Category: News

Once upon a time Nokia made the coolest high-end mobile phones on Earth. I remember reviewing the camcorder-shaped N93 during a vacation to Hawaii back in ’06 – I shot video clips and emailed them to family back on the mainland, and despite it taking about nine hours to send each movie over T-Mobile’s EDGE network (okay, slight exaggeration), it was still just about the neatest mobile phone trick I’d ever seen. Back then, Nokia’s S60 Web browser was the state of the art, their N-Series devices defined the intersection of luxury and killer technology. I’ll never forget watching a clip of Howard Chui (he of HowardForums) on some news talk show being grilled about iPhone Fever a few years back. When the host asked him if he, of course, used an iPhone he very matter of fact-ly pulled an N95 out of his pocket and explained how it better suited his needs.

Three years later, it’s a different story for the Finnish phone giant. Nokia is stumbling. While the company retains a huge user base across the globe, including strong footholds in emerging markets and die-hard fans of both its top-shelf Symbian devices and low-end voice-and-text-only handsets, Nokia is losing the race for the hottest segment of the mobile market: the mainstream smartphone user. Like RIM in the U.S., Nokia remains strong in the European business geek sector, but when it comes to Digital Moms and mobile twenty-somethings with money to burn on monthly data plans, phones like the N97 and 5800 rarely enter the conversation. It’s an iPhone and Android world, and Nokia’s just playing catch-up in it.

Nokia still sells a ton of phones – even a stumbling giant is still called “giant” for a reason, mind you. But during Q3 of this year, Apple surpassed Nokia in total handset revenues by a half billion dollars, and Nokia posted an $834 million loss before canning its CFO. That’s a bad sign for the one time king of the cell phone jungle, particularly considering that Apple took a product made for the US market and went global with it in the most successful of ways, whereas Nokia’s struggles to break through in the US market are well-documented.

Missing The (Trendy) Boat

In a word, Apple prompted the touchscreen smartphone revolution, and everyone except Nokia jumped on board. As such, we’ve got a revitalized Motorola, we’ve got Palm sitting on the best OS in the mobile game, and we’ve got HTC building one-offs for Google. And we’ve also got trainwrecks like the Nokia N97 and 5800 which are examples of powerful multitasking computers rendered useless by entirely unusable touch-screen interfaces.

So what’s Nokia to do in 2010? Their recently released N900 shows promise in the high-end market with its new Maemo 5 operating system, but the device is quite honestly for geeks only (even by Nokia’s admission). There’s nary a hardware button on the phone’s front bezel, and the UI is so lacking in user-friendly icons and labels that the process of jumping out of an app or Web browsing session to make a phone call would literally be impossible for more than half of the US consumers used to their iPhones and Droids. 

The company’s line of Symbian S60 smartphones has long been showing its age, and while Nokia has promised an overall to the OS’ look and feel, the company’s recent attempts to graft touchscreen functionality onto the platform resulted in the aforementioned trainwreck devices. And I haven’t heard much about release schedules for Symbian Foundation devices beyond a steady uptick in OS version numbers (i.e. S^2 OS phones coming in 1H 2010, but just you wait for the killer S^3 phones later next year!). 

But Nokia still knows how to build a smartphone. The E72 is getting solid early reviews as the successor to the BlackBerry-alternative E71 (which was one of my favorite devices of 2008), and the N86 is widely considered one of the top two or three cameraphones in the world. The hardware on Nokia’s N-Series devices is by and large excellent, even if the design and OS behind the phones is getting stale.

Eroding in All Markets

To make matters worse, Nokia’s bread-and-butter, those low and mid-range voice/text phones, are also seeing competition. As BusinessWeek pointed out a few weeks ago, “The company’s main business of mid- and low-end handsets, which accounts for 55 percent of devices revenue, is also being eroded by Chinese and emerging market rivals.”

So what’s next for our Finnish friends? I’m not really sure. On the one hand, it’s not like the company’s about to go bankrupt. And with every character of this post that I type, I can hear another Nokia fanboy throwing darts at my picture on his wall – the company has legions of users, and loyal ones at that, who aren’t about to give up their rock-steady, multitasking E- and N- Series devices in favor of some touchscreen trendmaker. Or, if they do want to go capacitive-touch, they can now do so via Nokia’s own X6 music-centric smartphone.

On the other hand, however, Nokia’s in some serious trouble. The global phone market is moving towards smartphones for everyone, as evidenced by Apple’s leap to the top of the US market and huge gains gains globally, and both them and RIM grabbing big chunks of the “dual mode” handset market (phones with cellular and WiFi data capabilities) from Nokia this year. As smartphones go more and more mainstream, high specs and hardcore multitasking need to be matched by ease of use, style, and trendy features. Apple, Palm, and HTC/Motorola are rising to that challenge, matching sophisticated operating systems with sleek, finger-friendly hardware that’s easy to use. Nokia’s still trying to figure out how to catch up without losing their geek cred.

What’s Next? 

I hope they figure it out, and soon. My first cell phone ever was a Nokia (I forget the model number, but I bought it at Radio Shack in Manhattan and I could play “Snake” on its greyscale screen), and like I said, when I first started working at PhoneDog, I was floored by the likes of the N93, E70, and – as recently as last year – E71. I’d really love to see Nokia get back to the top of the mobile handset game. I mean, come on, it’s where they belong.

Isn’t it?

The ReadWriteWeb team will be live today for a 45-minute discussion about the year’s best products and biggest trends.

You can listen to the show at noon today on Blog Talk Radio. We will post the recording after the live event.

Show Details:

RWW Live Special: 2009 Year in Review

Time: Noon PST, (GMT -8)

Link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/readwriteweb

Sponsor

Mercedes-Benz officially announced today that Michael Schumacher will return to Formula One in 2010 with the Silver Arrows team. Schumacher, 40, has signed a three-year deal with Mercedes GP and will reunite with Ross Brawn, with whom he won all 7 of his World Championships.

The winner of 91 F1 races will partner up with Mercedes GP team driver Niko Rosberg.

Schumacher originally retired at the end of the 2006 season, 11 years after racing with Ferrari.

Click through for the official press release.

Press Release:

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER JOINS MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

The MERCEDES GP PETRONAS Formula One Team can confirm today that seven-times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher will make his racing return in 2010 with the Silver Arrows team.

With seven Drivers’ World Championships, 248 Grand Prix starts, 91 victories, 154 podium finishes and 68 pole positions, the 40-year old German needs no introduction following an illustrious and record-breaking Formula One career from 1991 to 2006 at the Jordan, Benetton and Ferrari teams.

Michael’s return to racing with MERCEDES GP PETRONAS sees his return to Mercedes-Benz Motorsport where he began his racing apprenticeship as part of the Junior Programme in 1990, racing in Group C sports cars and DTM, and sees Michael renew his partnership with Ross Brawn with whom he won all seven of his World Championships.

Today’s announcement confirms the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS driver line-up for the 2010 season with Michael partnering his compatriot, 24 year old Nico Rosberg, in the Silver Arrows cars.

Michael Schumacher: “MERCEDES GP PETRONAS represents a new challenge for me both in a sporting and a personal context. It is a new chapter in my racing career and I am really looking forward to working with my old friend Ross Brawn and my companions from my days with the Mercedes Junior Programme. I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship next year and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race track. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years when I began my Formula 1 career and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star.”

Nico Rosberg: “It is fantastic that Michael is returning to Formula One and will be my team-mate at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. It’s a great challenge for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. I’m sure that we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of his speed! It is also great news for our sport and the fans.”

Ross Brawn, Team Principal of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS: “I am delighted that we can confirm today that Michael will make his much-anticipated return to Formula One next year and drive for our MERCEDES GP PETRONAS team. As seven-time World Champion, Michael’s outstanding record in Formula One speaks for itself and I am looking forward to working with him again. With the completion of our driver line-up, I believe that we now have the most exciting partnership in Formula One with Michael and Nico, who provide the perfect mix of talent, experience, speed and youth. We can now turn our full attention to the preparations for the new season and everyone at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is extremely excited about the challenge ahead. With the investment and support in our team provided by Daimler, Aabar and our new title partner Petronas, and with two such exciting drivers, we have all of the building blocks in place to have another successful season in 2010.”

Norbert Haug, Vice-President of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports: “In April 1991, when I had been in charge of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport programme for just six months, Michael was standing beside me on the balcony one evening. Without the slightest doubt, he said in a low voice: “It’s about time that I got into Formula 1″. Michael had just turned 22 years of age and four months later, he made his debut at Spa in a Jordan. Mercedes-Benz helped him to this point and the rest is history: seven World Championship titles, more than any racing driver, 91 Grand Prix wins, more than any racing driver. Michael has more of everything than every other driver. As part of the Mercedes Junior Programme, Michael had raced in Group C sports cars and competed in a few DTM races. Ross Brawn, then our opponent at Jaguar, quickly realised Michael’s talent and they went on to win all seven of his Drivers’ World Championship titles together at Benetton and Ferrari. Our sporting ambition has always been that Michael should drive again where his professional career had started and Michael knew that. We often joked about it after the races and discussed the prospect seriously several times during the last 14 years in Formula 1. It didn’t happen in 1995, it didn’t happen in 1998 and it didn’t happen in 2005. I am delighted that it will now happen in 2010. I am very much looking forward to working with Michael and everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler extends a very warm welcome to our ‘apprentice’ of 19 years ago. That apprentice is now the most successful racing driver of all time.”

– By: Kap Shah

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Videos, Audi, BMW, Land Rover

If you’re like us – and odds are very good you are – you have an evergreen problem. Namely, getting your significant other to feel one-tenth of the excitement about cars that you feel. Sure, you’ve tried explaining that while you almost drove off the freeway, it’s okay because you were trying to catch up with a 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car. Or that waking up at 5:30 am on a Saturday to stand around in a parking lot drinking coffee and gawking at old cars is a perfectly normal family activity. You’ve probably even suggested that she might be happier driving to work in a Citroën DS. Maybe that last part is just us. But maybe not.

Well friends, we have found the solution. The following ten minute clip of Jeremy Clarkson waxing extra poetic about three “mad” SUVs is practically guaranteed to delight even the most fervent, dyed-in-the-wool car hater. It’s simply brilliant. Why? Because it’s Jeremy at his very best. Yes, of course, he insults stewardesses, environmentalists and the mentally ill all the while powersliding around an abandoned air strip. But he does it all in his 100-percent totally lovable way that frankly we find impossible to resist. Even those spouses that think your big, fat V8, “sounds wasteful” are sure to become fast fans. How could anyone argue with “sliced dolphins?” Make the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW X5 M against Audi Q7 TDI and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged

VIDEO: Top Gear pits BMW X5 M against Audi Q7 TDI and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Declining underwriting standards are back! – Are Declining Downpayment Standards a Good Idea? – Tiam Iacono – refers to a WSJ aerticle – The changes, which are being done on a market-by-market basis, mean buyers in some parts of the country can now borrow 95% instead of 90% of a property’s value. Until recently, mortgage companies had tighter standards for these markets because of falling home prices. … Earlier this month, MGIC removed New Orleans, Dover, Del., Akron, Ohio, and four other areas in Ohio from its list of restricted markets. The moves followed the company’s decision in September to loosen restrictions on 11 markets, including Denver and St. Louis … – TheMessThatGreensapnMade

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***   Bank of America sells exec’s house for substantially less than asking price – By David Mildenberg – Bank of America, the biggest U.S. home lender, sold a home for its top housing executive for 44 percent less than its initial asking price set last year, property records show.  Barbara Desoer, head of the bank’s home-loan and insurance unit, put her 4,500-square-foot house in Charlotte, N.C., on the market Aug. 1, 2008, for $1.675 million. The home sold on Nov. 22 for $930,500, according to a Multiple Listing Service report. – Seattle Times

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Fannie’s Christmas Present – A Delayed Repo – Bruce Krasting – … Assume that all of the lenders followed Fannie’s lead and suspended foreclosures from the 19th to the 3rd. That would be a pretty big deal. The number of foreclosure has now reached a level of 11,000 per day. So this break in the action by the lenders would defer as many as 160,000 homes from foreclosure. But that is only for two weeks. It just means the January/February numbers will have a bulge … other thoughts – Zero Hedge

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new reverse mortgage hybrid products? – Hybrid Concepts Look Good on Paper, Regulatory Approval Could be Lengthy – Combining a reverse mortgage with other financial products continues to be a topic debated in our industry and in the halls of Congress.  An article from Investment News describes how companies like Sun Life Financial are developing a hybrid benefit linked products which could involve a reverse mortgage … – Reverse Mortgage Daily

has link – MetLife Releases Reverse Mortgage Guide for Consumers – MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI) announced the release of The Essentials: Reverse Mortgages to help consumers make informed decisions regarding the use of home equity to help fund one’s retirement. – Reverse Mortgge Daily

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(MBS) The Inflation Bomb Hiding On The Fed’s Balance Sheet – John Carney – … Think of it this way. If the Fed bought a mortgage backed security for $100 but can only sell it for $90, there’s a 10% inflationary discount occurring. Which is to say, the Fed’s MBS has inflation built right into it. There’s no way out … –   The Money Game @
Business Insider

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Mortgage Meltdown Continues – by Larry Doyle – While the equity market continues its ascent into the heavens, our housing market continues its descent into hell.  How long can these two indicators continue their contradictory movements? – Sense on Cents   

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lots of neat charts – Last chance for a 5% mortgage – Scott Grannis – Calafia Beach Pundit
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Thousands May Incorrectly Be Using Stimulus Tax Breaks – By LYNNLEY BROWNING – Thousands of American taxpayers incorrectly claimed more than $500 million in tax benefits under the Obama administration’s tax break for first-time home buyers, a government watchdog report said Tuesday. … The report said that as of July 25, 73,799 taxpayers had incorrectly claimed $504 million in credits in the program for first-time home buyers. … – NY Times
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Nearly 40% of Mortgages are now FHA, says NAR – By AUSTIN KILGORE – HousingWire

San Francisco, California | Fascinating Fauna

The first bison, named Ben Harrison, was purchased by Park Superintendent John McClaren on February 26, 1891. His arrival in San Francisco coincided with the historical nadir in bison population, a time when the species’ risk of extinction loomed large.

A female mate by the name of Sarah Bernhardt soon followed, and the two bison began one of the longest-running efforts to breed bison in captivity. Over the last 120 years, more than 500 bison have been born from the Golden Gate herd, and due to efforts throughout the country, the animals are no longer at risk of extinction.

If the animals’ names, Ben Harrison and Sarah Bernhardt, seem strangely delicate for the hulking beasts, the tradition of the time dictated that the bison receive the monikers of their political contemporaries. The original herd included superstars such as Grover Cleveland, Bill McKinley, and Bill Bunker.

Recent years have brought changes to the bison’s naming practices. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, the animals had borne royal Shakespearean handles. As of 1993, the bison have been reclaimed and renamed with Native American names bestowed by the “Watchbison Committee,” a Native American Advisory Committee, and one of their current caretakers, the San Francisco Zoological Society.

In 1980, seven elderly buffalo contracted tuberculosis and were subsequently exiled from their Golden Gate haunts to a paddock at the San Bruno county jail by 1984. As the Democratic convention approached, then-mayor Dianne Feinstein, “didn’t want these buffalo out in the park, so she bought some new ones and sent the mangy ones down [to the jail].” The irony was not lost on the other simian inmates that their new, albeit entertaining, cellmates only included more of the same: Feinstein’s “rejects.”

Among the transplanted animals were King George, Lady Di, and Romeo. Despite having been, quite literally, put out to pasture for a non-contagious, non-life-threatening affliction, the relocated bison were treated well. The guards took pleasure in feeding the bison treats, inmates gawked at the creatures, and the bison didn’t seem to mind as it was reminiscent of the attention at their previous home.

Technically, the “new” herd consists of twelve American Bison given to Mayor Feinstein by her husband in 1984 as replacements. But no matter, the bison seen today in Golden Gate Park are well cared for by staff from the San Francisco Zoo, the aforementioned Zoological Society, Recreation & Parks Department specialists, and have two separate advocacy groups dedicated solely to their well-being.

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2009
Contact: Michael Mascari; (303) 236-4336; [email protected]
Sharon Rose; (303) 236-4580; [email protected]
FFS #R6BK/JG

Green River, Wyoming – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has awarded $2.27 million for the construction of three residential buildings and a bunkhouse on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

McMillen LLC, of Boise, Idaho, will use the ARRA funds to construct the buildings to replace existing rodent-infested structures. The new facilities will be substantially safer and up to 80 percent more energy-efficient. They will have solar heating with radiant floor heating systems. The existing propane-heating system for the two usable houses can cost up to $500 per month to heat.

“The stimulus funds are helping to improve the environment, enhance our facilities, and create job opportunities with projects like this one,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. “With this investment, we will help the habitat and benefit the region for years to come.”

The Bureau of Reclamation built the existing structures as temporary housing for workers constructing the Flaming Gorge and Fontenelle Dams for the Colorado River Storage Act in the early 1960s. They moved the houses to the refuge after completion of the project. Over time, the buildings became mice-infested, making them unsafe to occupy. The Service attempted unsuccessful pest mitigation projects in the past and two of the buildings are condemned.

“This is a great example of how Recovery Act funding can benefit the economy, and the environment. To be able to make safe, efficient housing for our employees and visitors while providing jobs and infusing money into the economy creates a win-win situation,” said the eight-state Mountain-Prairie Regional Director Stephen Guertin.

Mara McMillen, owner of the McMillen LLC, said the project would employ dozens of people. In addition to the 40 employees who work for the firm, the project will provide jobs for local plumbers, electricians, suppliers and other workers from the refuge area.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President’s plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

“With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery.

Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For questions, comments or concerns email us at [email protected]. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Thanks to our sweat, anxiety—and maybe also other emotions—can be chemically transferred between people.

Eric Zeman pieced together some CES 2010 meeting requests and deduced that Sprint could be introducing an LG handset that runs Windows Mobile and supports WiMAX. Eric’s a bright cookie and has his pulse on the phone market, so I’m inclined to agree with him. Last year Sprint had a big CES splash with the introduction of Palm’s Pre, and the carrier needs something big for this year’s show. It all makes sense to me — a capable smartphone that supports Sprint’s investment in Clearwire and the national 4G network. Such a phone would surely use 3G when outside of the 4G coverage area, just like the new hybrid USB adapter that Sprint is offering. Hopefully, a plan for this smartphone offers unlimited 4G usage to supplement the 5 GB cap on the 3G network. Even better would be the ability to tether the phone for use as a WiMAX modem — Windows Mobile supports such functionality, but carriers sometimes remove it.

The funny thing is — a Windows Mobile phone from LG that supports WiMAX was seen at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show. That particular model supported seamless transition between GSM and WiMAX networks, but LG stated that there’s no reason CDMA couldn’t be substituted for GSM. This actually lends even more credence to Eric’s thoughts — WiMAX is available in many more markets this year, so the timing is far better for such a device in 2010 than it was in 2009. The lack of coverage for WiMAX this year earned it a negative spot on our GigaOM Pro Mobile Winners and Losers (subscription required) but perhaps that changes next year. While a WiMAX phone might offer cutting-edge wireless technology, it’s sure to only run an older-feeling Windows Mobile 6.5 — the next release of Microsoft’s mobile platform, version 7, isn’t due out until the second half of 2010, which could spell trouble.

Craig Mod writes in:

I took a trip to the Himalayas about 2 months ago and brought a new camera with me.

I had such a blast using the camera I thought it would be fun to review it.

But I wondered why are camera reviews always so clinical? We don’t use cameras in clinical settings.

As an experiment I decided to combine a camera review with a travelogue. After all, we use cameras on the road, not in a laboratory.

I thought you might be interested in the final result.

In hindsight it was an obvious idea but I’ve yet to see anyone else do something like this before.

Neat idea and executed really well. Plus the photos are terrific.

---

La pasada semana, el Tribunal del Distrito de Seúl aprobó el plan de reestructuración de SsangYong lo que ya confirma al completo que la marca no desaparecerá. Todos sus problemas comenzaron cuando se declaró en suspensión de pagos a comienzos de este mismo año seguido de una complicada huelga y un complicado proceso económico-laboral de negociación, que ha llegado a buen puerto.

Tras la jubilación anticipada de casi el 40% de la plantilla los tribunales han considerado que se ha mejorado productividad y eficiencia, con lo que no pondrán obstáculos a su resucitación económica. Entre sus principales objetivos, está una refinanciación de las deudas y una dilución del accionariado: SAIC pasará a controlar sólo el 11% del capital de SsangYong, frente al 51% previo con el que obtenia el control total.

A día de hoy, el fabricante coreano sigue centrado en el desarrollo de SUV y monovolúmenes, pero ahora más enfocado a lo que el mercado quiere, modelos más compactos y a la vez eficientes. Toda esta reestructuración costará unos 300 millones de euros, pero garantizará la vuelta a los beneficios antes de 2011.

Related posts:

1. El SsangYong Rodius contará con navegador de serie
2. SsangYong C200 estará en el Salón de Barcelona
3. SsangYong ofrece descuentos durante el mes de Septiembre

Apparently the White House is getting freaked out about the unpopularity of the healthcare bill. It wants to shift fast and hard towards the issue of a new jobs bill — AKA a second stimulus.

Perhaps this week’s weak GDP report slapped The White House back into reality, and got them thinking we’re not out of the woods yet.

The Senate will still vote on its version of the healthcare bill tomorrow, but the White House no longer expects the bill to be adopted in January.

POLITICO: The White House privately anticipates health care talks to slip into February — past President Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address — and then plans to make a “very hard pivot” to a new jobs bill, according to senior administration officials.

Obama has been told that disputes over abortion and the tight schedule are highly likely to delay a final deal, a blow to the president, who had hoped to trumpet a health care victory in his big speech to the nation. But he has also been told that House Democratic leaders seem inclined, at least for now, to largely accept the compromise worked out in the Senate, virtually ensuring he will eventually get a deal.

Read the whole thing >

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• The Second Stimulus Is Now A Done Deal
• Just Because Healthcare Stocks Are Soaring, It Doesn’t Mean The Reform Bill Is A Massive Sellout
• Q3 GDP Revised All The Way Down To 2.2%, Much Lower Than Expectations

Come to Kazakhstan—specifically the ice-cold capital of Astana—said Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev in an annual speech yesterday. Here is part of his pitch to diplomats and government officials, via Reuters:

“Well today it’s only -30 C (-22 F). It only strengthens our spirit,” Nazarbayev, in power for 20 years, told diplomats at his lavish marble-and-turquoise presidential palace.

“This city is so sterile. Even germs can’t survive in this weather. So we can enjoy living long lives here. Well, maybe not as long as those of mammoths, but still quite long.”

Great success! Nazarbayev thinks Astana is so extreme that he moved Kazakhstan’s capital there in 1997, which makes Astana the second-coldest capital city in the world. Watch your back, Ulaanbaatar!

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Yesterday I challenged you to estimate my body fat percentage by looking at a recent picture. To be scientific about this little exercise I chose to reference as the correct answer the results of the “gold standard” hydrostatic weighing I had subjected myself to at the Malibu gym (it was actually a specialized truck that shows up once a year and performs the intricate and expensive underwater weighing tests for $60 each). 317 of you took a stab at guessing from the photo of me. It’s clear to me that many of you are quite good at estimating actual body fat levels (the average guess was 6.7%), but Gwen, anticipating the tenor of today’s post, took the prize with the closest guess at 12.5%… Ironically, that was also the highest guess of all and yet it was still a full 4 percentage points lower than what the actual “gold standard” test demonstrated. That’s right, my test score showed that I am 16.9% body fat. That’s 28 pounds of pure fat – if you believe the lab values. Even my wife Carrie tested lower at 13%. Am I really that fat? Probably not, but I went through this exercise to illustrate a point about which I will write today: that quite often, these so-called “gold standard” lab values are of little actual predictive value. Sometimes these tests are just plain wrong. And sometimes they can create far more problems than they solve. And if they are that far off when something is largely visible, what happens when they are dealing with more intricate hidden body chemistry? In this case, my jeans still fit loosely, so I really don’t care what the lab value was. I know the reality. But if I lived only by the lab values, I’d be inclined to start cutting calories immediately to lose weight.

In my estimation, medicine has become way too reliant on testing for lab values that reflect aggregates, population norms, cohort quintiles from dubious studies, or simple averages to arrive at reference ranges and the calculated risk factors that these numbers appear to represent. Even the term “risk” is deceptive, because an increase in risk for a disease doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get the disease – even if you show a strong genetic predisposition (another test I wonder about). Sometimes the preventive or prophylactic treatments that follow such tests are useless or even harmful. Nevertheless, doctors often prescribe, biopsy, radiate, excise or otherwise operate based on assumptions they have made regarding your relative risk of disease – and sometimes simply on their relative risk of getting sued if they don’t follow the standard of care – based solely on lab values. We have spoken here often about how medicine is not “black and white” and how there is typically not a right answer to a medical issue so much as an educated opinion (or not) on a course of action. It’s my contention that your own opinion is often the most precise and valid. Certainly, use your doctor, but do your own research to be sure you make an informed decision.

Case in point, I had breakfast with a friend a few weeks ago who wanted my opinion on his recent blood tests and whether or not he should continue taking statins. Right off the bat I told him (as I am telling you now) that I am not an MD and am not allowed to advise anyone on any medical issues whatsoever. So we agreed to have a philosophical discussion (like we are having here now). He showed me the results of two blood lipid panels taken from the same sample (blood drawn in the same collection sitting) but that were sent to two different labs that same day. Of course, as I anticipated, no two lab values were the same from one lab’s test results to the other. Most notably, the total LDL differed by 40% from one test to the other. That’s a little disconcerting in itself. On both of these tests my friend’s total cholesterol was way under 200 and his HDL was over 100, which “philosophically” would put him in the lowest risk category for CHD regardless of which test was the more accurate. But my friend has been running scared his entire life because his father had a fatal heart attack at age 51. As a consequence, he has it in his mind that he needs to get the lowest LDL score he can possibly muster, come hell or high water and regardless of the notion that very low cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk in overall mortality. He eats well (mostly Primal) and gets a lot of exercise on his road bike (in my opinion maybe too much) but he still lives his life in fear of what the numbers might represent. And he agonizes over which data set is the “real” one. At his doctors urging he has even been taking statins as a “precautionary and preventive” measure (and now complains of fuzzy thinking). We ended the conversation with my telling him, ironically, that his relative risk of death or disability from riding his bike 200 miles a week on those mean streets in an effort to protect his heart is measurably higher than his risk of having a fatal MI that might result from his pure cholesterol numbers. And his increased risk from the stress of worrying probably trumps them both.

I have mentioned my skepticism of lab tests in the past (Makes My Blood Boil, Weighing the Evidence: Science and Anecdote in Nutrition Studies). It started when, as anti-doping commissioner for the International Triathlon Union I was obliged to prosecute athletes for doping violations when their tests showed 4 or 5 billionths of a gram of a steroid metabolite at a time when the legal allowable threshold was “only” 3. A billionth of a gram could then be the difference between being labeled for life as a cheater or competing legally. Seeing how imprecise lab tests can be from one lab or one machine to the other, and how these wavy lines on sheets of graph paper could be interpreted so differently from one “expert” to the next, my skepticism grew. At some future date I will get into details regarding the many common diagnostic tests that are now being re-evaluated for their lack of effectiveness (mammograms, colonoscopies, CT scans, etc) but for now, if you want a really scary example of how nebulous lab values can influence serious medical decisions, go here and read what the National Cancer Institute has to say about using PSA values to diagnose prostate cancer and read the answer to question 4. Turns out the gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer relies on a test for which it is acknowledged there is no “normal” or “abnormal” PSA. And that while the “over/under” lab value for a biopsy has historically been set at 4.0,  65-75% of men who have PSAs of 4.1-9.9 are found NOT to have prostate cancer. More damage is often done by the subsequent invasive test (biopsy) than by leaving things as is. Meanwhile, 15% of men biopsied with PSAs below 4 are shown to have prostate cancer. As many docs say, “it’s not much, but it’s the best we have” in diagnosing this serious condition. True, but little consolation when you risk losing sexual function as a result of an invasive biopsy which is, in turn, a result of a nebulous lab value.

Anyway, back to my personal example. Why was my body fat test so far off (if in fact it was)? Who knows? I can estimate it on website calculators and get closer to what I think it is. Like this one… where I come in at 8.68% (I do like that number better). With some tests like skinfold and hydrostatic weighing, there is an assumption that the exact same data (skinfold thickness or underwater weight) when applied to older people (I’m 56) reflect a naturally higher body fat for some reason. But when I researched how they actually got the original data they use to estimate body fat, I found that it was largely from autopsies performed in the 1860’s and 1870’s. Not many autopsies have been done for that purpose since. Also, the reference data on skinfold tests and hydrostatic weighing still assumes that as you get older, you automatically lose muscle (regardless of how you eat or how much you work out) and that your skinfold thickness decreases so much that the same lab value at 22 years of age represents twice the body fat at 56. Hey, since 50 is the new 30, maybe those lab values are obsolete, too?

By the way, the gal who administered my body fat test, and who has done thousands of these, had guessed me at 8% before she started the test. She was so flustered by my results, she insisted on doing the test again. And then once again. And then simply handed me my $60 back and said, “I have no explanation, but clearly your test is way off.” Frustrating. But this sort of thing happens every minute of every day in doctors’ offices and clinics throughout the country. Except the doctor doesn’t acknowledge it and you don’t get a refund.

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Power has been restored for trains travelling to and from Manhattan’s Penn Station, according to Amtrak.

Some service was restored as of 11:36 on Wednesday morning. But with service halted since around 8:45 a.m. there are massive delays. Apparently many trains still cannot operate.

Amtrak Spokesman Clifford Cole said this morning there was a low voltage problem near North Bergen. He could not say what caused the problem. Many, of course, are speculating that it is related to the cold temperatures.

Only some trains are back up and running. CBS News reports:

Amtrak can’t operate its Northeast Regional and Acela trains between New Jersey and New York.

NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel says Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Midtown Direct trains into and out of New York are still stuck.

PATH trains and Port Authority buses are honoring NJ Transit rail passes.

Photo Credit: Twitpic user Brendan Gray.

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See Also:

• Holiday Travel Nightmare: Amtrak Trains In And Out Of New York City Halted

The iPhone has been dubbed an equalizer for independent game developers, since the App Store—in theory—gives them access to millions of potential players, without forcing them to partner up with a big publisher. But as various reports have shown, games from publishing giants like EA and Gameloft (EPA: GFT) dominate the App Store in terms of sales and exposure, with a large percentage of indie developers left stuck with great games that they’re unable to monetize.

That’s where startups like Playhaven hope to come in. Instead of creating games, they’re trying to create communities and exposure for the game developers. The goal is to help them sell more games—and eventually—pay for the assistance. Playhaven, for example, creates mini “fan sites” where players can create profiles, post their scores, and share strategies about specific games. Officially launched in June 2009, Playhaven says over 130 developers have “claimed” the game communities that it set up for them.

“The App Store is like a black box,” says Playhaven CEO Raymond Lau (pictured). “Aside from regional sales stats, developers have no way of really knowing who their players are. They can’t even respond to [negative or positive] reviews.” Once they “claim” ownership of the microsites that Playhaven has set up, game developers can communicate with their fan bases—providing updates about new versions of their games or glitches, for example—and also cross-promote through other social networks.

The startup helped developer Bryan Mitchell grow the Facebook community for his puzzle game, Geared (iTunes link). Geared had around 100 fans when he first created the Facebook page; that grew to over 7,300 fans within three weeks of interacting with (and claiming) the corresponding community on Playhaven. “Geared was one of the top-selling games in the App Store in August and September, and Bryan had plans for the sequel from the start,” Lau said. “But he had no way of interacting with players to get a read for what they’d want.”

Playhaven’s “app within an app” setup means that developers can plug links to their communities right into their games, with no SDK or other programming needed. The service is free for now; Lau says the company is focused on “building the developer network—not monetization,” but the plan is to eventually offer premium services and ads.

On the premium end, Playhaven could offer developers advanced analytics about their game communities (i.e. zip codes, time zones they play in, percentage of in-app purchases vs. subscription players on a daily basis), as well as consulting. “If a developer with a hit iPhone game wants to advertise a similar game on the Wii or PlayStation Network, we could help them do that, because we have all the user data,” Lau said. Founded in 2008 by Lau, Erik Yao, Kurtiss Hare, and Stephen Altamirano, Playhaven is backed by an undisclosed amount of seed funding from Tandem Entrepreneurs and startup incubator Launchbox Digital.

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