of the Entry Period set out in paragraph 3 below will not be eligible for the competition. Any entries received which are reported to violate any http://twitter.com/tos will not be entered into the competition.
Only one (1) entry per person will be accepted. If you enter the promotion using multiple accounts on the Website then you only your first submission will count. No purchase is necessary to enter the promotion. Entry constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Microsoft is not responsible for lost, corrupted or delayed entries. Microsoft reserves the right to disqualify anyone in breach of these Terms and Conditions.
If you have been looking for more ways to get your hands on an HD2, this could be for you.
Opel today dropped a teaser of a new concept car that it will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The concept “envisions many of the qualities the company is embracing as it moves forward: Coupling expressive, beautiful design with German engineering to meet the environmental challenges of tomorrow.”
The concept will feature the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera’s Voltec system. Opel said that the concept combines “green innovation and alternative propulsion.” It said that “the vision model is proof that size and comfort do not have to be sacrificed for a vehicle to be environmentally efficient.”
The Opel Voltec concept will be joined by the new Meriva, Ampera and Corsa.
Follow the jump for the press release.
Press Release:
Opel at Geneva: One premiere, one vision and loads of ecoFLEXiblity
Marching forth with the new Meriva, a concept car and proof of Opel’s green credentials
Rüsselsheim. Opel will excite Geneva Motor Show goers March 4 when it unveils the Meriva – a fresh, innovative, flexible champion for the monocab segment. Opel also will exhibit the company’s push to be a leader of environmentally responsible motoring with the debut of its futuristic concept car, the Opel Ampera extended-range electric vehicle and new Corsa, a fuel miser with up to 13 percent saving in fuel consumption.
“Opel is driving innovation and environmentally responsible propulsion in Europe and wrapping it in stylish, expressive design. All of that will be on display in Geneva,” says Alain Visser, Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Aftersales of Opel/Vauxhall.
Meriva: The flexibility champion
Innovative, versatile and elegant: The second generation Opel Meriva, to premiere March 4, will set the new standard for automotive versatility with a multitude of innovative features engineered to optimize the flexible use of space and packed in a distinctive, contemporary design.
The second generation Meriva offers clever, affordable, on-board flexibility. Its FlexSpace system has been further developed to become even more intuitive and easier to use. It also introduces FlexDoors, innovative rear-hinged rear doors that facilitate access to its cabin – a premiere for a volume manufacturer. Moreover, the new Meriva features great interior storage space enhanced by a revolutionary concept of flexible center console, as well as the Opel-exclusive FlexFix system – the integrated rear bicycle carrier that is stored like a drawer under the luggage compartment.
The Meriva’s flexibility trademark is enhanced by expressive exterior and interior styling that carries forward Opel’s award winning new sculptural design language already seen in the Insignia and Astra. The Meriva has the same Opel DNA, but its own personality: Its monocab silhouette is fluid, elegant and dynamic. The rear window graphic features a distinctive wave accentuating the rear-hinged FlexDoors, while also improving the view for rear seated passengers, particularly children.
The wide powertrain line up has been turbo-charged for efficient performance. The range offers a power bandwidth from 75 to 140 hp and will include a particularly economical ecoFLEX version. Naturally, it will come with a choice of 5- and 6-speed manual transmissions as well as a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Concept Car: Aspiring to a great future
Opel will premiere a concept car that envisions many of the qualities the company is embracing as it moves forward: Coupling expressive, beautiful design with German engineering to meet the environmental challenges of tomorrow. .
Combining design, green innovation and alternative propulsion, the vision model is proof that size and comfort do not have to be sacrificed for a vehicle to be environmentally efficient.
Opel Ampera: Showing off in Geneva
Another highlight of Geneva: the extended-range electric Opel Ampera. The five-door, four-seater Opel Ampera is on schedule to go into production late 2011. It carries the same design DNA as the Astra and the Insignia, Europe’s Car of the Year 2009, yet it uses a ground-breaking electric propulsion technology called Voltec.
Unlike other conventional electric propulsion systems, Voltec uses electricity as its primary power source and, later, gasoline as a means to generate electricity. This helps the Ampera overcome all issues related to the usual limited range of pure electric cars.
The Opel Ampera is just one part of Opel’s mission to be a European leader in alternative propulsions, using its expertise in innovative technologies and making them affordable.
New Corsa: The fuel miser
Part of Opel’s drive to make the world’s air cleaner, the new Corsa mid-cycle changes have reduced fuel consumption by up to 13 percent, yet without compromising on power or driving fun. The lively Corsa is not just a pretty car: It also offers customers the best quality. A recent report by Europe’s leading technical expert organization, DEKRA, rated the Opel Corsa as the best overall in terms of quality. In its 2010 report, the Corsa had the lowest defect rate of all vehicles tested.
The new Corsa offers a wide range of low carbon-emitting gasoline and diesel engines, including the 98g 1.3 CDTI engine Corsa ecoFLEX model. The powertrain line-up consists of a wide offer of gasoline engine from the 1-liter 3 cylinder (48 kW/65 hp ) entry level version to the turbo charged 1.6-liter on the Corsa OPC (141 kW/192 hp). On the diesel side, different versions of the 1.3 and 1.7 CDTI motors offer outputs ranging from 55 kW/75 hp to 96 kW/130 hp all with fuel consumption under 5 liters per 100 kilometers.
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture will receive an additional $209,000 in federal block grant funds next year to improve the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry.
The department intends to use the funds to award “mini-grants” that expand markets for fresh produce grown in Illinois and is encouraging specialty crop growers to submit a proposal before the April 30 application deadline.
More than $640,000 is available.
“I thank USDA for recognizing the importance of expanding access to nutritious, locally-grown foods and providing this funding increase,” Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said.
“The grants will raise awareness about the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available here and help consumers make food choices that improve not only their health, but also the health of their local economy.”
Proposed projects should accomplish one or more of the following industry objectives:
Increase child and adult nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops;
Ensure industry participation at meetings of international standard-setting bodies in which the U.S. government participates;
Improve efficiency and reduce costs of distribution systems;
Assist all entities in the specialty crop distribution chain in developing “Good Agricultural Practices,” “Good Handling Practices,” “Good Manufacturing Practices,” and in cost-share arrangements for funding audits of such systems for small farmers, packers and processors;
Invest in specialty crop research, including organic research to focus on conservation and environmental outcomes;
Enhance food safety;
Develop new and improved seed varieties and specialty crops;
Improve pest and disease control; and
Promote organic and sustainable production practices.
Projects that improve food access in underserved communities or expand local agricultural economies also are eligible for assistance. So, too, are advertising-related expenses to publicize farmers markets, as long as program requirements are met.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture will accept grant applications until 4 p.m. on April 30. Funds will be awarded early next year.
Application forms and instructions can be obtained on the department’s Web site at agr.state.il.us or by calling (217) 524-9129.
The number of farmers markets in Illinois has nearly tripled, increasing from 97 in 1999 to nearly 300 today.
Nationally, Illinois ranks first for its pumpkin production, and in the top ten in the production of many other specialty crops, such as asparagus, cauliflower, peas and lima beans.
Global warmists used to love talking about the weather.
It’s been a slow week for news because it’s been a big week for weather. The East Coast is covered in snow, and Time magazine blames global warming. No, seriously: “There is some evidence that climate change could in fact make such massive snowstorms more common, even as the world continues to warm.” The New York Times says the same thing, though two-sidedly: “The two sides in the climate-change debate are seizing on the mounting drifts to bolster their arguments.”
The Time story notes that climate is not the same thing as weather:
Ultimately, however, it’s a mistake to use any one storm–or even a season’s worth of storms–to disprove climate change (or to prove it; some environmentalists have wrongly tied the lack of snow in Vancouver, the site of the Winter Olympic Games, which begin this week, to global warming). Weather is what will happen next weekend; climate is what will happen over the next decades and centuries. And while our ability to predict the former has become reasonably reliable, scientists are still a long way from being able to make accurate projections about the future of the global climate
Editor’s Note: Students and community members will hold a Rally for Academic Integrity this Friday to demand a fair and full investigation of Climategate scientist and Penn State professor Michael Mann. Read the story below.
I am a sophomore at Penn State. Climategate is an embarrassment to my school, and to every student of Penn State. The university’s so-called “internal inquiry” into Michael Mann’s scientific misconduct concluded with the virtual exoneration of his behavior, and ignored key evidence in the Climategate scandal. In short, inquiry was little more than a whitewash—an assault on academic integrity.
The university’s internal review consisted of a mere three Penn State employees, who have strong incentives to protect the school’s reputation and the millions of dollars it receives from global warming research grants. There was no external oversight. The inquiry was set up in such a way that there was a conflict of interest. This is bad not just for science (which thrives on impartiality), but also for our university: even if the inquiry was thorough, Penn State’s reputation would still be stained simply by refusing to allow an outside investigation.
What’s worse, the review consisted of looking at a mere 47 emails (out of thousands in question), interviewing Mann, analyzing materials he submitted, and asking only two biased sources about his credibility. Penn State hardly conducted a “thorough investigation” of alleged wrongdoing by Mann.
The entry-level model in Aston’s range received some upgrades for the 2010 model year, including updated lights, sills, wheels, stereo and a cut to its carbon emissions. Now a crop of spy shots has been circling the intertubes showing another Vantage undergoing cold-weather testing.
Sources can’t pinpoint whether this is a V8 or V12 model. Judging by the lack of louvres on the hood, installed on the V12 Vantage to keep the big engine breathing in such a tight space, our money’s on the slant eight. If that’s the case, the V8 Vantage could be getting the diffuser from the V12 model. The rear lip spoiler has also grown, but it’s hard to tell much more than that.
A panel of independent experts has officially begun its inquiry into the “Climategate” affair.
The experts, headed by Sir Muir Russell, will investigate how e-mails from the UK’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) appeared on the web.
They will also consider if the e-mail exchanges between researchers show an attempt to manipulate or suppress data “at odds” with scientific practice.
But even before the panel could start work, one of its members resigned. Dr Philip Campbell, editor-in-chief for Nature journal, stood down late on Thursday because of remarks he had made last year in the Chinese media in which he said the scientists mentioned in the e-mails had “behaved as researchers should”.
Utah’s House of Representatives passed a resolution on Tuesday that implies climate change science is a conspiracy and urges the EPA to stop all carbon dioxide reduction policies and programs.
As a resolution, it holds no legal weight, but it sends a message from — and about — Utah’s lawmakers.
Among other things, the resolution claims there is “a well organized and ongoing effort to manipulate global temperature data in order to produce a global warming outcome.”
A last-minute amendment removed the words “conspiracy,” “gravy train” and “tricks,” but the statements remaining are still inflammatory, echoing the claims of conservative groups such as the Heartland Institute, Science and Public Policy Institute (SPPI), and Utah’s Sutherland Institute.
A group of Brigham Young University scientists were so disturbed by the wording of the resolution, HJR 12, that they wrote to the legislature last week highlighting several inaccuracies and urging the legislature to reconsider.
“Even if all the political solutions proposed so far are flawed, this does not justify politicians in attacking the science that indicates there is almost certainly a serious problem,” the scientists told lawmakers.
A sometimes compelling, often interesting, and always informative (with a brief analysis) wrap up of news and information brought to you courtesy of The Freedom Medium.
Analysis by Servaas van den Bosch WINDHOEK, Feb 11 (IPS) Countries are quietly signing up to the Copenhagen Accord, but commitments on emissions cuts and funding remain unclear.
"We have to decide by this Sunday whether we sign the Copenhagen Accord, or not. If we don’t, we have no access to the US$ 30 billion quick-startup fund," Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula told a gathering of businessmen in Windhoek at the end of January. "Perhaps we should just take it.’
Angula was wrong on the first point: faced with a less than enthusiastic response from the 194 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its executive secretary, Yvo de Boer, dropped the Jan. 31 deadline long before Angula’s predicament arose.
That nobody in the Namibian government seemed to be aware of this is revealing.
The second part of Angula’s statement, however, is on the money. Why, indeed, not "just take it"? As Angula reminded his audience, the Accord is not binding, nor does it require any action from developing countries.
The rushed "letter of association", sent out the next day by environment minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, made a vague reference to Namibia’s "abundant renewable energy sources" and its willingness to profit from "mechanisms available under the Kyoto Protocol".
The current number of Clean Development Mechanism projects or large-scale renewable energy initiatives in Namibia (zero), however, indicates policymakers are not rushing to put in mitigation or adaptation actions in place.
Africa not in accord
Ninety-four countries – about half of those present in Copenhagen – have endorsed the Accord one way or another, including the world’s top ten emitters. But a far lower percentage of African governments have submitted, with only 15 out of 53 African countries making Accord commitments so far.
At least half of the African governments that have signed on have high forest cover or significant reforestation potential, and their vote might be inspired by the wish to see a deal on REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) materialise sooner rather than later.
Eleven of the fifteen are least developed countries (LDCs), highly dependent on development aid. Still, that number accounts for just a third of the 33 LDCs in Africa. Notably absent – albeit probably for widely diverging reasons – are Africa’s oil-producing nations and small island states.
African commitments vary from South Africa's statement on emissions targets, to simple courtesy notes stating countries wish to be associated with the Accord, to letters from countries explaining that they are signing on only under protest.
"We note that a few areas need to be considered as we build this Accord to deliver a solid and legally binding agreement at COP16 that meets the world’s expectations for effective climate change action," writes Malawi. It reiterates the call for a maximum 1.5 degree temperature rise, more time to develop Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions and 1.5 percent of developed countries’ GDP in climate funding.
Sierra Leone reminds the UNFCCC that the Accord was never "formally adopted" by the parties "and therefore is not an official outcome of COP15." It also warns the UNFCCC "the Copenhagen Accord must not replace the Kyoto Protocol and should not be subsumed under the Copenhagen Accord".
Mitigation
Do the pledges on the table address African countries’ concerns over funding and temperature rise? Six African countries – three LDCs – submitted their own plans for mitigation to the UNFCCC. These mostly focus on setting up climate change committees or list "green" energy initiatives that are in the pipeline.
Several others, like the Republic of Congo and Madagascar, make any actions conditional on a REDD-deal. Others reserve the right to continue their chosen high carbon development paths.
"Botswana is and will continue to be a carbon intensive economy – mainly coal-based," notes the country’s U.N. ambassador in his letter.
Only South Africa puts numbers to its commitment, reiterating a pledge "to enable a 34 percent deviation below the 'business as usual' emissions growth trajectory by 2020", a promise that already has been slammed as unrealistic by South African environmental groups.
Developed nations do little better. On Feb. 2, the U.N. admitted frankly that the commitments on the table are not enough to keep temperature rise below the agreed 2 degrees Celsius target. Greenpeace calculated that the pledges in fact will lead to a a 3-4 degree temperature rise, almost double what countries agreed to just six weeks ago.
"Supporters of the Accord have failed to make emissions pledges which are strong enough to avert dangerous climate change," said Greenpeace climate chief Bernhard Obermayr. "The Accord’s 31 January deadline was no more than a cynical PR exercise allowing governments to recycle existing pledges and dress them up as effective action."
Funding
Confusion also surrounds the 30 billion dollar "quick start" fund of "new and additional resources" to be made available for adaptation strategies between now and 2012.
Sierra Leone writes that it would "appreciate a breakdown of this amount to be benefited by each country" and says it’s "deeply concerned that there is no guarantee the most vulnerable countries will benefit from this fund". While the Accord says "LDCs, small island states and Africa" should have priority, it’s unclear how the money will be allocated, or where it will come from. An early draft of the Accord included commitments from the EU ($10.6 billion), Japan ($11 billion) and the United States ($3.6 billion), but that annex did not appear with the final text.
"I went to Copenhagen to see the drama unfold," said a disillusioned Angula. "The Accord is not a product of actual negotiations, but a face-saving document drawn up by powerful nations."
The news this evening is that China is furious with the US over a planned meeting with the Dalai Lama.
The hybrid drive system being used by 
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Agriculture will receive an additional $209,000 in federal block grant funds next year to improve the competitiveness of the state’s specialty crop industry.
