Category: News

  • How To Prevent Neighbor’s Cats Pooping In My Flower Bed?

    Regarding controlling a cat: Many people have cats that they consider indoor cats but when it comes time for them to “do their ;business” the cat owner puts them outside.  They do not want to trouble themselves with cleaning a cat litter box,  so they shove the cat outside to poop in the neighbors yard.  It is the neighbors who need controlling in this case.  Now, for how to stop the cat from pooping in your yard…there is a commercial product that can be purchased at a feed & seed store called Fox Urine.  It works to keep away cats, squirrels and some other animals/rodents.  My daughter has spread crushed red pepper on the ground where the cats “go”.  This also may take a bit of time but the cats will go to another neighbors yard.  The fox urine works immediately.  Many cat owners are unaware (or don’t care),  but if your city has a leash law there is a good possibility that the law applies to cats as well as dogs.  They could be fined for letting their animal run loose.  Call your animal control office to see if it applies where you live.

  • Video of the HTC EVO 4G Being Rooted [Android]

    11 days before the EVO 4G launches exclusively on Sprint, and hackers have already successfully rooted the phone. Video showing their finesse after the jump. More »










    HTC CorporationAndroidHandheldsSprintGoogle

  • Tesla and Toyota begin working together

    Tesla and Toyota begin working together

    Electric auto pioneer Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation have signaled their intent to work together on a number of initiatives, primarily developing EVs in California. Toyota’s purchasing of US$50 million worth of Tesla shares completes a stunning twelve months for the start-up which has included Daimler purchasing a substantial (more than 5%) share, a US$30 million tax break and a US$465 million DoE loan. Partnering with the world’s largest automobile manufacturer gives Tesla immense credibility and the security to purchase a new factory. For Toyota, it sures up its ability to compete in the EV market, at the same time as winning a few cool-school points by partnering with the trendy, publicity-savvy Tesla brand. If, or as-seems-likely, when Tesla goes public, it will be first American auto company to do so since Ford more than a half century ago…
    Continue Reading Tesla and Toyota begin working together

    Tags: ,
    ,

    Related Articles:


  • Vegetarianism

    vegetarianism
    vegetarianism Vegetarianism

    7 Ways To Find Delicious Vegetarian And Vegan Recipes

    Becoming a vegetarian or vegan is entirely an individual’s choice and decision, sometimes when people decide to become vegetarian they struggle with vegetarian cooking because they can’t find delicious vegetarian recipes. It seems that the options are a few and the vegetarian diet is supposedly repetitive and boring. This is so not true.

    This article will show you 7 Ways to Find Delicious Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes. Here is the list:

    1. Buy cookbooks, cooking videos or eBooks on vegetarian & vegan cooking: The best way to learn something is to see it happen. Learning is a receptive skill that comes naturally to human beings. One can buy cook books from anywhere  local book stores, internet etc. With options flooding the book galleries –low cal recipes, cheese specials, low calorie vegetarian desserts etc, there is no dearth of sources to find vegetarian recipes.

    2 Searching the internet for vegetarian and vegan websites like blogs: Internet certainly has become the first and last of everything. You can search on the internet for vegetarian recipes and you will be flooded with options. The best part is most celebrity and famous chefs have their own blogs. They share their old and new recipes on these blogs and you can learn great amounts from them.

    3 Joining free and paid online website newsletters and subscriptions: If you are willing to make strong efforts to learn vegetarian and vegan cooking, you can also join free or paid online website newsletters and subscription. These websites will either not charge you anything or demand a suitable price for rendering you their services. Once you have subscribed, your mail box will flow with mails regarding vegetarian and vegan cooking.

    4 Buying magazines in your local shops: People today have become very conscious about what they eat. They not only want the food to be healthy but delicious too. This is the sole reason why so many cooking magazines are flooding the markets. Some of them are real good and come up with new recipes monthly or even weekly. Choose one which suits your taste buds best.

    5 Asking from your vegan and vegetarian friends: Seeking advice from others is all together a great option. You may have many vegetarian and vegan friends. Seek help from them. They might know recipes that you don’t and if they have been vegan or vegetarian for long, their experience will surely help you.

    6 Watching cooking shows on TV or channels and watching and writing down their recipes: Many channels run weekly cooking shows. The hosts or presenters are generally renowned chefs. Keeping up with these shows will eventually grant you a good knowledge of flavors and different combinations.

    7 Going to the library and borrowing vegetarian and vegan cooking books: The more you will read about cooking, the more you will know about it. You may go to different libraries and get cookery books on vegetarian and vegan diets issued. Read them. You are sure to stumble upon new things and discover secrets.

    Learning to cook new vegetarian meals isn’t hard. You just need to know where to look for easy and healthy vegetarian meals. With the tips provided above you will be learning to cook new vegetarian dishes every day. Find some time to find new recipes and your vegetarian and vegan meals will be full of new and delicious ideas that you have never thought of before.

    About the Author

    To get more free tips on how to create delicious vegetarian and vegan and get access to a wide range of recipes to go http://www.myvegetarianrecipeguide.com and claim your special Free Report 10 Myths About Vegetarian Cooking” Today!!

    Any good sources of unbiased information about vegetarianism?

    So, nothing from Peta or anything like that. I need concrete sources that are not biased but discuss about vegetarianism in length. I’ve been looking and I haven’t found much. Anything will be appreciated!

    Read the china study. It’s clearly not biased because the guy who conducted the study ate meat and dairy his whole life.

    [phpbay]vegetarianism, 100[/phpbay]
    Funny Vegetarian Quotes

    Vegetarianism is a post from the Vegetarian Vitamins Guide blog where you can find suggestions and advice from vegetarians and vegans on vegetarian diets, supplements, vitamins and overall nutrition.

  • Video: Sprint EVO 4G rooted nearly two weeks before it’s released

    Sure, the EVO 4G might not be seeing its official nationwide release until June 4th — but since when do silly matters like release dates bother the Android hacking community?

    To make a short story shorter: one of the EVO 4Gs given away at Google I/O ended up in the mitts of a trio of hackers. Armed with nothing but a few hours to kill and a bit of elbow grease (and presumably, some beer), they managed to crack this thing wide open nearly two weeks before it’s even available to the general public.

    The lads responsible aren’t release details of the hack just yet, presumably to prevent last minute patches (not that we really have to worry about quick patch work.. it is Sprint we’re talking about, after all)


  • From Bootstrap to VC: Appature Doubles Size in a Year, Looks for Next Defining Moment in Health IT

    Appature
    Gregory T. Huang wrote:

    What happens to a scrappy, profitable startup after it decides to take its first round of venture funding? Cynics might say the founders will give up too much control to venture capitalists, focus on growth while sacrificing profits, and try to make a splash in a bigger market before it’s ready.

    Seattle-based Appature would say none of the above.

    So far, at least, the healthcare marketing software company doesn’t seem too fat and happy with itself. On a recent visit to Appature’s offices in downtown Seattle, chief executive Kabir Shahani and chief technology officer Chris Hahn gave me the lowdown on how the company is working closely with its investors to grow responsibly. That includes adding some key new staff members (see below), and finding ways to attract new customers without spending huge amounts of cash.

    What makes Appature unusual is that it was already a successful, bootstrapped company when it decided to pursue a dream of capturing a bigger market, which required taking venture capital. But that kind of experience is starting to become the norm in venture-backed software startups. Gone are the days of pre-revenue companies getting fat Series A checks, just because VCs want in on a fad. In Appature’s case, first came the profits, then the Series A check. And it has used the cash wisely. Appature has doubled in size over the past year, growing to about 20 employees. The company hit a rough patch in 2009, like most, but now appears to be back on track for major growth.

    Here’s the quick back story. Shahani and Hahn founded Appature in early 2007. They had met previously at Seattle-based social networking startup Blue Dot. The basic idea behind Appature was to make marketing and customer relationship management more efficient in the healthcare industry through software. They quickly found paying customers and became profitable in their first year, while growing slowly. Then, last December, the company raised $3.5 million in first-round funding from Seattle-area investors Ignition Partners, Madrona Venture Group, and Founder’s Co-op.

    Appature’s software helps companies in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health and wellness deliver targeted marketing campaigns, track marketing activity and performance, and learn about their customers via sophisticated business intelligence and analytics tools. As Shahani explained at an Xconomy event earlier this month, Appature can help healthcare companies reach doctors and other customers more directly and effectively through the Web, social media, e-mail, direct mail, trade shows, and other marketing channels. “It’s about building the right workflow around the doctor’s day,” Shahani said. “How do I streamline all that information that’s coming in? For big companies, how do you get the right message to [doctors and healthcare providers]?”

    What he means is that many doctors are under pressure to see more patients per day, and spend less time with them, to get the kind of insurance reimbursement they need to run their offices. Then there’s the deluge of clinical data and medical publications that they need to keep up with. It’s all made doctors busier than ever, and has made it hard for healthcare sales reps to spend much time to get to know them and what their patients really need. So, healthcare companies need to be more strategic …Next Page »

    UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS



























  • Lost soundtrack will be found in Rock Band

    After six long years, Lost the TV series finally bids us goodbye today. If you’re a huge fan, though, maybe it’s just a matter of letting go of that remote control and switching it for your Rock

  • Pontiac Lives: Tire-smokin’ GTOs and Trans Ams set for SoCal auction:

    It’s been almost a year since General Motors announced the end of the road for Pontiac. While the century-old brand has now joined Oldsmobile, Plymouth and a long list of other iconic makes in the automotive afterlife, the collector market remains more alive than ever. A lineup of 27 classic Pontiacs, including 17 GTOs, will cross the auction block in June.

    The performance-oriented machines, many of which are from the brand’s glory days of the 1960s–when Pontiac rivaled Chevrolet and Ford as one of the top sellers in the nation–will be featured at RM Auctions’ Classic Muscle & Modern Performance event on June 19 in San Diego.

    For powerful Pontiacs, it has to start with the GTO. And 17 of them from a private collection will be hawked, including two spotlight 1969 models. They’re Judges–or rather the Judge–dishing out 366 hp from 400-cubic-inch Ram Air III V8s. RM says 6,725 hardtops and 108 convertibles were built for 1969. Judge trim added only several hundred dollars to the price tag 41 years ago, but now both of these examples could fetch six-figures at the auction, RM estimates.

    1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

    RM Auctions

    This GTO Judge was “rated” at 366 hp from a 400-cubic-inch V8. Sping the tires and guess how much it really has.

    There is also a ‘65 GTO coupe colored Tiger Gold and convertibles from ‘65 and ‘70.

    Muscle-car fans will be revved up for Firebird Trans Ams to be sold from the personal collection of Pontiac ad man Jim Wangers. His offerings include a 1969 model joined by the anniversary years of ‘79, ‘89 and ‘99.

    In addition to all of this Pontiac panache, 26 Chevrolet Corvettes, seven Chevelles, six Ford Mustangs and a Ford GT will cross the block at the sale, which has about 100 cars.

    For more


    1969 Pontiac GTO Judge

    Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

  • 2012 Audi A3 renderings

    New Audi A3 renderings

    These renderings of the future Audi A3 show the 2012 model which will debut a few months before the new Volkswagen Golf 7. The two new cars from the VAG group will share about 70 percent of the same components, from the so-called MQB platform. The new Audi Q3 compact SUV in turn will anticipate the A3 and its new components in a model which will debut in 2011.

    The third generation A3 will be availale in a three-door coupe version and a five-door Sportback version with a similar look around the doors to the Q5 and the Q7. The new Audi A3 has a planned production schedule of 200,000 units a year and with the shared Golf platform, we could see hybrid and electric versions emerge.

    Standard versions of the A3 will appear with the three-cylinder, 1.2-litre TDI engine with 75 hp, which has CO2 emissions of just 89 g/km. The top of the range Audi S3 will have the 2.0-litre TFSI twin turbo with 300 hp. A new engine to appear will be the 2.0 TDI with increased power to 184 hp and the whole engine range will be Euro 6 compliant.

    New Audi A3 renderings

    New Audi A3 renderings New Audi A3 renderings New Audi A3 renderings

    Source | Auto Motor und Sport


  • A belief in flexible intelligence

    Photo by Flickr user Pink Sherbet Photography / D Sharon Pruitt. Click for sourceThe Chronicle of Higher Education has an excellent piece about psychologist Carol Dweck’s work which has highlighted how what you believe about intelligence has an effect on how you perform.

    Dwecks’s work has garnered a great deal of attention and her main findings have suggested that children praised for their ‘hard work’ do significantly better when challenged with difficult problem that those who are told that they are ‘intelligent’.

    The Chronicle article is a fantastic update to some of the more congratulatory pieces that have appeared in the press as it covers some of the work from other research groups that didn’t find the effect or has only found it under limited circumstances.

    The studies wondered whether students’ beliefs about intelligence (“entity” [fixed] versus “incremental,” [flexible] in Dweck’s terms) would affect how long they practiced before taking the test, whether they chose to listen to distracting music while practicing, and how they would explain their low scores after taking the test.

    The answer turned out to be: It depends. The Michigan studies divided the incremental theorists (that is, the students who implicitly believed that intelligence is malleable) into two groups: Those whose sense of self-worth was tied to academic performance and those who didn’t care so much about school. The latter group—those whose egos were not deeply invested in schoolwork—behaved as Dweck would have predicted. But among students whose self-worth was tied to academic performance, incremental theorists behaved similarly to students with “fixed” beliefs about intelligence. They avoided practicing, and they “self-handicapped.”

    Link to Chronicle piece on Dwecks’ work.

  • UK Prisoner Tattooing Jail Buddies With Hacked PlayStation Tattoo Gun [Gaming]

    PlayStations are great. You can play games on them, and if you’ve got a PS3 you can also watch Blu-rays and surf the internet. If you happened to be in a UK jail, you could even get inked by one. More »










    PlayStationTattooBodyartArtsVideo game

  • Watch Lost Finale – How did Lost End?: Lost Finale Updates

    Lost Final Episode – Watch Lost Ending, in the site that provide uploaded videos online, after six years of thrilling and exciting twist and turn of the story finally the Lost come to and end.



    The viewers were fascinated as storytellers by what makes people the way they are said the Damon Lindelof “Lost” co-creator as he recall the whole story. However the story on the island did happen and Jack died at the end of Lost. Some viewers notice that there were no plot resolution and many things in the story did not go well in the ending. And many question left unanswered What was the deal with Jacob’s Cabin? What is the island? How was Hurley able to see dead people? If the island is built by someone well who built it?

    Even though the viewers see every twist and turn in the characters story has resolve. But all in all everything goes well thumbs up to the producer and director of the Lost.

    Related posts:

    1. Lost Ending: Lost Finale Explained!
    2. Lost Finale: Spoilers and Teasers
    3. FlashForward Cancelled Due to Low Ratings

  • Salón del Automóvil Ecológico de Madrid 2010: BYD

    salon_madrid_2010_0417.jpg

    2010 es el año en el que el mercado automovilístico español tendrá un nuevo fabricante chino: BYD. La marca estuvo presente en el Salón del Automóvil Ecológico de Madrid que se clausuró ayer y fue una buena oportunidad para que el público español conociera de primera mano los dos productos que comenzará a vender en los últimos meses de este año a través de un acuerdo con el Grupo Bergé.

    Aunque la división fabricante de vehículos de BYD Company Ltd. fue inaugurada en 2003, la compañía ya tenía casi una década de experiencia a sus espaldas. En concreto, en ese tiempo se había convertido en el constructor de baterías recargables de níquel y litio más grande del mundo. Esta experiencia es la que le ha ayudado a BYD Auto a fabricar coches híbridos y eléctricos de gran nivel, cuya autonomía es superior a la competencia.

    salon_madrid_2010_0418.jpg

    Cuando BYD entre en España lo hará con dos modelos ecológicos, uno de los cuales es el F3DM. Basado en la anterior generación del Toyota Corolla americano, utiliza un sistema de propulsión llamado Dual Mode que combina las características de un vehículo eléctrico con las de un híbrido. Es decir, puede funcionar como ambos dependiendo del ritmo de conducción requerido.

    Consta de un motor de gasolina de 1 litro que genera 67 caballos de potencia, otro eléctrico también de 67 CV y 400 Nm de par, y un generador que controla el rendimiento del bloque térmico para reducir su consumo de combustible. En total, la potencia del F3DM es de 168 CV y ofrece prestaciones de un coche que poseyera un motor de 2.4 litros, cifradas en una velocidad máxima de 150 km/h y una aceleración de 0 a 100 km/h de 10′5 segundos.

    Las baterías que alimentan al motor eléctrico y al generador son de hierro, un material poco utilizado por el resto de fabricantes de coches, pero que ofrece un bajo coste de mantenimiento, peso reducido, alta seguridad y una larga vida útil. Los méritos de esta batería son varios. En primer lugar, en la modalidad de conducción totalmente eléctrica permite al F3DM recorrer hasta 100 kilómetros, mientras que si entra en funcionamiento el motor de gasolina a alto régimen, la autonomía se eleva a 580 kilómetros.

    salon_madrid_2010_0420.jpg

    En segundo lugar, se pueden recargar en una toma de corriente doméstica, evitando tener que depender siempre de los futuros puntos públicos de recarga. El proceso dura siete horas si se abastece del todo la batería, aunque si se usa un punto de recarga rápida, solo tarda diez minutos en llenarse a la mitad.

    Otro logro es su bajo peso mencionado anteriormente. Algunos de los actuales vehículos híbridos y eléctricos tienen baterías muy pesadas que dejan una masa total bastante elevada. Sin embargo, el BYD F3DM alcanza solo 1.560 kilogramos, una cifra respetable que también influye positivamente en la autonomía.

    Por otra parte, para recargar la batería no solamente se hace mediante un enchufe, sino que hay más mecanismos. El F3DM tiene equipado el tradicional sistema de frenada regenerativa, aprovechando la energía disipada en deceleraciones. Pero también hay un panel solar en su techo que convierte la luz solar en electricidad.

    salon_madrid_2010_0422.jpg

    El segundo modelo que empezará a vender BYD en nuestro país será el e6. A diferencia del F3DM, este modelo es original de BYD y es totalmente eléctrico. La marca china lo califica como un mixto familiar de tracción total apto para cinco ocupantes. Sus medidas son: 4′55 metros de largo, 1′88 de ancho y 1′63 de alto.

    Su motor eléctrico proporciona 75 kW (unos 100 CV) y su energía la envía unas baterías de hierro como en el otro modelo. Estas prometen una autonomía récord de 330 kilómetros, más del doble de un Nissan LEAF, por ejemplo. Su velocidad máxima es de 140 km/h y su aceleración de 0 a 100 es de 14 segundos. Una pega es que en el e6 el peso aumenta hasta 2.295 kilogramos.

    Finalmente, Bergé Automoción firmó el mes pasado un acuerdo con Endesa para otorgar varias unidades de estos modelos de BYD para el proyecto de movilidad eléctrica “SmartCity” en Málaga. La compañía eléctrica se comprometió a establecer puntos de recarga públicos tanto en las instalaciones de Bergé Automoción como en las sedes de las empresas asociadas a ella. No obstante, Endesa podrá construir más puntos para recargar baterías para los usuarios de otras marcas que comercializa Bergé en España. Os dejamos con las fotos:

    Fotos | HighMotor



  • Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg: ‘We’ve Made a Bunch of Mistakes’

    There’s been a lot of talk about Facebook privacy and, while a lot of it is warranted, it seems that most people are just exaggerating or reiterating the same points. Nonetheless, it’s a subject that’s not going away anytime soon and it looks like all this may have actually spurred change at the mammoth social network… (read more)

  • Lost Ending: Lost Finale Explained!

    Lost Finale Ending has received lots of critics from “Lost” fanatics. Lost ending seems unsatisfactory from the comments on various Lost Blogs. In the Lost Finale Ending, sawyer or Josh Holloway finds some long-sought closure together with the other castaways. Should the writers of the  Lost Finale explained why it ended that way it did?  Lets take some glance…

    After about six years of airing, Lost finally ends! Lost ending is not that happy as everyone is expecting. Most were not satisfied although some were touched. It is not in doubt that a lot of viewers wanted a happy Lost ending. Sadly, every viewer seems to come in a wrong island.

    Lost finale explained: “The show is, at its heart and soul, a character study. We were fascinated as storytellers by what makes people the way they are.” stated by the “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof.

    Watch the “Lost Ending” over uploaded videos on internet.

    Come and share your thoughts on Lost series finale explanation…

    What can you say about Josh Halloway? … the Lost Ending?

    Are you satisfied? Are you entertained in the Lost finale ending?

    Related posts:

    1. Watch Lost Finale – How did Lost End?: Lost Finale Updates
    2. Lost Finale: Spoilers and Teasers
    3. Remembering the Dr. Linus Latest Show

  • Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Dividend Stock Analysis

    This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net May 17, 2010.

    Linked here is a detailed quantitative analysis of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

    Company Description: Johnson & Johnson engages in the manufacture and sale of various products in the health care field worldwide.

    Fair Value: I consider four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

    1. Avg. High Yield Price
    2. 20-Year DCF Price
    3. Avg. P/E Price
    4. Graham Number

    JNJ is trading at a discount to 1.) and 3.) above. The stock is trading at a 8.9% discount to its calculated fair value of $70.24. JNJ earned a Star in this section since it is trading at a fair value.

    Dividend Analytical Data: In this section there are three possible Stars and three key metrics, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

    1. Free Cash Flow Payout
    2. Debt To Total Capital
    3. Key Metrics
    4. Dividend Growth Rate
    5. Years of Div. Growth
    6. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%

    JNJ earned three Stars in this section for 1.), 2.) and 3.) above. A Star was earned since the Free Cash Flow payout ratio was less than 60% and there were no negative Free Cash Flows over the last 10 years. The stock earned a Star as a result of its most recent Debt to Total Capital being less than 45%. JNJ earned a Star for having an acceptable score in at least two of the four Key Metrics measured. The company has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1944 and has increased its dividend payments for 48 consecutive years.

    Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA)? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

    1. NPV MMA Diff.
    2. Years to > MMA

    JNJ earned a Star in this section for its NPV MMA Diff. of the $1,208. This amount is in excess of the $500 target I look for in a stock that has increased dividends as long as JNJ has. If JNJ grows its dividend at 8.4% per year, it will take 3 years to equal a MMA yielding an estimated 20-year average rate of 4.02%. JNJ earned a check for the Key Metric ‘Years to >MMA’ since its 3 years is less than the 5 year target.

    Other: JNJ is a member of the S&P 500, a Dividend Aristocrat and a member of the Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index.

    Conclusion: JNJ earned one Star in the Fair Value section, earned three Stars in the Dividend Analytical Data section and earned one Star in the Dividend Income vs. MMA section for a total of five Stars. This quantitatively ranks JNJ as a 5 Star-Strong Buy.

    Using my D4L-PreScreen.xls model, I determined the share price would need to increase to $83.33 before JNJ’s NPV MMA Differential decreased to the $500 minimum that I look for in a stock with 48 years of consecutive dividend increases. At that price the stock would yield 2.53%.

    Resetting the D4L-PreScreen.xls model and solving for the dividend growth rate needed to generate the target $500 NPV MMA Differential, the calculated rate is 5.8%. This dividend growth rate is less than the 8.4% used in this analysis, thus providing a margin of safety. JNJ has a risk rating of 1.00 which classifies it as a low risk stock.

    There is no perfect dividend growth stock, but JNJ comes close. The company enjoys a diverse revenue base, an excellent research pipeline, a pristine balance sheet and exceptional free cash-flows to cover it dividend. This diversity and strength will help the company overcome near-term results from patent losses on Risperdal and Topamax. I will continue to add to my position as my allocation allows and when JNJ is trading below my buy price of $70.24. For additional information, including the stock’s dividend history, please refer to its data page.

    Disclaimer: Material presented here is for informational purposes only. The above quantitative stock analysis, including the Star rating, is mechanically calculated and is based on historical information. The analysis assumes the stock will perform in the future as it has in the past. This is generally never true. Before buying or selling any stock you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion. See my Disclaimer for more information.

    Full Disclosure: At the time of this writing, I was long in JNJ (4.4% of my Income Portfolio). See a list of all my income holdings here.

    Related Posts:

  • 15 solar-powered boats to sail clean on blue waters

    code x_4_3i6da_69

    Solar energy seems to be getting on the minds of the designers who are always looking for ways to use this abundant energy to power vehicles. We’ve seen designers come up with sustainable cars and buses that are powered by renewable solar energy for a truly zero-emission ride. Apart from land transport, there have been concepts aimed to green your weekend marine picnics as well. Here is a list of 15 boats that generate propulsion power from an onboard array of solar panels:

    • PlanetSolar Catamaran:

    planet solar_1_ewim8_69

    At 31m long, the PlanetSolar is the world’s largest solar-powered multi-hulled vessel. The boat’s solar panels are expected to produce up to 103.4KW of renewable power. The solar panels allow the PlanetSolar to hit a top speed of about 8 knots. The boat’s 38,000 photovoltaic cells have been provided by SunPower, which are claimed to have an efficiency of at least 22 percent.

    planet solar_2_9fehd_69

    planet solar_6_1wbvr_69

    • ARKKI Solar Boat:

    arkki_2_ludqv_69

    Designed by Janne Leppänen, the ARKKI concept features a huge open space covered with a surface like that on an outdoor basketball court. The entire surface of the boat is covered with multilayer photovoltaic cells that can produce the required energy from the sun to power the boat.

    arkki_1_ape1z_69

    • Solar Powered Personal Boat:

    solar powered boat 33_69

    Costing $10,500, the Solar Powered Personal Boat can ferry up to four adults. The boat is powered by a 700W electric motor that enables the boat to move silently at 5mph. The motor is powered by four deep cycle batteries that are constantly recharged by the sun during daylight hours. The batteries hold a reserve charge that can power the boat for 6 hours after dark.

    • Buffalo’s Solar-Powered Boat:

    buffalo solar boat_1_oj6c7_69

    Designed by Buffalo Solar Boats, this pontoon boat is capable of touring inland waterways and lakes by harnessing solar power from a rooftop array of photovoltaic modules. The PV modules can generate up to 1KW of power, which can be stored in a large onboard battery for use during overcast days.

    buffalo solar boat_2_2eimh_69

    • Solar Proa Catamaran:

    solar proa_1_oifyn_69

    The Solar Proa is a self-sufficient boat designed by Carolin Dissmann, Tibor Bartholomä, Daniel Boos and Andreas Schwab that harnesses solar energy for green power. The Proa is an asymmetric catamaran that provides space for six people with light weight, elegance and sustainability the key aspects of the design. The solar-powered boat has two foldable covers with solar panels on top. When docked, the covers are closed and the entire boat features just one clean and flat surface enabling the solar panels to generate electricity.

    solar proa_3_nqmbe_69

    solar proa_2_j5ybo_69

    • Onda Velocita Powerboat:

    onda powerboat_5_zpn8t_69

    The Onda Velocita Powerboat is a luxury boat that features the latest in technology with traditional design elements to make your ride green and comfortable. The hybrid boat uses a pair of water jet propulsion units, which can be turned off on sunny days, as the boat carries a photovoltaic system on its roof, which generates enough electricity to power the engines and other systems that are installed in it.

    onda powerboat_1_rm2ct_69

    onda powerboat_2_mvzhb_69

    • Sea Raider:

    searaider_b7ovm_69

    Designed by Muhammad Imran, the Sea Raider is equipped with photovoltaic modules to collect solar energy during the day to power the boat and recharge onboard batteries. During the day the boat can power itself using the harnessed solar energy and during nighttime the boat’s batteries take over the system, ensuring a zero-emission cruise irrespective of the time of the day.

    sea raider_5_4ckwa_69

    sea raider_6_i1ppe_69

    • SunCat23 Catamaran:

    suncat 23_aoa4i_69

    Developed by Horizon Yachts, the SunCat23 Catamaran utilizes four solar panels capable of generating 760W of power to fuel a 2.8KW electric outdoor motor. The electric motor propels the catamaran to a top speed of 6 knots while carrying 12 passengers. A fully charged battery bank will be able to power the boat for a day trip, even on a cloudy day.

    • Iron 23 Motorboat:

    iron 23_1_4q3vg_69

    The Iron 23 Motorboat by industrial designer Carl Hagerling features space for three passengers, runs on a solar-powered electric engine and also includes a kitchen and a toilet. The eco-friendly boat features a compact solar array that according to the designer generates enough energy to power the boat. The boat is also equipped with a conventional engine that can be used if the sun isn’t shining or if the juice in the onboard batteries depletes.

    iron 23_10_1mtqr_69

    iron 23_9_ofcdc_69

    • N-DOUR Hybrid:

    n dour_cltzg_69

    The N-DOUR by designer Riccardo Pilurzu is a yacht with multiple purposes. The design was created with the idea of developing a luxurious yacht that will sustain itself for a longer period of time out at sea. The idea is to utilize wind and solar energy to create hydrogen which will later propel the yacht with a hydrogen power plant. The N-DOUR has another trick up its sleeves, when the vessel is docked in the harbor and no electricity is been consumed by the vessel, the yacht will start producing energy for the harbor, therefore providing clean energy to the grid.

    n dour_3_sgr4z_69

    n dour_1_wpnxw_69

    • SolarLab Research’s Solar Shuttle:

    3_ecopv_5784

    The Solar Shuttle by SolarLab Research is a solar-powered boat that has been designed for the 2012 Olympics. The 255-passenger boat features a rooftop array of solar panels that generate the electricity needed for propulsion.

    5_aqa8q_5784

    • Leviathan:

    leviathan_1_nuutq_69

    The Leviathan concept yacht is the work of industrial designer Adam Valmassoi, who believes that the sun and wind have the potential to green your next cruise. The eco-friendly self-sufficient yacht runs on two electric jet pump engines, which are powered by wind turbines and solar panels on board the yacht.

    leviathan_3_kqtjw_69

    leviathan_7_zi3ig_69

    • The Float:

    float_2_rku7i_69

    The Float flat-surfaced boat is a solar-powered double motor concept boat that harvests renewable solar energy using an array of solar panels placed neatly on the roof. Solar power and electric engines don’t make it the fastest boat you’ve ever ridden, but provide a decent cruising speed of up to 10kph. Meant for a marine picnic, the boat is equipped with a table, a grill and a small refrigerator.

    float_1_lldqp_69

    float_4_impmi_69

    • IKKAR:

    ikkar hybrid yacht_03_kna4x_22976

    The IKKAR by designer Julien Anglade is a low-emission futuristic yacht concept that has been designed to bridge the gap between man and sea. The innovative concept yacht features a simple yet elegant design that can change its shape according to the location for the comfort of the passengers. The 150m-long IKKAR includes a streamlined hull for better fuel efficiency, and its main sail is equipped with rigid photovoltaic panels that help generate energy to power the boat.

    ikkar hybrid yacht_05_ml1x8_22976

    ikkar hybrid yacht_04_qkscj_22976

    • Code X Yacht:

    code x_2_bpfdr_69

    The 47′ 7” Code X yacht comes with a hybrid engine that can either give you a thumping 710hp by twin Ilmor Formula 1 engines to propel the yacht at a speed in excess of 80 knots or a more leisurely 9 knots using its twin electric motors. The battery pack has the capability to run continuously for two hours and can be recharged using the on-board solar panels for additional leisure.

    code x_3_5bwz2_69

    code x_4_3i6da_69

  • 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S and M3 TORNADO CS

    2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S and M3 TORNADO CS - Front Angle Top View

    G-POWER present the G-POWER M3 TORNADO CS as the civilian version of the imposing G-POWER M3 GT2 S. When it comes to performance, both vehicles rely on the mighty SK II CS supercharger system. Following intensive development work, starting with CAD development, and followed by prototype build and extensive test driving and hot weather testing in the United Arab Emirates, this system sets new benchmarks in performance and quality. At the heart of the supercharger system is the high-performance ASA T1-522 radial compressor, which also runs in a similar format in the ALPINA B6 GT3 race car. A dual-flow carbon air intake, a substantial cast aluminium charge air cooler and a cast aluminium airbox provide the fundamentals enabling the maximum charge pressure of 0.5 bar to generate output of 600 hp and 580 Nm. In order that the increased output remains weight neutral, G-POWER uses a titanium exhaust system that delivers a considerable reduction in both back pressure and weight with its manifold and 2 x 100 dcpi metal catalytic converters. The weight advantage versus the series production exhaust system is no less than 26 kg.

    2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S and M3 TORNADO CS - Front Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S and M3 TORNADO CS - Rear Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Engine View

    G-POWER was also able to make further savings in the wheel rims. All-new forged SIVERSTONE CLUBSPORT alloy rims measuring 9.0 X 20 inches and 10.5 X 20 inches for the TORNADO CS, and 3-part SILVERSTONE RS forged wheels measuring 9.0 X 20 and 11.5 X 20 inches on the GT2 S significantly reduce unsprung mass, thus delivering better acceleration and greater cornering agility. The TORNADO CS is guaranteed firm grip with the tarmac courtesy of 255/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 20 MICHELIN Pilot Sport tyres, while the G-POWER GT2 S is fitted with MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup sports rubber measuring 245/30 R 20 and 315/25 R 20.

    The GT2 S handles the dash from 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. The G-POWER M3 TORNADO CS does the same trip in 4.3 seconds and from 0-200 km in 11.8 seconds. The top speed for both vehicles is limited by transmission ratios. With the 6-speed manual it stands at more than 320 km/h and with the 7-speed DCT at more than 330 km/h.

    G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S 2010 - Front Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Front Side View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Rear Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Rear View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Side Skirt View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 GT2 S - Wheel And Rear Spoiler View G-POWER BMW M3 TORNADO CS 2010 - Front Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 TORNADO CS - Front Side View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 TORNADO CS - Front skirt View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 TORNADO CS - Rear Angle View 2010 G-POWER BMW M3 TORNADO CS - Wheel View

    Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

  • Lexus takes Gen XY on a ‘Dark Ride’:

    Lexus’ small CT 200h hybrid won’t go on sale until February, but a short online movie called Dark Ride is already promoting the vehicle and reaching out to younger buyers.

    Lexus and its ad agency, Skinny, aim to generate excitement among consumers 16 to 44 — known as Gen XY. That demographic is a far cry from the median age of Lexus’ owners — 57.

    The movie is interactive, with online participants commanding the wheel of a CT 200h. The mission is to prevent the opposition from stealing the car’s hybrid technology while driving safely to Los Angeles. The driver makes the decisions.

    The movie trailer began running on lexusdarkride.com on March 31. The movie debuted on lexus.com on May 14.

    “This is the longest pre-launch we’ve ever had,” says Lynda Eguchi, marketing strategy and life cycle manager for Lexus. “This will be the new gateway for getting to Gen XY. We want to move them into the Lexus family.”

    At 170.1 inches long, the CT 200h will be the smallest Lexus. The front-wheel-drive car is powered by a 1.8-liter inline-four engine.

    “This allows us to market the car and reach out to consumers in a different way,” Eguchi says. “It is one way of being totally immersed in the car without having the car.

    “You can feel the driving experience. You can customize it, have your voice in the film with pictures, your own dialogue. You choose which direction you want the film to go.”

    Hand-raisers also can get an exclusive Dark Ride card that allows them to participate in various offers and events. Test drives of the vehicle will begin this fall.

    Eguchi would not say what the cost of the pre-launch is and says it’s too early to measure the success of the movie. But, she says, Lexus is learning how to talk to Gen XY.

    “They’re more media-savvy, more online,” Eguchi says. “We will be capturing a big part of this crowd.”

    For more


    Dark Ride

    Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

  • Audi to compete against BMW’s Megacity with its all-electric A2

    audi a2

    Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicle powered by an all-electric engine.

    According to recent reports the Audi A2 will be an electric-only car when launched in 2012. The vehicle is set to be pitched against BMW’s Megacity, which is due to go on sale in 2013. The second generation model will drop the pricey spaceframe construction of the original A2 for a conventional steel-monocoque from the Audi A1.

    (more…)