Blog

Over the past month we’ve been running our Pwnedface Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 giveaway, asking you guys to use Shoot It! to send us postcards of your best pwnedface. What’s a pwnedface, you ask? That would be the face you make when you get pwned in a game, or when you are doing the pwning. We got a ton of entries, and finally selected our random winner – that’s his entry above.

We’ve chosen some of the shots that we thought were pretty funny, and put then into our pwnedface photo gallery – we definitely loved seeing all the entries come in, and a lot of laughter was had. A big thank you goes out to the folks at Shoot It! for sponsoring the giveaway. All the postcards you see? They were generated by our readers using the Shoot It! app on their iPhone or BlackBerry devices, right on their phone.

The giveaways aren’t done! Be sure to enter our HP Envy 13 notebook giveaway, which is currently ongoing!

Gallery: And we have a Pwnedface COD:MW2 Xbox 360 winner!

Tags:
call of duty,
contests,
giveaways,
limited edition,
modern warfare 2,
postcards,
pwnedface,
shoot it,
xbox 360,

Bank of America/Merrill Lynch has released its “Ten Themes for 2010” and this one really runs the gamut.

MarketFolly has the report.

First, the list:

1. Government balance sheet risk
2. Rising taxation
3. Alternative yield strategies
4. Financial sector rehabilitation
5. Corporate cash flow beneficiaries
6. Rising global growth
7. The emerging market consumer
8. Commodity price inflation
9. The return of active management
10. Alternative energy

A few of these are quite obvious. With the federal deficit where it’s at now, taxes will undoubtedly be increased.

Market Folly: From Bank of America Merrill Lynch comes investment strategy in the form of ’10 themes for 2010.’ Keep in mind that these represent their opinion so take everything with a grain of salt. They feel that next year will be “a genuine watershed” in that it will reveal whether or not this ‘recovery’ is real or whether the fundamentally drawn out weakness typically associated with bear markets will rear its ugly head.

Their Research Investment Committee thinks that the printing of money through quantitative easing and record budget deficits will help the country on the road to recovery but think inflation will remain low throughout 2010, thus providing a bullish environment for stocks and commodities. As with many other market pundits, they feel emerging market demand will fuel commodities (especially gold). On the contrary, they dislike government bonds.

Read the rest of this entry >>>

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Who’s Buying Up America? Meet The Top Ten Sovereign Wealth Funds
• How To Bet On Emerging Market Banks
• Jim Rogers: Commodities Will Go Up No Matter How The Economy Performs

Over a decade ago, Sun founder Scott McNealy famously said “You have zero privacy anyway. Get over it.” Apparently former McNealy protege, Eric Schmidt is now taking the same basic view in his current job as CEO of Google. In a recent interview he suggested that people pushing for privacy are the one’s at fault:

“If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”

This sounds suspiciously like a reheated version of “if you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” that’s trotted out by law enforcement types when pushing for stronger laws to violate individuals’ privacy. It’s an odd statement for someone like Schmidt to make, especially given the incredible level of scrutiny given to Google for the view it has into people’s lives. To folks who are worried about such things, it sounds positively dismissive, which isn’t the position that Google should be cultivating with those who are concerned right now. Furthermore, given Schmidt’s own thin skin when reporters posted some personal info (found via Google to prove a point) that resulted in a “ban” on talking to reporters from CNET for a bit, it’s really out of place.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

2009Dec8: “The year 2009 is likely to rank in the top 10 warmest on record since the beginning of instrumental climate records in 1850, according to data sources compiled by the World Meteorological Organization” (WMO).

Reference: World Meteorological Organization http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_869_en.html

Image Description: Global Surface Temperature Trend: Result from three Global datasets: NOAA (NCDC Dataset) , NASA (GISS dataset) and combined Hadley Center and Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia (UK) (HadCRUT3 dataset). Image Location: World Meteorological Organization http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_869_en.html Image Permission: This work is copyrighted and unlicensed. However, it is believed that the use of this work to illustrate the subject in question, Where no free equivalent is available or could be created that would adequately give the same information, on Interlinked Challenges, hosted on servers in the United States by Michigan State University, qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law.

Ripley’s museums have a total of 26 vampire hunting kits, but does anyone really know how to kill the sparkly ones?

(via io9)

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, part of the Forza 3 Hot Holidays DLC – Click above for image gallery

So, you think the new Forza 3 is pretty awesome, huh? Well that’s because it is. But it’s about to get a little bit awesome-er thanks to the combined miracles of the holiday season and the internet.

That’s right, the internet is the modern equivalent of Santa Clause – just as tangible and bearing more gifts – and here’s what it’s got in store for us this year: the Hot Holidays DLC Car Pack from Turn 10 Studios, the game company behind the Forza Motorsport franchise.

The package includes ten new cars, and Turn 10’s already confirmed eight of them (one for each night of Hanukah, if you ask those dreidel-spinning journalists among us): the 2010 Audi S4, Nissan GT-R SpecV, Ferrari 599XX, Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss, Lamborghini Murcielago MP670-4 SuperVeloce, Jaguar XFR and Porsche Panamera Turbo, plus two of the most devastating Le Mans prototypes – the #2 Audi R15 TDI and #007 Aston Martin Lola. (All links go to gallery of screen shots.)

The car pack is downloadable as of today (December 8) for 400 Microsoft Points directly on XBox Live, a magical place (headquartered at the North Pole, we gather) where no one gives a hoot if you’ve been naughty or nice. Check out the video after the jump and the screen shots in the gallery below, then try to figure out which car you’re most stoked about taking for a virtual test drive.

[Source: Forza Motorsport]

Continue reading Forza Motorsport 3 releases Hot Holidays Pack with 10 new cars [w/VIDEO]

Forza Motorsport 3 releases Hot Holidays Pack with 10 new cars [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BAGGU Reusable Shopping Tote – 6-Pack,Red,one size

BAGGU Reusable Shopping Tote – 6-Pack,Red,one size is a post from the Vegetarian Vitamins Guide blog where you can find suggestions and advice from vegetarians and vegans on vegetarian diets, supplements, vitamins and overall nutrition.

Related Vegetarian Vitamins Posts:

1. I’ve Never Met A Healthy Looking Vegan… Do They Actually Exist? I don’t mean vegetarians… I’ve seen vegetarians of all shapes…
2. I’ve Never Met A Healthy Looking Vegan… Do They Actually Exist? I don’t mean vegetarians… I’ve seen vegetarians of all shapes…
3. Im Writing An Essay For Health Class. I Need A Topic? It can’t be about: vegetarians, vegans, drugs, alcohol, smoking, or…
4. I’m Thinking Of Becoming A Vegetarian. What Advice To You Have For Me? Ok, for years now Ive always been put off my…
5. Vitamins On Demand Vegetarian Health and Wellness Vitamin Pack, 1 lb Package Product DescriptionDesigned with the unique needs of the vegetarian…

With Christmas slowly getting closer and closer, parents are starting to shop around for games to buy for their kids. In turn, Common Sense Media has published their list of 10 games unfit for younger gamers. They’ve

PRESS RELEASE : Eureka Science

Public release date: 8-Dec-2009
Precision breeding creates super potato

IMAGE: These are potatoes which exclusively contain amylopectin starch.(Source Fraunhofer).

Click here for more information.

The fall of 2009 was a truly special season for the Emsland Group: For the first time in the history of the largest German potato starch manufacturer, it processed Tilling potatoes, which exclusively contain amylopectin starch. Not only can nutritional starches for emulsifying soups and desserts be extracted from it – it can also be used for paste and smooth coating for paper and thread production. "This potato is the first product in Germany developed by Tilling that achieves market readiness," explains Prof. Prüfer of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME.

Tilling – an acronym for "Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes" – is a breeding process that researchers want to use to push evolution yet another step forward. In nature, evolution proceeds slowly: Through mutation and selection, plants and animal species adapt and change. Over the course of generations, those species develop that, due to their genetic make-up, are best adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions. Others became extinct. For millennia, humans have been using this evolutionary process for their own purposes, by focusing on highly productive- – and profit yielding – species. Modern breeding processes operate the same way, though the natural mutation rate is accelerated. "With the aid of chemicals, a vast number of mutants can be rapidly obtained," says Jost Muth of IME, who participated in the development of the new potato starch. "We are working here with natural principles. In nature, sunlight triggers changes in the genome. With chemistry, we accomplish the same thing – only faster."

Until now, mutation breeding was an exhaustive process. "Growers had to bring out the mutated seeds to the field, and then wait until they reached the end of their vegetation period in order to determine if one of the genetic modifications achieved the desired result. In addition, the majority of generated mutations could not be determined, since the characteristic is only expressed in a homozygous state," explains Prüfer. His team has succeeded in accelerating the implementation. In the laboratory at IME, the mutated seeds were germinated. As soon as the first leaves appear, it’s harvest time: The researchers take a leaf sample, break apart the cellular structure, isolate the genome and analyze it. This way they can find out within a few weeks if a mutation has attained the desired traits.

In a project sponsored by the "Nachwachsende Rohstoffe" agency, researchers at IME, in collaboration with the Bioplant and Emslandstärke companies, found the super potato germ. They had to examine 2,748 seedlings until just the right one was identified that exclusively produces the starch component amylopectin. From this germ, experts were able to generate the first generation of super potatoes. There are genes active in their genome responsible for the formation of amylopectin, whereas genes that trigger the formation of amylose are shut off. "Until now, potatoes always contained both starch types. Industry had to separate the amylopectin from the amylose – an energy and cost-intensive process," explains Prüfer. "With the Tilling potatoes, which only contain amylopectin, this process stage is superfluous. In Germany alone the paper and adhesives industry require 500,000 tonnes of highly purified amylopectin each year. Then there is the textile industry too, which uses the starch to glaze threats prior to weaving. The food industry is also relevant.

This fall, 100 tonnes of the new super potato that exclusively produces amylopectin were harvested. "They can be processed as usual in the production lines," reports Muth. "Special measures aren’t necessary, because the Tilling potatoes are totally normal breeds that contain no genetically modified material." The example shows that conventional or modern breeding methods will lead to success if the gene responsible for the expression of a specific trait is a natural part of the plant, and is known to scientists. The gene for the production of amylose in potatoes is one such gene. "Gene technology-based processes are indispensible and it is prudent to use them, when we want to integrate genetic material into a plant genome – , for example if we develop transgenic tobacco plants producing pharmacological substances," concludes Prüfer. "When it comes to dealing with genes, there is an easy rule: as much modification as needed, but as little as possible."

Contact: Professor Dr. Dirk Pruefer
[email protected]
49-251-832-2302
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Link : Precision breeding creates super potato

Pundit warning;

Whether or not something is "natural" is unrelated to whether it is safe. Botox is natural, and so is the plant poison ricin.

Filed under: Budget, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Renault, Diesel, Off-Road

You know what the problem with Autoblog is? Not enough Romanian cars! To rectify this hateful situation, we present to you the all-new Dacia Duster, a compact SUV that “rewrites the 4×4 rulebook.” What that means is that in Europe, most SUVs are in fact soft roaders. Totally useless in the rough stuff despite their fancy all-wheel drive systems and too expensive for the majority of the people to purchase. The Duster, on the other hand, is going to cost little (hey, it’s a Dacia!) yet be quite capable when the going gets rocky, muddy and/or roadless.

We’ve seen a tricked out, snow-racing version of the Dacia Duster before, but that’s not the borscht and potatoes of the new Duster, so to speak. Designed primarily with emerging markets in mind (Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Maghreb), the Duster will also be badged as a Renault and sold in continental Europe. Never forget that it was Renault who helped Dacia to get off the ground in the mid-Sixties by handing over the tooling to the Renault 8, which reemerged as the Dacia 1100 (and the totally awesome 1100S).

Despite its cute-ute looks, Dacia is claiming that the Duster is the real, all-terrain deal. The stats seem to back that up: eight inches of ground clearance combined with 30 degree approach and 35 degree departure angles reminds us of ye olde Jeep Cherokee (hey, the old AMC-developed Cherokee had a lot of French in it). While missing the Cherokee’s low gears, the Duster gets a three-stage transmission featuring an auto torque-split mode, lock and two wheel-drive. The tranny tech is actually sourced from Nissan (also owed by Renault) and it figures to work really well. in fact, there is some speculation that the Duster is based off Nissan’s Qashqai. Also helpful is that the Duster weighs just 2,816 pounds in 4×4 guise (2,596 pounds as a 4×2). Then you factor in a torquey diesel power plant (105 horsepower, 266 pound-feet of torque) and you’ve got yourself quite an impressive bad road beasty.

Chances of us getting it here? Slimmer than none. First of all, whomever it is that still owns to rights to the Plymouth brand (Chrysler, Fiat, Daimler, the UAW, Obama?) would have nothing but dollar signs in their eyes if a Duster showed up. Then, of course, there’s the undeniable fact that car makers have a sick aversion to giving us cheap, simple, rugged utilitarian diesel trucks. However, you’re more than free to purchase an X5 xDrive35d from BMW, and soon you’ll be able to buy a reworked Infiniti QX56 that halfway resembles a FX. Good stuff, right? We’ll be getting a glimpse of the Duster up close and in the flesh come Geneva, but that’ll be fleeting. Press release can be found after the jump.

[Source: Dacia]

Continue reading Dacia shows off new production Duster 4×4

Dacia shows off new production Duster 4×4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

There is a scripture that says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. It may sound a little weird until you think about the words that were spoken over you that still bring tears to your eyes thirty years later. As parents we must be aware of our words, tones, and body language when it comes to our children.

My granddaughter, Bella, and I bobbing for apples.

We can’t afford to give in to stress, anger and frustration and let loose with our mouths. There are too many kids searching for acceptance because adults can’t control their tongues. To me, there is nothing worse than hearing a mom berate her child in the store.  O.k…well,  I admit that I hate hearing parents chortling about school starting up again.

” I can’t WAIT until school starts again! These kids are driving me nuts!”  , says mom 1 in front of her child

“I know! I need a break!”, says mom 2 in front of her child. Then the two moms smile at each other and go their separate ways.

What have they told their kids?  Hey, I don’t like hanging out with you.

How hard is it to be uplifting instead of sarcastic? Here are some phrases that I like to use with my kids:

• That was AMAZING!
• You are incredible. I am so proud of you.
• I believe in you. You can do this!
• I am not sure what you should do, but I know you will make a wise decision.
• I love you.
• YES! WAY TO GO!
• You look gorgeous
• I can tell you have been working out – those shoulder muscles are developing nicely.
• I forgive you
• I am sorry, I was wrong
• I love you but I am angry right now. Can we talk about this in a little while when I calm down?

The point is that my kids are going to find acceptance some where. It is largely my choice whether they find it in a healthy way or not. By using words of affirmation rather than being critical I can build rather than destroy. It is my thought that the quickest and most effective way to change the world is to produce healthy, compassionate, well adjusted children who grow into ethical, caring, well adjusted adults.

Can anyone ever say I love you or I am proud of you too much? I think not.

image: marye audet

Post from: Blisstree

The Power of Life and Death…

Palm OS Garnet holdouts have another option for running classic Palm OS apps on fully equipped modern hardware that is shipping today.

Nokia’s new N900 Maemo 5 powered smartphone is now capable of running Access’ Garnet VM emulator. While it is still officially unsupported at this time, an install is possible with a little bit of command line tinkering.

Access Garnet VM has traditionally been aimed at Nokia’s maemo powered Internet tablets. However the latest update will work on N900 without many complaints, the trick is simply getting it to install.

We were just talking about how SOCAN, the Canadian copyright collection society, was going after gymnastics clubs for kids using music in their practice routines. Now they’re getting some well-deserved attention for other antics. Michael Geist explains how SOCAN tried to keep its submission to the government copyright consultation secret. The organization apparently requested that its submission not be posted online, even though that was part of the consultation process. The government made it available anyways, but only by email upon request. Of course, it’s now available online elsewhere [PDF].

SOCAN’s recommendations aren’t surprising. They call for a making available right (article 22 of the submission), a broadening of the private copying levy (article 30), anti-circumvention provisions (55-56), notice-and-takedown (59), copyright term extension (60), and no further exceptions to copyright (34, 48). But rather than outright declaring war on consumers, they copy the language (poorly) of those seeking more effective copyright reform. For example, they claim that the “rights of users and creators” are already “balanced” because “the Copyright Board of Canada provides a fair mechanism to set the royalty” (45) — someone had better tell the gymnastic clubs! Another great example: They want to expand the private copying tax levy to digital audio players so that it’s “technologically neutral.” (11) No word on when they’ll want it to apply to hard drives in general. SOCAN also repeats the ridiculous argument from the Toronto copyright townhall that “unwarranted” fair dealing provisions would mean asking creators to “work for nothing:”

Copyright amendments must not set up unwarranted exemptions, or otherwise limit the copyright royalties paid… If you deprive SOCAN’s members of copyright royalties, you are basically asking over 35,000 Canadian individuals to take risks and work for nothing. That’s not realistic, and it’s not fair. (34-35)

It’s just laughable to suggest that more flexible fair dealing (i.e., something like the American concept of fair use) would mean artists not getting paid. Do artists “work for nothing” in the U.S.? Though, it should be no surprise from an organization that claims that, if you use a Creative Commons license, you “won’t get paid” and your work may become devalued. To a collection society, getting paid can only mean royalties, and the value of music can only mean… well, royalties.

Best of all, they seem nervous about Industry Minister Tony Clement, who’s given some indication that he wants to craft forward thinking policies. SOCAN recommends that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage have sole responsibility for copyright reform (article 66). The Heritage committee is involved in the process, but as Geist points out, this recommendation betrays some discomfort with Clement and the Industry Committee, since the Copyright Act clearly grants the Minister of Industry responsibility for copyright. So, first, we get a laundry list of maximalist demands using the language of “balanced” copyright reform, then a suggestion to ignore the Copyright Act and exclude the ministry they’re not comfortable with (you know, the one focusing on the economic concerns) from having any responsibility in reform? No wonder they wanted to keep the submission secret.

Blaise Alleyne is an expert at the Insight Community. To get insight and analysis from Blaise Alleyne and other experts on challenges your company faces, click here.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Hatchback, Honda

The variable valve-timing obsessives at the Temple of VTEC have scored a leaked brochure of the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and in addition to getting a glimpse of the production version of the hybrid hatch, some specs and trim details were included in the document.

We finally have hard figures on the 1.5-liter engine’s output (in JDM spec), with the diminutive four-cylinder putting out 112 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm) on its own and another 14 hp from its electric motor. Just as importantly, the engine creates 107 lb-ft of torque (at 4,800 rpm) with the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system boosting that by another 57 lb-ft at an oh-so-low 1,000 rpm. Coupled with either a six-speed manual or CVT gearbox, the CR-Z nets a relatively uninspiring 0 to 62 mph time of 9.7 seconds.

The dimensions haven’t changed much from the “concept” we saw at the Tokyo Motor Show earlier this year, with a 160.6-inch overall length, 68.5-inch width, 54.9-inch height and a wheelbase that spans 95.9 inches. Unfortunately, no word on curb weight.

Since efficiency is the name of the game, the CR-Z will benefit from LED daytime running lights and turn signal indicators in the mirrors, along with three driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – each controllable from a dash mounted switch and with a different color surrounding the gauges based on the mode.

Check out the pics in the gallery below for more and get the full story in our CR-Z post from Tokyo.

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Honda CR-Z brochure leaks out, production specs revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

My kids used to be easily entertained by the funny cat and dog videos we used to look up on Youtube. The videos of cats skidding across floors and dogs jumping up to catch a frisbee but missing and landing in a pool are booooring to them now, so when I go searching for something fun to surprise them with I have to be extra discerning!

This video comes from Hungary, and features an actual dog obedience school’s presentation group putting on a performance for the holidays!

These very well-trained (and cute!) dogs decorate a Christmas tree, complete with ornaments, glass balls, tinsel and even the presents before plopping down from exhaustion. That’s about how I feel after a day of decorating, too!

Unless your dogs are this well-trained, it’s probably best not to let them chomp down on the glass balls, though — ouch! Check out some other holiday pet safety tips.

Post from: Blisstree

A Doggy Christmas Surprise

The Dow Jones Industrial Average index is taking a beating along with the S&P 500, both of which are down 1%. Earlier, the Dow was down as much as 110 points. Currently, it’s hovering around 10,300, down 96 points.

Join the conversation about this story »

See Also:

• Laid-Off Stock Brokers Compete For Low-Pay Seasonal Jobs
• Stocks Are 40% Overvalued, Says Smithers
• Rosenberg: The Dow Has Been In A Bear Market Since August

Content: Guitar Hero Van Halen Demo
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] Guitar Hero® is back and you get to rock with the ultimate party band, Van Halen! Experience the hot licks and scissor kicks that made Van Halen the legends they are today. 25 epic Van Halen tracks, three scorching Eddie Van Halen signature solos, and 19 guest acts give fans the most comprehensive arena rock set list to date.

Add Guitar Hero Van Halen Demo to your Xbox 360 download queue