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Nonflying mosquitoes bred to reduce dengue fever

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A British-US research team has introduced a new species of female mosquito that cannot fly in an attempt to stop the spread of the mosquito-borne dengue fever virus, a severe illness with influenza type symptoms that threatens millions of people. ?

Nanoscale heart imaging doesnt miss a beat

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Technological advances give the medical sector a huge boost, with people suffering from various disorders benefiting the most. A European team of researchers has developed a novel nanoscale scanning technique that gives experts a detailed look at ?

AIRMEX cautions indoor pollutants are too high

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

EU-funded research shows that many harmful air pollutants make their presence known more indoors than outdoors. AIRMEX (the 'European Indoor Air Monitoring and Exposure Assessment Project') investigated indoor air quality and personal ?

BRIDGEBSR Roundtable Gdansk Poland

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The BRIDGE-BSR Roundtable will take place in Gdansk, Poland on 9 March 2010. The BRIDGE-BSR Roundtable is a dialogue between regional decision and opinion makers and the ScanBalt BioRegion Community. It aims to implement recommendations from the ?

Living Planet Symposium 2010 Bergen Norway

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The European Space Agency (ESA) Living Planet Symposium 2010 will be held in Bergen, Norway from 28 June to 2 July 2010. Organised with the support of the Norwegian Space Centre, the objective of the event is to present the results of ESA Earth ?

Call for proposals on protecting children using the Internet

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The European Commission is issuing a call for proposals for a multi-annual 'Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies' (Safer Internet). The programme will be based on four ?

First Solar?s Former CEO Dumps Shares While Current CEO Buys

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dr. Duru submits:

Now we know the source of some of this week’s selling pressure in First Solar’s (FSLR) stock. Michael Ahearn, former CEO and current Executive Chairman, dumped $142.1M in company stock between the 22nd and 24th. He sold another $20.7M on the 25th and 26th.

However, the good news is that on Friday two First Solar executives stepped up to the plate and BOUGHT shares, the current CEO and an EVP. While FSLR made no official announcement of Ahearn’s earlier sales, the company was prompt in announcing the insider purchases alongside Ahearn’s second set of sales. Here are the buyers and their total purchases along with links to the SEC form 4 filings:

Complete Story »

Bloom Energy Emergence Leads CleanTech

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The big story of the week is the emergence of Bloom Energy Corporation. The Silicon Valley-based company has been developing solid oxide fuel cells in almost complete secrecy since 2001, and on Wednesday it unveiled its first product, called the Bloom Energy Server. Also known as the "Bloom Box," the device already is being used by Fortune 500 customers such as Bank of America (BAC), Coca-Cola (KO), Google (GOOG) and eBay (EBAY).

At a cost of about $700,000, a Bloom Box can provide 100 kilowatts of power using natural gas or biogas. After federal and state subsidies, the company says the units produce power at $0.09-$0.10 per kilowatt hour and have a payback period of three to five years. Fuel cell technology has been around for years, but companies have yet to prove that the devices can hold up under rigorous use. In a video interview, CEO K.R. Sridhar said his company has made technological advances that allow for a more robust device. Bloom Energy says it has long-range plans to develop much smaller units for residential use.

Complete Story »

Is Lithium the 21st Centurys Oil? Part IV

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

<<<Return to Part III

Lithium and China

Complete Story »

Will Google Charge Your Electric Cars?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John Addison submits:

Google (GOOG) finally won approval from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] to be an electric utility. Now that they are making billions delivering web ads, do they want to make added billions selling electricity? Quite possibly. Google already offers a smart meter app that allows smart grid customers to manage their home electricity use. With their new approval to be a utility, Google could be a smart grid / smart charge service provider.

Auto makers and utilities have already agreed on smart charging standards that allow you to plug-in using a J1772 connection, but not have charging start immediately. A service provider is needed to look at your preferences, take action, and provide information. Your preference might be to not charge until 9 p.m., when rates fall to a fraction of peak electricity demand hours. You might want to receive a text message when your charging is complete. You might want Google Maps to show you the nearest public charging stations that are available and display their cost per kilowatt hour. It looks like a natural for companies like Google. Their story gets better in the year’s ahead when cars are V2G enabled.

Complete Story »

Training Wheels Are Coming off of Germanys Solar Industry

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Green Chip Review submits:

On July 1, the training wheels will come off Germany's world-leading solar panel industry. Will investors stay for the ride?

The feed-in tariff (FIT) that the biggest economy in Europe has used to stimulate its domestic photovoltaic (PV) market for the past decade is about to be cut by double digits. It's partly a response to fiscal pressure and complaints from some constituents, but Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-right Bundestag (German parliament) colleagues hope to maintain market dominance despite the changes.

Complete Story »

3 Ways to Invest in Nuclear Power The Real Alternative Energy Play

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aaron Katsman submits:

With global warming mania sweeping the globe, much attention has been focused on alternative energy sources. While some of us are quite cool to the global warming theory (the fact that the earth is cooling may have something to do with it), hundreds of billions of dollars have been invested developing new methods of energy creation that are supposedly friendlier to the environment than crude oil or coal. From harnessing wind or the sun to electric cars, everyone is trying to get in on the alternative energy/cleantech boom. In fact, President Obama made the development of alternative energy a cornerstone of his presidency.

Until now, one key source of alternative energy had been largely ignored by the general public. This changed last month when President Obama proposed to triple public financing of nuclear power. Nuclear power has always had very vocal critics, but the dirty little secret is that it is the most widely used source of alternative energy in use. While there hasn’t been a new nuclear power plant built in the US in 30 years, according to the European Nuclear Society (ENS), in Europe there are 17 currently under construction to go with 194 facilities already in use. The ENS reports, “In terms of electricity generated by nuclear energy in 2008, France holds the top position with a share of 76.2%, followed by Lithuania with 72.9%, the Slovakian Republic with 54.4%, Belgium with 53.8% and Sweden with 42 %.” Japan generates 30% of its electricity from nuclear reactors. China can’t seem to build the power plants fast enough.

Complete Story »

Why I Dont Expect a LithiumIon Battery Glut

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John Petersen submits:

It's no secret that I think plug-in electric vehicles are unconscionable waste and pollution masquerading as conservation. To support my opinions, I've published an easy to follow Excel spreadsheet that shows why plug-ins are 5x to 6x less effective than HEVs when it comes to reducing national gasoline consumption and 9x to 12x less effective than HEVs when it comes to reducing national CO2 emissions. To date, the only challenges to my analysis have come from die-hard EV fanatics who seem to believe battery factories grow on trees and raw material supply chains sprout like flowers in an alpine meadow.

In early February, Joann Muller of Forbes warned of a coming Electric Car Battery Glut based on published estimates that global lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity would reach 36 million kWh by 2016. Just this week, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants released a study that forecasts a lithium-ion battery supply bubble between 2015 and 2017 and predicts an industry-wide consolidation where "only six to eight global battery manufacturers will survive in the next five to seven years."

Complete Story »

Clipper Wind Power Developer Moves to Expand UK Manufacturing Base

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Clipper Windpower Marine Limited, a subsidiary of Clipper Windpower, Inc. (CRPWF.PK), announced groundbreaking for a new manufacturing facility to produce blades for offshore wind turbines in Neptune Estate, Tyne, UK.

The new 4,000-square-meter facility is expected to be completed in 3Q10. The site is owned by the City of Newcastle and is being developed by Shepherd Offshore Services.

Complete Story »

Waste Management Invests in WastetoBiofuels Company

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Houston, Texas-based Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) announced its participation in the latest funding round for Enerkem Inc., a waste-to-biofuels company.

Enerkem's proprietary thermo-chemical technology helps convert waste materials into biofuels such as ethanol. Its technology is able to process diverse carbon-based feedstocks, including sorted municipal solid waste, construction and demolition wood, as well as agricultural and forest residues.

Complete Story »

Finding a Third Way to Fix US Government

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Peter Morici submits:

American government is broken, failing under promises it can’t keep.

From Medicare and Medicaid to fixing the environment and potholes, governments face huge deficits. Taxes must go up and services curtailed dramatically, or massive borrowing will create hyper-inflation.

Complete Story »

Is Lithium the 21st Centurys Oil? Part III

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Why is the lithium ion battery better?

There are three main types of rechargeable batteries: Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), and Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). The main advantage of using lithium batteries over the others is higher charge density. Lithium batteries are smaller than equivalents such as nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), and much lighter. In layman’s terms they “punch above their weight.” And unlike nickel cadmium batteries, lithium ion batteries do not suffer from “memory effect.” They also have a low self-discharge rate of approximately 5% per month, compared with over 30% per month in common Ni-MH batteries, 10% per month in nickel cadmium batteries.

Complete Story »

Is Lithium 21st Centurys Oil? Part I

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Lithium-ion batteries power most of the world’s laptops and mobile phones and lithium has become an important mineral. But lithium could have a more serious and lasting global impact. With tumultuous and uncertain oil prices and growing environmental concerns, governments and manufacturers are turning to alternative fuels. Hybrids and pure electric vehicles require batteries. And these batteries will most likely use lithium. Unlike nickel-based batteries, lithium batteries weigh less and have longer storage capacity. Therefore electric car batteries that use lithium will be able to store more energy and be driven longer distances.

The demand for lithium is projected to more than double by 2020. Most of the production needed to satisfy the market will come from Latin American countries like Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia which control over 75% of the world’s lithium reserves. We've spent some tome analyzing the lithium industry while highlighting the special relationship between China and Latin America.

Complete Story »

Alternative Energy ETFs and Tracking Accuracy

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Most of us have come to assume that ETFs do a pretty good job of tracking their indexes, and we do not worry much about it. Maybe we should.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a recent study from Morgan Stanley shows that in 2009 ETFs more than doubled their tracking error rates over 2008, to an average miss of 1.25% versus 0.52% a year earlier. While the average error doubled, it is still so small that it made us wonder if it could possibly be that small for alternative energy ETFs.

Complete Story »

QCells to Change Fundamentally

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Germany's largest solar company Q-Cells SE (QCLSF.PK) said its business model will "change fundamentally" in 2010, as the company pushes ahead with a reorganization that began in August 2009.

In announcing 4Q09 preliminary results that continued a string of deep losses, Anton Milner, Chairman of the Executive Board of Q-Cells SE, said:

Complete Story »

Outlook for a New Generation of Biofuels

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Brendan Coffey submits:

Investing in biofuels stocks isn’t a slam-dunk. Ethanol-related stocks got a huge boost in early 2008 after the EISA was passed, but by the middle of that year, criticisms of the effect of ethanol on the price of food supplies reached a crescendo, and the market turmoil added to the pressure on biofuels producers. Some that had been seen as good bets, like #2 ethanol producer VeraSun, went under and saw its assets sold off at a fraction of their value to refiners like Valero (VLO).

Yet lately, we’re seeing increasing strength in the shares of the surviving ethanol-related companies. Commodity broker Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has used the weakness to build up its position as an ethanol refiner, building its own plants and buying up other capacity. It’s now the largest producer in the country, and is in a position of strength if gasoline prices surge and demand for ethanol materializes. Similarly, second-tier ethanol players that survived the worst of it, like The Andersons (ANDE), are seeing good relative performance lately, too.

Complete Story »

Will 2010 Be the Year of the Strong Grid? Part V

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Tom Konrad (AltEnergyStocks) submits:

I came across Hubbell Inc. (HUB-B) when researching General Cable (BGC) for my recent article on the company. Just one more example of when you start researching a sector, (in this case electrical transmission and distribution, or "strong grid") you never know what new companies you may find.

Hubbell is a diversified electrical supplier, serving electric utility, residential, commercial, and industrial markets worldwide. About a quarter (26%) of ITS revenue comes from the "Power Systems" segment, which is roughly what I am focusing on in this series on the "Strong Grid." I previously rejected EMCORE Group (EME) because it only has about 20% of its revenues from the strong grid, so readers might reasonably ask, "What's so much better about Hubbell?"

Complete Story »

GridBased Energy Storage Represents a $200 Billion Opportunity

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John Petersen submits:

A reader sent me a copy of an exhaustive new study titled "Energy Storage for the Electricity Grid: Benefits and Market Potential Assessment Guide" that was commissioned by the DOE's Energy Storage Systems Program and prepared by Jim Eyer and Garth Corey. I've been following the work in progress on this report since last summer and have eagerly awaited an opportunity to shift away from the over hyped electric vehicle market and focus instead on a far larger market where cost, performance and substantive business merit will be the only drivers. It looks like my time has finally come. For technology aficionados that want a detailed understanding of what the various grid-based storage applications are, the entire report (232 pages including appendices) is a must read. Over the next few weeks I'll try to extract some high-level technical and market data and translate that information into a form that will be useful to energy storage investors.

The Eyer-Corey Report identifies 17 discrete grid-based energy storage applications, discusses the performance requirements of each application and assesses the 10-year economic potential for each application. The Report also includes a great summary that condenses a couple hundred pages of detail into a single table.

Complete Story »

Bureaucrats Backpedal on SolarKilling Bill

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Green Chip Review submits:

by Jeff Siegel

On Wednesday, I told you about a new Arizona bill (House Bill 2701) that was designed to essentially kill the state's solar industry. It was intended to allow nuclear and hydroelectric power to be included in the state's renewable energy standard, which requires 15 percent renewables by 2025. With nuclear and hydroelectric included, there would have been zero incentive to integrate solar or any other type of clean, renewable energy.

The new bill would've also done away with the state's distributed energy standard, which requires 30 percent of all renewable power produced by utilities to come from rooftop systems.

Complete Story »

Positive Guidance Could End Fuel Systems Hemorrhaging

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Mark Krieger submits:

There is no doubt I have been on the wrong side of the trade on this one. Since my last piece, the shares have fallen an additional 20% and I am wondering when a bottom will actually be found. The fact is, in the last 30 days some good things have occurred that the market has completely ignored, such as the company raising its guidance (sales by 8% and operating margin to its top end range of 16%) the Nasdaq market rallying 3% and even Jim Cramer putting in a good word or two by stressing that FSYS’s stock price had been pushed down to a good price level and could be bottoming. A recent rally in oil prices, coupled with a weakening US dollar, are also positives for the stock.

Fourth quarter earnings will be out this Thursday, so everybody will be focusing on first quarter’s guidance. The analysts have already written off the company in 2010 (thanks to the Italian Government’s reduction in Auto incentives) by forecasting its earnings to decrease 10% from $2.60 to $2.34, yet even with the lower earnings scenario the shares are trading at a very cheap multiple of about 12 times forecasted earnings.

Complete Story »

Why Natural Gas Vehicles Wont Decrease Oil Dependence Part VI

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Eamon Keane submits:

Ok, round six. I'll continue to try and fill the vacuum of analysis behind the rhetoric about the capacity of NGVs to deliver 'energy independence', cognizant that I may get some of it wrong. In this part, I'll take a look at the largest natural gas vehicle fuel provider in America - Pickens' company Clean Energy (CLNE).

Let's peruse CLNE's 2008 annual report. The 2009 report should be out on March 10. This shall be done while I watch CNN to see the inevitably timid wave that breaks onto Hilo bay.

Complete Story »

Kia Crashes the Green Car Party with the Kia Hybrid Car

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Remember when Kia first hit the market and other car manufacturers were laughing at them? Well, they haven’t been laughing in quite some time as Kia continues to put out attractive looking vehicles for far less money than anyone else. They have now unleashed their latest entry into the hybrid market at the new [...]
Posted in: Hybrid Cars, Industry, Transportation

Honda Solar Hydrogen Station Introduced to Green Car Market

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Honda finally unveiled their new solar hydrogen solar station and all signs point to a dramatic success. The station is smaller than previous models and enables an electric car owner to refill their fuel cell overnight. The unit should easily fit into a homeowners’ garage taking up significantly less space than previous models. The [...]
Posted in: Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Fuel, Solar Power

Waste to Energy Continues to Gain Steam

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

While new energy solutions are being discovered, refined and brought further and further into the public light, something that does not get a lot of headlines is waste to energy. How something like this continues to not be used in the United States is incredible as countries like Japan have been using it for [...]
Posted in: Biofuels, Industry, Waste Energy

Germanium Laser is the Latest Light Technology to be Unveiled

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The materials in lasers can be expensive and difficult to work with. A discovery at MIT may be changing all of that much sooner than we think as germanium laser technology is here and it is very real. The beauty of this latest technology is that there isn’t even a large call to change [...]
Posted in: Future Energy, Inventions

The Future is Now with LightPowered Circuitry

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The brain of any electronic device is the circuitry that operated the machine. Without the circuitry, the device is not even worth the cost of the plastic that it is made of. Any electronics device requires some kind of battery or it is nothing more than a paperweight. Recently, some new technology was created [...]
Posted in: Future Energy, Inventions, Solar Power

New SolarPowered Sensor Could Literally Change the World

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Science continues to amaze and one of the latest discoveries may literally change the world as we know it. This tiny solar-powered sensor can fit on the face of a penny and barely cover up the date. How this little wonder, developed at the University of Michigan, is able to create the power of [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power

Clitoral hood reduction

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

DLV® Clitoral hood reduction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that, you guessed it, reduces the size of the clitoral hood: the little piece of skin covering the clitoris, also known as the prepuce. Why would anyone want that, you ask?

Well, underneath the prepuce hides the clitoris, considered to be an essential part of the female genital area. For many women, the clitoris is extremely important for sexual activity. With a concentration of nerve endings, it is sensitive to touch and dominates as the pleasure centre for most women. Scientists believe that the sole role of the clitoris is sexual.

So, keeping that in mind, when a woman has a large clitoral hood, it can obstruct access to the clitoris. This makes it more difficult to stimulate the area, and consequently, achieve sexual gratification. By reducing the size of the clitoral hood or prepuce through surgery, it can make the clitoris more accessible. The thousands of women who have undergone the procedure worldwide would agree that it’s a good thing.

Interested? Book your free consultation for Prepuce and Clitoral Hood Reduction by calling 416-221-5554. We respect your privacy.

Clitoral hood reduction is a post from: Toronto Cosmetic Clinic Blog

PCA SKIN Products Available At TCC

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

PCA SKIN is a leading manufacturer of innovative skin care products for all types of skin. Not only does Toronto Cosmetic Clinic offer PCA SKIN chemical peels for the body and face, we also have a selection of products for home use.

Dry Skin Relief Bar

A gentle cleansing bar that can be used daily to help correct dry skin.

Active ingredients include Salicylic Acid and Vitamin E.

Great help for the winter weather!

pHaze 13 Pigment Bar

Enhances the results of any PCA SKIN® pigment control program to soothe inflammation and inhibit hyperpigmentation. Can be used on the arms, hands, décolleté, legs and back.

Active ingredients include Kojic Acid and Azelaic Acid.

Great for those who want a more even-toned complexion.

pHaze 35 Acne Gel $64+gst

Fight pimples with this effective spot treatment. Clears up spots and fights future breakouts.

Active ingredients include Salicylic Acid and Azelaic Acid.

Great for those who sick and tired of seeing their complexion ruined by acne.

View all the PCA SKIN products.

PCA SKIN Products Available At TCC is a post from: Toronto Cosmetic Clinic Blog

Dimensions of the Perfect Face

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It was bound to happen. Researchers at the University of Toronto, led by Professor Kang Lee, have discovered the formula to create the “perfect face”.

While we all know that an attractive female face includes full lips, big eyes and a smaller nose, now there’s a formula. Perfection is about the following measurements: the distance from the eyes to the mouth should be 36% of overall face length (which is measured from hairline to chin) and if you measure the distance between the pupils, it should be 46% of the width of the face (measured from ear to ear). This is for the average face only and hairstyles or makeup can be used to create the optical illusion of achieving these “perfect” measurements.

So who’s been blessed with perfection? Move over Angelina Jolie, Adriana Lima and Gisele Bundchen – it’s Shania Twain!

The study included students, who were asked to rate photographs of women’s faces. Photos of the same woman, but with different measurements for length and width altered by photoshop (not by cosmetic surgical procedures like facial implants and injectable fillers), were laid out for the students to be rated for attractiveness. Facial features, such as the nose or eyes, were not modified.

However, the study was only conducted on Caucasian (white) women and men, therefore it does not include a majority of the world’s population. And since it only targeted width and length, we think research still has to be done on the “perfect” size of lips, nose and other features.

news source BBC

Dimensions of the Perfect Face is a post from: Toronto Cosmetic Clinic Blog

Katie Couric’s View on Botox

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Okay, so Katie Couric isn’t really known for being a big celebrity or fashionista, but we thought we’d share this with you anyway.

Katie, journalist and anchor for CBS News, gave a nod to Botox in the March issue of Harpers Bazaar, saying, “I think if you want to do some tweaks here and there, there’s nothing wrong with that.” However, she continued to say that, “God has a wonderful way of making your eyes start to go as your face does,” implying that Botox to correct wrinkles from aging may not be necessary.

We wonder if she’s gotten anything done herself. Already in her mid 50s, Katie’s forehead looks pretty smooth, although her eyes do have telltale crinkles. Whatever she’s doing, it’s working – she and her thirtysomething boyfriend.seem pretty content with each other.

Katie Couric’s View on Botox is a post from: Toronto Cosmetic Clinic Blog

Establishment of Yellowstone as worlds first national park 1 March 1872 This Day in History

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Yellowstone National Park, situated in the western United States and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978, was established by the U.S. Congress as the country's—and the world's—first national park this day in 1872.

More Events on this day:

1932: The infant son of American aviator Charles A. Lindbergh was abducted from his home, Bruno Hauptmann being later convicted of the baby's kidnapping and murder.

1919: Protesters in Seoul, Korea, launched the March First Movement, a series of demonstrations for Korean national independence from Japan.

1896: The Ethiopian army of Emperor Menilek II won a decisive victory against the Italian army at Adwa, Ethiopia.

1875: Republicans in the U.S. Congress passed the last of the Force Acts, which protected the constitutional rights of blacks during Reconstruction.

Fr�d�ric Chopin Biography of the Day

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Fr�d�ric Chopin

"I am not fitted to give concerts. The audience intimidates me, I feel choked by its breath, paralyzed by its curious glances, struck dumb by all those strange faces."
Fr�d�ric Chopin

Fr�d�ric Chopin, born this day in 1810, was a Polish French composer and pianist of the Romantic period who ranks as one of music's greatest tone poets by reason of his imagination and fastidious craftsmanship.

Study Shows Liberals Atheists And Monogamous Have Higher IQs

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The March issue of the peer-reviewed Social Psychology Quarterly, a journal of the American Sociological Association, will contain an article entitled "Why Liberals and Atheists are More Intelligent." Though certain to cause some outrage, the investigator has collected some statistically significant IQ evidence that supports his theory.

Hightailer Shrimp Peeler Simplifies Your Seafood

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Seafood got you seeing red? Hand-peeling raw shrimp often results in a mangled mess unfit for sight nor taste. The "Hightailer" shrimp scissors simplifies seafood preparation resulting in less waste and more eye appeal.

Sunlight Live Shines Light On Transparency At Health Care Summit

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Just as "City" and "Government" Apps have been able to provide transparency on our mobile phones, today's Health Care Summit is going to stream live some interesting data to inquiring minds. The Sunlight Foundation which advocates open government is offering an online venue called Sunlight Live and during the entire Health Care Summit today the Sunlight Foundation will provide viewers with data about the the participants that traditional media might not focus on.

The BabyDeck Stroller Allows for Diaper Changing on the Run

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Changing your baby when you are out and about can be challenging at the best of times. Fortunately, the new BabyDeck stroller has an innovative solution.

Belts Pots Swings Furniture and Animals Innovative Uses For Old Tires

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There are so many things that end up in the trash that could be put to good use again with a little imagination. A tire is a perfect example. A tire could be made into accessories, gardening pots, children's swings furniture and even art. From simple to extravagant check out these innovative uses for old tires.

The Chatroulette Genie F9 Are Out Of The Bottle!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If you're like me, Chatroulette could just as well be the name of a French restaurant versus the moniker of a brand new 'interactive video conferencing' ecosystem. However during this morning's normal routine of reviewing my emails and news feeds, I found more than 3 mentions of the "C" word before I had my second sip of coffee.

Transparent Aurora Watch Uses Laser Hands

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A stylish, technological masterpiece, the Aurora watch is different than any other watch you've ever seen.

Camping Made Easy JakPak Is a Jacket Backpack And Tent

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The JakPak is an all-in-one solution that combines three of the most important pieces of any camping trip. Save money and lose weight with this innovative piece of gear.

All Electric MercedesBenz Vito to Challenge Ford Transit Connect

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Limited range vehicles are being introduced by the dozen these days, and for a good reason. Many people in the market for more fuel efficient vehicles live close enough to their jobs that it doesn't matter. But what about those companies that need a short range vehicle for something as simple as delivery? Mercedes plans on solving this with the production of their Vito Electric Vehicle.

Most Expensive Bike Ever?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The most advanced bicycle that we've ever seen was fittingly designed by a company that specializes in F1 racing car technology. Your Schwinn will never quite look the same again.

Your iPhone Is A Prime Target For Wiretapping Stringer Bell

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

For anyone that was addicted to the HBO show, 'The Wire' you are probably already familiar with how law enforcement can wiretap phones. For those who remember the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program to obtain information from suspected terrorists, you know how the federal government's policies infringed on privacy rights. But did you also know that our smartphones can become our own worst enemy?

DoItYourself Gummi Insects Look Gross Taste Great!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dung Beetle Desserts are just one of the creepy crawly creations kids can make with the Gummi-X kit from Megahouse. Mom will never "bug" you to eat your veggies again!

Doodle 4 Google Graphic Design Contest Just 4 Kids!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Google is calling all aspiring graphic artists and graphic illustrators to submit a home page logo for Google! Imagine that! But you have to be a kid; chronologically a kid.

The TJack Jacket Brings Fun and Function

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If you have ever seen that disillusioned look in your child’s eyes when he/she opened up a gift only to find there were clothes inside, then you should check out the T-Jack jacket from Convertible Designs. This adaptable item is part toy, part backpack and part jacket.

Pocket Sized GPS Tracking Key to Offer Parents and Bosses Piece of Mind

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Even the most trusting parents will agree that the most intelligent teenager can be quickly swayed by not so intelligent friends. Compounding this problem is that simple fact that this often happens when they are behind the wheel of a car. However, thanks to a new GPS tracking system made by LandSeaAir, parents can carefully monitor how and where their loved ones go when they are not sitting in the passenger seat.

Soccer Balls Go GPS

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To help make the game of football (soccer) more fair, one design firm envisions an electronic ball with GPS and RFID technology.

Citibanks Dont Bank Dont Tell Policy Exposed By Fabulis Social Network

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In the year 2010, is it possible for a financial institution to close a business account of an organization due to race, creed or sexual preference? Since Citibank has taken this unprecedented step with a gay social network due to what they deemed as "objectionable content" posted on the new startup fabulis' blog - wouldn't logic indicate they could do the same thing to a church group or a black civics organization?

5 Ergonomic Pet Carriers That Provide Comfort For You Too!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Small dog owners can get away with taking their dogs so many places. But dogs are more welcome visitors to commercial areas when they're carried by their owners. Notice how employees treat your dog when he's at your waist level as opposed to when he's at your feet. Makes sense, dogs can't pee on merchandise when they're in pet carriers.

Inflatable Sleeping Jacket Lets You Nap Anywhere

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Protect yourself from the rain and wind while carrying your sleeping gear on your body. The Sleeping Coat is a very functional design for campers and backpackers.

The Business Card Revolution Continues 9 Totally Unique Business Cards

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Business cards just aren't static little rectangles anymore. Some now hold data. Some you have to light on fire just to get the business's contact info. Others are just... strange. One thing is for sure: the business card is changing with the times.

Citroen DS High Rider Concept to Offer SUV Capability and Hybrid Drivetrain

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As expected, automakers are inundating the world with teaser images of their concepts slated for the Geneva Show Floor. It is also no surprise that many of these new vehicles are either hybrid based or all electric. The most recent of these reveals, and one that has a respectable chance of making it to production, is the DS High Rider Concept by Citroen.

Rinspeed UC? to Make Use of Rail System to Provide Clean Transportation

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Rinspeed never fails to impress us with their concepts during the Geneva Motor Show, with the iChange of last year being their most recent. For 2010 it seems the company decided to keep with the clean and green ideology, bringing us the UC? Electric Concept vehicle.

Universal Meditation Could Pay For The Public Option

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Yes, there was a time when meditation and yoga were scorned upon as "hippie" or "new age" fads. But over and over again scientific studies have shown that meditation improves everything from heart health to study habits to forgiveness! Why wouldn't everyone want to learn meditation as a life skill? It would cut down the cost of medications, hospitalizations, surgeries, therapy needs, medical costs... Heck, everyone would be healthy! And maybe even nicer to each other.

Tea Room Heated By Compost

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

If you have ever turned a compost pile you understand how hot it can get inside the pile as it decomposes. You can feel and sometimes see the heat rise as you turn the pile. A Japanese design firm called Bakoko has taken note of this heat, which can reach up to temperatures of 120 degrees F, and come up with a way to capture that heat to warm up a room.

As Seen on TV The Turbo Snake Product Review

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Turbo Snake it supposed to be the easiest, fastest way to get rid of troublesome clogs. The TV commercial makes it seem simple. But does it work?

Verizon And Sprint Provide Some Details 4G Plans

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

4G will be available in a number of major cities by the end of 2010. Both Verizon and Sprint have been talking about their respective 4G networks recently.

Gaga Design 10 Nayer Kazemi Water Art™ Fountains

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Obviously, we can't keep the water running in the shower all day, but if our concern was only our inner peace, we would. There's a much more practical, ecological, and yes, spectacular way to experience the most soothing sound in the world, a fountain. Once you see Nayer Kazemi's Water Art™, you'll be simply gaga for them.

Sexual Innuendo Cigarettes Make For Disturbing Ads

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I understand the concept of crossing the line when trying to get a point across. But what if the line is crossed so far that the concept is missed entirely?

Lost Cast Crew Tweet Take Shelter From Hawaii Tsunami

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

On Saturday, February 27, after a devastating earthquake hit Chile, reports indicated that a Tsunami will wreak havoc throughout the Pacific, hitting not only Chili, but also Mexico, the West Coast of the US and as far west as Hawaii. The cast and crew of popular TV show 'Lost' have made Hawaii their home for the past six seasons. In the wake of this natural disaster, the producers have used Twitter to communicate with the cast and crew.

Tron Legacy Uses Viral Marketing to Build Fan Awareness

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Marketing a sequel to a cult classic can be quite a challenge. How do you take a 28-year-old movie loved by geeks and attempt to plant it's sequel into global consciousness? You go viral.

Tesla Teams Up with Design Students to Bring Futuristic EYE Concept EV

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

While a great deal of Tesla's resources have been devoted to the upcoming Model S, the designers have had a little time to work on future vehicles. One particular concept designed in conjunction with the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin, or IED for short, could be hinting at the direction Tesla is planning on taking in the future.

GoBandit Combines GPS And Video In New CameraComputer

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The GoBandit GPSHD improves upon the average sports video by adding GPS-calculated performance data. Now you can prove what you accomplished like never before.

Social Networks Tweet YouTube Status Update News From Chile Tsunami Epicenter

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Within minutes of news coming in from South America, social media networks were buzzing with reports out of Chile. Former American Idol contestant Elliot Yamin is currently in Chile and is tweeting “Complete and utter choas on the streets...no power...my heart is beatin outta my chest!....tsunami warnin...I am only a mile inland!". Facebook support groups have already been formed and 'Chile' is the top trending topic on Twitter.

The WhyCry Baby Crying Analyzer Knows Why Your Baby is Crying

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Could anyone or anything actually decipher your baby's elusive cries? The WhyCry Baby Crying Analyzer claims to do just that.

The Clarisonic Opal Brings AntiAging Home

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

For anyone looking for anti-aging treatments that can be done at home the Clarisonic Opal is now available. This device, from the makers of the original Clarisonic, takes sonic power beyond deep cleansing.

Decode Digital Design Sensations Features Nokia PUSH Award Winners

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Decode: Digital Design Sensations is on exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. If you can get there, it will take your breath away, but if you can't get there, I'll share part of the exhibit on display and interacting at the V&A until April 11, 2010: the five winners of the Nokia awards, inventions that demonstrate the capabilities of its N900.

What Time Is It? Im Not Sure But These Watches Are Cool!

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Thanks to cell phones, watches are becoming more of a fashion statement than a means of telling time. In the near future it's going to take several minutes just to tell what time it was several minutes ago. Want proof? Here ya go...

What a PSP Phone may look like

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Some interesting images are emerging from a Chinese website M8cool.com. Apparently patience is not one of the virtues of the shanzhai (loosely meaning, imitation) industry, as they love to kick out early prototypes and images of not-yet-released gadgets. The latest one of these is the PSP Phone.

Sofia Concept to Help Bring New IDEA Institute into Light

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

While Geneva may be about showcasing the latest and greatest automotive concepts from today's automakers, it is also a place for up and coming companies to introduce their idea of what automobiles will be in the future. Such is the case with the I.DE.A Institute and their new hybrid concept.

MIT Uses TouchyFeely Technology For Next Generation Tactile Robotic Skin

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will create the first robot that will enable a human to interact with it through touch, much as they would another human. Last week, MIT commissioned the British company Peratech to develop its next generation tactile robotic skin to accomplish its goal.

Open Gov Tracker Reveals Best US Open Government Ideas

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

jonverve writes "In May of 2009, the White House launched an Ideascale site to gather ideas from citizens to identify ways to 'strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness by making government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative.' The digital letdown was when many of the top ideas generated by the process were to legalize marijuana, solve tax issues and to reinvestigate Obama's birth origins. Fast forward to February 6 and the same process has been repeated with individual federal agencies as the subject. This time the idea generation has been much more productive, with ideas such as establishing clear benchmarks on humanitarian progress in Sudan to the State Department, funding for open source text books and materials to the Department of Education, making it easier to access previously FOIAed documents to the Department of Justice, and creating a Wiki for NASA to share its data and to engage the public. Hackers from NASA's Nebula cloud computing platform have created a site that aggregates 23 of these idea sites to give a quick peek into the best rated contributions in each category. Programmed in Python and using the MongoDB and Tornado web server, the Open Gov Tracker was highlighted by the open government blog Govfresh this past week as well. Jessy Cowan-Sharp, one of the creators, explained their motivation: 'We thought that a single access point would give a sense of the participation on all the different sites, a window into the discussions happening, build some excitement, and inspire people to participate.' The process closes on March 19th, so go and visit the site to contribute your ideas and vote!"

Delta Rocket Crashes In Mongolia

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dr La writes "Two metal objects, one cylindrical and a smaller round one, crashed near Buren Soum in the Tuv province of Mongolia, in an empty field, on 19 February. They are parts of an American Delta II rocket stage (nr. 35939, 2009-052C) that launched the military STSS Demo 1 & 2 satellites in September 2009. Both articles linked above say that the larger of the two objects is 7.5 meters in diameter, but in this photo it looks more like 7.5 feet. It is marked with the serial number '02728.' (The military STSS program is intended for space-based detection and tracking of missiles.) In the months leading up to the February 19 orbital decay over Mongolia, the fall of the rocket stage was followed by amateur satellite trackers. Based on their final orbit determinations just hours before the decay, the decay must have occurred near 3:32 UTC on February 19."