Author: Serkadis

Geithner says US credit rating safe despite debt – AP Forbes
– what else could he say? – BC
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has list – Seven US States worse off than PIIGS – Seven States of Energy Debt – by Gregor Macdonald – … I’ve identified seven large US states by four criteria that are sure to cause trouble for Washington’s political class at least for the next 3 years, through the 2012 elections. These are states with big populations, very high rates of unemployment, and which have already had to borrow big to pay unemployment claims. In addition, as a kind of Gregor.us kicker, I’ve thrown in a fourth criteria to identify those states that are large net importers of energy … – Gregor.us

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‘The Single Most Drastic Error in Policy in Modern History’ – Michael Panzner – PBS Newshour has posted a brief but fascinating interview with David Stockman, Director of the Office of Management & Budget during the Reagan era. … It was the single most, you know, drastic error in policy in modern history, going back to the 1930s. This was exactly the wrong thing to do.  It’s destroyed any basis for fiscal discipline in the United States … – Financial Armageddon
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Why The Next Round Of Government Stimulus Will Only Make The Jobs Crisis Worse – Peter Schiff – … In the end, I fully expect the government to directly provide make-work jobs to the armies of the unemployed. This will accelerate the pace of private sector job destruction and make our economy even less productive than it is today … – Business Insider

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G-7 Pledges Action to Force Banks to ‘Bear the Cost’ of Failure – By Gonzalo Vina – Group of Seven finance ministers said that they will agree to common rules to force banks to pay for possible failures after the financial crisis saddled taxpayers with trillions of dollars in liabilities. – Bloomberg

Let’s go after the banksters? – reparations did not work in the Weimar Republic. – BC
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Phoenix food tax increase a sign of failure – Byron Schlomach – …  Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio has pointed out that the average cost for a Phoenix city employee is $100,000, including all benefits.  The average private sector total compensation in the Phoenix-Mesa area, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is $54,100 — about half the Phoenix average. … – Goldwater Institute 

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Texas Straight Talk – More Spending is Always the Answer – Ron Paul – Last week, the House approved another increase in the national debt ceiling.  This means the government can borrow $1.9 trillion more to stay afloat and avoid default.  It has been little more than a year since the last debt limit increase, and graphs showing the debt limit over time show a steep, almost vertical trend.  It is not likely to be very long before this new ceiling is met and the government is back on the brink between default and borrowing us further into oblivion. – Congressman Ron Paul Blog

Filed under: Europe, Lancia

With the popularity of the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evo, it’d be easy to dismiss the likes of the Lancia Delta HF Integrale as a relic of the past. But make no mistake about it: The roadgoing version of this Italian rally machine is as exotic and desirable as any supercar to come from the same country. All the more reason, then, to be appalled at this unfortunate conversion job.

It appears that some garage in Italy has taken an Integrale (possibly two, according to reports), chopped it up and stretched it into a limousine. If you’re thinking that an all-wheel drive hot hatch is the worst possible candidate for limo-ification, we’re with you. Whether the conversion job retains the all-wheel drive system remains a big question mark, however, with power coming from either the Integrale’s eight-valve 2.0-liter turbo four or the Evo’s 16-valve version.

Oh, and the best part? It’s for sale, courtesy of Italian classifieds site Autoscout24, for the princely sum of €99,000 (or about $136,000 by current exchange rates). Have a look in the gallery below, just don’t expect to see one of these popping up at the local Chrysler dealership with a Pentastar on the nose.

[Source: Autoscout24 via CarScoop]

How much is that stretched Lancia Delta HF Integrale in the window? $136k, that’s how much originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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­­Review: 2010 Honda CR-V defends the CUV crown

The CR-V might have displaced the Ford Explorer as the reigning SUV champ, but does it still have what it takes to dominate in the highly competitive CUV segment?

Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class spotted

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is due to be replaced after its five-year run, and these latest spy shots prove that works is well underway on the W221’s successor.

Geneva Preview: 2011 Volvo S60

The all-new Volvo S60 appears to be a strong contender in the near-premium midsize sedan segment, but is a slew of safety features and a torquey, turbo’d six enough?

Also of interest:

• Video: Toyota’s Jim Lentz confirms FT-86 (not Supra) coming to America
• Ferrari chief reportedly admits V6 a possibility
• Toyota Corolla reportedly suffering from steering woes *UPDATED
• Chicago Preview: Ford rolls out production Transit Connect Electric and Taxi variants
• Officially, Official: Toyota recalls 2010 Prius and Lexus HS250h for ABS fix

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

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 2.9.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New details have emerged which suggest chip maker Palo Alto Semiconductor (PA Semi) might not be the hive mind behind the iPad’s “A4” processor as was widely expected.

In case you missed it, the A4 is the diminutive custom silicon that lies at the heart of Apple’s new iPad. It’s the wee beasty that has the raw power to make Magic Move work so smoothly in the upcoming Keynote app, while providing the intelligence to manage energy efficiently enough to squeeze 10 hours of actual use out of the iPad between charges. Oh, and it runs at 1Ghz and is fuelled by unicorn tears, or something.

Anyone with an iPhone (and everyone who has ever relied on laptops to do a days work) knows that there’s usually a big difference between a mobile device’s advertised and actual battery life. So, unless Steve Jobs is lying through his teeth, how exactly does the iPad’s A4 processor manage to deliver its number-crunching goods over such a long period of time?

Certainly Apple’s developments in battery design help a lot, but it’s thought that the real magic happens in the custom-designed processor itself. Venturebeat.com’s Paul Boutin has been investigating the A4, and pushing chip engineers for answers. In an article published on the weekend, he offers the following (possible) explanation;

Apple has invested heavily in OpenCL and LLVM, which are technologies to distribute work across multiple CPUs and multiple GPUs. In this Apple is different than other mobile devices: other vendors want video decoding and 3D games at a good rate, but often leave the GPU mostly idle.

Apple is looking to drive a lot of work through the GPU all the time, as part of any application. For Apple, it makes sense to put a lot of GPU cores in the chip. It even makes sense to put in so much GPU that the chip would overheat, but throttle back the ARM clock speed to leave more thermal envelope for the GPUs to run.

Ah, right then. Magic. Got it.

Terribly Clever

This all sounds plausible, and makes Apple’s 2008 purchase of PA Semi (a snap at only $278 million) seem like a terribly clever move. And since we have yet to see a new custom brain in any iPhone, the iPad offered the most likely candidate as the first recipient of the chip maker’s special silicon.

Only, it’s not. Boutin adds the following;

A very trusted source tells me: PA Semi didn’t do the A4. It was the existing VLSI team. Apple has made custom chips for years like the Northbridges for G4 and G5.

So, if the iPad didn’t get the PA Semi treatment as we originally thought, what’s going on? $278 million is an awful lot of money (even for a company with billions in the bank), and I’d have thought we’d start seeing the results of that purchase by now.

If we haven’t yet seen the full might and majesty of PA Semi’s magic in Apple’s mobile offerings, that might all change soon. After all, we’re just months away from the anticipated 4th generation iPhone…

Back to Front

Maybe I’ve got this all back to front? Was the acquisition of PA Semi — like the more recent acquisition of music streaming service Lala — not so much about Apple getting its hands on new technology, but more about securing the mad skillz of new engineers? If that’s the case, the iPad may be the fruits of that acquisition after all.

Either way, if the next generation iPhone inherits any of the genetic characteristics of its iPad big brother, what might we expect from Apple’s next smartphone? A blistering-fast processor, perhaps, light-years ahead of the best competing handset? Insanely long battery life, perhaps two or three days between charges?

One thing is for sure; last month Steve Jobs very deliberately redefined Apple as a mobile devices company. In the last few years, the company has aggressively enhanced the processing performance and battery life of all its products, from MacBooks to iPods to iPhones and now, of course, the iPad. A breakthrough advancement in one device ultimately migrates across product lines into another, until we’re left with an ecosystem of devices that offer unrivalled power and interoperability. It’s those refinements that have helped sell MacBooks at record levels in spite of a global recession, and allowed the iPhone to steal valuable market share from well-entrenched competitors.

So with all these remarkable advancements in battery life, power management, custom silicon and hardware/software interoperability in mind, ask yourself – what can we expect to see in the next iPhone? Looking at the iPad’s A4 processor as a guide, I’m beginning to think it’ll be the most significant iPhone revision Apple has ever made. And we don’t have very long to wait before we’ll know for sure.

A 65-year-old Elk Grove Village man admitted in court Tuesday to allegations he inappropriately touched a 4-year-old girl over her clothes in 2008 under a plea deal in which he was sentenced to two years probation and a lifetime of registering as a sex offender.

Walter F. Podolak, of the 1000 block of Cheetwood Court, also must undergo sex offender counseling and pay $2,136 in fines and court costs as part of an agreement in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.

In return for the guilty plea, McHenry County prosecutors dismissed three other counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and agreed to probation rather than the three to seven years in prison Podolak faced had he been found guilty after a trial.

Podolak recently received the same sentence in Cook County on a similar charge stemming from allegations involving the same victim.

Assistant McHenry County State’s Attorney Philip Hiscock said the Cook County disposition, as well as the girl’s age and her mother’s wishes, played a part in the decision to allow Podolak probation.

“You have to consider the possible traumatic impact, and emotional impact, (testifying) could have on a 4-year-old,” he said.

Podolak attorney James McAuliff declined to comment Tuesday.

The Elk Grove Village man, then a resident of Arlington Heights, was arrested in October 2008 after a joint investigation by McHenry and Arlington Heights police into accusations he had inappropriately touched the girl, who he had known previously.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Here it is – the moment we’ve all been waiting for all year, even though we won’t get this model in the United States. Audi today officially took the wraps off of its new and much-anticipated 2011 Audi A1. Sales will begin later this year and according to Audi, many of the A1 customers are expected to be women who are interested in design, music, fashion and sports.

Besides being one of the best looking luxury subcompact cars we’ve ever seen, the Audi A1 is said to be the sportiest and most agile of its class. Power will come from a range of 4-cylinder engines, two TDI diesels and two TFSI gasoline engines with output ranging from 84-hp to 122-hp. Mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission, Audi says that fuel-economy will range from 44 mpg and 62 mpg.

The entry-level model will be priced at around 16,000 euros ($22,062 USD).

So far Audi has no plans to bring the 2011 Audi A1 to North America – so we thought we’d try to convince them with a little poll. If you live in North America, cast your vote below to let us know if you would consider purchasing the A1.

Hit the jump for the press release and the full high-res image gallery.

2011 Audi A1:

Press Release:

The new Audi A1 – Sportiness and individuality in the compact class

Audi is introducing a whole new dimension to the compact class this summer. It is dynamic and high quality, emotional and individual. It condenses all of the virtues of the brand down to less than four meters – a design full of character, uncompromising quality and pioneering efficiency technologies. The agile chassis and powerful engines make the A1 the sportiest car in the segment.

The young customers of the A1 live in major cities and therefore are looking for a vehicle that is designed for the urban environment. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it is very agile and nimble in city traffic and offers a high degree of everyday utility.

The interior of the A1 is also sporty and of high quality. Customers can customize numerous details to tailor the car to their personal tastes. Audi’s latest model has a broad portfolio of advanced technologies on board; its infotainment system sets new standards in the segment. The A1 is the first premium automobile in the small compacts class – a true, fully-fledged Audi.

The Audi brand stands for automotive passion. With its agile chassis and powerful engines, the A1 is the sportiest car in its class, and this is readily apparent at first glance. The design is unique and modern. Styling cues placing the A1 in the Audi family include the side line with the distinctive roof arch, the coupe-like C-pillars, the large wheel wells and, of course, the front end with the typical single-frame grille. The hood and rear hatch encompass the body; the tail lights are three-dimensionally molded and present an unmistakable design, day or night.

The interior: airy and dynamic

The interior of the A1 is spacious and airy. The instrument panel is suggestive of an airplane wing; its four round air nozzles are reminiscent of the turbines of a jet. The clear ergonomics and the uncompromisingly high fit and finish typify the Audi brand’s high standards. Many lovingly designed details in the interior document the premium character of the Audi A1.

In addition to the Attraction and Ambition trim lines, Audi also offers a media style package focused on infotainment and the interior design. The innovative materials and modern colors underscore the character of the A1. Whether colored air nozzles, LED interior lights or seat covers in expressive colors – customization is an important catchword. The equipment program offers countless opportunities for matching the A1 to the driver’s own personal style. There are even a variety of paint finishes from which to choose for the roof arch. Customers can order many of these features after the initial sale to follow a trend or a whim.

The available infotainment and multimedia systems available come directly from the luxury class. The top of the line is MMI navigation plus, a media center that sets new standards in the compact segment. From the monitor that rises up out of the instrument panel to the control unit that follows the MMI logic, it is oriented on the systems found in Audi models in the higher segments. Based on the concert radio, the connectivity package offers the option of retrofitting an Audi map-based navigation system – a novelty in the automotive sector. The 465 watt Bose surround sound system is just one example of the complementary modules available.

Concentrated driving pleasure: the sportiest car in its class

The sporty, agile chassis of the A1 places it at the head of its class. Whether in the city, on an interurban road or on the highway – the A1 is great fun to drive anywhere thanks to its sporty setup, the optimized weight distribution and the very direct steering. The standard ESP stabilization system with electronic axle-differential lock makes the handling of the A1 even more sporty and precise, while driving safety is increased even further.

The new A1 also sets new efficiency standards. Audi is sending the new model line into the fray with four four-cylinder engines, with the two TDI and two TFSI gasoline engines producing between 63 kW (86 hp) and 90 kW (122 hp). All of the engines follow the downsizing principle – they substitute turbocharging for displacement and draw their fuel through direct injection units.

All versions of the A1 impress with good fuel economy, with standard cycle values between 3.8 and 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers (43.56 – 61.90 US mpg) (provisional values). The 1.6 TDI with 66 kW (90 hp) and manual transmission emits only 99 g of CO2 per kilometer (159.33 g/mile). All of the engines are equipped with a recuperation system that allows them to recover energy during braking, and are coupled with an automatic start-stop system. A new temperature management system with switched water pump contributes to the low fuel consumption of the 1.2 TFSI.

High-tech and efficiency: the seven-speed S tronic

At Audi, efficiency is always high-tech. The A1 is available with the seven-speed S tronic transmission. The dual-clutch transmission changes gears extremely quickly, comfortably and without detectable interruptions in pulling power. It offers both automatic and manual modes, with paddles on the steering wheel available as an option. It provides for tremendously fun driving and also further reduces fuel consumption – typical Audi.

The A1 is sporty, powerful and attractive. As a newcomer in the compact segment, it appeals to a modern customer group – a young, urban, lifestyle-oriented public. A1 customers – many of whom are expected to be women – are interested in design, music, fashion and sports. The entry-level model will be priced at around 16,000 euros.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

– By: Omar Rana

ALGONQUIN — A 16-year-old from Algonquin has been charged with two counts of murder after officials said he killed his father.

A sometimes compelling, often interesting, and always informative wrap up of news and information brought to you courtesy of  The Freedom Medium

Another blizzard is on the way.  How will our federal government deal with it?
The House Of Representatives Is Taking Twelve Snow Days

Granting amnesty to illegal aliens is for amateurs
Senate Candidate Courts Illegal Alien Vote

In some parts of America, the Second Amendment Still Means Something
South Carolina Moves To Block Gun Registration

Filed under: Blogroll Plus, Blogs for a Free Market America, Blogs in Support of Our Constitution, Breaking News, News, News and Views Tagged: Best Of The Blogs, Best Of The Web, News and Views, News You Can Use, Today’s Top Stories

A key figure in the Cook County patronage hiring scandal was sentenced Tuesday to 60 days in jail for an unrelated courthouse scuffle in Wheaton.

Tony E. Cole was convicted two months ago of violating the bail bond he received for a domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend in Elmhurst, but jurors acquitted him of three other misdemeanors involving a deputy sheriff.

Cole, 30, Chicago, faced up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines.

He was taken into immediate custody Tuesday after DuPage Associate Judge William Ferguson denied Cole’s request to delay the sentence until the unemployed college student’s spring break.

Cole also is barred from having contact with his ex-girlfriend while serving two years’ probation.

“He lacks remorse,” Ferguson said. “His refusal to admit his conduct is troubling to the court.”

Cole was accused of striking the woman in the face March 13, 2008. Nearly six months later, while free on bond, Cole found himself in more legal trouble when he showed up for his trial.

Cole argued with the woman and tried to block her from entering the courtroom Sept. 10, 2008 despite a judge’s order barring further contact, prosecutors said.

Cole also was accused of slapping away the hand of a male deputy who investigated the heated courthouse exchange.

He pleaded guilty to the earlier battery involving his ex-girlfriend in Elmhurst, but fought the allegations involving the courthouse scuffle. During his trial, in December, Cole denied touching the deputy or confronting his ex-girlfriend.

Jill Eckhaus, an assistant DuPage County public defender, said the incident was blown out of proportion. The ex-girlfriend did not testify during the trial.

The jury deliberated more than one hour before reaching the split verdict Dec. 10.

Prosecutor Bethany Jackson sought a 90-day jail stint, citing Cole’s three prior battery convictions. Eckhaus urged the judge to allow Cole to continue with his education.

“He is trying to make a life for himself,” she said. “He is a college student. He’s intelligent. He is someone who is trying to be a productive member of society.”

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, who last week lost his election bid, hired Cole, a former busboy, in October 2008 as an aide to Stroger’s cousin, Donna Dunnings, the office’s chief financial officer.

Cole was twice promoted and saw his salary increase to $61,000 before Stroger fired him in April amid a patronage hiring scandal. Stroger also fired Dunnings, who at least twice bailed Cole out of jail in the domestic violence cases.

Cole has portrayed himself as a hardworking college student who was a victim in a political feud between his higher-ups. Stroger’s name did not come up in the DuPage County trial.

Cole, who is eligible for day-to-day credit and already served 17 days, likely will be released from jail in about two weeks. His criminal history includes three prior battery offenses, including the 2008 case involving his ex-girlfriend.

Ferguson also recommended Cole undergo anger management counseling.

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

The leaders of Illinois’ public universities say they want the money the state has promised them.

University presidents and chancellors on Tuesday asked Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes to set a payment schedule so they can collect the more than $735 million in state payments they’re owed.

The state faces a deficit that could be $13 billion this year and is limping through the fiscal year by not paying bills and borrowing money.

The universities say they’ve tried to make up for the money the state owes them by cutting budgets, imposing furlough days and freezing hiring and salaries.

But the universities say all their cuts can’t cover the state appropriations they aren’t receiving.

Hynes’ office issues the checks to pay the state’s bills.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

We have written about using Bluetooth keyboards on your smartphone before, but it takes a delicious ironic twist when you use the Apple Wireless Keyboard with your HTC HD2, especially because it does not work with an iPhone, and is apparently pretty good value.

According to Biffy at XDA-Dev its not a perfect solution however, with some keys not working and initial pairing needing to be repeated many times before it will take, but the keyboard is compact and sleek, and when whipped out in public will make iPhone users green with envy.

Read more in the associated XDA-Dev thread here.

I often wish the iPhone and iPod touch supported memory extension via external modules. It would make my old iPod touch much more useful, which I suppose is why Apple doesn’t allow it (it’s a good reason to buy a new one). Soon, you’ll be able to use external SD cards with your devices, though probably not in the memory expansion capacity I’ve been dreaming of.

Still, you should be able to do at least as much as you can with the SD camera connector accessory that Apple’s officially releasing for use with the upcoming iPad. There’s no indication of whether or no that device will also work with the iPhone and iPod touch, but a third-party device by capitalization-challenged company zoomMediaPlus definitely will.

The accessory in question, called zoomit, will plug into your iPhone’s dock connector, and features an SD card slot that’s compatible with all currently available SD classes and capacities. Using a free app available from the App Store, you’ll then be able to access the data found on any card you insert.

A careful examination of zoomMediaPlus’ overly wordy press release reveals that you won’t be able to transfer files from your device to the SD card or vice versa, but you can view movies and photos, listen to music and preview documents stored on your external media. You can also share said media with others via email and various social networks, including Facebook. The only condition is that all of said media has to be in a format supported by iPhone OS 3.0 or higher, so those DivX files will definitely still require conversion.

At the very least, it should be incredibly useful for photogs on the go. You’ll be able to view and share you photos with others via the iPhone’s screen, which is undoubtedly better than the back of your camera in almost all cases. You should also be able to then create Facebook albums and post those photos to social network sites without first having to connect to a computer.

zoomMediaPlus envisions a future where content providers will sell specialized SD cards for use with the system:

In the future the zoomIt application will also support, among other things, protected content types enabling streaming of licensed music, videos, and other forms of protected content.

I wouldn’t count on this becoming a groundswell movement or anything, but it is an interesting possibility. Still, I see the value of being able to access documents anywhere without having to connect wirelessly to any kind of network. You take a look at soft proofs at an impromptu client meeting, or check out someone’s demo as long as they have it stored on SD media, which is fast becoming the only really strong player remaining on the flash card scene.

zoomit will retail for $59.95 when it is released in April 2010. You can save $10 now by pre-ordering, and get a free Kingston 4GB SDHC card in the bargain, but personally I prefer to wait until units actually begin shipping before putting down any kind of commitment.

A Wisconsin truck driver was indicted Tuesday for the murder of another trucker who prosecutors say argued with the victim on the CB radio before tailgating and pulling over to stab him to death on the Edens Expressway last month.

David Seddon, 48, of Racine, Wis., was formally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Allen Lauritzen, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Andy Conklin said.

Seddon is being held without bond.

Lauritzen, 40, of Sparta, Wis., died of two stab wounds to the chest and his death was ruled a homicide, Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said.

Lauritzen also suffered a stab wound to the arm.

Illinois State Police said a motorist called about 10:42 a.m. on Jan. 15 to report two men in an “altercation” near two 18-wheel semis parked on the shoulder of the Edens just below the Tower Road overpass near Northfield.

Soon after, another motorist stopped to give first aid to a man he found lying unconscious on the pavement beside a truck. The second truck was gone.

During bond proceedings, prosecutors said the men were arguing over theCB radio and Seddon began tailgating Lauritzen’s truck.

Seddon then pulled over and began a physical fight, during which he took out a buck knife and began stabbing Lauritzen.

Seddon then fled north in his truck and threw the knife in a landfill in Racine, court records indicate.

He will appear for arraignment in Skokie on Feb. 24.

Read the original article from FOX Chicago News.

When will the video gaming companies learn that DRM really only pisses off your legitimate customers? Despite having seen this happen over and over and over and over, it’s happening again. With the release of Bioshock 2, the decision was made to include annoying SecuROM DRM. Did it do any good? Nope, on the day of release there’s a cracked version available immediately (thanks AJ, for sending this story in). Oddly, that writeup uses this to suggest that the use of DRM made sense, but I can’t see how you get from there to here. The DRM didn’t stop it from getting cracked and being made available to anyone who wanted it. It didn’t stop any unauthorized access whatsoever. If they hadn’t put the DRM on it (which cost money both in licensing the technology and in additional Q&A and customer support issues) they would be in exactly the same position today with the app being available for unauthorized download (except they’d have a bit more money). Oh yeah, they also wouldn’t have pissed off a bunch of customers. So what good did the DRM do exactly?

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The state’s attorney’s office helped generate $4.2 million last year in revenue that will remain in Kane County, officials announced Tuesday.

The funds came from a variety of unpredictable sources, including $1.2 million in unpaid court fines and fees the office was able to collect in arrears and $900,000 in forfeited bond money.

In addition, State’s Attorney John Barsanti said the new county jail and efforts to keep it from overcrowding resulted in a $3.1 million savings.

“We’re kind of proud of the whole thing,” he said Tuesday.

About half of the money was generated by taking a tougher stance on previously unpaid fines and fees, and defendants who didn’t return to court after posting bond to be released from jail.

Barsanti’s office worked with a collection agency to recoup $1.2 million of $25.5 million in unpaid fines and fees owed to the county, and also seized $900,000 in forfeited bonds through court proceedings.

Fines and fees that were paid by defendants on time last year totaled $1.8 million, and the county’s Second Chance program for nonviolent offenders brought in another $320,000.

Barsanti said only the Second Chance funds would go entirely to the county’s general fund, while the remaining money – about $3.8 million – would be divided among the county, law enforcement agencies and programs that played a role in each particular case.

The jail savings were calculated based on the cost of housing inmates in other counties in 2008, before the larger county jail opened in St. Charles.

Barsanti said efforts to keep nonviolent property-crime offenders from sitting in the jail through plea bargains and more thorough bond-setting procedures also helped prevent crowding.

“It moves the caseload along better, it opens up beds in the jail,” he said. “We completely eliminated the out-of-county detainees.”

Read the original article on DailyHerald.com.

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

After two concepts and an insufferable amount of teasing, the 2011 Audi A1 has officially arrived with its sights set squarely on the Mini Cooper.

Inspired by the Metroproject Quattro from 2007, the all-new A1 is a faithful recreation of its conceptual predecessor, complete with a squat stance, short overhangs and four customizable colors for the roof arches. With a profile reminiscent of a stretched and squashed TT, the A1 spans 155.5 inches long, 68.5 inches wide and 56 inches tall, with a 97.2-inch wheelbase. Ten exterior colors are available, along with front and rear LEDs and Xenon headlamps.

Audi’s focus on the interior begins and ends with customization, with available LED lighting, black, grey, beige or “wasabi” green contrasting materials, colored air vents and an optional MMI system with a 6.5-inch screen, 10-speaker, 465-watt Bose audio system, 20 gig harddrive and Bluetooth connectivity. Although backseat passengers were apparently an afterthought, the A1 boasts 9.43 cubic feet of storage space in the rear, with 32.49 cubic feet of space available when the rear seats are folded flat.

Motivation will be provided by a choice of either two gasoline or diesel powerplants, with the 1.6-liter TDIs churning out either 90 horsepower and 169 pound feet of torque or 105 ponies and 184 lb-ft of twist. The gasoline mills will be available in either 1.2- or 1.4-liter TFSI variants, with the former putting out 86 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque and the latter delivering 122 hp and 147 lb-ft through either a five- or six-speed manual. An optional seven-speed S tronic (dual clutch) transmission is available, and both gasoline engines deliver an average of 46 mpg. For the time being, the A1 is only available with front-wheel drive.

The 2,303-pound hatch will go on sale in Europe later this year after it’s official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show, with prices starting at around 16,000 euro. Two trims – Attraction or Ambition – are available, with an S Line accessories package and 18-inch wheels coming at launch. All the details can be had in the press release after the jump, but still no word yet on U.S. availability.

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Audi A1 finally arrives [w/video]

Officially Official: 2011 Audi A1 finally arrives [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now in its second model year, Infiniti today announced pricing on the 2010 G37 Convertible, which is now on sale at Infiniti dealers nationwide. For 2010, the Infiniti G37 Convertible gets a revised interior, upgraded navigation and entertainment systems, power-folding outside mirrors and the addition of the previous Premium Package equipment as standard for the G Convertible Sport 6MT model (a $3,050 value).

The most significant change, however, is the pricing of the 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible. Prices start at $44,350 for the G37 Convertible with a 7-speed automatic, an increase of $500 over the 2009 model. The 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible Sport 6MT with a 6-speed manual now starts at $46,950, an increase of $3,050 – of course, as mentioned above, the range-topping model now includes the previously optional Premium Package as standard.

Power for the 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible still comes from the 325-hp 3.7L V6 with VVEL.

Click through for more pricing details posted after the jump.

Click here to read our review on the 2009 Infiniti G37 S Convertible.

Review: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible:

All Photos Copyright © 2009 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

Press Release:

Infiniti Announces U.S. Pricing on 2010 G Convertible

Infiniti today announced U.S. pricing on the 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible, which is on sale now at Infiniti retailers nationwide. The G Convertible features a number of significant enhancements for its second model year, including a revised interior, upgraded navigation and entertainment systems, power-folding outside mirrors and the addition of the previous Premium Package equipment as standard for the G Convertible Sport 6MT model (a $3,050 value).

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP)* for the two available 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible models are:

“For 2010, we?ve added significant enhancements to both G Convertible models and added the high-value Premium Package content to the Sport 6MT model for the convenience of our buyers,” said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Business Unit. “And, when you compare popularly equipped models between this year and last, the Sport 6MT costs exactly the same as the 2009 model, despite the additional features.”

All 2010 Infiniti G Convertibles are equipped with a three-piece power retractable hardtop that?s designed to look as good with the top up as down and an advanced 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 with VVEL (for Variable Valve Event and Lift). Enhancements for every 2010 G Convertible include a predominately white color scheme for the gauges and LCD instrument display and one new exterior color, Graphite Shadow. The available Infiniti Navigation System now includes enhanced graphics, XM NavWeather? with Real-Time Weather and 3-day forecast information (in addition to XM NavTraffic?), Zagat Survey® restaurant reviews, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® and digital video file playback from USB Flash Drive. Also added are new available high-gloss Maple interior trim accents and a new center console design for automatic transmission-equipped models.

The inviting G Convertible interior includes standard leather-appointed seating and an available Bose® Open Air Sound System that dynamically changes equalization based on outside noise, vehicle speed, and top position, and an adaptive climate control system that adjusts fan speed in accordance to top position and vehicle speed. Technology features include standard RearView Monitor and available rain-sensing flat blade front wipers, Pre-Crash Seat Belts and Intelligent Cruise Control with Preview Braking. The G37 Convertible Sport 6MT includes sport-tuned steering and larger sport brakes, along with 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and W-rated performance tires.

– By: Kap Shah

Filed under: Videos, Hyundai, Toyota

We love a good drag race as much as the next guy, especially when the two vehicles are relatively evenly matched. The four-cylinder 2011 Hyundai Sonata and 2010 Toyota Camry sedans appear to be of similar might, as both vehicles are family haulers aimed at the heart of the midsize market. But do we want the two vehicles to drag race to see which one has the best burst off the line?

Apparently someone thought we did, as evidenced by the post-jump video featuring the upstart 2011 Sonata 2.4 GDI against the title-holding 2.5-liter Camry going head-to-head in the battle of four-pot supremacy. We’re not sure who created the video but it could have been created by an Asian market arm of Hyundai, so you can guess who wins this sprint to the finish line. That said, the Camry fares pretty well off the line where some would argue a midsize sedan needs power the most. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, and while you’re on the other side, head over to Comments and tell us which two closely matched production vehicles you’d like to see in a drag race.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Unlikely Drag Race #5,349 – Hyundai Sonata vs. Toyota Camry in four-cylinder throwdown

Video: Unlikely Drag Race #5,349 – Hyundai Sonata vs. Toyota Camry in four-cylinder throwdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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