(This is a guest post by Dave Forest from oilprice.com.)
Metals investors globally were cheered this week by good news from Aluminum Corp. of China (A.K.A. Chalco).
The aluminum giant swung back into profitability for the first time in a year during the first quarter. Chalco enjoyed net income of 627 million yuan ($92 million) for the past quarter, as compared with a loss of 1.9 billion yuan ($280 million) in Q1 2009.
Good times appear to be back for the company. Chalco’s plants ran at more than 90% of capacity in Q1, buoyed by rising aluminum prices in Shanghai (and around the world).
This is exactly what the Chinese government wants to see.
In the wake of the financial crisis, one of the biggest stories for the metals was buying of copper, aluminum and iron ore by state-run Chinese firms. At the time, this buying spree was attributed to China’s “insatiable thirst” for metals, needed to fuel rampant infrastructure development in the country.
But reading between the lines, there appeared to be a different explanation for the buying.
In several speeches early in 2009, Chinese government officials talked about the importance of raising domestic metals prices. The reason? Staving off unemployment.
Many of the large Chinese metals producers run at very high operating costs. In fact, just this week Citigroup commented that Chalco’s attempts at cost reduction over the past year have been largely ineffective, and that the company “could face more pressure with higher coal prices and potential power tariff adjustments.”
Because of the high op costs, Chinese producers need high metals prices in order to stay profitable. When prices fell late in 2008, Beijing worried that low prices would put high-cost producers out of business.
Widespread shut-downs mean unemployment. Something the Chinese government fears. Revolutions are born when workers become discontented.
Keeping metals companies in business was a top priority. And that meant getting metals prices up. Many of the comments from Beijing early in 2009 suggest this was the primary goal of metals stockpiling. Securing supplies for infrastructure building was secondary. (A fact becoming glaringly apparent, with most of the stockpiled metal still sitting in storage. Very little building appears to be happening.)
Fast-forward a year and the government is finally getting what it wanted. Producers like Chalco are making money again. Operations are running at full capacity, with managers even eying expansions. All good for employment. The question now is: will metals buying by the Chinese state drop off? With the mission accomplished, can Beijing afford to relax in the metals markets?
And what effect would this have on prices? Speculators and buyers from around the world have stepped into the metals markets over the past year, taking some of the pressure off Beijing to be the “buyer of last resort”.
If the Chinese government does back off, it will be up to these players to support the market. We’ll see how deep their pockets are.
Cypress demonstrating their large format multi-touch technology
Press Release: Cypress Semiconductor Corp. today announced that the TrueTouch™ touchscreen solution is natively supported in the soon to be released Windows®Phone 7 Series mobile handset platform. This support allows handset manufacturers using the Windows Phone 7 Series to implement exciting capacitive touchscreen interfaces without the need for developing external drivers or custom software development.
“Cypress is proud to see the TrueTouch solution selected for native support within this exciting new platform,” said Dhwani Vyas, vice president of the User Interface Business Unit at Cypress. “Of the many touchscreen products available, none offers the advanced features and flexibility of TrueTouch. The interface within Windows Phone 7 Series enables manufacturers to take advantage of these attributes quickly and seamlessly. This software support, coupled with our broad family of devices, is going to significantly reduce time-to-market for the next generation of capacitive-touch-enabled Windows Phone 7 Series phones.”
Cypress recently announced its next-generation high performance TMA300 multi-touch all-point family. This controller provides best-in-class scan times for true multi-finger touch and superior signal-to-noise ratio for the most demanding touchscreen applications. Cypress has also recently demonstrated advanced functions such as 1 mm stylus and large touchscreen support. Additional information about the TrueTouch solution is available at www.cypress.com/go/TrueTouch.
The flexible TrueTouch solution allows customers to rapidly develop leading-edge solutions without having to buy turnkey modules. They have a choice of using touch sensors (glass or film) and LCDs from preferred partners, and can develop innovative mechanical designs ranging from flat to curved surfaces of varying thickness. In addition, TrueTouch devices offer Cypress’s legendary noise immunity with patented capacitive sensing technology that enables flawless operation in noisy RF and LCD environments.
About Cypress
Cypress delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Cypress offerings include the flagship PSoC® programmable system-on-chip families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC® solutions for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense® touch sensing and TrueTouch™ solutions for touchscreens. Cypress is the world leader in USB controllers, including the high-performance West Bridge® solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. Cypress is also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. Cypress serves numerous markets including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military. Cypress trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol CY. Visit Cypress online at www.cypress.com.
Vince McMahon’s absence from the campaign trail ended abruptly in Greenwich Wednesday night.
The wrestling kingpin accompanied his wife, U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, to a charity gala hosted by Sacred Heart University. Linda’s leading Democratic opponent, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, also attended.
Moments after the master of ceremonies, “The Early Show” weatherman Dave Price, acknowledged Blumenthal’s presence, Vince jumped onto the dias, casually brushed past the MC, took control of the microphone and introduced himself to the audience.
My name is Vince McMahon and my wife is the one who’s going to beat you this fall, McMahon reportedly said. (I wasn’t there, but an account of the episode was relayed to me by three separate individuals.)
Apparently, both Sacred Heart and the McMahon campaign videotaped the event, though as of late this afternoon, neither organization had posted anything on You Tube (that I could tell.)
Earlier in the night, as Blumenthal worked the room, one of the hosts introduced him to Vince.
As the two men shook hands, Vince told Blumenthal that his wife is going to “whoop” the AG. Blumenthal laughed and said he’s heard it before.
The event was the school’s 21st annual Discovery Dinner, which honors “the gifts of caring and accomplished people” while raising money for a Sacred Heart scholarship fund that aids low-income students in Fairfield County. This year’s honorees included Larry Kudlow, a CNBC pundit once mentioned as a possible candidate for Senate, Charles Gasparino, a Fox Business Network correspondent and Monsignor Kevin Wallin of Bridgeport diocese.
Linda McMahon serves on Sacred Heart’s board of trustees.
Microsoft’s online services division revenue increased modestly year over year, rising to $566 million. That’s about a $2.2 billion run-rate. And that’s the good news.
Microsoft’s online services division losses exploded to $713 million, up from $411 million a year ago. That’s almost a $3 billion loss run-rate.
Some of the increase in losses resulted from “transition costs” associated with the Yahoo deal, so we’ll assume they are one-time. Most of the rest of the increased losses appear to be normal operating expenses:
OSD revenue increased primarily as a result of increased online advertising revenue, offset in part by decreased Access revenue. Online advertising revenue increased $81 million or 19%, to $502 million, reflecting an increase in search and display advertising revenue, offset in part by decreased advertiser and publisher tools revenue. Access revenue decreased $14 million or 33%, reflecting continued migration of subscribers to broadband or other competitively-priced service providers.
OSD revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 included a favorable foreign currency exchange impact of $13 million.
OSD operating loss increased due to increased operating expenses, offset in part by increased revenue. General and administrative expenses increased $154 million due mainly to transition expenses associated with the inception of the Yahoo! Commercial Agreement. Research and development expenses increased $74 million or 33%, primarily due to increased headcount-related expenses and reimbursement to Yahoo for certain of their costs incurred prior to migration to the Microsoft platform. Sales and marketing expenses increased $69 million or 30% due to increased marketing activities. Cost of revenue increased $64 million or 15%, primarily driven by higher online traffic acquisition costs.
It’s hard to describe how awful this business looks in isolation. We’re talking about a business with plenty of scale–more than $2 billion of revenue–that is still losing more than it generates in revenue. This in an industry sector in which even the WORST competitor, AOL, is still making plenty of money.
Here’s a chart of all the money Microsoft has lost for the past four years. This quarter’s loss, which is not yet reflected, will almost set a new quarterly record again.
Senate Democrats released details Wednesday of a five-year budget plan that promises to narrow the deficit dramatically by 2015 but still accumulates almost $3.9 trillion more government debt over the same period.
Trying to survive the political storm around them, Democrats would postpone the toughest decisions until after November’s elections, when a presidential fiscal commission is scheduled to make its report to Congress. But there is no escaping the political bind that grips the party, exhausted from the debate over health care reform and under political pressure to extend Bush-era tax cuts.
Health care ate up most of the available Medicare savings and popular tax offsets that might otherwise be tapped to narrow the deficit. And as a result, it’s harder to dig out of the deficit hole, and little progress will be made in the short term absent a further surge in the economy.
It used to be that I’d see a new Nokia handset launched every few days — at least it felt that way — but lately, that pace appears to have slowed. The company released three new social networking-focused devices earlier this month, but my perception is that Nokia is currently focused more on software over hardware. That in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, as Nokia has plenty of handset models to peddle. Even with this perceived focus shift, however, Nokia can’t get its new Symbian 3 platform out the door fast enough to square off against increased competition.
Aside from the fast-paced platform changes, I agree with Larry Dignan of ZDNet who today writes that: “Companies like Apple and Research in Motion are touting big gains in international sales, notably China. Nokia is dominant in most regions, but the competition will increase.” Indeed, over the past six months, Apple sales topped $1.2 billion in China while iPhone sales alone jumped 474 percent in the Asia-Pacific region.
Facing that growth from a competitor in a huge international market while other challengers are updating their own platforms, Nokia needs to get Symbian out the door in a hurry. Om probably underscores my concern best when discussing the new operating system in his interview with Nokia Chairman, CEO and President Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo: “I’m not holding my breath, however, mostly because I think the guys at Apple and Android are innovating at Internet speed.” The market is moving faster than Nokia is right now. Once Symbian 3 arrives, we’ll know for sure if Nokia has leapfrogged the competition, only just caught up or is still a few steps behind.
Earth Day 2010 is here, and the Discovery Channel Store has an amazing deal that we had to let you in on to celebrate the occasion—you can get both the Planet Earth series and the Life series as a Blu-ray set for $50. Shipping is $4, so for $54 total, you get both documentary series on Blu-ray, which would normally cost $169.90 in total. It’s basically a steal, the visuals are jaw-dropping, and it’s a bit more Earth Day-ish than Avatar.
I’m often pretty sure nothing would be more cathartic than blasting holes in my console. Having Master Chief do the dirty work for me, like in this case mod? All the sweeter. Best of all: you can actually buy it. More »
“Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement released today. “This is an important consumer protection, and we believe it should take effect as planned.”
The rule, which goes into effect on April 29, “prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at large and medium hub airports for more than three hours without deplaning passengers.”
JetBlue had requested an exemption from the rule for New York’s JFK Airport until the main runway there is reopened on Dec. 1.
Delta and American also made exemption requests for JFK. Continental tried to double up with exemptions at both LaGuardia Airport and Newark International Airport. And U.S. Airways asked for a delay in observing the rule at Philadelphia International Airport.
Here’s the DOT’s rationale:
In denying the requests, the Department concluded that airlines could minimize tarmac delays by rerouting or rescheduling flights at JFK to allow the airport’s other three runways to absorb the extra traffic. The Department also noted that it has the ability to take into account the impact of the runway closure and the harm to consumers when deciding whether to pursue enforcement action for failure to comply with the rule and the amount of a fine, if any, to seek as a result of non-compliance.
Under the rule, airlines can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger for violations. Some have argued that this will actually result in longer waits for passengers by punishing the airlines and not air traffic control, while proponents maintain that only a small number of flights will make it all the way to three hours.
Honda Civic Type R Euro Mugen – Click above for high-res image gallery
The Honda Civic Type R Euro has been a solid hit in Japan. The UK-built hatchback packs 201 horsepower, love-it-or-leave-it styling and a suspension that has been honed on the lunging tarmac of Europe. No, it may not be as fast as its predecessors, but that hasn’t stopped Japanese buyers from snapping them up in troves. Honda says that since the car went on sale in November, the company has sold 1,850 units on its home turf.
To celebrate, Honda is turning out a special edition version of the Civic Type R Euro three-door. Don’t expect anything too radical, though. The car is basically a styling update and not much else. The bodywork gets a slight redesign for the 2010 model year. If Honda’s planning anything spectacular, the company is keeping its secrets to itself.
For those of you still holding onto the hope that we may finally see a hatchback version of the Civic here in the States once again, keep dreaming. Hit the jump for the press release.
Cofounder and Senior Vice President of Research, Amyris Berkeley, Calif.
He may look like an amiable Deadhead, but Jack Newman, 44—that would
be Dr. Newman to you—is a Berkeley microbiologist who cofounded Amyris,
a start-up that went from bioengineering a microbe to produce an
anti-malarial drug to genetically tweaking a bug to excrete biodiesel
(crazy, right?). Amyris, which has a pilot project under way in Brazil,
is backed by high-profile Silicon Valley venture capitalists.
Previewed by patent drawings this past weekend, General Motors today unveiled its new Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Electric Concept, a 5-passneger electric extended-range vehicle that demonstrates the potential of GM’s Voltec propulsion system by using the same powertrain as the Volt.
“The Volt MPV5 concept takes the efficient design of the Chevrolet Volt and adapts it to the family vehicle crossover segment. It’s immediately recognizable as a true member of the Chevrolet family,” said Bob Boniface, Director of GM North America Crossover Exterior Design, whose team worked in conjunction with members of GM’s design studio in Australia on the Volt MPV5 concept.
The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Electric Concept uses the same system found in the Volt – a 16-kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric drive unit while the 1.4L engine generator provides additional mileage, killing what GM calls “range anxiety.” On a full charge, the Volt MPV5 Electric Concept can travel 32 miles on battery power alone. Running with the 1.4L 4-cylinder engine (and a fully charged battery), the concept can travel a total of 300 miles.
No word on whether GM will produce the Volt MPV5 Electric Concept – but we wouldn’t doubt it.
Click through for the press release and the high-res image gallery.
Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Electric Concept:
Press Release:
GM Unveils Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Electric Concept at Auto China 2010
Crossover with Extended Range Capability Builds on Volt’s Foundation
Beijing – Chevrolet has made a major commitment to providing world-class, fuel-efficient vehicles to its customers around the world. In recent months, through GM’s Shanghai GM joint venture, Chevrolet has introduced the fuel-efficient Cruze and New Sail in China. It will introduce the Volt electric vehicle with extended range capability in 2011.
In preparation for the Volt’s arrival, Chevrolet is leveraging Auto China 2010, which starts today in Beijing, to introduce the Volt MPV5 electric concept. The five-passenger multi-purpose crossover concept demonstrates the potential of the Voltec propulsion system by utilizing the same foundation as the Volt, for gas- and tailpipe emissions-free electric driving.
Maximizing Efficiency and Style
The styling of the Volt MPV5 concept borrows design and aerodynamic cues from the Chevrolet Volt. The front fascia is among the most aerodynamic of any crossover thanks to its closed grille and aero-optimized lower air dam, both of which help improve fuel efficiency. A full-underbody belly pan, along with rocker claddings, creased tail lamps and specially designed blades on the rear quarter, also help the Volt MPV5 concept cut through the wind with ease. The intense focus on improved aerodynamics enables greater all-electric range.
The exterior of the Volt MPV5 concept isn’t solely about efficiency. Its Sonic Blue Metallic paint provides a contemporary appeal, while the dual skylight panels and 19-inch Volt-inspired wheels build the Volt MPV5 concept’s sporty credentials.
The Volt MPV5 concept’s dimensions provide added passenger comfort. While the 2,760-mm wheelbase of the Volt MPV5 concept is a mere 15 mm longer than the wheelbase of the Chevrolet Volt, its body is 181 mm longer (4,585 mm), 73 mm wider (1,871 mm) and 182 mm taller (1,612 mm) than the Volt.
Inside, the Volt MPV5 concept adopts the Volt’s center stack and gauge cluster along with its striking two-tone leather seats. Thanks to the Volt MPV5 concept’s size, passenger comfort doesn’t take a backseat. Typical for Chevrolet crossovers, the Volt MPV5 concept’s seating position allows for maximum comfort and flexibility, including improved entry and egress.
When it comes to cargo, the Volt MPV5 concept carries on the crossover tradition thanks to its flip-and-fold second row seating, which provides up to 1,764.1 liters of cargo space with the seats folded and 863.7 liters of space behind the second row.
Voltec Power Boosts Green Credentials
The Volt MPV5 concept utilizes the same Voltec propulsion system found in the Chevrolet Volt, including the added capability of an engine generator to extend the driving range and eliminate “range anxiety.” A 16-kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric drive unit.
The flexibility of the Voltec system enables the Volt MPV5 concept to meet full vehicle speed and acceleration requirements while driving the vehicle and its five occupants up to 51.5 km on pure electric propulsion. This is double what the average urban commuter in China travels each day. When the battery is depleted, a 1.4-liter engine generator sustains the battery charge and provides up to 482 km of electric propulsion.
“The Volt MPV5 concept demonstrates the flexibility of the Voltec propulsion system, which can produce enough electric power to propel a range of vehicles. from a compact sedan like the Volt to a crossover like the Volt MPV5 concept,” said Doug Parks, Global Vehicle Line Executive and Global Vehicle Chief Engineer for Electric Vehicles at GM.
“Rapidly growing demand for personal transportation across China is creating new environmental and energy security challenges,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “GM is committed to finding and adopting solutions, which include the electrification of the automobile. The world premiere of the Volt MPV5 concept in Beijing demonstrates GM’s desire to make China a global focus of its advanced technology strategy.”
GM continues to advance electrification in China through research and development. It has launched the China Automotive Energy Research Center (CAERC) in Beijing. The venture with SAIC and Tsinghua University is developing a comprehensive automotive energy strategy for China. The GM China Science Lab, which opened last November, is carrying out advanced automotive-related research, including battery development. In March, GM introduced the EN-V (Electric Networked-Vehicle) concepts in Shanghai. A centerpiece of the SAIC-GM Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai, EN-V embodies GM’s vision for personal urban mobility in 2030. In addition, GM is supporting its Shanghai GM joint venture’s “Drive to Green” strategy, which is focused on developing green products, supporting green manufacturing and undertaking a green responsibility.
Chief Executive Director, North Lawndale Employment Network Chicago, Ill.
Brenda Palms-Barber never meant to start a green project. She
just wanted to create jobs for the residents of Chicago’s North
Lawndale neighborhood, 57 percent of whom have been incarcerated or had
some involvement with the criminal justice system. As chief executive
director of the North Lawndale Employment Network, she hatched the idea for Sweet Beginnings,
an urban honey farming business that trains and employs locals who
would otherwise have a hard time finding a job. In addition to selling
honey, Sweet Beginnings produces the beeline brand
of all-natural personal-care products, which are now sold in Chicago
Whole Foods stores, among other outlets. A sweet idea all around.
Chances are you’ve seen the lengths to which the human race is capable of going with a Lego brick. If not, here’s a primer. Among the objects people have managed to render in Lego are the Titanic, Mount Rushmore, the Airbus A380, the Cathedral of Berlin and the entire city of Venice. Legoland, Calif., features an Obama inauguration in Lego, complete with a crowd in front of the Capitol. A vineyard in Surrey, England, contains an entire Lego house—human scale. And a 98-foot, 4-inch tower of Lego raised in Munich last year took the Guinness record for tallest freestanding Lego structure. Lots of people love their brands, but you just don’t see people devoting their lives to stuff like mouthwash or potato chips the way people do with Lego. Now, thanks to Jonathan Bender, we know what makes them tick. Bender’s just-released book, Lego: A Love Story, probes deep into the arcana of plastic bricks—also known as the domain of AFOL (the Adult Fans of Lego)—to explain why some people give over their basements to their Lego creations and what it takes to be chosen as a Master Builder for the Lego company (hint: you’d better know how to make more than a ski hut). Bender’s first-person account makes for good reading, but what bears mentioning in all this is that a planet’s worth of Lego nuts have furnished the Lego Corporation—which started out in Denmark as a wooden-toy maker in 1934—with the best marketing on earth: the kind customers do for you, for free.
(This blog by Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, is re-posted here with permission.)
By Frances Beinecke
I don’t remember exactly what I did on the first Earth Day 40 years ago, but I rememberexactly how I felt: deeply relieved.
Frances Beinecke
You have to realize, the spring of 1970 was a tumultuous time. I was a junior at Yale, but most of us were essentially on strike. We never went to class, because we were far too embroiled in the political upheaval around us.Students were up in arms about the draft. Protests against the escalation in Vietnam had reached a fevered pitch–indeed four students would be shot dead by National Guardsmen at Kent State that May. Meanwhile the National Guard had descended on the streets of New Haven because Bobby Seale, the co-founder of the Black Panthers, was on trial downtown.It was a tense, stressful time.
And in the midst of this came Earth Day. It was the opposite of all the chaos surrounding us. Instead of war and killing, Earth Day was about peace, love, and optimism.
It was a spontaneous eruption of idealism. Sure, we could all see the planet was going to hell, but here was a group of people who believed we could turn it around and make a real, lasting difference.
The spirit of Earth Day was like a positive lifeline for many of us who were feeling overwhelmed by those turbulent days. Here is a picture of my from that time.
I hadn’t yet started to call myself an environmentalist then. I was majoring in Urban Studies, and it wasn’t until later that summer when I was working for the New York City Health Department on lead poisoning that I started seeing the connections between what I cared about and the state of the environment. Within a few years, I would be working at NRDC, which also started in 1970.
But I was first moved by the optimism of that first Earth Day. There was an idealism about it that resonates with me still.
Of course, Earth Day has changed over the years, but the fact that is has reached its 40th anniversary is a testament to its enduring values. Earth Day began as a happening, a burst of conviction, but there were a lot of those back in 1970. Most died down after awhile.
Earth Day remains. Its power no longer resides on the Mall in Washington, but instead is spread out across the nation, in communities, schools, businesses, and every day lives. It has morphed into an annual reminder of our commitment to the environment.
It is a time for people to take environmental action on the ground where they live. It is also a time when journalists, CEO’s, and elected officials are called on to take stock of environmental actions. Granted plenty of green-washing goes on every April, but I am still grateful for the way Earth Day brings the environment into the forefront of public consciousness.
Because the only way to sustain Earth Day’s values is to make them the mandate of everyone, not just the environmental community.
Whatever shape your environmental commitment takes, use Earth Day to bring it to the next level. Remember, studies show that many small actions add up to enormous change. Then friend me on Facebook and tell me what you will be doing this Earth Day.
I have already started thinking about my Earth Day Resolutions (here is a post about past resolutions). I will soon be planting my garden, and this year I will try to make it more abundant. I am also exploring ways to make my home greener and to solve some of the challenges of retrofitting a 120-year-old house. I am also helping my daughter plan her wedding, and we hope to make it as green as possible, from using paperless, recycled or bamboo invitations to serving local Hudson Valley food and identifying the public transit options available in New York City.
And of course I will continue to push the Senate to pass clean energy and climate legislation later this spring. It will be a tough fight, but as the first Earth Day demonstrated, people taking positive action really can make a difference.
Hoy se a liberado la Release Candidate de Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx y podemos afirmar que no tendrá mas cambios significativos hasta dentro de unos días cuando se libera la versión final. Razón por la cual a muchos ya se nos presenta como una oportunidad para actualizar nuestro ubuntu 9.10 antes que todo el mundo y tener problemas de velocidad (ya que el día de la liberación todos lo van a bajar y actualizar).
Para actualizar ahora o cuando salga la versión final lo que debemos hacer es introducir el siguiente comando en el terminal:
sudo update-manager -d
Luego nos ejecutara el gestor de actualizaciones con una leyenda en la parte superior como la de la siguiente imagen:
Hacemos clic en actualizar, después nos saldra la nota de versión de Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, nuevamente pulsamos en actualizar y el gestor comenzara a realizar las tareas necesarias para la actualización.
Mientras que se descargan los paquetes de la nueva versión podremos seguir usando nuestro ubuntu sin ningún problema.
Digital Designer, Urban Advantage El Cerrito, Calif.
Digital artist Steve Price, 59, wants to show you the future of green urbanism—literally show you. He creates photo simulations of what blighted urban
landscapes would look like if they were transformed into healthier,
safer, more sustainable places—and pretty sweet spots to live.
Price’s Berkeley firm, Urban Advantage,
builds “photo-realistic visualizations” for developers, design firms,
and local governments that want to show how walkable urban development
could revitalize an area. “Everybody kind of nods and agrees and knits
their brows as they listen to statistics and information about economic
development,” Price said of the public meetings he’s attended. “Then
they see the pictures, and that’s when the smiles occur. And the ‘oohs’
and ‘ahs.’” Read a Grist profile of Price.
Ooh and ah over this animation of a street in Lancaster, Calif.:
Driving is a sight-response game and as the line between robots and cars begins to blur, cars will develop ever more advanced vision systems. Subaru began fitting a stereoscopic “EyeSight” system to some Japanese market cars nearly two years ago and has just announced a major upgrade. It’s reportedly a major improvement, but it’s worth thinking about the issues associated with becoming reliant upon systems which take over the responsibility for driving your car…
Continue Reading Subaru develops advanced stereoscopic vision system for cars
Haven’t listened to our Thursday Night Podcast live yet? You simply don’t know what you’re missing! We have a good time, give away tons of prizes, and feature incredible guests on the show all in an upbeat format. Tonight we’ll be covering:
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Might We Suggest…
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In late November 2009, China announced its intention to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions within the Chinese economy by 40-45% by 2020, as compared with a 2005 baseline. China then reported this goal to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat on January 28, 2010.
This announcement, coming on the heels of the United States’ announced pledge of a 17% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2020, garnered a great deal of attention within both the US and internationally, with experts weighing in with both approval and doubts about China’s ambition.
To enhance understanding of China’s commitment, we provide answers to the major questions related to the Chinese carbon intensity target below:
What is a carbon intensity goal?
What is the baseline for China’s carbon intensity goal?
What is the purpose of a carbon intensity goal?
What does this carbon intensity goal mean for absolute emissions?
Is China’s target a sufficient challenge?
How will China and the rest of the world track and report on progress toward meeting this goal?
(This is a guest post by Dave Forest from oilprice.com.)
