Blog

by Julian Ku

I have always thought the Ottawa Convention banning landmines was a nice idea, but somewhat unrealistic. Case in point: the U.S. and South Korea rely on landmines to prevent a North Korean attack on South Korea. It is hard to imagine a cheaper more effective deterrent than landmines, as David Rivkin and Lee Casey argue in today’s WSJ.  As a policy matter, this claim is up for debate. Indeed, 68 U.S. senators have already indicated support for the treaty.

Perhaps more interestingly, Rivkin and Casey classify the Landmine Treaty as a new kind of “international political correctness” aimed at undermining the traditional laws of war.

Traditionally, the laws of war accommodated military imperatives, imposing only the most basic of restraints. This was in recognition that a more restrictive code would not likely check nations engaged in a life or death struggle. As the realities of war have receded for most developed countries, progressives have worked to transform the norms applicable to armed conflict into something akin to a code governing domestic police functions.

The Ottawa Convention is part and parcel of this process, and the only real justification for U.S. accession to this treaty is a bow to international political correctness. That is what the Senate letter meant by urging the president to reconsider the U.S. position as consistent with his “commitment to reaffirm U.S. leadership in solving global problems.”

That type of symbolism is just not a good enough reason to give up a weapon that can protect American forces and assist them in accomplishing their missions.

This is an important theme that scholars are just beginning to pick up on (with the exception of Alan Dershowitz, of course).  Are the laws of war being changed somehow into something really different (and in service of progressive goals)?  Is that a bad thing?

The curtain is rapidly falling on Hummer, General Motors’ ill-fated rough-and-tough brand of trucks and SUVs.

The final H3 rolled off the assembly line at 9:07 a.m. Central time on Tuesday at the Hummer factory in Shreveport, La., marking the end of production for the brand, a spokesman said.

Hummer is being wound down after a deal with a Chinese company fell apart in February. The dealer network, which would have given the Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. a foothold in the United States, remains the primary asset. There are about seven standalone dealerships, but many more are part of other dealerships with other brands.

It’s “highly unlikely” another deal would be struck, GM spokesman Nick Richards said. Letters were sent to dealers offering details of the wind down in April. The deal with Tengzhong was scuttled after it failed to achieve regulatory approvals in China.

The Louisiana factory will close no later than 2012, GM has said. The site is still building Chevrolet Colorados and GMC Canyons.

The remaining H3s assembled recently are actually under recall for a hood-louver problem that requires replacing the plastic caps that secure the parts.

Hummer staked its identity on all-terrain ability and a blocky design that stood out a bit in the midsize-SUV segment. But as gasoline prices rose several years ago and consumers began shifting to smaller crossovers, the brand was hit particularly hard. It has also suffered from a lack of fresh and diverse products in recent years. GM killed the H1, a military-inspired off-roader that defined the brand, after the 2006 model year. It’s since relied on two products, the H2 and slightly smaller H3, which came in SUV and truck versions. A Baja-styled HX concept was revealed at the 2008 Detroit auto show, but never came close to production.

General Motors

The Hummer H1 was a halo–and lightning rod for the brand before it was discontinued by General Motors.

Hummer has also been a lightning rod for publicity–good and bad. It drew the ire of environmentalists for its gas-hog image yet was frequently a ride of choice for celebrities. Hummers were also lauded as sturdy vehicles that helped in hurricane and natural-disaster relief efforts.

Current owners can still get their vehicles serviced at GM dealers, and the vehicles are still covered under warranty. Hummer has sold 1,336 vehicles this year, down from 2009’s tally of 4,019.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

Mercedes-Benz Financial now provides dealers with mobile access to its point-of-sale dealer system — the first automotive finance company to do so. The Apple iPad has been made available to the company’s US dealer network.

This move makes Mercedes-Benz Financial as one of the first companies to use the consumer-oriented iPad as a mobile business tool. Dealership employees are anticipating the benefits of having the iPad as a tool, giving instant access to marketing programs for specific models, quicker turn time on the credit application process, and increased speed and efficiency on the return of lease vehicles. Andreas Hinrichs, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial, said that the iPad will raise the competitive edge of its dealers by “increasing their service levels through a more flexible financing process.” He said that the showroom floor will benefit from the iPad’s capabilities of “providing wireless mobility, information and flexibility on the showroom floor.” Mercedes-Benz Financial will first test iPad’s prowess as a business tool. It will soon distribute iPads to 40 chosen dealers around the US and will monitor iPad usage and collect feedback.

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

Bloomington Hospital program looks to reduce community’s risk of skin cancer

Bloomington, Ind. (May 26, 2010) – Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Up to 90 percent of cases of the most dangerous form of skin cancer – melanoma – are caused by exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, light.  Fortunately, there are many ways you can protect yourself and your children from extra exposure to UV light, including wearing sunscreen.

Bloomington Hospital’s Operation Sun Safety is in its fifth year and provides free sunscreen to area pools and parks, in addition to 150,000 free sunscreen packets to groups and individuals.

“We know that using sunscreen year round, but especially during the spring and summer months when we all spend more time outside, is a great way to reduce your risk for developing skin cancer,” says Janice Ross, manager of Bloomington Hospital’s Olcott Center for Cancer Education.  “We want as many people in our community as possible to know about the risks for skin cancer, the importance of wearing sunscreen, and to have access to sunscreen for themselves and their families.”

Bloomington Hospital has worked with the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department to create sunscreen pump and information stations at City pools, including Bryan Park Pool and Mills Pool.  Free sunscreen is also available at the City’s Kid City summer camp, the Indiana University Outdoor Pool, McCormick’s Creek State Park and Lodge Pool, and the Indiana University Tennis Center.

“Part of our mission as the City’s Parks and Recreation department is to provide programs and facilities that promote healthy lifestyles in our community.  By offering free sunscreen through the hospital’s Operation Sun Safety program, we are able to educate the community on the importance of sunscreen use and skin cancer prevention. We are working together to improve the quality of life, safety and well-being of our community,” says Lindsay Buuck, Heath and Wellness coordinator.

Individuals may also request free sunscreen packets for their personal use and to take to smaller group activities, such as a Little League game, church picnic or your child’s summer camp.  All of the sunscreen provided by Operation Sun Safety is SPF 30 and child safe.

To request sunscreen packets, call Bloomington Hospital’s Olcott Center for Cancer Education at 812.353.HOPE or fill out the online request form by clicking Regional Cancer Institute, then Operation Sun Safety at bloomingtonhospital.org.  Individuals may request up to 250 sunscreen packets and they must be picked up at the Olcott Center for Cancer Education in Bloomington.  Sunscreen packets are available now as long as supplies last.

Tips for reducing your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer 

• Wear sunscreen anytime you’ll be outside exposed to the sun.  Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher.  Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun’s harmful rays.
• Whenever possible, avoid exposure to the midday sun (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
• Remember that protective clothing, such as hats and long sleeves, can also help block out the sun’s harmful rays.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

###

About Bloomington Hospital
Bloomington Hospital, a Clarian Health Partner, has been innovative in providing quality care to south central Indiana communities for more than a century. Offering a comprehensive continuum of care, Bloomington Hospital is a not-for-profit organization and has a patient base of 413,000 in 10 counties (Brown, Daviess, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen and Washington). Bloomington Hospital currently operates two hospital campuses (Bloomington and Orange County) with regional specialty offerings for Heart and Vascular, Behavioral Health, Cancer, Women and Children, Neurology and Orthopedic services.  As a leading hospital in Indiana, Bloomington Hospital enhances health by advancing the art and science of medicine through the use of new technologies, procedures and care.

Zipper Interactive has revealed the latest patch update for MAG. Scheduled to arrive sometime next month, the hefty patch adds “a number of requested new features to the game that should please fans regardless of their play

The era of electric motorcycle racing which began at the Isle of Man in June last year has grown into a world series road race for 2010. On May 16th, history was made as TTXGP North America Round 1 took place at the Infineon Raceway in California. It was the first-ever electric superbike race to take place in that continent…
Continue Reading First North American electric superbike race a (non)roaring success

Tags: Agni,
Electric Motorcycle,
Racing,
Superbike,
TTXGP,
Zero Motorcycles

Related Articles:

• Roehr set to unveil 96 bhp electric sports motorcycle
• Zero Motorcycles to hit the road in 2010 TTXGP
• World’s first all-electric 24-hour endurance motocross race to be held in California
• Wraps to come off Mavizen TTX02 electric superbike
• Electric Motorcycle World, U.S. and U.K. Championships for 2010
• FIM endorses TTXGP – the world’s first clean emissions motorcycle race

Iniciadas no último trimestre do ano passado, as vendas do Porsche Panamera superaram as expectativas da Stuttgart Sportcar, importador oficial Porsche no Brasil. Com 60 carros vendidos entre janeiro e abril de 2010, o Panamera conquistou 73,2% do mercado de carros GT de alto luxo. “É um número fora do comum, equivalente ao total do que foi comercializado nesse mercado em 2009”, analisa Marcel Visconde, presidente da Stuttgart Sportcar.

O sucesso do Panamera em sua faixa de preço e de produto é evidente. Nos quatro primeiros meses deste ano, a comercialização do mais novo modelo da Porsche superou por larga margem a dos concorrentes de marcas como BMW (modelos 750i e 760i), com 12 unidades (14,6%); Maserati (Quattroporte Sport GT S e Granturismo), com 6 (7,3%) e Mercedes-Benz (CLS 500, S 500, CLS 63 AMG e S 63 AMG), com 4 (4,9%). Os modelos da Audi (A8 e S8) não tiveram vendas registradas no período.

Em números absolutos, o Panamera representa 23,35% dos emplacamentos da Porsche no Brasil em 2010 − um total bastante expressivo, considerando que as três versões do modelo estão entre as de maior preço na linha Porsche. Por ocasião do lançamento do Panamera no Brasil, em setembro de 2009, a Stuttgart Sportcar previa vender 50 unidades ao longo de 2010. A meta foi superada nos quatro primeiros meses do ano e Visconde acredita que o potencial do Panamera está longe de se esgotar: “Os emplacamentos continuam acima do previsto e ainda temos boa procura por ele”, explica. “No final do ano, chegará ao Brasil a versão com motor V6, a mais em conta da linha.

Fonte: Porsche

Following up on the story we posted a few days ago about the Motorola Shadow Getting Started guide, we now have a quality photo of the device in the wild.  The photo was posted by wnrussell over at HowardForums, who just so happens to be the one that posted the photo of the Getting Started guide as well.  The Shadow has an HDMI out port similar to the EVO and is apparently lighter than a DROID.  Reported specs for the device, also posted by wnrussell, are: 4.1-inch screen, OMAP 3630 720 MHz processor, 8 GB of internal storage, and an 8 megapixel camera.  The specs seem believable, so now we just have to wait for Verizon to acknowledge the existence of the device.  Are any of you getting excited about the Shadow?  Tell us what you think!

I think the saying goes a little something like this, “If you love something set it free, if it returns it was meant to be.”  It looks like Google is finally showing some love to the Nexus One by allowing third party retailers to get the device off Google warehouse shelves and into warm new Android-loving homes, where they belong.  Today, i wireless, a third party wireless retailer based out of Iowa has announced that they will be carrying the Nexus One.  The N1 will be available for $299.95 on a two-year contract after the standard mail in rebate, and you’ll have more liberty to choose a plan that suits your needs than was offered through the Google store.  The pricing (in my mind) is still not where it needs to be to get people running out the door to buy one, but I suppose it’s a step in the right direction.  So, T-Mobile, any chance you’ll be selling the N1 for $179 to us loyal customers who are ready and willing to re-up?

Via Engadget

 

i wireless Introduces Android 3G Smartphones

Devices Offer Personalized Look, Feel, and Functionality

Coralville, IA (PRWEB) May 19, 2010 — i wireless continues to offer the latest smartphones by announcing the arrival of new Android operating system devices. Customers will be able to purchase Android devices, including models that are 3G capable, at over 250 retail locations or at the i wireless website beginning May 18, 2010.

Android devices allow users to personalize their phones look, feel, and functionality with over 40,000 applications (apps) available via download through the Android Market store. Preloaded with Google apps and built to multitask, Android feature-rich devices create a superior mobile experience.

“We are excited to add the most popular Android devices to our complete line-up of smartphones,” says Gary Baron, vice president of marketing, i wireless. “Customers will be given the option to choose from Motorola, HTC, and Samsung models that best fits their lifestyle.”

i wireless will offer several Android devices including the Motorola Milestone, 3G Nexus One by Google, HTC Hero, and 3G Samsung Behold II, all designed take full advantage of the wide array of available apps.

i wireless customers will have immediate access to 3G coverage and 10x faster data speeds in T-Mobile markets including Des Moines and Ames, Iowa, and over 130 cities in the U.S. serving over 200 million people. i wireless will rollout 3G service in the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, and Iowa City markets throughout the summer, with completion scheduled for August 2010. In addition to faster speeds, customers will experience the ability to multi-task – text, email, or surf the web while talking on their 3G phone.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa, i wireless is a partnership between T-Mobile USA and Iowa Network Services (a consortium of 127 Iowa Independent Telecommunications Companies). i wireless has over 250 full-service company stores and authorized dealers across Iowa, western Illinois, and eastern Nebraska, offering customers the largest regional and nationwide coverage on the most advanced high-speed voice and data network. For more information, visit www.iwireless.com or contact Sarah Harpring at 319-390-7254.

I really like this t-shirt featuring an all-in-one of the most famous arcades of all time. I like it even more because a invisible shark is wearing it. [Threadless via Likecool] More »










T-shirt – Clothing – Shopping – Casual – Threadless

NASA may have put its plans to send people to the moon on hold, but that doesn’t mean robots can’t go.

Might We Suggest…

• Uh-Oh! Samsung Galaxy Hits FCC with AT&T Bands
  Yep, you read that right.  That big, beautiful Samsung Galaxy S has been spotted hanging out in the FCC with AT&T bands in tow. You’ll have to forgive us if we’re not 100% over the moon with this …

Game on Teusday night (USA vs Czech Republic) at Reliant Stadium was started in favor of the USA as they had an early lead by a nice set play by Stuart Holden that Maurice Edu had able to poke into the net.

Coach Bob Bradley elected his key players on this match. These players include Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Jay Demerit, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber, and Jozy Altidore.

But with the experimental lineup taking the game, the game started to pressure the Czech on the start of the game, but not well until the end.

The Czechs scored two goals just before the half.

Later on the game another set play made a point on USA made by Herculez Gomez as the finishing header which brought the game into a tie of 2-2.

However, though the deadlock lasted for quite some time, the USA still fell short of a win against the Czech Republic in the two late goals.

Most of the concerns was that the US was playing with a very inexperienced lineup in the match. And the US was described as to be looking very susceptible to the counter attack after their own pieces.

The Czech Republic took advantage of the poor defending of the USA to grab the winner.

Related posts:

1. Davies Left out on preliminary Cup Roster
2. Mexico vs England in Wembley, 3-1 England victory
3. Englands won over Mexico, FIFA South Africa 2010

Adidas Match Tracker [adidas.com] succeeds in demonstrating the incredibly rich and detailed dataset that is generated during each single international soccer game. Each meaningful event, such as each pass, each shot, each block or each goal, has been tracked and recorded for the full 90 minutes of a typical match. The Match Tracker thus provides sports statistics enthusiasts and data addicts alike the power to explore and analyze a match from a completely different perspective.

An interactive timeline at the bottom of the screens allows users to select or animate a specific timespan. Filters can be set between “blocked” or “off target” shots, “successful” and “unsuccessful” passes, “successful” and “unsuccessful” tackles, and of course goals. Views can be varied between a dual-tone heatmap and a pass-centric representation, while specific players can be filtered and compared.

The obvious attractiveness for sponsors, together with the future vision of “social visualization” (GoogleTV anyone?) and television spectators interacting with each other (and, why not, data?) during a sports game, will surely push this new area of visualization much further in the foreseeable future.

See also UEFA Champions League MatchCentre and The Guardian Interactive Chalkboards.

Is there any equivalent for basketball or baseball out there?

The jury is still out on the commercial viability of kudzu as a biofuel crop, but scientists at the University of Virginia have come up with a compelling reason to get the invasive, fast-growing vine under control but quick.  The team has found evidence that kudzu is a major contributor to surface ozone pollution.

The kudzu-induced increase in ozone is so powerful that it “completely overcomes the reduction in ozone realized from automobile pollution control legislation,” reports a member of the research team.  Dang!

(more…)

Found under: BlackBerry, Application, Money, ,

With the tough economic times were still witnessing an application ready to help you manage your money is always more than welcome. Today were focusing on the BlackBerry universe with an interesting application that will help you do just that Mobile Checkbook for BlackBerry.The application is now available for just 4.99 Euro but you have to act quickly as always to get it. This sale price expires on May 31 after which youll have to pay the full price 9.95 Euro. But lets

Read More

Read more in mobile format