Category: News

We’re not entirely sure if this would be the DLC that Naughty Dog promised to send out in time for Christmas, but apparently, two new multiplayer skins were found in Uncharted 2.
 
 
 

Ford is making a serious bid for geeks’ business. Scott Monty, the auto company’s Internet-famous social media head, wrote to us tonight with some of the most exciting car-related news an Internet-dependent nerd could wish for.

The next generation of Ford’s SYNC-enabled vehicles will not only be rolling communications and entertainment systems. They’ll also be rolling WiFi hotspots. Passengers will be able to connect to the Internet anywhere, anytime. Our crystal ball is showing a lot more Ford-enabled conference roadtrips.

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The way it works is a lot like many devices available from wireless networks. For example, Sprint’s MiFi, which we tested earlier this year, allows for multiple devices to connect to the Internet from a small, card-shaped device without a physical connection to any hardware. Other devices we’ve tested allow for single- and multi-device connections via USB.

Ford’s solution is allowing for USB modems connecting to the vehicle’s SYNC system and enabling Internet connectivity for multiple devices. These vehicles can also connect to other USB devices. In essence, the user’s vehicle becomes one with the user’s hardware.

The WiFi signal is broadcast throughout the vehicle, and password protection will guard against piggybacking.

Currently, SYNC vehicles feature hands-free calling, navigation systems, emergency assistance, music searches, news and weather feeds, business search, traffic data and audible text messages.

Without built-in hardware, it’s a lot like many other devices we’ve seen. Users will have to work with their carriers to get the hardware and network coverage to make the magic happen.

Nevertheless, Internet connectivity in a moving vehicle is something we’ve waited a long time to see, and we’re glad to see Ford recognizing that need.

Discuss

Deloitte report – Financial Services Industry: 2009 Accounting, Financial Reporting, Tax and Regulatory Update – 229 pages – good reference – thanks Marty Rosenblatt – from Deloitte 
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Voros: Nine biggest banks really didn’t need our bailout – Drew Voros – WELLS FARGO executives just couldn’t wait any longer or it would run the risk of looking like a laggard, like something was wrong.  When Citigroup, the weakest link of America’s nine largest banks that were bailed out, announced Monday morning its was joining other banks in repaying $25 billion in TARP money, San Francisco-based Wells became the lone major bank in the country not to reimburse taxpayers. – Silicon Valley Mercury News

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Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase Report Growth in 15-Year Mortgage Market  – … As evidence of this trend, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 15-year fixed rate loans accounted for nearly one in five refinance applications in October. That was up from 9.1% in 2008 and 7.5% in October 2007 … – American Banking News

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CRE Losses Won’t Threaten Life Insurers’ Ratings Unless Values Fall More Than Expected –  Moody’s expects US insurers’ commercial mortgage losses to grow, but not to result in many rating downgrades unless commercial property values fall much further than expected. – Research Recap

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Obama should create debt commission, Greenspan says – Says Greenspan: “Our nation has never before had to confront so formidable a fiscal crisis as is now visible just over the horizon.”  – USA Today … The Oval

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Ginnie Mae Issues $1.2 Billion of Reverse Mortgage MBS – Reverse Mortgage Daily

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Fannie Mae Predicts Strong Recovery for Housing Next Year – … According to the forecast, existing home sales are expected to rise by 10 percent next year, compared to an estimated 3.1 percent gain this year, while new home sales are projected to rise by 26 percent in 2010 compared to an estimated 19 percent drop in sales this year … – UPI.com 

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Dear Mr. Geithner, Let Me Teach You Something – By Ron Coby – Americans are pointing a finger right back at you – … Mr. Geithner, let’s start your education by simply looking at the number of zeros in $100 trillion. Are you ready for this? You better sit down because it should blow your mind away: $100,000,000,000,000. … – Minyanville
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Ben Bernanke, Repo Man – Elizabeth Macdonald – worth reading – talks about difficulties of draining excess reserves by Fed and that rates will rise – Fox Business
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Plan B Economics: Uncommon Knowledge –  Thoughts on 2010… – As long as governments can borrow at virtually zero cost to support ailing economies, nominal stock market returns will continue to be positive. However, when rates on government securities rise, the market will feel the real cost of saving the economy. This will mark a turning point in the recovery. – Plan B Economics

Casting one’s eye into a crystal ball is a risky undertaking that can leave the forecaster as visionary or fool – particularly if they are short term predictions that can easily be checked. But that hasn’t deterred the soothsayers at IBM coming up with their fourth annual “Next 5 in 5” list of innovations that will impact our lives in the next five years. Based on market and societal trends as well as emerging technologies, the latest list focuses on innovations that have the potential to change how people live, work and play in our burgeoning cities…

Tags: Batteries,
Consumption,
Disease,
Eco-friendly,
Health,
IBM,
Law Enforcement,
Medical,
Predictions,
Technology,
Transport,
Vehicles,
Water

Related Articles:

• WaterMill provides energy-efficient alternative to bottled H2O
• Philips’ energy efficient street lighting cuts city energy consumption
• World Population Becomes More Urban Than Rural
• on-board automotive computers could interact with traffic lights in the future
• The world’s first floating, rotating (floatating?) hotel building
• Over half the world now live in cities according to UN Report

If you’re a frequent Whole Foods shopper than listen up because a holiday baking essential has just been recalled. Whole Foods Market is recalling…

• Organic raw hazelnuts, also known as filberts, that were sold in bulk in its stores in California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
• Non-organic dry roasted hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
• Non-organic raw hazelnuts (filberts) sold in bulk through its stores in Oregon and Washington.

The above products have been recalled because they may be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

No illnesses have been reported, according to the company. If you do have any hazelnuts on hand make sure you return them. If you already baked or cooked with them toss the food. For more information, consumers can call 512-542-0656.

*Source

[image via Wikimedia Commons]

Post from: Blisstree

Salmonella Whole Foods Product Recall

Filed under: Health, Healthy Eating, Eat This

My past posts on chocolate have specified that the only way to derive all the health benefits that are being touted about chocolate is to eat it raw and organic. However, as more and more science builds up, I’ve found myself in the position of having … Read more

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Filed under: Morning Scoop

Each morning, we dish out a few links we love.

With all that excess food on Christmas, no wonder Santa is so fat. So, is it time he went on a diet and hired a personal trainer?

Hitting the ski hill this winter? Here are some tips on avoiding … Read more

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Sweep Frequency Response Analyzer for Power Transformer Core and Winding Diagnosis.

OMICRON’s FRAnalyzer detects mechanical and electrical changes of the core and the winding assembly of power transformers by using the SFRA method.

SFRA stands for Sweep Frequency Response Analysis, a worldwide proven technique for measurements in frequency domain that allows examining transformers without costly detanking.

By finding winding or core defects after faults, mechanical shocks (e.g. earthquakes) or transportation,it offers a valuable opportunity to improve the reliability of transformers, to reduce maintenance costs and, most of all, to avoid expensive unexpected outages.

It will typically be a question of processing in-correct castings into a homogeneous fraction prior to re-melting.

By processing the incorrect castings into a homogeneous fraction the energy consumption during the re-melting process will be reduced.

The Plant is intended for size reduction of cast magnesium parts such as gear boxes, antlers, pucks, steering wheels etc.
An Eldan Magnesium Processing Plant normally consists of a Super Chopper (Heavy Duty) with inlet conveyor and vibrating discharge conveyor.

the modular belt is mainly used in the corrugated packaging industry,our belt has the good perfermance in that industry,it is easy to maintaince and clean,it could make the carton more flat,at the same time,we have a good price on it,now it is tested in home market,of course,we also manufacture the belt according to clintes’ requirement.welcome to inquiry from us.

The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces the UNO-3272, a Fanless Box PC equipped with a Celeron M 440 1.86GHz CPU, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports with teaming function, 4 x serial communication ports (2 x RS-232 and 2 x RS-232/422/485 with Auto Flow Control), 2 x PCI expansion slots, audio, DVI-D, VGA dual video output and 1 x external CompactFlash slot.

The UNO-3272 supports SATA RAID 0/1 function, allowing customers to backup their operating system, applications, and important data if they have installed two hard drives. A Gigabit LAN port supports teaming function with fault tolerance, link aggregation, and load balance features. Also, the UNO-3272 supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Linux or Embedded OS such as Windows XP Embedded and Embedded Linux.

The UNO-3272 provides high performance, multiple I/O interfaces, PCI and multimedia expansion, with a fanless design and superior thermal protection for harsh environments, making it a cost-effective, high performance Fanless Box PC for many different industrial automation applications.

Clippard’s new Rotary Valves are 4-way with 1/4″ NPT ports. They are manually-operated 3-position closed center valves offering an operating pressure range of 0 to 150 psig and an operatig temperature from 32 to 140°F.

With a small footprint, this base mounted rotary valves offers flexibility for strategic locations.

Descriptions: Fuel/Water Separator Spin-on with Drain and Sensor Port
Notes: CAUTION: Furnished O-Ring must be installed on post for seal.
Contains: Sensor Port Thread: 9/16-18 Standpipe
Fits: Caterpillar Equipment
Replaces: Caterpillar 326-1643
Thread: 1-14
O.D.: 4 1/4 (108.0)
Length: 9 11/32 (237.3)
I. Gskt.: [1] Included
O. Ring: [2] Included

Baldwin’s BF1259, with InterBlendTM media, continues to exceed the aftermarket replacement for fuel/water separators on
Cummins CELECTTM electronic engines. In laboratory tests (see charts below), the BF1259 exceeds OE specifications when
testing contaminant removal efficiency, emulsified water removal capability and contaminant holding capacity.
Higher efficiency means less damage-causing contaminants pass through the filter to sensitive fuel injection components,
leading to longer and more efficient fuel system life.
The BF1259 with InterBlend media was designed to increase contaminant trapping efficiency, dirt-holding capacity and
water-removal efficiency. The final result is a fuel/water separator that meets or exceeds the OEM’s filter specifications.

Semiconductor company Broadcom says its new processor will provide cell phones with full HD 1080p camcorder capabilities and up to 20MP digital camera resolution with advanced features such as multiple shots per second, image stabilization, face and smile detection and panorama mode. The BCM2763 VideoCore IV will also render mobile games natively at up to 1080p and include on-board HDMI output for a console-quality gaming experience on large screen HDTVs…

Tags: camcorder,
Camera,
Cell phone,
HD,
Phone

Related Articles:

• ZMS-08: world’s first Blu-ray quality media processor for handheld devices
• Single-Chip Bluetooth and FM Radio Device will allow FM radio to become standard on Bluetooth-enabled phones
• CSR’s MusiCore1 combines audio processor and Bluetooth on a single chip
• Intel Core i7 Mobile Processor – fastest ever laptop chips
• SanDisk evaluating 12GB microSDHC memory card
• Gateway debuts new MC-Series notebook line

This project is not quite a votive light, it’s a little bit bigger. I have a 4 ½ inch ivy bowl with a small pillar candle inside and it gives off just the right amount of light. I use lighted candles throughout my house, upstairs and down, and this ivy bowl and candle give off a little more light than a vigil cup.

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• A 4 ½ inch ivy bowl
• A 3 inch pillar candle
• Acrylic paint for glass, red
• Gold glitter paint
• A sea sponge
• Toothpicks
• Rubbing alcohol or an ammonia glass cleaner

Start off by cleaning the ivy bowl with the alcohol or ammonia glass cleaner. Paint will adhere and look better when the glass is clean. Using the sea sponge, paint the entire bowl with the red acrylic paint and let it dry thoroughly.

When the bowl is dry, apply the gold glitter paint using a regular toothpick. You can trace a design with the gold paint using a template or just use your imagination. I basically traced a branch with the paint and it came out looking great.

You can use these lights as a set (make two or three) or use them alone as a centerpiece. You don’t have to use a sea sponge, you can paint the bowl red or use a regular sponge, but when you use a sea sponge the effect is beautiful when lit.

I decided to make a few sets to give to friends as gifts. To package them  use a small festive holiday bag. You can also paint them green and use a silver glitter paint, or paint the white and use a green or red glitter paint. Whichever way you paint them, they are dazzling when lit.

I usually make of a couple and keep them on hand to give as a gift to unexpected company.  They are very easy and inexpensive to make.

Post from: Blisstree

Ivy Bowl Votive Light

It’s been a tough year for lots of people, but also for dogs and cats who rely on the generosity of others. The number of pets in shelters increased during the housing crisis. That means that many rescues were stretched thin, and now is a very wonderful time of the year to give to your favorite animal charity. The gift doesn’t have to be large to make a difference.

One pet charity that particularly needs your help this year is Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA). They are a 100% volunteer and donation driven no-kill animal charity.

Due to a couple of huge and unexpected rescue operations in 2009 and the recession, VOKRA is facing the possibility of having to close their doors to rescues and discontinue other important  animal work.

The group rescued more than 1,000 cats in 2009, and they also participate in TNR, as well as spays and neuters for cats belonging to low-income individuals and families. Visit VOKRA to donate.

(Image via VOKRA)

Post from: Blisstree

Help Save a Kitten this Holiday

It’s that time of year when children’s eyes light up, their hearts race, and their clothes get tighter

If the holidays present adults with a kind of dietary minefield of high-calorie treats and temptations, it’s an even more treacherous time for the overweight or obese child, a description which statistically applies to one in every three American kids.

Consider: even the average diet-savvy adult, studies tell us, puts on about one pound of weight between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, while the overweight or obese adult can pack on as much as five — and that’s with an adult’s impulse control and awareness of the consequences.

The fact is, the overarching atmosphere of the year-end holidays is one of self-indulgence, so kids naturally feel entitled to loosen up and treat themselves right along with the grownups. Moreover, researchers have found that when school is not in session, kids tend to put on weight through inactivity and increased snacking — and that’s just during the summer, when nobody is baking Christmas cookies or cranking out gingerbread men.

According to some childhood obesity clinicians, the result of all this can be 5 to 7 added pounds by the time January arrives. So, what is the parent who wishes to prevent this from happening to her children to do? Here are a few recommendations from some health and weight-control professionals.

“Santa hates fat children,” while possibly effective as a deterrent, is far too heavy handed

• Set a good example: your kids will base a lot of their holiday eating behavior on yours. Be a pillar of moderation.
• If part of your family holiday fun or tradition involves making baked goods or candies or the like, you needn’t give that up. Just limit the amount of the goodies you actually consume, by freezing or giving away or sharing a healthy portion with friends and neighbors.
• Before heading out to holiday meals, give the kids a healthy snack — fruit, cheese, yogurt, etc. — so they won’t arrive hungry.
• Because a lot of gyms and sports programs and exercise classes catering to young people shut down for the holidays, make an extra effort to get the kids out of the house and physically active, weather permitting, even if you have to herd them yourself.
• Enlist the kids’ help. They’re not dunces, they understand cause and effect and that too much of a good thing (food) can lead to too much of a bad thing (flab). Set a goal for the family: to enjoy the holiday goodies, but with moderation and common sense. Remind them that the less eaten now, the more there will still be later on, and the longer it will last.
• Reason with your offspring. Who knows, the holidays are a magical time, and it just might work.

(By Robert S. Wieder for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

From the RSS feed of CalorieLab News (REF3076322B7)

Holiday goodies and overweight kiddies: Handle with care