Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Arms and Armor -Christie's auction on 9/20
http://www.christies.com/departments/arm/overview.asp
If you need 13th century German armor or a pair of Spanish Bronze cannons, this is the place!
PBS's The War -Starting 9/23
THE WAR, a seven-part series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, tells the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. The series explores the most intimate human dimensions of the greatest cataclysm in history — a worldwide catastrophe that touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America — and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.
Chismillionare says- Take your jet travel private
You're sick of the stress of flying commercial airlines, but buying into a private-jet program seems prohibitively expensive. Now there are cheaper ways.
In years past, hiring an airplane and crew was a complicated, potentially risky affair that involved calling a local charter operator and negotiating for a plane and pilots. Fractional ownership, in which companies sell a share of an airplane, opened up the private-jet world by making planes easier to buy and schedule. That was followed by jet-card programs -- in which you can buy as little as 10 hours of flying for about $44,000 -- reducing the cost further.
John McKey, a retired advertising executive, charters jets twice a year to move between his homes in Boston and Florida to avoid "the appalling process now of going through commercial airlines." Leaving from Bedford, Mass., and flying directly to Vero Beach, Fla., saves a couple hours of driving, and since his wife has to travel with wheelchair assistance, the level of service the couple gets with a private plane is highly prized.
"It's not inexpensive, but it is easy to do," said Mr. McKey, a client of OneSky, a fast-growing three-year-old company that arranges on-demand charters and has its own command center to track flights and make customer arrangements. He pays about $12,000 to $13,000 for each 3½- to 4-hour flight. He and his wife invite friends to fill the other seats on their trips.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118705417794296758.html
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Stearns Quick change oil pump
$29.97
It worked well for the Benz because the oil filter was right in the engine compartment, so I never had to get under the car. Supposedly it’s a cleaner way of extracting oil from a car since it’ll pump out all the oil that gravity otherwise wouldn’t drain from the plug.
Great for you boaters out there
Brush & Rinse Toothbrush Brilliantly Simple
By Andrew Liszewski
Normally when we write about a toothbrush it’s a high-tech rechargeable wonder with built-in timers and vibrating plaque-busting features. The Brush & Rinse however has nothing like that but in my opinion is far more useful than even the most expensive brushes on the market. The back of the toothbrush’s head has been specially engineered so that it can effectively redirect water from a faucet to your mouth for easy rinsing. As the designers put it:
Brush & Rinse Toothbrush Brilliantly Simple - whole article
Monday, August 13, 2007
Hypothetical child abuse, or just damn funny?
Came across this on some random blog out there - a hypothetical question (obviously):
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The question: How many 5 year-olds could you take on at once?
The specifics:
- You are in an enclosed area, roughly the size of a basketball court. There are no foreign objects.
- You are not allowed to touch a wall.
- When you are knocked unconscious, you lose. When they are all knocked unconscious, they lose. Once a kid is knocked unconscious, that kid is "out."
- I (or someone else intent on seeing to it you fail) get to choose the kids from a pool that is twice the size of your magic number. The pool will be 50/50 in terms of gender and will have no discernable abnormalities in terms of demographics, other than they are all healthy Americans.
- The kids receive one day of training from hand-to-hand combat experts who will train them specifically to team up to take down one adult. You will receive one hour of "counter-tactics" training.
- There is no protective padding for any combatant other than the standard-issue cup.
* The kids are motivated enough to not get scared, regardless of the bloodshed. Even the very last one will give it his/her best to take you down.
I set my magic number at 30, but upon reflection, I think I could take on a few more. How many could you take on?
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See 20+ pages of ramblings, musings, thoughts, and opinions on the subject here. I don't know why I found this so damn funny...
Chismillionare very anti Umbrella, but if he weren't he would go with this!
SENZ Umbrellas is proud to introduce the first game-changing innovations in umbrella design. The aerodynamic SENZ Original easily resists storms up to wind force 10! From now on, you'll experience rain as liquid sunshine! The SENZ Mini is unique for always finding the best position in the wind, which requires minimum force. Playing with the wind has become not only easy and comfortable, it's extremely fun too!
http://senzumbrellas.com/en_index.php
Stanley FatMax FuBar II- who can't get behind this
4-in-1 tool for prying, splitting, board bending and striking jobs
2.5 lbs - fits easily in the hammer loop
One piece forged steel bar for increased durability
Board grabbing jaw sized for 2x lumber
Beveled nail slot for pulling & prying nails
Textured grip for excellent comfort & control, even when wet
Tempered steel that prevents chipping
GM plans to develop batteries with A123 Systems for its new electric vehicle
General Motors has announced it will work directly with A123 Systems, a start-up based in Watertown, MA, to develop batteries that are fine-tuned for the Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle scheduled for production in 2010 or 2011. The new agreement between the companies is designed to speed the vehicle to market.
The co-development deal is the latest in a series of announcements by the automaker indicating it is moving forward with plans for the Volt, an extremely fuel efficient hybrid. The Volt, first announced in January, will use batteries that can be recharged from a standard electrical outlet and is expected to get 40 miles on a single charge, eliminating trips to the gas station for average daily driving. While GM has not ruled out using batteries from another supplier, the agreement is a vote of confidence that A123's technology can meet the requirements for the vehicle, says Denise Gray, GM's director of hybrid energy storage devices.
A123 uses a new lithium-ion chemistry that allows its batteries to be much lighter and more compact than the nickel metal hydride batteries in existing hybrids today, and safer than the conventional lithium ion batteries found in consumer electronics
The co-development deal is the latest in a series of announcements by the automaker indicating it is moving forward with plans for the Volt, an extremely fuel efficient hybrid. The Volt, first announced in January, will use batteries that can be recharged from a standard electrical outlet and is expected to get 40 miles on a single charge, eliminating trips to the gas station for average daily driving. While GM has not ruled out using batteries from another supplier, the agreement is a vote of confidence that A123's technology can meet the requirements for the vehicle, says Denise Gray, GM's director of hybrid energy storage devices.
A123 uses a new lithium-ion chemistry that allows its batteries to be much lighter and more compact than the nickel metal hydride batteries in existing hybrids today, and safer than the conventional lithium ion batteries found in consumer electronics
New Microscope creates 3D images of cells
MIT researchers have designed a microscope for generating three-dimensional movies of live cells. The microscope, which works like a cellular CT scanner, will let scientists watch how cells behave in real time at a greater level of detail. This new device overcomes a trade-off between resolution and live action that has hindered researchers' ability to examine cells and could lead to new methods for screening drugs.
Cells can't be examined under a traditional microscope because they don't absorb very much visible light. So the MIT microscope relies on another optical property of cells: how they refract light. As light passes through a cell, its direction and wavelength shift. Different parts of the cell refract light in different ways, so the MIT microscope can show the parts in all their detail.
Cells can't be examined under a traditional microscope because they don't absorb very much visible light. So the MIT microscope relies on another optical property of cells: how they refract light. As light passes through a cell, its direction and wavelength shift. Different parts of the cell refract light in different ways, so the MIT microscope can show the parts in all their detail.
Rewriteable Holographic memory
By using lasers to etch data onto fragments of a microbial protein, researchers at the University of Connecticut may have demonstrated a way to produce rewritable holographic memory. Holographic memory stores data in three dimensions instead of two and could make data retrieval hundreds of times faster. The first holographic-memory systems have recently come to market, but they do not yet feature discs rewritable in real time.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, led by Jeffrey Stuart, head of the university's Nanobionics Research Center, based their holographic storage system on reengineered versions of proteins produced by bacteria-like organisms commonly found in salt marshes. Simply shining blue light on the proteins erases any data stored in them.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, led by Jeffrey Stuart, head of the university's Nanobionics Research Center, based their holographic storage system on reengineered versions of proteins produced by bacteria-like organisms commonly found in salt marshes. Simply shining blue light on the proteins erases any data stored in them.
Autobahn Turns 75, Reveals Cultural Differences in Safety
American libertarian drivers would have you believe it's safer than U.S. freeways (likewise false). The German Autobahn opened on August 6, 1932, a small spit of about 12.5 miles between Cologne and Bonn. Since then, it has been one of the most important testing grounds for automakers in the world. It's not just for the lack of speed limits that this infamous highway is known. It reveals great cultural differences in the ways that car safety is perceived. After you crest one blind hill into Frankfurt, for example, the skid marks are akin to those you'd find on a runway at JFK airport, from cars confronting backed-up traffic. This is at least one reason BMW and Mercedes Benz began work on one of the first anti-lock brake systems. American automakers and regulators, by contrast, tend to be fatalistic, focusing on reducing death and injury rather than preventing them. Even the "Wall Street Journal" recently griped that mandatory fuel mileage standards would force vehicles to lose weight, which would result in rising highway death tolls. The "Journal" failed to note that you're more than four times as likely to be involved in an accident in the first place while driving a 4,000 pound SUV as you would be driving a vehicle weighing 1,000 pounds less with a lower center of gravity. The left lane of the Autobahn is strictly for passing. To wander into it, cell phone in hand, without a clear sense of your car's dimensions and capabilities is to risk suicide from approaching vehicles. The Autobahn demands a driver's engagement with the road. While Americans constantly bemoan our dumbed-down highways by comparison, we seem unwilling to raise the IQ of our cars or the standards for our drivers.
Happy Birthday Mr Wenkel, born this day in 1902
1902: Felix Wankel, inventor of the rotary engine, is born in Lahr, Germany.
Lacking a degree, indeed a university education of any kind, Wankel nevertheless possessed a first-rate technical mind. While still in his early 20s, he conceived of a rotary engine that he hoped would replace the more complicated and less efficient reciprocating piston engine.
Wankel received the first patent for his engine design in 1929, but events were about to overtake him.
On the political front, Wankel couldn't catch a break. After an early flirtation with National Socialism, he ran afoul of the Nazis and was tossed into prison for a few months. Following his release, Wankel spent the prewar years working on rotary valves and sealing technology for several German firms.
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/08/dayintech_0813
Chismillionare's like latest business model- taking money from children!
The latest toy craze in North America are stuffed animals called Webkinz that blend the comfort of teddy bears with the addictive challenges of online role-playing games.
Webkinz look like Beanie Babies, but come with a code to unlock a digital doppelgänger children play with in a Sims-like digital world. The combination has proven as habit forming as the Tamagotchi phenomenon, but with a stuffed animal that sleeps in your child's bed. And it might be the ploy that saves the toy industry.
Sold only at specialty stores like Hallmark, more than 1 million Webkinz stuffed animals have been snapped up since their April 2005 debut, making the toy by Ganz a sensation. In February, the Toy Industry Association named Webkinz the Specialty Toy of the Year for 2007.
Webkinz look like Beanie Babies, but come with a code to unlock a digital doppelgänger children play with in a Sims-like digital world. The combination has proven as habit forming as the Tamagotchi phenomenon, but with a stuffed animal that sleeps in your child's bed. And it might be the ploy that saves the toy industry.
Sold only at specialty stores like Hallmark, more than 1 million Webkinz stuffed animals have been snapped up since their April 2005 debut, making the toy by Ganz a sensation. In February, the Toy Industry Association named Webkinz the Specialty Toy of the Year for 2007.
Dresden's World-Class Art Gallery Duplicates Itself Online
If you can't make it to Dresden this summer, consider teleporting. The pearl of the city's museum collection, the Old Masters Picture Gallery, recently opened a virtual version of itself in Second Life. Second Life representatives say it's the first real-world museum to "clone" itself online, although virtual versions of other collections (most famously "Second Louvre," which has no official ties to the Paris museum) have popped up.
All 37,700 square feet of the 150-year-old building, plus the grounds outside, have been recreated, down to the trash cans and fountains in the courtyard and ceiling moldings, staircases and furniture within. The highlight, of course, is on the virtual walls: 750 paintings spanning 300 years of European art.
http://www.wired.com/culture/art/multimedia/2007/08/gallery_dresden
Friday, August 10, 2007
Get 'yer Super Hero fix here!
Sure, the acting looks like it borders on laughable - after all, it is an amateur film - but in the few minutes of teaser here I noticed Robin (Dick Grayson - the title character), Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Superman, Batwoman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and some chick who I assume is Cat Woman... and I probably missed a few too!
Watch the trailer here.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The Piss Screen
Those wacky Germans!
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The Piss-Screen - a pressure-sensitive inlay set within urinals, enabling users to play while they pee. We installed this newfangled creation in male restrooms across Frankfurt, teaming up with a variety of bars, clubs and cafés. The game itself was displayed on a screen above each urinal, and would automatically start as soon as someone began to pee. The player could then control the car whilst relieving himself – if they wanted the car to go right, they simply peed to the right (and visa versa).
Read more, see a video, and play the game (with your keyboard - no pissin' in your cube!) here.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Chismillionare helps out with your next car
Current BMW lease offers. Forget your apartment or house. These are much nicer anyway plus you can get to work, school and go on vacation with them. Plus in three years, you can get a brand new one.
20 Things I Learned From Tech Support
clickety clickety...
HCCI combustion - gasoline combustion without a spark!
The gas-saving technology, called homogeneous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, uses a form of combustion that is much more efficient than conventional spark ignition. Under some conditions, it can reduce fuel consumption by 25 percent, says William Green, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT who was coauthor of the new study. That's very similar to the efficiency of a diesel engine, which also achieves combustion by compression rather than a spark. But unlike diesel engines, HCCI results in a more uniform combustion and is thus much cleaner. A system that combines HCCI with conventional combustion could improve fuel economy by a few miles per gallon on average, Green says.
Several research groups are working on the new type of combustion. Volvo, for example, has built a hybrid system that can switch between conventional spark ignition and HCCI. Some experts, however, had expected that the new type of engine would require special fuel.
The MIT research shows that an HCCI engine can operate with any of the varieties of gasoline sold in North America, making a special fuel unnecessary. The researchers tested a range of different gasolines made at different refineries. They found that the HCCI engine "was less sensitive to the fuel than people had feared," says Green.
While the HCCI has several performance limitations, these can be addressed using a hybrid approach, in which an engine could switch between HCCI and conventional spark ignition. Using already mass-produced parts could make it relatively inexpensive to build such a hybrid, Green says.
In conventional gasoline engines, a spark ignites a mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber, creating an explosion that drives a piston. While this happens very efficiently when the engine is working hard, it's less efficient at lower loads, such as during cruising, when less gasoline is being pumped into the combustion chamber. At these times, to keep the ratio of fuel to oxygen optimized, a partial vacuum is created in the chamber. It takes extra energy to make this vacuum, which decreases the engine's efficiency.
The HCCI technology avoids the use of an energy-wasting vacuum. Instead, hot gases from a previous combustion cycle remain in the chamber; the engine uses a combination of heat from these hot gases and heat generated by compressing the mixture to raise temperatures high enough that the mixture explodes.
Several research groups are working on the new type of combustion. Volvo, for example, has built a hybrid system that can switch between conventional spark ignition and HCCI. Some experts, however, had expected that the new type of engine would require special fuel.
The MIT research shows that an HCCI engine can operate with any of the varieties of gasoline sold in North America, making a special fuel unnecessary. The researchers tested a range of different gasolines made at different refineries. They found that the HCCI engine "was less sensitive to the fuel than people had feared," says Green.
While the HCCI has several performance limitations, these can be addressed using a hybrid approach, in which an engine could switch between HCCI and conventional spark ignition. Using already mass-produced parts could make it relatively inexpensive to build such a hybrid, Green says.
In conventional gasoline engines, a spark ignites a mixture of fuel and air in a combustion chamber, creating an explosion that drives a piston. While this happens very efficiently when the engine is working hard, it's less efficient at lower loads, such as during cruising, when less gasoline is being pumped into the combustion chamber. At these times, to keep the ratio of fuel to oxygen optimized, a partial vacuum is created in the chamber. It takes extra energy to make this vacuum, which decreases the engine's efficiency.
The HCCI technology avoids the use of an energy-wasting vacuum. Instead, hot gases from a previous combustion cycle remain in the chamber; the engine uses a combination of heat from these hot gases and heat generated by compressing the mixture to raise temperatures high enough that the mixture explodes.
Making Gasoline from bacteria
The biofuel of the future could well be gasoline. That's the hope of one biotech startup that on Monday described for the first time how it is coaxing bacteria into producing hydrocarbons that could be processed into fuels like those made from petroleum.
LS9, a company based in San Carlos, CA, and founded by geneticist George Church, of Harvard Medical School, and plant biologist Chris Somerville, of Stanford University, had previously said that it was working on what it calls "renewable petroleum." But at a Society for Industrial Microbiology conference on Monday, the company began speaking more openly about what it has accomplished: it has genetically engineered various bacteria, including E. coli, to custom-produce hydrocarbon chains.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19128/
LS9, a company based in San Carlos, CA, and founded by geneticist George Church, of Harvard Medical School, and plant biologist Chris Somerville, of Stanford University, had previously said that it was working on what it calls "renewable petroleum." But at a Society for Industrial Microbiology conference on Monday, the company began speaking more openly about what it has accomplished: it has genetically engineered various bacteria, including E. coli, to custom-produce hydrocarbon chains.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19128/
This day in history- 1991 Ladies and Gentlemen the World Wide Web
1991: The world wide web becomes publicly available on the internet for the first time.
The web has changed a lot since Tim Berners-Lee posted, on this day, the first web pages summarizing his World Wide Web project, a method of storing knowledge using hypertext documents. In the months leading up to his post, Berners-Lee had developed everything necessary to make the web a reality, including the first browser and server.
His historic post appeared on the alt.hypertext newsgroup, ending a journey that began back in 1980, when Berners-Lee was at CERN, an international particle physics lab located near Geneva, Switzerland. There, working with collaborator Robert Cailliau, Berners-Lee began the Enquire project, the forerunner to what would become the web.
The project, which made hypertext a chief communications component for the first time, was intended to facilitate the sharing of information among researchers across the broader internet
The web has changed a lot since Tim Berners-Lee posted, on this day, the first web pages summarizing his World Wide Web project, a method of storing knowledge using hypertext documents. In the months leading up to his post, Berners-Lee had developed everything necessary to make the web a reality, including the first browser and server.
His historic post appeared on the alt.hypertext newsgroup, ending a journey that began back in 1980, when Berners-Lee was at CERN, an international particle physics lab located near Geneva, Switzerland. There, working with collaborator Robert Cailliau, Berners-Lee began the Enquire project, the forerunner to what would become the web.
The project, which made hypertext a chief communications component for the first time, was intended to facilitate the sharing of information among researchers across the broader internet
Monday, August 6, 2007
Stuffed Cheese Burger
Its not rocket science, but looking at this instructable sure got me hungry. I think one of these will find its way to my grill this weekend.
Chismillionare's Monday deal of the Week!
****** Update********** Blasster finds another 22" LCD with same specs at ecost.com for $199. However at the time, there was one unit left and one hour left for the special price.
If you're tired of the 17" CRT,
NEC accusync 22" LCD $249.95
1000:1 contrast ratio and 1680x1050 max resolution
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=204718142&adid=17070&dcaid=17070
Good judgement only comes from experience. However, experience only comes from bad judgement
http://view.break.com/334653 - Watch more free videos
Friday, August 3, 2007
Yellow Card on Chismillionare. Can someone help him find his masculinity?
I've taken the liberty of finding you a link full of suggestions for your next "Britney Spears Party" - have no fear, your beloved Cape Codder is represented.
10 Drinks Men Should Never Order
I can think of a few that aren't listed (Cape Codder, anyone?) - but its a decent list.link
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Now playing: Susan Tedeschi - Soul Of A Man
via FoxyTunes
EZ car Lift.
The cheap safe way to do you own work. Ramps only work so well.
EZcarlift™ is...
the new standard for what a home garage car lift is all about!
* STRONG...Lifts Up To 4,400 Pounds
* FAST...Raise To 26" In Under 140 Seconds
* SAFE...Superb Stability At All Heights
* ACCESS...Unobstructed From All Sides
* EASY...Powered By Standard Corded Electric Drill
* PORTABLE...Take Anywhere. Fits In Your Car trunk
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Can You Survive in Space Without a Spacesuit?
In the new sci-fi film Sunshine, an astronaut named Mace must leave his spacecraft without a protective suit. He makes it through his exposure with only a case of frostbite. Could you really survive outer space without a suit?
Yes, for a very short time. The principle functions of a spacesuit are to create a pressurized, oxygenated atmosphere for astronauts, and to protect them from ultraviolet rays and extreme temperatures. Without it, a spacewalker would asphyxiate from the lack of breathable air and suffer from ebullism, in which a reduction in pressure causes the boiling point of bodily fluids to decrease below the body's normal temperature. Since it takes a bit of time for these things to kill you, it's possible to make it through a very quick stint in outer space.
At most, an astronaut without a suit would last about 15 seconds before losing conciousness from lack of oxygen. (That's how long it would take the body to use up the oxygen left in the blood.) Of course, on Earth, you could hold your breath for several minutes without passing out. But that's not going to help in a vacuum. In fact, attempting to hold your breath is a sure way to a quick death. To make it for even a few seconds, Sunshine's Mace must have expelled the air from his lungs before he ventured into the starry void. If he hadn't, the vacuum would have caused that oxygen to expand and rupture his lung tissue, forcing fatal air bubbles into his blood vessels, and ultimately his heart and brain. Scuba divers are also at risk for air embolism; they're instructed not to hold their breath as they ascend from the deep sea.
An astronaut who fell unconscious from lack of oxygen would last for a few minutes more before dying from asphyxiation or the effects of the pressure reduction. Ebullism would result in the formation of bubbles in the moisture found in the eyes, mouth, and skin tissue. One NASA test subject who survived a 1965 accident in which he was exposed to near-vacuum conditions felt the saliva on his tongue begin to boil before he lost consciousness after 14 seconds.
In the movie, Mace takes the precaution of wrapping himself in insulation torn from the walls of the spacecraft he's leaving. This might provide some protection against temperatures in space that can run from minus-200 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It might also ward off ultraviolet-related skin damage during a short jump through space.
What about the frostbite? That's actually the least plausible result of Sunshine's suitless spacewalk. The cold wouldn't cause Mace too much harm in just 15 seconds, even if he encountered the very lowest temperatures in space. That's because heat leaves the body very slowly in a vacuum. The more likely damage would be a "space hickey"—caused from the swelling and bursting of the skin's small blood vessels—which would look more like the effects of freeze-drying a wart than a case of frostbite.
----------------Now playing: Rose Hill Drive - The Guru
via FoxyTunes
For Rindone- how to get a second US passport
Helpful to have a spare in case you lose one or happen to travel to "problem" nations:
How to quickly get a second US passport for travel :
I'm staying in Istanbul for awhile and decided on a spur of the moment trip to Israel and Jordan. As I know I want to visit other Arab countries in the next year or two (that is, before my 2013 passport expiration date), I didn't want to get the stamp(s) in my 10 year passport. I went the US consulate in Istanbul and explained my situation - that I would be leaving in a week, that I just booked this flight, and that I didn't want to have to pay for another 10 year passport...or have to deal with the debacle of getting passports in the states right now. If I had a few more days before leaving, I could've gotten the 2 year passport they normally issue to those traveling to Israel....but they take 7-10 days to get there from the US. That would've been preferable, as it can be renewed (if I wanted to come back to Israel).So the woman says she'll check on something for me - what's the answer?Emergency passport for 68 USD!Yes, they issued me one those passports that they issue for travelers who have lost their passports! However, in this case, they don't cancel your old one. Sure, it expires in a year, but I know I won't be back to Israel for awhile and will likely visit other Arab countries before that. Best of all, they made it that evening and I got it in two days, shipped via UPS (if I had needed it sooner, they could've made it that day).So, if you're in a foreign country, definitely try to use a consulate or embassy to get a second passport - and if you have very little time, have them make you an emergency passport.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Beer in space: A short but frothy history.
After allegations that astronauts flew drunk, NASA's rules on alcohol are under scrutiny. The agency currently doesn't allow its astronauts to imbibe in orbit, but over the years of crewed space travel, many astronauts have enjoyed a tipple.
more
SCARLETT JOHANSSON DOES PORN
The Sun UK says that Scarlett Johansson will take the role of Jenna Jameson in the film version of Jamesons book, "How To Make Love Like A Porn Star". The Sun says:
SCARLETT JOHANSSON has landed her most explicit role yet - that of the world's biggest porn star. The 22-year-old will take the lead role in the forthcoming, x-rated biopic of JENNA JAMESON. And legendary adult entertainer Jameson chose Scarlett specifically for the role. She explained, "I tapped up Scarlett for the part and I'm very excited about the film. It was my decision not to play the role because I've lived that tale already and anyone can play themselves."
I don't know how to break this to Hollywood but porn stars are only interesting when they're having stuff shoved inside of them. What am I, a social worker, what the hell do I care how they got there. If this was such a compelling subject, the Academy Award nominees for best picture would just be Bowlin In Her Colon 4, 5, 6 and 7, and then Ratatouille.
UPDATE - or maybe she isn't playing Jenna, according to People.
Finally- Too much car for Chismillionare!
Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper
Videos:
Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper
Speed Kings: 0–200
0–200: 20.3 seconds
In this awesomely powerful Viper's first run, Millen is instructed by John Hennessey to launch the Viper at 3300 rpm and upshift at 6000 rpm. Millen does this, and at 203 mph in 5th gear, with the thoroughly tweaked 8.5-liter V-10 singing at 6000 rpm well before the mile, he drops it into 6th gear. When Hennessey learns of this later, he tells Steve to keep the car in 5th during the next run and let the engine rev past 6000 for better performance as the car streaks to 200 and on through the mile.
Well, an hour or so later, after the Hennessey crew cools the car's intake tract with ice and wet towels and warms the rear tires with electric blankets, that's just what Millen does. Not surprisingly, he posts the best time of the day, a 0–200-mph blast of 20.3 sec., in only 3488 ft. That's 472 ft. less than three quarters of a mile! And with a peak speed of 220.3 mph in the mile, the Viper sets a new R&T record.
The Hennessey's increasing power at speed — and the sheer difficulty of launching a rear-drive car with 800–1100 bhp — is reflected in our test results: From 100 to 200 mph, in that rarefied arena where precious few cars can play, the Viper absolutely devours the competition, taking only 13.0 sec. and 2956 ft. to accomplish this feat. The next closest car, by no means a slouch, is the Bugatti Veyron, which needs 18.0 sec. and 4229 ft. for its blast from 100 to 200.
Wow - the hills are alive with the Sound of Music
This is a photograph showing a flower-splashed hillside near Tehachapi, California. This is not photoshoped
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Leonardo Da Vinci: The Complete Paintings And Drawings
This Book is amazing. Highly recommended, so choice!
Tivoli Audio IPal
Perfect for the beach and listening to the Sox. Has plug in for Ipod as well. $199
Chismillionare's weekend bag
Perfect size, perfect handles. Just toss in the trunk for a weekend away
http://www.hartmann.com/shop/productDetail.asp?sku=1860-B
Self Assembling Nano Structures
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found an easy way to make a complex nanostructure that consists of tiny rods studded with nanocrystals. The new self-assembly synthesis method could lead to intricate nanomaterials for more-efficient solar cells and less expensive devices for directly converting heat into electricity.
In the structures, the quantum dots are all about the same size and are spaced evenly along the rods--a feat that in the past required special conditions such as a vacuum, with researchers carefully controlling the size and spacing of different materials, says Paul Alivisatos, the professor of chemistry and materials science at Berkeley who led the work. In contrast, Alivisatos simply mixes together the appropriate starting materials in a solution; these materials then arrange themselves into the orderly structure.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/19108/
Glue with an On and Off switch
Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in the UK, have made an adhesive that can be turned on and off with an external switch. The switch is the acidity of the solution surrounding the glue: two different kinds of polymers in the glue attract each other based on the solution's acidity. By repeatedly making the solution less or more acidic, Mark Geoghegan and his colleagues can switch the adhesive's stickiness, making two surfaces bond together and then come apart up to five times
http://www.technologyreview.com/Nanotech/19120/
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