4/24/10

The new Volkswagen Passat will be announced in September at Paris



It became certainty that Volkswagen will launch this year at the Paris salon, the sixth generation of the Passat sedan and eventually change the entire range of cars (the only one who stayed with the old design is the Tiguan).

Interestingly, however, that Volkswagen has come to replace almost all models early, after about five years, on average, although the custom was that a car life will be three years to make the elevator and another 3 or 4 years after its review.

The current Passat was launched five years ago and was his lifelong best sellers for the share of part class. Main features of deisgn Golf and Polo will follow the recipe, ie a front part of new style already known, and a figure not much changed from the current generation. Ups could come in sizes and quality interior, and optional technologies.

Confirmation of the official release has not come yet, but sources within the company have hinted that the Passat is the last and most important launch of the Volkswagen Group in 2010, a long list announced or anticipated Extremely early. Thus, the exotic R Golf and Scirocco R, which supported the establishment of company R Gmbh to utility 4MOTION T5, Touareg sets included (most important model yet), Sharan, Amarok but do lifts Phaeton, Touran and Caddy, with new versions of Polo - BlueMotion Polo Cross and GTI.
As usual, the Passat will have two body styles, sedan and wagon, and engines will not leave the known list. Launch of Paris will be followed in the months of the last quarter of the successive launches in European markets.

4/21/10

Dog attack the police !

"A Chattanooga Police officer, while running radar at 1410 Workman Road on Sunday night, had his patrol car attacked by a ferocious dog.
Officer Clayton Holmes said he had stopped to work on a report when he felt his car shaking. He got out to investigate and what he found was a bulldog chewing on his patrol car.
The dog chewed two tires and the entire front bumper off of the car."

TIME LAPSE IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

"News, Weather & Sports – a year long time-lapse documents the seasonal changes and the recreational activities of visitors to a public park. This is a preview clip of a looping video art project by Dan Hudson (www.danhudson.ca). Location: Canmore, Alberta, Canada. Music: Chris Jennings. Support: Canada Council for the Arts."

Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncè Vs. Metallica - Telephone

Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncè Vs. Metallica - Telephone Vs. Enter Sandman (Djs From Mars Bootleg Remix)

4/20/10

Crisis and financial regulations

The global crisis brought about resurrecting a debate nearly as old as economics itself: the relationship between state and market. From W. Petty, F. Quesnay and A. Smith JM Keynes, L. von Mises, F. Hayek and M. Friedman, all the great economists of the world expressed their views over time on this important topic. Without going here into details of different argument positions, it appears that there are five major doctrinal guidelines, which correspond to as many as many forms of political action: 1) classical liberalism, 2) the welfare state, 3) keynesianismul, 4) direct interventionism ; 5) neoliberalism.

Return to Common Sense Is Needed

"I have these words Written at the time of the deepening Financial Crisis Causing Which is ricocheting worldwide and tremendous anguish and tremors, the spreading Economic Downturn. It is also not a long while after the European Parliament passed a report which I worked out together with a Dutch colleague, Ieke van de Burg, in which we argue in favour of an overhaul of the regulatory and supervision frameworks of financial markets in the EU. Also it is not a long while after the European Parliament passed a report Which I worked out together with a Dutch colleague, Ieke van de Burg, to argue in favor of WE Which year overhaul of the Regulatory and Supervision of Financial Markets frameworks in the EU . I should underline that the paradigmatic underpinnings of our report were not dawned upon us by a growing financial mess engulfing western economies; for a longer period of time both of us, though belonging to two different political groups in the European Parliament, had harboured similar views on what has been wrong with the dynamics of world finance. I should underline that the paradigmatic underpinnings of our report notes were dawned upon us by the growing mess engulfing Western Financial Economics, the longer Period of time for both of us, though belonging to different Political Groups in the Two European Parliament, had harboured similar views On What has been wrong with the dynamics of world finance. "

China in the current global economic crisis

After 30 Years of restructuring, high economic growth and development, China Could Make the global crisis from the very favourable position. Its prompt response with a comprehensive interventionist package seems to have yielded the expected results, but these results might prove unsustainable in the longer run if the chinese development model is not changed. Its interventionist prompt response with a comprehensive package seems to have yielded the results Expected, But Might tissue results prove unsustainable in the longer run if the Chinese development model is note changed.

Robin Hood Trailer !

Robin Hood Trailer

More women than men get advanced degrees

" As a growing number of young women obtain advanced degrees, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts more women than men are expected to become doctors, lawyers and professors.

Nearly six out of ten adults holding advanced degrees between the ages of 25 and 29 are women, the census reported Tuesday.

The trend of more women holding advanced degrees than men is occurring among the white, Hispanic and black populations but not the Asian population.

The study also revealed the gap between men and women older than 25 holding advanced degrees has shrunk since 2000.

About 10 percent of women over 25 possessed an advanced degree compared to about 7 percent of women in 2000. In comparison, the growth for men over 25 holding advance degrees was much slower, the Census report shows. About 11 percent of men over 25 had an advanced degree compared to 10 percent in 2000.

The study also revealed an advanced degree can result in bigger earnings. Advanced degree holders earned an average of $83,144 in 2008. In contrast, people with a bachelors degree earned about $58,613 that same year. " Source CNN.COM

Eyjafjallajökull Volcano

Eyjafjallajökull (in translation "continental glacier) is a volcano covered by a glacier, the fifth largest in Iceland. The mountain is located west of Glacier Mýrdalsjökull southwest coast of Iceland at an altitude of 1666 m above the sea. Due eruption on April 2010, the cloud of volcanic ash nearly paralyzed air traffic throughout Europe.

Psycho American Idol contestant, Mary Roach !!!

Most Psycho American Idol contestant ever, Mary Roach !!!



"Mary isn’t all there…watch the entire video, she loses at the end…it’s worth it!"

Insane car in Japan !

Crazy Insane VIP car in Japan

Plastic Coffee Cup ?

Plastic Coffee Cup

4/19/10

LEGO Sequential Gearbox (7+R) on a Bugatti Veyron 16.4

LEGO Sequential Gearbox (7+R) on a Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Human Centipede Trailer [HQ]

The Human Centipede

Hair Waxed in public

My girlfriend put me up to have all of my body hair waxed in a very public location – Sydney’s Circular Quay! All dosh raised goes to Australian Red Cross, so once the pain subsided, it was replaced by a nice warm feeling.

You need a Boyfriend ?

You need a Boyfriend? Call now if you don’t wanna be broke, horny or hungry again

Anyone who says they're fat and happy is lying, says the Casualty star who lost 12 stone

"Walking into the shabby church hall in London's Shepherd's Bush, I felt dozens of eyes on me.

My face was burning with embarrassment as I shuffled towards a chair, praying that nobody would recognise me or talk to me.

As an actress - I spent four years in the BBC drama Casualty before joining talk show Loose Women - I've spent my whole working life in front of an audience.


Being the centre of attention had never fazed me. But this was different.

It was my first 'appearance' at a slimming class and I felt humiliated. I couldn't look anyone in the eye.

I knew I was fat. That's why I was there. At 5ft 11in and 24st 61/2lbs, I was the largest woman in the room. A dress size 32.

But I'd spent so long kidding myself I loved being large, that admitting the truth to myself - let alone to total strangers - was terribly painful.

The thought of putting myself through the humiliation of a diet club had always been anathema to me.

So walking through that door in May 2005 was one of the hardest things I'd done. It was born out of sheer desperation.

Acting as a voluptuously sexy woman was second nature to me. But I was sick of living a lie.

Casualty's larger-than-life receptionist Amy Howard may have been happy in herself. But Rebecca Wheatley wasn't.

I've battled with my weight for as long as I can remember. It runs in the family.

My mum Anne, a housewife, attended endless slimming classes when I was growing up. And they definitely rubbed off on me.

One day she came home with a papier maché pig which she'd 'won' at her slimming club. It was a booby prize, as she'd gained the most weight that week.

She just laughed, but I was furious. How could these women be so spiteful to my lovely cuddly mum?

Aged ten, I vowed I'd never put myself through the humiliation of being judged by my weight.

I loved eating and as Mum adored cooking, making fantastic casseroles, treacle tarts and cakes, I made the most of her meals.

And no one was going to force me to be slim." Source DailyMail Co UK


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Big Catch Movie - Animation -

Big Catch Movie

3D : Maya
Compositing : Shake
Music : Baptiste Thiry
Shark voice : Rachel Chapiteau

BIG CATCH MOVIE from Moles Merlo on Vimeo.

Wesley Muresan – the youngest snowborder in the world ! Incredible !




Wesley is 3 years old and he hits jumps and rails… he learned to snowboard 2 months ago. Become his fan on Facebook! He was featured on NBC’s “The Today Show”

Jonas Steur feat. Jennifer Rene – Falling Into Pieces

Jonas Steur feat. Jennifer Rene – Falling Into Pieces

Magic with cards

James Galea at The 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala for Oxfam Australia.

AIDS Is A Mass Murderer

AIDS Is A Mass Murderer

AIDS Is A Mass Murderer from Laborarbeiter on Vimeo.

Bank tax 'must be international'

"Banks will leave the UK and relocate overseas if there is not international co-operation on any tougher financial regulation, the chancellor has said.

Alistair Darling told the Commons Treasury Committee he did not want to take the risk of acting unilaterally.

The Conservatives have said they would create a new tax on banks even if other countries decided not to do so.

Mr Darling also said Labour's planned rise in National Insurance next year would have an "impact" on jobs.

The chancellor spoke as revised figures showed the UK economy grew more strongly than was previously thought - by 0.4% - in the last three months of 2009.

He said he was confident of a sustained economic recovery, adding: "It's modest growth, which is why I do think we have to be careful, but it's growth nonetheless.

"Taking away support now would be disastrous." "Source BBC

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"Goldman Sachs accused of fraud by US regulator SEC"

Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street powerhouse, has been accused of defrauding investors by America's financial regulator.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges that Goldman failed to disclose conflicts of interest.

The claims concern Goldman's marketing of sub-prime mortgage investments just as the US housing market faltered.

Goldman rejected the SEC's allegations, saying that it would "vigorously" defend its reputation.

News that the SEC was pressing civil fraud charges against Goldman and one of its London-based vice presidents, Fabrice Tourre, sent shares in the investment bank tumbling 12%.

The SEC says Goldman failed to disclose "vital information" that one of its clients, Paulson & Co, helped choose which securities were packaged into the mortgage portfolio.

These securities were sold to investors in 2007.

But Goldman did not disclose that Paulson, one of the world's largest hedge funds, had bet that the value of the securities would fall.

The SEC said: "Unbeknownst to investors, Paulson... which was posed to benefit if the [securities] defaulted, played a significant role in selecting which [securities] should make up the portfolio."

"In sum, Goldman Sachs arranged a transaction at Paulson's request in which Paulson heavily influenced the selection of the portfolio to suit its economic interests," said the Commission.

Housing collapse

The SEC alleges that investors in the mortgage securities, packaged into a vehicle called Abacus, lost more than $1bn (£650m) in the US housing collapse.

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"Toyota agrees to pay $16.4m fine"



"Japanese car maker Toyota has agreed to pay a record $16.4m (£10.7m) to US safety regulators following recent safety concerns.

Toyota was asked to pay the fine for failing to inform the US government of safety concerns surrounding faulty accelerator pedals.

Millions of Toyotas were recalled earlier this year amid reports that the pedals could become stuck.

The fine is the largest ever handed out by the US transportation department.

Accelerator pedal problems forced Toyota to recall 2.3 million cars in the US in January, part of the eight million car recall worldwide.

"I am pleased that Toyota has accepted responsibility for violating its legal obligations to report any defects promptly," said transportation department secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.

"By failing to report known safety problems as it is required to do under the law, Toyota put consumers at risk. "

On Monday, Toyota said it would recall its 2010 Lexus GX 460 - after concerns were raised about its potential for rolling over.

There have been about 9,400 of the vehicles sold since the SUV went on sale in late December."

source BBC.CO.UK

"Microsoft's Skinput turns hands, arms into buttons"

"In Chris Harrison's ideal world, mobile phones would be the size of matchbooks. They'd have full-size keyboards. They'd browse the Web. They'd play videos.

And, most importantly, you'd never have to touch them.

Sound like too much to ask? Maybe not.

Harrison, a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University and a former intern at Microsoft Research, has developed a working prototype of a system called Skinput that does just that, essentially by turning a person's hand and forearm into a keyboard and screen.

"People don't love the iPhone keyboard. They use them. But they don't love them," Harrison said in a interview at the recent Computer-Human Interaction conference. "If you could make the iPhone keyboard as big as an arm -- that would be huge."

Using Skinput, a person could tap their thumb and middle finger together to answer a call; touch their forearm to go to the next track on a music player; or flick the center of their palm to select a menu item.

All of these sign-language-like movements, which are customizable, would control a gadget in a person's pocket through a Bluetooth connection.

When fitted with a pico-projector, the Skinput system could display an image of a digital keyboard on a person's forearm. So, using Skinput, someone could send text messages by tapping his or her arm in certain places -- without pulling the phone out of a pocket or purse.

"You could pretty much do a lot of what you do on your iPhone," said Harrison, who says Skinput "is [like having] your iPhone on your palm."

The system, which has been under development for eight months, won't be commercially available for two to seven years, said Dan Morris, a Microsoft researcher who is working with Harrison on Skinput.

Before that can happen, Skinput's sensors need to get more accurate, he said. In a 13-person trial in Seattle, Washington, Skinput was found to be 96 percent accurate. But that test only used five buttons. The system would have to improve for people to make use of a full keyboard, which would be the "holy grail," Morris said.

"The accuracy is good, but it's not quite consumer-level yet," he said.

Skinput is one of a number of prototypes, ideas and near-products aiming to make computing more natural.

These devices seek to move beyond the mouse and physical keyboard, letting people communicate with their gadgets by gesturing, using sign language or, in the case of Skinput, tapping on their hands, fingers and forearms." source CNN.COM

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Volcano cloud casts over European economy

"The cloud of ash from an Iceland volcano is casting a shadow over the nascent economic recovery in Europe as the cancellation of flights in key markets entered its fifth day.

By the end of the day on Sunday, a total of 63,000 flights had been canceled in the four days since ash from a volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland closed the airspace of a large swath of Europe, according to air traffic authority Eurocontrol. The air travel and freight disruptions are costing airlines at least $200 million a day and perhaps billions more to the affected economies, one industry group warned.

Should the airlines be bailed out?

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso ordered formation of a group to study the impact of the volcanic ash cloud on the European economy. "The volcanic ash cloud has created an unprecedented situation," Barroso said in a statement Sunday. "I have asked Vice President Kallas to coordinate the Commission's response and fully assess the impact of the situation created by volcanic ash cloud on the economy, and the air travel industry in particular."

The Eurozone -- the 16 European nations united under the euro currency -- is in the midst of a shaky recovery. After shrinking 4 percent last year, the Eurozone is expected to grow only 1 percent this year, according to a forecast by Ernst & Young released last Friday.

"The key is how long this eruption and the disruption last," said Frederic Neumann, an HSBC economist in Hong Kong. "If it's just a couple weeks, from a macroeconomic standpoint it's just a blip on the radar ... if it lasts for months and months, then it's a different story."

Right now, how long it will last is anyone's guess.

"Each day we've gone to check out Virgin (Atlantic Airlines) and each day they just tell us to keep checking on the Internet," said Andy Loftus, who is stranded in New York. "But when we check the Internet, the Internet doesn't tell you anything. So you have to keep going back to the airport."

The last time the volcano under Eyjafjallajokull glacier blew was 1821 and continued for two years. The amount of ash and its concentration over European flight paths is constantly changing due to geological and meteorological forces." source CNN.COM

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