Saturday, September 18, 2004

Article: Martial arts robots hit Asian tech fair�| New Scientist: "But impressive as these high-kicking robots are, Frederic Kaplan, at Sony's robotics laboratory in France, says making more agile robots is not the biggest challenge facing robotics researchers at the moment.

'There are challenges in terms of mechanics still, but the biggest gap would be in intelligence,' he told New Scientist. 'One of the key things we are looking at now is developmental robotics, where a robot learns.'"

Thursday, September 16, 2004

The Virtual Window Project: "'Where do you want to live today?'
What if only your imagination limited what you could see outside your windows? Flat panel technology is quickly becoming bigger, better, and more affordable, which will allow for all sorts of fun ways to transport your domicile to wherever tickles your fancy. This is my modest attempt to view something more interesting than my neighbors.
WHAT?
The Virtual Windows above consist of eight 15' LCD panels connected via custom-built cables to two nVidia Quadro PCI video cards, each with four DVI outputs. The LCD backlight inverters are driven by their own power supply (sitting on top of the PC) and the panels get their 3.3v power from the PC's ATX power supply. The total desktop resolution is 3072x2048. A small Visual Basic app cycles pre-cut images every 15 minutes and Windows manages the arrangement. The only reason the cables are visible is becase the stupid fireplace is in the way and that wall isn't due to be remodeled for quite a while."
2004 Supersport Shootout - MotorcycleUSA.com: "2004 Supersport Shootout
8/28/2004
By Kevin Duke
Photos By Tom Lavine
Supersport Survivor
We're all suckers for 600s around here. Boasting race-bred handling along with more 'rational' and manageable power than the headline-grabbing literbikes, they provide a performance ride that is perhaps the best balanced in the realm of sportbikedom.

This year sees the arrival of an all-new contender to the class since our 2003 Supersport Showdown the completely retooled GSX-R600. Last year, the four-year-old Gixxer struggled to keep pace with the three new offerings from the rest of the Japanese Big Four. Now the shoe is on the other foot as the freshly baked 2004 Suzuki is the one attracting the limelight. "

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

The Official Site of Suzuki� Motorcycles, Quadrunner ATVs and Scooters: "New
Headlight switches off during startup to reduce load on battery
Key Features
Named 'Best Middleweight Sportbike' - Cycle World Magazine
Engine Features
Compact & lightweight 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine with several features designed to reduce mechanical loss and increase power
Forged pistons with chrome-nitride-plated upper compression rings and oil control rings for a harder, more consistent ring finish and reduced friction
Narrow crankshaft main journals to reduce friction, plus lightweight chrome-moly steel connecting rods
Hydraulic cam chain tensioner fed by internal oil passageway system - eliminates external oil hose and reduces weight
Tapered, double-barrel throttle body design features Suzuki's SDTV throttle valve system, plus multi-hole-type injectors for optimum fuel atomization and throttle response
32-bit ECM with high ROM memory, plus 22 trigger-pole rpm sensor provide precise control of fuel and ignition systems - all housed in a small, lightweight control box
One-piece cylinder block and upper crankcase section is equipped ventilation holes between cylinders to reduce crankcase pressure and reduce mechanical loss
Lightweight stainless steel exhaust system featuring a high capacity muffler with titanium core pipes and aluminum outer sleeve
High capacity oil cooler, plus compact radiator and cooling fan assembly reduce weight while maintaining optimum cooling capacity
6-speed transmission with close ratio 5th & 6th gears and high capacity clutch"
Firefox near 1.0 milestone, market share soaring: "Firefox has really roared these past few months, putting unprecedented heat on Microsoft. Just this past summer Microsoft saw its first ever drop in market share, and the threat was enough to get the Redmond giant to reconvene its Internet Explorer team to finally get crackin'. Here at Ars we've seen Netscape/Firefox usage increase more than 75%, and in my personal life I've grown so tired of helping out friends and family with the IE exploit du jour that my fix is always the same: use Firefox. (Flame on if you must, but in my anecdotal experience, this has worked wonders.)"
BW Online | September 20, 2004 | Suddenly, It's AMD Inside: "Suddenly, It's AMD Inside
The perennial underdog is challenging Intel with a new class of microprocessors

For 35 years, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD ) stood in the shadow of archrival Intel Corp. (INTC ) AMD churned out lower-priced clones of the tech leader's chips and occasionally enjoyed a hit that helped boost its meager profits. But bad times easily outweighed the good. Again and again, Intel used its manufacturing muscle and pricing power to stymie AMD's ambitions, preventing it from gaining a foothold in lucrative markets such as servers and corporate PCs. "

Monday, September 13, 2004

CNN.com - Ivan swirls through Caribbean - Sep 11, 2004: "(CNN) -- Hurricane Ivan has strengthened to a Category 5 storm after battering the island of Jamaica with heavy rain and strong winds, killing 11 people.
As of 11 p.m., Ivan's maximum sustained winds were near 165 mph (270 kph), with higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. "

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

New blue-laser Afterburner drive stores 23GB | MacNN News: "NitroAV.com has introduced its new 23GB FireWire 800 DVD AfterBurner dives, the latest generation of blue laser-based Professional Disc for DATA (ProDATA) drives as well as new FireWire 800 repeaters and new FireWire 800-based hardware RAID solutions. Based on blue laser technology, the AfterBurner stores up to 23GB of native capacity per rewritable or write-one, read-many (WORM) single-sided media, delivering an advanced optical storage and archiving solution for professional data-intensive applications. It is available now with pricing starting at $3000.

The high capacity and high performance AfterBurner drives are designed specifically for professional audio/video editing/authoring, storage applications, graphic design and medical imaging, e-mail archival, enterprise content management and multimedia projects. The AfterBurner drive features a durable, airtight structure to prevent dust particles from coming in contact with the drive mechanism and disc surface, increasing durability and reliability, while still offering the convenience of removable optical storage. This optical solution allows for high-speed random access of files, making it suitable for both near-line and archival storage applications. "

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

: "Glass breakthrough
11 August 2004
Scientists in the US have developed a novel technique to make bulk quantities of glass from alumina for the first time. Anatoly Rosenflanz and colleagues at 3M in Minnesota used a 'flame-spray' technique to alloy alumina (aluminium oxide) with rare-earth metal oxides to produce strong glass with good optical properties. The method avoids many of the problems encountered in conventional glass forming and could, say the team, be extended to other oxides (A Rosenflanz et al. 2004 Nature 430 761).
Glass is formed when a molten material is cooled so quickly that its constituent atoms do not have time to align themselves into an ordered lattice. However, it is difficult to make glasses from most materials because they need to be cooled -- or quenched -- at rates of up to 10 million degrees per second. "
Nippon Sheet Glass Acquires License from Research Frontiers to Make SPD-Smart Light-Control Film: "Nippon Sheet Glass has already begun working with, and will be buying SPD emulsion from, other licensees of Research Frontiers, coating such emulsion into an SPD light-control film, and selling such film to companies licensed by Research Frontiers to make SPD-Smart end-products.
In a window, sunroof, or other product using VaryFast(TM) SPD-Smart(TM) technology, the user can manually or automatically 'tune' the amount of light, glare and heat coming into a home, office, aircraft, train or other vehicle. SPD-Smart windows, which can reduce energy consumption, also block over 99% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to protect occupants and prevent the fading of carpets, furniture, and artwork. Additional information about SPD-Smart windows and other products can be found at www.SmartGlass.com. "
Gameplanet Forums - Top 9 NBC Comentators Comments from the Olympics: "1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'

2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'

4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'"
Article: US plans portable nuclear power plants�| New Scientist: "US plans portable nuclear power plants

14:15 03 September 04

Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.

A nuclear reactor that can meet the energy needs of developing countries without the risk that they will use the by-products to make weapons is being developed by the US Department of Energy. "

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Atkins Diet: Does It Really Work And Is It Safe?: "Astrup reports some heart risk factors improved in subjects on a low-carbohydrate diet, however, Astrup noted the Atkins diet is not healthy because it restricts whole-grains, fruit, and vegetables.

The absence of these foods 'might increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease,' wrote Astrup.

Side-effects from the Atkins diet include muscle cramps, diarrhea, general weakness, and rashes.

Dr. Astrup also indicated long term studies of up to 2 years are needed to assess the effectiveness of the low-carbohydrate diets.

He recommends people who want to lose weight and keep it off, increase physical activity and eat a diet low in fat and reduced calories."
Passion Of The Christ DVD Sales Top 4 Million In Single Day: "Passion Of The Christ DVD Sales Top 4 Million In Single Day

September 02, 2004

DVD sales of Mel Gibson's controversial biblical epic, 'The Passion of the Christ' topped 4 million in a single day, according to Fox Home Entertainment, the film's distributor.

The record for one-day DVD sales belongs to the computer-animated feature 'Finding Nemo,' at 8 million. The Passion of the Christ trails the record breaker with 4.1 million units sold in a single day, however, it remains significant, considering Passion's R rating, and sub-titles.

Worldwide, 'The Passion' starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, brought in $610 million at box offices, with $370 million in North America alone.

Mel Gibson wrote, directed and financed the controversial film."

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Aprilia RS125R - Review - Hot italian sex machine Having passed my CBT on a Yamaha 125cc old touring style bike, I was fortunate that my friend was selling his Aprilia RS125 Extrema. This bike in true Italian pedigree looks the mutts, a mixture of jet black, a lot of eye catching devilish red with hints of the frames aluminium alloy make up the chassis, leaving black alloy wheels with fat racing tyres to move the bike that are controlled by huge metallic brake discs which make up this hot racer. This builds upon Aprilias’ RS124 reputation as the fastest 125cc bike and is known to keep up with some 250cc racers, which gives this bike a lot of respect. My dials are white and are in kilometres per hour and the odometer/trip meter in kilometres so you will have to remember the conversion to keep within the law. The bike I ride is also derestricted letting the revs wind up all the way to the max, and to be seen you will have to cover the blinding flash from left hand front light to make it road legal
TIME.com: Putin, Too, Finds 'War on Terror' Unwinnable Moreover, the state of the Chechen economy after five years of war also works to the advantage of the separatists — with unemployment at around 80 percent, the job prospects for many fighting-age Chechen men are restricted to joining the pro-Moscow militias or doing contract work for the rebels. (Bombing an oil pipeline is believed to earn a Chechen fighter in the region of $400, a princely sum in a pauperized population.) And for many, particularly the "black widows" who have seen fathers, brothers and husbands killed by the Russian security forces, revenge is as powerful a motive as money — the suicide bombers of both airliners and the subway station are believed to be Chechen women who had lost loved ones in the war.
MSNBC - Web of Violence Reports from the scene indicate the suspects’ body parts were scattered more widely than the remains of other crash victims, suggesting the terrorist suspects either had explosives strapped to their bodies or were right near the explosive device that they are believed to have detonated as the planes flew at cruising altitude. Family members have stepped forward to claim the remains of all crash victims except the two suspected women bombers. Investigators suspect that they boarded their target planes using phony names and identification.
ABCNEWS.com : Iran Said Nearing Enrichment of Uranium: "VIENNA, Austria Sept. 1, 2004 � Iran plans to process tons of raw uranium and restart its centrifuges two activities that can be used to make nuclear warheads, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency and diplomats said Wednesday.
The United States which accuses Tehran of running a weapons program said the revelations provided further evidence Iran's nuclear activities pose 'a threat to international peace and security.'"
New Zealand News - World - Israel destroys bomber's home: "Sharon said the bombings - the first in five months - would not deter him from evacuating the Gaza Strip next year, but pledged a steadfast battle against militants who have stepped up attacks before a pullout.
'We will fight this terror with all our might,' Sharon said after the attacks in the southern city of Beersheba. "
ABCNEWS.com : Florida Calls for Hurricane Evacuations: "MIAMI Sept. 1, 2004 � Hundreds of thousands of people were told Wednesday to get ready to evacuate as powerful Hurricane Frances crept closer to Florida just weeks after Hurricane Charley's rampage. It would be the worst double hurricane strike on one state in at least a century. "
The New York Times > International > Europe > Hostage Crisis Unfolds in Russia as Guerrillas Seize School: "Russia's defense minister, Sergei B. Ivanov, speaking in Moscow even as the hostage crisis unfolded in the south, said the attacks scourging the country amounted to a state of war.
'War has been declared on us, where the enemy is unseen and there is no front,' Mr. Ivanov said. 'This is regrettably not the first and I fear not the last terrorist act.'
The school's seizure occurred the morning after a suicide bomber set off an explosion outside a subway station in Moscow, killing at least 10 others and wounding 50 in the latest convulsion of terrorist violence that has struck fear into Russians. Because of the nature of the explosives, officials said today, the Moscow attack appeared to be linked to the bombings of two passenger airliners, which crashed simultaneously on Aug. 24, killing 90."
SevenStock.orgSunday
Racing Beat Open House
4789 E Wesley Dr
Anaheim, CA 92807-1941

This year, we are going to feature an RX-8 showcase at our second day event at Racing Beat. So, for all those attending SevenStock-7, Racing Beat will be going around and picking 8s on Saturday, to showcase at their open house on Sunday. There will also be other RENESIS related developments for all to see at RB that same day. But, the most important part of the open house will be the "SALE" that RB does every year at SevenStock... RB drops prices 15% or more this day, so bring your spending money.
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