Category: News

  • Feet on with Sanyo’s eneloop electric-assist bike

    So if you’re living anywhere outside the US, you’re sitting on an electric bike right now. It seems we’re the only country in which electric-assist bikes like this haven’t caught on. Maybe it’s because of our obsession with gigantic, gas-guzzling SUVs we never use for their intended purpose. But I digress. The fact is that other countries have found electric bikes practical in pretty good volume for some time now, and we’re late to the game. But Sanyo thinks the time has come for us to zoom around in future-bikes.

    IMG_0278

    We got a bunch of feet-on time with the eneloop bike, and we all found it a blast to ride. Although it does have a “step-through” design that’s present on female bikes where I’m from, it’s a decent looking thing, and will come in a carbon fiber version soon as well.

    IMG_0281

    The eneloop bike adjusts its boost depending on how hard you pedal and what mode you’re in. If you google the thing, you’ll find all the specs — battery size and all that. It’s been around for a while now but it’s just now starting to be pushed on our shores. It’ll cost you $2300 at the moment, which is pretty serious cash, but you can consider it an alternative to a scooter or used car, depending on your needs.


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  • Hands-on Sennheiser/Adidas 680 sports headphones

    DSC00476

    We found a pair of these previously announced Sennheiser headphones here at CES and got a hands-on demo for you guys.

    The short version: They have a rugged, solid feel and great sound quality. A bit pricey, but if you are an avid outdoorsman, you won’t go wrong with these.

    There are four models in the series. All have a reported frequency response of 18Hz – 20kHz, maximum output of 120 dB (save the MX which peaks at 118 dB), and 16 Ω’s of impedance. The kevlar-reinforced cable is a bit short, which cuts down on the amount of bounce while you’re running. You can add a cable extension if you want, which also gives you an in-line remote with volume control and a shirt clip. The headphones can supposedly withstand temperatures of up to (or down to, in this case) -10 degrees Centigrade. Unfortunately, no one at CES was showcasing a super walk-in freezer, so I wasn’t able to give these headphones a proper test. Nor was there a sauna company, so their sweat-proof claim is untested as well.

    DSC00479The difference in the models are in the design styles. The OMX are pictured above, and go over your ears. I wasn’t able to get a good fit with them, due to my glasses. The MX and CX in-ears are shown to the left, with only the CX actually going into your ear-canal. The “ear-fin” secures the earbuds against the inside of your ear. It works, but it’s not the most comfortable configuration. The PMX, below, is a neckband design, and in my opinion, the most secure fitting and comfortable of all four.

    The audio quality across all four is great all around. If you jog often, and utilize your media player while you do so, these headphones are a good investment. Provided you have the 80 to 120 bucks for them.

    DSC00477

    [Sennheiser]


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  • Rumor Has It: Multi-touch in the iWorks for Apple Tablet

    The New York Times reporting on tablets at CES offers up a tantalizing rumor concerning Apple’s imminent device, that the company has been developing a multi-touch version of iWork.

    According to the New York Times, conversations with former engineers at Apple indicate pervasive use of multi-touch technology for the tablet that will require a “complex new vocabulary of finger gestures.” For example, opening an application might mean swiping downward and rotating multiple fingers—ouch. Considering the number of functions one performs with a mouse or trackpad and Mac, the potential for confusion—not to mention a new class of ergonomic injuries—makes you have to wonder how this will work.

    The answer to that is FingerWorks. The company manufactured several keyboard and touchpad devices incorporating gestures before being acquired by Apple, including a membrane keyboard that allowed multi-touch input over its entire surface. That’s important because the New York Times spoke with another former Apple employee, one who said the company has “spent the past couple of years working on a multi-touch version of iWork.”

    If this rumor is true, it would seem that Apple not only thinks differently, but is actively engaged in making that vision a reality, rather than waiting on third-party developers. If this rumor is true, and that “if” is huge, then the world of personal computing may be about to undergo a paradigm shift not seen since the GUI replaced the command line.

  • #Project: Milton Tennis Site Development

    ‘Emporium’ plan for iconic Milton Tennis Centre site
    ELLEN LUTTON
    January 10, 2010 – 6:18AM
    Article

    The vacant Milton Tennis Centre site today and (inset) in its heyday more than 40 years ago as a top tennis arena where some epic Davis Cup ties were played out.

    The vacant Milton Tennis Centre site today and (inset) in its heyday more than 40 years ago as a top tennis arena where some epic Davis Cup ties were played out.

    The rich history of Milton Tennis Centre has not been forgotten.

    While international tennis superstars play the mens final at Brisbane’s new Pat Rafter Arena today, Brisbane City Council is currently assessing developer plans to take Brisbane’s original tennis site and home to eight Australian Opens from desolate to dazzling.

    More than 10 years after it was closed down and sold by Tennis Queensland, the Milton Tennis Centre, together with the adjoining Milton Bowls site, has a development application on it to create a new "Emporium" style precinct, with residential, retail and commercial facilities.

    The Seymour Group, owned by Queensland business identity Kevin Seymour, put in their application to the Brisbane City Council just before Christmas and although it is "extremely early days", the group are very excited about their plans for this famous parcel of land, according to a company spokesperson.

    "The Milton Tennis Centre site is iconic in Brisbane and it has been vacant for so long. We’ve written into the code that we’ve submitted to council that there will certainly be a reference to the original centre somewhere in the new development," the spokesperson said.

    Located at Frew Park, Milton Rd was the home of Queensland tennis from 1915. It consisted of 19 hard courts and four grass courts and hosted eight Australian Opens and 16 Davis Cup ties (including three finals).

    It hosted its last Davis Cup tie in 1990, the quarterfinal win over New Zealand featuring John Fitzgerald and Wally Masur.

    Lindsay Davenport won the last world tour event at Milton in 1994, after which the wooden grandstands were declared unsafe. The Milton Tennis Centre closed in 1999 when Tennis Queensland sold the property to cover more than $1 million in debts.

    Doncaster Holdings sold the site to Multiplex for a reported $5.9 million in April 2002. Derelict and having suffered two fires, the stadium was demolished in May 2002. It has sat deserted and derelict since then.

    It is understood the Seymour Group paid a total of $30.15 million for the tennis and the bowls sites in 2008.

    It currently has approval for 174 residential apartments but the Seymour Group wants to create a whole new precinct for both plots of the land, which total about 3.2 hectares.

    "We’re thinking it would be a modern version of the Emporium in the Valley," the spokeswoman said.

    Apart from tennis, the Milton centre also hosted concerts featuring acts such as the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Johnny Cash and 10,000 fans witnessed Jeff White retain his national lightweight title against Lionel Rose in 1971.

    The Milton courts were converted into Australia’s major tennis centre for the Davis Cup final in 1958 and were the venue for the first Australian Open in 1969.

    Rod Laver’s 6-3 win in the deciding fifth set of his 1969 Australian Open semi-final against Tony Roche, having won the first two sets 7-5 and 22-20 before losing the third set 9-11 and the fourth 1-6, is one of the many memorable moments in the Centre’s history.

    The Davis Cup final wins by Australia in 1962 featured Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Neale Fraser and coach Harry Hopman and in 1967, Emerson, Hopman, Tony Roche and John Newcombe.

  • Should you pay for an energy audit?

    An energy audit can save you a lot of cash in the long run. Most current estimates note that you can save around 15-20% on your energy costs if you have an energy audit but you may be able to save lots more. Since you can get an energy audit for $300 or less, paying for one can be a good investment. However, they’re not always worth the money, especially since you can often do a simple energy audit yourself.

    home energy audit

    What’s an energy audit?

    Basically an energy audit means you (or a pro) looks at the areas of your home that could be improved upon from an energy conservation standpoint. You or the pro will inspect and analyze how your home uses energy and then come up with ways that can help your home to conserve more energy and help you to save more money.

    What the professionals do:

    An energy audit pro is well trained on what to look for – i.e. what issues a common home may have such as air leaks or poor insulation. They also can help teach home owners how to have better energy use habits. Usually pros have better tools than a DIY auditor might, such as equipment that can locate even super small air leaks.

    Can you do it yourself?

    Most people can perform a basic home energy audit all on their own. Energy audits aren’t that hard to do and there are plenty of DIY websites that can help you out. A perk of doing your own audit is that you get to be more invested in green living. You learn more when you complete an audit on your own vs. paying someone else to do one. Below are resources for DIY energy audits…

    If you decide to hire a pro here’s what to do…

    First see if you can get a free energy audit. Many local utility companies will come to your home and perform a free basic inspection. You may also qualify for a Weatherization Assistance Program – which provides low cost (to FREE) energy savings for families.

    After looking into free programs check with a reputable source to hire a professional. Two good places to look include RESNET and ENERGY STAR.

    [image via stock.xchng]

    Post from: Blisstree

    Should you pay for an energy audit?

  • Crapgadget CES, round 5: Gimme Tunes

    We had a lot of fun hanging with the guys at the Electro Joe booth — they definitely love their crapgadgets. Our favorite was a little something called Gimme Tunes, a pair of speakers in craptastic high heeled cases. These guys are powered by USB, but the audio input is a classic headphone jack. “Gimme Tunes,” the guy in the booth asked. “It’s a pun. Do you get it?” Uh, no. “You know, like Jimmy Choo.” Right.

    Continue reading Crapgadget CES, round 5: Gimme Tunes

    Crapgadget CES, round 5: Gimme Tunes originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Samsung’s new netbook line goes hands-on, Moblin makes a cameo

    We don’t know what it is, but there’s just something a bit too “netbook” about Samsung’s netbooks. We took a look at the new N210, NB30 and N150 models that Samsung is showing here at CES, and while there’s nothing precisely wrong with any of them, they just felt a little uninspired. Like almost everybody these days, Samsung has moved to chiclet keys, which would be alright if they were as quality as previous generations of Sammy’s netbook keyboards, but they just felt a little plastic and shallow. At least the NB30 has an excuse, with its water-resistant keyboard tray, and to the lineup’s credit, there was very little flex to any of the keyboards — a common netbook problem. The durable, ridged plastic that encases the NB30 is also pretty nice, but nothing to make our heart aflutter. We spied the NB150 sporting a rather unique pink shell and accents, but apparently the final model will come in a rather more tame black. Interestingly, the most inspired netbook in Samsung’s lineup was the N127 (pictured), which they aren’t even planning on bringing to market (yet). The unit runs Moblin at a lightning fast pace, has the old school “good” Samsung keyboard, and if it came to retail would likely undercut its Windows brethren by a nice margin. We’re not sure if Moblin is ready for the mass market, and obviously Samsung isn’t either, but it would be a fun experiment from our perspective. After all, if you’re going to bother building three formulaic netbooks, what’s the harm in cutting a little loose on the fourth?

    Samsung’s new netbook line goes hands-on, Moblin makes a cameo originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Cyber Clean smears our keyboards, fills our nostrils as we go hands-on (video)

    You know that snotty, slimy stuff that you can get in vending machines for a quarter? The stuff that comes in the little, clear plastic bubbles and stains wallpaper and carpet instantly? Ever wonder what would happen if you gave it a refreshing lemony scent and then smeared it into your keyboard? We certainly never did, but Cyber Clean gave us the opportunity to find out anyway, handing us (and nearly everyone else at the show) a sample of the stuff. How does it work? How does it feel? How does it sound when it’s thrown at a camera and slimes the microphone? We’ve got the answers after the break.

    Gallery: Cyber Clean

    Continue reading Cyber Clean smears our keyboards, fills our nostrils as we go hands-on (video)

    Cyber Clean smears our keyboards, fills our nostrils as we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • =)

    Guayaquil – Ecuador

  • CES: Windows Mobile 6.5.3 on the Toshiba TG01 fondled, liked

    Phonescoop have published this video showing the Toshiba TG01 running Windows Mobile 6.5.3.  Of course the correspondent appears to have mistaken Toshiba’s own keyboard for a new Windows Mobile one, reminding us that we still have to see Microsoft’s effort regarding this. 

    It is however encouraging to see such a positive response to the changes Microsoft has made, which should bode well for the wider release of devices running the update.

    One interesting feature I have not seen before in the drop down notification bar appears to be a search option. Do any of our readers know more about this?  Let us know below.

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  • Nueva Cinchona “Un pueblo de paz” | Cariblanco | Reasentamiento

    CFIA diseñó anteproyecto de la Nueva Cinchona

    En setiembre, por solicitud del Gobierno de la República y el Fideicomiso Central de Radios-Repretel, el Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y de Arquitectos de Costa Rica (CFIA), adquirió el compromiso de diseñar el anteproyecto de la “Nueva Cinchona”. La finca escogida se ubica en el sector de Cariblanco, a 20 Km de San Miguel de Sarapiquí.

    Este aporte forma parte del Programa de Responsabilidad Solidaria del CFIA, con el fin de brindar un servicio social a la comunidad de Cinchona. Este apoyo se enmarca en la cooperación con las instituciones estatales y privadas en todo aquello que implique mejorar y promover la contribución de las profesiones en forma dinámica, en su aplicación en asuntos de interés público, y el estudio y solución de los problemas nacionales.

    El Gobierno de la República conformó una comisión, denominada “Comisión de Recuperación”, encargada de identificar, evaluar y adquirir, un terreno para reubicar a la comunidad afectada.

    El proyecto de reasentamiento de la comunidad de “Nueva Cinchona” involucra el análisis, estudio y ponderación de una serie de aspectos socio-espaciales necesarios para lograr la integración de las comunidades de Cariblanco, Ujarrás y Nueva Cinchona.

    Junto con la Comisión Nacional de Emergencias y el Ministerio de Vivienda, el CFIA realizó diversas actividades y talleres participativos para conocer las percepciones de las comunidades, las capacidades existentes, y la prospección del desarrollo local, con base en el nuevo grupo humano en el área geográfica. De forma complementaria, se delimitaron prioridades comunitarias necesarias para fomentar una organización proactiva como grupo base entre las tres comunidades.

    De acuerdo a los parámetros y necesidades obtenidas, se delimitó un área de trabajo de 120 000 m², con una proyección de crecimiento futuro de 30 000 m².

    La propuesta arquitectónica de anteproyecto comprende:

    1) Área de vivienda para 93 familias.
    2) Centro urbano integrado (servicios) Comercio.
    3) Áreas de recreación (parques, zonas de juego infantiles, entre otros).
    4) Zonas de amortiguamiento.
    5) Vías vehiculares y sendas peatonales.

    El equipo de funcionarios del CFIA a cargo del diseño fueron las arquitectas Débora Picado y Marielos Alfaro, los ingenieros Austin She y Guisella Araya, bajo la coordinación del Ing. Olman Vargas, Director Ejecutivo del CFIA.

    Fuentes:

    http://www.ameliarueda.com/contenido/articles/1937.html

    http://cfiablog.wordpress.com/2009/1…ueva-cinchona/

  • Incredible Algiers/Argel l ALGERIA

    Argel (em Francês: Alger, em Árabe: الجزائر, transliteração: al-Jezair, tradução: "As Ilhas"), é a capital e maior cidade da Argélia. Apelidada de Alger la Blanche ("Argel a Branca") pela admirável aparência do branco resplandecente dos edifícios que sobem a encosta, vistos do mar.

    Foi fundada pelos fenícios no século IV a.C. e, sob domínio romano, a pequena cidade de Icosium situava-se onde hoje se encontra o bairro marítimo de Argel, tendo-lhe sido concedido o estatuto de cidade Latina pelo imperador Vespasiano. A rue de la Marine segue o alinhamento de uma rua romana. Existiam cemitérios romanos perto de Bab-el-Oued e Bab Azoun. Os bispos de Icosium são mencionados até ao século V.

    A cidade actual foi fundada em 944 por Buluggin ibn Ziri, o fundador da dinastia Zirid-Senhaja, que foi destronada por Rogério II da Sicília em 1148. Antes dessa data, já haviam perdido Argel, que em 1159 seria ocupada pelos Almoadas, tendo sido dominada pelos sultões Abd-el-Wadid de Tlemcen a partir do século 13.

    Nominalmente parte do sultanato de Tlemcen, Argel gozava de considerável autonomia, sob os seus próprios emires, sendo Oran o principal porto dos Abd-el-Wahid. A ilhota em frente do porto de Argel, posteriormente conhecido como Penon, foi ocupada pelos Espanhóis em 1302. A partir daí, cresceram as trocas comerciais entre Argel e a Espanha.

    Argel continou a ser uma cidade relativamente pouco importante até à expulsão dos Mouros de Espanha, quando muitos deles procuraram asilo na cidade. Em 1510, depois de ocuparem Oran e outras cidades da costa de África, os Espanhóis fortificaram o Penon. Em 1516, o emir de Argel, Selim b. Teumi, convidou os irmãos Arouj e Khair-ad-Din (Barbarossa) para expulsar os Espanhóis. Arouj veio para Argel, conseguiu fazer assassinar Selim, e apoderou-se da cidade. Khair-ad-Din, sucedendo a Arouj, expulsou os Espanhóis do Penon (1550) e foi o fundador do pashalik, depois deylik, de Argel.

    A cidade foi conquistada pelos turcos e tornou-se parte do Império Otomano. O governador da cidade era virtualmente independente de Constantinopla, tendo Argel tornado-se o principal centro dos corsários da Barbárie. Em Outubro de 1541, o imperador Carlos V tentou capturar a cidade, mas uma tempestade destruíu um grande número dos seus navios, tendo os seu exército de c. 30 000 homens, na sua maioria Espanhóis, tido sido derrotado pelos Argelinos, sob o comando do seu pasha, Hassan. A partir do século 17, Argel, livre de controlo Otomano, situada na periferia entre a economia Otomana e a Europeia, e com a sua existência dependente do Mediterrâneo, cada vez mais controlado por navios europeus, apoiados pelas marinhas europeias, virou-se para a pirataria. Várias nações europeias fizeram repetidas tentativas para subjugar os piratas que perturbavam a hegemonia europeia no Mediterrâneo ocidental, e em 1816 a cidade foi bombardeada por um esquadrão britânico comandado por Lord Exmouth, auxiliado por vasos de guerra holandeses, e a frota dos corsários foi incendiada.

    A 4 de Julho de 1830, sob o pretexto de uma afronta ao seu consul (a quem o dey tinha batido com um enxota-moscas quando tinha afirmado que o Governo Francês não estava preparado para pagar as suas substanciais dívidas a dois mercadores judeus argelinos), um exército francês comandado pelo General de Bourmont atacou a cidade, que capitulou no dia seguinte. De 1830 a 1962, a história de Argel confunde-se com a história da Argélia e as suas lutas com a França.

    Em 1962, após uma sangrenta luta pela independência, em que morreram centenas de milhares de Argelinos (um milhão, segundo a história oficial da Argélia) às mãos do exército francês e da Frente de Libertação Nacional (Front de Libération Nationale ou F.L.N.), a Argélia ganhou finalmente a sua independência, com Argel como a sua capital. Apesar de ter perdido a totalidade da sua população de origem europeia (Pied-Noir), a cidade sofreu uma grande expansão, tendo actualmente cerca de três milhões de habitantes (c. 10% da população da Argélia). Os seus subúrbios cobrem a maior parte da planície de Metidja.

    Wikipedia
    [CENTER]

  • Dr. Faustman and the Cure

    Research by Dr. Denise Faustman offers the possibility of a more natural, biological approach to curing type 1 diabetes. It is based on the observation that the islet cells of diabetics continue to be regenerated throughout the life of the patient, but the autoimmunity continues to attack them, so the critical mass of islets is never regrown to allow for normal metabolism to be restored.

    Faustman’s treatment operates in two stages. First, an old and safe drug, BCG, long used in treating tuberculosis, is given to the patient to stop the autoimmune attack on the beta cells of the pancreas. Since in practice this does not allow the already heavily damged beta cells to regrow, the second stage requires giving the patient some substance to stimulate the regrowth, and the main agent used for this so far is INGAP polypeptide. In theory, the combination of BCG and INGAP should stop the autoimmune assault and stimulate regrowth of the beta cells, so the patient would no longer be diabetic.

    It is clear that this works in mice and hamsters, but these animals do not provide a very good model for diabetes in humans. In hamsters it has been found that the beta cell mass, after having been chemically destroyed, increases again in the presence of INGAP polypetide by about 75% of the original mass within 30 days and restores normoglycemia. Proctor and Gamble has been testing this in human subjects since 2003 but the study has not yet reported any final results.

    However, there are some problems. First, severely damaged tissue in the human body is typically severely resistant to regrowth. For example, although immunosuppression with Cyclosporine usually causes massive overgrowth of gum tissue in normal subjects, in diabetics who have lost considerable gum mass before treatment, there is absolutely no gum growth. This same lack of regrowth may occur in those who have suffered an especially virulent or long-term autoimmune attack on the pancreas.

    Also, tuberculosis used to be the main complication of diabetes, and still is in some third world countries, so many people, including some new diabetics, have certainly been treated with BCG over the years. But no spontaneous regrowth of pancreatic beta cells with its associated improvement in blood glucose levels has ever been reported in any patients taking BCG. That there has been no spontaneous regrowth, even in very new patients, raises questions about the capacity of BCG to stop the autoimmunity.

    Finally, Faustman’s own research casts some doubt on the foundation of her own hypothesis. She and her co-workers have published a study which theorizes that the cause of type 1 diabetes is not autoimmune disease at all, but is rather the result of a perfectly normal, healthy immune system attacking as foreign tissue the diseased beta cells of the pancreas, which look foreign to the immune system because they contain abnormal nerves, which send out pain signals causing the immune system to suspect an infection where there is none. The actual cause of type 1 diabetes would then be some genetic or gestational problem which causes a malformation of the nerves associated with the beta cells of the pancreas, rather than a diseased immune system. If this is true, then altering the immune system with BCG and stimulating pancreatic regrowth with INGAP will only produce more diseased beta cells according to the blueprint set down already in the genes of the patient, and these beta cells will forever be re-attacked by the patient’s own immunity. The only solution to this would then be to give the patient extremely toxic immunosuppressive drugs for life, which causes more problems than it solves.

    Sources: G. Pittenger, et al, "The role of islet neogenesis associated protein (INGAP)," CURRENT PROTEIN PEPTIDE SCIENCE, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 37 (2009); A. Lonyai, et al, "Fetal Hox11 expression patterns predict defective target organs: a novel link between developmental biology and autoimmunity," IMMUNOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY, vol. 86, no. 4, p. 301 (2008)

  • [Wejherowo] Filharmonia Kaszubska – WCK

    Myślę, że inwestycja zasługuje na swój wątek. Budowa rusza pod koniec stycznia. Tym bardziej, że chyba nie ma drugiego tak małego (49 tys. mieszk.) miasta z filharmonią.
    Inwestycja warta 48 mln zł (koszt kosztorysowy to 74 mln, na szczęście przetarg obniżył o 1/3 koszty) przy dochodach Wejherowa około 110 mln zł.
    Wsparcie UE: około 10 mln zł.
    Wykonawca: międzynarodowy koncern budowlany Eiffage Mitex z siedzibą w Warszawie.
    Budowa: 2010-2012.

    Filharmonia Kaszubska zostanie wybudowana u zbiegu ulic Sobieskiego i Dworcowej, w miejscu gdzie obecnie mieści się stary budynek Wejherowskiego Centrum Kultury. W planowanym wielofunkcyjnym obiekcie o powierzchni 6,5 tys. m kw. (teraz w WCK-u jest 2,5 tys. m kw. ) będą dwa podstawowe moduły. Po pierwsze powstanie nowoczesna wielofunkcyjna sala na prawie 400 osób o funkcji koncertowej, kinowej, teatralnej, widowiskowej i audytoryjnej. Po drugie powstanie dom kultury o bardzo bogatym programie. Wykonane zostaną pracownie, pomieszczenia i całe zaplecze domu kultury, w którym codziennie dzieci i młodzież będą mogły uczestniczyć w zajęciach.

    Wizualizacje:

    Stan obecny:

    :cheers:
    Budowa rusza pod koniec stycznia, rozpocznie się poprzez wyburzenie starego budynku WCK i następnie budowa nowego od podstaw.
    ^^

  • BERLIN | Kulturforum WEST Scharoun, Van der Rohe, Gutbrod

    Ihr Gleichgewicht sucht die Stadt auch noch 20 Jahre nach dem Mauerfall. Berlins Mitte nimmt langsam Gestalt an, doch im Westen verkommt die zweite Museumsinsel. Der ehemalige Senatsbaudirektor Hans Stimmann beklagt den fahrlässigen Umgang der Stadt mir dem Kulturforum.

    Auch 20 Jahre nach dem Fall der Mauer hat die Stadt Berlin ihr inneres Gleichgewicht noch nicht gefunden. Das zeigen schon die Themen der aktuellen Städtebau- und Architekturdebatte: Es wird um die einstige Altstadt im ehemaligen Ost-Berlin gestritten und um das Aushängeschild des früheren West-Berlin, das Kulturforum mit der weltberühmten Philharmonie und der Neuen Nationalgalerie.
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    Im ersten Fall stehen die SED-Planungen für das Staatszentrum der DDR auf dem Prüfstand, zwei Kilometer weiter westlich sind es die Stadtlandschaftsplanungen West-Berlins als Antwort auf die Museumsinsel, die auf das Engste mit dem Architekten Hans Scharoun verbunden sind.

    Beide Areale verbindet heute bei allen sonstigen Unterschieden die Idee eines besonderen Ortes bedeutendster Kulturbauten. Dabei konzentriert sich seit dem Fall der Mauer die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Rekonstruktion der Museumsinsel und deren Erweiterung durch das Humboldtforum.

    Das Kulturforum dagegen liegt buchstäblich im Schatten des neuen Potsdamer Platzes. Dabei erinnert – wie in der Altstadt Berlins St. Marien – am Kulturforum nur noch die verloren herumstehende Kirche St. Matthäus daran, dass hier einmal eine ganz andere Art von Stadtleben seinen Mittelpunkt hatte.

    Was hier rund um die von Stüler entworfene Kirche seit Anfang der 1960er-Jahre geplant wurde, war eine Antwort auf die durch den Mauerbau abgetrennte Museumsinsel und das gesprengte Stadtschloss: Hier entstanden die Philharmonie und die Neue Staatsbibliothek von Hans Scharoun, die Neue Nationalgalerie von Mies van der Rohe, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Kammermusiksaal und Gemäldegalerie.

    Aber trotz intensiver Planertätigkeit mit Wettbewerben und Gutachten verharrt das Areal bis heute als unwirtliches Fragment. Die aktuellen Debatten über eine Rückverlagerung der Gemäldegalerie in das historische Zentrum verstärken den fragmentarischen Charakter durch mögliche inhaltliche Verluste.

    Aber schon die Beseitigung der durchweg als Missstand empfundenen städtebaulichen Situation fällt schwer, weil hier das Leitbild der „Stadtlandschaft“ mit solitären Gebäuden herrschte. Dieses ist der Grund für die heutige Unwirtlichkeit des Ortes.

    Hinzu kommt, dass die neue Stadtlandschaft am Kulturforum auch eine Antwort war auf die hier ab 1933 von Albert Speer geplante Nord-Süd-Achse mit dem „Runden Platz“. Die erstmals im Hauptstadtwettbewerb von 1957/58 von Scharoun gezeichnete Stadtlandschaft mit Autobahnen war das Gegenbild zu jeder Form von Achsialität, Monumentalität und traditioneller Stadtraumbildung.

    Das Fatale ist, dass mit dieser rigorosen Verdrängung der Speerschen Planung gleichzeitig jegliche Erinnerung an die Geschichte des Tiergartenviertels als Zentrum des liberalen, aufgeklärten Bürgertums ausgelöscht wurde.

    Hier – auf dem Areal des heutigen Kulturforums – lebten zwischen Tiergarten und Landwehrkanal die führenden Vertreter der jungen Metropole. Sie wohnten in Villen und Stadthäusern, die zum Besten gehörten, was Berlin um 1900 an Privatarchitektur hervorgebracht hatte.

    Allein die Namen der Bewohner verweisen auf den unendlichen Verlust bürgerlichen Lebens in unmittelbarer Zentrumsnähe. In diesem „Dahlem der Jahrhundertwende“ wohnten von Lorenz Adlon bis Carl Zuckmayer u. a. Bruno und Paul Cassirer, Ludwig Bamberger, Franz Duncker, Moritz August von Bethmann-Hollweg, Athur Hobrecht, Georg Kolbe, Oskar Tietz, Emil Rathenau, Uris Lathanel Rothschild, Emil Mosse, Luis Ullstein, Georg Wertheim.

    So wie die Nazis begonnen hatten, den östlichen Teil dieses Quartiers zuerst durch Regierungsbauten umzunutzen, um es dann für den Bau der Nord-Süd-Achse systematisch auszulöschen, zeigte sich das Gebiet nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges als eindrucksvolle Trümmerlandschaft ausgeglühter Wohn- und Geschäftshäuser mit dem monumentalen Fragment des Hauses des Fremdenverkehrs.

    Für den Bau des Kulturforums sind dann nach und nach bis auf die Kirche und die bis zuletzt vom Abriss für die Museumsplanung bedrohte Villa des Verlegers Paul Parey sämtliche architektonischen Spuren der beiden Geschichtsperioden beseitigt worden. Die Sprengung des Hauses des Fremdenverkehrs erfolgte im Oktober 1962, nachdem es kurz zuvor noch als Filmkulisse für Billy Wilders Kalter-Krieg-Komödie „Eins, Zwei, Drei“ gedient hatte. Das Gedächtnis des Kulturforums reicht wie in der Altstadt nur bis in die 50-er Jahre des 20. Jahrhunderts. Die systematischen Abrisse unter der politischen Verantwortung der SPD-Senate und die damit verbundene „Geschichtsverdrängung“ bilden die Grundlage für die bis heute andauernde kulturpolitische Unsicherheit im Umgang mit dem Kulturforum.

    Natürlich stand auch hier mehr an denkmalswerter Bausubstanz, als man wahrhaben will. Aber mit dem starren Blick auf die Speersche Planung wurde auch die Architektur des späten 19. Jahrhunderts sozusagen stellvertretend Opfer für die NS-Barbarei. So als hätte dieser steingewordene bürgerliche Reichtum die politische und moralische Katastrophe hervorgebracht.

    Was man in den zwei Jahrzehnten nach dem Ende des Krieges „Enttrümmerung“ nannte, geriet so zur zweiten „Zertrümmerung“, der bezeichnenderweise auch die relativ gut erhaltene Villa des Fabrikanten Liebermann an der Tiergartenstraße Nr. 4, in der NS-Zeit Zentrale der Euthanasie, zum Opfer fiel.

    Die systematische Zerstörung betraf zudem – wie in der Altstadt Berlins – auch den Stadtgrundriss als Träger des Stadtgedächtnisses, u.a. die Matthäi-Kirch-Straße zwischen Landwehrkanal und Kirche (heute Teil der Neuen Nationalgalerie) und noch bedeutender die erst 1967 erfolgte Bebauung der alten Potsdamer Straße mit der Neuen Staatsbibliothek. Soweit zur Geschichte.

    Zwanzig Jahre nach dem Fall der Mauer kann es nicht mehr darum gehen, die alte West-Berliner Debatte über den Denkmalwert dieser innerstädtischen Stadtzerstörung zu wiederholen. Es muss vielmehr darum gehen, den Raum zwischen den Kulturbauten als öffentlichen Stadtraum wiederzugewinnen.

    Auch dieses Bemühen hat inzwischen seine eigene, gut dreißigjährige Geschichte. Die allmähliche Abkehr vom Denken und Planen in den Kategorien verkehrsgerechter Stadtlandschaften begann 1973 mit einem städtebaulichen Ideenwettbewerb für das gesamte Tiergartenviertel als Teil eines sogenannten „City-Bandes“. Dabei gehörte die hinter der Staatsbibliothek geplante Stadtautobahn „Westtangente“ ausdrücklich noch zum Programm.

    1983 wurde mit dem preisgekrönten städtebaulichen Entwurf von Hans Hollein der Versuch unternommen, mit einem bescheidenen, von der evangelischen Kirche definierten zusätzlichen Bauprogramm mit relativ geringem architektonischen Aufwand zwischen den Kulturbauten einen Kulturforumsplatz baulich zu fassen. Nichts davon wurde je realisiert.

    Stattdessen setzte sich der Prozess der Verunstaltung des Kulturforums mit dem Baustopp der Gutbrodschen Planung, die uns die Rampe vor dem Eingang der Gemäldegalerie beschert hat, und der Fertigstellung des maßstabslosen Kammermusiksaals bis zum Fall der Mauer fort.
    Kulturforum links liegen gelassen

    Für den Neubeginn der Planungen nach dem Fall der Mauer gibt es ein Datum: Es war der Beschluss des Senats von West-Berlin gemeinsam mit dem Magistrat von (Ost-)Berlin vom 10. April 1990, unter Berücksichtigung des Ansiedlungsvorhabens von Daimler-Benz, einen städtebaulichen Wettbewerb für ein Büro- und Dienstleistungszentrum auszuloben, der das Kulturforum buchstäblich links liegen ließ.

    Parallel zu den Arbeiten am Potsdamer Platz begannen die Planungen für das Parlaments- und Regierungsviertel im Spreebogen und für die Friedrichstadt und für die Wiedergewinnung der alten Stadtmitte. Die betraf und betrifft auch die Museumslandschaft mit der inhaltlichen und architektonischen Rekonstruktion der Museumsinsel u.a. mit dem Humboldtforum im Schloss.

    Das Kulturforum aber blieb von diesem wahrlich historischen Prozess ausgeklammert. Es liegt im Schatten des Potsdamer Platzes, von dem aus kommend sich beispielsweise die Besucher der Philharmonie über einen Parkplatz zum Eingang des Konzerthauses durchschlagen müssen – und den gastronomischen Mittelpunkt bildet eine Imbissbude an der neuen und deswegen breiten Potsdamer Straße.

    An diesem Zustand änderte auch die Debatte über das „Planwerk Innenstadt“ nichts. Die Stadt war 1999 noch nicht bereit, die durch die Wiedervereinigung geschaffenen Möglichkeiten einer gemeinsamen Innenstadtentwicklung produktiv zu nutzen.
    Verharren im Zustand von 1989

    So blieb nicht nur das Areal rund um St. Marien bis heute Staatsraum der DDR, auch das Kulturforum als Teil des Westens verharrt im Zustand von 1989. Es ist mit seinen Straßen, Plätzen, Rampen und Bauten zweifellos ein Stück Nachkriegsgeschichte.

    Ob es aber in dieser fragmentarischen Form als solches ein städtebauliches Denkmal ist, muss bezweifelt werden. Dem Senat schien eine solche Haltung eher als ein Zeichen von Resignation. Er hat sich daher in mehreren Workshops unter Einbeziehung verschiedener Architekten für die Weiterentwicklung entschieden und dann 2005 einen Beschluss für einen Masterplan gefasst.

    Dieser Masterplan für die Weiterentwicklung des Kulturforums respektiert und inszeniert die vier architektonischen Monumente: Philharmonie, Neue Nationalgalerie, Staatsbibliothek und St.-Matthäus-Kirche. Zur Inszenierung gehört die Anordnung weiterer Baukörper für privat finanzierte kulturnahe Einrichtungen, mit deren Hilfe die öffentlichen Räume etwa um die Matthäikirche und im Bereich der Philharmonie aufgewertet werden.

    Im Zentrum des Projektes aber stehen der Abriss der Rampe und die Anlage eines von einer Kolonnade gefassten Platzes als Eingang in die Gemäldegalerie, das Kupferstichkabinett und das Kunstgewerbemuseum. Weiterentwicklung heißt aber auch die Anlage eines neuen Museumsplatzes anstelle der vorhandenen Rampe. Der neue Platz soll nicht das Zentrum des Kulturforums, sondern nach dem Vorbild des Neuen Museums ein Eingangsplatz für die Museen mit einer hohen Aufenthaltsqualität sein.

    Seit dem Beschluss des Senats von 2005 herrscht am Kulturforum anstelle von Weiterentwicklung Stillstand. Selbst das Zentrum der Debatte hat sich zur alten Stadtmitte verlagert. Und als sei ein Forum-Desaster nicht genug, werden bei der Planung eines neuen Rathausforums – wie am Kulturforum – Geschichte und Stadtraum ausgeklammert.

    Der Autor war von 1991 bis 2006 Senatsbaudirektor bzw. Staatssekretär für Stadtentwicklung in Berlin.
    http://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/berl…-verkommt.html

  • Super Green Home

    The first ever new home to be LEED-H Certified and Greenpoint rated.

    http://www.margaridohouse.com/

  • Sony Ericsson XPERIA X2, Elm and Pureness spotted at CES

    elm

    Today we took a brief look at Sony Ericsson’s line-up at CES and fondled the Pureness as well as the X2 and Elm. SE also had black and white versions of the X10 available, but you all saw that two months ago when SE held its announcement in NYC — so we won’t really dive into that much. If you’re itching to see more snapshots in our gallery as well as get a brief low-down on each handset, hit the break!

    Click on over to our Sony Ericsson at CES 2010 gallery!

    elm

    One thing we noticed at this year’s CES is that there is a lot of green, or eco-friendly technology and the Elm is definitely in that category. The plastics are recycled, there is an in-phone e-manual, green apps and a power saving charger are packed into a small packaging box for minimal waste. Voice quality on the phone features noise reduction and what SE calls “intelligent voice adaptation.” Don’t let the simple looks fool you, though: the Elm is capable of accessing your Twitter and Facebook accounts along with home screen widgets. The Elm has a 5MP camera with LED flash and face detection, too.

    hazel2

    There isn’t much to say about the Hazel because it features almost everything the Elm does — green technology and same social networking integration. Even the camera is the same. The only difference we noticed with our very brief time with the devices is the obvious form factor. The Hazel is a slider phone whereas the Elm is candy bar styled.

    pureness

    The pureness was rather impressive, but only for its novelty. You’re all already aware of the sky-high price for this thing, and unless you’re a fashionista looking for something sleek regardless of price, it’s probably not worth it. The glass see-through screen is pretty interesting, but it’s very difficult to see what’s on it if there are a lot of highlights in the background — if you’re holding it above a white table or in front of a white wall or sunlight, you might not see much. The phone is devoid of visible buttons when it is turned off, but when you turn it on all the numbers and menu keys light up. Neat concept and it’s what Sony Ericsson calls a “holiday from technology” since all you’ll be doing on this thing is talk, text and checking the time.

    x2(2)

    The XPERIA X2 brings more of the features you might want in a phone these days. As you know, it’s a Windows Mobile 6.5 touch screen device with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. We checked out the panel manager for multiple desktops and it has a nice thing called SlideView for quick access to the applications you use most. SE’s X2 also has Wi-Fi, DLNA media server support and TV out, too, with a 8.1 megapixel camera sensor that has auto/touch focus, just like the iPhone.

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  • Femeile si investitiile

    Femeile au multe talente.Unul dintre ele este ca se pricep foarte
    bine la investitii.Recunosc dintr-o privire o oportunitate,fie ca e vorba de bani,viata,barbati…
    Si mai mult decat atat : intotdeauna gandesc cu un pas inainte.
    Iata un exemplu :

    Dan era burlac.Locuia in casa parintilor,cu tatal sau vaduv si lucra la afacerea de familie.
    Cand a aflat ca o sa mosteneasca o avere (dupa moartea tatalui sau),Dan s-a hotarat ca e timpul sa-si gaseasca o sotie cu care sa imparta banii.

    Intr-o dupa-amiaza,la o sedinta,a observat cea mai frumoasa femeie pe care a vazut-o vreodata.
    Frumusetea ei naturala pur si simplu i-a luat respiratia. (un fel de Berlin-Take my breath away)

    “Poate ca arat ca un om obisnuit”,i-a spus ei,”dar in curand tatal meu va muri iar eu voi mosteni 200 de milioane de dolari.”

    Impresionata,femeia i-a cerut cartea de vizita si dupa 3 zile … a devenit MAMA LUI VITREGA!!!

    Concluzia ? Femeile se pricep mult mai bine la investitii financiare …

    financial-planning

    P.S Uneori ne pricem si noi :))

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  • Chasing Liberty

    chasing-liberty“Mandy Moore e Anna Foster, fiica de 18 ani a lui James Foster (Mark Harmon), presedintele Statelor Unite. Anna a dus o viata privilegiata dar, in acelasi timp, a trebuit sa reziste prezentei constante a agentilor secreti care-i limitau independenta. In timp ce se afla intr-o excursie in Europa, fata reseste sa scape de paznici sai pentru o scurta perioada. Inevitabil, ea cade in bratele tinere ale romanticului britanic Ben Calder, cu care se bucura de o vacanta europeana proaspata si neingradita. Nevrand sa-i strice distractia, ea nu-i spune despre specialul sau statut social. Anna nu stie, insa, ca si Ben are o identitate secreta…”

    Related posts:

    1. Because I Said So
    2. If only
    3. He’s Just Not That Into You
    4. Confessions of a Shopaholic
    5. Over Her Dead Body
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    7. 27 Dresses
    8. Til There Was You
    9. The Nanny Diaries
    10. Just Friends