Although the majority of the championship’s big guns have already announced that their car launches will take place prior to the Valencia testing on February 1st – so they can have their 2010 challengers ready for test drives in the early days of February – the one team credited with the highest chances of battling for the 2010 title revealed they’re likely to miss the Valencia meeting.
Red Bull team manager Christian Horner admitted that the new regulations for the 2010 season ha… (read more)
Rachel patiently points out why the Republican charges of racism are so wrong.
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Her guest, Tricia Rose, pointed out that this could only come because people have so little real understanding about the real consequences of structural discrimination. And even more, it points to a problem in recognizing reality.
So how many conservatives get things wrong because they have little empathy for others and thus are out of touch with reality? Paul Krugman noted today that Roger Ailes might not be simply politically opportunistic, but also illogically paranoid. And Digby caught Sally Quinn believing that she too is the target of a vast terrorist conspiracy.
Perhaps this explains the reason Scott Lively1 wrote an entire book that says homosexuals were responsible for the Nazi totalitarianism. Lively too turns day into night, because he accuses the victims of Hitler of being the perpetrators even though there is overwhelming evidence that homosexuals were explicitly targeted for death by Hitler’s regime.
It is so nice to believe the injustice and persecution of some out group is justified when one feels threatened by them for some imaginary reason.
(1) Scott Lively is an evangelical who thinks homosexuality is the root of all evil and helped convince the Ugandans that they needed to deal with the danger which led to the proposed law to put homosexuals to death.
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Wonji, a town in Oromia region, located 100km to the east of Addis Ababa, is going to host an industrial zone built by Elsewedy, a giant Egyptian cable firm. Elsewedy requested MoTI’s approval of two million square metres of land for the construction of the industrial zone three months ago. The company began its operations in Ethiopia three years ago in partnership with the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation to jointly produce a digital electric meter. This project led it to realise the country’s huge electric cable demand and construct Elsewedy Cables Ethiopia Plc, an electric cable factory built at a cost of 200 million birr in Dukem, a town 35 km east of Addis Ababa in Oromia Regional State. Following this, it intended to build an industrial zone in Dukem, however, the ministry was not willing, owing to its desire to spread industry around the country. With this intention, the ministry recommended Elsewedy opt for Kombolcha, a town located 376 km north east of Addis Ababa in Amhara. However, the town’s distance from the capital made Elsewedy reject the proposition, according to ministry sources. Finally, a deal has been struck for the zone to be established in Wonji, which is another industrial town near Dukem. The investment office of the region and the company are now looking for plots suitable for the site that is expected to host 40 companies. Elsewedy International, established in 1981, is the leading integrated manufacturer of cables in Egypt and one of two cable manufacturers in the Middle East with production facilities in nine Middle Eastern and African countries. A Chinese company was the leader in establishing an industrial zone in Ethiopia, recently followed by a Turkish firm. |
American manufacturer GM once again tapped into federal money, as it received a $7.7 million grant from the US Department of Energy to "accelerate development of four technologies to improve the fuel economy of light-duty vehicles" by some 25 percent. The research is needed for GM to be able to meet the stricter emissions and consumption requirements which will come into effect in future years.
The DOE grant helps accelerate our efforts in bringing breakthrough technolog… (read more)
A new 305 HP 3.7-liter V6 will provide the power for the fresh 2011 Lincoln MKX, all you have to do is drive and enjoy the new interior, especially the promising MyLincoln Touch.
As you can see, the 2011 MKX shows a new split-wing front grille, fresh taillights (LED technology included) and bespoke 18- or 20- inch rims.
On the interior, the most important feature is the MyLincoln systems, a dynamic interface with LCD and multi-purpose buttons, one that we have alrea… (read more)
By Nate Anderson, Senior Editor, Ars Technica
Who has the ear of the White House when it comes to tech issues? Judging from the White House visitor logs, President Obama and his team have a soft spot for FCC Chair Julius Genachowski, who visited 48 times between June and September. Not that it was all business; Genachowski checked in to use the White House bowling alley and to attend a poetry reading.
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By Stephanie Clifford, Reporter, New York Times
Print may be a flat medium, but that has not stopped magazine publishers from trying to add dimension to their pages. For at least a decade, they have been experimenting with bar codes and icons that could take readers to Web sites, trying to add a bit of Internetlike interactivity to their pages.
But the average consumer did not own a bar-code reader — until now.
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By Andy Updegrove, Contributor, Consortiuminfo.org
Think of the words “standards war,” and unless you’re a standards wonk like m…oh, never mind…you’re likely to think of the battle between the Betamax and VHS video tape formats. That’s because videos are consumer products that just about everyone uses, and therefore the bloodshed in that standards war was not only shed in public view, but the some of the blood that was shed was shed by the public (i.e., those that bought video players supporting Betamax, the losing, but arguably superior, format). Fast forward (pun intended) to the present, and the trademarks “HD DVD and “Blu-ray” may ring a bell – and that’s no coincidence.
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With Android and Nexus One, Google claims to have “improved” the rate and pace of innovation in mobile phones and the manner in which they are distributed. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to have done much for the way in which they are supported.
Not a week after the device’s debut, Google’s support forums are rife with complaints from Nexus One owners who are clearly not getting the level of customer support they expect.
Like most other Google (GOOG) offerings, Nexus One support is self-help driven–FAQs, troubleshooting guides and email forms offered with this earnest caveat: “in most cases you won’t receive a personal response.”
That might fly with folks availing themselves of free Google services like search and email, but it doesn’t with those who’ve just spent between $179 and $529 on a new superphone. Buyers expect their devices to work properly out of the box, and if they don’t, they expect their complaints to be approached with at least a modicum of urgency, preferably by a human.
But that’s not the experience Google is currently offering Nexus One users. As PC World pointed out earlier today:
If you buy a Nexus One manufactured by HTC, directly from Google’s Web site, and use it with T-Mobile’s wireless network–who do you call when you have a problem? Google is only accepting support requests via e-mail, and users are getting bounced between T-Mobile and HTC as neither seems equipped to answer complaints, or willing to accept responsibility for supporting the Nexus One.
So while Google’s new Nexus One distribution paradigm might excel in versatility and simplicity, it fails when it comes to support. Which isn’t all that surprising, I suppose. Google was never really set up to provide customer service. That said, you’d think that a company that takes great pride in improving things and making them accessible and useful, would have made more of an effort to do the same for Nexus One customer service.
Did Google launch the Nexus One with a half-assed customer-service solution? I put a variation of this question to the company and here’s what I was told:
What, exactly, was your customer support solution at launch? I’d assumed that you would initially pay the carriers to handle support, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
We developed a dedicated, comprehensive Google customer support team for the Nexus One. Our support site can be found at google.com/phone/support, which has pointers to our help center, where there is lots of troubleshooting information. HTC provides telephone support for device troubleshooting and warranty, repairs, and returns. Google also offers self-help through our help center, user-to-user help through forums, and email support to customers who are unable to find answers to their questions online. We promise to answer email inquiries within 48 hours. T-Mobile USA fields calls regarding their service (including service billing inquiries).
Why was this solution chosen?
Solving customer support issues is extremely important to us, because we want people to have a positive Nexus One experience. Therefore, we felt this was the best approach to quickly resolve any customer support inquiries.
We felt this was the best approach to quickly resolve any customer support inquiries.
Really? Hard to believe that “we promise to answer email inquiries within 48 hours” is “the best approach.” Clearly, it’s not.
Google VP of Engineering Andy Rubin conceded as much during an onstage interview with Walt Mossberg last Friday at the Consumer Electronics Show: “We have to get better at customer service,” Rubin said. “We have to close that three-day gap [in response time] to a couple of hours.”
That’s great to hear, but it doesn’t really explain why the gap exists in the first place or why Google felt comfortable launching with it.
So what’s the plan going forward? Says a Google spokesperson: “We are working quickly to solve any customer support issues as they come up, and we are trying to be as open and transparent as possible through our online customer help forums. We’ll continue to address all issues in as timely of a manner as possible, and we’re flexible and prepared to make changes to our processes and tools, as necessary, for an optimal customer support experience.”
Doesn’t sound like much of a plan to me. You?
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Yesterday, BoomTown posted on the mess created by NBC over its late-night talk show wrangling.
It involves Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and seemingly every dude who sits behind a desk and kisses up to celebrities for a living at the GE (GE) television network that was just bought by Comcast (CMCSA) .
But, as I noted: “I do love the roundelay of online videos this Tinseltown mess has created.”
And here are more, from Leno, who is really irked by the meltdown that has tarnished his reputation, as well as day-time talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres, who mixed the NBC stew in with Simon Cowell announcing he was leaving “American Idol” right before she gets there as a judge.
The laughter through the tears keeps on coming:
LENO
DEGENERES
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By Simon Dumenco, The Media Guy, Ad Age
Facebook and Twitter are, of course, increasingly trying to prove that they can be real, self-sustaining businesses with meaningful revenues, and maybe even consistently positive cash flow. Good for them!
But what about the rest of us — the great unwashed masses of social-media addicts?
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By Jim Manzi, Contributor, National Affairs
The United States is in a tough spot. As we dig ourselves out from a serious financial crisis and a deep recession, our very efforts to recover are exacerbating much more fundamental problems that our country has let fester for too long. Beyond our short-term worries, and behind many of today’s political debates, lurks the deeper challenge of coming to terms with America’s place in the global economic order.
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By Eric Savitz, Blogger and Columnist, Barron’s
Cirrus Logic (CRUS) late Monday said it now sees revenue for its fiscal third quarter ended December 26 of $65 million, above previous guidance of $58 million to $62 million. The company said the better-than-expected results reflected strong demand for a range of audio products, and modest improvement in demand for energy products.
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The BBC – Formula One’s broadcaster for the UK – managed to escape any penalties after 2009 world champion Jenson Button swore during a live broadcasting at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Brawn GP driver finished the race in 3rd place and was caught conversing with his fellow podium finishers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. During the conversation, Button told the Red Bull drivers F*ck, I should have waited, which left some viewers totally dissatisfied with what they’v… (read more)
The 2010 North American International Auto Show witnessed the introduction of several long-awaited models, including the 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe that will hit US stores this summer. The hybrid is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with Honda’s compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system, with maximum power going all the way up to 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque between 1,000 and 1,500 rpm.
These figures are slightly… (read more)
American manufacturer Ford took advantage of its presence at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and announced yesterday, on the sidelines of the new Ford Focus presentation, the release of an electric version of the car in 2011.
Until then, Ford made yet another announcement, this time confirming it will invest $450 million in its Michigan facilities to make them EV friendly. Ford will spend the money to engineer, produce and launch new electrified vehicles,… (read more)
Has your inner artist been on a hunger strike, protesting to be let out? Or is he or she more of the red-paint-on-fur-coat activist type that’s angry about the high cost of Wacom tablets? Regardless, Ten One Design’s new Inklet app may put an end to your suffering, as it can turn an ordinary MacBook trackpad into a pen tablet.
Awesome sauce! I am always looking out for new ways I can ink blog using devices other than my Toshiba M200. I just recently ordered the Ten One Pogo Sketch stylus because it is supposed to work on my iPhone AND the trackpad on my MacBook. I figured that I would try inking in Skitch to test out the Pogo Sketch, but this Inklet app sounds like an app I need to try. I wonder how Inklet compares to ArtRage, an app that I used a lot on my Tablet PC (I actually miss it), as far as compatibility with the Pogo Sketch? I’ll be sure to blog about it after I’ve received the Pogo Sketch (slated to arrive on Wednesday).
Courtesy of Anthony Goto
Three groups evicted from houses during ski trips
Three student groups – Trancos Hall, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Sigma – were evicted from housing in South Lake Tahoe during last weekend’s ski trips when police discovered they had exceeded occupancy.
More than 50 freshmen and staff members from Trancos Hall crammed into a house meant for just 16 people, according to resident Libby Burch ’13. They were evicted Saturday morning.
“It wasn’t because we were loud – we were really careful not to annoy the neighbors,” she said, explaining that residents stayed inside after 10 p.m. on Friday despite the lure of the hot tub. “This neighborhood is just really uppity about that kind of thing.”
Burch said neighbors called the cops the next morning when they saw a suspicious number of students lining up to take a shuttle to the slopes. Trancos resident Alex Hertz ’13 offered a different account: that the police were tipped off about the illegal number of occupants by the driver of the bus that brought the students to Tahoe.
Burch was waiting in line when three police SUVs arrived. One law enforcement officer told the group they had to be out of the house within the hour, but the homeowner gave them until later that afternoon.
Trancos ski trip planner William Greenbaum ’13 defended the decision to overstuff. “There are many reasons ranging from tradition to cost to try to keep the entire group in a single house,” he said. “There is a lot of precedent of stuffing entire dorms into 10-plus person houses.”
Members of sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma and fraternity Kappa Sigma were on a joint ski trip that was cut short at 7 a.m. Saturday for similar reasons.
A Greek leader familiar with the situation told The Daily the group was caught because the number of cars in the driveway tipped off neighbors that occupancy exceeded the amount specified in the contract. The Greek leader estimated that both organizations brought around 25 members each.
The group knew not to put up a fight, said another Greek leader, who had heard of Stanford students being evicted from Tahoe houses in years past.
Students said the evictions were not that much of an inconvenience.
“We hit the slopes for the day, then went home Saturday night,” Burch said. “It was kind of nice to come back a day early and work all day Sunday.
“Still, it was traumatic,” she continued. “Who would have thought this would happen?”
“Our dorm is awful at planning stuff, so this is pretty typical,” Hertz added.
Most members of Kappa Sigma and Kappa Kappa Gamma went home shortly following their eviction, Greek leaders said, but a few stayed to ski and find lodging for Saturday night.
Hertz said the weekend’s evictions are unlikely to influence future ski trip planning. “I think that when dorms overbook this badly, it’s so ridiculous that no one could seriously learn from it,” he said.
Greenbaum disagreed. “I think Lake Tahoe, specifically Heavenly Mountain, is getting much more strict about occupancy laws,” he said. “The sheriff department is certainly aware of the problem, and it is no secret when Stanford has its ski trips. So, I think groups will have to be more conscious of this issue in the future.”
Burch suggested that planners be more straightforward with homeowners, instead of waiting for the police to get involved. “People will be a little more wary,” she said. “[Student planners] can just ask, ‘Are you going to evict us?’”
Greek leaders and Burch agreed that a lot of people will still take the risk, mostly because it is a money-saving move.
“The cost of renting a place to accommodate 50-plus people is way too expensive,” Burch said. “We’re college kids – we can’t just throw that kind of money down.”
While the emergence of a start-up from Stanford University may surprise no one, the department from which Lex Machina emerged may: this legal informatics private venture spins off from the Stanford Law School (SLS), marking the first time that a commercial venture has emerged from an American law school.
Lex Machina is the outgrowth of a research project called the Stanford Intellectual Property Litigation Clearinghouse (IPLC), officially launched in December of 2008.
Founded through the interdisciplinary collaboration between SLS’s Program in Law, Science and Technology and the department of computer science, the project was the brainchild of Prof. Mark Lemley, the William H. Neukom Professor in Law and director of the Law, Science and Technology Program.
Lemley, a scholar and researcher of intellectual property (IP) law and policy, envisioned that the program would provide free comprehensive data on intellectual property litigation cases in the United States dating back to Jan. 1, 2000.
While the IPLC was originally intended for use by scholars, policymakers and journalists, it soon became clear that the project had commercial viability and could not be sustainable solely based on donations.
“The idea is that businesses and law firms who want use Lex Machina at work would pay a subscription fee, but we would make the site available for free to academics, judges, government officials, nonprofits and the media,” Lemley said.
Joshua Walker, IPLC executive director and founder of the Stanford Center for Computers and Law (CodeX), and George Gregory, an expert in natural language processing, led the initiative in building the IPLC program and database from scratch. In the Lex Machina venture, Walker will serve as the CEO while Gregory, Lemley and Kenneth Lustig will serve on the board of directors.
“We realized the commercial viability of IPLC two years ago,” Walker said. “We were sitting in Packard Café when [Gregory] suggested that this is a company – it had both private and public value. We took it to the [SLS] Dean [Larry Kramer], who ran it through the appropriate protocols, talking to the Provost [John Etchemendy] and to [Lemley].”
The name Lex Machina derives from the title of a research paper Walker wrote in 2004 and is a play on the Latin term “Deus Ex Machina.”
“Part of what we’ve done in the early stages is build the technology to get to the point where adding new cases is pretty straightforward,” Lemley said.
The majority of Lex Machina will be owned by its team members, which includes engineers who worked on the program and a handful of Stanford students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. But Stanford University and SLS will retain an interest in the venture.
The company also expects to be recruiting new talent soon as the venture tries to “build out new technology and expand into other fields of legal issues,” according to Lemley.
“We want to maintain the fundamental altruistic aim of IPLC,” Walker added. “Part of our condition was that we can spin this off, but we should expand upon and constantly improve the pubic benefits of the IPLC project.”
Though Lex Machina is separate from SLS, the company expects to stay closely involved with Stanford.
“Stanford is the touchstone of all of this,” Walker said. “Aside from the unique Stanford entrepreneurial spirit, it also had a top law school and a top engineering department.”
“This is pretty much the first time that a project between the law school and the computer science department has become a company,” Gregory agreed. “This is a major milestone for Stanford University as well.”