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Tobias experiments with an alternative to the Trofast frame. The original is made from solid pine but this could be just a sturdy (since Tobias can stand on top of it). If need some thing cheap to go with the tubs, which cost only $2 – $5, this may fit your budget.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the Trofast plastic tub/drawers, but the $50 – $90 cabinets seemed a bit overpriced. So I knocked together a simple frame out of 1 x 12 to hold some of the drawers.

Instead of routing out tracks for the drawers to slide on like Ikea does (a nice design, but I don’t have a router), I cut strips of 1 x 2, which also reinforce the corners of the open frame. It’s screwed and glued with Gorilla glue, and I can stand on top of it. Total cost of lumber, drawers, fasteners and glue was less than $20.”

photo by Andrew Brown, BBC Hereford and Worcester

Do you live in Worcester? Do you care about what your potential future MP thinks about climate change or international development? Then you should get yourself a ticket to the election hustings hosted by the Worcester News on Wednesday, 21st April.

Worcester News is giving 100 readers the chance to quiz candidates from the three main parties at a Question Time-style event at Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s Graeme Hick Pavilion, starting at 7:30pm.

The debate will be chaired by Worcester News editor Kevin Ward. Conservative candidate Robin Walker, Labour candidate Mike Foster and Liberal Democrat candidate Jackie Alderson will be taking questions from the audience.

You should get yourself there! To do that you need to apply for tickets and you will then be asked to submit a question. Why not Ask the Climate Question?

To see the full article from the Worcester News, click here.

How to get a ticket

The Worcester News says that ticket applications must be made via email to [email protected] by 15th April.

To apply for tickets you must be eligible to vote in the Worcester parliamentary constituency.

Your email application must include your name and full address and a daytime telephone number.

You must tell us the Worcester News if you are a member of a political party and how you intend to vote in the General Election.

(The above information will be used for audience selection purposes only and will not be published.)

Include in your email the question you would like to ask at the Election Debate. The most popular or pertinent questions will be put to the panel of candidates, who will not be informed of the questions in advance.

Successful ticket applicants and those selected to ask questions will be informed via an email from Kevin Ward, the Editor of the Worcester News.

Find out more about Oxfam’s issues before you go

Want to find out more about Oxfam’s issues or take action in Worcester during the run up to the election? Then check out Oxfam’s dedicated election webpage: www.oxfam.org.uk/election and get inspired!

Things aren’t as bad as they seem, says economist Mike Mussa, who predicts a far stronger global recovery than most prognosticators.

The one-time chief economist of the International Monetary Fund who now works at the Peterson Institute for International Economics will unveil his projections later today — as usual two weeks ahead of the IMF, which drives his former employer nuts — and he expects the world economy to expand 4.5% this year and 4.6% in 2011.

Mr. Mussa can argue GDP components and currency misalignments with the best of macroeconomist. But his argument basically comes down to one golden rule — “Deep recessions are usually followed by steep recoveries is a very broad historical regularity,” he says, according to his prepared remarks. Actually that’s the “Zarnowitz rule,” he says, named after economist Victor Zarnowitz, an expert on the business cycle, who died last year at age 89.

Using the basic insight of what-goes-down-should-go-up, he expects the U.S. to grow 4% this year and 4.1% in 2011; perpetually stagnant Japan to grow 2.7% in 2010 followed by 3% next year; and the suffering euro zone to expand 2% this year and 2.7% next year. All those predictions are more optimistic than the conventional wisdom.

He also expects very rapid growth in China — 10% in 2010 and 9% in 2011 — but so do a lot of forecasters.

Mostly, though, Mr. Mussa is a contrarian. “The V-shaped recovery [which he] forecast a year ago at the depths of the great global recession of 2008-2009 is now clearly under way,” he plans to say.

Smartphones step aside, Palm has given us something (more) to talk about.  While the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus have always offered the Mobile HotSpot feature, Verizon announced on April 1 that this service would be reduced from $40/month to free.  That’s right, this coveted feature that turns the smartphone into a WiFi router for up to 5 users is now free.

Upon hearing the news, I was in disbelief and had to confirm it with multiple websites before finally letting the truth of it all sink in.  I could never justify paying $40/month to turn my Pre Plus into a Mobile HotSpot, but free is a totally different story.  Whether traveling or just sitting at the local coffee shop, having a personal WiFi router is by far more convenient then dealing with the hassle and overpriced fees associated with hotel, airport and restaurant wireless access providers.  Embracing my new-found smartphone technology, I took the plunge (double and triple checking that there were no hidden fees or commitments) and added the Mobile HotSpot feature online, which thankfully confirmed the $0.00/month charge in print.  

The timing of this free-of-charge feature could not have been more perfect.  As a military family, moving is something we are accustomed to and the end of March had us packing yet again.  Watching the packers and movers leave with all of our things less a few essentials, my family was prepared for our fun week of “camping” on the floor and slumber parties.  My fun came to a screeching halt when I realized that with the movers and terminated cable package went our internet connection.  How was I going to get any work done?  Was I going to have to rely entirely on my Pre Plus?  Was that even possible?  Then it dawned on me – my new Mobile Hotspot feature!

Coincidence?  Maybe.  A cruel April Fool’s Day joke?  Not at all.  Too good to be true?  Absolutely … but it was true!  

So how does the Mobile HotSpot work?  Like many things on the Pre Plus, setting up and using the Mobile HotSpot feature is beyond simple.  My Pre Plus already had the application preloaded and accessible through the launcher, so there was nothing to download.  All I had to do was add the feature online, open the application on my phone, turn the switch to the on position and set a password.  Done!  The whole process took all of three minutes.  I am still amazed by the simplicity and ease of set up and use.

Not surprisingly, tethering devices through the Mobile HotSpot drains the phone’s battery life at a much faster rate.  For this reason, a nearby power source is a must.  This hasn’t been a problem for me since I have a car charger and the Touchstone charging dock, which is a must-have fun accessory for the Palm.  This incredibly sleek and functional accessory charges your phone through the use of magnetics.  No having to fumble with cords, plugs or opening the phone’s side door.  

Another way to manage battery life while using the Mobile HotSpot is to set a password, or passphrase as it is called by Palm.  Otherwise, there is no way to control who connects to your WiFi and each additional connection obviously drains the battery that much faster.  For your monitoring needs, the phone conveniently chimes when a user connects and disconnects from the device and keeps an on-screen log of all connections.  Since battery life is a vital concern with smartphones in general and the Pre Plus in particular, I also want to note that turning off the phone’s WiFi receptor and Bluetooth features when not needed significantly conserves battery resources.  

Last but not least, speed has been just fine.  I have to give a full disclosure up front that my test was by no means scientific, but running on Verizon’s 3G network does very well for the Pre Plus’ Mobile HotSpot feature.  To my pleasant surprise, I didn’t notice a difference between the tethering and my prior high-speed connection, and surfing the web was business as usual.  

By and large, the Mobile HotSpot has always been a feather in Palms’ cap, but is the fact that this feature is now gratis, while remarkable yes, enough to change the smartphone game?  Will Palm be able to break out from the pack?  Let me know what you think.

Needles are hands down one of the things I’m scared of most in the world. Anytime I need to get a shot or have blood drawn there’s a 50-50 chance I’ll pass out. I get all lightheaded and start to hyperventilate. It’s really not a pretty picture.

So needless to say, the news that scientists figured out a way to give vaccinations without needles made me smile.

It’s a little bit early to get my hopes up, but the idea that my doctor could just stick a patch on my arm to make sure I get all the vaccine I need sounds wonderful.

The way the patch is supposed to work is that the vaccine will permeate the skin carried through a protein that will deliver the vaccine. That sounds way less painful to me than having a needle jabbed in my arm.

With all the vaccines we need to get as little kids, this would have been such a great option. My parents would have had to deal with a lot fewer tears and probably a lot less stress.

Would you prefer having a needle-free option to get your shots or can you handle the needles better than me?

Kleve, April – Some heat treatment furnaces are as big as a townhouse. The new Ipsen Titan furnace, on the other hand, fits in a garage and is especially user-friendly and energy-efficient.
When hardening metals – most often steel – their structure is altered by the application of heat followed by rapid cooling to increase their mechanical durability.

Ipsen, the heat treatment experts from Kleve in Germany, now offer a compelling solution: the new Titan vacuum furnace. Its simple, compact construction and simple operation make it make it ideal for a variety of applications and unusually mobile. This makes it the ideal tool for heat treatment service providers looking to expand their offering as well as for metal working operations in the automobile industry and its and component suppliers breaking new ground in in-house heat treatment.

Setting up a Titan furnace is extremely simple and can be completed in a single work day. It comes pre-mounted on a wheeled platform and can be rolled into position with a forklift. In manufacturing, Titan can be easily set up in the best position for any given production phase.

Peter Lankes, head of Ipsen International GmbH explains, “Anyone who can run a household washing machine shouldn’t have any problems setting up and operating our Titan furnaces. We consider this the biggest advance since the invention of the vacuum furnace itself.” Technical tidbit: heating steel components in an airless vacuum prevents their oxidizing or tarnishing during the heat treatment process.

The Titan’s terminal has a 17″ screen, a highly intuitive user interface, can be used in 21 languages and all standard systems of measurement. It comes preprogrammed with more than 1,000 standard industrial hardening processes, which can be directly monitored and documented.

The Titan’s octagonal heating chamber offers ample space (450 x 450 x 610 mm) and a maximum of flexibility for a variety of loading configurations. Ipsen’s clients also remain flexible in their costs: the Titan is available directly from Ipsen both for purchase at an affordable price and for lease.

Compact, affordable and flexible: the new Ipsen Titan.

[JURIST] The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared Wednesday that Kenya’s government is attempting to secure the release of Kenyan native Mohammed Abdumalik, who is currently detained at Guantanamo Bay. The news was revealed in a letter to Abdulmalik’s family, informing them that the government will ask the United States to release the detainee. Abdulmalik’s family filed a $30 million lawsuit against the Kenyan government last year, claiming that Abdulmalik was illegally detained, tortured, and rendered to US authorities.
Abdulmalik was originally arrested by the Kenyan Anti-terrorism Police Unit in Mombasa in 2007 in connection with the 2002 bombing of a resort hotel and a failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli charter plane. He was then taken into US custody and eventually transferred to Guantanamo where he allegedly confessed to the crimes, although his Combatant Status Review Tribunal report is still classified. British human rights group Reprieve, which has helped Abdulmalik’s family, stated that the case points out the illegal means by which detainees have ended up in Guantanamo. Kenyan authorities deny arresting Abdulmalik, whom they claim is not a Kenyan citizen, and handing him over to the US military.

Article Tags: Gary Novak

This is a newly designed web site for my global warming science.

I show some major science errors which are not being discussed elsewhere. An example is atmospheric equilibrium temperature.

The net, equivalent temperature of the atmosphere is defined by equilibrium requirements.

Alarmist scientists are contradiction the concept of equilibrium by claiming that there is a direct relationship between heat addition and temperature increase. With equilibrium, the temperature stays almost the same when heat is added.

Equilibrium is based on the fact that temperature determines the rate of radiation emission from matter.

Equilibrium is possible because heat escapes the atmosphere through radiation which goes around the greenhouse gasses rather than through them. If such equilibrium were not occurring, there would be an indefinable build-up of heat, which is not occurring.

Source: climatebasics.com

Read in full with comments »   

Hard work, dedication, and her divine Aunt Vie aren’t the only things keeping former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson a viable contender on for the coveted Golden Disco Ball Trophy on the new season ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

The devoted animal rights activist has received a boost of votes from PETA supporters.

The folks at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — who have partnered with Anderson on initiatives on everything from saving Canadian seals to taking down KFC — publicized the star’s anti-bull-fighting-themed dance on its blogs and Twitter this week and encouraged PETA members and supporters to help keep the actress on the show, according to MSNBC’s “The Scoop.”

“Pam’s tireless work to expose cruelty in the meat and fur trades has created a very emotional bond with PETA’s two million members and supporters who are thrilled to see her and vote for her on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” a PETA spokesperson explains.

Google is just one of the big proponents of QR codes, two-dimensional bar codes that come in quite handy on mobile devices, but the technology is still not very popular in the US, or anywhere outside of Japan, really. That isn’t stopping anyone, though, and Google has added a very neat trick to its URL-shortening service goo.gl, the ability t… (read more)

Organised under the Spanish EU Presidency on 8 and 9 April, the conference explores how to concretely advance a comprehensive skills and jobs agenda in the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy, focusing both on skills upgrading in line with future needs, and the better matching of skills and jobs.

At the event, the JRC Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) illustrates the key findings of its research on the role of ICT for socio-economic inclusion of youth at risk and migrants, in support of the flagship initiative "An agenda for new skills and jobs". In particular, IPTS scientists present the key challenges in education and training, skilling and employment for three key population groups: young people; migrants and ethnic minorities and women carers, and illustrate how ICT can support in addressing these challenges.

Most of us like a little breakfast for dinner every once and a while. Some eggs, bacon, maybe even pancakes or waffles – it’s not such a stretch. But how about dinner for breakfast? We don’t usually consider last night’s leftovers as a breakfast possibility (unless it’s pizza) but one of our favorite Twitter feeds has us reconsidering.

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Another day, another story of a company no one’s heard of who seems to produce nothing but patents, filing a lawsuit against a ton of companies in East Texas (of course). This one, sent in by the Bored SysAdmin, involves a company called The Pacid Group, suing Asus, Samsung, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Fujitsu, LG, Gigabyte, GBT, MSI, Motorola, Research in Motion, Nikon, Microsoft, Nintendo, HTC and Palm, claiming that they all violate two of its patents (5,963,646 and 6,049,612) on encryption. While it’s often difficult to find any information on the no name companies who big companies for patent infringement, at least The Pacid Group has a website, where it clearly shows the company’s only products: patents.

As we’ve seen in other similar lawsuits, the company appears to think that pretty much every bit of modern technology violates its patents. According to the lawsuit, all of the following types of products may violate these patents: laptops, mobile phones, printers, routers, digital cameras, Blu-ray disk players, gaming devices, wireless adapters and portable media players. Now, sure, you could make the claim that all of these companies found these patents from a company no one had heard of, and decided to “copy” the idea into their product. Or, the fact that this basic idea appears in so many places might lead you to conclude that the idea was the natural progression of the technology and obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus not deserving of a patent. But that would make sense.

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Greenwich cable television entrepreneur Ned Lamont has won the endorsement of one of the state’s largest unions – the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 371.

Four years ago, the union endorsed New Haven Mayor John DeStefano over Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy in the final week before the August 2006 primary that DeStefano won. But this year’s endorsement comes far earlier than the one four years ago.

The 70-year-old union has about 10,000 members in Connecticut and about 12,000 overall in Connecticut, Vermont, and western Massachusetts. The union is the largest in Fairfield County and the fourth largest in the state AFL-CIO.

“We need Ned as the next governor of Connecticut to stand up for us, and so today we’re standing up for him,” said Brian Petronella, the union’s well-known president. “Ned’s spent his whole life creating jobs.  He built a business from the ground up, and he’s not afraid to make tough choices in order to protect Connecticut’s working families.”

Petronella added, “Ned has shown us that he has the courage to tackle the problems facing our state head on, with a fresh perspective and the kind of clear vision that Hartford has been lacking for two decades. The members of UFCW Local 371 are proud to support him.” 
 
In a statement, Lamont said, “My top priority as governor will be to create good jobs, like the ones the folks at the UFCW have fought for over the years. Jobs that pay a fair wage, provide safe working conditions and offer fair benefits.”

While neither Lamont nor Malloy has broadcast television commercials yet, Malloy has started a paid online campaign that will be seen on “hundreds of Connecticut news and information websites, including key political blogs,” the campaign said.
 
The ads show Malloy talking about his life, his 14 years as Stamford’s mayor, and his plans for the future.

“We’re running a smart, disciplined, and targeted campaign that reaches out to the right voters at the right time. This online advertising is another component of that effort,” campaign manager Dan Kelly said in a statement. “We see advertising as one more tool to engage voters, and to let them learn more about Dan Malloy, his record of accomplishment in Stamford, and his plan for getting Connecticut back on track.”

Many of us travel the world, but stick to just the green parts. Google’s urging people to discover the blue parts, helped largely because Google Earth now includes layers of information and annotations for all oceans. More »

Overview

What’s good: The iPad puts several key features (though not all) from netbooks, gaming devices, MP3 players, and e-readers and mashes them into a sleek form factor with a fun, intuitive UI. The addition of 802.11 N (in addition to a, b, g) gives users with high-grade routers some options for fast connectivity. The Wifi+3G model ships later in April, and offers more connectivity, since it connects via AT&T’s 3G cellular network. The tablet also comes with Bluetooth support and offers terrific battery life and excellent multimedia play.

What’s bad: Lack of USB, built-in camera, sd card slot, swappable battery, Adobe Flash and HDMI port are dealbreakers for some consumers. While some of this may or may not be addressed by other companies (via accessories or third-party development), the end users’ costs could balloon beyond the iPad’s primary investment. And the lack of multitasking — the tablet’s biggest criticism so far — is still unavailable for now. With the Wifi model, the lack of GPS makes certain things, like Google Maps, slightly less usable. And some apps that will rely on GPS won’t work as well. The sheer size is also an issue for some users, who argue that the 9.5″x7.5″ measurements prevent this tablet from being truly portable.

SUMMARY: Some people will feel that what the iPad lacks in features, it makes up for in fun, since users benefit from immersive experiences and interaction. But there’s a lot here that tech fanatics will sorely miss. Perhaps some would have been more forgiving of the “holes” in functionality, if the product didn’t have such a big $500 (and up) price tag. Even so, scores of consumers will probably flock to this — not because of the fact that it is more convenient than carrying around several other gadgets — but because of the creativity and lush experience of the iPad apps.

REVIEW

First, this tablet feels like a high-quality device. Its unibody construction makes it feel like a solid piece of tech. The back is rounded, so the sides that your hands actually grip (measured in depth at 0.5″) are narrower than the depth of the tablet at its center. This is done by design, so that it feels like a slimmer gadget when held. (Although the 1.5 lbs weight and narrow sides could cause slippage for the loose-gripped among us. If that describes you, you’ll definitely want to get a case for it.)

On the exterior, there are very few inputs, ports or switches: 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, speaker, microphone, on/off (sleep) button, volume, orientation lock (for portrait or landscape) and the sync/charge port.

The size — at 9.5 x 7.5 inches — has been criticized as too big to be truly mobile. And for people who are looking for a pocketable solution, this is definitely true. But end users who tend to carry one or more books or magazines may not find the size a problem. And in my experience, carrying the one tablet versus two or three magazines has actually lightened my load.

As for streaming multimedia, it loads really quickly and practically sputter-free. Part of that has to do with its 802.11N compatibility (a newer and faster standard than “typical” Wifi, which is 802.11 b/g). iPhones and older Macs don’t support the “N,” but the iPad does. It means that apps, downloads and streaming vids can practically scream if you have a compatible router. If not, the experience is still faster than what iPhone users are used to, thanks to the well-publicized 1GHz Apple A4 processor. (The iPhone 3GS has 600 MHz processor.) The iPad’s A4 chip isn’t as fast as processors on laptops and some netbooks, though. Then again, the tablet wasn’t meant to take on huge programs like Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro or even Microsoft Office (though Microsoft has indicated some interest in developing a version for the tablet). For users in the real world, the processor speed is enough to keep the iPhone OS and its apps pretty zippy.

Compared to some netbooks and most laptops, I also find that the iPad’s solid-state flash drive is a plus. (Some netbooks and specialized or customized laptops have SS drives as well, since it offers some benefits over HDD.) You can grab the device and not worry about shaking or jostling it. Obviously this was the way Apple was going to go, given the built-in accelerometer.

But I do find the storage space to be measly, given the price tag. ($500 for 16GB, Wifi only? Up to $829 for 64 GB, Wifi+3G? That’s really steep.) I haven’t hit the upper limits yet, but it’s not hard to imagine that I will, given the number of video podcasts I subscribe to.

It would’ve been great to have an SD card slot, for added storage. A USB port and a swappable battery would’ve been nice touches too. Sadly, these are lacking, even though Apple users know that removable batteries would go against Cupertino’s credo. Right or wrong, the company has moved away from them, even in its full-fledged, unibody laptops. As for the lack of SD card slot and USB — yes, it’s true that it would’ve marred the aesthetics of the tablet. And yes, it still would’ve been nice to have here. It could’ve partially made up for the lack of built-in camera. (If you could connect a web cam to this thing, at least it would’ve been an alternative.)

Critics are theorizing that the camera may come in a future iteration, though, and that it was purposely held back in order to drive future sales. I can’t speak to that. All I can say is that I would’ve liked to have been able to vid chat with friends on this.

(Note: Maybe not much help for video recording/conferencing, but at least for still pictures, some companies are creating apps that let users snap pics on the iPhone and send to the iPad. These aren’t elegant solutions yet, but there could be more development in this area.)

There are other much-publicized missing features — like lack of multitasking and Adobe Flash support. There are stories are circulating about multitasking possibly coming to the iPhone OS via software update, and that Flash support might actually be addressed by third parties outside of Apple. I won’t pin all my hopes on these rumors, but given that the iPad has been under a lot of fire regarding these two “holes” in functionality, it’s worth keeping an eye on. For now though, the inability to run apps in the background means iPad owners — like iPhone owners (for now) — can’t stream Pandora or Slacker in the background while web surfing. The small percentage of sites that are HTML5-compliant do work very well, and I have no doubt that web development will go that way in the future, but for now, the lack of Flash means there are huge segments of the web users can’t access.

In full sunlight, the display does exactly what you’d imagine a glassy surface would do: Reflect light. I’ve taken to closing the curtains when I’m in my reading chair and have nixed any fantasies about reading my iPad on a grassy knoll in the park. Lighting issues aside, in regular use indoors, the 9.7″ screen (at 132 ppi) offers crisp, clear full-color images and the sheer size alone is captivating enough. But when video comes into play, the experience is stunning.

The display is glorious, at 1024 x 768 pixels. Yes, I said glorious. 720p HD video renders crisp and clear, with no glitches or artifacts. There have been some criticisms about the strange size, since it’s close but not quite wide enough in landscape mode to fit a widescreen movie. What results is letterboxing (with black bands across the top and bottom). This may be a sticking point for some people, while others won’t mind. The necessary adjustments to the form factor to accommodate a widescreen display, however — i.e., making the device shorter or wider — would’ve resulted in a clunkier device with a weird, skinny rectangular shape. Personally, I say no thanks, but others may feel differently.

I do, however, wish there was an HDMI-out port, to connect the iPad to my television. But I understand why Apple may have decided against it: Given the device’s emphasis on multimedia, partners like ABC or CBS probably don’t want a solution that could compete with its own broadcast programming. So playing high-qaulity content on the iPad may be fine, but on a real TV? That’s a no-no. Of course, that’s just my own supposition. (There is, however, a VGA adaptor available.)

The larger screen it does have has unleashed app developers, giving them have the space to create a different, more robust experience for users; in my opinion, it’s a richer, fuller and more unique experience than its counterparts designed for Apple’s smaller handsets. Some apps on the iPhone are a little clunky, with a lot of swiping and menus involved. On the iPad, the user can do more on one screen — and in many cases, there are also new inputs or features that iPhone/iPod Touch versions don’t have.

So these aren’t just iPhone apps simply blown up and rendered larger. In some cases, they feel like completely different programs. At this point, there are well over 2,000 iPad apps available. And more are coming.

Conclusion

The iPad is not going to fully replace any of the gadgets you’re currently using. This device is clearly a convenience tool, a luxury item — not an essential piece of mobile equipment. (Although there are some businesses that are taking a hard look at the device, to see if it can fit that role.) So there’s a lot it can’t do. What it does do, however, it generally does beautifully. And for some consumers, there is a lot to be said for having a device that is a joy to use.

So I ended my unboxing vid with the words, “Size does matter.” It was kind of a joke, but it’s actually true in this case. When it comes to content consumption, that’s the reason people buy big screen TVs. Or larger computer monitors. Or even hook up multiple displays. The extra real estate can increase the immersive experience, and even functionality. Overall, this is what I’ve found to be the case with the iPad.

So that’s it for the review. Interested in how this iPad owner has been using her tablet so far in the real world? I’m writing up an overview in a companion piece at Today’s iPhone. Stay tuned.

***

Note: There have been issues cited with the first iteration of the iPad. While I haven’t experienced these personally, it’s worth noting that there have been reports of the tablet overheating, having sync issues (with non-Mac, non-USB 2.0-compatible systems) and some Wifi connectivity problems, in which the iPad can’t locate weaker signals. If you’ve experienced this, please weigh in below and share your experiences with other PhoneDog readers.

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help at the London Marathon Expo from 21st to 24th April at the Excel Centre in the Docklands. It’s a great event for anyone interested in running or fitness (and for those who wished they were! ) and is also a great opportunity for us to raise the profile of Oxfam in the running world. 

We are expecting loads of people to visit our stand so are looking for volunteers to talk about how well Oxfam supports runners and how much difference the money raised will make (don’t worry, we’ll tell you all the answers in a training session at the start of your shift).

We have shifts available from Wednesday 21st morning right through to Saturday 24th afternoon so if you are able to give time during these days please get in touch. However we most need people for Wednesday 21st (4.45 – 8pm), Thursday 22nd (4.45 – 8pm), and Saturday 24th (8.30 – 1pm). Travel expenses will be paid for and we promise you’ll have a great time!

For more info or to get involved either leave a comment or contact James Terry (Sponsored Events Manager) on 01865 472 079 or [email protected]

Oh snap! There’s breakup drama brewing between two of Gossip Girl’s hottest Upper East Siders — and this time, the fracas isn’t going down on the small screen. The New York Post’s
http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/gossip_breaks_up_ed_jessica_T5DNiTF2YgJNMdsK0V1K8O#ixzz0kVAvVlX1″>Page Six Column claims Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr, who met and fell in love on the set of The CW’s teen soap, have called it quits amid allegations that the brunette stepped out on Westwick with one of his friends.

Tattles tell the tab the hunky Brit kicked Szohr to the curb despite two years of dating after hearing whispers that the beauty got a little too close for comfort with his dear pal, dashing heir Marc Minuto. In fact, Ed didn’t even bother breaking the news to Jess in person; Homeboy just pulled a “Joe Jonas” and quit the chick with a little help from Ma & Pa Bell!

An informant dishes: “Jessica recently celebrated her birthday in LA and was being openly affectionate and flirty with Marco. They ended up back at the same hotel, but nobody knows what happened behind closed doors. Her flirty behavior shocked a lot of their friends, so word quickly got back to Ed, who has been filming in Europe. He immediately ended their relationship on the phone….”

Jessica — who vehemently denies bedding Minuto — allegedly flew from Los Angeles to London (sans luggage) to plead her case and beg Ed’s forgiveness. So far, the “deeply hurt” Westwick isn’t budging.

Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship gives an interview on Tuesday after an explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine killed at least 25 people. (Xinhua/ZUMApress.com)

The federal investigators readying their probe into the massive explosion that killed at least 25 West Virginia coal miners this week might take note: The dozens of other active tunnel mines owned by the same energy company have run up thousands of safety violations this year alone, according to a review of federal records by TWI. Hundreds of those citations target the same problems with ventilation and methane buildup that many suspect sparked the West Virginia disaster.

Image by: Matt Mahurin

Massey Energy — the Virginia-based coal giant that owns the Upper Big Branch mine, the site of Monday’s tragedy — also controls 41 other underground coal mines currently active in Appalachia. Investigators have cited those projects for 2,074 safety violations since the start of the year, according to federal documents. The citations run a spectrum, but hundreds charge mine operators with failing to maintain air quality detectors, failing to ensure proper ventilation, allowing combustible material to accumulate, and a host of other infractions related to miner safety.

At the Upper Big Branch — where rescue teams were still searching Wednesday night for four missing miners — investigators had cited 124 similar safety violations this year. More than 50 of them were issued in March alone.

On Wednesday, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, a branch of the Labor Department, sent a team to Upper Big Branch to begin investigating whether the conditions cited in those violations sparked the explosion.

“The very best way we can honor [the miners] is to do our job,” Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a statement announcing the team.

But as those officials prepare to look backwards in search of what went wrong at Upper Big Branch, a growing chorus of voices is urging policymakers to examine also the corporate culture that, they say, has led companies like Massey to disregard worker safety in the name of profit-making.

“This incident isn’t just a matter of happenstance, but rather the inevitable result of a profit-driven system and reckless corporate conduct,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement. “Many mining companies have given too little attention to safety over the years and too much to the bottom line.”

As far as recent safety violations go, the Upper Big Branch mine has plenty of company. In fact, it doesn’t even rank first among the Massey-owned underground mines with the most safety violations this year. That distinction goes to Freedom Mine #1, in Pike County, Ky., which tallied 187 such citations, according to documents posted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Among the infractions, investigators cited accumulations of combustible materials and a failure to maintain escapeways. A man answering the phone Wednesday at Freedom Energy Company — the Kentucky-based Massey subsidiary that operates the mine — hung up on a reporter.

Other notable Massey-controlled mines currently in operation include:

• The Justice # 1 Mine in Boone County, W.Va. Operated by the Independence Coal Company, the project has been hit with 115 safety violations this year, including citations surrounding air-quality detectors and ventilation plans. (A woman answering the phone for Independence Wednesday said the company doesn’t talk to reporters.)
• The Alloy Powellton Mine in Fayette County, W.Va. Run for Massey by the Mammoth Coal Company, the operation has received 80 citations this year, including those targeting its plan to control methane buildup. (No one answered the phone at Mammoth Wednesday.)
• The Slip Ridge Cedar Grove Mine in Martin County, Ky., which has attracted 40 citations this year, including problems with combustible material found too close to ventilation fans. (The Marfork Coal Company, which runs Slip Ridge, referred questions to Massey. Massey didn’t return calls for comment.)

Outside of coal country, the infractions have flown largely under the radar. But in the wake of Monday’s explosion — the worst mining tragedy in at least 26 years — there are new calls, on and off Capitol Hill, for better enforcement of the nation’s mining safety regulations. And Massey, no stranger to controversy, will be the center of attention.

Indeed, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) — a long-time defender of the coal industry who represents the miners killed at Upper Big Branch — told CNN Wednesday that it’s “valid” to question Massey’s dedication to worker safety. “Something’s fishy,” he said. “This company has a rather maverick reputation.”

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) also took a shot at Massey, issuing a statement maintaining that miners “deserve … an employer who respects and values their safety.”

Massey did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. But CEO Don Blankenship this week has defended the company’s performance, telling the West Virginia MetroNews that safety violations are “a normal part of the mining process.” Massey’s safety operations, he told CNN Wednesday, “are typically in better shape than others.”

For Massey, the scrutiny is hardly new. And the outspoken Blankenship has only stoked the coals of criticism. In a now infamous 2005 memo, for example, Blankenship instructed his deep mine superintendents to ignore any requests unrelated to coal production.

“If any of you have been asked by your group presidents, your supervisors, engineers or anyone else to do anything other than run coal (i.e. – build overcasts, do construction jobs, or whatever) you need to ignore them and run coal,” the memo said. “This memo is necessary only because we seem not to understand that coal pays the bills.”

In another telling episode, a young Blankenship outlined his business philosophy in a 1984 interview.

“Unions, communities, people — everybody’s gonna have to accept that, in the United States, we have a capitalist society,” Blankenship said. “And that capitalism, from a business viewpoint, is survival of the most productive.”

With congressional leaders already calling for hearings on Monday’s explosion, Blankenship will almost certainly have a chance to tell lawmakers that himself.

None other than the CEO of Aston Martin, Ulrich Bez, will race this Aston Martin Rapide in the Nurburgring 24 hours race. The V8 and V12 Vantage models have been used in past years, and this time Aston is taking its four-seater saloon and a team of in-house engineers to Germany.

While the Aston Martin Rapide will undergo the necessary safety changes, the mechanics of the car will remain largely the same, underlining the sports capabilities of the series model. As it participates in the endurance race, the Rapide is also now ready for delivery to the lucky customers who have been waiting since it was first presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.