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Uno de los personajes más querido por los aficionados de la Fórmula 1 y que por circustancias bien conocidas por todos ha confirmado su regreso al gran circo para la temporada 2012. No es otro que Flavio Briatore.

El que en su día fue máximo responsable de Renault F1 tuvo que abandonar la máxima categoría tras el escandalo del caso Crashgate en el GP de Singapur. Recordemos que la FIA le impuso una sanción para mantenerlo alejado de la F1 de por vida (algo totalmente desmesurado).

“En este caso, la FIA ha sido utilizada como una herramienta de un hombre para vengarse de otro. Me echaron de la Fórmula 1 como si fuese un criminal. Nunca volvería a la F1 como jefe de equipo pero tal vez vuelva a partir de 2012 con otro rol”.

Estas son las declaraciones de Briatore al canal de televisión Sky Sport. Por el momento desconocemos que rol jugará en cuando regrese al paddock.

“Creo que podría asumir un buen papel como promotor de la Fórmula 1″.

Related posts:

1. Flavio Briatore no tiene prisa por volver a la Fórmula 1
2. Flavio Briatore podría volver (si quiere) a la Fórmula 1
3. Flavio Briatore es indultado por un tribunal parisino

Twiddling our thumbs while waiting for files to download is one of the great frustrations of our high-speed, technologically interconnected world. Computer scientists are unlikely to eliminate the waiting any time soon, but they’ve done the next best thing. More »

More from the one, the only, Howard Davidowitz…

Optimists cheered Thursday’s stronger-than-expected March sales at retailers such as Kohl’s, Nordstrom, The Limited and even Gap as further proof of an improving economy and rebounding U.S. consumer. In fact, Thomson Reuters’ Same-Store Sales Index rose 9.1% last month to the highest level in the index’s 10-year history.

“The numbers were very strong,” admits noted cynic Howard Davidowitz of Davidowitz & Associates. “There are some positives” in consumer spending, even after adjusting for the boost many retailers got from Easter being earlier in April this year vs. last.

But (you knew that was coming, right?), Davidowitz believes it’s a “sucker’s rally” in retail stocks and any rebound in consumer spending will be short lived. “We’re in a bad place, heading for a worse place,” he says.

Regarding today’s chain-store sales data, the veteran analyst notes huge retailers were excluded, most notably Wal-Mart. “When you look at comp retail sales they don’t include the giants, they include some little dinky apparel chain doing a billion-five [in sales] and these analysts are dancing in the street.”

Furthermore, retailers such as Macy’s and Target warned the big jump in March sales would likely take a bite out of results in April, while Abercrombie & Fitch was a notable laggard in March; the Retail SPDR was essentially flat at midday.

More importantly, Davidowitz says the financial condition of the country is in “dramatically worse shape” than it was a year ago, when he was making dire predictions about America’s future.

With “no real jobs growth…deficits gone mad” and prospects for higher taxes for all Americans, Davidowitz is “exactly in the same place” as a year ago, despite the economy’s apparent revival. “There’s clearly pent up demand – there are needs [and] the consumer is jumping on those needs,” he says. “We’re in a cyclical economy. That doesn’t mean we’re better off.”

As hinted in the accompanying video, Davidowitz is highly critical of the Obama administration and predicts big political changes for America, as we’ll discuss in more detail in a forthcoming segment.

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When Steve sent me these photos of his Ikea bar hack, my first thoughts were, “Where’s the Ikea?” On closer scrutiny, yes, it’s there, hidden under layers of Home Depot panels.

A few years ago, I moved into an apartment with built-in bookshelves, and didn’t need my Ivar system shelves any more.  So I built a bar cabinet out of them!

First I stained and finished them to match the dining table, and installed a stemware rack from The Container Store.  The enclosed sides, swing shelf, and back panel are all wood I had cut at Home Depot or a lumber yard.  The halogen lamp kit is from Home Depot, too, as is the majority of the hardware.  I secured the middle three shelves to the frame with L-brackets so I wouldn’t have to worry about a crashing-glassware disaster.  The glass-door Ivar cabinet at the bottom holds more stemware and barware.

I’ve mixed many a drink on that swing shelf and now I’m in a different apartment with a different dining table and bookshelves (Billy, of course) – but the bar came with me!”

It’s been interesting to watch the extreme arguments about the iPad fly by over the last few weeks. As I’ve said before, I think the device will sell quite well and make tons of money for Apple. I just don’t think it will “save media” the way some media companies believe. For some reason, a lot of folks interpreted this to mean that I don’t like the iPad. That’s not true at all. It looks like a beautiful device, and while I don’t see a need for one for myself right now, I could see getting one at some point. I have nothing against the device at all — and just because I don’t think it will be the savior for media companies, doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the iPad.

That said, Ed Felten, has put together what I think is the best explanation for how I feel about the iPad: it’s the Disneyland of computers. That is, “I like to visit Disneyland, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”

To me, the iPad is Disneyland.

I like Disneyland. It’s clean, safe, and efficient. There are lots of entertaining things to do. Kids can drive cars; adults can wear goofy hats with impunity. There’s a parade every afternoon, and an underground medical center in case you get sick.

All of this is possible because of central planning. Every restaurant and store on Disneyland’s Main Street is approved in advance by Disney. Every employee is vetted by Disney. Disneyland wouldn’t be Disneyland without central planning….

There’s a reason the restaurants in Disneyland are bland and stodgy. It’s not just that centralized decision processes like Disney’s have trouble coping with creative, nimble, and edgy ideas. It’s also that customers know who’s in charge, so any bad dining experience will be blamed on Disney, making Disney wary of culinary innovation. In Disneyland the trains run on time, but they take you to a station just like the one you left.

I like living in a place where anybody can open a restaurant or store. I like living in a place where anybody can open a bookstore and sell whatever books they want. Here in New Jersey, the trains don’t always run on time, but they take you to lots of interesting places.

It goes on from there, and it’s about the best explanation I’ve seen. There’s lots to like about the iPad. It really does look like a great device for some stuff. But not everything — and that’s by design. Just like Disneyland isn’t designed for people to live there permanently, the iPad isn’t designed to take over all your computing needs. And that’s fine.

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To speak of technology in popular culture one must include Morgan Webb. On TechTV (RIP) she was on The Screen Savers and Call For Help from 2001 to 2003. She then became co-host of X-Play, the only program to survive the merger of TechTV with G4, which recently aired it’s 1,000th episode. In addition Morgan has had a monthly column in FHM entitled “Tips From The Gaming Goddess” and has appeared on the Tyra Banks Show, Chelsea Lately and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. And we are proud to announce she is an Android user.

Androidandme: You are amazingly beautiful and at the same time you are incredibly knowledgeable about tech and video games. Do you find that people underestimate your knowledge because of your looks?

Morgan Webb: There is unfortunately sexism in every industry. I will spare you the tirade.

Androidandme: You have been able to do some very cool things because of your job: You have demoed Punch Out on the Jimmy Fallon Show, you travel to Tokyo every year for the Tokyo Game Show, etc. What have been some highlights that stand out for you?

Morgan Webb: Honestly what stands out for me on X-Play are the people. I am so lucky to work with people who are so passionate and knowledgeable about games. We have a great time at work every day, and we are a family (a weird, dysfunctional family, but you get the idea).

Androidandme: In your travels to Japan and around the world, what are some the most bizarre gadgets you have seen?

Morgan Webb: I remember seeing netbooks (before they were called netbooks) at a Japanese electronics store years before anyone had heard of them in the US. They were just these crazy tiny computers and I remember wanting one so bad (but they only came in Japanese, which was an issue). Years later Asus brought the eeepc to the States and everyone thought they were this brand new thing. I don’t understand why no one thought an American would want a tiny computer before.

Androidandme: You have done several segments for The Tyra Banks Show. Is Tyra Banks as crazy in person as she seems on TV?

Morgan Webb: I have only talked to her for a few minutes, but she seemed very nice and was cool to me, so that’s all I can really tell you.

Androidandme: What is your current Android device? Have you used any other devices?

Morgan Webb: I switched from the iPhone to the Nexus One as soon as it came out. I was actually one of the first people to get the Nexus One. I had been interested in the Android platform before, but the Droid is too big and bulky to be practical. The Nexus One was the perfect time for me to switch, and I’ve been very happy with it.

Androidandme: Why did you choose an Android phone and not an iPhone?

Morgan Webb: I had an iPhone for several years and was unhappy with the lack of customization options. I find the iPhone very paternalistic – it won’t allow you to delete certain icons, for example. I’m sure they’re trying to save the user from confusion when they accidentally delete their phone icon, but I appreciate the flexibility I have with Android. I think the iPhone is right for a lot of people, but power users will probably be as unsatisfied as I was. Also, I can run more than one application at once. I like to gloat about that.

Androidandme: Do you think the iPhone and Android devices will be the new platforms for mobile gaming?

Morgan Webb: I think the iPhone and Android will be platforms for mobile gaming, but not the only platforms. These devices do have an advantage over the DS and PSP in that they are always with the owner. A guy with limited pocket space is going to leave his DS at home, but he’ll have his phone and will download and play casual games. It’s going to be a powerful platform, but the DS and PSP both offer a valuable play experience as well, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere.

Androidandme: What’s coming up for Morgan Webb? What new projects are your working on?

Morgan Webb: That’s a secret, but I hope to be able to tell you guys about it soon!

A big thanks to Morgan Webb for taking time out to answer our questions. Do you know of a Celebrity Android User? Let us know.

 

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Are you keeping up with the Tiki Barber Divorce Scandal? Traci Johnson, the alleged mistress of the retired NFL star, alleged claimed to be the babysitter of Barber’s two sons, ages six and seven, as a way to explain why she was spending so much time with the former New York Giants star, The New York Daily News reports.

Sources tell the paper the NBA sports correspondent showered the 23-year-old with gifts and an internship at the network’s Manhattan studios during their clandestine two year romance.

On Tuesday, Tiki announced that he and his wife Ginny, who is eight-months pregnant with the couple’s twins, were separating after 11 years of marriage. The Barbers met when they were both students at the University of Virginia in the 1990s.

Previewing next week’s 47-nation Washington conference on nuclear security, senior National Security Council aides Gary Samore and Ben Rhodes told reporters that they expect the meeting to resolve with specific national commitments that “rally collective action behind the goal of securing all vulnerable nuclear material within four years,” (in Rhodes’ words.) To get there, however, the assembled world leaders won’t try to create any new joint nuclear-security infrastructure, a move seen as a bridge too far.

Instead, Rhodes and Samore said a great deal of conference effort will concern how countries in possession of nuclear material can strengthen their civilian and military means to ensure the security of their stockpiles and prevent smuggling; strengthen their legal systems to “take action against any individuals involved in nuclear smuggling,” Samore said; and strengthen regulatory infrastructure to ensure licit activity by private firms involved in the nuclear-energy sector or other areas that touch on nuclear development. Unspecified countries will announce their own steps for nuclear security, they said, and they floated the prospect that some countries will follow Chile’s lead in handing over part or all of their weapons-grade uranium or plutonium to U.S. or international supervision. “If we’re able to lock those [materials] down and deny them to nonstate actors, then we have essentially solved the risk of nuclear terrorism,” Samore said.

But don’t expect international efforts to play anything more than a supporting role for national efforts. Samore explained that the summit won’t try and rewrite the rules of the world’s minimal nuclear security architecture or create any new supervisory body beyond the International Atomic Energy Agency. “The current structure that we have available focuses primary responsibility on national actions, and at this time, countries insist that their sovereign responsibility for securing nuclear materials, whether in the civil or military sector, is primarily a national responsibility,” Samore said. “We’re facing here an urgent need to try to take corrective measures within four years, so I think we want to focus on the system that is currently available and we think that system can be made to work. If we were to spend a lot of time trying to construct a new international architecture, I think it might actually have the unintended effect of really diverting us from taking the practical measures that we really want to take in the near term.”

So what to do about nations like Pakistan, where the world’s most dangerous private nuclear proliferation network was run by a national hero, A.Q. Khan, and when he was caught red-handed he suffered a fate no worse than house arrest without the world gaining access to him? We’ll see what the conference comes up with.

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Documents that were submitted by Toyota to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in March and obtained by Automotive News reportedly show that Toyota knew of dangerous safety defects on its vehicles as early as February, 2006. The first documented issue was of a 2005 Toyota Prius that experienced floor mat interference with the accelerator. The company-supplied timeline reportedly shows that it received its first evidence of sticky gas pedals five months later, but Toyota claims that the defect was unrepeatable and couldn’t be duplicated, and the automaker reportedly opted to “monitor the situation in the field.”

Since automakers are required to issue recalls within five days of finding a safety defect, the timeline documentation seems to validate NHTSA’s recent $16.4 million fine levied against the Japanese automaker. Other documentation obtained by NHTSA and published in the Detroit Free Press includes an email from former Toyota executive Irv Miller to his superiors that shows that Toyota may have known about recall issues far earlier than the recalls were ordered. Toyota has two weeks to decide whether to fight the fine or pay up. NHTSA has been investigating the timeliness with which Toyota recalled the 8 million vehicles for floor mat and pedal sticking issues for several months.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Toyota documents show knowledge of defects in 2006 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You’re going to hear plenty of stories regarding RIM’s share of the smartphone market this year. Every time you see something about the iPhone, every time you see something about Android’d rapid growth, someone is thinking up an article about how it will affect the BlackBerry. That’s our main topic of conversation this afternoon.

So click on over here to hear the BBGeekcast (13 min, 55 sec)

And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you won’t miss future episodes!

You can also subscribe to the BBGeekcast in iTunes.

Highlights include:
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When faced with a choice between white or brown eggs, I will almost always choose brown. I couldn’t really tell you why, except that my mother bought brown eggs and, to my eye, they are prettier (though not as pretty as blue ones!). But is there really any difference apart from color?

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National, Abatec Exec

We are working with an international consultancy to recruit an experienced consultant to help the development of thier carbon and climate change related services both in the UK and overseas.

They already have a substantial team that provides advisory and assessment services to both private and public sector clients.

You will need demonstrable experience within the carbon management and / or climate change field coupled with a genuine enthusiasm for this sector and its continual development.

This is a first class opportunity to join a significant player at a senior level and carve a career for yourself.

To find out more please contact us without delay.

Hey now now, what’s this? On top of the previously discovered references to front-facing cameras and iChat within the iPad SDK, evidence is now appearing that suggests iChat — likely with video conferencing — will make its way to iPhone OS 4.0.

Screenshots over at TUAW show that iChatAgent — a background process in OS X that’s responsible for keeping iChat happy — is running as a service on iPhone OS 4.0. Now, iChat doesn’t necessarily mean video chat, but with support for video conferencing likely on future revisions of the iPad, it isn’t too big a stretch of the imagination to have it on the next iPhone, too.

A front-facing camera is an oft-requested feature for the iPhone, and with Android devices becoming more powerful and more prolific (hello, EVO 4G!), expect Apple to do all it can to show up the competition with some hot hardware this Summer.

Found under: Windows Mobile, Freeware, Moon, Information, Phase, Zodiac,

Lifeware Solutions who develop for windows mobile would like to offer you the tool to discover more about the influence of the Moon. Deluxe Moon app for windows mobile phone opens you a unique possibility to look closer at how the moon influences on your life. Depending on your location the application shows you such an interesting things like the current moon phase Zodiac sign moonrise and moonset times and many other parameters.Deluxe Moon Features Visual picture of the moon ph

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Julie Dickson, Canada’s superintendent of financial institutions, doesn’t think much of many of the ideas that people have put forward to regulate the world’s banks. She believes that concepts such as capital surcharges, systemic risk funds and bank taxes are needlessly complicated creations. In an essay in the Financial Times, Dickson argues that a better way forward is to require banks to carry “embedded contingent capital.”

While that’s a term that only a banker could love, the idea is rather simple. Each bank would be required to issue large amounts of securities that would act as bonds during good times, but would automatically convert into shares if the bank ran into serious trouble. The converted funds would be capable of replenishing the bank’s common equity without using a penny of taxpayers’ money.

As Dickson points out, such a system would encourage market discipline. It would motivate bondholders to keep an eye on bank management, since buyers of the embedded contingent capital would fear being involuntarily turned into shareholders.

Dickson’s idea is a fascinating notion with wide ranging implications. It could force bank management to be more conservative. It could also force managers to be far more transparent about risk. But one suggestion? Please, Ms. Dickson, find a better name for the concept. Somehow we can’t imagine a crowd of voters chanting “What do we want? Embedded contingent capital!”

Freelance business journalist Ian McGugan blogs for the Financial Post.
 

This week we saw lots of interesting activities in FOSS. Here is our weekly roundup of the key FOSS events this week.

News

• Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx Beta 2 Released

The second beta of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx was released yesterday. Although it has some small changes, it does not have any striking difference from the earlier Beta 1. If you are using Ubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 with regular updates, there is no need to install the Beta 2 for you. You can read more here.

• Songbird Decides to Drop Linux Support

The Pioneers of the Inevitable announced that the Mozilla XULRunner based music player, Songbird, will no longer be supported in Linux. This decision has been blamed on the lack of developers and their inability to continue maintaining Songbird in Linux at the same level as that in Windows and Mac OS X. An active Songbird developer has already forked the Songbird project and named it Nightingale. You can read more about it here.

• Firefox in Ubuntu 10.04 is Going To Use Google Search

Canonicals retracted their earlier decision to use Yahoo! as the default search in Firefox that comes with Ubuntu 10.04. Firefox in Ubuntu 10.04 will now use Google as the default search. You can read more here.

Tips & Features

• Install The Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Bisigi Themes In Karmic

There are a lot of people still using Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic and they might want to use the updated Bisigi themes but that’s not easy – the new PPA is only for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid and also Karmic doesn’t have the latest Murrine engine so the themes won’t work – but there is a way to do it. Read more about it at WebUpd8.

• Installation and Getting Started with Firebug

Firebug is a free, open source tool that is available as a Mozilla Firefox extension, and allows debugging, editing, and monitoring of any website’s CSS, HTML, DOM, and JavaScript. Read more at PACKT.

Don’t miss these Related Posts:

• Foss Friday: OpenGL 4.0, BBC DRM on Broadcasts, Oracle’s Java Love And More
• No More Linux Support For Songbird
• Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx Beta 2 Available For Download
• Ubuntu 10.04 First Alpha to be Released Today
• Release Schedule for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx [Roadmap]

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The new power strip developed by Fujitsu is quite different from a regular power strip. It has special low power sensors in its outlets to measure the amount of energy being consumed. These contactless sensors only consume about 1W of power and can measure up to 2,000W. These sensors are downsized and optimized so that they fit in the power strip and are unaffected by magnetic fields of corresponding outlets or any other external factors. It also has a USB port, so that the usage patterns can be transmitted over to a computer where the user can analyze consumption using graphs. It also has the feature to measure consumption during a particular time in the absence of the user by means of a scheduler.

Fujitsu recently employed these devices in their offices for testing, and the result was 20% lesser consumption due to the continuous monitoring. There is no information yet available, about the commercial availability or the pricing of this product.
[techon]
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