That's a load of crap!

Measuring the Univers

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:09:00 +0000

Measuring the Universe

Movie: The Movie

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:11:00 +0000

Starring: Everyone and Jimmy Kimmel

Sexy and I Know It

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Too funny!

Einstein vs Stephen Hawking -Epic Rap Battles of History

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:51:00 +0000

From YouTube

Everythings Amazing & Nobodys Happy

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:22:00 +0000

From YouTube

Coolest iPhone APP EVER!!! - MUST SEE!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:10:00 +0000

From YouTube

Shocking illusion - Pretty girls turn ugly!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 07:57:00 +0000

From YouTube

10 Reasons Why We Hate Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:03:00 +0000

From YouTube

Epic Anime Time

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:31:00 +0000

From YouTube

Seagull steals a camera

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:16:00 +0000

From YouTube

Guitar: Impossible

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:53:00 +0000

From MysteryGuitarMan

Whole Foods Parking Lot

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:23:00 +0000

From FogAndSmogFilms

Angry Birds Live

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:57:00 +0000

From YouTube

Dirt Devil's 'Exorcist' Parody

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:34:00 +0000

From YouTube via Mashable

Amazing Fire Illusion!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:10:00 +0000

From YouTube

The 100 Greatest Movie Threats of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:20:00 +0000

From YouTube

The Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:01:00 +0000

From The Mountain on Vimeo

Turn Manual Windows to Automatic

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:36:00 +0000

Turn Manual Windows to Automatic

Astronaut Golfer

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:09:00 +0000

From Boing Boing

Sales Guy Vs. Web Dude

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Blip.tv

Robot Art

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:41:00 +0000

From 40 Beautiful Robot Characters Illustration | Naldz Graphics

New Sony Release

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:24:00 +0000

Hilarious!!!

From The Onion

Michael Phelps caught smoking a bong

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Michael, these people you are getting high with are not your friends!

From: News of the World UK

Now that's a ski bum!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:31:00 +0000

From: College OTR

One Year in 40 Seconds

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:36:00 +0000

From: One year worth of images give some amazing videos

Thief Detection - The 'Brief Safe'

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:03:00 +0000

This is an actual product for sale - complete with skid marks!!!

Thief Detection - SHOMER-TEC

Rocket Powered Sled

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:57:00 +0000

Don't get too close to this guy!

RocketMan

That's a lot of Dolphins

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:57:00 +0000

From: Dolphins Clip

Automated Bike Parking System

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:33:00 +0000

From: Automated Bike Parking System

Bush Shoe Incident

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:06:00 +0000

From: YouTube - Bush Shoe Incident

Bible In A Minute

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:11:00 +0000

From: Bible In A Minute

The Bailout. Coming this January.

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:14:00 +0000

We're the Big Three. We don't need to compete.

treehugger.com

SNL Update: Plaxico Burress

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:33:00 +0000

From: Hulu

Beyonce and Justin Timberlake skit on SNL

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:32:00 +0000

All the Single Ladies on SNL

From: MySpaceTV

The Matrix Runs on Windows

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:32:00 +0000

From: CollegeHumor video

Deal, duh!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:52:00 +0000

Deal or no Deal

From: Yahoo! video

Eye-popping video game ad

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:27:00 +0000

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift on the PS3

From: Brainstorm #9

Self-tuning Guitar

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:36:00 +0000

This guitar will tune itself!

From: Gibson Robot Guitar

Honda's new DN-01

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:55:00 +0000

Honda's new DN-01

Honda Launches the New DN-01 Large Sports Cruiser with Innovative Automatic Human-Friendly Transmission

Disappearing Reflection Trick

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:13:00 +0000

From: Break.com

SNL: Sarah Palin & Hilary Clinton

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:27:00 +0000

From: Saturday Night Live

Real Life Ironman

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:24:00 +0000

The Exoskeleton: Advanced Robotics

From: Raytheon

Pop vs. Soda

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:05:00 +0000

From: Pop vs. Soda

Inhaling Helium vs Sulphur Hexafluoride

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:52:00 +0000

From: Boing Boing

Bill Gates & Jerry Seinfeld

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:26:00 +0000

From Youtube

Is the Mouse obsolete? Meet Soap.

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:21:00 +0000

From Microsoft Research

How many cameras at the 100m Olympic finals?

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:34:00 +0000

From Vincent LaForet

Try To Uninstall Google Chrome

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:46:00 +0000

Try To Uninstall Google Chrome

Six Degrees of Separation Is Now Three

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:02:00 +0000

Is it time to revise the old saw that everyone in the world is connected by just six degrees of separation? A study from French mobile carrier O2 has found that strangers are more connected to each other than they ever have been.

According to the study, the average person is now connected by just three degrees within a shared “interest” or social group instead of six. In fact, it found that people are usually a part of three main networks: family, friendship, and work.

O2 asked adults across three different age groups — 18-25, 35-45, 55+ — to make contact with random strangers from areas all across the globe using only personal connections. By linking their shared interests, the participants were able to connect to that person in three person-to-person links.

Stanley Milgram originally coined the term “six degrees of separation” in 1967 to show that everyone in the modern world was capable of connecting to another by linking people and interests. But in today’s world of social networking, links between strangers are closer than in Milgram’s day.

According to Jeff Rodrigues, a social networking specialist that carried out the study, 97 percent of the participants said they felt more connected to people today than they ever have in the past and for older respondents, email and mobile phones were the key factors in reducing the degrees of separation. But for those in the younger generation, Facebook was the main factor. Text messaging was also mentioned as an important component in reducing degrees of separation.

“What the study has brought to light is that the way we now interact means it’s never been easier to make connections and build networks of contacts,” Rodrigues said in an interview.

It should be noted that the research is not the epitome of a real scientific study—O2 paid for it, after all. And anyone who has a LinkedIn account knows that it is still easy to find plenty of people who are more than three degrees away from you. But the study does underscore something we all know:more so than ever before, everyone is connected (even if it is only tangentially).

Maybe it is time to revisit Milgram’s study in a more robust way. It could help silence the critics who believe Facebook and the rest are nothing more than places for kids to waste their time. Let’s face it – how often will you find one service or industry that can totally transform the way people are connected?

From TechCrunch

Google Chrome EULA

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:44:00 +0000

Be sure to read the fine print...

Written via Google Chrome :)

From Gizmodo

SNL spoof on MySpace

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:13:00 +0000

From Hulu

Stanford's helicopters teach themselves to fly

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:38:00 +0000

From Standford News Service

All Your Base Are Belong To Us!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Worst Game Ever?
Worst Grammer anyway :)
Zero Wing - on Sega

From YouTube

Introducing Fortune Cookies to China

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:26:00 +0000

From the New York Times

Make A Walking Beast

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:58:00 +0000

From Popular Science

Man Falls on train tracks with train approaching

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:06:00 +0000

From YouTube

KTM's 240-Horsepower X-Bow Coming to America

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:58:00 +0000

They're gonna be over 80 Gs

From Wired.com

Richard Dawkins reads his email

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:51:00 +0000

Richard Dawkins reads some of his hate mail. It's clear creationists love good old Richard.

YouTube - Richard Dawkins reads his email

She's not Real!

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:01:00 +0000

From Image-Metrics via Times-Online

Space Shuttle Launch Seen From Air Canada Flight

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:41:00 +0000

From PointNiner

How To Create Suction Tires

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:08:00 +0000

How To Create Suction Tires

2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:39:00 +0000

2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Get more Docstoc Buzz

Honda Develops Hybrid Scooter Prototype

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:06:00 +0000

August 24, 2004—Honda has developed a 50cc hybrid scooter prototype that offers reduced emissions, exceptional fuel economy, and ample storage space. Employing both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, the new prototype takes Honda one step closer to a mass-market hybrid scooter.
The new prototype features an alternating current generator (ACG) with an idle stop function and the Honda PGM-FI electronic fuel injection system. In addition to an electronically controlled belt converter and a range of Honda environmental technologies, the new scooter features a dual series and parallel hybrid powertrain with a direct rear-wheel drive electric motor. Thanks to a compact power system and a rechargeable nickel hydrogen battery located under the front cowl, the hybrid scooter is about the same size as the Dio Z4, a standard-size 50cc scooter, and is only 10 kg heavier.
The hybrid scooter’s internal combustion engine and direct rear-wheel-drive electric motor function in two distinct modes. In series mode, when riding on flat ground and when high output is not required, the engine alone powers the electric motor. In parallel mode, used during acceleration and when high output is required, the electric motor assists the engine. In parallel mode, an electronically controlled belt converter automatically selects the optimum assist ratio.
To make the most efficient use of energy, the hybrid system charges the battery during deceleration and whenever possible and utilizes this power when higher output is required. In addition, the scooter enters idle stop mode, when the scooter is stopped, and whenever power is not needed, during deceleration. These advanced features allow the hybrid scooter to achieve 1.6 times the fuel economy of the Dio Z4 (when riding on flat ground at 30 km/h) and to produce 37% less carbon dioxide.

Finger length predicts physically aggressive personalities, study shows

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 11:57:00 +0000

Dr. Peter Hurd initially thought the idea was "a pile of hooey", but he changed his mind when he saw the data.
Hurd and his graduate student Allison Bailey have shown that a man's index finger length relative to ring finger length can predict how inclined that man is to be physically aggressive. Women do not show a similar effect.

A psychologist at the University of Alberta, Hurd said that it has been known for more than a century that the length of the index finger relative to the ring finger differs between men and women. More recently, researchers have found a direct correlation between finger lengths and the amount of testosterone that a fetus is exposed to in the womb. The shorter the index finger relative to the ring finger, the higher the amount of prenatal testosterone, and--as Hurd and Bailey have now shown--the more likely he will be physically aggressive throughout his life.

"More than anything, I think the findings reinforce and underline that a large part of our personalities and our traits are determined while we're still in the womb," said Hurd.

Hurd and Bailey's research, published this March in Biological Psychology, was determined from surveys and hand measurements of 300 U of A undergraduates.

In their study, they found there were no correlations between finger lengths and people who are prone to exhibit verbally aggressive, angry, or hostile behaviors, but there was to physically aggressive behavior.

Hurd is conducting ongoing research in this area, including a study that involves measuring hockey players' finger lengths and cross referencing the results with each player's penalty minutes. He also has a similar study showing that men with more feminine finger ratios are more prone to depression; a paper on this will be published later this year in Personality and Individual Differences.

"Finger lengths explain about five per cent of the variation in these personality measures, so research like this won't allow you to draw conclusions about specific people. For example, you wouldn't want to screen people for certain jobs based on their finger lengths," Hurd said. "But finger length can you tell you a little bit about where personality comes from, and that's what we are continuing to explore."

EurekAlert!

Seattle Slated to Gain 250 Wi-Fi Hot Spots

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 08:01:00 +0000

Cometa Networks plans to install 250 Wi-Fi hot spots in the Seattle metropolitan area, giving the city the nation's highest density of public Wi-Fi access.

The hot spots will be rolled out in McDonald's; Barnes & Noble bookstores; Tully's Coffee; several buildings owned by Seattle's Equity Office, including the Bank of America Tower; and two country clubs.

Cometa's network will be rolled out as part of Intel's "One Unwired Day" Sept. 25, when Cometa, Intel and several media companies will allow the public free use of the hot spots in a bid to win public support for the technology. AT&T Wireless will be the service provider for the Seattle launch, the companies announced.

eWeek

Firm hits brakes on ‘road kill' candy

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 20:59:00 +0000

Production halted as activists call animal-shaped sweets tasteless
New Jersey animal activists want this candy taken off the shelves.

TRENTON, N.J. - Production of roadkill-shaped candy screeched to a halt Friday, as Kraft Foods Inc. announced it would stop manufacturing the treats amid protests by animal rights activists.

"We take comments from our consumers really seriously and, in hindsight, we understand that this product could be misunderstood," said Kraft spokesman Larry Baumann.

Kraft plans to stop production of the fruity-flavored Trolli Road Kill Gummi Candyas soon as possible and then sell off remaining inventory, Baumann said.

The announcement came after the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals protested that the the candy, which is shaped like critters run over by cars — complete with tire treads — encouraged children to be cruel to animals.

"It sends the wrong message to children, that it's OK to harm animals. And that's the wrong message, especially from a so-called wholesome corporation like Kraft," said society spokesman Matthew Stanton.

The society said it was considering petition drives, boycotts and letter-writing campaigns to get the candy, in shapes of partly flattened snakes, chickens and squirrels, pulled from the market, Stanton said.

From MSNBC

Whooshing

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 09:56:00 +0000

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.

Douglas Adams
English humorist & science fiction novelist (1952 - 2001)

Armstrong to Ride in the 2005 Tour de France

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 12:45:00 +0000

After much speculation, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Lance Armstrong today announced his initial 2005 racing schedule, one that will include this summer's Tour de France where he will go for a seventh straight victory. In 2004, Armstrong made history by becoming the first cyclist to win six Tours de France with a dominating performance, winning five individual stages.
"I am grateful for the opportunity that Discovery Communications has given the team and look forward to achieving my goal of a seventh Tour de France (victory)," said Armstrong.

Also on Armstrong's racing schedule is one of America's premier races — April's Tour de Georgia, an event Armstrong won in 2004. Armstrong will kick off his season early next month at Paris-Nice, a seven day stage race and the first event of the newly formed Pro Tour, the sport's top level racing series.

"I am excited to get back on the bike and start racing although my condition is far from perfect," said Armstrong.

Following Paris-Nice, Armstrong will take part in the 89th edition of the Tour of Flanders, one of Europe's most prestigious Spring Classics, on April 3. Armstrong last raced in the Tour of Flanders in 2002, finishing 59th in support of his team's leader. Armstrong will then return to the U.S. and defend his title at the Tour de Georgia, scheduled for April 19-25.

"Johan (Bruyneel, the team's sports manager) and I will evaluate my fitness later this spring and possibly add some races to the calendar," said Armstrong.

All of the event's Armstrong will participate in will be aired on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Lance Armstrong Initial 2005 Schedule:

Mar 6-13 — Paris-Nice (France)
Apr 3 — Tour of Flanders (Belgium)
Apr 19-24 — Tour de Georgia (USA)
Jul 2-24 — Tour de France

Team Discovery

Adidas unveils biomechanical running shoes

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 16:47:00 +0000

Adidas, the 83-year-old German sporting-goods maker, has turned biomechanics into reality in the form of a running shoe. Sleek and lightweight despite its battery-powered sensor, microprocessor and electric motor, the shoe, named '1', provides intelligent cushioning by automatically adjusting itself.

In other words, the shoe senses the cushioning level, using a sensor and a magnet, and then 'understands' whether the cushioning level is too soft or too firm via a small computer. It then adapts itself with a motor-driven cable system to provide the correct cushioning for a more comfortable run.

It works by using a sensor that sits just below your heel and a magnet positioned at the bottom of the midsole. On each impact, this sensor measures the distance from the top to the bottom of the midsole (accurate to 0.1mm), gauging the compression and therefore the amount of cushioning being used. About 1,000 readings per second are taken and relayed to the shoe's brain - a microprocessor capable of making 5 million calculations per second, according to Adidas.

A motor-driven cable system in the shoe's muscle then adapts by turning a screw, which lengthens or shortens a cable. This cable is secured to the walls of a plastic cushioning element. When the cable is shortened, the cushioning element is tensed and compresses slightly. When the cable is longer, it allows the cushioning element to compress further, promising to make your run more comfortable. A small battery, which is replaceable and lasts for 100 hours of running (the normal life of a shoe), provides the motor's power.

The shoes will also have push-button controls, light-emitting diodes to display settings and an instruction manual on a CD-ROM that will advise on, among other things, how to change the battery after every 100 hours of use. Adidas says the shoe is no gadget-dependent gimmick, and instead represents a leap forward in wearable technology. The trainer is expected to be in stores by December and will cost around $200 (£138).

Gadgetry Blog

New Versus Old Dietary Guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 05 Feb 2005 11:01:00 +0000

Here are key differences between updated dietary guidelines and those issued in 2000. The Health and Human Services and Agriculture departments on Wednesday unveiled the new guidelines, which are updated every five years and will be incorporated into an updated food pyramid.

CALORIES

New guidelines: Balance calories between the amount you eat and the amount of energy you burn. For moderately active people between the ages of 31 and 50, recommended calories would be 2,000 per day for women and 2,400 to 2,600 for men.

Old guidelines: Aim for a healthy weight, based on Body Mass Index.

EXERCISE

New guidelines: Thirty minutes of exercise is the minimum. Exercise for 60 minutes to maintain weight and prevent weight gain. If you've lost weight, exercise for 60 to 90 minutes daily.

Old guidelines: Be physically active every day, accumulating about 30 minutes of exercise daily.

NUTRITION

New guidelines: Eat a variety of foods that are high in nutrients and low in saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, added sugars and salt. Follow government recommendations such as the food guide pyramid.

Old guidelines: Let the pyramid guide your food choices and pick a variety of grains, especially whole grains, and fruits and vegetables.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

New guidelines: Eat at least 4 1/2 cups of fruits and vegetables a day if you have a 2,000-calorie diet. Eat more or less depending on the calorie level.

Old guidelines: Eat 3-4 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit a day.

CARBOHYDRATES

New guidelines: Eat fiber-rich whole fruits and vegetables and whole grains often. Eat and drink little added sugar or caloric sweeteners.

Old guidelines: Choose a variety of grains, especially whole grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. Choose food and drinks to moderate sugar intake.

FAT

New guidelines: Keep trans fat as low as possible. Get no more than 10 percent of your calories from saturated fat and no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily.

Old guidelines: Keep your diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat.

SALT

New guidelines: Limit salt to about one level teaspoon a day.

Old guidelines: Eat and make foods with less salt.

ALCOHOL

New guidelines: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation, about one drink per day for women and two for men.

Old guidelines: Same.

FOOD SAFETY:

New guidelines: Clean hands, food contact surfaces and fruits and vegetables. To avoid getting sick from food, separate raw, cooked and ready-to-eat foods while shopping, preparing or storing foods.

Old guidelines: Same.

From: Yahoo! News

Gates Interview

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 01:01:00 +0000

G-Money and Me: Bill Gates Interview
Gates Interview Part Two: Windows Post-Longhorn and Apple's Office Suite
Gates Interview Part Three: Xbox 2 and Xbox Live
Gates Interview Part Four: Communists and DRM

Gizmodo

Claro holographic TV is drop-dead gorgeous

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 16:52:00 +0000

If you're looking for the wow factor in your living room, look no further. The Claro holographic TV (£14,999 plus £9,999 for matching speakers) is one of the most eye-catching consumer devices I've ever seen. It's also unique in the way that it delivers video using a transparent glass TV and media system based on holographic technology.

The projection system is actually a revolutionary holographic film which displays any image fed through a projector at a specific angle onto a transparent display. The clever part is that all other light is ignored, which should result is a remarkably bright and sharp 40-inch image - even in brightly lit environments. The screen is a mere 1.5x1.0m rectangle of 10mm glass with a 610x814mm sheet of translucent film attached to it, giving the impression that the image is suspended in mid-air.

According to the company, any type of projector can be used to cast the image, which means you can playback TV broadcasts, DVD-Videos, and even games consoles - pretty much anything you can plug into a television or computer screen. In a standard installation the projector sits on the floor about 5-feet behind the screen, so while the bulkiness of a rear projection screen has vanished, the system actually occupies a greater amount of space.

The glass can be engraved from a choice of logos or taken from a design based on your choice. Base units can be made of wood, metal, stone, fabric or leather to match your living environment, and an installation service means you don't even have to risk putting the thing together yourself. One for footballers' wives to add to their Christmas lists...

Gadgetry Blog

Police: GPS device used to stalk woman

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 02:07:00 +0000

KENOSHA, Wisconsin (AP) -- A man was charged Monday with stalking his former live-in girlfriend with help from a high-tech homing device placed under the hood of her car.

Paul Seidler, 42, was arrested during the weekend. On Monday, he was charged with stalking, burglary, second-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct, and ordered held on $50,000 bail.

According to a criminal complaint, Connie Adams asked Seidler to move out of her apartment October 25 after a three-year relationship. Prosecutors say he immediately began following her, including when she ran errands and went to work.

Found under hood
Investigators checked under the hood of Adams' vehicle and found a Global Positioning System that uses satellite and digital cellular technology to pinpoint a target's location.

Seidler's attorney did not return a telephone call Monday seeking comment.

A preliminary hearing was set Jan. 8.

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.

CNN.com

Jackson Transcripts Graphic

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 11:33:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson (news)'s accuser told a grand jury that the pop star closed his eyes tightly while molesting him on a bed, according to an ABC News report that quotes from transcripts of the testimony.

The boy described Jackson's alleged crimes in graphic detail, according to the network, which said its 'Primetime Live' program reviewed more than 1,900 pages of testimony.

Details on the transcripts, which have not been released, were reported Thursday on ABC's Web site and quoted on 'Good Morning America.' A fuller report was planned Thursday evening on 'Primetime Live.'

Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. declined to comment to ABC. Jackson attorney Brian Oxman told The Associated Press that the defense could not comment because of a gag order the judge has imposed on the case.

The accuser told prosecutors who questioned him before the Santa Barbara County grand jury that Jackson never spoke to him during the alleged abuse and the two didn't discuss it later, ABC reported.

According to transcripts, the boy said that when he was molested, he looked over at the pop star and 'his eyes were like squinching really tight.'

Jackson was indicted in April on multiple counts of molestation and a count of conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

Some counts accuse him of administering alcohol to further child molestation. The accuser, who had cancer and lost a kidney when a surgeon removed a tumor, said he told Jackson he shouldn't drink alcohol because of his medical condition, according to the transcripts.

'And so it harms my kidney for I drink that stuff,' the accuser was quoted as saying. 'But he would just say, 'It's OK.' And he would just keep on telling me to drink.'

Normally, grand jury transcripts are made pub

Yahoo! News - Report

Beaten-down Holmgren needs quick recovery

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 03:20:00 +0000

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, battling a cold, ponders a question at his end-of-the-season news conference yesterday.

The Seattle Times: Sports

DIS PR: Daytona Tire Test wraps up

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 06:40:00 +0000

January 05, 2005

Daytona Intl. Speedway

The three-day motorcycle tire test at historic Daytona International Speedway wrapped up on Wednesday with more than 20 riders turning laps on the new 2.95-mile road course in preparation for Daytona 200 Week on March 3-12.

The test gave riders the first opportunity to shake down the new infield motorcycle road course as well as utilize the new amenities from the multi-million, multi-faceted infield renovation.

For new Ducati Austin rider Neil Hodgson, everything at Daytona International Speedway seemed new.

"It feels so different," Hodgson said during the lunch break on Wednesday. "My bike was just a privateer Ducati. I spoke to the technicians here and they think the (1995) bike would have less power than a 600 would have now. All I remember was going around the bike comfortable and relaxed enjoying the ride. Now we you get on those beasts, it feels like warp speed."

Hodgson made his first and only visit to the "The World Center of Racing" back in 1995 when he competed in the Daytona 200 finishing 16th aboard a privateer Ducati.

Since then, Hodgson won the British Superbike championship (2000) and World Superbike championship (2003) and has now returned to America to compete in the AMA Superbike championship with Ducati Austin.

Besides breaking in the new infield motorcycle course, Hodgson also noticed all the changes in the infield such as the new garages, new Gatorade Victory Lane and Daytona 500 Club, FanZone and massive Turn 1 tunnel.

"I remember it was a bit scruffy," Hodgson said of his first visit to the track. "It looked dated 10 years ago. I'm glad they put all these new garages in for me. That's very kind. I really impressed with that."

Hodgson will compete aboard the 999 Ducati in the opening round of the AMA Superbike Championship at Daytona on Saturday, March 12 as he tries to become the first rider in history to win World, British and America championships.

He's ready for the challenges that Daytona presents.

"It's not a picnic," Hodgson said. "At this track, there's nowhere to rest. Obviously, the banking, you can't relax on it. When you come off the banking go towards to the finish line, you're going so fast and there's so much wind on you, you're just trying to hold onto the thing."

This week's test was the first with his new team. So far, Hodgson has been impressed.

"I think the team is really looking promising," Hodgson said. "They've got fantastic support from Italy. They've got some fantastic technicians here. I didn't know what to expect. This is my first test with the team and I'm pleasantly surprised. Everybody has been extremely professional. I think we've got a fair chance."

Next up at Daytona International Speedway is Rolex Sports Car Series testing in preparation for the Feb. 5-6 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Testing is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of DAYTONA USA.

AMASuperbike.com

Changes of dates to the 2005 MotoGP calendar

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 05:07:00 +0000

Some changes of dates were made to the 2005 Grand Prix calendar.

The Italian and Catalunya Grand Prix will both be scheduled a week later, respectively on June 5 and June 12. The British Grand Prix will be held on July 24, and the German Grand Prix a week later, on July 31.

The Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang will be held on September 25, between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Qatar Grand Prix.

April 10 Spain - Jerez de la Frontera
April 17 Rio *** - Jacarepagua
May 1 China - Shanghai
May 15 France - Le Mans
June 5 Italy - Mugello
June 12 Catalunya - Catalunya
June 25 ** Netherlands - Assen
July 10 United States * - Laguna Seca
July 24 Great Britain - Donington Park
July 31 Germany - Sachsenring
August 28 Czech Rep. - Brno
September 18 Japan - Motegi
September 25 Malaysia - Sepang
October 1 ** Qatar Doha - Losail
October 16 Australia - Phillip Island
October 30 Portugal - Estoril
November 6 Valencia Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

*: Only MotoGP class
**: Saturday
***: subject to contract

moto.racing-live.com

MotoGP grid taking shape

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 05:02:00 +0000

2005 Provisional Entry List

Eighteen riders have already be confirmed for next year MotoGP World Championship.

Amongst them we can find Franco Battaini, lined up alongside James Ellison within the Blata WCM team. The Italian takes the step up to the premier motorcycle racing category after eight seasons on the 250cc grid.

Also coming from the quarter-liter class is new Fortuna Yamaha Tech 3 recruit Toni Elias. They should be joined by former 250cc vice- champion Roberto Rolfo, expected to sign with the D'Antin team. The Spanish outfit has yet to announce his riders, as well as Aprilia and Proton Team KR.

Max Biaggi doesn't appear on this provisional entry list but is assumed to join the Repsol Honda team.

This is the list of riders and teams which have so far been confirmed by the selection committee. A number of other applications have also been received and are currently under consideration.

MotoGP class – classe MotoGP
4 Alex Barros – BRA - Honda Camel Honda
5 Colin Edwards - USA - Yamaha Yamaha Gauloises Team
6 Makoto Tamada - JPN - Honda Konica Minolta Honda
7 Carlos Checa – SPA - Ducati Ducati Marlboro Team
10 Kenny Roberts - USA - Suzuki Team Suzuki MotoGP
11 Ruben Xaus - SPA - Yamaha Fortuna Yamaha Tech 3
12 Troy Bayliss - AUS - Honda Camel Honda
15 Sete Gibernau - SPA - Honda Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP
21 John Hopkins - USA - Suzuki Team Suzuki MotoGP
24 Toni Elias - SPA - Yamaha Fortuna Yamaha Tech 3
27 Franco Battaini - ITA - Blata Blata WCM
33 Marco Melandri - ITA - Honda Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP
46 Valentino Rossi - ITA - Yamaha Yamaha Gauloises Team
56 Shinya Nakano - JPN - Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team
65 Loris Capirossi - ITA - Ducati Ducati Marlboro Team
66 Alex Hofmann - GER - Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team
69 Nicky Hayden - USA - Honda Repsol Honda Team
77 James Ellison - GBR - Blata Blata WCM
Tba Honda Repsol Honda Team
Tba Ducati D'Antin MotoGP
Tba Ducati D'Antin MotoGP
Tba Aprilia MS Aprilia Racing
Tba Aprilia MS Aprilia Racing
Tba Proton KR Proton Team KR
Tba Proton KR Proton Team KR

moto.racing-live.com

MikeRoweSoft settles for an Xbox

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 02:13:00 +0000

Canadian teenager Mike Rowe, who shot to fame last week, after Microsoft decided to threaten him for registering and using the domain name MikeRoweSoft.com, has settled out of court with the software giant.

When Microsoft's Canadian lawyers discovered Rowe's Web site, they told him that he was infringing on Microsoft's trademark and demanded that he transfer the domain in exchange for $10, the cost of his registration fee. Rowe refused, because he liked the domain name and had spent money starting his Web design business, so he asked for $10,000 to "cover his costs" and contacted the press. Last week, Rowe's story was published all over the world, and Microsoft's press relations machine eventually said it had taken the matter too seriously.

In the end, Microsoft and Mike Rowe came to an agreement. In exchange for transferring control of his domain name, the software maker has promised to help Rowe set up a new Web site; pay for a Microsoft certification course and subscription to the Microsoft Developer Network Web site; and pay for his family to visit Microsoft Research Tech Fest in Redmond, Wash., in March. To top it all off, he will get an Xbox with some games.

"We believe he's a bright young man with great potential," Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said, reading from a prepared statement on Friday. "We have agreed to help redirect any traffic to his new Web site to ensure that he does not lose any business."

Rowe's new Web site, which is called MikeRoweForums.com, already has more than 700 members and carries advertising banners for file-sharing service Warez P2P. In a posting to a forum discussion on the site, Rowe said he had decided to settle, because he didn't have a fraction of Microsoft's resources and couldn't face spending the next few years in a courtroom.

"I have a budget of about $1,000 to spend on lawyers, while Microsoft has a billion. If I happened to lose, after everything, I would have to pay the lawyers myself, which would make the rest of my life horrible," he said.

Rowe has offered to return any money donated to his defense fund. "As Microsoft has kindly offered to pay my out-of-pocket expenses, these donations will no longer be necessary. As I have said from the beginning, I was not into this to make money," he added.

CNet News.com

PSP in North America

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 15 Jan 2005 21:54:00 +0000

At CES 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Kaz Hirai let the much anticipated CES meeting slide without any concrete price nor firm launch date. Earlier this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO Ken Kutaragi announced that the PSP will have a North American launch of March, followed by Europe around the same time.

In Japan, the near-PS2 quality portable gaming device sold only about 510k units on account of GPU shortages. While the price and exact date still aren't entirely clear, the USD equivalent of the Japanese sale price is a little under $200USD. Some are speculating that the price could be even lower to contest Nintendo DS's long-held portable gaming throne even further. For those who can't be bothered waiting, this handy import price watch guide will help you pick the best dealer.

While the price and exact date aren't entirely clear, the USD equivalent of the Japanese sale price is a little under $200USD. Some are speculating that the price could be even lower to contest Nintendo DS's long-held portable throne even more.

For those who can't be bothered waiting, this handy import price watch guide will help you pick the best dealer.

UPDATE

Three major gaming sources weigh in:

Gamespot: "Unfortunately, anyone wanting concrete details about the US PSP launch was disappointed by today's presentation. After announcing that Sony had shipped 510,000 units of the portable in Japan by the end of December, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Kaz Hirai said that the company will "most likely release the PSP in late March 2005" in North America. The announcement is nothing new, since Sony has always maintained that the PSP would launch during the first quarter of 2005. [source]"

IGN: "In Japan, Sony waited until about a month before launching the system to announce price and date - two announcements that ended up being so shocking that they created their own buzz away from show event coverage. It is expected that SCE America will take the same tact, waiting until just before the launch to run a blitz of big PSP announcements … it is unknown if Sony has another shocker in store like the sub-$200 Japanese import price, but we're eager to find out one way or another. [source]"

1up: "This release information coincides with word coming out of Tokyo. At a gathering of business executives there Sony Computer Entertainment president and CEO Ken Kutaragi told reporters, "It will probably be March." He went on to add that they would "like to launch in Europe during March as well." [source]"

PSP411

Armstrong will wait until April to decide on Tour

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Sat, 15 Jan 2005 01:06:00 +0000

Six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong said Monday that he will make up his mind whether he competes in this year's renewal at the end of April.

Speaking at the unveiling of the new Discovery Channel cycling team in Silver Spring, Maryland, the 33-year-old Armstrong added that under the terms of hiscontract with his new sponsor he would have to take part in either this year's race or the one in 2006.

"The deal was I was going to do the Tour in 2005 or 2006," said the Texan.

Armstrong will race in the one-day Spring Classics in April before making up his mind.

"That would be a good time to adjust," he commented. "At the moment I cannot say if I will be able to take part. We are not ruling anything out, but we will see at the time."

Armstrong, though, said that his decision would not be based on his sometimes-fractious relations with the French public, in fact he claimed the majority of them like him.

"I think this perception between myself and the entire French public is absolutely incorrect," he said. "The majority of people are supporting me on the side of the road, a few say nasty things ... I am fine with that."

Armstrong added that he would like to compete in the Tour of Flanders from March 4-6, the Liege-Bastogne-Liege on April 24, The Fleche-Wallon and perhaps the Amstel Gold Cup on April 17.

Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team - 2005

Lance Armstrong (USA)
Jose Azevedo (POR)
Michael Barry (CAN)
Manuel Beltran (ESP)
Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN)
Volodymyr Bileka (UKR)
Janez Brajkovic (SLO)
Michael Creed (USA)
Antonio Cruz (USA)
Tom Danielson (USA)
Stijn Devolder (BEL)
Viatcheslav Ekimov (RUS)
Roger Hammond (GBR)
Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)
George Hincapie (USA)
Leif Hoste (BEL)
Benoit Joachim (LUX)
Jason McCartney (USA)
Patrick McCarty (USA)
Gennady Mikhaylov (RUS)
Benjamin Noval (ESP)
Pavel Padrnos (CZE)
Yaroslav Popovych (UKR)
Hayden Roulston (NZL)
Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP)
Paolo Savoldelli (ITA)
Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL)
Max Van Heeswijk (NED)

Haga Back To Yamaha

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 22:31:00 +0000

The following release is from Yamaha...

Yamaha has signed popular Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga to complete its line-up for the 2005 Superbike World Championship season.

Haga will race a YZF-R1 for the Milan-based Yamaha Motor Italia team, reuniting him with the brand on which he made his name in the late Nineties. The Japanese ace was a Yamaha rider between 1994 and 2001 and during this period he won 11 world superbike races, taking a best championship finish of second in the 2000 season, Yamaha's last year of official participation in the series.

Last year Noriyuki rode a privately-entered Ducati to six wins and third in the series, a result bettered only by the Italian manufacturer's factory entered riders.

Haga will have his first experience of the R1 when he joins team-mate Andrew Pitt in a three day test at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia later this month. Pitt has already completed two tests with the R1, both at Valencia in Spain, which Haga was unable to attend for contractual reasons.

In addition to Yamaha Motor Europe's officially-supported Italian squad, a number of other long-standing Yamaha teams have announced their intention to independently enter the 2005 Superbike World Championship using race-kitted YZF-R1 machinery. Among the teams due to line-up on the grid this year are: Yamaha Motor France, who will enter former Grand Prix riders Norifumi Abe and Sebastien Gimbert; European Superstock Champions Lorenzini by Leoni, who are running Italian rider Gianluca Vizziello; and reigning Endurance World Champions Yamaha GMT94, who are intending to enter selected rounds with Spanish rider David Checa.

Noriyuki Haga

"I'm looking forward to returning to Yamaha and turning the R1 into a winner! I am on holiday with my family just now so I should be feeling good when I meet up with the team for my first ride on the bike, at Phillip Island later this month. I'm very happy to be staying in superbikes and joining this good team. As everyone knows, I love this championship and I've also worked with many of my mechanics before, and also the people at Yamaha Europe, so it will not feel all new to me. It should be fun!"

Claudio Consonni - Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Italia

"We're all very excited about Noriyuki joining us for this year. He is one of the all-time greats of world superbike and a very popular rider. Already there is a great spirit within the team after Andrew's valuable feedback and performances in our early tests and now we're looking forward to getting out to Australia for our first test with both riders."

Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe)

"We're looking forward to working with Nori-chan again. His performances last year showed that his is as fast as ever and he is also such a popular rider - that is good for us, the championship and our fans.

"Andrew has already had two good tests but our bike is still an unknown quantity at this level and we will be going to each circuit without a base set up. We have set a target of being able to win races in the latter half of the season and we believe that we will be able to challenge for the title in 2006."

GPS tracking of suspects requires warrant, Washington court rules

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 22:30:00 +0000

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Police cannot attach a Global Positioning System tracker to a suspect's vehicle without a warrant, the Washington Supreme Court declared Thursday in the first such ruling in the nation.

The court, however, refused to overturn the murder conviction of William Bradley Jackson, who unknowingly led police to the shallow grave of his 9-year-old daughter in 1999. Spokane County deputies had a warrant for the GPS tracking device used in that case, although prosecutors argued they did not need one.

``Use of GPS tracking devices is a particularly intrusive method of surveillance, making it possible to acquire an enormous amount of personal information about the citizen under circumstances where the individual is unaware that every single vehicle trip taken and the duration of every single stop may be recorded by the government,'' Justice Barbara Madsen wrote in the unanimous decision

She raised the prospect of citizens being tracked to ``the strip club, the opera, the baseball game, the `wrong' side of town, the family planning clinic, the labor rally.''

The closely watched case had evoked worries about police using the satellite-tracking devices like Big Brother to watch citizens' every move.

Doug Honig, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, said the ruling is the first of its kind in the country.

Attaching a GPS device to a car is ``the equivalent of placing an invisible police officer in a person's back seat,'' Honig said. ``Our state constitution has very strong protections for privacy. Some other states also have very strong protections for privacy. This will be a strong precedent for them to look at and for any law enforcement agency around the country.''

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Korsmo pronounced himself satisfied that Jackson's conviction had been upheld.

But he said the court had expanded privacy rights for criminal suspects. He said that in previous cases involving surveillance by more conventional means, such as binoculars or the naked eye, the high court held that there was no right of privacy for what a person did out in public.

In the Jackson case, the murder defendant had sought to have the warrant thrown out, arguing that it was based on the slimmest of premises: If he was guilty, he might return to the scene of the crime.

Prosecutors contended that the warrant was proper and that they did not even need a warrant; they contended that the GPS was equivalent to tailing Jackson in an unmarked car.

The high court agreed the warrant was valid, but it rejected the comparison between the GPS device and tailing a suspect.

``The devices in this case were in place for approximately 2 1/2 weeks,'' Madsen wrote. ``It is unlikely that the sheriff's department could have successfully maintained uninterrupted 24-hour surveillance throughout this time by following Jackson.''

A call to Jackson's attorney was not immediately returned.

Jackson reported his daughter missing the day she died. He was arrested nearly a month later after investigators used the GPS system to map his routes to the burial site.

He acknowledged burying the body but denied killing the girl. He said he panicked after finding her body in her bed. His lawyers contended the girl, Valiree, died from an overdose of a prescription anti-depressant.

Prosecutors said Jackson smothered Valiree with a pillow because she did not get along with a woman he wanted to marry. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 56 years in prison.

Jordan Steps It Up

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 19:25:00 +0000

The following release is from Michael Jordan Motorsports/Suzuki...

Michael Jordan Motorsports / Suzuki today announced that riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart will compete on Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle road race equipment for the 2005 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Superbike Series.

The riders will concentrate on two classes of racing. Pridmore will focus on both the AMA series 1000cc Superbike and 1000cc Superstock feature classes, with Rapp and Stewart focusing on the Superstock class. Rapp and Stewart are also scheduled to appear in the Superbike class with Superstock equipment throughout the season. All riders will compete using new 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000 machines prepared by Gemini Technology Systems.

Primary sponsorship for the Michael Jordan Motorsports team will come from the Jordan Brand. Other major team sponsors include Suzuki Motor Company, Yoshimura R&D, Gatorade, and Dunlop Tires, with more to be announced at a later date. Pete Mauhar of Gemini Technology Systems of Wisconsin will again manage the technical aspects of the team. Ammar Bazzaz of BPD (formerly with Yoshimura / Suzuki's Mat Mladin) will also be assigned as team Superbike Crew Chief and attend to the technical data acquisition and electronic management systems. BPD will also provide the suspension maintenance for all 3 riders.

Racer Jason Pridmore, 35, is the 1997 AMA 750 SuperSport Champion, 2002 AMA Formula Extreme Champion, 2003 FIM World Endurance Champion, and is the founder of the STAR Motorcycle School. The 32-year old Rapp won 2 AMA Superstock races in 2003, with 5 more top-5 finishes. Montez Stewart, 30, raced for Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 and is the only returning rider for the team. Richie Alexander, 1998 AMA 750 Super Sport Champion and Pridmore's fellow STAR School Instructor will also work with the team as the Superstock class Crew Chief overseeing all three Superstock machines, riders, and crew.

The Michael Jordan Motorsports team will attend the Dunlop Tire test with new Suzuki GSXR 1000 equipment at Daytona International Speedway from January 3-5, 2005. Pridmore, Rapp and Stewart will all attend the tests.

Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry.

Michael Jordan Motorsports race team operations are being managed by Clear Channel Motorsports, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment.

Will you be watching high-def porn on HD DVD or Blu-ray?

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:17:00 +0000

Given how predictably lame the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD over which format is going to be the high-def successor to DVD has become lately, it seems only fitting that it could be the preferences of the porn industry, which releases 11,000 titles each year (a number which keeps us crazy, uh, busy), that ends up tipping it to one side or the other. ZDNet reports on the debates the industry is having over the formats—HD DVD is supposed to be cheaper to produce, Blu-ray is going to offer better picture quality—are pretty much exactly the same arguments people are having in the non-porn world.

From www.engadget.com

What Age Do You Act?

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:03:00 +0000

Take this test: What Age Do You Act?
I still act like a kid...

This baby's got 2 Hemis

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 09:02:00 +0000

By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News

Yeah, that thang's got a Hemi. In fact, it's got two.

In a surprise move Sunday, DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group unveiled the Jeep Hurricane concept, a brawny off-roader powered by two of the automaker's famous V-8 engines and an answer to critics who believe the famously rugged Jeep brand is going soft.

"We haven't forgotten, nor will we ever forget, what makes a Jeep a Jeep," said Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche, standing next to the open-top monster at the 2005 North American International Auto Show.

Chrysler will more than double the Jeep lineup by 2007, beginning this year with a luxury SUV and later with expected car-based models, but Hurricane makes clear that Jeep is not ready to abandon its off-road heritage.

The Hurricane's two engines -- one in front, one back -- combine to make 670 horsepower, and offer 740 foot-pounds of torque. It has 14 inches of ground clearance, and does 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds. The signature feature is a steering system that allows it to turn in a complete circle in the same spot.

While Hurricane is a concept, Zetsche said patents developed could show up on future Jeeps.

Windham wins AMA Supercross race in Anaheim

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 07:31:00 +0000

From www.amamotorcross.com

1-9 - Tonight was the first time in history that a THQ AMA Supercross Series race sold out a month before the gate even dropped. Due to heavy rains, qualifying was condensed as well as the main event. Runner-up in last year’s THQ AMA Supercross Series Kevin Windham, of Baton Rouge, La., won the 250-class race as all 45,050 fans gave him a standing ovation.

Anaheim I results & points

Windham followed Team Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, the all-time winningest AMA motocross rider, through turn one. Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., cashed in on the $1,500 Butterfinger Holeshot Award and led the first four laps before crashing. Nearly every top rider crashed or stalled their bike in the main event, but it was Windham who persevered.

“It was chaos tonight, “ said Windham. “With about three laps to go, I went down, but I managed to get it back up and get the win. “It was tough for my mechanic; he had his hands full.”

Honda’s Mike LaRocco finished second and Carmichael finished third. Kawasaki’s James Stewart finished 5th; Chad Reed finished 16th; Jeremy McGrath was 20th.

“These little legs of mine are tired,” said Carmichael. “I kept trying and I knew I had it in me to get my Suzuki in front. These are some loyal fans out here. I am going to donate my $1,500 holeshot check to the victims of the tsunami.”

Reigning 125 West Region Champion Ivan Tedesco, of Murrieta, Calif., led the pack through turn one, earning the $1,000 Butterfinger Holeshot Award. Ramsey, a 125 regional supercross champion in 1999, passed Tedesco on lap three and led the remainder of the muddy main event.

“I made the change to the KTM and things are going unbelievably good,” said Ramsey. “We will be back here in a couple weeks, and I hope to make this thing really shine. Thanks for all the fans who were cheering us on.”

Night’s race will be broadcast on ESPN2 tomorrow from Noon-2 p.m. EST. Racing tales place next Saturday, January 15 at Phoenix’s Bank One Ballpark.

Robot makers say World Cup will be theirs by 2050

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 06:30:00 +0000

Robots playing football during a RoboCup game in Japan.
Picture: AFP/ Getty Images

From www.scotsman.com
JULIAN RYALL
IN TOKYO

Key points
• Japanese robotics experts claim robots will beat humans at football by 2050
• Keio University of Tokyo recent winners of robot world cup in Lisbon
• New robot, VisiON, stands 38cm tall and operates independently of humans

Key quote
"By 2050, our aim is to beat the winners of football’s World Cup and we are very confident that we will be able to do that" - Shu Ishiguro, head of Robot Laboratory in Osaka

Story in full THE footballers of tomorrow will have the midfield guile of Zinedine Zidane, the finishing ability of Andriy Shevchenko and the staying power of Roy Keane.

A Japanese consortium of robotics experts has thrown down the gauntlet to future players of the beautiful game by claiming their engineered humans will play mankind off the park within 45 years.

"By 2050, our aim is to beat the winners of football’s World Cup and we are very confident that we will be able to do that," said Shu Ishiguro, who heads Robot Laboratory in Osaka. "When we have accomplished that, we will have a society in which humans and artificial intelligence are completely in harmony."

Mr Ishiguro and his team are placing their faith in the offspring of VisiON.

Standing a mere 38cm tall and weighing just 2.4kg, VisiON would not be expected to trouble the defences of most professional football teams, but it has taken some vast strides in recent years.

Equipped with thighs that Steven Gerrard would be proud of, VisiON operates completely independently of human input, making its own decisions based on information that it perceives, and is able to recognise the football, approach it and deliver a hefty kick. It is also able to identify an opponent and shield the ball in much the same way as a human player does.

It might not be the fastest thing on two legs, but it does already have one very major advantage over human players.

"On top of VisiON’s head is a 360-degree vision sensor, meaning that it does not have to turn its head to see in any direction," said Mr Ishiguro.

Having eyes in the back of its head will deprive the crowds of the future of that standard warning "Man on!"

Widely regarded as the world’s leaders in robotics, Japanese experts have been working on bipedal machines capable of a broad range of tasks for several years. The decision to push ahead with a soccer-playing version was in part the result of robot world cup tournaments, the most recent of which was held in Lisbon, with the team from Tokyo’s Keio University winning the middle-size robot league and Osaka-based Systec Akazawa winning the humanoid league.

A remarkable 346 teams from 37 countries took part in the championships, and the next tournament, RoboCup 2005, is scheduled for July in Osaka.

While much of their energy is focused on football, robotics experts in Osaka are also busy developing more functional aides. Security robots come in the shape of dinosaurs and are programmed to stomp around offices; ankle-high vacuum cleaning robots are on the market already and Hospi is designed to make life easier for hospital staff by providing medical charts and taking X-rays.

At the 2005 World Expo, which opens in Nagoya in March, humanoid robots that can recognise faces and remember names will be on hand to give directions to visitors and help out in child-care facilities.

One area that researchers are not keen on tackling, however, is robot armies. "Down through human history, the weapon that has caused the most deaths has been the knife, so all technology has a risk, but what we do with this technology is up to human beings," Mr Ishiguro said. "I don’t think the idea of robot armies is a good one, but that’s not my decision."

He also dodges the question of a robot insurrection, a possibility that will not have escaped anyone in the industry after the release of the Will Smith film I, Robot.

"All these advanced technologies have an element of risk and we can warn of the dangerous aspects of robots in human society," Mr Ishiguro shrugs, "but cars, for example, successfully collaborate with humans and have been safely integrated into society.

"Everyone who saw the RoboCup could see the advantages of technology and, as long as its development is kept open to the public, there is going to be no danger. But developments in the future we must discuss at that time, as a society."

Mr Ishiguro is confident a player of steel and wire will one day lift the most prestigious trophy in football. "The important thing to remember is what you see here is just the beginning," says Mr Ishiguro.

VisiON has already perfected the victory pose. Reminiscent of Eric Cantona in his pomp, it leans slightly to one side, hands on hips and with the ball - and the world - at its feet.

Milky Way's Center Packed with Black Holes

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 06:02:00 +0000

By Robert Roy Britt
www.space.com

SAN DIEGO -- A new study reveals that the center of our Milky Way Galaxy is loaded with black holes, as astronomers have expected in recent years.

The galactic center is dominated by one supermassive black hole. It packs a mass equal to about 3 million Suns. Around it, scientists have expected to find a high concentration of stellar black holes, the sort that result from the collapse of massive stars. Each can be a few to many times the mass of the Sun.

Observations have hinted at the existence of many stellar black holes near the galactic center. But nosing around there is hard, because the region is shrouded in dust. Visible light doesn't escape the region.

The ongoing study, led by UCLA postdoctoral fellow Michael Muno, is searching the inner 75-light-years of the galaxy with the NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. X-rays conveniently pierce interstellar dust.

Muno and his colleagues have found strong evidence for seven black holes (they could be neutron stars, which are also very dense). Importantly, four of the objects were concentrated in the inner 3 light-years of space around the supermassive black hole.

"The observed high concentration of these sources implies that a huge number of black holes and neutron stars have gathered in the center of the galaxy," Muno said.

Extrapolating to the whole sky, the finding suggest a swarm of 10,000 black holes and neutron stars orbit near the galaxy's middle.

A theory by UCLA's Mark Morris, co-researcher on the new project, predicted the concentration back in 1993. Dense objects like black holes interact gravitationally with less dense stars. The lighter stars tend to get jettisoned outward, Morris figured, while the black holes slow down on their orbital trek around the galactic center, and they sink inward.

The black holes can't be seen directly. Those that are detected have likely taken a companion, a normal star that they devour gradually, the theorists figure. The extended feast also involves a release of X-rays as gas from the normal star is superheated until it glows before plunging beyond the point of no return.

The findings were reported here at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society. More research is needed to confirm the conclusions, the scientists said.

Announcing Apple iProduct

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:51:00 +0000

Click to view full size - readable Funny stuff
From AiT/Planet Lar

Likely First Photo of Planet Beyond the Solar System

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:08:00 +0000

A group of European-led astronomers has made a photograph of what appears to be a planet orbiting another star. If so, it would be the first confirmed picture of a world beyond our solar system.

Sonics avenge opening loss to Clippers

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 11:16:00 +0000

Their sustenance had always been derived from their offense, a timely three-pointer from the corner or salacious slam over a defender that injected life into a listless KeyArena crowd which in turn fed energy to the Sonics.

Ken Jennings

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 11:10:00 +0000

It's boring to have the same guy win. I'm actively rooting against myself. -- TV Guide 14-Nov-2004

Quote

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:14:00 +0000

Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.
Niels Bohr (1885 - 1962)

2005 Kawasaki ZX-6RR

noreply@blogger.com (NeonGuru) — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:04:00 +0000

Beauty eh?