Category: News

  • A Decade and Its Three Crises by Sammy Benoit, AmericanThinker.com

    Article Tags: Financial, Sammy Benoit

    When we look back at the decade 2000-2009, we may well define it by three crises: the crisis that didn’t happen, the crisis that wasn’t supposed to happen, and the crisis that we don’t realize is happening. We haven’t learned the lessons of the first two, and our ignorance of the third may doom us to be slaves to our government, rather than the other way around.

    Leading into the changeover from 1999-2000, we faced Y2K, the crisis that didn’t happen. Many people thought computers’ dates would go from 1999 back to 1900, causing our computer-dominated world to fail: bank accounts disappearing, air-traffic systems (and airplanes) crashing, and everything leading to economic collapse and a return to the Stone Age.

    Some scientists told us the world would end, but it didn’t. And the solution didn’t necessitate everyone throwing out their computers and buying new ones. We should remember this non-crisis when we think about global warming.

    Source: americanthinker.com

    Read in full with comments »   


  • Hyundai Offers Upgraded Assurance Program for 2010

    Hyundai Motor America decides to extend and expand their Hyundai Assurance system in 2010. The system will include from now on America’s Best Warranty and 24-hour Roadside Assistance. This assurance program was first introduced in January 2009 as a way to protect consumers in the event they would lose their income by taking the vehicle back.

    The system was offered as a complimentary service with every new Hyundai model sold in the United States. America’s Best Warranty refers to a… (read more)

  • At Decade’s Start: 308,400,408 People in U.S.

    As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close, the Census Bureau projects that on Jan. 1, 2010, the total U.S. population will be 308,400,408. This would represent an increase of 2,606,181, or 0.9%, from New Year’s Day 2009.

    In January 2010, one birth is expected to occur every eight seconds in the United States and one death every 12 seconds.

    Meanwhile, net international migration is expected to add one person every 37 seconds to the U.S. population in January 2010. Combined with births and deaths, that means an increase in the total U.S. population of one person every 14 seconds.

    Close to the end of the new decade, in July 2019, the Census Bureau projects the U.S. head count will have risen to 338,190,000.


  • Steinert Sensor Sorters are launched

    Over 65 delegates from the mining industry, waste and recycling, engineering companies and representatives from local, state and federal governments and organizations enjoyed a discovery trip into the future of separation technology.

    A very successful occasion was enjoyed by the visitors who witnessed Steinert’s Induction (ISS) and X-ray (XSS) sensor sorters being put to work on a range of sample materials following an informative technical presentation.

    The demonstrations included sorting materials from shredder product, upgrading nickel ore, separating sandstone from kimberlite and removing metal and non-metal contaminants from woodchips and magnetite ore.

    Following the demonstrations, visitors were free to view other Steinert products on display within the production area while they enjoyed refreshments in the true German spirit. Discussions that ensued left no doubt that the Sensor Sorting Technology launch exceeded everyone’s expectations.

    Steinert would like to thank all visitors for attending a great afternoon and to remind those who couldn’t make it that the test unit is here to stay … and to be used!

  • 2009 in Review – The Top GeekTonic Content for 2009

    As the 2009 year comes to a close I thought I’d spend some time looking at the past before I look to the future.  We’ll do a quick rundown on how things are going at GeekTonic.  We’ll cover a few stats for the statisticians, talk about the focus of content for the blog and finally run through the most read topics of the past year.

    GeekTonic Logo

    Stats – Things Continue to Look Up

    More than 1,493,000 Pageviews with a steady number of over 100,000 pageviews each month from February through December.  The trend has actually been positive in the past six months as well for both unique visitors and returning visitors.

    The most popular referring sites included Google (of course), Stumbleupon, ZatzNotFunny, SageTV Forums, EngadgetHD, Consumerist, MissingRemote, Snapstream, GreenButton, avsforum, Lifehacker and delicious.

    The most popular search engines used to find GeekTonic were Google, Yahoo and Bing in that order.  Google wins this battle with ease cornerning nearly 82% of all search traffic.

    The top web browsers were Firefox (50%, Internet Explorer 33%, Safari 8% and Chrome 6%.

    Countries Represented – GeekTonic visitors came mostly from the US 73%, Canada 7%, UK 5%, Austrailia 2% and Europe filling out most of the rest, but its always surprising to see that over 200 countries had visitors at GeekTonic.

    I won’t bore you with more details, but going through the blog stats I also learned that GeekTonic readers are a loyal bunch and visit the site multiple times – even in one month.  Thanks for that loyalty – I hope to continue to make it worth your while.

    Topics Covered

    Topic-wise the blog will continue to bring you the things I think you’ve come here for in the first place:

    1. HTPC – home theater PC’s are a passion of mine and I’ll continue to focus on them.  SageTV is still what I use day in and day out, but I’m also dabbling with XBMC, Windows 7 Media Center, Boxee among others.  I know HTPCs and I really enjoy covering them.

    2. Media – TV updates (U.S. and Canada only) will continue to have front-and-center coverage here.  I won’t review shows much, but I’ll continue to offer the weekly updates on new show premieres, specials, finale’s and cancellations as well as the full guides to each new TV season as those continue to be popular.  I might on occasion cover other media topics such as movies, music, books etc – all digital of course.

    3. e-Readers – I’m very interested in e-Readers as the devices improve.  I think we are in the beginning of something important here – a shift in the way we consume books, magazines and newspapers.  The Kindles in our home will continue to be covered as will new devices such as the Nook, Que and other e-Readers

    4. Media Gadgets – This is a bit of a catch-all, but GeekTonic will cover those media gadgets that interest us and therefore make for good reading.  Yes, the focus continues to be on HTPCs, media players and e-Readers, but we’re not excusive in that way.  Watch for more on the things that interest you and me.

    5. Everything Else – It looks like we might have a regular guest blogger here at GeekTonic.  You know her from her reviews of the Kindle and Nook – she goes by the name Mrs GeekTonic on Twitter.  Her focus will be on technology also with the occasional discussion of Tech in Schools & Education.

    The main thing that keeps me from covering more is my time.  Because of this, I really enjoy reader-submitted articles which also add a different perspective that is often shared by GeekTonic readers.  You’ll note that two of the top articles from 2009 on GeekTonic were guest posts from readers just like you.

     

    Most Read Articles on GeekTonic in 2009:

    Media Center Plugin Brings Netflix Hulu and more Online Video via PlayIt – The MediaCenter fans were pretty excited to get Netflix, Hulu and other online video support.
    Transform Your AppleTV with Boxee – Boxee made a huge splash – in large part because of Hulu support built in at the time
    SageTV Ultimate Guide – A continually updated guide on all things SageTV (HTPC) is a very popular post here at GeekTonic
    Hauppauge HD-PVR on Media Center Arrives – Media Center fans get to use the Hauppauge HD-PVR albeit with a hack and extra paid software.
    KindleTips – Ultimate Kindle 2 Shortcuts and Tricks – Kindle tips & tricks including keyboard shortcuts
    SageTV HD200 HD Theater GeekTonic Review – The HD Theater from SageTV continues to fly under the radar of the big media.  I guess they just don’t understand it, but that’s what keeps folks coming back for more here at GeekTonic
    PopcornHour C200 Preview and First Look – A very nice media player with all kinds of capability including optional Blu-ray optical
    iPod Without iTunes – The most popular guest post ever at GeekTonic.  Reader, ZetaVu hit a home run with this article which continues to get new readers daily.  Hmm, you think folks aren’t happy with iTunes after all???
    Ultimate Fall 2009 TV Premiere Schedule – This is now dated, but shows the popularity of the TV Premiere schedules I prepare.  Thank goodness for that because I spend days putting this thing together three times a year and then countless hours updating it with changes and corrections during the season.  The latest version for Winter 2010 TV Premiere Schedule is already a popular item for this month
    HTPC Wireless Keyboard Roundup Part 2 – Vidabox Premium Wireless HTPC Keyboard – A nice HTPC keyboard by Vidabox
    SageTV Tip: TV Channel Logos in SageTV Guide – This was an easy how-to on adding TV logos to your SageTV EPG.  Also includes links to a huge number of TV logos which is part of the appeal of this post I’m sure.
    Linksys Discontinuing All Media Extenders DMA 2100 and DMA 2200 – This is my biggest disappointment of 2009.  Not necessarily just that Linksys dropped out of the MC extender market, but the absence of extenders for Media Center in general other than the XBox360.
    The Ultimate Directory of SageTV 3rd Party Applications
    DIY HDMI and USB Over Ethernet – An Extender Alternative – The second most popular guest post on GeekTonic
     

    Thanks again for being a part of GeekTonic.  I appreciate all of the readers and contributors here and will strive to make GeekTonic even better in 2010!


  • Mophie iPhone credit card reader coming to a CES near you

    iPhone accessory maker and recession antidote regular Mophie is about to make the most buzzworthy move of its short history by offering a credit card reader and accompanying transaction app for the Apple handset. Positioned as a direct competitor to Jack Dorsey’s Square iPhone Payment System, Mophie’s solution looks to be integrated into an iPhone case — making it possible to keep the reader on permanently, albeit at a slight cost to your device’s aesthetics. The decidedly cube-shaped Square system has a less ergonomic design, but we suspect that the winner (if either of these two succeeds) will be primarily determined by the usability of the app and affordability of the service. Look out for more info to emerge at some point during the maelstrom that will be CES 2010.

    Mophie iPhone credit card reader coming to a CES near you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • A Room made of cardboard! And we’re not kidding!

    Cardboard_Cabinet.jpg
    The first striking point of this villa in the village of Vals in Switzerland is that it has been carved out of a mountain wall. The second most interesting fact is that the designer Jeroen van Mechelen has created a cabinet- cabin in the guesthouse with cardboards. Designed by the renowned architectural firm SeARCH in collaboration with Christian Müller architects this cathedral-like cabin is defined out of a 3 dimensional cardboard matrix. The two complete chapel like ceilings have been carved out of this matrix. The lightweight cardboard sandwich panels were directly CNC-carved from the design files and easily put together by the design team.

    [Design]

  • WattVision will encourage people want to save energy

    wattvision-1.jpg
    It’s an old Chinese philosophy that you can take a horse to a lake, but you can’t make him drink the water. Keeping the phrase alive, WattVision has developed this real-time energy monitoring device that actually allows the user to counts the units consumed over every electronic device in the house. This simply means that unless people are actually made aware of the reality, in other words the statistics, the conscience will not prick. Thus no actually change can be made. To be honest, there are several existing energy sensors that can be easily snapped onto your gadget to monitor your consumption. But what makes WattVision different from the rest is an interesting looking structure, smart pricing and easy display. If you talk to the people in their own language, the reciprocation is immediate.

    WattVision claims to have very simple to understand display and they believe in the mantra that ’what is measurable is manageable’, thus they hope to instill the energy conserving habit into their consumers who have so far not really bothered about the acute energy crisis we are facing today.

    [Treehugger]

  • France rejects carbon pricing policy

    by David Roberts

    One of the purported advantages of a carbon tax over cap-and-trade is that it would be simple, as simple as grandma and apple pie and just as hard to frak with. That view has taken a bit of a blow from the latest news out of France.

    The French Constitutional Council has rejected a tax on carbon emissions strongly backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy that was to take effect Friday. But his ruling conservative party said the measure would be redrafted so it could be passed into law next year.

    The council, which evaluates the constitutionality of proposed laws, ruled late Tuesday that the bill contained too many exemptions for polluters, broke with past practices and threatened to make tax collection unfair.

    Sarkozy could make the tax more, er, simple, but “it remains unclear how the bill could be modified to meet the demands of the council without fierce objections from French industry.”

    I guess implementation is rough all over.

    Related Links:

    Sarkozy wants French carbon tax to take effect in July

    James Hansen vs. cap-and-trade

    Sarkozy scrambles to salvage carbon tax






  • China is gearing for its big budget Electric Vehicle Charging station project

    china's_ev_charging_station.jpg
    After being lashed out at in the many Copenhagen summits, China has taken environment consciousness seriously and has a massive budget for the ‘landmark green building project’ being developed for the World University Games coming in August 2011. They have decided on a new set of two charging stations for electric cars at the Universiade Center in Shenzhen. Apart from this they plan on having about 134 pole chargers around the town. The charging stations can be used during the day time, while the pole chargers can be putt o use during the night, for slow or overnight charging.

    [Autobloggreen]

  • Tech Firms Jockey Ahead of Recovery [Voices]

    By Don Clark, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

    In a brutal year, technology companies responded by hunkering down and developing new products at a faster rate as they tried to wrest sales from one another.

    While 2010 isn’t expected to be a blockbuster, consumers have shown they are still willing to spend on gadgets, at least for hot products like Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone and Amazon.com Inc.’s (AMZN) Kindle.

    There are also signs that frozen corporate budgets are thawing—driven by aging equipment, falling hardware prices and new offerings, notably Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT) Windows 7.

    Tech vendors are tapping demand in China, India and other emerging economies for products like laptop computers and cellphones. At the same time, Web connections are being added to existing products in new ways that are spurring buyers into action.

    Read the rest of this post on the original site

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  • DoCoMo plans for an eco-friendly cellphone powered with kinetic energy

    docomo_eco-friendly_cellphone.jpg
    Japan is the future of the cell phone industry and developments and innovations from the land of the rising sun have helped change the way we use our phones. As dreamt by Japan’s mobile big shot, NTT DoCoMo, the mobile phone will be an essential part of our lives, more than it is today. The company displays its technology in cell phones at the ‘Future Station’, located in a Tokyo skyscraper. The company anticipates the use of its wearable phone by the year 2020. This phone is to be made out of recycled materials. It’s uncommon for cell phone manufacturers to use recycled materials for production today, however this will not be so in the future. DoCoMo’s phone will also be partially powered with kinetic energy created due to the movements of the user.

    The phone will be capable of projecting images in the air in the form of a hologram. The people in Japan now use phones for entertainment purposes, buying goods and a whole lot of other applications besides calling. If DoCoMo’s dreams are realized soon enough, it will help change the world of telecommunication and help create a cleaner cell phone industry with its recycling policies.

    docomo_eco-friendly_cellphone2.jpg

    docomo_eco-friendly_cellphone3.jpg

    [France24]

  • Environmentalism is just the latest way to tell other people what to do by Lorne Gunter, National Post

    Article Tags: Lorne Gunter

    The decade just past marked the transition from red into green. It was the decade in which environmentalism replaced socialism as the authoritarians’ and the busybodies’ ideology of choice.

    Why are so few environmentalists truly unhappy about the failure at Copenhagen? In the run-up to this month’s Earth summit in the Danish capital, many “greens” were warning that if the world’s leaders failed to reach a comprehensive pact to control climate change our planet was doomed within the century. In the summer, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon insisted “we have four months to save the planet.”

    But nothing that will save the planet came out of the UN eco-fest.

    Source: network.nationalpost.com

    Read in full with comments »   


  • Understanding Hair Loss or Baldness and Its Types

    In this article we will discuss about the types of hair loss or baldness but before going in detail let us know what exactly hair loss means. Hair loss or baldness is a condition in which hair does not grow on the scalp after hair fall. The most common form of baldness is the development of a hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or male baldness which occurs in adult males.

    The nature of hair loss or baldness can vary greatly. These are the types of hair loss

    1. Androgenic alopecia: Loss of hair in men is called as androgenic alopecia.

    2. Alopecia areata: Here hair loss occurs in some portions of the head.

    3. Alopecia totalis: In this the hair loss occurs over the entire scalp to an extreme limit.

    4. Alopecia universalis: This involves the loss of all hair from the entire body.

    The other less common kinds of baldness are:

    1. Traction alopecia: This type of hair loss is mostly observed in people with ponytails who pull their hair with excessive force while combing. Wearing a hat for more than 8 hours also causes hair loss. The scalp should breathe at least 7 hours in a day.
    2. Telogen effluvioum: Hair loss some times occurs due to causes like major surgery, poisoning, child birth, chemotherapy severe stress etc and such condition is known as telogen effluvium.

    3. Mycotic Infections: Mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss.

    4. Alopecia areata: This type hair loss is known as spot baldness and is caused due to autoimmune disorder.

    There are many hair loss prevention and treatment products but herbal products are the better option as they are natural and have no harmful effects. For detail information visit Hair loss remedy and find variety of herbal treatments.

    Disclaimer: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

    Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

    Are you looking for Hair loss remedy? Get effective Female hair loss treatment. Also find useful Male hair loss treatment to prevent hair fall in men.

    Nick Mutt is an active writer and blogger on health related topics. He has published many ebooks on natural health.

    Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

  • Piezoelectric energy created from vibrations to help power remote sensing devices

    Piezoelectric_energy.jpg
    Ever heard of energy created due to the vibrations of a dance floor or train station? It is known as piezoelectric energy. This form of energy is formed due to the conversion of mechanical strain into electrical current. A tiny piezoelectric energy, capable of collecting energy from machinery and infrastructure is being developed by a team of researchers in Europe. These devices can be used to power remote sensing equipment that can detect deterioration of bridges and even wind turbines. Wind turbines are usually located in remote areas and accessing those burns up loads of energy.

    Also, maintenance teams face huge risks while climbing up these turbines. Instead of burning all this energy for regular checkups, these remote sensing devices powered by piezoelectric energy can be used. Aluminum nitride as an alternative to lead is being developed by a European nanotechnology research team with the creation of a tiny device made out of micro-electromechanical systems. The use of lead- free piezoelectric energy devices is anticipated in the future and will change the way maintenance operations are carried out.

    [Cleantechnica]

  • Sanyo Canada launches first bifacial solar module

    Canadian_Bifacial_Solar_PV.jpg
    Canada spots its first bifacial photovoltaic solar module with the unveiling of Sanyo Canada Inc. and Avacos Solar Energy’s installation at DuROCK Alfacing International Ltd.’s headquarters. This installation combines Sanyo’s HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) Double bifacial solar photovoltaic modules and Tio-Coat reflective roof membrane. The Sanyo HIT Double PV is capable of generating energy from both the sides due to which, 30% more energy is generated as compared to common PV modules. The Tio-Coat is a roof coating made of elastomeric urethane. It provides 89% solar radiation reflectivity and weather resistance. Together, the HIT Double PV and Tio-Coat membrane will help provide energy for DuROCK and also reduce the cooling cost of the building. An increased PV module output and higher exposure to solar radiation is gained due to the combination of these two products with its 10kW grid-tied arrangement. According to president of Avacos Solar Energy, Sandro Costa, this is a win-win situation for the client and a great example of how combination of two technologies can help boost the solar industry.

    [RenewableEnergyWorld]

  • Natural Hair Loss Remedies & Treatment

    We all lose hair on a regular basis, but unfortunately rapid hair loss accompanied by non-growth of new hair coming in to replace it results in thinning hair and gradually lead to baldness.

    The causes of hair loss can be many, the main cause of Hair Loss being due to improper care of your hair, or unhealthy lifestyle. Hereditary can also be attributed to the cause of hair loss. Hair loss can be treated by either of the following,

    • Drugs based approach.

    • Use of commercial products approach.

    • Natural remedy approach.

    • Nutritional approach.

    • Cleanliness approach.

    Drug based approach is ideal for people who are willing to take strong medications. It is strongly recommended that you consult a dermatologist before the consumption of any drugs.

    Although a variety of commercial products are available in stores, yet all may not prove as a solution to your problem. An extensive research is what can help you in choosing the proper product to prevent your hair loss. Commercial products based on natural ingredients are preferred and have proved useful too in preventing hair loss.

    Nowadays people are increasingly getting more and more inclined to natural hair loss remedies to combat hair loss. Some natural remedies have proved as an effective treatment towards hair loss.

    It is an eminent factor that poor nutrition and unhealthy lifestyles can have a bad effect on your health as well as your hair. A well-balanced and improved nutrition can help you achieve a healthy hair. Try eating sufficient amounts of protein, proper levels of useful carbohydrates and achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats. Eat more fruits in the morning and more vegetable for lunch and dinner.

    Scalp cleanliness plays one integral role in preventing hair loss. If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it immediately. Dandruff can be a prime cause of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, excess sebum follicle oil.

    With time these chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles cannot support hair growth.

    Here are a few hair loss remedies that can help you maintain what you now have and save losing your hair.

    • Getting proper nutrition is essential for healthy hair.

    • Water, protein, biotin, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, copper, iron, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, calcium, folic acid, and magnesium all contribute to a healthy scalp and hair.

    • Massaging your scalp with the help of your fingertips enhances the scalp blood circulation, which contributes to your hair growth.

    • Prolonged exposure to sun, wind and heat can result in hair loss, therefore avoid doing so. If it is really required, make sure you have protected your hair with a scarf or hat.

    • Excessive use of hair dryers, hot showers, and curling irons on your hair can also cause hair loss, thus try avoiding them as much as possible.

    • Stress is a major reason why you can experience hair loss. Therefore, start reducing the extra stress at once by taking some time out of your daily schedule to relax. Also get enough sleep. You can also start supplementing your diet with a good hair loss nutritional supplement.

    • Hair coloring damages your hair and therefore you must try to color it less frequently.

    The hair loss treatments suggested here cannot provide perfect cures for all hair loss conditions, but have proved helpful under many conditions. You can thus, try them as the potential solutions to hair loss.

    Donna Summer is a renowned Hair Specialist and focuses on Hair Loss Remedy and authored a book on Hair Loss Products

  • The greenest and cleanest family on a pursuit to have a garbage-free 2010

    green_family.jpg
    Maybe you don’t look at your trash can with a twinkle in your eye, but the Strauss family sure do! The garbage sticking out of this trashcan is the amount of waste the family produced in one year. And they haven’t achieved this by digging up their lawn to hide all their waste. The Strauss family recycles. These folks have produced an average of just 2oz of garbage a week. The family has disposed of its garbage wisely by using it as compost and landfill. That’s not all; they have even burnt up their old wooden toilet seat in the living room fireplace. They have been growing some of their own food, reusing shopping bags and have stopped receiving junk mail. Next year, the family aims to produce no garbage at all.

    This pursuit to cleanliness began 18 months ago when the family, 53 year old Richard Strauss, his wife Rachelle, 37, and their eight year old daughter Verona, came across an article on the effects of plastic waste on marine life. Their dwelling place, a three bedroom house in Longhope, Gloucestershire is heated using a wooden burner and is partially
    powered up using solar energy. The Strauss family sure has created an example that everyone should learn from.

    green_family2.jpg

    [Dailymail]

  • The HB-SIA, a plane powered completely by solar energy

    HB-SIA.jpg
    Solar energy is being used for various purposes all over the globe today with the rise in technology. The sun is being squeezed of its juice to power up homes, cars and even cell phones. The newest application for solar energy is to power up airplanes. Known as the HB-SIA and built by a Swiss team, it completed its first test run in Zurich this December. The plane flew 350 meters at an altitude of one meter and will have its next test run in 2010. Chairman of Sun Impulse and co-founder of this project, Bertrand Piccard, hope’s that this airplane will circle the globe in 20 days by the year 2012. He managed to draw in €40 million of the total €70 million needed from investors like Semper, Deutsche Bank, Toyota and a few others.

    This project aims at promoting the use of alternate forms of energy. Piccard hopes that the Chinese solar technology firm, SunTech will present the solar cells required. To circle the globe, the HB-SIA requires around 12000 solar cells that need to be attached to the planes wings and fuselage. These will help store 14 hours of energy. With a wingspan as long as an Airbus 340 and the weight of a car, it can soar up to 8500km with an average speed of 70kmph. When completed, this plane is sure to pave the way for a cleaner and greener aviation industry.

    [EnterpriseInnovation]