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Light painting was the killer technique behind the winners in our slow shot photo contest—and it’s how this quite awesome Hennessy ad was made, not CGI. Wanna know how they do it? Check out the video. [Strobist] More »

We’re told that Barnes & Noble will be revealing some new products later this year: Nook 2 (“Project Encore”) and a Wi-Fi-only Nook Lite. Meanwhile, a software update that includes a full browser is supposed to hit next week. More »

Contact:
Colleen Flanigan
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
                                                                   312.704.8420, x225
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHICAGO, IL (April 14, 2010) — Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents the final production of their 2010 Spring Festival Season – Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers on May 8, 12, 14, and 16 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.  

"We feel so privileged to have Frederica von Stade perform with Chicago Opera Theater," said COT General Director Brian Dickie. "I saw Three Decembers at its world premiere in Houston in 2008 – and I knew immediately that Chicago opera fans needed to see this moving and extremely effective piece of music theatre."

COT will also be presenting a one-night only concert with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie on May 10, also at the Harris Theater.

"I am very much looking forward to Jake and Flicka in concert, as they have such a wonderful chemistry," Dickie continued.  "To have them both here is a real coup not only for Chicago Opera Theater but also the city of Chicago!"

Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers opens May 8th and stars Frederica von Stade in her Chicago Opera Theater debut, and in her last operatic performances in Chicago before retirement.  In a role written for her by Heggie, Ms. von Stade plays Madeline, a famous actress struggling with her relationships with her two grown children, sung by Matthew Worth (baritone) and Sara Jakubiak (soprano).   Three Decembers is based on a short play by Terrence McNally with a libretto by Gene Scheer.

Composer Jake Heggie comes to Chicago directly from the world premiere of Moby Dick at the Dallas Opera, and joins the orchestra of Three Decembers at the piano.  The orchestra is conducted by Stephen Hargreaves.  The production is directed and designed by Leonard Foglia, with costumes by Cesar Galindo, and original lighting by Brian Nason.  Keith Parham is the lighting designer for the COT production.

Frederica von Stade is described by The New York Times as "one of America’s finest artists and singers." The mezzo-soprano has enriched the world of classical music for over three decades and her career has taken her to the stages of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls.  Notable Chicago performances include Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (1987 & 1991) and Rosina in The Barber of Seville (1989 & 1994) – both at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Jake Heggie is one of the most talented composers today, creating such works as Dead Man Walking, The End of the Affair and At the Statue of Venus, which was presented at COT’s 2006 Spring Gala.  Heggie opens the world-premiere of Moby Dick at the Dallas Opera on April 30, 2010.

Matthew Worth returns to COT after singing the title role in 2009’s Owen Wingrave.  "Matthew Worth was at once noble and touching as Owen, his bright, firm baritone filling out the vocal lines with deep understanding and sensitivity," said the Chicago Tribune.  Mr. Worth also sang Claudio in COT’s 2007 production of Béatrice et Bénédict.

Sara Jakubiak makes her Chicago Opera Theater debut with Three Decembers.   Ms. Jakubiak has recently performed with the Los Angels Opera, the Syracuse Opera and the Seoul Arts Center in Korea, and was an apprentice artist at Santa Fe Opera in 2007. 

Three Decembers runs for four performances only on May 8, 12, 14, and 16, 2010 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Drive.

Three Decembers is generously sponsored by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Julie and Roger Baskes, James and Joan Shapiro, Orli and Bill Staley, National Endowment for the Arts, Erika Bruhn and Richard Johnson, and Robert and Sheila Rudolph.

An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie

In addition to her starring role in Three Decembers, Frederica von Stade presents her final concert in Chicago before retirement. Accompanied by Jake Heggie, she will sing a program of Heggie’s own works, as well as Copland, Hammerstein, Sondheim, Bernstein, and Bizet – just to name a few!

Chicago Opera Theater is also offering a VIP "Meet the Stars" Package – which includes an A+ ticket to the concert, followed by a party at the Mid-America Club with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie.  A portion of the proceeds benefit Chicago Opera Theater.

"An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie" is one night only on May 10, 2010 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Drive.

The exclusive reception is generously sponsored by New Amsterdam Gin, the Mid-America Club, and William Hill Estate Winery.

---

Season Subscriptions for the 2010 Spring Festival Season range from $90-$345 and include a ticket to Three Decembers, as well as Rossini’s Moses in Egypt and Cavalli’s Jason (Giasone).   

Tickets to Three Decembers range from $30-$120. 

Tickets to "An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie" range from $25-$80.  The VIP "Meet the Stars" Package is $200 ($100 tax deductible).

COT also offers a half-off discounted student rate in most sections. 

Tickets may be purchased at Chicago Opera Theater: ChicagoOperaTheater.org or 312.704.8414. 
Tickets may also be purchased at the Harris Theater:  HarrisTheaterChicago.org or 312.334.7777.

---

Jake Heggie
THREE DECEMBERS

May 8, 12, 14 at 7:30pm; May 16 at 3pm

Conductor:	STEPHEN HARGREAVES
Original Production by:	LEONARD FOGLIA
Costume Designer:	CESAR GALINDO
Lighting Designer (Original):	BRIAN NASON
Lighting Designer:	KEITH PARHAM

CAST

Madeline	FREDERICA VON STADE
Bea	SARA JAKUBIAK
Charlie	MATTHEW WORTH

Sung in English with English supertitles.

Three Decembers, An Opera in Two Acts.  Music by Jake Heggie.  Libretto by Gene Scheer.  Based on "Some Christmas Letters", an original play by Terrence McNally.  Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera & San Francisco Opera.  Premiered by the Houston Grand Opera, Feb. 29, 2008.

###

 

Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services

IT Security company Intrepidus Group has released details of a preliminary report on webOS security vulnerabilities. In short, the groups researchers were quite alarmed by the ease, number and scope of security issues that plagued their tested build of webOS. The group has posted details about a SMS vulnerability that affected webOS v1.3.5. They demonstrate that with a single text message, the researcher was able to control the browser, send malicious commands and turn off the radio of a webOS device with a relatively common exploit.

The group has also posted a video demo of the exploit in action. (embedded after the break) It should be noted that Palm Inc. has corrected this very issue in the latest version (v1.4+) of webOS. This story was originally picked up and popularized by CNBC, which colors this story with the Palm is for sale meme complete with a corpspeak response from Palm.

Hiring activity in the technology sector is heating up rapidly, according to the Wall Street Journal and other sources in Silicon Valley. Companies such as Google, Intel and LinkedIn are adding staff at a rapid clip, and say that they intend to continue doing so over the next year. That’s good for the tech sector, which has been struggling to rebound after a downturn caused by the recession, and it’s good news if you’re an unemployed engineer or developer. If you’re a startup, however, you now have to worry about competing for staff in a rising labor market, along with your other concerns, such as staying in business, paying your phone and power bill, and so on.

On Thursday, Google told analysts on its earnings conference call that it hired 768 new employees in the first quarter, and that it expects that rate to continue, if not accelerate. “We expect to continue hiring aggressively through the year,” Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said. Intel has also said that it plans to hire between 1,000 and 2,000 people this year, its first major hiring wave in five years, and Cisco is planning to expand its workforce by 2,000-3,000 employees as well.

On a smaller scale, LinkedIn said it’s already hired 154 people so far in 2010 after adding 184 people last year, and Twitter has boosted its headcount to 170 from about 45 in just the past year and says it plans to continue hiring. Technology recruiting firm SC Palo Alto, which places about 100 candidates a year with small and midsized companies in Silicon Valley, told the Journal that right now “it’s common for us to have an engineer with the right skills talking to three or four companies at a time.”

Is this a sustainable move in the job market? It’s a little early to say for sure. As recently as February, the economy in Silicon Valley was said to be “sputtering,” according to a report by two Valley non-profit groups. “We show no evidence that the recovery has arrived,” Russell Hancock, chief executive of one of the groups, told the New York Times. But a report released today by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group said that hiring is definitely picking up, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Over half of those companies surveyed said they expect to see job growth in their sector, compared with just 17 percent the previous year.

For startups, however, that not only puts the squeeze on the available talent pool, but also pushes the price of labor up. Which is fine if you are Google, or Facebook or even Twitter and you have lots of venture capital dollars to spend. But for those still crammed into a two-room apartment with the server in the kitchen, the days of finding talent easily — and cheaply — could soon be over.

Post and thumbnail photos courtesy of Flickr user vlauria

We’re taking this one with a pretty big grain of salt, but word around the water cooler is that the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 — currently languishing with Android 1.6 — will get its upgrade to Android 2.1 in September. And on top of that, it’ll miraculously get multitouch, too, never mind the report that it’s supposed to be physically impossible due to a hardware limitation. We’re not getting too worked up over this as the X10 isn’t actually available in the United States. But for everyone else’s sake, let’s hope September brings some good news. [Cell Phone Reviews.co.uk via Electronista]

FoMoCo has announced a new technology for its new MyFord Touch driver connect system that provides a range of real-time feedback information on fuel-efficiency performance that helps drivers optimize their miles per gallon from their vehicles.

“We have learned that when we provide drivers the information and tools in an interactive and entertaining way, they want to drive more fuel efficiently,” said Jim Buczkowski, director of Global Electrical and Electronics Systems Engineering. “MyFord Touch provides an unprecedented level of information and interaction so drivers can make the choice to be more fuel efficient.”

Furthermore, MyFord Touch’s map-based navigation system gets a new Eco-Route option that calculates the most fuel efficient route a driver can take to get from A to B. As Ford points out, Eco-Route is not necessarily the fastest or shortest route but is the most fuel-efficient.

Check out a video of the Eco-Route features after the jump.

The system compliments findings by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that if every driver practiced eco-driving techniques, which can result in an EPA-estimated 15 percent benefit in fuel economy, more than 22 billion gallons of gas would be saved. The U.S. currently uses about 150 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

MyFord Touch will launch this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge and will be available globally on the 2012 Ford Focus

Hit the jump for the press release for more information.

MyFord Touch / MyLincoln Touch:

h3>MyFord Touch / MyLincoln Touch:

Press Release:

NEW MYFORD TOUCH ‘COACHES’ DRIVERS TO IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY; NAVIGATION ADDS ECO-ROUTE FEATURE

– New MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology provides an array of real-time feedback on fuel efficiency performance that helps coach drivers to optimize their miles per gallon
– MyFord Touch map-based navigation offers an Eco-Route option, which instantly calculates the most fuel-efficient route for the driver. Ford testing shows Eco-Route can help achieve fuel economy gains of up to 15 percent
– MyFord Touch launches this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge and will be available globally on the 2012 Ford Focus. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on new Lincoln vehicles beginning with the 2011 Lincoln MKX

DEARBORN, Mich., April 15, 2010 – When it comes to achieving the best possible fuel mileage the way you drive can be nearly as important as the vehicle you drive.

Ford’s advanced new in-vehicle system – MyFord Touch™ – offers an array of real-time information on fuel economy performance that can coach drivers to get more miles to the gallon and save on fuel costs. In addition, MyFord Touch’s map-based navigation system offers an Eco-Route option that quickly calculates the most fuel efficient route a driver can take to get from A to B.

MyFord Touch is the latest innovation from Ford to help drivers optimize fuel economy. It builds on the fuel efficiency “coaching” concept Ford pioneered on its SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide cluster for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid as well as the all-new 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The system provides real-time fuel economy data and promotes fuel-efficient driving by showing a graphic of growing leaves and flowers.

The green road home

When a driver provides a destination to the navigation system, MyFord Touch accesses historical and real-time traffic data as well as posted speed information to calculate three navigation options: Fastest, Shortest and Eco-Route.

Eco-Route is not necessarily the fastest or shortest route but is the most fuel efficient. Typically, it charts a course that avoids congested freeways while maximizing the use of major roads where the driver can maintain an efficient rate of speed. When Ford of Europe engineers tested the feature, they achieved up to a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy using the Eco-Route.

“When drivers use Eco-Route – particularly in combination with MyFord Touch’s fuel-economy feedback and fuel-efficient driving techniques – they can achieve a noticeable increase in fuel efficiency,” said Jennifer Brace-Mezigian, Ford user interface design engineer.

In addition to its Eco-Route feature, MyFord Touch enables drivers to monitor and track their vehicle’s real-time fuel economy performance and mile-per-gallon averages for the past five, 10 and 30 minutes in the form of a bar chart next to the fuel gauge on the display. Drivers can customize the amount of information provided to meet their needs and hone their eco-driving skills over time.

“MyFord Touch not only gives drivers information they can use to improve their driving habits, but also expands on that capability by engaging the navigation system to give drivers a variety of options,” Brace-Mezigian said. “The benefits will be greater because MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch will be widely available in the future.”

Eco-driving tips
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the U.S. uses about 150 billion gallons of gasoline annually. If every driver practiced eco-driving techniques, which can result in an EPA-estimated 15 percent benefit in fuel economy, more than 22 billion gallons of gas would be saved.

Eco-driving techniques tested by Ford showed that motorists coached in eco-driving can significantly improve the fuel economy performance of their vehicles. Here are simple tips that any driver can use:

1. Slow down and watch speed – Drive 55 mph instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates a 10 to 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speed and conserve fuel.

2. Accelerate and brake smoothly – Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the vehicle components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for more time to brake and accelerate gradually.

3. No idling – Today’s engines don’t need a warm-up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.

4. Check your tires – Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3 to 4 percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle’s door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.

5. Be kind to your vehicle – Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other wastes fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the owner’s manual for proper maintenance.

6. Travel light – Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk, makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.

7. Minimize use of heater and air conditioning – Use heating and air conditioning selectively to reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10 to 15 percent of fuel. Use the vent setting as much as possible. Park in the shade to keep the vehicle cool and reduce the need for air conditioning.

8. Close windows at high speeds – Don’t drive with the windows open unless you keep your speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.

9. Choose the right oil – Use good-quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner’s guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils “certified for gasoline engines” by the American Petroleum Institute with the starburst symbol should be used.

10. Consolidate trips – Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will enable you to bypass congested routes and lead to less idling.

For additional information on how to save on gas, visit the Driving Skills for Life Web site and click on the “eco-driving” module. Ford’s eco-driving initiative builds on the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers’ comprehensive nationwide effort to promote eco-driving at www.EcoDrivingUSA.com.

– By: Omar Rana

A Toyota cada dia vem piorando mais seu conceito entre os consumidores, devido aos vários problemas que seus carros vem representado, sem comentar dos recalls que a marca vem anunciando um bem próximo do outro.

Mas pelo visto a maré de azar da Toyota não acabou, essa semana a revista Consumer Reports, deixou bem claro um “não compre” nos SUVs da Toyota e Lexus, dizendo que os modelos teriam um grande risco de capotamento.

Comprando a briga, o porta voz da Lexus disse para todos que seus próprios engenheiros iriam testar o controle de estabilidade do modelo, para provar que não existe esse risco. Os modelos da Toyota também seriam testados para provar que não teriam o problema especificado pela revista.

Depois do comunicado a revista ainda reforçou o que disse, dizendo “Nossos pilotos de testes realizaram testes nos SUVs das duas marcas especificadas e a reação do sistema eletrônico do veículo é lenta, isso também torna o controle de estabilidade lento, por isso quando o motorista for fazer uma curva mais fechada e rapidamente levar o pé no acelerador, isso somado com o peso do veículo mais o dos pneus pode levar a um grande risco de capotamento“.

Fonte: Motor Authority

Pocketnow reports on the interesting phenomena of Microsoft’s KIN fan page on Facebook rapidly gaining a massive fan base. It appears the page, which has opened only a few days ago, has gained nearly 20 000 new fans over the last 12 hours, and current stands at more than 42 000.

It seems the phone meant for the masses has caught the imagination and attention of exactly that group, already far exceeding the paltry 2367 fans for Windows Phone 7, and appearing very likely to exceed the 107 000 registered for the very successful Windows 7.

Hopefully all this attention will translate into sales on release of the device in little more than 3 week.

Is Microsoft on the road to consumer success? Let us know below.

The absence of the paternal penis.

“Girls’ experiences of object loss, in conjunction with female anatomical structure, may lend themselves to a particular genital anxiety regarding openness and emptiness. The relational void in giving up the mother as love object may lead to an internal self-representation of a “hole” to be filled, much as the mouth sucks the pacifier in the absence of the nipple. This image may then be extended to the genital representation. In turning to the father, a girl may find that she lacks a relationship with him in the relational space opened up by the loss of the mother; the penis is symbolically withheld from her in the father’s relational distance. This lack of sexual and relational gratification, it is proposed, may be schematized by a female as her body being empty of something. The father’s absence–the absence of the paternal penis–may lead to an absence of the mental representation of the vagina and to an inhibition of the role the vagina then plays for a woman in sexual desire. Vaginal repression may serve to disguise object hunger that might otherwise be experienced as vaginal longing. An abbreviated clinical vignette, revolving around a masturbatory fantasy, is offered in partial illustration of the thesis.”

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Mu

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Discoblog: NCBI ROFL: analysis taken too far.

Lawmakers in the state House of Representatives just got word today that they will be in session at least three days next week.

The House will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday and again starting at noon on Wednesday. The exact time has not been set for Thursday’s session, but the University of Connecticut basketball teams will likely be at the Capitol that afternoon for the annual Husky Day.

The UConn women’s hoop team will be featured in a parade Sunday in Hartford to honor their undefeated and championship season.

An SEC filing shows that Michael Abbott, Palm’s Senior Vice President of software and services, will be leaving the company this month. The same filing also revealed that several key employees received generous incentives to stick around. More »

PRESS RELEASE
2006-01/03

Berliner Glas Medical Applications Business Unit provides OEM manufacturers of medical devices with a new, custom tailored LED Light Source.

With a color temperature of ~ 6000 degrees Kelvin and a light output of up to 900 lumens at the coupling spot to the optical fiber, it provides a bright and highly competitive solution to providers of endoscopic surgical facilities. Through the simple and cost effective construction with only one LED, the compact system can be integrated into racks. The long durability of high-performance LEDs also guarantees maintenance-free operation.

In addition to the complete light source, Berliner Glas can also provide the light source module for integration into existing systems. Due to the small size, it can be easily integrated into customer systems.

Berliner Glas Medical Applications complements its wide range of custom services with this LED cold light source. Furthermore the business unit focuses on high-quality and innovative electro optical assemblies and systems for leading manufacturers of medical devices. Examples include assemblies for 3 chip cameras for endoscopes, measurement systems e.g. for dental applications and other products developed and then manufactured in serial production.

About Berliner Glas:
The BERLINER GLAS GROUP is one of the leading European providers of optical key components, assemblies and system for the whole light-using industry. The BERLINER GLAS GROUP has about 950 employees in Germany, Switzerland, the United States and China.

Contact:
Berliner Glas KGaA
Herbert Kubatz GmbH & Co.
Waldkraiburger Str. 5
D-12347 Berlin
www.berlinerglas.com

Astrid Freiding
Marketing/Communications
Tel: 030/60905-368
Fax: 030/60905-100
[email protected]

Monitoring the level of coke drum bottoms in a delayed coker is among the most important processes in a refinery. High temperatures and foam, extensive caking as well as a high-pressure water jet demonstrate the unfavorable measuring conditions dominating this application. The radiometric level measurement employing the LB 490 Tower-Sens detector has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution that will withstand this tough environment. It provides a continuous measurement, monitoring the foam as well as the coke level in the drum online and very accurately. All components of the measuring system are mounted on the outer wall of the coke drum and are therefore not affected by the aggressive processes inside.

The Tower-Sens utilizes a detector length up to 8m and can even be mounted in a cascaded fashion to deal with the long measuring ranges. Due to Berthold Technologies’ patented aging and temperature compensation, the system provides stable and reliable measuring results during the entire operation. The precise monitoring of the coke drum processes enables an optimum utilization of the coke drum capacity, reduced cycle times, efficient use of anti-foam agent and of course overflow protection.

Neuchatel, Switzerland, March 2010

POSIC introduces the highly miniaturized inductive rotary encoder kit ID1101C. The encoder-head measures only 9.0 x 6.8 mm with a thickness of 0.9 mm and provides A and B outputs in quadrature. The codewheel diameter is 28.2 mm with a thickness of 0.9 mm. The encoder is available in resolutions from 9 up to 14 bits, which corresponds to 128 up to 4098 CPR (Counts Per Revolution). The maximum speed depends on the resolution and ranges from 2’500 RPM at 14 bits up to 40’000 RPM at 10 bits or lower.

The main features of this kit encoder are its extremely small dimensions and its insensitivity to dust, water, oil, grease and even magnetic fields.

Typical applications are in the mechatronics and motion-control domains as speed or position feedback device. Markets served include industrial, robotics, medical, instrumentation, laboratory automation, office equipment.

Evaluation kits containing two cabled encoder heads, a codewheel and an interface board are available from stock.

Particle size measurements between 1 nm and 6 µm with dynamic light scattering!

FRITSCH is also in the field of laser particle sizing always one step ahead. The new ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer uses the Dynamic Light Scattering as a measuring method and therefore enables the measurement of particle size distributions between 1 and 6000 nm. This new ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer extends the FRITSCH-product range in the field of laser particle sizing down to the lower nano range. Fast, accurate and simple! And this with smallest sample quantities and in an extreme wide concentration-range of 0.0003 % up to 40 %.

– Smallest sample volumes
For measurements with the ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer only smallest sample volumes of < 50 µl are necessary, which are applied directly onto the optical measuring cell inside the instrument; making disposables such as cuvettes or similar obsolete. Due to the intelligent design, cleaning is as easy as a child's play. - Measurement of ultra thin layers With the ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer the thickness of the measurement layer can be variably adjusted. This enables measurements of even extremely thin layers and prevents unwanted multi-scattering effects. It also facilitates the measurement of highly concentrated suspensions as well as in opaque media. - Variable laser power The power of the laser of the ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer is variably adjustable and allows measurements of very dark samples or high particle concentrations of up to 40 wt.%. Effective, user-friendly and accurate to the nanometer! The ANALYSETTE 12 DynaSizer – at a glance - Particle size measurement via dynamic light scattering at a constant scattering angle of 135° - Measuring range of 1 to 6000 nm - Extremely easy handling - Smallest sample quantities < 50 ¼l - Simple sample feeding directly into the instrument - Ultra-Thin Layer – an extremely thin measurement layer avoids multiple scatterings - Particle concentrations from 0.0003 % up to 40 % - Dark dispersions like ink or oil are measureable without any difficulties - Limitation of laser-induced-temperature-effects - Sample temperature selectable between 15ºC and 70ºC - Variable laser intensity according to the dispersion concentration - ISO 13321 / 21 CFR part 11 - Unique algorithm for particle size calculation Test the FRITSCH Nano Particle Sizer! Send us your sample for a free of charge sample measurement – we will send you a detailed analysis protocol. Compare for yourself!

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury

Good news, Quattroheads: Audi has just unloaded a boatload of new images of the RS5 coupe in red, white and blue doing its thing all over some beautiful roads in Europe. We feel the need to point out where these shots were snapped simply because the German automaker has not yet announced any plans to bring its ubercoupe Stateside. And we therefore shed a tear.

Then again, maybe there’s hope after all – we have heard rumors that Audi was at least considering blessing us Americans with the RS5… though nothing substantiated by any other reliable sources. In any case, it’s always a good time to gaze upon 4.2 wonderful liters of naturally aspirated goodness with 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque sent to all four wheels, right? Right. So go ahead and click through the high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Audi]

Pics Aplenty: Audi RS5 officially unloaded to the Internet originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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30 Greenpeace activists dressed as orang-utans urged Nestlé shareholders to “give orang-utans a break” and stop profiting from rainforest destruction.

Seriously – you gotta love Greenpeace. I wrote about the NGO’s creativity in an earlier post about sustainable seafood at Trader Joe’s. And now, they did it again. I mean, who else would dress up as orang-utans to attend Nestlé’s Annual General Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland? The activists certainly got the attention of shareholders, Nestlé executives and the media. Some plain-clothed activists even got inside the AGM and dropped banners from the rafters. So what does Nestlé have to do with roaming, homeless orang-utans? According to Greenpeace… a lot.

(more…)

If the Lexus GX 460 wasn’t already adding to Toyota’s woes, the Los Angeles Times reported today that Toyota delayed recalling the Venza for six weeks in the United States. The Toyota Venza was recalled in Canada late last year because of floor mats that could entrap the gas pedal.

The report said that the delay has caught the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who last week announced a record $16.4 million fine to Toyota for failing to promptly announcing a recall of 2.3 million vehicles in the United States.

“NHTSA continues to investigate the timeliness of Toyota’s pedal entrapment recall,” the agency said in a statement to The Times. “We will continue to hold Toyota accountable for violations we find.”

The Canadian recall for the Venza was announced in Canada in December.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: LATimes

by Darby Minow Smith

Monckton at the Copenhagen climate talks. Photo courtesy Matthew McDermott via FlickrInfamous climate change denier Lord Christopher Monckton briefly
fixated on another googly-eyed theory at a Tea Party event yesterday.

In his speech, Monckton made the tea baggers choke
by joking, “America!
Land of opportunity! You can be born in Kenya
and end up as president of the United
  States!”

After calling climate activists “Hilter Youths” at the
Copenhagen Climate Talks, it’s no surprise that Monckton would affiliate
himself with a party known for brandishing posters of Obama as the Führer.

And Monckton did, after all, make his name (and money) by
denying facts.

But really? Birther theories? That may be a little too weird
and wide-eyed even for Lord Crazy-pants. When reporters from the Washington Post and USA Today questioned Monckton after the
event, the good Lord backed off a bit.

“I have no idea where he was born,” he conceded. “What
I do find strange is that the public records of his Hawaiian birth have been
sealed, and can not be obtained by the public. His lawyers have spent a lot of
money trying to seal the records of his public life. All of those records
should be open to the public, as they always were for previous
presidents.”

When the Washington
Post reporter pointed out that the state of Hawaii did release Obama’s birth certificate—two years ago—Monkton was,
well, you decide: “The effective classification of all of these documents of
his early life is surely contrary to the spirit of freedom and openness in the
Democratic west. It’s bound to raise questions in some peoples’ minds. However!
I have no idea where he’s born, but it made a nice joke.”

Chortle chortle indeed, Lord Debunkedton. 

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

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Related Links:

Tea Party supporters far less informed about climate change than general public

Bundles of balloons a new form of carbon-free travel?

But can you dance and chew gum at the same time?