Beyonce, with the current top hit song Sweet Dreams (Beautiful Nightmare), Single Ladies, and Halo has been on of the most popular female performer today.
Seeing from the Honda Tech Forums, the current trend says this hoax has been around for more than a year already. While on the Topix Forums, it says something like this:
Tequila’s also believed to be the last person to have seen the Johnson & Johnson heiress alive. [TMZ, NYP, NYDN]
• It looks like when Beyoncé performed in St. Barts on New Year’s Eve, she was doing so at the behest of Hannibal Khadafy, the son of Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy. This would be the same man who is rumored to have broken his wife’s nose last month, was arrested in 2005 for punching her, and was detained by the police in Geneva in 2008 for beating his servants. So either Beyoncé is really hard up for cash (which is doubtful), or she needs someone to vet her public appearances going forward. [P6]
• The third White House state dinner crasher has been identified. His name is Carlos Allen and he’s a DC-based party promoter, and he managed to sneak into the White House by hopping on a bus filled with Indian diplomats. [WP]
• Susan Sarandon has denied reports that she’s involved with Jonathan Bricklin, her partner in SPiN, the ping pong club on the East Side. But a source close to the 31-year-old entrepreneur says Bricklin and Sarandon spent New Year’s together and were very “touch-feely.” [Fox411]
Singer Beyonce Knowles has been reported to be in serious condition and taken to Golden State Regional Hospital after a minor traffic accident that escalated into a physical altercation in Fullerton CA, a suburb 30 minutes south east of Los Angeles.
Witness reports indicate that Beyonce Knowles’s BMW struck a pick up truck towing landscaping equipment. Three men exited the truck and extracted her from the vehicle then began kicking and punching the singer before fleeing the scene.
She didn’t have a chance against these men who attacked her before she said a single word to them, replied a visibly shaken onlooker.
Beyonce Knowles was unresponsive upon the arrival of police officers and EMT’s, but appeared to be breathing according to eyewitness reports.
But seeing the news appeared August 10, 2009 and since then, the top news sites haven’t put anything about it, then it should be a hoax. And yes, she just performed during the Miss Universe 2009.
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This is a Scott Storch produced track (obviously) from the Destiny Fulfilled era that just recently surfaced. Listen to it below. What do you guys think?
Author insert a music with WS Audio Player (Download) this music.
Back in 2008 when Lindemulder was sentenced on reported tax evasion charges, Sandra wrote in a letter to the judge, “As information was brought to Jesse’s attention about Janie’s drug use, and Sunny’s safety, and isolation, he was compelled to take matters to court.” (read full letter)
Meanwhile, in his own letter to the court, the Spike TV star wrote that his ex has refused to take responsibility for her finances and allegedly reckless lifestyle.
“I believe that Janine should not be shown any leniency in her sentence,” he wrote at the time.
As “Good Morning America” reported, the judge has now ordered both parties to see a mediator, as Janine is currently requesting joint custody.
Keep checking back here for more on this story.
Kidman accompanied her husband Keith Urban to the award show, where he was up for Best Country Artist.
We’re happy (and a bit relieved) that Bullock took a card from Kidman’s hair style deck this time around. Because we still feel slightly dirty about her frizzy look at last summer’s “All About Steve” premiere.
This season of "Whale Wars should prove to be interesting.
This photo from the Sea Shepherd group shows its trimaran Ady Gil, a wave-piercing boat formerly known as Earthrace, being rammed by a Japanese whaling vessel in Antarctic waters. The Space Age powerboat sent to harass Japanese whalers was rammed and sliced in two in its very first clash, activists said, dramatically escalating hostilities.
Bob Barker donated 5 million dollars and the Sea Shepherd group has retro-fitted an ice breaker to chase down and harrass the Japanes whaling fleet.
Someone eventually is going to die in this clash. I am glad nobody was killed.
Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or diffuse (all over). The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. Baldness or hair loss is typically something need to worry about. Hair loss during adolescence can mean a person’s sick or maybe just not eating right. Some medications or medical treatments, like chemotherapy treatment for cancer, also cause people to lose their hair. Some hair loss sufferers make use of clinically proven treatments such as finasteride and topically applied minoxidil (in solution) in an attempt to prevent further loss and regrow hair. Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they’ve had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine.
People with hair loss may sometimes be more likely to have a negative body image than those without hair loss. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines. Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and amount as they age. Inherited or “pattern baldness” affects many more men than women. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners. Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. About 25% of men begin to bald by the time they are 30 years old, and about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60. Male pattern baldness (also known as genetic hair loss or alopecia androgenetica) is the most common form of hair loss in men. Men – and some women – lose hair as they grow older. Male pattern baldness represents about 90% of all hair loss cases. The result is either a receding hairline or thinning hair at the crown of the head. Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head.
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Men with male-pattern hair loss may have an expectation of hair loss if they have male relatives who lost hair in a recognizably male pattern. For men who are experiencing thinning hair, their follicles on the top of the head are genetically vulnerable to baldness. Over time, these genetically vulnerable follicles are acted upon by the hormone DHT. This hormone binds with the receptor sites of these vulnerable follicles and causes a miniaturization of the hair shaft and follicle over time. Male pattern hair loss (Androgenetic Alopecia) is an inherited condition manifested when androgens are present in normal amounts. The gene can be inherited from the mother or father’s side. The onset, rate, and severity of hair loss are unpredictable. The severity increases with age and if the condition is present it will be progressive and relentless. Hair restoration surgery works by relocating the bald resistant hair follicles from the back of the head to the balding areas on top.
Male Hair Loss Treatment Tips
1. Wigs and hair transplants are, obviously, the most direct form of treatment.
2. Herbal preparations that contain zinc, magnesium, iron, vitamin E and other substances in various combinations can help.
3. Minoxidil is a lotion available from the pharmacist that you rub on to the scalp.
4. Finasteride (Propecia) is the latest drug treatment.
5. Rogaine, or minoxidil, which is a topical product, liquid, which is applied directly to the scalp twice a day.
We got a chance to experience Geneva’s new Model S iPod/iPhone audio system today. It’s sublime. The best part? You can actually afford it (probably).
Geneva has been combining killer industrial design with solid audio quality for awhile now but their new Model S marks their first foray in to the mainstream (read: relatively inexpensive) audio market. It’s pretty clear that Geneva paid attention to details with the Model S. When not in use the dock is protected inside the cabinet and only flips up when needed. If Geneva made any compromises in the manufacturing process from their high end lines, I couldn’t really detect them.
I’ve never been a fan of touch-sensitive buttons, but they work on the Model S. To activate the alarm’s snooze all uses have to do is touch, or in my case slap, any one of the controls. The system will retail for $299 at Apple Stores later this month.
I was able to chat with Geneva’s Managing Director, George Emerson, who said the goal of the Model S was to “bring HiFi to the iPod clock radio”. They succeeded.
• Two 3″ full range speakers • Two bass ports with dynamic loudness • Two Class D digital amplifiers – extremely efficient, low consumption • Digital radio • Digital clock with alarm program • EmbracingSound DSP restores and improves compressed music files • PowerDock for iPod/iPhone connection and protection •TouchLight controls – backlit, touch-sensitive • Line-in jack for external audio
Ever since the Opel Insignia based Regal sedan made its debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show, we’ve been crossing our fingers for an Insignia OPC based Regal GS. Well, here it is – in concept form at least. Ready to make its debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show next week, the Regal GS concept is not confirmed for production, at least for now.
“We designed the Regal GS to explore the appeal of a high-performance variant of the Regal,” said Craig Bierley, product marketing director for Buick. “Like the Regal, the Regal GS is based on the award-winning Opel Insignia, and we believe it will reinvigorate Buick’s storied Gran Sport legacy.”
Unlike its Opel cousin, which is powered by a 325-hp 2.8 V6 turbo, the Buick Regal GS carries a 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged 4-banger making 260-hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a 6-speed manual that directs torque to an all-wheel-drive system, 0-60 mph should come in less than 6 seconds. Stopping power comes from a Brembo brake system with 14 x 1.2-inch cross-drilled rotors; four-piston, high-strength aluminum calipers, and high-performance pads.
Other than that, the Buick Regal GS gets Insignia OPC touches including two additional vertical front air intakes and forged aluminum 20-inch wheels and performance tires. Inside, the high-performance Regal gets a racing-inspired sport steering wheel, metal pedals and high-performance Recaro front seats with 4-way lumbar support and cushion extensions.
We’ll be bringing you live images from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show on Monday. Stay tuned and stay excited.
Hit the jump for the press release and the high-res image gallery.
Buick Regal GS Concept:
Press Release:
Buick Unveils Regal GS Show Car
– 21st-century successor to Buick’s Gran Sport heritage
– Bold, sporty design with unique exterior details and an aggressive stance
– High-output Ecotec 2.0L turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission
– Adaptive all-wheel-drive system and electronic limited-slip rear differential
– 0-60 in less than 6.0 seconds
– Buick’s class-exclusive Interactive Drive Control System
DETROIT – With an estimated 255 turbocharged horsepower (190 kW), a six-speed manual transmission and an advanced, adaptive all-wheel-drive system, the Buick Regal GS show car is a high-tech, high-performance version of the brand’s newest sport sedan. It was introduced at the 2010 North American International Auto Show.
The mechanical elements were developed with the aim of delivering a driving experience that is sporting, confidence-inspiring and refined. It has a performance-oriented drivetrain, a lowered body and lower center of gravity. Exterior and interior cues include two additional vertical front air intakes; large, forged aluminum 20-inch wheels and performance tires; a racing-inspired sport steering wheel and metal pedals. Recaro high-performance front seats feature four-way lumbar support and cushion extensions.
The Regal GS exterior is distinguished by vertical air inlets in the front fascia, as well as unique rocker panels, an integrated rear spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, Olympic White paint and satin metallic accents.
“The idea behind the Regal GS was taking the production model in a more aggressive direction to appeal to performance enthusiasts,” said John Cafaro, Buick design director. “But along with its aggressive stance, there’s sophisticated style in the design that complements the driving experience.”
Inside, the Regal GS varies from the standard Regal by featuring a completely jet black interior, including the pillars and headliner, sport shifter for the six-speed manual transmission and a suede-covered, flat-bottom steering wheel reminiscent of those used in international racing series. The instrument panel glows ice blue when the driver engages the sport mode of the Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS).
Turbocharged AWD performance
Power for the Regal GS comes from a high-output 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged engine with direct-injection technology. It is based on the engine that will be offered on Regal CXL models later this summer, but the engine and turbocharger are tuned to deliver greater boost pressure in the GS. The output is estimated at 255 horsepower (190 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).
The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission that directs torque to an adaptive all-wheel-drive system calibrated for performance driving. An electronic, limited-slip rear differential helps ensure the engine’s power is distributed effectively during cornering.
The high-performance drivetrain is expected to enable the Regal GS to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. That performance is complemented by a four-wheel-independent suspension, with a unique High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) design in front. The HiPerStrut system helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering. This improves ultimate grip levels in dry and wet conditions, as well as improves the direct feel of the road, while isolating undesirable feedback. Behind the wheel the driver experiences reduced torque steer, improved grip and increased cornering power, along with crisper handling, steering precision and feedback.
The Regal GS features a high-performance Brembo brake system with 14 x 1.2-inch (355 x 32 mm) cross-drilled rotors; four-piston, high-strength aluminum calipers, and high-performance pads.
The Regal GS is also equipped with Interactive Drive Control System (IDCS) chassis technology (also offered on Regal CXL models with the 2.0L turbo engine). It delivers enhanced vehicle stability and greater driving safety, while also adapting the driving characteristics of the car to the driver’s preferences. The driver selects among three operating modes – normal, sport and GS – that change the suspension settings, throttle response and steering sensitivity through the variable-effort steering system.
BUICK REGAL GS SHOW CAR SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Model:
Buick Regal GS show car
Body style / driveline:
four-door, 5-passenger, front engine, transaxle. All-wheel-drive midsize vehicle
Construction:
steel body-frame integral (unibody)
Engine/Transmission
High-output 2.0L DOHC I-4 Turbo
Displacement (cu in / cc):
122 / 1998
Bore and stroke (in / mm):
3.39 x 3.39 / 86 x 86
Block material:
cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:
cast aluminum
Valvetrain:
overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, continuous variable valve timing for intake and exhaust
Ignition system:
individual coil-on-plug
Fuel delivery:
direct injection with variable high-pressure rail and electronic throttle control
Compression ratio:
9.2:1
Horsepower (hp / kW):
255 / 190 (est.)
Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm):
295 / 400 (est.)
Transmission
6-speed manual
Chassis/Suspension
Front:
independent, HiPerStrut-type with dual-path mountings, specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar (hollow); hydraulic ride bushings; continuous damping control (Interactive Drive Control System)
Rear:
four-link independent rear; hollow stabilizer bar; continuous damping control
Traction control:
adaptive all-wheel drive; StabiliTrak electronic stability control
Steering type:
hydraulic, variable-effort rack-and-pinion power steering
Brakes
Type:
four-wheel disc w/ABS (w/ESC)
Brake rotor diameter
(in / mm) caliper type (front and rear):
Buick Regal GS – Click above for high-res image gallery
Buick has a long history of turbocharged Regals, starting back in 1978 when the first example appeared. That “personal luxury” coupe was one of the first mainstream American products to adopt exhaust-driven turbocharging to recover some of the power lost to downsized engines. Unfortunately, in the era before electronic engine management and fuel injection, those Regals weren’t very good. Over the next decade, however, Buick refined these technologies, which led to the formidable GNX, supposedly the quickest production car in the world when it was introduced in 1986.
Fast forward to today and the Regal badge is back. Aside from four wheels and Buick’s signature water fall grille, the new Regal has no relationship to the Regals of yore. Unlike the Eighties, when making an American car more “European” meant painting the chrome trim black and stiffening the springs, this sedan was originally developed by General Motors’ European operation as the Opel Insignia. As such, it might actually appeal to those considering a BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But to really seal the deal, Buick is using the Detroit Auto Show to revive another one of its historic badges: the GS. Learn about the Regal GS after the jump.
At the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show later today, Ford will unveil its new MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch, a new safer and simpler way for drivers to connect with in-car technologies.
First and foremost, the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch gets rid of the traditional bulky vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges. Those are replaced by voice command functions, dual 4.2-inch LCD screens in front of the driver with five-way button steering wheel controls and an 8-inch touch screen all controlled a simplified SYNC system.
MyFord will start rolling out later this year on the redesigned 2011 Ford Edge before making its way to the new 2012 Ford Focus for the global markets. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on the 2011 Lincoln MKX (which will debut next week at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show).
Ford says that by 2015, 80 percent of Ford’s North American vehicles will have the MyFord driver connect technology.
Follow through for the press release and high-res image gallery.
MyFord Touch / MyLincoln Touch:
Press Release:
FORD INTRODUCES SIGNATURE INTERIOR EXPERIENCE: MYFORD TOUCH DRIVER CONNECT TECHNOLOGY
– New MyFord™ driver connect technology blends Ford signature in-vehicle features into a cohesive experience, featuring intuitive controls, more voice activation and interface personalization
– MyFord Touch™ interface includes dual 4.2-inch LCD screens with corresponding five-way button steering wheel controls and an 8-inch touch screen all controlled by simplified SYNC® voice commands
– Intuitive driver connect technology provides access to ever-expanding in-vehicle functionality while minimizing driver distraction and improving interior aesthetics
– MyFord driver connect technology launches this year on 2011 Ford Edge and goes global with availability on 2012 Ford Focus. MyLincoln Touch will be standard equipment on new Lincolns beginning with 2011 Lincoln MKX
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2010 – Ford introduced a smarter, safer, simpler system to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives today at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Building on its leadership with the award-winning SYNC® device connectivity system, Ford has combined a variety of technologies into one powerful, intuitive connected driver experience called MyFord, which will begin rolling out on vehicles this year.
“MyFord delivers a premium interior experience that will help consumers fall in love with their vehicles again,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “It integrates all our signature features so customers will know exactly what they’re going to get in any Ford vehicle they may find themselves driving, no matter where they are in the world.”
This new in-vehicle connectivity experience replaces many of the traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges. With more voice commands, clear, crisp LCD screens that can be customized and five-way buttons like those on cell phones and MP3 players, drivers can choose which information is front and center through a button click, voice command or touch-screen tap.
Driven by trends Ford decided to undertake a sweeping and ambitious redesign of the automotive interface after studying consumer electronics trends and the many new ways in which drivers were using technology inside their Ford vehicles.
Recent years have seen a massive expansion in the variety of in-car communications, navigation and infotainment technologies consumers regularly use. The expectations of average drivers have outgrown the traditional “button/knob/gauge” interface used in cars for the past 100 years, as most consumer and household electronics have moved to colorful digital displays and multi-function touch-sensitive buttons.
Consumers are insisting on simpler interfaces even as they’re demanding more in-car connectivity, more options and more information – a dilemma known as “simplexity.” Plus, the pace of advancement is expected to continue unabated, posing a new opportunity for drivers and engineers alike.
“As we began developing MyFord’s capability, we saw this groundswell of new technology, new functionality and incredible capability opening up to consumers,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “It was readily apparent that unless we devised an intuitive interface to help drivers manage these capabilities, they could detract – and possibly distract – from the driving experience.”
For example, prior to SYNC, drivers often were required to either leave behind their communications, digital information and favorite music while on the road or split their attention between driving and selecting songs, making phone calls or using the navigation system.
Influenced – and powered – by SYNC When launched, Ford SYNC, developed with Microsoft, helped provide a seamless transition – and seamless flow of information and entertainment – from the moment drivers entered their vehicles to the moment they got out. As Ford began to develop additional SYNC capabilities and add other signature content, the company realized it was redefining the interior environment and ownership experience.
“With MyFord driver connect technology, we realized we weren’t necessarily competing with other automakers, but we were really redefining how customers interacted with their cars,” said Jim Buczkowski, Ford director of Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering. “We had to look very closely at the evolution of hand-held devices in terms of user interface, connectivity, productivity and entertainment applications. Our goal is to set the benchmark for the automotive user interface, just as we’ve done for device connectivity with SYNC.”
Accommodating all types of drivers, all types of vehicles In the initial planning stages of redesigning the interior experience, Ford collaborated with IDEO, a world leader in helping consumers connect with technology. As a result, the company identified four key attributes of successful interfaces:
* Be attentive: Use controls, screens and other interfaces with which most users already are comfortable and familiar.
* Be approachable:Create an attractive environment with rich graphics, vibrant colors and buttons/screens that are appealing to the eye and the touch, and consistent with what consumers expect from certain functions.
* Be clear: Rather than an imposing cluster of buttons, switches and dials, create a clean-looking interface, with controls that fall readily to hand and displays that are exactly where users expect to find them. Provide maximum control without the driver’s hands ever leaving the steering wheel.
* Be connected: For technophiles? Let drivers display all the information they want in the way they want it. For technophobes? Make sure basic controls, like radio and HVAC settings, still are accessible via familiar stack-mounted controls, so users don’t have to learn a host of new commands to operate the vehicle.
“The driving experience is not just about getting from A to B,” explained J Mays, Ford group vice president of Design. “It’s about the approach to the car, how it responds to you when you get in, and how it responds to you while you drive. It’s the anticipation, the welcome and the continuing conversation. Keeping these principles in mind helped us ensure we made decisions for the right reasons.”
A global future for MyFord driver connect technology As a signature offering, and one with the potential to help reduce driver distraction, Ford knew widely offering MyFord driver connect technology was a priority from the start.
“Democratization of technology is a key aspect of our product plan,” Kuzak said. “With MyFord, we didn’t want to create an upscale electronics package and just put it on our highest-end vehicles. This technology will be available across our full range of vehicles: From our affordable small cars to the ultimate Lincoln, we’re going to make a premium, appealing and intuitive experience available to everyone.”
MyFord also will be expanded across world markets. As new and refreshed models continue to arrive, nearly all Ford passenger vehicles will be outfitted with MyFord driver connect technology. There will be minor variations across car lines, but the interface will be instantly recognizable in Ford vehicles around the globe.
MyFord will arrive later this year on the redesigned 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers, before appearing on the all-new 2012 Ford Focus for global markets. By 2015, approximately 80 percent of Ford’s North American models are expected to have MyFord driver connect technology, with similar percentages predicted for the world market.
“We’ve developed an environment that will make every Ford vehicle feel like a Ford,” said Kuzak. “Across the country, across the globe, all of our products will have the same type of feel, making them instantly comfortable to the drivers who know and love them, and MyFord will become a key part of the joy of owning and driving a Ford product.”
Breaking into high-security areas is going to be a whole lot trickier in 2035, if this 2-inch electronic-ID has anything to say about it. The good news is, it’s guaranteed to get your good side.
Normally when we think of netbooks we think of very small, light notebooks with very limited components. Some OEMs have pushed the limit of the netbook definition by incorporating an 11.6-inch screen. Gateway is pushing the limit even harder with the introduction of its newest “netbook”, the EC14D. This new notebook, and I’m calling it what it really is, takes that 11-inch screen and attaches it to an integrated DVD drive. Yes, this little notebook adds the drive that most in its class forego. Other notable components included are the ULV processor and the multitouch capable trackpad. Here are the complete specs of the EC14D:
MyFord Touch – Click above for high-res image gallery
Ford began its MyFord Touch presentation with a simple question: “People line up for iPhones – why not cars?” What is it about certain pieces of technology that makes them a “must have”? And since the iPhone is really just a merger of two things we already have (a cell phone and PC), is it possible to blend something into a car that will get ’em lining up around the block? Quite obviously, Ford’s hoping the answer is yes.
MyFord Touch – and if you buy a Lincoln, MyLincoln Touch – is a piece of driver connect technology like SYNC, only much more advanced. In fact, you can think of MyFord as SYNC 2.0. Or, you could, if not for the fact that there already is a SYNC 2.0. Regardless, in-car technology can do myriad of things these days, and Ford thinks it’s found a way to group and display all of a vehicle’s functionality in a logical, intuitive and useful way. Sadly, Ford is internally calling this “simplexity,” as in making the complex simple. Or, as we wrote in our notes, “barf.” Thankfully, the public will know it as MyFord Touch.
It’s not a complete realization of the Car 2.0 concept — the intertwining of vehicles, communication networks and the power grid for a smarter, greener transportation system — but it’s a start: Ford Motor announced Wednesday night at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that it has opened up its Sync platform to […]
The sister product to the amazing Herman Miller Embody chair, the Envelop desk actually slides out and down on rails to give you the correct angle for working while in incline. It’s amazing.
It doesn’t sound like too much—desks are desks, right?—but it actually makes as much sense to pair a desk and chair together as a computer and peripheral. If they work together, they can elevate the whole product. The desk is selling by itself now for $1,100, but they’ll probably pair it together (with a little discount) sometime later this year. Check out this video to get a real sense of how it works, and take my word for it: This thing is comfy in a serious way. [Herman Miller]
Organic Empowerment 2010: Ten Strategic Local Campaigns
#1: Locally Grown Organic Food
Making affordable, locally and regionally-grown organic food available to all, rich, middle-income and poor, must become a top priority for city and county governments across the nation. Making the transition to organic food and farming stimulates the local economy, improves public health, sequesters enormous amount of climate destabilizing greenhouse gases, and protects the environment. As global warming intensifies, scientists warn that a continuation of current " business as usual" practices will lead to a catastrophic seven degree Fahrenheit temperature rise by 2100. Our only hope is to make energy-efficient and climate-stabilizing organic food and farming the norm rather than just the green alternative.
Unregulated Wall Street gambling crashed the economy, prompting Bush and Obama to hand over $14 trillion to our so-called " Too Big to Fail" banksters! Meanwhile, almost nothing has been done to stop the avalanche of foreclosures and job losses. The US economic system seems diabolically designed to suck money out of local economies and ordinary working people. We can reverse this trend by pulling our money out of Wall Street and the big banks, and instead investing in local currencies, credit unions, and community banks.
#3: Health Care Access, Including Natural and Integrative Medicine
The health care debate has occurred mainly at the federal level, and, with 6,000 corporate lobbyists and nearly a billion dollars being spent by the insurance industry to influence the outcome, public support for universal, single-payer health care is likely to lose out to a plan that would force each of us to buy expensive, inadequate health insurance. OCA is calling on the public to boycott the " profit-at any-cost" medical insurance industry and support local alternatives like state-level single payer health care coverage, local universal health care, and health care providers who have opted out of the insurance industry. States and localities need to be pressed to protect the right to practice – and access – midwifery, naturopathy, and alternative integrative medicine.
Donate to OCA and Receive Access to Yoga, Fitness and Meditation Videos Online
The Organic Consumers Association is partnering with My Yoga Online to provide OCA donors with a month’s worth of instructional web fitness videos at no cost with any size donation. Your donations help us continue to do the important work that you read about each week in Organic Bytes and each day on our website. Just put " yoga offer" in the comments of your donation!
Eden Foods is one of the few national organic food producers who goes beyond the USDA Organic Standards. Although Eden Foods is USDA certified, their products do not bear the USDA seal, because they say the USDA standard really represents a " minimum standard" that Eden Foods goes far beyond.
As a subscriber to Organic Bytes, you can enjoy a 15% discount rate on any Eden Foods products by going here.
Bloomington, Ind. (January 7, 2010) – Today, leaders from Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington Hospital of Orange County, Clarian Health and Bedford Regional Medical Center came together for a ribbon tying ceremony to officially celebrate the integration between the facilities.
Bloomington Hospital President & CEO Mark Moore opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and introducing the leaders from Bloomington Hospital of Orange County, Bedford Regional Medical Center (already a Clarian Health Partner) and Clarian. Brief comments about the significance of the integration and its benefits were made by Moore; Michael McRobbie, president of Indiana University; Brad Dykes, CEO of Bedford Regional Medical Center; Larry Bailey, incoming CEO of Bloomington Hospital of Orange County; and Dan Evans, president & CEO of Clarian.
This event is the culmination of more than two years of research, planning and discussion that makes Bloomington Hospital and Bloomington Hospital of Orange County a part of Clarian’s statewide system of hospitals and health centers.
“When we made the decision to talk with another organization about integration, Clarian was the natural choice and best fit for Bloomington Hospital and the patients we serve,” says Moore. “Clarian is a not-for-profit organization, has strong ties to Indiana University, a reputation for high quality care and service, and treats the majority of patient cases outside the scope of Bloomington Hospital’s services.”
The integration of Bloomington Hospital with Clarian became official January 1, following approval by Bloomington Hospital’s and Clarian’s boards of directors. Now work begins on aligning facilities and resources to better support the needs of the patients in south central Indiana and develop a seamless continuum of care.
“Clarian will support Bloomington Hospital to ensure it continues as the region’s preeminent health care provider,” says Evans.
“I am very pleased and excited to celebrate our integration with Clarian today,” says Moore. “This is a very positive step for health care in our region. We’re looking forward to working with Clarian and Bedford Regional Medical Center to enhance patient access, streamline patient flow, and create a preeminent health care system for the people of south central Indiana.”
###
About Clarian Health
As a preeminent leader in clinical care, education, research and service, Clarian Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive academic medical center and one of the busiest hospital systems in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, Clarian owns or is affiliated with multiple hospitals and health centers throughout the state and maintains a strong partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine – the nation’s second largest medical school and a global leader in medical education and research.
About Bloomington Hospital
Bloomington Hospital has been innovative in providing quality care to south central Indiana communities for more than a century. Offering a comprehensive continuum of care, Bloomington Hospital is a not-for-profit organization and has a patient base of 413,000 in 10 counties (Brown, Daviess, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange and Owen.) Bloomington Hospital currently operates two hospital campuses (Bloomington and Orange County) with regional specialty offerings for Heart and Vascular, Behavioral Health, Cancer, Women and Children, Neurology and Orthopedic services. As a leading hospital in Indiana, Bloomington Hospital enhances health by advancing the art and science of medicine through the use of new technologies, procedures and care.
Irene Rosenfeld, chief executive officer of Kraft Foods Inc., made known her intent to buy Cadbury PLC back in September. But she failed to keep Warren Buffett, her biggest shareholder, on her side for an open-ended hostile pursuit of the British confectioner.
Ms. Rosenfeld saw her efforts take an unexpected turn Tuesday, when Mr. Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., said publicly it would vote against her plan to issue new stock to pay for a Cadbury acquisition and urged other shareholders to vote “No” as well.
According to a Rosenfeld acquaintance, the CEO alerted fellow board members Tuesday morning, just before Berkshire Hathaway, which owns 9.4% of Kraft, released a statement laying out its objection to the share-issue plan, which it fears is a “blank check.” Some directors were shocked to hear about the critique from the investing guru, the acquaintance said.
The hostile takeover attempt has shaped up to be the most ambitious—and diciest—move of Ms. Rosenfeld’s three and a half years atop the giant U.S. food company. Her position will be tested Feb. 1, when investors vote on her plan to issue stock to fund the deal, currently valued at more than $16 billion.
Ms. Rosenfeld and Mr. Buffett have spoken frequently since she began the Cadbury takeover battle last fall, and she likely will reach out to him to discuss his latest objections, the acquaintance predicted.
Mr. Buffett declined to comment.
Kraft said Ms. Rosenfeld wasn’t available for comment, but she released a prepared statement saying, that since September shareholders have “consistently expressed agreement regarding the compelling strategic logic for this combination.”
She added, “Our shareholders, including Warren Buffett, have said they’d like to see less stock in the offer. Cadbury shareholders have also expressed interest in seeing less stock, and more cash, in the offer. That’s why we announced an additional cash component [Tuesday]. Because we were able to address both company’s shareholder concerns, our announcement was well-received by the market.”
On Tuesday, Kraft had said it was sweetening the cash portion of its bid—although not the overall total price—with the proceeds from a deal to sell off its frozen-pizza business to Nestlé SA for $3.7 billion.
Kraft shares have risen on Mr. Buffett’s statement, which mitigated worries that Kraft might overextend itself to buy Cadbury. (A rival bidder, such as Hershey Corp., could still surface.)
Kraft said it believes its shareholders will approve the issuance of shares needed to complete the transaction. Berkshire Hathaway has said if it decides at some point the offer does not destroy value for Kraft shareholders it will change its vote to “Yes.”
Separately, the European Commission on Wednesday said a Kraft purchase of Cadbury wouldn’t hurt competition as long as Cadbury’s Polish and Romanian chocolate businesses are sold off, a remedy Kraft had proposed.
Tuesday’s rebuke by Mr. Buffett was a detour in a relationship that appeared to get off to a good start. Mr. Buffett built up his stake after Ms. Rosenfeld took over as CEO. A former Kraft executive who has worked with Ms. Rosenfeld said Mr. Buffett was unlikely to have taken such a large position in the company if he didn’t think highly of her management style. And even before the Cadbury bid, Ms. Rosenfeld and Mr. Buffett long had “a pretty good flow of information” between each other, the acquaintance recollected.
Some other Kraft stockholders share Mr. Buffett’s reservations. Kevin Rendino, who oversees the BlackRock Basic Value fund, said in an interview last month that he was taken aback when Kraft unveiled the bid and wouldn’t want the company to raise its offer much more.
Mr. Rendino, whose fund held 4.5 million Kraft shares as of October, and other large shareholders have stayed silent since Mr. Buffet’s broadside, but their vote by the Feb. 1 deadline will signal the level of their confidence in Ms. Rosenfeld.
“The desire to continue expanding internationally is completely understandable,” said Tom Russo, a partner at Gardner Russo & Gardner, a former shareholder of Kraft and current holder of Cadbury and Berkshire Hathaway. “The question is, can she get it done?”
The 56-year-old Ms. Rosenfeld is a longtime Kraft veteran. She left Kraft in 2003 after being passed over for the post of co-CEO and went to PepsiCo Inc.’s Frito Lay unit the next year. Kraft brought her back as CEO in June 2006 to revive its flagging brands.
She quickly changed top management, boosted marketing and spent $7 billion buying Groupe Danone SA’s biscuit business.
Recent results at Kraft—the largest packaged food company in the U.S.—have been mixed. The company benefited in the recession, as consumers shunned restaurants and stocked their pantries with Kraft offerings such as Oscar Mayer deli meats and Jell-O. But Kraft in November lowered its outlook for sales growth in 2009, partly because it couldn’t keep raising prices, and still needs to build a bigger presence in emerging markets.
Ms. Rosenfeld’s position is insulated by the progress she has made shaping up the company. Kraft’s 12-member board is dominated by directors who joined since Ms. Rosenfeld took command, and she keeps directors informed with monthly calls even when formal board meetings aren’t scheduled, the acquaintance said. Ms. Rosenfeld took over as chairman in 2007.
In a September interview, Ms. Rosenfeld laughed off a question about how the Cadbury bid might affect her career, saying only that she was convinced Kraft had a strong future with or without Cadbury.
Daniel Morgan, a portfolio manager at Synovus Securities, which holds Kraft shares, said, “I don’t think her whole career hangs on getting this deal done but its major component of getting Kraft and the stock to faster earnings.”
Ms. Rosenfeld has won over difficult shareholders in the past. Two years ago, after activist investor Nelson Peltz built a position in Kraft stock, the company got his fund to agree not to boost its stake beyond certain levels by putting two independent directors endorsed by Mr. Peltz on the board.
Ms. Rosenfeld “handles pressure as well as [anyone] can handle it,” said James M. Kilts, a former Kraft executive who has known her since she joined General Foods Corp., its predecessor, in 1981. Mr. Kilts said he promoted her 10 times while they worked together. He is a founding partner of private-equity firm Centerview Partners, whose investment banking arm advises Kraft on Cadbury.
“She thinks things through before she makes a move,” Mr. Kilts said. “She’s impatient and demanding, but not impulsive.”
Now, people with balding head no longer have to suffer with their condition for long. Modern science has brought us several treatment for hair loss. Ironically, a lot of these possible answers show a return to natural hair loss treatment.
Hair Loss Treatment
Surgical procedures and medications to treat hair loss are among those common alternatives which science has presented us with. Although these medical solutions are truly effective, there are some people who would still prefer natural hair loss treatment. There may be a variety of reasons.
Surgical Treatment – Surgical procedures meant to treat hair loss are expensive. They also expose clients to a variety of risks inherent in surgical procedures. For a lot of average individuals therefore, medication is a better, more affordable solution to hair loss. Unfortunately, there are only two medicines that are FDA approved to treat hair loss. For women, only one of these can be safely used. Medication has also been known to cause some side effects in some users. These reasons are why some turn to natural hair loss treatment solutions.
Natural Solutions
People also have the option of going for natural solutions that claim to be able to remedy hair loss. Not all of these solutions however will be effective for everybody. A person in search for a natural hair loss treatment should carefully test and assess which solutions truly work for his unique hair loss condition.
Head Massage – Massaging the scalp is believed to promote proper blood flow. This in turn is necessary to help the nutrients reach the scalp and hair strands. Some experts say that there is no clear proof that this natural hair loss treatment is effective. For some though, who may be suffering from stress induced hair loss, a gentle massage may truly be helpful.
Regular Exercise – Just like a good massage, regular exercise is also believed to assist in promoting proper blood flow that is crucial for nutrient delivery and absorption. Again, this natural hair loss treatment has been hotly debated over. Common sense would tell you though that if exercise is generally good for the body, then it must have good effects on the hair too.
Right Diet – There is no doubt that a proper diet plays a big role in natural hair loss treatment. Studies have shown that individuals who are deficient in some nutrients run the risk of losing some of their hair. The obvious rule is that whatever is great nourishment for your body is also advisable for your hair. This means that you definitely have to cut down on fats, sugar and junk food. Fill your diet with foods rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, zinc, B-complex vitamins and other nutrients.
Nutritional Supplements – Since we can’t always get the recommended amount of essential nutrients from our daily diet, some form of natural supplementation is recommended. Take vitamin and mineral supplements. Other individuals also prefer to boost the effects of nutrient supplementation with additional herbal ingredients that have been proven crucial to natural hair loss treatment.
Hair Products – Hair care is not always seen as a natural hair loss treatment. You should however avoid overusing hair coloring and treatment products to avoid hair drying and damage. You should also avoid tight hairstyles to prevent hair loss due to traction.
A federal judge granted Wells Fargo & Co.’s request to dismiss a 2008 lawsuit filed by Baltimore alleging the banking giant’s lending practices led to foreclosures that harmed the city. Baltimore accused Wells Fargo of making bad loans in black neighborhoods that resulted in widespread foreclosures, leading to millions of dollars in lost tax revenue and other costs. “From the beginning, we have consistently maintained that Baltimore’s economic problems could not be attributed to the small number of foreclosures Wells Fargo has done in Baltimore,” said Cara Heiden, co-president of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. The decision is similar to those in other cases brought against lenders in Birmingham, Ala., and Cleveland, Ohio.
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